Installation at Mt. Olive, Mankato

The Rev. Matthew Brooks was installed as pastor at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on Sunday, May 20th. The Rev. Steven Petersen, Missions Counselor for the ELS, preached the sermon based on the text 1 Peter 4:4-11. The Rite of Installation was performed by ELS President, the Rev. John A. Moldstad, Jr. and Mount Olive pastor, the Rev. John Petersen, served as liturgist. Chaplain Donald Moldstad, Pres. em. George Orvick, and Professor Michael Smith also participated in the Installation. Professor Mark DeGarmeaux served as pianist. Special music for the service was provided by the Mt. Olive Sunday School and Senior choirs, as well as various brass and string instrumentalists. The service was held in the church's gymnasium with 500 worshipers in attendance. A noon meal was served by the Mount Olive members following the service.

Mary Moldstad (1932-2007)

Mary Kathleen (nee Harstad) Moldstad entered heaven on May 23, 2007. She was the wife of the late Rev. Robert Moldstad.

Mary was born on July 28, 1932 in Madison, Wisconsin to the Rev. Adolph and Martha (Tjernagel) Harstad, the first of ten children. She was baptized and confirmed by her father at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Madison. Mary graduated from Bethany Lutheran High School in 1950 and from Presbyterian Nursing School of Chicago in 1953. On June 30, 1956, Mary was united in marriage to the Rev. Robert A. Moldstad at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota. The couple lived in Lombard, Illinois; Suttons, Bay, Michigan; Hillman, Michigan; Lima Peru; and Orange County, California. After Robert died on January 15, 1985, Mary worked for twenty years as a nursing supervisor at the Orange County Correctional Institution of California. She was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Irvine, California until she moved to North Mankato in 2006.

The funeral service for Mary was held at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Mankato, Minnesota on May 29, 2007 with the Reverends Bradley Kerkow and Daniel Basel officiating. Mary was buried on May 30th at Norway Grove Cemetery in DeForest, Wisconsin, with the Rev. John Moldstad, Sr., conducting the service. Mary is survived by her four children, seven grandchildren, and nine siblings.

St. Timothy, Lombard, Celebrates Fifty Years.

Celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Lombard, Illinois began on Friday, May 18, 2007 with a social activity called Trivia Night, as members tried to remember special events over fifty years.

An Open House was held on Saturday, where attendees could view bulletin boards presenting the history of the congregation as well as items from the congregation’s archives.

Saturday evening a catered anniversary banquet was held in St. Timothy's Lutheran Hall. Former pastors, the Reverends John K. Schmidt and Matthew Luttman shared reminiscences about their service at St. Timothy. Circuit Visitor, the Rev. Fred Lams, brought greetings as well as Timothy Moldstad, the son of the late Rev. Robert Moldstad, the first pastor of St. Timothy. Current pastor, the Rev. Edward Bryant, closed the evening.

The Anniversary Festival Service was held on Sunday, May 20th. The Rev. John Schmidt preached the sermon, Rev. Matthew Luttman served as lector and Rev. Bryant was the liturgist. The choir, augmented by several former members, presented special music for the service.

The congregation praises God for the memorable weekend and for giving St. Timothy Lutheran Church fifty years of his blessings. Article by Lee Meyer.