Office (815)
633-8075A History of Grace 1953 - 1970
Rev Carlyle
Smith 1971 - 1997
Rev. Ragnar
Moline 1973
Rev. William
Maxon 1984
Rev. Robert
Edlen 1987
Rev. Jeffrey
Marian 1987
Rev. Robert
Engen 1992
Rev. Michael
Thomas 1993
Rev. Orlyn Huwe
1997
In
January of 1971 Dr. Carlyle Smith accepted the call and was
installed as Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church after serving as an
Assistant to the Bishop of the Illinois Synod. During the first few
months of his installation, twenty-eight cottage meetings were held
in homes to help acquaint the new Pastor with the church members.
Pastor Smith's background was unique, starting with his M.A. Degree in Chinese History after graduating from Augustana College and spending two years in the U.S. Amy in Japan. It was at this time that he realized he was being called to be a Lutheran minister. He graduated from the Lutheran School of Theology with a Bachelor of Divinity degree in Theology in 1964 and went on to receive a Certificate in Chinese Language from Yale University. He and his wife, Sharon, along with a daughter, Kerstin, went to Borneo to serve as missionaries following his ordination in 1964.
The Smith family remained in Malaysia until 1967. Pastor Smith
served as Headmaster of Sung Siew School, kindergarten through grade
11, and pastored the English church. Sharon directed the church
choir there and another daughter, Kari, was born during the time of
their service.
The first Koinonia Group (People who come together for Christian
study and fellowship) was organized in 1972.
The mayor of Loves Park from 1973 to 1977 was our own Eddie
Anderson, a lifelong member of Grace.
By
1973 church adult membership was 1, 116 and total baptized
membership was 1,549. Construction was begun for remodeling and
incorporating a new church entrance with an auto canopy at the south
parking lot, centralization of offices for the church and air
conditioning of the office area. The nursery was redecorated, the
kitchen improved, the cloak room was enlarged An elevator was
installed, making access for the aged and handicapped to all three
levels of the building a realization. During this same year, the
organ was vandalized and repaired.
Rev.
Ragnar Moline became our Calling Pastor in 1973. His duties included
preaching making visits to congregational members, shut-ins, and
hospital visitations. Grace was blessed with his services for ten
years.
1974 was the year we celebrated our "golden" anniversary with many
special activities. A highlight of the celebration year was a
banquet featuring charter members and previous pastors and their
wives. They were also invited back to preach on the following dates:
1/27/74
Rev. Paul Randolph
A program was also begun that year to reach the unchurched using an
evangelism program based on the C. Kennedy method. The church
building was appraised for $626,000 with the parsonage at $45,000.
Membership had grown to 1648 by April of 1974. Grace Lutheran Church
was proving that it's "most important responsibility during the past
fifty years was to
provide for the spiritual needs of the community".
A new roof was installed on the church in 1975. Lexon glass was
installed over the windows and the parsonage was air-conditioned.
In 1976 Grace Lutheran Church opened their doors to "Meet and Eat"
which served the whole community. A member of our congregation, Jane
Johnston, was ordained at Grace on August 1, 1996 and went to a
congregation in Esther, Iowa.
Joe Sinkiawic (a member of Grace) became mayor of Loves Park in 1977
following many years as alderman, He was in office for the next
twenty years.
The Bethel Bible Series began in November of 1978 with an enrollment
of 150 people. The Lutheran Marriage Encounter began to receive
increasing support. The new Lutheran Book of Worship was introduced
in October. The Folk Encounter Hymns books were also added that yew.
Fifty-three families of Grace pledged $32,309 to the Strength for
Mission, an appeal of the LCA.
Under the youth program, two summer trips were planned to assist in
caring for the handicapped at Bethpage Mission in Axtell, Nebraska.
The Youth also participated in Confirmation Camps, Colorado
Back‑packing trips, retreats (e.g. Stronghold Castle), the Tenebrae
Service, and delivering Thanksgiving baskets to shut-ins as an
on‑going ministry. Boy Scouts were active under Grace sponsorship.
