The Legacy of the Pasadena Covenant Church

Painting by Joseph Stoddard

(Used with his permission)

(Understanding the characteristics and growth of the Church)

By Elmer Fredrickson

Year 2005

FORWARD

The author of this account is thankful to God for the blessings received over a long lifetime, and for the loving fellowship enjoyed within the Christian body at the Pasadena Covenant Church. Elmer Fredrickson came as a small lad with his immigrant parents to the local church in 1924, two years after the church was founded. At that time all of the meetings were held in the Swedish language.  He remained there for the next eighty some years, with the exception of three years while in the United States military service during World War II. He knew most of the founding members personally and served the church and his Lord in many different offices and endeavors throughout those years. Elmer married within the church and he and his wife Allene raised their daughter and two sons there.

This writing was produced from memory, with a minimum of historical documents available. It was the author’s hope that he could convey the dynamics which were operative in this growing and changing organization which came to be known as the Pasadena Covenant Church.

So many people have whole-heartedly served the kingdom of God in the Pasadena church over the many decades of its existence. It is an impossible task to recall them all, and write about them. It would not be fair to mention some people’s contributions and not those of others. The names recorded here are used to make specific points, but not necessarily to give recognition.

The church has had a variety of names. On the first meeting building the congregation posted a sign printed in the Swedish language which read “Svenska Evangeliska Tabernakel Forsamlingen”

The following are the legal names of the Church by year:

1.      1922 – Swedish Evangelical Mission Church of Pasadena.

2.      1923 – Swedish Evangelical Tabernacle Church of Pasadena.

3.      1935 – Evangelical Mission Covenant Church of Pasadena.

4.      1972 – Pasadena Covenant Church.

From 1935 to 1971 people referred to the church as the Mission Covenant Church. The church was listed in the yellow pages of the telephone book under the heading of Churches as just Mission Covenant. Pastor Arvid Carlson reported that he would receive a call periodically asking for the “Mission Convent”; the assumption being that this was a Roman Catholic institution. The Pastor would then tactfully explain to the caller his mistake.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this writing is to describe the nature, motivation and beliefs of the people who organized the Covenant Church at its inception, and of those who nurtured the organization from that time until today. The intent here is to accurately tell the story without bias, and not to evaluate or pass judgment. Included is a description of some of the environmental and sociological conditions which existed at the beginning. It is an attempt to capture the significant highlights and record them for posterity.

In this account a sizable portion is devoted to the acquisition and development of buildings and facilities of the Pasadena Covenant Church. It must be remembered that these structures are only a means to the desired end. They are simply tools for ministry. The real story is this: It is the impact that the gospel has had on thousands of people. Their hearts have been touched and their lives have been transformed by God’s grace, over the many years that this church has existed.

                                                                                                                                               I.      THE BEGINNING

SPIRITUAL MOVEMENT

The Covenant Church evolved as a result of an ethnic spiritual movement which began in Sweden in the middle of the nineteenth century. The Bible had come to Sweden and had made a significant impact on the lives of the common folk. The Lutheran faith had been embraced and fostered by the state government. Along with this there was a pietistic movement which emphasized spiritual renewal and the priesthood of all believers. This led to serious study of the whole Bible in house churches. These folks believed in conversion, and the New Birth. Their beliefs actually led to disputes with the religious authorities of the state government. The folk in the churches were resolute and firm in their faith but sad about the militancy and failings of organized religion. Their study of the scriptures had a liberating effect on their lives, giving them freedom and joy in their religious experience. They developed a strong interest in spreading the gospel and they became known as “Mission Friends”.

IMMIGRANTS

The small band who formed the Pasadena Church were Swedish immigrants or children of Swedish immigrants. They were part of the great migration which occurred in the late eighteen hundreds and to beyond the turn of the century. It has been estimated that one seventh of the population of Sweden at that time had left to go to the new world. For them America was the land of great opportunity. The immigrants were mostly young adults. Many experienced much loneliness and hardship in making their way. Many had no knowledge of the English language when they arrived in America. Most of them had only an eighth grade education. This meant that at about age fourteen they entered the work-a-day world as adults in menial jobs. In America at that time there was no governmental economic safety net. Most had no one to rely upon if they fell into difficult circumstances. Often they were taken advantage of by employers. Many did not have the resources to go back to the old country even if they had desired to do so.

