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Dows First Lutheran Sesquicentennial
150 Years of Worship & Praise

Behold, I am making all things new!
—Rev. 21:5

On Sunday, November 4, Dows First Lutheran celebrated 150 years of worship!

Held on All Saints Sunday, the day was a thrilling tribute to all the pastors and parishioners who have come before us. The day began with a 10:00am worship service featuring Rev. Tanner Howard as guest preacher. Pastor Howard grew up at Dows First Lutheran, and in 2015, became the second member of our church to be ordained in the Lutheran Church. The liturgy was led by Lay Pastor Laurel Meester and Bishop Rev. Steven L. Ullestad presided over the Communion Meal.

The worship service opened with the hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.” Trumpeters Cindy Trainum and Kylie Klaver played with organist Phyllis Wesenberg. The song accompanied a procession led by our four confirmands, Owen Coldiron, Ethan Hurt, Jacob Ingebritson and Nash Lienemann, who carried in the Christ Cross, the Holy Bible and the Elements (Bread & Wine). The confirmands were followed in by several pastors who served the congregation in the past. Reverends Dave Anderson, Harold McMillin, Glenn Kappelmann, Ron Nelson, and Paul Thompson joined Rev. Howard, Lay Pastor Meester and Bishop Ullestad. After the clergy members, came the Sesquicentennial Choir, a 30 person group led by guest director Jennifer Littlejohn and accompanied by Sheree Koutsoukos.

The service included a “Litany of the Saints” which paid tribute to those lost this past year. Remembered were, Emma Colnes, Marilyn Ingebritson, Janet Beem-Boll, Denny Moore, Carlene Peyton, Arthurine Haupt and Kenny Nielsen. Also acknowledged, were the seventeen pastors who have served First Lutheran, and have gone on to the Church Triumphant.

Special music was shared by the Sesquicentennial Singers and The Wesenberg Quartet (Mina Fantz, Dayce McAndrews, Sheree Koutsoukos and Dane Wesenberg). A small group which included Deb Coldiron, Sheree Koutsoukos, flutist Aimee Hanson and guitarist Grant Parker also performed. Lay Pastor Meester shared a children’s sermon.

A meal was enjoyed following worship and afterward, Rev. Roger Dykstra joined the rest of our guest clergy in attending an afternoon program. Emcee Laurel Meester coordinated songs from the Sesquicentennial singers and The Wesenberg Quartet with memories shared by each of our former pastors. Also shared, a letter from Rev. John Langehough’s wife, as well as a message from Rev. Dr. Ron Yarnell. The entire Sunday school (preschool though high school) led the crowd in singing one of their favorite hymns, "Siyahamba (We Are Marching In the Light of God)” and the confirmands joined Emcee Meester and parishioner Craig Russell in a hilarious and touching skit called “The Hug Machine.”

One of the many highlights of the program was a 20 minute documentary film on the history of the congregation, written and produced by Deb Coldiron and narrated by David Stein.

The day ended with coffee and cookies in the Fellowship Hall, where members enjoyed visiting with former pastors and their families and also many guests, some who had traveled from very far away.

Symbols were behind so many of the day’s details. The sanctuary was decorated with eight new banners declaring the Four Solas: Grace Alone, Faith Alone, the Word Alone and Christ Alone. They were made to remember Lay Pastor Meester’s Internship project, an adult bible study on Martin Luther and the Four Solas. A beautiful mobile of 150 doves (made by Beth and Dan Hurt, with help from Jeanne Russell and Judy Gorder) represented each year of the anniversary. The baptismal font from the congregation’s first building (when the church was called “Otis Grove Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church”) was on display, as well as a nativity set brought back from the Holy Land by former Pastor Anderson during his tenure at First some fifty years ago. Every piece of special music was chosen because it had been performed memorably at some point in the congregation’s history. Even the meal was chosen for a special reason, in honor of “Lutheran potluck” culture, a meal of ham balls and cheesy potatoes was served!

The day’s theme was from Revelation 21:5, “Behold, I am making all things new!” It was chosen because First Lutheran just completed mentoring its very first pastoral intern. “Intern” Laurel Meester became “Lay Pastor” Meester in September and the congregation is eagerly looking forward to her ordination later this Winter or early Spring. The 150th Committee included Chairperson Deb Coldiron, Jeanie Agena, Arne Anderson and Maynard Agena. Scott Coldiron served as Sound and Technical Coordinator. Monica Johnson and Kathy Thelke chaired the food committee, with Jean Swanson heading up the Fellowship Hall decorating. Countless people helped in the preparations (including cleaning, baking, sewing, yard work and repairs), making the day one to remember for years to come!

Committee Chair Deb Coldiron stated, “The day was really wonderful, the church looked beautiful, the music was terrific and seeing and hearing from each former pastor was delightful. Thank you to all who traveled great distances to be with us and to everyone who worked hard to make it all come together!”

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