06. to Elation

... to Elation

      The third service of the day, the Lutheran Fellowship Service, similarly had two former pastors officiating, Rev. Vernon Cronmiller preached the 7:00 p. m. evening service and was assisted by Rev. Julius Neff, grandson of the man who had visualized a Lutheran church in Woodstock 60 years earlier, the Rev. Julius Badke.  Rev. Cronmiller served Bethany in the Graham Street church from 1961 to 1963 and was preceded by Rev. Neff who ministered to our needs in the House/Chapel between 1937 and 1940.  The pastor of the day, Rev. Clyde Wentzell officiated at all three services and also at the Anniversary Dinner at which Dr. Otto Reble, president of the Eastern Canada Synod, was the guest speaker.

                Reports praise the occasion as a grand affair; the 40^th Anniversary Committee had produced 250 copies of Signals, the Bethany newsletter, 100 Invitations to particular services, Community Invitations and 30 District Invitations. 220 former members of Bethany had been invited. Community dignitaries, members of the Woodstock Ministerial Association and members of other Woodstock churches abounded and shared the festivities with the congregation of Bethany.  The Hagedorn family would have transferred from Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Chatham just in time to join them.

                Bethany had now withstood the onslaught of 40 years and the year 1975 was seen with a sense of elation. Scrupulous planning and research had achieved the paying off of the Second Mortgage—with a sense of that achievement culminating with the Mortgage-Burning Celebration of November 30, 1975, a party-like atmosphere which Mayor Les Cook of the City of Woodstock, Rev. George Hay, President of the Woodstock Ministerial Association and Rev. Del Resmer, Bethany pastor at the time of the instatement of the mortgage shared with the Bethany congregation.  Council President Henning Hansen officiated, assisted by Ev Doherty with the burning of the mortgage.  Mr. Hansen was later quoted as saying: 

 “The mortgage-burning ceremony was one of the best-attended events ever.”

 

               

 

 

 

 

The pot-luck supper which was to follow in the Fellowship Hall may well have had something to do with the attendance.  For Lutherans, some things do not change.  A concert of Gospel singing by ‘Liberty’, a youth group from the Kitchener-Waterloo area embellished the evening.

 

               

 

 But church life is not all celebration.  Details of administrivia and maintenance multiply if not controlled.  Society evolves and what worked before may no longer be in vogue.

                In Dec. of 1975 Richard Eves reported through the Finance Committee that the “Finance Committee [was] to make a study of selling the parsonage and providing the Pastor with a living allowance and this study [was] to be presented at the annual meeting.”

                A notation from that December meeting illustrates the generosity of spirit and effort afforded by Bethany individuals:

“C. Wentzell moved, L. Vinnins seconded that Christian Education Committee make a presentation to Ken Riehl for his 10 years of Sunday School Superintendant service.  This to be made at the annual meeting.  Carried.”

 

                

So many work so hard, uncomplainingly and usually without recognition.  It is probably one of our greatest downfalls that we don’t thank deserving people nearly enough.  Ken Riehl had also painted the Fellowship Hall previous to the Mortgage-Burning celebrations. The hall of Pastor Portraits was instigated by Ken with the 40^th Anniversary Celebrations and continues to this date of 2014.  People like Ken confront with efficiency the on-going yearly concerns of the church:  the fluctuation in membership, property maintenance, casting actors for Sunday School Christmas pageants, snow removal, grass cutting, quorums for Annual Meetings, members for a committee, sufficient funds, what charities to support, what Outreach to maintain or start, what changes to make. How often are deficiencies overcome when these individuals simply ‘do it themselves’?  Few of us are aware of the many times that problems are overcome, that year-end deficits would miraculously evaporate thanks to invisible benefactors.  Perhaps we don’t thank them because we don’t even notice what has been done.

    And many things were being done.  In January of 1976, 10 sessions of a Christopher Course were offered on Monday evenings.  By January of 1977 the Christian Education  and Youth Committee reported 3 confirmation classes with a total of 26 students.  Easter breakfast that year fed the 90 persons who attended.

 

                January, 1978 and CKDK the local radio station cut back on the air time allowed for ministers and messages from their churches; the ½ hour dropped to 30-second time spots.  Council minutes of Jan. 5^th, 1978 include this note:

“Five 30-second spot messages were prepared and taped, by the pastor, for CKDK; but not aired.  This feature has been cancelled by the radio station.”

                One wonders what more valuable messages graced the airwaves in those lost time spots.

