By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Dr. Randy Mullin, co-chairman of the 170th anniversary committee at First Lutheran Church in Geneseo, stands by one of the banners in place for June 28th celebration. Photo by Claudia Loucks
“Celebrating a Proud Past and Looking to a Faithful Future” is the theme of the upcoming 170th anniversary celebration of First Lutheran Church in Geneseo.
The official anniversary date is June 27, and the anniversary service will be at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 28, at the church, 114 East Main St., Geneseo. Northern Illinois Synod Bishop, the Rev. Stacie Fidlar, will lead the service.
The celebration will include reflecting on a “proud history” and a “faithful future.”
Music will be presented by Inger Oswald, director of worship and music at First Lutheran.
The present is represented by the church’s current involvements in leadership with the Ministerial Association, the Northern Illinois Synod (global mission, ministry support, nominating, and outreach committees).
The Rev. Laura Kamprath is pastor at First Lutheran, and Vicar Madelyn Knutson is the church’s fifth intern being mentored on the path to ordination. First Lutheran also supports a syntonically authorized minister serving in sister congregations, small and/or rural.
Former interns and pastors have returned, and some will be returning, as guest speakers at First Lutheran in Geneseo during the 170th anniversary year.
The future of the church is bolstered by an initiative to raise $170,000 for the Mission Investment Fund, and the interest and investment gains of that fund will then be able to say “yes” to ministry opportunities that arise outside of the operating budget of the church.
CHURCH HISTORY NOTES SHARED BY DR. MULLIN:
In the mid-1800’s, King Gustav of Sweden designated Pastor Lars Esbjorn to come to America and ecclesia plantade (which is Swedish for “plant the church.”
With the Swedish immigration, Pastor Esbjorn did indeed plant churches, not just with the mother-ship at Andover, but also First Lutheran in Geneseo; First Lutheran in Moline; First Lutheran in Galesburg, Swedona Lutheran, Cambridge Lutheran, Grace Lutheran, Ophiem (now closed), and others.
When P.T. Barnum wanted to become a “legitimate’ producer,” an opera star by the name of Jenny Lind came to America. Although she did not travel to Illinois, she did become aware of the Swedish settlement and she financed the building of what is now known as the Jenny Lind Chapel in Andover.
The Rev. Gotthardt Burton served as pastor of First Lutheran in Geneseo for 25 years. His daughter, Miriam, married “Bud” Olson, and the couple served as missionaries to Japan. They were significant contributors to rebuilding the Lutheran church in Hiroshima, Japan, after World War II.
The first chapel of Geneseo’s First Lutheran was located on the southwest corner of South and Spring Sts. With the advent of the railroad in Geneseo, the congregation found a location close to the new center of town, as the original center of town was at Main and Center Sts.
The location chosen for the new church was the “Miller lot” on Main St, and the building opened its doors in 1882. There was concern as the previous two buildings at that location, the Stewart home, which was the second cabin built in Geneseo; and the Geneseo House Hotel, had both burned, which created a fear of the property being “hexed.”
Pastor Philip Larson came to First Lutheran from a call in Nebraska, where he had been familiar with the Good Samaritan homes. When the Augustana Synod suggested that the Geneseo community did not have sufficient housing for older citizens, the late Ernie Bengtson joined Pastor Larson in reaching out to the Good Samaritan organization to come to Geneseo. Mr. Bengtson wisely advised that such an endeavor must include a board comprised of representatives from each of the churches in Geneseo. This strengthened the role of a community Ministerial Association and Good Samaritan, now known as Allure, became a reality.
OTHER NOTES OF INTEREST:
Former pastor David Spong and a First Lutheran congregation became members of the steering committee which spawned the church league softball association.
Fist Lutheran has established a companion congregation relationship with the Osupuko congregation of Tanzania.
Members of First Lutheran were instrumental in developing a Lutheran Cursillo/Via de Cristo movement in this region.
FROM MY STORY ON THE CHURCH’S 150TH ANNIVESARY CELEBRATION IN 2006.
First Lutheran Church was organized in 1856 when the village of Geneseo was about 20 years old. Immigrants had been coming from Sweden to this community since 1852 and there was a desire in their hearts for a church of their own where they could worship in the language which they understood and in the faith which was their heritage from the Lutheran Church of Sweden.
The Rev. L.P. Esbjorn, one of the pioneer pastors of the Augustana Synod, came from his parish in Andover to conduct services in the homes of the early settlers. On June 27, 1856, Rev. Esbjorn met with a group of 13 people in the home of John Gustus, a shoemaker, which was located on the northeast corner of State and South Streets. These 13, officially organized “The First Lutheran Church and Society of Geneseo.”
The first church building was a modest chapel, built on South Spring St. in Geneseo. According to history records, these early Lutherans, few in number, poor in worldly goods, but rich in the spirit of the Lord, raised about half of the $350 necessary. Almost half was donated by people of other church affiliations.
By 1882, the people of the church felt the need for a larger building. It was decided to purchase the property on Main Street, the site of the present church building. The first church building was dedicated on Oct. 4, 1886.
First Lutheran Church was instrumental in establishing The Lutheran Home for Children and Farm School at Andover in 1867, which was one of the earliest charitable institutions in Illinois and in the nation and functioned for more than 100 years.
In 2006, a member of the 150th anniversary committee said, “What stands out about First Lutheran Church is not its building, but its spiritual growth by ‘Sharing Christ’s Love’. Our heritage started with the Swedish founding members and has since grown to include members from many cultural backgrounds.”