1979 saw the introduction of Holy Communion being carried to
shut-ins by eighteen lay persons. Communion instruction was given to
pre‑Confirmation youth, with sixth and seventh graders invited to
participate in October.
"Growing in Grace" became the theme at Grace Lutheran Church in
1979. We were affiliated with the Lutheran Church in America and had
a baptized membership of 1714 with a confirmed membership of 1264.
Services were held at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. each Sunday and an 8
a.m. service was held the first Sunday of each month during
September through June. Summer services were held at 8 a.m. and 9:15
a.m. each Sunday for July and August.
We experimented with videotaping Sunday morning services for an
evening television showing on Channel 10 in 1980. STRENGTH FOR
MISSIONS was a challenge accepted by Grace over a three-year period
starting in 1980. Pastor Smith and Sharon attended MARRIAGE
ENCOUNTER. Nine couples from Grace took part in the first Lutheran
Marriage Encounter in 1980. The decision to renovate the organ (at a
cost of $70,000), Sunday School space, lounge. and worship area took
place at the annual meeting.
"Sharing the Peace" began on a trial basis in 1981 and gradually, it
was included as a regular part of our morning worship service.
Pastor Kenneth Storck served as Youth Pastor from February of 1982
to May of 1983. Pastor Robert Anderson was our Evangelism Visitor
from January of 1982 until May of 1983.
Following a fund‑raising drive for a new organ, the members of the
congregation pledged $100,109 to cover organ renovation and building
improvements. The improvements were made and the organ was played in
August 1983.
60 years as a congregation and 40 years as a pre‑school gave us
cause to celebrate in 1984. It was deemed the appropriate time to
repaint and remodel the church building. An old classroom became two
offices, the nursery was moved from the first floor, a youth room
was created by removing a gym stage, and asbestos was removed. A
pictorial directory was printed and distributed to members. Grace
stepped on the gas that year with G.A.S. (Grace Assembly and
Sorting), a not‑for‑profit organization, with proceeds going to the
church.
Rev.
William Maxon (Woody) was hired to become assistant
pastor in 1984, the same year as his ordination.
In 1985 a choir was added to the 10:30 service. Services for healing
were held during that summer, and a Search Bible Study program was
begun. An IBM‑AT computer was purchased with funds from the G.A.S.
group and an Endowment Fund was established.
Holy Communion was added on the third Sunday of each month in 1986.
A card caring ministry was also initiated that year and a post
hospital care group was begun.
Changes
in the staff at Grace in 1987 included the resignation of Assistant
Pastor, William Maxon. In February Rev. Robert Edlen joined the
staff as part-time visitation Pastor. Then in June after his
ordination, Rev. Jeffrey Marian began working as an Assistant Pastor
and later became an Associate Pastor. Included in his memories of
Grace is this anecdote. "I remember Pastor Smith "dancing in the
pulpit" one morning. He had put a spare battery in his pocket and
that battery made contact
with a quarter and got really hot! I also remember one
Maundy
Thursday service, we had communed by intinction and someone dropped
a wafer in the wine. When I handed the chalice back to Pastor Smith,
I said, "I sure hope Jesus can swim." I thought Pastor Smith was
going to have a heart attack trying not to laugh."
January 1, 1988 marked the beginning of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America, which was the merger of the LCA, ALC, and AELC.
It included 11,022 congregations, 5,356,000 members, and 16,820
pastors. Pastor Carlyle Smith was elected to serve on the Synod
Council of the newly formed Northern Illinois Synod of the ELCA from
1988 to 1993. He also served on the Executive Committee of the Synod
Council, the Constitution Review Committee for the Synod, and the
Region 5 Council of the ELCA.
Serendipity Home Groups formed in 1988 to foster fellowship and in
October over sixty members participated in the Crop Hunger Walk. A
Youth Service Corps was created to help the young people in their
service projects. The Confirmation Boosters program was also started
to involve the parents in shaping our Confirmation ministry.
