The History of Mamrelund 1866 - 20161860
Ladies Aid organized 1866 Mamrelund was born 1872 Resolved to build church First church service in new building Sunday School organized by John Johnson 1877 Parsonage built 1881 Hand-pump pipe organ built and installed by John Johnson 1887 A. H. Saur succeeded J. Johnson as Sunday School Superintendent 1888 Adult class taught in English 1900 16-foot addition to north end of church 1906 First class confirmed in English 1918 Central heating installed in church 1921 Electric lights installed in church 1922 Over $7,000 raised to clear church debt / add 12 feet north end Harold Saur succeeds A. H. Saur as Sunday School Superintendent 1929 Lutheran Brotherhood organized 1935 Basement enlarged 1937 Electric orgatron installed 1940 Lutheran Companions organized 1941 75th Anniversary Celebrated 1946 Parsonage remodeled 1951 Church basement rebuilt 1954 Orville Nyblade ordained 1956 New church built 90th Anniversary Celebration 1957 New church dedicated 1964 Mortgaged burned on new church 1965 Ground broke for Centennial Hall addition 1966 New Centennial Hall completed and dedicated 100th Anniversary Celebration Arnold Hultgren ordained pastor -seminary professor 2nd visit by Sen. Gerald Ford 1969 Mortgage burned for Centennial Hall 1971 New parsonage built and dedicated Paul Krupinski ordained pastor 1973 Friendship Class formed for challenged persons 1975 Stained glass windows in the new church dedicated 1977 Wayne Harrison ordained pastor 1978 Michael Laako intern 1979 Harold Mueller intern 1980 Timothy Baglien intern Community Food Pantry organized 1981 Mark Teslik intern Marcia Olson commissioned missionary 1982 Recreation grounds - new ballfield Dedicated new organ 1983 Helping Hand Ministry organized 1985 Diaconal Ministry - Heidi Michelsen (1985-87) 1986 Groundbreaking for new Ministry Services Wing 1987 Dedication of Ministry Services Wing 1988 South parking lot added 1989 Debra Wosinski hired as Director of Youth Ministry 1990 Mission Partnership with St. John Church, Grayling Clothing Bank formed Outdoor parking lot lights installed New sign installed Dedicated 15-passenger van 1991 125th Anniversary Celebration New furnace installed in parsonage Refurbished Fellowship Hall New sound system installed 1992 Grand piano, Rogers keyboard and Charles Walter piano obtained Orville & June Nyblade retire from mission ministry Day Camp at Long Lake Park replaces VBS Church flagpole installed Carillons installed 1993 Susan Foxworthy takes on role of church Treasurer Pat Warren becomes Financial Secretary Lutheran Men in Mission group organizes Clothing Bank relocated to lower level 1994 Amy Merkle returns from three years of missionary service in Japan The Other Song Book purchased by members for worship use Choir room renovated Lutheran Companions ends after 14 years Church bell repaired 1995 Mortgage debt for Ministry Services Wing paid in full 1996 130th Anniversary Celebration Original hand-pump organ purchased from Mrs. Dana Hull to be refinished and restored by Lowell and C. Robert Johnson - installed in the Chapel 1998 New heating system installed in church Jeff Amlotte hired as Director of Youth and Family 1999 New sound system installed 2000 Classroom windows replaced 2002 Kitchen remodeled Jason Buist hired as Director of Shared Ministries and Outreach (2002-05) 2003 New Choir robes purchased and dedicated New freezers for food pantry use 2004 Parking lots repaved and marked Partial roof repair New entry doors installed Sacristy remodeled Clothing Bank remodeled Information Center Upstairs restroom in Centennial Hall remodeled 2005 Church roof re-shingled Restroom in basement hallway remodeled Church and parsonage chimneys rebuilt Stained glass windows repaired Kevin Shangle commissioned for