Rural Minnesota Church Celebrates 150 Years of Service to Our Lord!

 Just think of all the Country Churches in America that are scattered across this great land! From Reserve, New Mexico to Upper State New York to southern Florida, southern California to Washington State to southwestern Minnesota! The Bethany Lutheran Church in Bergen, Minnesota just celebrated 150 years of service to our Lord! So very special, such an inspiring story. Extra special for me, as my Grandpa Floyd and Grandma Caraway attended Bethany. After Grandma passed onto glory in 1978 I would come home at times from college and go to Church with Grandpa at Bethany. Back in the 60’s and early 70’s Grandpa would make jewelry boxes, tables and other items from his woodshop so the ladies at Church could sell them at their benefits. The funerals for Grandpa and Grandma were both held at Bethany. ass I read this story below by my Dear friend Dave Fjeld of the Cottonwood County Citizen, I realized another reason why I am so blessed to be called to Preach at FBC in Reserve, New Mexico, is that my Christian heritage was formed in Windom, Minnesota and now the Lord has me carry that to Reserve and all over the world here at FGGAM. Christian roots, heritage  are so very important. I pray that upon our nation this morning, that everyone gets the blessings I have received by growing up in a Christian home and community.

This article appeared in the Cottonwood County Citizen on June 24th, 2015………

It was just a few years ago that Minnesota celebrated its 150th anniversary, or sesquicentennial. Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that Minnesota churches are not far behind in noting their sesquicentennials.

One of the first such anniversaries in the Windom area comes this weekend when Bethany Lutheran Church in rural Bergen notes its 150th year.

“When I went to the Southwest Minnesota Synod last June, they said Southern Minnesota is going to have the churches with the 150th anniversaries first because people moved north later,” says Linda Kintzi of Windom, a lifelong member of the church and part of the committee that is planning the big anniversary celebration.

She is joined by her husband Bruce, Dianne and Wally McDaniel and Brigitte and Gordy Olson.

In fact, Bethany Lutheran is one of just a half dozen churches to note their 150 years of worshipping and praising God.

And the church has a big celebration planned.

All of the weekend’s activities are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday and centered around the anniversary theme: “Growing in Faith: Remember, Rejoice, Rededicate.”

Saturday’s activities begin at 2 p.m., at the church, with a program titled “Celebrating Music Through the Years.” The program will feature a number of the church’s present and former musicians and singers performing sacred hymns and songs.

The one-hour program will be followed by a fellowship time featuring Norwegian goodies, such as krumkakke, lefse, kransekake (a treat for special occasions) and smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches) along with coffee and lemonade.

“Our heritage is totally Norwegian,” says Dianne McDaniel. “We are not totally Norwegian any more, but it was all Norwegian settlers who started the church.”

At 5 p.m., activities move to Bergen Brotherhood Park, a ball field that has long been an extension of the church. A hog roast, games and a bonfire are planned at the park.

“If the weather is nice, they may be playing some softball and, of course, that’s what we’re known for is our park and softball,” McDaniel notes.

“Bring your lawn chairs and blankets,” Kintzi adds.

Sunday’s events get rolling at 8:30 and 9 a.m. with short memorial programs at the church’s two cemeteries, Hauges Cemetery and Bethany Cemetery. Former

Pastor Marlan Johnson will give a brief talk followed by a hymn and the releasing of balloons.

At 9:30 a.m., a time of fellowship with homemade doughnuts, coffee and juice will be held under a large tent at the church, followed by the 150th anniversary service with Holy Communion beginning at 10:30 a.m., in the church.

Almost all living pastors are expected to attend the service, which includes Pastor Johnson, who served the church from 1973-1982; Randy Skow-Anderson, who served from 1986 to 1990, and Pastor Carl Bruihler, who will bring the message.

Either Bishop John Anderson of the District Synod or Larry Strenge of the Synod, who was baptized in the church, is also expected to attend the service. Strenge’s grandmother also was a member of the church.

A choir of about 30 present and former members, directed by former director and organist Gerda Frier, will sing during the service as will a choir of young children, directed by Gary Natterstad.

A catered dinner with anniversary cake and ice cream begins at about 12:30 p.m.

McDaniel is expecting over 150 current and former members to attend the service and meal. That will be more than three times the average Sunday attendance at the church, which numbers about 40 to 60 parishioners each Sunday.

At its peak, the church had anywhere from 125 to 150 regular attenders.

Bethany Lutheran Church’s origin dates to 1865, when a small group of worshippers got together and decided to form a congregation, Kristiania Norwegian Lutheran Church.

The church was named for the Norwegian capitol at the time, “Kristiania.”

However, when the congregation was formed, there were actually two churches, Kristiania Norwegian Lutheran and Hauges Lutheran Church. Hauges Luthean was originally built next to the cemetery along Highway 71. When it burned, a new church was built across the road.

“There was just enough doctrinal difference. They were more strict at Hauges,” McDaniel says, noting that she grew up in the Hauges church. “The Kristiania church followed more of the doctrine of the Norwegian church from Norway.”

In the 1920s, Pastor T.J. Knutson, who was serving both churches, suggested that the two congregations combine and form one church. The Hauges church was left standing and the two congregations decided to build a new church. The new church was dedicated in 1927 and named Bethany Lutheran, the name it still holds today. A year later, meetings began being conducted in English and by 1930, special services were conducted in English.

The pairing lasted for just a few years. By 1929, some of the former Hauges members decided to again form a separate congregation and returned to the former Hauges church.