SWEDISH TRAITS

A full range of human characteristics are to be found in all ethnic groups. However, those traits will vary in presence and strength in each disparate group. Training, temperament and customs all influence the display of those characteristics in a group. Here is an attempt to describe the general nature of the Swedes who immigrated to America.  Most everyone agrees that the Swedes were reserved and conservative. They had a strong desire to do their very best, no matter the task. They excelled in wood working, crafts and carving. They loved to tinker and invent. They were very frugal, practical and somewhat adverse to taking risk. They were modest and self effacing. They prized freedom and had a healthy respect for law and order. They strove to be educated and were lovers of music and poetry. They loved nature and the out of doors. They usually kept their opinions to themselves. The Swedes were persistent in keeping at a task, and perhaps a little bit stubborn.

When the immigrants came to America they became farmers, carpenters, machinist, lumberjacks and factory workers, among other things. The women were homemakers, seamstresses and knitters.

MIGRATION

Very few Swedes came directly to Pasadena. Their point of entry was New York or Boston. They initially settled in the northern tier of states which had a climate similar to their homeland, with ice and snow. They went where there were jobs available and where other of their countrymen had located. Chicago and Minneapolis were prime locations. When some of their members found better situations, the word soon spread far and wide, and others followed. In time the most daring of the immigrants ventured to the Western United States and to Southern California.  Eventually they found Pasadena.

PASADENA ENVIRONMENT

Pasadena in the early nineteen hundreds had little industry. Agricultural was the primary activity except for one major factor. The balmy climate had attracted the attention of wealthy folks from the mid-west and east. Many had established winter homes in Pasadena and built large estates that required cooks, maids, butlers, chauffeurs and gardeners. Many young Swedish women came to fill the needs as live-in household help. Many business establishments and entertainment venues were established catering to the needs and wants of the wealthy. A good public transportation system was developed for the benefit of workers and the general public. Even the mailman rode public transportation from the post office to their routes.

For the single Swedish women who worked in the estates there were certain working conditions which included personal time off. Each week it was usually common for them to have Sunday off after breakfast, and Thursday afternoon and evening off. This gave them the opportunity to congregate for fellowship and worship. It was out of these gatherings that the Covenant Church was eventually formed. For many years the mid-week prayer service of the Church was held on Thursday evenings to accommodate those women. The Church was a haven for those who toiled.

TRAVEL BY RAIL

In the 1920’s Pasadena was a destination city. The Santa Fe Railroad had a main line track from Chicago to Los Angeles. That train was heavily used for there were no passenger airlines in existence at that time. Travel by car or bus across the country was an arduous undertaking, for there were no freeways or super highways either.  One family changed seventeen flat tires on the way to California.  They repaired the inner-tubes with material brought along for the trip. Travel by train was the most suitable way to come to southern California. The last stop on the railway route before the terminal in Los Angeles’ Union Station was Pasadena. In the days before World War II Hollywood’s movie stars would get off the train in Pasadena so as to avoid the crowd and the hassle in Los Angeles. They would have their chauffeurs waiting for them as well as some of their admirers.

The Santa Fe Railroad tracks ran east – west through east Pasadena and then turned south to the station in down- town Pasadena. The location of the tracks was near what is now the middle of the 210 freeway. The tracks were neither depressed nor elevated but at grade level. Lake Avenue had become a major thoroughfare so there were gates and signals to stop the traffic while the freight and passenger trains passed. Street cars regularly ran up and down Lake Avenue but none of them ever collided with a train.

The Pasadena train station was a place of joy and sadness for Covenant people and those associated with them. It was a place of joy when friends and loved ones arrived, but it was a place of sadness when friends and loved ones departed. On occasion a group from the church would gather to say “Good bye” to someone and sing the song “God be with you till we again.” On rare occasions the casket of one who had died would be loaded on the train for burial elsewhere. The rule was that someone had to accompany the casket to assure that it reached the proper destination.

CHURCH ORGANIZED

In the early 1900’s the Swedish working women would gather together on their days off. At times they had problems about what to do and where to go, especially with their meager resources. Virtually none of them owned cars so they had to walk or use public transportation. Other Swedish people would extend hospitality to the domestics, even to granting an “anytime” standing invitation to their homes.

