May 19, 2024
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Joliet church to celebrate 150th anniversary

The theme of the 3-day is celebration is Prayer, Partnership, and Promise

By Denise M. Baran-Unland
The Rev. Jake Bradley, pastor at Church of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Covenant, second from left, chats with parishioner Tom Carten as fellow church members Keith Bielema and Nancy Carten look on. The Church of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Covenant in Joliet will celebrate its 150th anniversary in September with three days of events.

The Rev. Jake Bradley, pastor at Church of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Covenant, second from left, chats with parishioner Tom Carten as fellow church members Keith Bielema and Nancy Carten look on. The Church of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Covenant in Joliet will celebrate its 150th anniversary in September with three days of events. (Photo provided by Church of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Covenant )

A Joliet church is inviting the community to celebrate its 150 years in September.

The Church of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Covenant in Joliet will host a dinner banquet with a cash bar from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 9 at IBEW Local 176, 1100 NE Frontage Road in Joliet. Doors open at 4 p.m.

Features of the event include a display of historic heirlooms and photos, slide presentation, songs, stories and testimonies. The cost of dinner is $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 5 to 10. Reservation deadline is Aug. 15.

The theme of the three-day celebration is “Prayer, Partnership, and Promise” and “will celebrate God’s faithfulness through all generations,” according to a news release from the church announcing its 150th anniversary.

The church was first organized Aug. 10, 1873, as the Swedish Mission Church, according to the release. Members met in private homes until a church was built in 1881 at 410 E. Clay St. in Joliet. Services were conducted in Swedish through the 1930s.

Other features of the celebration include Youth Group Night, which begins at 6 p.m. Sept. 8 at the church. Youth Group Night gives attendees the opportunity to “reconnect with old friends and past youth directors,” the church said in the release. RSVPs are appreciated but not required.

The church will host historical tour of the original church building on Clay Street at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 9. At 11 a.m., the church will host a “hymn sing” at the current church location, 2437 Plainfield Road in Joliet.

The hymn sing will include a Fika, “a time of fellowship and Swedish pastries,” according to the release. RSVPs for both activities are appreciated but not required.

The church will conclude the anniversary celebration Sept. 10 with coffee and fellowship at 9:30 a.m. and a celebration worship service at 10:30 a.m.

For more information and to RSVP for any of the events, visit goodshepherdcov.org.