2000 - 50th Anniversary
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
Depending upon your point of view, the year 2000 is either the final full year of the 20th century and second millennium, or it is the first year of the 21st century and third millennium. While most scientists and mathematicians (including Arthur C. Clarke, author of 2001—A Space Odyssey) would take the former viewpoint, most of the world took the latter and hailed the new millennium on January 1, 2000. We all agree, however, on one fact: 2000 was the “Year of Transition.” After three decades of conservative or “middle-of-the-road” politics, the nation couldn’t decide whether to become more liberal or more conservative. The presidential election of 2000 was the closest in history.
“Planning for Growth”
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church was also at a crossroads. To assist the congregation in determining a path to follow, the Board of Directors asked Mr. Rich Brumfield, a consultant from the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, to lead our members through a process to determine our church’s future direction. This process was entitled “Planning for Growth.” Beginning early in March Mr. Brumfield presided over a series of workshops where we reviewed our strengths, our beliefs and our mission. As a result of these workshops we voted to drastically change our personal paradigms, agreeing that each of us is a “minister” and that each will do God’s work through participation on one or more of seven “ministry teams.”
To put this decision into practice, a Vision Team was chosen by the workshop attendees to work out the details, to be “wagonmasters” pushing us onward and “gatekeepers” to keep us from straying from our goals. The Vision Team consisted of Bob Dehmlow, Pastor Dann Ettner, Walter and Lois Schmidt and Joan Tucker.
In early July the Vision Team and Mr. Brumfield presented the results of their planning. The congregation voted overwhelmingly to accept the proposals of the Vision Team and begin to work within the framework of the “ministry team” concept. By December of 2000 all seven ministry teams were operational and moving out in ministry to each other and to the wider community around us.
Happy Birthday, Mount Calvary!
Besides completely restructuring itself, Mount Calvary celebrated its 50th birthday—its semi-centennial—all through the year 2000. Our Synod’s hot-air balloon came to our campus in mid-January, giving tethered rides to members and residents in the local neighborhood. A pancake breakfast further served to give members and neighbors an opportunity to meet each other.
Balloon rides kicked off Mount Calvary’s 50th Anniversary year in January 2000.
On Maundy Thursday, April 20, a Seder meal again reminded us that Jesus is the Paschal Lamb, that we can witness to our Jewish friends that their prophesied Messiah has come, and that Jesus Himself observed Jewish ceremonies such as Passover (Seder) and Hanukkah. On Easter, April 23, as the sun rose on the day that remembers when the Son rose, Lutheran Christians of Phoenix were gathered at—where else?—the racetrack at Turf Paradise. No, they weren’t there to bet on the “bobtail nag;” they were attending one of the largest traditional Lutheran Easter Sunrise services in the Valley. Members from many local Lutheran churches attended. Pastor Ettner assisted with the service, along with other pastors from the area.
The moment arrived when, exactly 50 years ago to the day—July 23—our Mount Calvary pioneers, the Charter Members, first worshiped together as “Mount Calvary Lutheran Church”—600 months ago. Invitations had been sent to all former member families for whom we could find addresses. Many of them joined us on this historic day at the “mother church of the Valley” for worship and reminiscence as old friendships were renewed and new acquaintances were made. Although not all the living charter members could attend, we were very pleased to see the few who did come. This was the last time most of us saw Alma Krafft, one of the charter members, who passed away on November 6, 2000.
Members from many years ago gathered on July 23, 2000, to observe the 50th Anniversary day of chartering of Mount Calvary.
On August 27 the congregation was invited to assemble in the church lounge for the opening of the time capsule which had been enclosed in the cornerstone as the church was being constructed back in 1951. Items of historical value both to the congregation and to the public had been enclosed in this time capsule, including a yellowed newspaper page that told of the original gathering of people who would become Mount Calvary Lutheran Church. These items were left on display for about two weeks—until September 16—when additional papers, coins, CDs and other memorabilia of the year 2000 were added to it and then resealed into the cornerstone, to be reopened in 50 years on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the congregation.
The cornerstone and time capsule were reinstalled in the building by a Saturday morning workday crew on September 16, 2000.
As a means of giving thanks for the many blessings that our congregation had received over the past fifty years, the Anniversary Task Force sponsored two service projects. One weekend in October fifty people participated in feeding approximately 200 homeless people at a location in the downtown area of Phoenix, “under the bridge” near 7th Avenue and Jackson. Then on two separate occasions in November a group of 50 of our members assisted the Desert Mission Food Bank in the Sunnyslope area of Phoenix with sorting food and clothing which go to the underprivileged in that area.
A 50th Anniversary project was to furnish and serve to people who gather “Under the Bridge” at 7th Avenue and Jackson in downtown Phoenix. This service is provided on a bi-monthly basis by various members of Mount Calvary.