“For a decade, they were together and then they (Hauges members) went back. I don’t know what happened; none of us seem to know,” McDaniel says.

For the next 35 years, the two congregations functioned separately until 1965 when Hauges closed its doors and members went to Bethany Lutheran or another area church.

“Until ’65, I attended Hauges,” McDaniel continues. “We had the same ministers, we were confirmed together, we had Luther League together, but we worshipped separately. My folks were the type that if we couldn’t make it to Hauges for whatever reason, we would come to Bethany to worship, it was no big deal.”

For the past 50 years, it has been Bethany Lutheran. The Hauges church, meanwhile, was later torn down.

For its first eight years, the church was served by itinerant ministers, who traveled from congregation to congregation.

It wasn’t until 1873 when Rev. Anders O. Hagen began serving the church that he was called to be a full-time pastor of the congregation in 1879.

Over the next 136 years, the congregation was served by many full-time pastors, the last of whom was Pastor Rachel Christensen, who served the congregation from 2002 to 2004.

Since then, Bethany Lutheran has been served by pastors from American Lutheran Church in Windom. Pastors Steve Norby and Greg Hall were the first from ALC in Windom to serve the congregation. Today, Pastors Sarah Larsen Tade and Tim Wrenn continue that service.

The men and women who have brought the weekly sermons certainly provided some memories over the years.

“A pastor from Worthington, who just passed away, was giving his sermon at our church and his cell phone rings. He picks it up and says, ‘Hello?’ And we are all like, ‘Why are you answering that?’ It was a phone call from God,” Linda recalls with a laugh.

McDaniel also recalls an unexpected visitor during a morning service.

“One Sunday, Pastor Ann Ward was up there preaching and she says, ‘Oh, we have a visitor.’ And this bat came from the back of the church and flew right over her head. She kept right on preaching. I think it made a couple of passes and she never missed a beat,” McDaniel remembers.

Once the present building was built in 1927, it has continued to stand the test of time.

However, it has gone through some changes and upgrades over the years, the first of which came in 1952 when new pews were installed, the sanctuary received a new coat of paint, a room over the entrance was created, restrooms were improved and the kitchen was modernized.

Needing more room for programs and activities, the church built an addition in 1979.

One of the more beautiful changes in the sanctuary came in 2002 when the Leonard Erickson estate left money for the church to install stained glass windows, which the congregation did.

New windows also were installed in 2013, new carpeting in 2014 and a fresh coat of paint was applied to the sanctuary this year in preparation for the church’s big anniversary.

The church’s oldest living member has lived for 100 of the church’s 150 years. Sigfried Johnson, who now lives in Jackson, celebrated her 100th birthday in October, and is still able to attend services.

McDaniel and Kintzi refer to her as a very humble woman who was baptized, confirmed, married and raised her three children in the church. She also was the church organist for many years.

“I don’t think it’s been even two years ago that she was washing dishes in the church kitchen,” McDaniel says. “She was our dishwasher and if you were in the sink when Siggy was here, she told you to get out of there.

“She is a fantastic example.”

Indeed, the small rural church has not only survived for 150 years, but continues to thrive. The reason for its longevity is reflected in the reason Kintzi remains a lifelong member.

“I don’t want to be any other place. I want to be here,” she says. “This is where I was baptized, confirmed, married, my parents and grandparents are buried out there. It’s just a solid foundation here that’s based on family, faith and good fellowship.

“We threw a benefit for Brad Bennett (a church member) and you would not believe the turnout. Thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars were raised for him. It’s just a group of hardworking people.”

Kintzi and McDaniel also believe that the small church is like one big family.

“Whatever happens to anybody, happens to all of us,” McDaniel confirms.

“It would be a lot easier for Linda and for my husband and I to go not even five minutes and be at church. And for things that are going on in the church — quilting, Bible study — it would be real easy to just go (to a church in Windom or Jackson). But I wouldn’t consider it.”

That’s a common attitude in the church. Little wonder Bethany Lutheran is marking 150 years.

Pastor Dewey Note: Thank you dave for allowing us to post your story. I also was blessed to talk on the phone with Lind Kintzi, who Mother lived across the road from Grandpa and Grandma. Linda told me that Pastor Marlan Johnson was at the celebration, he was Grandpa and Grandma’s Pastor. I have such fond memories of Pastor Marlan. God Bless all the folks at Bethany Lutheran!

Pictures are from Bob Hanson and Wallace McDaniel, thank you gentleman!

Here is a note Bob Hanson sent me on Bethany’s 150 years…………

The last week in June of this year, a church in Southwest Minnesota celebrated its 150th anniversary. Bethany Lutheran is a church that I hold near and dear to my heart. Probably not that unusual for many of us to have special feelings for a church, but in my case, I have never attended a service or event there, but still deeply care about it. Why you may ask? This is the church where my dad attended as a child, learned about the Bible and God’s love. He is the man who started me on my journey of faith that continues to this day. Most of his family rests behind the church in a serene cemetery where I can find peace whenever I visit the area. I am so thankful for what this church has done for me, and that it continues to do God’s work. Please keep this church in your prayers and for all who believe in the Lord. God Bless Bethany Lutheran Church!!

God Bless you Bob for sharing!

Romans 8:9-11

But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more ofyourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God’s terms. It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from thedead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s!

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Romans 12:4-6

In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning fromthe body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about isChrist’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of hisbody. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into allthese excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations