St. Peter’s celebrates anniversary

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IN CHARGE — The committee for St. Peter Lutheran Church’s 125th anniversary included, from left, Judy Thompson, Marilyn Quiram, Sharon Eckart, Rachel Romine, Amy Kitzer, Thelma Kormann and Larry Crabtree. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

The bells tolled at St. Peter Lutheran Church at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 25 as the Sunday School children, which numbered about 30, all dressed in red, entered the sanctuary singing, "We Can Pray," followed by, "How Great Thou Art,” which was very appropriate for the day.

The Rev. Scott Williams welcomed everyone to the 125th anniversary worship service, saying he was grateful for everyone's presence. He went to talk about what the church has been and what it has meant to the people of the congregation.

Pastor Phil Lewison, who served as pastor of the St. Peter’s congregation for 32 years, from 1976-2008, had been asked to share his memories during the program.

The Rev. Steven Delzer, Bishop of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA, delivered the morning sermon. He began: "We gather this day for worship and the celebration of 125 years of faithful ministry. For 125 years this congregation has been a symbol of God's presence in this community. The article in the NRHEG Star Eagle about the celebration of your 125th anniversary began with these words: ‘When a new piece of land was settled in the early years the most important thing to be established was a church. The congregation that was formed were devoted in their religion and feelings ran deep for the need of God’s house where they could meet and praise the Lord.’"

He continued, "Those words echo the words we heard in today's readings.”

Rev. Delzer explained that through the Gospel of John, Jesus spoke about himself as the Good Shepherd who drew to himself the sheep of his fold, the Gentiles. Jesus saw both the temple and himself as a symbol of God's presence with and love for all people.

Rev. Delzer went on to say, "I take that to be God's plan for the church of our day also. The church — this church, St. Peter Lutheran of New Richland — is a symbol of God's presence with and love for all people. For 125 years this congregation has been a symbol of God's presence with and love for the members of this congregation. But for 125 years this congregation has also been a symbol of God's presence with the love for all people in the New Richland community. And for 125 years the people of St. Peter have been listening to the voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd and following him in lives of service to him. Think about the hundreds of children who have been welcomed into the body of Christ through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism; think about the multitudes of people who have been fed with the body and blood of Jesus in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, and think about the hundreds of people for whom you have prayed. For 125 years you have served others through the ministries of Word and Sacrament, and through these ministries you have been a symbol of God's presence with and love for all people. Over these past 125 years you have also served others outside the walls of this building, and you continue to do that still today."

Rev. Delzer conclude his sermon saying, "Thanks be to God, for all the lives that have been touched by the love of God through the ministries of St. Peter in the past, and for all the lives that will be touched by the love of God through the ministries of St. Peter well into the future. Thanks be to God!"

Following the sermon, the congregation was asked to join in singing "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," which included the second verse of the hymn being sung in German by Melissa Williams, Pastor Williams' wife. Pastor Lewison presented the Words of Institution, followed by the Lord's Prayer.  The Lord's prayer was recited by verse, first in German by Rachel Romine, followed by the congregation in English.

The congregation was asked to join in singing, "Let Us Break Bread Together," and "O God, Our Help In Ages Past" during communion and Bishop Delzer presented the Affirmation of Christian Vocation. The service concluded with the singing of "God Is Here."

Following the worship service the congregation was invited to the fellowship hall where a catered dinner, which had been prepared by the Red Leaf Cafe and included roast beef, potatoes and gravy, corn, coleslaw and apple pie, was served.

Following the dinner, at 1 p.m., the "Music and Memories" program was presented. Larry Crabtree, president of the congregation, read the Articles of Incorporation, which had been approved on the 27th day of January 1890. "Just Friends," the well known group of singers from the surrounding areas of New Richland, Owatonna, Wells, and Austin, including Crabtree, Charlie Priebe, Roger Groskeutz, Dale Krueger, Dale Loken, Vern Wilker, Dennis Maurer, Randy Lewer, Doug Riskedahl and Dean Buehdorf,

who love to sing, performed several songs, including, "One Pair Of Hands" and "The River In Judea" and a medley which included "Amazing Grace" and "My Chains Were Gone."