Those who were Christians desired spiritual refreshment and worship. Small groups filled this need. The Swedish Covenant Church in Los Angeles was well established by the turn of the twentieth century. From time to time their pastors would come to Pasadena to minister to these gatherings. Over time they grew so that they needed to meet in rented facilities. In 1921 a woman’s group formed and shortly after that there was a movement to form a Swedish Church.  On April 19, 1922 the Pasadena Covenant Church was formally organized with twenty six charter members. It was a brave move by such a small band. There were seven married couples plus twelve single women.

                                                                                              II.      THE PEOPLE AND THEIR FAITH

SWEDISH CONNECTIONS

In addition to the Swedish women who worked as domestic’s there were Swedish families living in Pasadena in the nineteen twenties. For people of foreign extraction, the native language is a strong tie that draws them together. Other ties include religious views, family, relationships, social connections, similar work experience and a common point of origin. All of these factors were operative among the sprinkling of Swedes in this location. It is interesting to note that at one point there were four different churches in Pasadena using the Swedish language. The Swedish Methodist was located at Villa and Summit, The Swedish Baptists were on Oak Knoll below Green, and the Lutherans were on Orange Grove at Madison and the Covenanters at Lake and Santa Barbara.  The members of the church were very serious about their spiritual life. They regarded themselves as pilgrims and strangers in a foreign land, but on their way to heaven. They believed that anyone who had not made a commitment to Jesus Christ was lost and bound for hell. They felt responsible to witness to all they came in contact with and influence their decision for Christ. They spent time memorizing scripture and many carried a pocket New Testament with them all of the time. They believed in the imminent second coming of Christ and that one should be prepared, having confessed one’s sins, and confessing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

SIMPLE LIFE

At the founding of the local church, life was relatively simple with few diversions available to ordinary folk. Most stores were closed on Sundays. Only a few people had radios. Evening after work was spent reading, writing, playing table games or visiting with neighbors. Few people traveled very far, and many didn’t even take vacations. Life was centered in the church and its activities. For many years the schedule of Sunday church services was as follows: Sunday school 9:45am, morning worship 11:00am, young peoples meeting 5:00pm, social hour 6:00 – 7:00pm and evening service 7:00pm; on Thursday: mid-week prayer service 7:30pm and ladies aid at 2:00pm once per month. It was expected that everyone who could would be present at every service except for special circumstances. All services were in the Swedish language.

STRONG FAITH

The founders of the church were adamant in their belief that the Bible was the wholly inspired word of God. They confessed that the holy scriptures were the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine and conduct. When there were differences of opinion among believers, one would ask the question “where is it written”? Chapter and verse would be required. There were within the body certain liberties and a freedom of interpretation allowed on minor issues but not on the major ones. One example is the treatment of infants. Both infant baptism and infant blessing were practiced. The Covenant Church does not have a distinct creed but embraces the Apostles Creed in its service.

Those church pioneers had a singleness of focus rarely seen. They believed that their work for the kingdom of God was their primary purpose in life and that their jobs were only a means to sustain physical life. At the hour of worship services they discouraged all other meetings or distractions. They frowned on membership in any other organization because that would diminish the efforts for the church. They had a reverence for Gods House. They ordained that church business be relegated to weekdays, in order to concentrate on the spiritual exercises. They embraced the fourth commandment, to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. In their personal lives they did no house cleaning or home repairs on that day. They concentrated on being hospitable and outgoing to strangers, neighbors, friends and relatives. They desired to love everyone for Christ’s sake.

COMPELLING BELIEFS FOR LIVING

There were two compelling beliefs held by the pioneers of the Pasadena church that dominated their thinking. Those beliefs motivated them to walk the “straight and narrow” way.  Those beliefs also gave them a sense of urgency to be about the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

The first compelling belief was that there would be a day at judgment for all people as noted in Romans 14:10-12. This was a very sobering thought, that all should have to account for their actions in this life. They were very conscious of the sins of commission as well as the sins of omission.

The other compelling belief was that Christ would return at any time; like a bridegroom coming for his bride as described in Matthew 25:13. This belief quickened their spiritual senses so that they desired to be as ready and pure as possible. Those believers prayed to God daily for forgiveness for their sins. They often quoted John1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Some of those church pioneers were concerned that they might be denied entry into heaven.