ministry with Youth Encounter (Captive Free) 2006 Dewey Shaw hired as Volunteer Ministries Coordinator Gunner Nyblad commissioned for ministry with Youth Encounter (Captive Free) Membership voted for new Mamrelund Community Center (MCC) building, groundbreaking scheduled for August 28, 2006 2007 Opening of the Mamrelund Community Center (MCC) 2008 Established a Long-Range Planning Committee to consider Mamrelund’s physical and spiritual ministries over the next 8 years as the congregation approaches its 150th year. Embraced Kids’ Hope USA and encouraged Mamrelund’s members to volunteer as mentors to special needs students at Kent City Schools. Adopted a resolution praising God for the life and work of the Reverend Dr. John Northcott on the occasion of his death. 2009 Established an Endowment Committee to explore the establishment of a Mamrelund Endowment Fund. Adopted and recommended to the congregation a position statement on the ELCA’s policy change pertaining to ordaining gay clergy. Authorized the publication of a pictorial directory of Mamrelund’s membership and it's ministries. 2010 The Columbarium committee requested that we approve funds for two landscape architects to prepare plans and a picture for everyone to view and decide. Hilda Goetzka retired as church organist after 47 years of service. Sunday, June 6 was designated Hilda Goetzka Day with a program and meal following the services Congregational Meeting held on August 15, 2010 to consider establishment of Endowment Fund for congregation. The motion was approved. Randy Posthumus, a former member of Mamrelund, will be serving as our choir director. Landon Knoppers, a third year student at Calvin College has accepted the organist’s position. 2011 Placed before the congregation a recommendation for approval of $45,000 for a sports floor for the activity room within the Community Center to be funded with money on hand, pledges and a loan. Recommended for congregational consideration these two questions regarding the Memorial Garden/Columbaria: -A Memorial Garden/Columbaria should be established at Mamrelund Lutheran Church. -The Memorial Garden, if established, should be placed in the Courtyard. Endorsed a statement reaffirming Mamrelund’s opposition to policy changes made by the ELCA in 2009 regarding same gender relationships for ordained pastors. The statement also reaffirms the congregation refrain from supporting the general budget of the local synod and the ELCA for 2012. The statement further recommends the congregation continue to support specific ministries of the ELCA and the synod. 2012 Approval for purchase of chapel cushions at a total price of $2015.00. Motion approved to proceed with the replacement of lighting fixtures and bulbs not to exceed more than $4950. Worship Time changes approved: 8:00am Traditional Service, 9:15am Contemporary Service, 10:45am Traditional Service and Sunday school. Adopted a proposal from INForm Architecture for Sanctuary study. Four basic needs are being assessed: 1. Lighting 2. Sound 3. Accessibility 4. Flexibility Approved recommendation from the property committee to use Verhey Carpet to install VCT flooring not to exceed $20,000 in the Fellowship Hall. 2013 Sanctuary Renovation Committee reported on plan to hold informational meetings and conduct a survey on Sunday, May 12. Council approved “The Future Is Now” as church council goals: 2014 At a Special Congregational Meeting held on August 3, 2014, A motion was made by the council to approve the expenditure of $25,000.00 for Audio and Video upgrades to the Sanctuary. The additional cost for electric outlet preparation of up to $4,700, can be approved by council at a later date or by the congregation at this meeting. Significant, wide-range discussion followed, with many suggestions