A fund appeal was established to raise $295,000 for needed building
improvements: air conditioning the Sanctuary, parking lot expansion,
choir loft enlargement and re‑roofing the Educational Wing. An
outside company, the James Company, was hired to assist in the much
needed fund drive. The slogan was, "Growing in Grace ... Rebuilding
the Temple". Grace members were challenged to commit pledges for a
three year period for these repairs.
In January 1989 seventy-two persons were recognized as having been
members of Grace for forty years or longer. This was the beginning
of the 65th Anniversary celebration for our church. Other activities
included a "Celebration of Life" service for all members over the
age of 65, a reunion of former choir members who were invited to
perform with the Sanctuary Choir during a church service and a Past
Confirmands Recognition Sunday was held. The women of Grace did a
counted cross-stitch wall hanging and presented it to the church.
1989 was also the 45th anniversary of Grace Lutheran Preschool and
Nursery. Gladys
Anderson,
its director, had taught three generations of families, including
over 6,000 children of all faiths. The Stephens Ministry was also
revived this year.
A
new hymnbook, The Other Songbook, was purchased in 1990 and
introduced at the 7:45 a.m. service which was being held once a
month. It was decided to expand this service to weekly. "Soup and
Sandwiches" "was expanded to include the Wednesday Advent services,
Members met in Founders’ Hall prior to each Advent and Lenten
service for food and fellowship. The video library was begun with
Memorial Funds and housed in the old Sunday School office next to
Founders' Hall. Videos became available for all members to use.
The confirmation program was revised to include teaching by the
Pastors on Wednesday evenings instead of using the lay teachers on
Sunday mornings. Confirmation studies for 7th graders
were
also instituted. The Hunger Appeal became a special offering the
third Sunday of each month.
Grace began the SHARE program in 1990. The opportunity to purchase
food at a very reasonable price while also donating two hours of
volunteer community or church service each month
became a reality. A
Kingdom Weekend Retreat was organized by members of the
congregation.
At Grace the Crossway Bible Study was introduced in 1991. TGIF,
Teens Growing in Faith, began this year and met each Sunday morning.
The program ministers to children in grades 7 through 12. The
Explorers' Mob, Fantastic Fridays, and King's Kids were organized
for grade school youth. Non members were included in these outreach
programs which consisted of recreation and Bible stories.
The kitchen received a new floor, new ceiling tiles, and new counter
tops in 1991. Funds were provided by WELCA. The gym also received a
new floor.
After serving as Director of our Kindergarten, Preschool, and
Nursery, Gladys Anderson retired on September 30, 1991 after
forty-seven years of dedicated service. She was succeeded by Marcia
Olson Freed.
Pastor
Robert H. Engen joined the staff at Grace as Visitation Pastor in
1992 to work with Pastor Edlen. Starting in June that year through
December 1993, a contemporary worship service called New Song, was
held. In September twelve volunteers from Grace traveled to Shepherd
of the Hills Lutheran Church in North Carolina to assist with
Vacation Bible School and help construct a picnic shelter and
storage shed for that congregation.
Jane Freehuf, Education Coordinator, and Pastor Marian began the
SonLight Village program in 1992. This program helps make Sunday
School more fun and meaningful. Student participants were from first
through sixth grade learned about society as well as the Bible in
this program. Over 240 children became involved.
In 1993 a Building Improvement Task Force was formed to study the
need for future building improvements at Grace. They recommended to
remove the drape behind the Altar, enlarge the Narthex area, replace
carpet for the Narthex and Sanctuary, refinish the pews with new pew
cushions, add two new bathrooms by the Narthex, remodel the other
existing bathrooms in the church building, remodel Founders' Hall,
and repair the boiler. A $295,000 Fund Drive followed.
Pastor
Jeffrey Marian resigned in 1993 to begin a new mission church in
Gurnee, Illinois. Pastor Michael Thomas joined our staff after his
ordination in June that year. Among his "fond" memories of coming to
Grace, he says, "When I started in 1994, it was the week of Vacation
Bible School. I sat down for lunch on Friday with Pastor Smith and a
few kids and their parents. I went to slide a 2 liter bottle of soda
to Seth Joem without the cap on. The soda tipped over and poured on
the table and onto Pastor Smith's legs. He had on a nice
suit..oops!!"
