Messiah Memories and Letters

We are excited to share special memories of Messiah.  As stories come in, we will print them here for everyone to enjoy.  If you would like to share your Messiah Memories, please fill out the form below or you can email it to [email protected]

My Messiah Memories
By Shirley Haugen (pictured on the right below)

Rural Internship Program

I remember when Messiah was a teaching congregation with Ron Hanson as Pastor.  This was a
program through Luther Seminary and the congregation was subsidized for part of
the expenses.  We had an Internship Committee and we first asked for a single male student, but Luther sent us a single female student, Kathy King.

I was on the Internship Committee and as members of the committee our job was to act as mentors besides getting housing and helping
with getting the intern settled.  It was an exciting time and over the 10 years, we had many fun experiences besides helping them on the journey to become a pastor. After Ron Hanson accepted a call to another congregation, Messiah continued with Dave Burling filling in until his internship ended.  The program continued as we called Jim Kasperson to be our pastor.

There were many struggles as there were years when we questioned whether we could afford to continue in the program and it eventually ended.  Besides our monthly committee meetings, we could have a visit with Pastor Denny Everson from the seminary once a year.  That was always a special time and of course, we had wonderful “Potluck” gatherings.  I still have a very favorite cheesecake recipe from one of the intern’s wives.

Resettleing a Vietnamese Family

I remember when Messiah was involved in the resettlement of the Phan family, Tung & Bai and their 4 small children from Viet Nam who were able to escape during that terrible time when their country was at war.  The Messiah congregation was asked to find housing and help with getting furniture and other needed household items to set up their home.

One special memory I have is about when they came to our home on
Christmas Day.  They were very soft spoken and we had about 25
people at our house that day with the Phan family and our relatives.  It was a memorable day.

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Open Letter from the Phan Family to Lorraine Young

April 24th 2013
Dear Mrs. Young,

Congratulations for the 40th anniversary of Messiah Lutheran Church.  We left Washburn a long while ago but we have never forgotten it.  Washburn with wonderful and kind people like Mrs. And Mr. Young who took care of Thong, Phu, and David, fed them with no charge.  How do we forget that generous and kindness?  The Olson family, the Haugen family, Miss Dee, the Cook family, the Bloomquist family, Clara Nelson family, Mr. Peterson, even some of them have passed away.  We still always grateful for what they had done for my family.  And all members of our church especially Pastor and Connie Hansen. Thanks to all kind people in Washburn in our church who taught our children from very beginning how to speak English correctly…and how they all become very good people in our society.  David was born in Washburn; his birth certificate record is there.  We always consider Washburn our wonderful home town.  

(Diem is now Chief Operating Officer for Sole Technology Company)  Attached is a check for $100 to contribute to the celebration of our 40th Anniversary.  Thank you Mrs. Young and best wishes for your family.

Tun and Bay Phan
Orange, California

More of Shirley Haugen’s Special Messiah Memories

I remember that it was a happy time when Emanuel voted to merge with Christ Lutheran.  It was exciting and we had the anticipation of calling a new pastor to lead the newly merged congregation named Messiah.

I have many special memories; the marriage of our daughter, Dee (Diane) to John Pederson at a Sunday worship service on August 1st. then on July 12th, 1981, the special event for our congregation and our family: Dee’s Ordination at which the Rev. Sheldon Tostengard, Professor of Homiletics, Luther-Northwestern Seminary, was the preacher, Presiding pastor was Ronald K. Hanson and Rev. Phil Paulson was the assisting pastor.  Our family also had more weddings and the baptism of two grandsons at Messiah.

I’d like to see Messiah continue to tell the good news of the gospel and minister to the needs in the community. I hope we continue to make quilts to be given locally as well as responding to needs globally. I hope that the prayer shawl ministry continues to wrap folks in comfort at times of need, reminding them of God’s love. I’d like to see families and folks young and old being active in the church in worship and learning opportunities. I would also like to see the great fellowship events such as our salad luncheons and the Lutefisk/Meatball dinners continue.

My Messiah Story
by Tom Cook

I was raised in the Christ Lutheran church.  My Norwegian ancestors, Olaf and Hansina Olsen helped build the church and coached their fellow Immigrants in learning hymns in English.  My grandma Naomi Cook, my mother Joan Cook, and I too, taught Sunday school.  Grandpa Theron Cook was a custodian.  My dad and brother Tim kept the furnace going.

I was in college when the Swedish and Norwegian churches merged so I don’t remember many details. One thing I do recall is how happy my parents and grandparents were about the event.  Washburn is a small town and the people have always been kind and cared about one another.  That’s the way the churches have been too.  Of course we knew everyone in the church.  Our worship services were enhanced and our choir grew with the addition of some wonderful
voices.

