100 years for Littlefork Lutheran

Pioneers in faith, yesterday, today and forever

By Barb Murray, Centennial Chairwoman

Bells ringing, feeding the masses, people dancing, worshiping together, and parading around town — all in celebration of 100 years.
Littlefork Lutheran Church celebrated 100 years of ministry last Saturday and Sunday. The celebration began in the morning as members, both past and present, gathered at the church building. There they joined in fellowship with rolls and coffee, as well as stories and pictures. Tours were available for those who had not seen the new church facility, built in 2003.
Littlefork Lutheran welcomed back three former pastors who came to join in the worship and celebration. The Rev. Ron Otterson, who served from 1962 to 1971, traveled from Alexandria. He had served at a parish there for many years before retiring.
Also returning was The Rev. Scott Jacob, who served the church from 1990 to 2001. Jacob currently works as assistant to the bishop of the Northeastern Minnesota Synod and resides in Two Harbors. The Rev. Heather Wigdahl, who served most recently from 2003 to 2008, was welcomed back after only having been gone a few months. She accepted a call in June to a parish in Eau Claire, Wis.
At 1 p.m. Saturday, the sanctuary filled for opening worship. During that time, Otterson said “Littlefork Lutheran’s ‘Pioneers in Faith’ understood that if friends, neighbors and others were to be drawn into God’s family of faith, they could only be loved in. Their acts of gentleness, kindness, honesty, forgiveness, patience, love in all its forms helped people to catch a glimpse of the love that Jesus has for all. And the fellowship of believers in Christ grew and has remained strong to this day in the Littlefork Lutheran Church.”
Immediately following the worship was the dedication of the newly constructed bell tower. The original bell was given to the church in 1929 by Albert Eggebroten and Hans Erickson, and dedicated at that time. After the move to the new church, the bell was stored until this summer, when a wonderful tower and building, complete with stained glass windows from the old church was constructed. During the dedication ceremony the bell rang out 100 times.
After an afternoon of visiting, looking at the old records and scrapbooks, and more eating; people and floats started linking up for the ‘giant’ parade. And it turned out to be giant with approximately 105 units.
While the masses were being fed (more than 650 people ate — some more than once), the Koo-Chi-Ching Twirlers Square Dancers and Fort Frances Highlanders Pipes and Drums and dancers entertained the group. Later in the evening, The Sloughgrass Family band from Birchdale played bluegrass, country western and gospel music.
At the Sunday morning closing worship service, Jacob put being 100-years old into perspective. He said, “One hundred years ago Theodore Roosevelt was president. The IV Olympiad was held in London. Henry Ford produced the first ‘Model T’ which cost $850. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were supposedly killed in Bolivia. Thomas Selfridge became the first person to die in a plane crash — the pilot, Orville Wright, was severely injured but recovered. The United States population was 88,710,000 (as of July 2007 it’s estimated at 301,139,947). The U.S. federal budget was $660 million. A postage stamp cost 2 cents. And, Littlefork Lutheran Church was founded by nine families.”
Jacob concluded by saying “Today we celebrate 100 years of ministry through Littlefork Lutheran Church. We give thanks to God for the abundant blessings that have been poured out upon this congregation over these years. As we reflect upon the meaning of this centennial celebration, we also look to the future ministry of Littlefork Lutheran Church.”
Sonja Pelland, president of the congregation said, "I am overwhelmed. So many people have come here this weekend to help us celebrate and have shown us so much support for our church and what we're about. There is so much love here this weekend. The laughter, (the tears), the music, worship, all the sharing of memories and time spent with old friends — it feels like a family reunion. It is a family reunion. It has been wonderful to spend time together and to worship together this weekend. Thanks to all who helped in any way. We have truly been blessed over the past two days and over the past 100 years."
The celebration planning committee and all those involved put in a tremendous effort in organizing and planning activities, noted Bob and Barb Murray, celebration committee chairs. Without their dedication, according to the Murrays, the event would not have been as successful as it was.