1980 - 1990
“You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.” Ephesians 2:19
The World View in 1980
1980 was another year of dramatic change in our country and its people, similar to 1960 in its intensity. Politically, reversing the direction set in 1960, a Democrat lost his bid for re-election to a consummate Republican. After this year only Republicans and a Democrat accused by his colleagues of being too centrist—too “middle-of-the-road”—would ever be elected President for the remainder of the century.
The youthful, reckless, pioneering, “New Frontier” ideals of the 1960s turned into the mature, conserve-what-we-still-have, cautious behavior of the 1980s. Americans whose parents watched test pilots shot into space in small rockets now watched the new-generation technology of flawless, computer-controlled space shuttles. With only two fatal errors in dozens of flights, scientists and senators could travel in virtually risk-free armchair comfort on pre-programmed “space-truck-routes.”
Indeed, the popular TV show with “Next Generation” in its title had replaced the young brash swashbuckler of the ‘60s, James Kirk, with an old, bald Frenchman as the space-captain of the ‘80s who preferred reading, music and diplomacy to fighting, danger and firing his phaser. Diplomacy, after all, would bring down Communism and ease Middle East tension.
A Maturing Church
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church was also maturing. The pioneering zeal of the ‘50s and ‘60s was turning to wise, mature actions that would help the church extend its roots into solid ground. Education became a priority throughout this decade.
In March 1980 the church installed Dean Jeske as Minister of Youth and Christian Education. His wife, Joyce, became church secretary. Dean established a link between the ASU Campus ministry and our singles ministry. He took a leave of absence in May 1984, earned a Master’s degree in Education at NAU during the summer, resigned in December of 1984 to start a counseling career, and earned a degree in counseling in 1985.
Repairs and Improvements
As Mount Calvary deepened its roots educationally, reached out with God’s Word to non-believers, and grew culturally, it also dealt with the practical needs of making expensive repairs and improvements. In June 1980 a carillon bell system was installed, thanks to the Martin List, Esther Schiedat and Clarence A. Hecht Memorial Funds. A new pipe organ, using chimes from an earlier organ donated by Helen Paulsen and family, was installed as well (no jokes about organ donors, please!).
In August 1983 Laurie Goforth designed a new logo for the church, adding a rising sun to our traditional three crosses. Also in 1983 Paul Kienow, Ralph Hjelmstedt, Bob Dehmlow, and Ken and Carol Cornelius helped to repair and renovate the parking lot with a budget of $65,000.
‘A Trip Down Memory Lane’
Our church had even, during the decade of the ‘80s, reflected another trend of society—remembering its own past. President Reagan had often alluded to “taking a stroll down Memory Lane” in his speeches. Restaurants looked back with nostalgia to the ice-cream parlors of the ‘50s, Renaissance Festivals looked back to Elizabethan times, Michael J. Fox accidentally went back in time and needed to get “Back to the Future,” and everyone loved reunions. So—we had one!
In September of 1983 Mildred Isaacs was appointed Historian (archivist) for the church. Beginning from scratch (there was no written history), she diligently researched records, clippings, photos and other memorabilia and wrote a church history.
On November 27, 1983, we had a “Reunion Fest” with the theme “From the First Day Until Now,” planned and directed by Phyllis Deffner as she coordinated the efforts of various committees. The Bible verse chosen as its theme was Philippians 1:3-5, which ends with “from the first day until now.”
As the Reunion Fest began, a Men’s Choir sang, under the direction of Susan Smidt. Dr. Oswald Waech preached at the outdoor service, following which there was a catered dinner. After the dinner was a showing of historical slides and a presentation of Mildred’s newly written history. Ultimately, former members shared fond memories with current members—a real reunion!
Youth Ministry Comes of Age
In August 1983 Mount Calvary’s Lutheran Youth Fellowship went to San Antonio, Texas, for a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod National Youth Gathering. The church raised $5,000 to help the youth get there.
In 1984 Peter Mueller, a student at Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska, became a student teacher at Martin Luther School. By March of 1985 the church invited him to become Director of Youth after observing his ministry with the young people of the congregation. He was installed as Youth Director on June 16, 1985. He also directed the Gloria Dei Choir for a year. Pete was instrumental in setting up work trips to Imuris, Mexico, involving both youth and adults from our church, as well as from other churches, in the building and maintaining of an orphanage in that location. His energy, vision and enthusiasm sparked a responsive chord in many hearts, so it was not too difficult to fill the work parties going to Imuris.
Peter Mueller was installed as Director of Youth on June 16, 1985.
(Ed. Note: In the mid-1990s Peter returned to school, entering Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, and in June 1998 was awarded a Masters in Theology. He was ordained in the pastoral ministry of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod on Sunday, August 2, 1998. To participate in Mount Calvary’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, Rev. Peter Mueller returned to Mount Calvary on Sunday, March 5, 2000, as the guest preacher for the day.)
Reaching Out for Christ
This also was the decade of outreach to the unchurched in the area, as well as to members who, due to illness, age or handicap, could not be in church. In 1980, to make it possible to include homebound shut-ins in the worship experience, Ken Heitshusen used a Dictaphone recorder to make a tape of the service. The response was so positive to this idea that Art Christianson, a new member of the Board of Elders, was placed in charge of the taping of each service. He and his wife Eilene formed the Tape Ministry. Irene Mohr was chosen as its chairperson.
In April 1983 Dr. Mike Westerkamp headed a Refugee Resettlement program with the help of his wife Marilyn and Dee Broeker. The church sponsored a family of four who arrived in June from Vietnam. They were Doan Dan Trung (age 21), his wife Nguyen Thi Hoa (19), his cousin (25), and a nephew (25). They have since moved to other states, married, had children, obtained good jobs, and generally fared very well, thanks to this program.
“Outreach” also means understanding what other faiths believe to better know how to help them understand what we believe. In 1985 young adults began an annual Passover Seder meal (a Jewish observance), a tradition that has continued to the present time.
On May 19, 1985, Pastor Silvester (Si) Robisch became our Director of Outreach and moved here from Springfield, Illinois. He led the Adult Information Class and introduced some outreach tools—a Friendship Register for members to mark their attendance and visitors to record their visits, and name badges for members. These actions encouraged many to join Mount Calvary and, in many cases, establish a new relationship with the Lord.
Musical Programs Enrich
This decade saw the popular revival of the musical, thanks in large part to Andrew Lloyd-Webber and other great composers and playwrights. Again, Mount Calvary experienced a similar revival, reflecting this trend. Ken Heitshusen directed the new Handbell Choir in March 1981, using handbells donated by the Jennifer Hopkins Memorial Fund.
Mount Calvary also deepened its roots into one more high-priority ministry—inter-generational fellowship. On May 3, 1983, Millie Sengstock arranged a “Mother-Daughter Fiesta.” A Mexican dance group, El Ballet-Folklorico de Santa Maria, performed after a catered buffet dinner.
Our church had its own genius playwright, too—Susan Smidt. In addition to directing the three church choirs, Susan wrote, cast and directed several musical dinner-shows from 1981 through 1987. When she became too busy with other responsibilities to continue directing the church choirs, a doctoral student at ASU, John Hooper, became the Director of Music Ministry.
The decade ended, again in contrast to the ‘60s, on a high note, optimistically moving on to the future. A majority of voters elected Vice-President Bush as President to keep the current political status quo for four more years. The Berlin Wall—indeed, the entire Iron Curtain—was falling down. Our technology in military warfare was so far ahead of all others, newscasters were declaring the U.S. “the only super-power in the world.”
Mount Calvary shared this optimistic view, confident of another verse from Philippians 1: “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
—Richard Culwell