The church has evolved since those days and the doors have been opened wide to many new ministries. It is not a social club but rather seeks the people Jesus would seek and offers them water for their thirsting souls.

Although we can still be observed slurping down lutefisk at Christmas time Messiah Lutheran Church as embraced people of all
nationalities equally with Christ’s love.  We are Americans!

I feel so blessed to call this beautiful place my home church.

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Only Jim Could Do It - Veil or Bell

Jim Strom was a very active and willing church member.  He liked doing things, serving on boards, ushering, and just anything in general he could do.

One Easter Sunday our pastor at that time, Ron Hanson, asked Jim to help with the opening part of the early 6:30 a.m. service.  Jim said, “Of course,” he’d be very happy to be part of the service.  Before I go any further with my story I must say that Jim had a bad cold and his hearing was not the best that day.  Pastor Hansen then explained to Jim that the veil needed to be pulled down off the cross.  Jim said, “Oh sure, is there any special way in which you want it done?”  Pastor Ron said, “No, just give it about three gentle tugs and that should do it.”  When it was time for the veil to come down Pastor Ron looked for Jim because he was signaling to him as previously planned but Jim was not where he should have been crouching down behind the altar.  Pastor Ron frantic by this time and when Jim saw what he thought was the signal from up in the balcony the outside church bell was rung ever so nicely by three pulls on the bell rope.  Pastor Ron realizing what had happened pulled the veil down and the service continued. Pastor Ron realized that Jim hadn’t heard correctly but the bell ringing was nice.  It was something that no one ever let Jim forget.

The next year for the Easter Sunday service Pastor Ron asked Jim if he would again pull the veil from the cross and Jim was willing.  The altar was beautiful with many Easter lilies in the front and on the sides.  Crouching down behind the altar, waiting for his signal, Jim waited.  Pastor gave the signal, a green arm which was Jims came up from behind the lilies, proceeded to pull the veil and immediately knocked down several lilies and all we could see was this green arm
trying to keep the lilies from falling.  Two years in a row!  Pastor Ron said to Jim that next year we would try something different.

By eyewitness,
Lois Strom

From Rev. Nancy A. Kauppi

Dear Pastor Nancy Hanson and Messiah Lutheran Congregation,

Greetings from one of the many interns that you have helped shape and make ready for ordained ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran church in America plus in her previous synods. The year I spent with you was invaluable as it gave me a sense of what it meant to be a pastor of the people of God. Your patience and your encouragement meant so much as I struggled with this new identity which meant going from an active lay person in the church to a called and ordained pastor with vows and
expectations which impacted not only my life but also my family’s
life.

What I remember especially was a combination of eagerness and apprehension in discerning whether I was truly called by God to do
His work among the people of Messiah Lutheran and the Washburn and Port Wing communities, and further to serve God through the ELCA as an ordained pastor.  Your gracious acceptance and faith-filled enthusiasm for the Gospel strengthened my call.  I thank you for teaching me and revealing to me what it means to be a child of God and to share in His glory.  By the grace of Jesus Christ, lessons were learned and experiences were shared.

Sitting in your homes around the coffee table or by your bedside in the hospital or nursing home, you witnessed to me of your love for God and the blessings of His grace in your lives.  Whether it was circumstances beyond your control or decisions that had to be made in prayer, our conversations blessed us both and, therefore, the
community of believers.

We never know how we impact another life, so I want to tell you that the part Messiah Lutheran played in my development as a pastor was immense.  As I moved on to my first parish in South Dakota and then on to parishes in Gwinn and Wakefield, Michigan, you were always in my heart and mind; informing, encouraging and blessing.

We are unable to be with you on April 21, but plan to be with you for your celebration either in June or August.  Celebrate with enthusiasm!  May Christ, our risen Savior, bless you and those you love with peace and rejoicing.

Happy 40th Anniversary!

Love in Chirst,
Rev. Nancy A. Kauppi and Dave
Messiah Intern from 1994-1994

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Messiah Memories
by Mary (Smolen) Cook

I would like to share a little about my background with Messiah
Lutheran Church.  I recently heard on TV a church leader being asked about theEcumenical
Movement and where it is today.  The clergy member replied that the goal of the movement was to help us see as Christians, our similarities and really for most
purposes, the movement has accomplished its goals.  In the 1970’s the Ecumenical Movement seemed to be moving but for me it was in an undercurrent sort of way.  I am not sure I knew what ecumenicalism’s goal was and with a Catholic background wasn’t sure it was ok to be part of.  I had my first exposure to being part of the movement when I joined a Christian musical group in high school.  The group was led by a teacher who was Methodist, the accompanist was Catholic and kids from all the churches in town were invited to attend.  We preformed the musical on Sundays usually at various churches through the Chequamegon area.  We met for practices every Sunday evening at Messiah Lutheran Church and I have fond memories of those evenings as we sat around singing,
talking and laughing. Coming together around Christ can bring warm and comfortable feelings; God really can work magic in groups of people even when you don’t realize the source of that good feeling.  Pastor Ron Hanson was pastor of Messiah then and I remember he seemed to be a kid friendly kind of person when he came by.  I realize now how Messiah opened its door to our group back then and I see today how it is still a church that continues to opens its
doors for different group and ministries.  It is not just a building open on Sundays but a dynamic place of gathering with the Spirit’s moving.  I still am in a musical ministry today as part of Messiah Lutheran’s choir.  When I come to practice I have seen a microcosm of activity at church everything from boy scouts to A. A. group’s, ecumenical events, dinners, studies and worship.  It really impresses me to see such a living church and I am happy to call Messiah home.  Although I was never part of the merger of Christ Lutheran and
Emanuel Lutheran Churches I think back to the goal of ecumenicalism and how those two churches accomplished their purpose by forgetting the differences, seeing the similarities and came together to form this church body we call Messiah Lutheran.

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Sondra Welsh Shares Her Favorite Messiah Memories

Dear Friends at Messiah,

I wasn't there when the merger happened, but became a member when we moved to Washburn after the merger.

I LOVED being a member there. I was active in the choir, on the board and active in many other organizations of the church.

My fondest memories were made when I took the position on the Building and Grounds committee and Church Council. I received so much support when redecorating the Sunday School rooms, Pastor's
counselling room, offices and Sacristy, as well as the lower levels in the kitchen, library and Congregational Fellowship meeting hall.

Women like Shirley Olson, Shirley Haugen, Sandy Olson, Audrey Swedberg, Lynette Corrinne, and gentlemen like Don Swedberg, Dick Olson, Bob Ungrodt, Tom Cook and Jim Strom and so many others, taught me to be a better person and happy contributing member of the congregation. Also a shout out to Lois Strom and the entire prayer chain, many of whom I shared the prayer chain with when I lived there.

Gracious and kind Church community members donated everything I needed to complete the project. It took an entire year, but the BEST year of my life! I didn't need to take one dime out of the church
budget to get this done.

I now reside in Colorado with Larry, our son Lon and family and our daughter Kristin (a Washburn graduate) is out here too. 

I miss everyone very much and am so happy to be able to thank you all for enriching my life with your love and kindness. Thanks to the new social network I am pleased to send my love and appreciation to each of you

Blessings to all. Hope to get back and visit one day.

Sincerely,
Sondra Welsh

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Keith Anderson's Favorite Messiah Memories
(Keith was an Intern at Messiah from 1982-1983)

I was told not to tell… but here goes.
In many ways, Ron Hanson is the most creative Pastor I have worked with. I wonder how much of that creativity was fueled by coffee. Last Sunday’s Coffee would be brought upstairs and plugged in again on Monday morning. I believe those were some potent creative juices.

One day Shirley Olson (Parish Assistant) came into my office and said, “Don’t tell Ron, but I switched the coffee out with decaf!” I didn’t quite understand. She continued, I put the regular away and put decaf grounds in the can marked “Regular”. The drugs were OFF the shelf. She worried about Ron. She felt that he was burning the candle at BOTH ends so she wanted him to be able to sleep at night. Shirley’s heart was in the right place… but I COULDN’T tell anyone.

After about 2 days of drug free coffee, Ron was not feeling well. He thought he had influenza or something… He couldn’t sleep. He had headaches. He couldn’t concentrate. He started to drag around the office. He didn’t talk much. His smile was all worn out.  Shirley came into my office again, “I can’t stand it. Poor Ron. I don’t know what to do.” I told her that I knew what to do! And she said she did too. The decaf grounds disappeared. Shirley bought a can of good regular coffee and I think she even brewed it that day. The grounds of life
perked and Ron seemed to perk up a bit with that first cup of coffee.

Sometimes that cup would topple off a stack of papers on his desk and Ron would race like a caffeinated man on a mission to get some paper towels, and after the brew had soaked in or been mopped up… the cup was refreshed.

I had never heard of Dartball. But I was told on my first Sunday at Messiah that I was on the Dartball team! What? I was told that when the season began I would get more information.  One of the old
timers, Paul Barnes, was a quiet man with bad hips and knees, so it always took him a bit of extra time to get from the chair, to the dart table, to the tossing line. One night Paul picked up three darts, slowly made his way to the tossing line, looked carefully at the three darts as he sort of weighed them in his hand.  Paul turned around, made his slow trek back to the table and put down two darts. He quietly said, “Too heavy.”  He returned to the line, eyed and weighed the lone dart in his hand and said, “That’s better.” He swung his stiff arm and let the dart fly. “HOMERUN!” The crowd went wild. Both teams cheered
with good sport.  I learned to play dartball, to not take it too seriously, and most importantly to understand that the people are always more important than the game.

Harold, “Dub” Moe owned a jewelry store in Washburn. One day I stopped in to see if he had a large cross that I might wear for my Sunday morning worship duties.  We chatted for a while, then Dub
went over to a shelf and rummaged around for a while then came back to the glass counter with a beautiful silver-plate cross. I looked at it and thought it would be perfect, but cost might be a factor for an Intern who had little by way of cash.  He hummed and frowned and nodded and said he could make it affordable.  I took him at his word, then I said, “Would you have a chain for that cross?”  Dub looked at me and said, “Wow, are you trying to take me out of house and home?”  I must have looked shocked… “I can pay, but I need to know how much it costs.”  He laughed and put the chain on it while I stood
there. He put it into my hand and said, “Consider it paid in full! I didn’t know what to do with that cross and chain anyway, so it’s a good thing you came in here when you did!  Later that year I was visiting with Shirley Raarup. Her husband, Paul, had recently passed away and we had spent quite a bit of time together. She said she had something for me. A small box held a beautiful pewter cross.  I wear these crosses to this day and remember many blessings of
Internship in this wonderful church on the Chequamegon Bay.

Katie (Cook) Jack
Shares her Messiah Memories

My first memories of Messiah (Christ) Lutheran Church were when
our family moved back to Washburn from Minneapolis.  My Grandmother, Naomi Cook was the head of the Sunday school.  I remember the little lighthouse that we would put pennies in and it
would light up.  I believe we used it for whoever had a birthday recently.  I would always see my friends at church:  Mary and Becky Schwenzfrier, Diane Haugen, and Jolene Peterson. 

We had a children’s choir that we were all in and we wore light blue shorts and gathered little choir robes.  I remember the pipe organ in the front of the church and the two half-moon kneelers. The children’s choir had pews in the NW corner of the church where there is a door now.  They sat north and south compared to the rest of the pews which sit east and west.  I remember a couple of other Sunday school teachers, Nora Viennear and Mabel Odegard. 

We had many relatives that went to “our church.”   Our grandparents Naomi and Theron Cook, Great aunts and uncles: Marion and Louis Cuty, Verna and Elmer Bloomquist, and Alice and Owen Swanson.  I believe Irvin Flaten was our pastor then  He helped our family many
times over the years. Then came Pastor Julius Hoveland.  He taught us all how to dive at Lakewoods.  We all liked him.

Myself and Janice (Justice) Bergman were still at St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1973 when “her” church – Emmanuel and my church – Christ Lutheran combined.  We’ve always been best of friends and for our two churches to combine – WOW!  GREAT!

Then Pastor Ron Hanson came along.  We were so lucky to have so many great pastors! 

This little church taught me all the basic foundations to live a
good, Godly, clean life.

I was always so proud to sit in the Glen and Joan Cook family pew
towards the front of the church on the west side.  We, of course, filled the whole pew with mom, dad and me and my 5 brothers.  I always have felt warm, safe and loved in this little church and I still do today.  Thanks for the memories.

A Letter from Pastor Ron Hanson

Friends at Washburn:

I'm really looking forward to participating in the celebration of Messiah Lutheran Church's 40th anniversary observance on Sunday,
June 23.  What's hard for me to believe is that it's already 40 years since I was called there to be the 1st pastoral shepherd of this "new" congregation formed by the uniting of the Christ Lutheran and Emanuel Lutheran congregations in 1973.  Connie and I cherish all of the wonderful memories of our 13 years at Messiah and in the Washburn community.  As we celebrate the story of all that God has accomplished in and through Messiah Lutheran Church over those 40 years, may you be emboldened to continue to bear witness to God's love and grace in Christ Jesus in the years to come.  I hope you will come and share in this event of celebration
and thanksgiving.      

Pastor
Ron Hanson

Pastor Hanson was Messiah's first pastor.  He was with Messiah from 1973 to 1985

Your Messiah Memory Goes Here!

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