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Grand Rapids Church to Celebrate 125 Years

GRAND RAPIDS, MI (April 1, 2005) - First Evangelical Covenant Church is celebrating 125 years of ministry with an all-day event on June 12, including a Founders' Day drama re-enactment.

Gloria Gustafson Anderson, a longtime parishioner in the church, is directing the re-enactment, which had also been performed for First Covenant's centennial. A singing group will present songs that were part of that period. Previous pastors and out-of-town former parishioners are among specially invited guests for the event bearing the themed "Christ Our Heritage – Christ Our Future."

An old fashioned family potluck will follow the re-enactment. Great Lakes Associate Supt. Larry Sherman will be part of the day's activities, which includes the dedication of the new Church Council.

In January, the church began its celebration by inviting the North Park University choir to be part of Sunday worship and also to perform at a local high school. The church's rich heritage will be the theme of various events until June.

The church will continue its celebration with an August hymn sing as the congregation focuses on First Covenant's cultural diversity. On October 23, Evangelical Covenant Church President Glenn R. Palmberg will preach at morning worship services.

Along with monthly historical events, the church has designated space in its facility to focus upon various parts of the church's ministry, including the history of the church's pastoral staff, its confirmands, parishioners who have been in the active military, and musical ensembles and choirs.

First Covenant was founded on June 12, 1880, as the Mission Friends Church, according to Bill Carlson, church historian. Swedish immigrants had come to the area to work in local factories – many were from Chicago and were forced to move following the Chicago fire. Circuit preachers were catalysts for the religious movement in the Grand Rapids area, Carlson notes.

The founding church was led by eight lay leaders and in 1882 the church joined the Mission Synod. In 1883, the church dedicated its first building. Frank August Staberg (1884-89) and Constantin Olson (1890-93) were the first two pastors of the church. Gustafson Anderson noted that the church was known in its early years for its string music, a tradition that carries through even today.

First Covenant Church has an average worship attendance of around 450 under the leadership of senior pastor Craig Swanson. Previous pastors include Northwest Conference Supt. James Fretheim and former Central Conference Supt. Clarence Winstedt. The congregation was the mother church for Thornapple Evangelical Covenant in Grand Rapids, as well as Redeemer Covenant Church in Caledonia and Fellowship Covenant in Hudsonville.

To learn more about the church, its history and its ministries, call staff at 616-453-6346 or visit the church website at First Covenant.

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