Our anniversary year also was highlighted by guest speakers—Dr. Paul L. Maier, son of the late Lutheran Hour speaker, Dr. Walter A. Maier, and a Biblical scholar, historian and author in his own right; Rev. Peter Mueller of St. Louis, Missouri, a former staff member of Mount Calvary; Dr. Loren Kramer, the retiring President of the Pacific Southwest District of our Synod; Rev. Eugene Beyer, pastor of Mount Calvary from 1967 to 1978; and Rev. Don Smidt, pastor of Mount Calvary from 1979 to 1996. We received musical greetings from various choirs—the choir from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska; the choir from Concordia University, Irvine, California; the choir from Martin Luther Elementary School in Phoenix, led by Barbara Ettner; and the Sonoran Desert String Quartet, led by Mount Calvary’s new Music Director, Keith Wells.
To cap off the year of celebration, an anniversary luncheon was held on the church lawn on Sunday, November 19. Former and present members joined together on a beautiful, cool Arizona afternoon to enjoy a meal, visiting together and hearing memories shared by Pastor Don Smidt, Pastor Bill Royer who served as our interim minister from 1996 to 1998, and Don Engelbrecht, son of the late Pastor Harold Engelbrecht who was pastor of Mount Calvary from 1955-1966. A youth choir and instrumental group, led by Barbara Ettner, presented a number of selections, some from the 1950s era.
Children of the congregation entertained the audience with instrumental music.
Credit for many of the activities held during this semi-centennial year of rejoicing goes to the hard-working 50th Anniversary Task Force. This group of talented and dedicated people spent many hours planning the various activities mentioned here. The congregation owes much to these members.
Cross Cultural Ministry
While looking back at our history, we also continued to look ahead to the emphasis our church has placed on the Great Commission to “go and teach all nations...” We understand that the words “all nations” in our latitude and longitude include Hispanic and Ethiopian/Eritrean ministries. The ministry that began just ten years earlier with a Valley-wide task force searching for a “missionary-at-large” for South Phoenix’s large Hispanic population had expanded by the year 2000, under the leadership of Missionary Pastor Cristiano Artigas into four worshiping congregations, ESL (English as Second Language) classes at a fifth church, and a community center.
A group of about 100 Ethiopians and Eritreans began worshiping in Mount Calvary’s gymnasium in 1999. They started out as a group of Coptic Orthodox worshipers, but their pastor, Addis Anteneh, soon became a confirmed member of the Lutheran Church and amended the teachings of his congregation to come in line with Lutheran theology. Early in 2000 the Board of Directors approved a group, known as the Cross Cultural Ministry Committee, to become a liaison between our congregation and the Ethiopian congregation. In May of 2000 the two groups and the Hispanic congregations of Pastor Artigas were invited to have a pot luck luncheon together following the Sunday morning services. This was a well-attended gathering which became a vehicle for acquaintances to be made and friendships to be formed.
Congregational Life
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day were special occasions during this year. On Mother’s Day all women were encouraged to wear hats, and on Father’s Day the men were all encouraged to wear ties. Neither of these items of apparel was a very common sight in 2000. These special observances afforded excellent photo opportunities for the photographers in our midst.
Another tradition remains alive and well at Mount Calvary at a time when the nation concentrates on the dead. As October turns into November, people in the United States wear costumes to frighten away the spirits of the dead (Halloween), people in Mexico wear costumes to invite dead relatives (El Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead), and we all remember to honor the war dead on Veterans Day. For Lutherans this part of the calendar triggers thoughts of Reformation, Martin Luther and the 95 Theses. For our congregation, specifically, the first two words that come to mind for the early part of November are “Craft Sale.” This year marked the fifth annual craft and rummage sale which has grown to become the Fall Festival and benefits the children’s ministries of our church.
December brought Advent services on Wednesday evenings, the decorating of the sanctuary, the assembling of children for the Children’s Christmas Program at the morning service on Christmas Eve day, preparation by the choirs for the special holiday services and the beautiful Christmas Eve candlelight service. Our 50th birthday observance ended December 31 on a high note, as it had begun, with baptisms and the final guest speaker of the year. Rev. Don Smidt addressed the congregation at the morning services on the topic, “It’s a Family Affair,” based on text from Hebrews 2. The traditional New Year’s Eve communion service brought the year 2000 to a quiet and worshipful conclusion as the congregation offered thanks for God’s continuing grace and mercy to Mount Calvary.
Beyond this? 2001: Arthur C. Clarke prophesied an international space station, colonies on the moon, a journey to Jupiter, and a neurotic computer. We do have the space station (and neurotic computers), but financial limitations have slowed man’s steps into space. It will happen, unless the Lord returns first. We can be certain of one thing concerning the future—on earth, on space stations, on the moon, on Mars, or on starships, Christians will be obeying the Great Commission to spread the good news of Jesus Christ—everywhere.
—Richard Culwell