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Turlock (CA) Church Continues Centennial Celebration
TURLOCK, CA (April 1, 2003) - John Notehelfer, retired superintendent of the
Pacific Southwest Conference and the current interim executive minister of
the Department of World Mission of the Evangelical Covenant Church,
preached at last Sunday's morning worship service as Turlock Covenant
Church continued its centennial celebration.
A son of the church, William Notehelfer, spoke and sang at a Saturday night
banquet that drew 250 people. He also led a Sunday evening service of music
for about 300 as the congregation culminated the weekend festivities.
Turlock Covenant Church began 100th anniversary celebration events last
December with a special historical pageant by Margaret Grant and Sunday
worship led by Jim Hawkinson, retired executive director emeritus of the
Department of Communication. The mid-December event coincided with the
official founding of the church on December 18, 1902.
According to a 1968 article in the California Covenanter, Turlock
Covenant had its first worship service the Sunday after Christmas (December
28) in 1902. Then called Svenska Evangelical Missions Forsamlingen (Swedish
Evangelical Mission Church), the church formally joined the denomination in
1903 under interim pastor Andrew Hallner. The church built its first church
building in 1906 and secured its first full-time pastor, E.M. Carlson, in
1908.
From 1911-1919, August Delbon served as pastor as the church more than
tripled in attendance. He also helped in the founding of the Covenant's
Emanuel Hospital in Turlock.
By 1921, the church had more than 500 members and the congregation began to
consider a building project under pastor Paul Rood (1922-33). In 1925, the
church bought property from the previous high school and began construction
of the Beulah Tabernacle in the Beulah Park area of Turlock. The new
building was located at the site of the town's previous high school. It was
dedicated December 2, 1928. Along with helping the
church in its building project, Rood also assisted the California
Conference as it constructed Bethany Home, a home for the elderly.
In 1935, the church became known as Beulah Covenant Church and during the
next stage of development Walfred Westlind (1934-44) and C. Victor Nyquist
(1945-53) were key catalysts of change. Nyquist was instrumental in helping
with a church radio ministry that began in 1949 and produced 1,900
broadcasts on a local station during a period of more than four decades.
Turlock Covenant, under pastor Jeff Woods, now has an average worship
attendance of more than 200. The church will hold a Homecoming event May
24-25 as it concludes its centennial celebration. Stanley Henderson, a
former superintendent of the Northwest Conference, will be the guest
preacher for the worship service.
For more information about the church, its ministries and celebration, call
209-667-1191.
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