Members of Grace began making preparations for the 70th Anniversary
Celebration of the church to take place in 1994. The theme will be,
"Catch the Vision". Grace has always served the community at large,
and in the future, the primary goal of the Church was to continue
this mission.
Grace Lutheran Church celebrated its 70th anniversary in 1994 with a
dinner in January), a Festival of Music in May, Sunday service in
Sinnissippi Park in July, and a Homecoming Dinner in October. Pastor
Smith celebrated his 30th anniversary year and was offered a six
week leave by the church in appreciation of his spiritual guidance.
Guest speakers for the year included: The Rev. Dr. Roger Fjeld,
President of Wartburg Seminary; The Rev. James Kragness, Chaplain at
Rockford Memorial Hospital; The Rev. Dr. Ronald Hasley, Bishop of
the Northern Illinois Synod; and the Rev. Dr. Lowell
On May 22, 1994 the congregation voted to authorize $308,890 for
remodeling the Sanctuary, Narthex, Founders Hall and other areas in
the educational wing.
The remodeling at Grace was completed in 1995.
In 1996 Grace, through the leadership of Pastor Thomas, added almost
seven alternative worship services, utilizing guitars, drum, and a
Praise Team to lead singing of contemporary songs at the 10:30 AM
service at various dates. The 75th Anniversary Committee was
appointed and Pastor Smith completed 25 years of ministry at Grace.
Pastor Edlen retired in 1997 after faithfully serving Grace as
Visitation Pastor for nine years and pastoring other churches since
his ordination in June 1946. He served Bethlehem Lutheran Church for
the 23 yews prior to joining the staff at Grace. He wrote of his
Grace memories:
We regretfully accepted the retirement of Pastor Smith as of October
31, 1997. He had faithfully served our congregation for 27 years.
The church grew under his leadership with many programs being added.
One of the more notable additions was "Meet and Eat". Pastor Smith
tells of not wanting to add this program until he visited his mother
in Iowa and found that she was not only in favor of such a program
for the seniors, but very actively involved.
Pastor Smith says that one of his major objectives was to teach
people the Bible. He writes, "The many ministries of the church have
been a blessing to me. The ministries of lay persons sharing
Communion with shut-ins (Grace became the first church to do this in
the Rockford area, possibly, the first in the synod.), the Wedding
Consultants, the Altar Guild and the Preschool youth and staff and
the Personnel Committee have been special blessings to the ministry
at Grace. The program of the Koinonia Groups, the Kennedy Evangelism
Explosion Outreach, the Bethel Bible Series, the Stephens Ministry,
Lutheran Marriage Encounter, Crossways International Bible Study,
Wednesday Morning Bible Studies, Confirmation Camps, numerous
retreats and the Kingdom Weekends have provided me with renewed
vitality as I participated with people in these activities."
Since January of 1971 thru October 1997 there were 937 weddings,
1330 child Baptisms. 168 adult Baptisms, and 714 funerals by Grace
Pastors.
One anecdote that Pastor Smith related involved his son, Ander, who
attended a baptism, unexpectedly. During the baptismal service,
Pastor looked up to see his three year old son approaching dressed
in brown coat and dangling mittens. Ander tugged on his father's
robe and was asked to sit quietly, which he did. Pastor turned to
look for Sharon, and saw her gesturing from the Narthex that it
wasn't her idea for Ander to be there. As he continued with the
baptism, one of the ushers, Wilbur Dodson (also a neighbor of the
Smith's), quietly picked up the uninvited guest (Ander) and
delivered him to his mother.
Orlyn
Howe joined the staff at Grace in December 1997 as Interim Senior
Pastor. With the departure of Pastor Thomas in August, Pastor Howe
accepted the added responsibilities "gracefully". He served our
church with dignity, honor, and humor until October 15, 1998.