                By February of 1978 it became apparent that renovations would soon be necessary for the church’s heating system; a cost of $8,000.00 was estimated. A financial campaign would have to be planned to accommodate this need.

                The Christmas season of that year presented new outreach parameters.  Bethany Lutheran Church made its debut into cable TV with the production of The Shining Star.  Youth and Parish Education Committee reported on Dec. 7^th, 1978 that

“[The] Shining Star- will be performed at Bethany on December 19, 1978 and the show will be video-taped for Cable TV.  Mr. Rosnau made the arrangements.”

 

                

In fact The Shining Star was video-taped by Western Cable TV and shown to the Woodstock public on December 20.  The cast then ‘went on the road’, renting a bus and performing at Ritz Lutheran Villa, Mitchell.  Reports state that “the play and cast were well-received”.

 

      

        

It seems that our stage efforts, while greatly enjoyed by audiences, did little to add to Bethany’s bank accounts.  The “New Book of Worship”, introduced in 1979 was purchased largely through donations from the congregation, often as memorials to friends and family.  You might recognize the “New Book of Worship”; it is dark green and sits in the rack in front of you.  Stringent financial practices were again the order of the day and rentals to such groups as the Errington-Graham Dance Studio, T.O.P.S. and Toastmasters contributed to our income.  Deliberations continued over the sale of the parsonage and the status of mortgages.  The retaining wall at the front of the church was deteriorating and, according to at least two telephone calls to the pastor, dangerous to the children playing there.  The parsonage driveway and entrance to the north parking lot were paved in June of 1981 for the price of $1075.00 and the quote of $2,460.00 for church re-roofing was also accepted at that time.

                Then suddenly we were approaching the end of another decade in Bethany history.  The first inkling might have been in the Church Council meeting of Sept. 3, 1981.  The minutes of that meeting include only an incidental notation under Business Arising from the Previous Minutes:

“50^th Anniversary Chairman—no one was appointed.  Ken Riehl will attempt to recruit a committee to organize this anniversary.”

Other than that, business as usual. The Cossman-Hyunga Ministry presented a Folk Mass at Bethany in February of 1982 and were supported with $50.00, any loose offerings and $15.00 for travel expenses.  The parsonage roof required re-shingling, and the hallway windows in the church had to be replaced.  Vic and RuthAnn Jeanson agreed to be advisors to the youth group, Pastor Wentzell recommended Pamela Lahn, Manfred Bohner, Frank Gross, Allan Hansen, Tim Lamers and Frederick Probst be accepted for confirmation.  Donna Anderson and Barb Mason volunteered to co-ordinate the Vacation Church School. 

 

 

 

Irene Stickle was hired as Bethany’s organist and choir director replacing Charles Banhardt and John Hucsko Jr.  Her service to Bethany was destined to outlast even Pastor Wentzell’s duration.

Irene, now Irene Stickel-Ruhlman, produced and directed at least eight musical cantatas over those years and performed as church organist and choir director. Choir practices and performances were appreciated as much for their social value as for their contribution to services.  Even the tempo of services was made more joyful by Irene’s playing.

               

 

Another milestone was achieved in November of 1982 with the last payment on the church and parsonage being made in that month.  The December council meeting declared that a Mortgage-Burning ceremony would be planned and two months later the Minutes of the February 11, 1983 meeting stated in the Service and Publicity report:

 

“Lyle Rosnau has agreed to assume responsibility for the writing of letters to the guests for our Mortgage Burning, and will also be the master of ceremonies for the dinner.  ...”

 

               

Also in 1983, those who are astute managed another cost-saving achievement with the establishing of an Energy Conservation Program between Bethany Lutheran Church and the Ministry of Energy of Ontario.  The program allowed us to share an agreement with the Church of the Good Shepherd to partake in the Canada/Ontario Employment Development Program with the purpose

“to make necessary renovations and improvement, to repair deficiencies and reduce operating costs” for the benefit of both churches.  With this proposal number 5476 JK2 as signed by Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Employment and Immigration for the Government of Canada and by Russel H. Ramsay, Minister of Labour for the Government of Ontario, Bethany was able to insulate walls of the Fellowship Hall, to improve storage facilities, to provide an outdoor storage shed, to replace mortar pointing where needed and to institute some landscaping.  The Church of the Good Shepherd attained similar benefits.

 

Pastor Wentzell must have felt that his report to the December 12, 1983 Council Meeting was particularly special.  In part, it reads:

               “Saturday, Dec. 10, we passed a significant milestone in the life of Bethany Lutheran Church:  As we enter the 50^th Anniversary Year, we have our goals set for ‘A Jubilee of Thanksliving.’

