Covenant News

Aurora (NE) Marks 100 Years of Ministry

AURORA, NE (September 8, 2004) - Glenn R. Palmberg was guest preacher this past Sunday at his boyhood church as the Evangelical Covenant Church of Aurora celebrated its 100th anniversary over the weekend.

Palmberg, president of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), used the text from Luke 16:19-31 (parable of the rich man and Lazarus) in his message titled "Getting Close to God." He suggested to his home church audience that it is through our willingness to relate to the poor in society that we become closest to God. Sunday's worship service and luncheon culminated events that occurred from September 3-5.

Midwest Conference Supt. Kenneth Carlson and wife, Nancy, were among the guests at last weekend's events, according to pastor Karl Larson. Several former pastors attended, along with a group of people who grew up in the church and later entered full-time ministry.

Former pastor Mark Olson and his wife, Doreen, were among the group of special guests. Mark is now an administrator at North Park University while Doreen serves as executive minister of the Department of Christian Formation. Former pastor Ed Johnson and his wife, Irene, also attended – they served the church 50 years ago. So did Ralph Sturdy and his wife, Joyce – now parishioners at the church – and former interim pastor Lloyd Johnson and his wife, Mary.

Also in attendance were many children of the church who eventually became Covenant pastors, pastors' spouses or missionaries. They included: Lillian Anderson (whose husband, Elroy, had been a Covenant pastor); pastor Burdette "Bud" Palmberg; pastor Larry Dieckman (now a chaplain at The Holmstad in Batavia, Illinois); Marilyn Dieckman Gibson (a missionary with a non-Covenant organization serving in southern Texas and Mexico); pastor David Green (now at Church of the Good Shepherd Covenant Church in Crest Hill, Illinois); and Karen (Palmberg) Walker, whose husband, Tom, served as a Covenant pastor.

"The weekend of celebration reminded us of our rich heritage, that we have been a faithful witness for Jesus Christ in Aurora for 100 years," Larson said. "It also encouraged us to continue in the future, carrying on the heritage we have created. And we're very pleased that so many former members and so many friends made such an effort – many from great distances – to be here."

The congregation began the weekend of events with a service of music last Friday. The church used various versions of the Covenant hymnals and interspersed historical vignettes of the church, town and nation as part of the service. On Saturday, the church hosted a luncheon and multimedia historical presentation and an oral history. A member of the church, Fritz Wilson, created a computer-generated movie and a booklet outlining the history of the congregation. Later that evening,

Palmberg spoke at a banquet held at a local middle school, reflecting on his own church experiences and how the congregation nurtured him. He applauded the faithfulness and care given by Sunday school teachers and less visible members of the congregation. Larson said that approximately 200 were in attendance for nearly every event.

The Evangelical Covenant Church of Aurora is located 120 miles west of Omaha in a farming community of 4,000 people. The average worship attendance at the church is 80, said Larson, who celebrated his 11th anniversary at the church's pastor in August.

The church formally organized December 15, 1904, at the home of Peter Hedblom. Emanuel Berg is considered the first pastor for the congregation - the first full-time pastor was F.O. Gustafson. Worship meetings in homes had been held in the area in the 1880s and a Sunday school was organized in 1899 under Supt. D.A. Johnson and Vice Supt. F.O. Peterson, according to church records documenting how the church officially began.

To learn more about the church and its centennial weekend, email Larson at klarson@hamilton.net or call the church staff at 402-694-6191.

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