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Grace Covenant (CA) Celebrates 50 Years
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA (September 25, 2004) - More than 90 people attended a
celebration banquet last Sunday (September 19) as Grace Covenant Church
commemorated 50 years of ministry in Northern California.
Greetings were given by Karyl Matsumoto, the mayor of South San
Francisco, and Pacific Southwest Conference (PSWC) Supt. Evelyn Johnson.
Two previous pastors, Paul Springer and Robin Dummer, along with Beverly
Eggert, widow of founding pastor Richard Eggert, also participated. Each
shared the memories that highlighted the faithfulness of those calling
Grace Covenant their "spiritual home." So did others during a testimony
time that evening.
Longtime members of the church, Percy Mueda and John Cantley,
participated in a symbolic burning of the mortgage, giving an added
dimension to the celebration
of the event. The evening was culminated with a concert presented by the
Covenant Four, appropriately giving emphasis to "it's all about Jesus."
"We had a great time," said pastor Bill Fort of the event. "Everyone
went away floating in the clouds."
Grace Covenant Church conducted its first worship service under Richard
Eggert on May 1, 1954, in the Nobel Chapel at Cypress Lawn Memorial
Park. The church joined the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1955.
Fort made connections with the church through a friend, Penny Anderson,
after serving
for a time as a Southern Baptist pastor. Fort also serves as building
inspector for the nearby city of Daly City. Cantley, who is a Covenant
licensed lay minister, assists with a significant lay ministry during
the week.
The congregation meets at 740 Monte Avenue on the Peninsula near San
Francisco. The building, which includes a sanctuary seating 225 and a
two-story educational wing, was dedicated on November 15, 1959, while
John Sara Jr. was pastor. It is currently shared with their
Spanish-speaking sister church, Jehova Es Mi Pastor, and a privately
owned preschool serving 35 children ages 2 to 5.
In addition to worship services by the churches, the building is also
used several times a year by the local middle school to offer special
classes and serves as a voting site for elections. Twice a month the
congregation distributes 80 to 100 bags of food to needy families in the
area.
Grace Covenant supports six separate mission works. They are not all
individual missionaries. Some are individuals and the others are groups
or foundations.
Mission and ministry by Grace Covenant, however, extends beyond the
local community to the larger world in the form of six separate mission
projects. The church also
conducts worship services at a local retirement home. "It's been the
most loving congregation I've ever seen," says Fort about his
congregation of 30.
To learn more about the church, call Fort at 650-589-6797 or
650-991-2456 or email him at beforit@aol.com.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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