The church celebrated its centennial on September 9 and 10. The weekend festivities included an open house with artifacts and pictures displayed throughout the church, a smorgasbord banquet on Saturday evening, and a celebratory worship service and luncheon on Sunday.
Covenant President Glenn Palmberg delivered the keynote address during the Saturday banquet. A reader’s theatre activity allowed attendees to reminisce through the decades.
Former pastors Paul Spjut and Everett Wilson joined Glenn Lindell, who grew up in the congregation and returned to assist in the Sunday morning worship. Ceresco’s new pastor, Jodi DeYoung, delivered the morning message emphasizing that all of the church’s work and worship displays gratitude to God.
The church’s Swedish heritage and commitment to an understanding of Christianity worldwide was evident in the Sunday morning worship service that included traditional hymns and songs of African descent.
The church is located in southeastern Nebraska just 20 minutes north of Lincoln. Organized on February 27, 1906, in the home of Herman Nyquist, the congregation called P.F. Mostrom to be their first pastor. They used an accordion as musical accompaniment. Their stated mission was to be “God-fearing people who had a great vision and with one accord decided to launch out and gather the Swedish people in this community around the Word of God.”