Pastor Williams introduced Pastor Lewison and in the process asked those in attendance to stand if Pastor Lewison had baptized them, if they had been in his confirmation classes or had been married by him, which brought a lot of people to their feet. Williams also asked people to stand if they had ever served on the church council, as president of the church, had ever been Sunday school teachers, sang in the choir, or were leaders of the Ladies Aid or WELCA. Pastor Williams was also very proud to announce that 12 sons/daughters of the congregation have gone on to serve as pastors or deacons of churches. Members of the Otisco parish, which has been in existence for 121 years, were also recognized by Pastor Williams.

Pastor Williams also announced that the oldest member of the congregation was Hilda Dobberstein. Hilda is 96 years old and currently resides at the Lake Shore Inn in Waseca.

The youngest member of the congregation is Asa Bethke, the son of Aaron and Amanda Bethke of New Richland, at 4 months of age.

Pastor Lewison was then called upon to share his memories of the time he served as pastor of the congregation, some very interesting and others humorous. Pastor Lewison shared that his wife had reminded him that he needed to remember not to talk too long or she would have to remind him it was time for him to sit down.

One story Pastor Lewison shared was how he learned about the church’s tradition regarding ringing the bells on Sunday morning, and how he thought that he was late for his first worship service at St. Peter. Back in those early years, St. Peter’s would ring the church bell one hour before the service, again at a half hour before the service as well as at the start of the service.

He also talked about when the first joint services were held with the local congregations, starting with services at Thanksgiving, as well as about the services that were held at New Richland Care Center, Country Neighbors and HUD. He talked a little bit about how he helped the church women with their Meals on Wheels program by getting men and other women to sign up to help keep it going.

Realizing the quality of the work being done by the quilters in the church, he was successful in organizing a project to get the church basement remodeled and additional electrical outlets installed, which has helped the quilters who are now creating about 250 quilts a year.

Pastor Lewison was a good youth leader during his time in New Richland and accompanied the youth on many trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, which became a great tradition. Many confirmation students who went on those trips went on to serve as church council members. He also shared that he misses the members during Christmas Eve candlelight services wherever he is attending.

Pastor Phil and Barb Lewison currently live in Custer, South Dakota and attend the Custer Lutheran Fellowship Church. He and Barb are active in the congregation. Barb sings in the church choir and is a part of the praise band. She is also active in the Women of the ELCA group at the church.

Phil leads a worship service at a girls’ detention center at Custer State Park once a month and volunteers at Outlaw Ranch, a Bible Camp of the ELCA in their area. During the summer the ranch holds youth and family events and during the winter months they host quilting weekends. Each spring and fall the ranch holds environmental camps, youth retreats and family reunions. Phil also takes part in the annual "wood haul" for the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Pastor Lewison said he and Barb enjoy sharing the Black Hills with visitors. Phil and Barb travel whenever they can to see their daughters. They visit Jennifer in Mt. Vernon, Washington. Jennifer currently serves as pastor at the Salem Lutheran Church there. They also go to San Francisco, California to visit Martha and her husband, Bill, and their two boys, Liam, 6, and Luke, 2. Their son, Matt, and his wife, Ellen, live outside of Custer and have two daughters, Quinn, 7, and Maggie, 3.

The 125th Anniversary planning committee consisted of chairman Sharon Eckart along with Amy Kitzer, Thelma Kormann, Marilyn Quiram, Judy Thompson, Rachel Romine and Pastor Williams.

The 125th anniversary banner that graces the sanctuary of the church was donated by Thelma Kormann. The flowers on the altar for the anniversary were given to the glory of God and in thankful memory for all the departed saints upon whose shoulders the congregation stands. Flowers were also shared by the LeSeuer River, Vista Lutheran and Vista Covenant congregations.

125th Anniversary cookbooks had been published and were available for purchase from WELCA members, and can also be purchased at the State of in New Richland. 125th Anniversary sweatshirts and T-shirts were created and were available for the celebration from Jen Clark.

A special thank you was extended to Bishop Delzer, Rev. Phil and Barb Lewison, and Just Friends for being a part of the anniversary celebration

May the St. Peter congregation continue to grow in numbers and faith well beyond the next 125 years.