1927

Rev. Remus C. Rein was a graduate from the first class at Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri in 1927. The new $4 000 000 Seminary also housed the Gospel Voice Radio Station K.F.U.O.

Rev. Rein was ordained into the holy ministry on Sunday, August 28, 1927 at Morse, Saskatchewan by Rev. Reitz, Field Secretary of the District.

Morse and a place nine miles north, and a new mission to be established at Swift Current were to be his parish.

The first service was held in Grinder’s Hall, above a funeral parlour, corner of Central Avenue and Chaplin Street. There were twelve people present on Sunday evening, August 28, 1927 at 7:30 pm. There were already thirteen denominations established in the city. The Knox and Metropolitan Union churches claimed half the population as their attendants.

Many hardships were encountered and many obstacles had to be overcome in establishing a church in Swift Current. It was the wish of Rev. Rein that if an organized Lutheran congregation were established, that it would be named +Mount Calvary+.

From August 28 to December 31, 1927, Pastor Rein made 746 Mission calls, 30 Pastoral calls and 91 sick calls. Articles and advertisements were placed in the two local newspapers, pamphlets, and tracts were disseminated.

The first Christmas service was attended by sixty-one. The Sunday School took part in the service.

Rev. Rin and Mrs. Assmus taught the Sunday School. Miss Tranguard was organist at the Grinder Hall services.

The average attendance from August 28, to December 31, 1927 was twenty-seven.

1928

A special meeting on January 8, 1928 of the men was called for the purpose of stimulating interest in building a church. A Church Building Committee consisting of Rev. Rein, Mr. E. F. F. Cornelius and MR. H. G. Vote was elected. This committee spent considerable time in securing pledges for a “Building fund”.

January 18^th a meeting of the ladies was called to organize a Ladies Aid. Mrs. Rein was the first president. Mrs. E. (Susie) Wengel was secretary.

And adult Confirmation class was begun in January, 1928. Confirmation exercises took place on Pentecost Sunday, May 27, 1928. Rev. Wm. Reitz preached the sermon and Rev. Rein performed the confirmation ceremony. Those confirmed were: Mr. and Mrs. Harry G. Vote; Mrs. Edna Cornelius; Miss Dorothy and Miss Caroline Johnson; Miss Clara and Otilia Burghardt (Waldeck) and Miss Mildred Berg (south of Swift Current). Attendance was eighty.

On February 12, 1928 Rev. Rein began to serve the German Lutheran Congregation at Rush Lake.

Attempts were made to interest the Chinese population of the city in the services, even offering private services, but since these people work long hours in various shifts, seven days a week there was no response.

The Swift Current Parish included many outlying preaching stations which included Rush Lake (1928); Parkbert (1928); Orkney, Stone, Shortgrass, Driscol, Fairy Lake, Milly, Lac Pelleiter (1935); McMahon 1937) and Vidora.

The lodges at this time had a very large following and Pastor Rein held several public debates on the Lodge question. These debates were well attended and highly publicized.

Rev. Wm. Al Reitz, Field Secretary of Manitoba-Saskatchewan district lectured at a special meeting on Sunday, March 3, 1928 concerning membership in lodges. All lodges had representatives at the meeting which was well attended.

1929

January 8^th, 1929 the Church Building Committee had begun its work and plans for building a chapel had been growing.

The Mission Board of the District assumed a full authority for the building of a church and a loan of $4000.00 from the General Church Extension Board and an additional $1000.00 loan from the District Mission Board was granted.

On April 30^th, 1929 Rev. Rein made application to City Hall for the purchase of two lots on the corner of Cheadle and Fourth Avenue North East. City Council granted lots 11 and 12 in Block 36 for the price of $300.00. (The original price had been $862.50.)

The building contract was lent to Mr. Wm. Dawson. Mr. Grant was subcontractor for stucco and plaster. Building operations began on Monday, September 23, 1929 and was completed in a little more than a month.

The building was constructed to house the chapel and living quarters. The chapel was built to seat about sixty people.

The parsonage portion of the building was not included in the contract and the member of the congregation ably assisted by Rev. C. T. Wetzstein of Regina did the work. The altar and pulpit were built by Rev. Wetzstein. The living quarters consisted of the Pastor’s study, which also served as the vestry, a kitchen, dining room and bathroom, with two bedrooms upstairs. There was a full basement.

The Dedication Services were held on November 24, 1929.

Rev. Wetzstein, President of the District preached the Dedication Service, choosing as his text I Corinthians 2:2. The afternoon service was taken by Rev. J. Lucht, Vice President of District and Circuit Visitor. His text was Revelation 3:7-8. Rev. Rein had the evening Thanksgiving service. His text was Psalm 100. The attendance for the three services were: 51, 32 and 45 respectively.

The name Mount Calvary was chosen and it seemed fitting, as like the events on Mount Calvary, the establishment of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church was very difficult.

The average attendance for 1929 was 17.

Charles Weslowsky of Leader, Sask. And Mary Sackmann of Leader were the first couple married in Mount Calvary at 10:00 pm the evening of its dedication. November 24, 1929.

November 28, 1929 at a meeting of attendance of Mount Calvary, it was voted to have Rev. R. C. Rein pay the $4.50 a month for lights and water and $80.00 a year for coal. Any amount over this would be paid out of the church treasury.

1930

A special Baptismal Service was held in the new chapel on July 25, 1930. Thirteen children from the city, one from the immediate vicinity, and five from Waldeck were baptized. Those baptized were: Bertha Nanny Blanke; Roland Rudie Blanke; Kenneth Schatkoski; Russel Huby Janzen; Naomi Ethel Janzen; Bettyjo Everts; Ethel Mae Everts; Donald Lenland Clifford Cornelius; Richard Benjamin Johnson; Mae Marie Johnson; Dorothea Luellen Johnson; Roy Currence; Clifford Herman Currence; Leroy Farris; Minnie Frances Wengel; Ernest Roy Wengel. Attendance at the service which was held at 7:30 pm was seventy.

The average attendance for 1930 was twenty-three.

1934

A Young Peoples Group was organized and in 1934 a Bible Camp was organized for the Driscol Lake-Beaver Valley Young People under Rev. Alvin H. C. Liefer and the Mount Calvary group with Rev. Rein. A large tent was set up by Mr. Henry Blanke and others at Lac Pelletier in which to hold study groups and for the Services held on Sunday.

There was a large attendance from the Driscol Lake-Beaver Valley Young People and the camp was a real success. A severe electric and wind storm brought down some of the smaller tents set up for sleeping in as well as the food tent. Cooking was done on open fires outside. The food was brought from home.

Sunday was clear and warm and there was a good attendance at the Church services.

In 1934 a group of farmers requested that Sunday School and Church Services be held at Cedar Hill Scholl. Among these were Mr. and Mrs. Henry Blanke and family; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Blanke and family; Mr. and Mrs. Fricke, Herny and Elfreda; and the Douglas family. The first church service was held February 25, 1934. Average attendance is 50-55. There are twenty-one children in Sunday School.

Rev. Rein’s last service at Cedar Hill School was July 1, 1934.

On July 3, 1934 Pastor R. C. Rein was given a peaceful release to accept a call to Flint Michigan. Rev. Reitz served as vacancy pastor.

Rev. Alvin H. C. Liefer was called because he spoke German and Norwegian as well as English. He began his work at Mount Calvary on September 16, 1934. These were times of drought and hardships. The “Dirty Thirties” as they were often called.

It was voted to discontinue Saturday School as heating the church made the coal bill too large. Sunday School had to be dropped for a time, too, because of the expense.

Rev. Liefer travelled many times to preach and to serve the people at the various stations in the Parish. He organized Sunday School and Confirmation classes at Orkney and carried on with the various activities: Confirmation Classes, Ladies Aid, Sunday School, Young Peoples at Driscol Lake-Beaver Valley and Fairy Lake. He served until June 5^th, 1938.

1945

Pastor’s salary was set at $126.00 for the year. This amount was set by Synod (Jan 25)

It was voted that no more German services be conducted at Mount Calvary. (Oct 28)

Rev. C. Witte coming from the St. Louis Seminary took up the work in the fall of 1945.

Prior to Rev. Witte’s tenure, it was passed that no German services were to be conducted because of the war. German was not a popular language in this English town.

Rev. Witte and his wife were licensed pilots and they flew to many of the preaching stations. However, these flying visits were short lived after being involved in an airplane crash. No one was hurt.

Rev. Witte accepted a call to Maple Creek, Sask. In the spring of 1950.

The pastor’s salary for 1946 was set at $150.00. (Nov 15)

1950

Rev. Philip Ulmer was installed on October 1, 1950 by Rev. C. Witte.

It was at this time that Rush Lake (eight members) and McMahon congregations asked to join with Mount Calvary. Mr. and Mrs. Jake Meyer, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Bay, and Mr. and Mrs. George Meyer. Mr. and Mrs. Alex Schmeiss, Mr. and Mrs. Reinhards Schriock, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Schriock, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Meyer, and Mr. and Mrs. Dave Gerlach, Fred Meyer.

Rev. Philip Ulmer was authorized to publish a church bulletin, preferably bi-monthly. (Oct 15)

Mr. Jacob Bay on behalf of the Rush Lake members expressed the desire that they be accepted into the Mount Calvary congregation as regular members. Acceptance of all members from Rush Lake was approved. (Nov 26)

Candles on the altar to be lit on special occasions only.

It was decided that German services would no longer be conducted at Mount Calvary.

The Ladies Aid was organized at Mount Calvary on October 25, 1950. Mrs. Hauk was President, Mrs. E. Millen was Secretary-Treasurer. There were ten members.

Sunday School enrollment at Mount Calvary was twenty.

A Christian Fellowship Hour was held regularly.

Teas and bazaars were held.

1953

Pastor’s salary for 1953 was set at $360.00. (Jan 11)

Rev. Thomas L. Ristine was installed. (Sept 6)

Ever member was invited. (Every Member Visitation Committee)

Confirmation classes started again after the long vacancy. (During this vacancy several confirmands were instructed by Rev. C. Oleson at St. Olaf Lutheran Church and confirmed there.)

Church attendance was growing and filling the little church and it soon became apparent that a large facility was needed.

A motion was passed that an addition be built onto the church. A motion was passed that if the Pastor desires Holy Communion at any time that it be administered by an officer of the church congregation. Pledge cards were handed out at the meeting. $519.00 was pledged for home use and $205.00 for missions. (There were fifteen members present.) (Nov 18)

An extension was added onto the church at Fourth Avenue N.E. and Cheadle Street. The pastor and members of the congregation did the work.

The L.W.M.L. gave $1000.00 towards the expansion.

There were 103 communicant members.

1955

In January the first meeting of the newly organized Lutheran Women’s Missionary League was held.

1963

Lenten services to be held Sunday evenings at 7:00 pm. (Jan 20)

A motion passed to incorporate Mount Calvary. Envelopes to be purchased for Sunday School children. (April 3)

Voter’s Assembly approved motion to build a new church. Committee of Donald Schatkoski, Herb Stoll, Fred Wymer and Arnold Lang were elected. (June 6)

Missions goal for 1964 was set at $2600.00. Tenders for new church construction to be advertised. (Oct 16)

District was asked for a $1500.00 subsidy for 1964. (Dec 28)

1964

Mount Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church of Swift Current was incorporated under the provision of “The Societies Act, 1959”, February 5, 1964.

The Board of Elders encouraged Walther League in their project to purchase a new Communion set for the new church. (Feb 2)

The Southside Recreation Center would be rented at $10.00 per services while the new church was being built. Sale of old church would be advertised at $12 000.00. (Feb 2)

Voters meeting voted in favour of joining Lutheran Church-Canada. (April 8)

Motion passed to purchase four lots on 3^rd Ave. S.E. and Friesen Street for $3941.02. (Aug 23)

Motion passed to sell old Communion set to Trinity, Cadillac for $10.00. “Every Member Visitation” program to be carried out. Visitations to be done at homes. Stock, Keith and Associates were hired as architects for the new church. (Sept 30)

Mission Goal for 1965 set at $3000.00. (Dec 3)

1965

Church and lots at 4^th N.E. were sold. Last service at the 4^th Ave. N.E. location was held in the Southside Recreation Hall. Sod turning ceremony was held on May 9^th. New church dedicated on October 31^st.

1969

Both Mr. Don Adams and Rev. Towriss began serving the Swift Current Area Parish which included the congregations of Mount Calvary, Swift Current; Trinity, Cadillac; St. Johns, Leader; and Peace, Bateman. This are a also included Wideview, Mankota; McCord and Fox Valley. Leader and Fox Valley were also served during the vacancy there by Rev. Towriss and Mr. Adam. (Aug 1)

Motion passed to use Communion cards. Card to be handed out by ushers and cards collected by an elder or usher. Pastor and Lay-assistant to distribute bread and wine at Communion service. An usher could assist, but not consecrate the elements. Family file folders to be made up and maintained for church records. Parish part time secretary to be hired with a salary of $2.00 per hour. (Aug 5)

The Lutheran Churches in southwest Saskatchewan to go together and sponsor “David and Goliath”. A TV program to begin October 4, 1969. Mrs. Barb (Don) Adam to be paid $20.00 per month as a full time music director. A vote of thanks was given Mrs. Elsie Bassendowski for being the organist for many years of faithful service. (Sept 23)

Budget for 1970 set at $17 928.00. Subsidy of $9000.00. (Oct 29)

Every Member Visitations to be made. Delinquent members to be visited twice, then notified by letter. (Nov 19)

1976

Both communion and individual cups to be offered at Communion services. Women became voting members of Mount Calvary. Bulletin board installed on the front exterior of the church in memory of Mr. Jacob Meyer.

1981

Mount Calvary to help with “Meals-on-Wheels” project.

1987

Motion passed that Mount Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, Swift Current, become a member of Lutheran Church-Canada.

1994

Purchased the lot south of the church property. A stand for the TV/VCR was purchased. A cry room was built in the Narthex area.