and concerns shared by members of the congregation. Included in the discussion, a motion was made to accept and approve the motion and amend it to include the additional expenditure of $4,700 for electrical outlet preparation. Vote was called to amend the original motion to include the cost of electrical work. Approved without dissent. Vote was called to approve the expenditure of $29, 266.99 for Video, Audio, and electrical upgrades to the Sanctuary. Motion approved. After several months of discussions, research and surveys taken, the Worship Committee recommended that the Worship Schedule be changed to Praise Worship-8:45 a.m., Sunday School-10:00 a.m., Traditional Worship-11:00 a.m, beginning on September 7, 2014. Motion was approved. Spiritual Leaders of Mamrelund 1856-1864 Mr. Isaac Swenson (Lay Spiritual Leader) 1864-1872 Pastors Erland Carlson; A. Andreen; G. Peters; C.O. Hultgren; P. Erikson; Sp. P.A. Lindholm; G. Lindahl 1872-1876 Pastor N.A. Youngberg served Mamrelund and Lebanon, Whitehall 1876-1880 Pastor N.A. Youngberg 1880-1884 Pastor Adolf Hult 1886-1890 Pastor J.A. Norlin 1891-1895 Pastor K.J. Erkander 1895-1904 Pastor J.A. Norlin 1905-1907 Pastor J.A. Edlund 1907-1909 Pastor Johan B. Bennett 1909-1910 Pastor C.A. Petersen 1911-1912 Pastor J.A. Edlund 1912-1915 Pastor V.I. Vestling 1916-1921 Pastor Martin Hess 1921-1925 Pastor Frank Hanson 1927-1929 Pastor Elof Carlson 1930-1935 Pastor Levine Trued 1935-1936 Pastor P. Martinson 1936-1947 Pastor Gilbert R. Brown 1947-1954 Pastor L.A. Herman 1954-1960 Pastor R.A. Swedberg 1961-1962 Pastor Kenneth Swanberg 1963-1964 Pastor Stephen Wise (Interim) 1964-1982 Pastor Donald Johnson 1983-1996 Pastor John E. Northcott 1993-1997 Pastor Dale Mitchell 1997-2016 Pastor Leonard R. Dahlgren 2016-2018 Interim Pastor Matthew Deames 2018- Pastor Michael Conklin Church Organists 1867-1902 Mr. John Johnson 1902-1914 Mrs. Agnes Swanson 1914-1921 Mrs. Fred Klein 1921-1937 Miss Agnes Saur 1937-1959 Mrs. Carl Saur 1959-1962 Mrs. Thomas VandenBosch 1963-2010 Mrs. Hilda Goetzka 2010 - Mr. Landon Knoppers Directors of Music 1925-1959 Mrs. Carl Saur 1959-1962 Thomas VandenBosch 1963-1964 Jack Bruin 1965-1971 Wallace Kerstetter 1971 Robert Stiles 1972-1975 Roger McClurg 1975 Leon Ballast 1976-1984 Randy Posthumus 1984-1986 Sr. Heidi Michelson 1986-2006 Steven Barnum 2006- 2007 Anita Suparta 2007 - 2008 Sarah Draheim 2008 -2010 Don Sikkema 2010 - 2012 Randy Posthumus 2010- Landon Knoppers Paid Office Staff 1956-1965 Evelyn Wegal 1965 Gail Klein 1966-2001 Nyla Turner 1992-1997 Pamela VanTimmeren 1997-1999 Brenda Young 1999-2006 Julie Barnum 2000 Ryna Reinbold 2000-2002 Lenee Anderson 2002-2009 Denise Shangle, Office manager 2006- Jill Wieck, office staff 2009 - 2014 Tammi Dreschel, office staff 2014 - 2022 Julie Wegal Johnson office staff Sunday School Superintendents 1872-1887 John Johnson 1887-1922 A.H. Saur 1922-1958 Harold Saur 1959-1961 Irving Nyblad 1961-1966 Roy Romeyn 1966-1967 Leonard (Bill) McDougal 1967-1972 Donald Goetzka 1972-1973 Fred Thorne 1973-1983 Donald Goetzka 1983-1987 Beverly Punches 1987-1993 Julie Anderson and Sharon Klein 1993-1994 Ellen Miedema and Lorraine LeBlanc 1994-1996 Ellen Miedema and Kathy Youngquist 1996-1999 Amy Nelsen and Sharon Rader 1999-2003 Amy Nelsen and Denise Shangle 2003-2004 Scott Flegel 2004-2006 C. Lynn Flegel 2006- 2009 Becky Meek 2009 - 2010 Lacy Perkins 140th Anniversary Committee Diane Haring - Chairperson Nancy Anderson Oscar Anderson Pastor Len Dahlgren Hilda Goetzka Edith Klein Maynard Klein Ida McDougal Rosalie Shangle 15oth (Sesquicentennial) Anniversary Committee Ed Bikowitz, Chair Keith Anderson Anita Bikowitz Pastor Len Jake Johnson Logan Johnson Heather Morgan Sarah Rasch Dewey Shaw |
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