by Melanie Jacob
Journal Staff Writer
St. John's Lutheran Church celebrates its centennial birthday this year and the church didn't let it pass unnoticed.
Between July 19 and 20, the congregation held an evening social, a special Sunday service, and a banquet, which was attended by the current and former pastors.
"I think it went really well," said Elaine Siegel, a church member and one of the organizers of the event. "I think everybody enjoyed it and the former pastors were quite happy to be there. People enjoyed visiting with them."
The church began at the start of the First World War and was a two-point church alongside another one in Bruno. While Humboldt flourished and gained younger families, Bruno continued to age. Eventually, the congregation shrunk to the point where they were forced to close.
"I think they tried to keep it open as long as they could, but it was easier for them to move it here," said Bruce Blocker, a former pastor at St. John's from 1990-1994.
Eventually, the other church officially closed in 2000 and the parishioners from there had to attend services in Humboldt. Before long, the building was rebuilt so that it was big enough to hold everyone.
"When we were here, we had the old church and it was really small, but everyone fit in it," said Ted Radke, one of the former pastors who was there from 1969 to 1973. "When it got too small, they said let's make it a little bigger and they did."
Despite the combination of the two congregations, however, the church is still diminishing in number. Nevertheless, that isn't enough to dampen their spirits.
"I believe that (this 100 year anniversary) says God's faithfulness and love lasts forever because the congregation for years has worried, 'Well, are we going to be here next year?' and they still are," said Rob Grout, the church's current pastor. "Finances continue to cover all the bills. People still keep coming and we're still carrying on."
Therefore, this year is a chance for the community to look back at the last 100 years as well as look forward to the next 100 years. Nobody knows what's going to happen or if the church will still be around, but that's why people have faith.
"I think ideally of course, the gratitude that God blessed them in such big ways over 100 years would really be almost like a launching pad so that they will say it's important to dwell on the past, but it's just as important to serve the needs of this community and the members of this church in the future and I hope that's what will come out of this anniversary fest," said Robert Bugbee, the national president and bishop of the Lutheran Church Canada.