                It would seem from all reports and from supporting photographic evidence that Mr. Riehl was successful in his quest to recruit an Anniversary Committee.  He was more or less conscripted into the role of Chairperson and his enthusiasm and work ethic inspired many of us to become involved in the year-long calendar of events.  The Jubilee of Thanksliving logo designed by Ruth Vik was apparent throughout the year, on the brochure for the Lutheran Church Women’s Anniversary Service in April of 1984, on the 4’ high Styrofoam version which adorned Bethany’s Tri-Celebration float in the May 24^th Woodstock parade and on the bulletins outlining the August 26^th program of worship.

  A tremendous number of Bethany members of all ages were involved in special events throughout the year.  July 10^th Council minutes exclaimed that:

“For our Reformation service, Lyle Rosnau will preach and sing the liturgy.  An all-male choir is being formed.  A director still is being sought.”

 

 

 The float was laden with three representative pastors, Sunday School teachers, choir members, children and all preceded by a vast array of our youth and spry adults carrying Bethany banners.  Organization and co-ordination were  obvious.

 

Under New Business in the Nov. 2^nd, 1984 minutes it was moved that:

                “...we show our appreciation to Ken Riehl in recognition of his service as chairman of the anniversary committee by giving him an engraved family Bible with the words ‘Jubilee of Thanksliving, December 10, 1944 on the front...”

                In the midst of the December celebrations, a letter of resignation was received from Pastor Wentzell.

 

              There is a standard joke, a cliché used to victimize ministers of all denominations.  It refers to the layman’s concept of the cleric working only one day a week, on Sunday.  In a typical Pastor’s Report to an Annual Meeting (this one being the 1970 agenda), Pastor Wentzell outlined his work year:

“...giving prayers at Commencement—Huron Park, W.C. I; dedication of Woodingford Lodge, guest preacher at All Saints, addressing Student Nurses, hosting a pastor’s retreat, steering a course for The Canada Lutheran, turning out Signals and weekly bulletins, presiding at ministerial sessions, teaching vacation church school, confirmation classes, preaching, administering sacraments, at weddings, burials, officiating at worship, on radio, writing, ...visiting institutions, hospitals, jail, homes, sharing in discussion groups, and counselling sessions...” Amazing that he could fit all this into one day a week... 

 The call process for a new pastor began on December 18 of that year.

                Seven pastors were named on the short list provided to Bethany and from that list and subsequent interviews, Pastor Redmond Conroy was selected, called and accepted.  Retired pastor Forrest Mosher from Tavistock again filled in the ministerial gaps as he had before the arrival of Pastor Wentzell although the congregation had become familiar with Pastor Barton Beglo in the interval between January (when Pastor Wentzell left for Grace Lutheran Church in Eganville) and the end of May when Pastor Conroy was to arrive.

 

                In the meantime we carried on.  In January of 1985 the Junior Choir put on performances of the musical Corky at Bethany and on the road, Council accepted the challenge of giving $12,000.00 for 3 years to the 75^th Anniversary Endowment Fund for the Lutheran Seminary, Bethany started providing taped church service programs of Bethany’s services to be used as an out-reach program in 1986 and Good Beginnings Day Nursery agreed to a 2-year rental of Bethany facilities in that same year.

                June of 1987 and the four confirmands: Penny Allen, Connie Thompson, Rob Jeanson and Karen Hansen are invited for a special dinner with the Conroys at the parsonage.  Proceeds from a Lutheran Life Garage Sale at Bethany are donated toward bus costs to transport the Junior choir to the Synod convention at St. Mark’s, Kitchener.

                In May of 1989, after 4 years of service at Bethany, Pastor Conroy accepted a call to First Lutheran Church in Port Colborne.  Beth Conroy was to be ordained on June 8^th at the Leadership Conference.

                Once again Bethany was without a pastor and once again Pastor Mosher stepped into the fray.  On this occasion, call letters would go to 5 pastors.  The Council Minutes of November 19, 1989 record these words:

“Motion by President Marlene Healey-Ogden than on Oct. 23, 1989 the Church Council decided that Richard Holm of Oakville be issued a call to Bethany Lutheran Church...  Seconded by Barb Mason.  Carried.”

                The die had been cast.  Bethany moved into the era of guitars, purple shirts and cowboy boots.  Who says Lutherans can’t do change?