LIFE STYLE

A number of taboos were observed. They didn’t drink alcoholic beverages. They didn’t go to movie theaters, pool halls, bowling alleys or dances. Women didn’t wear lipstick or earrings and most adult women had long hair which they wound into a bun on the back of the head. Most folk took a bath on Saturday night and wore their best clothing to church in reverence to God. All men wore coats and ties and shined their shoes. Most women wore hats to worship services. Modest dress was expected. Costs for special occasions were kept to a minimum that those who were poor could participate and not be embarrassed. Freewill offerings covered most of the expenses.  Special interest was shown to guests and visitors.

HOSPITALITY

Ludwig and Amy Brandt epitomized the very essence of hospitality in the Pasadena Church. They were the kindest, most gentle people. With their hearts filled with Christian love they extended a warm welcome to everyone, especially the new comer. A visitor who came to the church more than once was sure to receive an invitation for Sunday dinner with all the trimmings. When Ludwig Brandt prayed the blessing for the meal, with his thick Swedish accent, it was an experience the guest was not likely to forget. There were many folk who were silently persuaded to remain in the church because of the hospitality of the Brandt’s. There was another role that Ludwig Brandt played and it was that of peace maker. When there were contentious discussions in business meetings, it was Mr. Brandt that calmed the atmosphere with his Godly spirit and well chosen words.

Sunday dinner for visitors was a tradition in the church. There were many women who would place a roast in the oven and prepared extra food just in case it was needed. What better opportunity is there to get acquainted with people then to break bread together? Hospitality performs a very vital function in the growth of a church.

This practice of large Sunday dinners at home continued well into the 1970’s.

DELIGHT IN MUSIC

Music played a special part for the early pioneers of the Pasadena Covenant Church. They thoroughly enjoyed congregational singing. They were accompanied by either piano or foot peddled organ. Soon after the regular services were established the pastor organized a choir. Many in the group were self taught musicians. A string band was established which performed at some worship services, singing and playing with gusto. At family gatherings folks would regularly stand around the piano and sing. Even at special gatherings music was incorporated into the activities, as well as a religious devotional message.

CHURCH GOVERNMENT

To understand the development of the Pasadena Covenant Church it is necessary to explain the polity of the church. Under the umbrella of the national body, the Evangelical Covenant Church of America, each church is autonomous. Each church individually selects its own pastors and controls its own finances. The national body advises and guides in church affairs but has no power to dictate, except where contracts have been mutually drawn. The national body is a group of churches joined together for strength and for endeavors beyond the ability of any individual church to undertake. The offices of the churches are democratically elected and major polices of the church are voted on by the members of the congregation. In the early days the founders were aided and influenced by the Congregational Denomination.

                                                                                          III.      DEVELOPMENT OF FACILITIES

PROPERTY ACQUISITION

In the year 2005 the campus of the Pasadena Covenant Church is comprised of eleven lots as specified on the original subdivision map.  The initial parcel was acquired in 1923, the second lot was purchased in 1940, the third lot in 1961, and the rest much later.  Each lot had at least one residential unit on it when acquired.  It is interesting to note the following with regard to the construction and expansion of the church’s facilities. Over the years almost none of the facilities that the church has built have been demolished or replaced. However many additions and modifications have been made in response to changing conditions. The metamorphosis has been astounding.

CHURCH HOME

From the very beginning, the founders of the Covenant church in Pasadena had a strong desire to have a meeting place of their own. They did not have the freedom or control of the facilities which they rented for their meetings. Six months after they signed the church charter in 1922 they purchased a small single lot on Villa St. It was on the North side of the street between Lake and Mentor. When the first pastor came early in 1923, he felt that the lot was a poor choice and advised that a better location be found. As a result, the property at 539 North Lake Avenue was secured and the Villa St. property sold. Rev. Sporrong even paid a deposit of $500 of his own money on the new property to hold it until the church could formally act upon it. 

The new property consisted of a large two story house which was located in the middle of a plot composed of three subdivision lots. The plot measured 105 x 180 feet. Upon taking possession, the people of the church modified the interior of the downstairs to accommodate their meetings. They rented the upper story in order to secure some additional income.

As of the year 2005 the timbers of that original two-story house are still part of the churches facilities. When the church built its first chapel, the old house was moved to the western edge of the property. The building was transformed into a residential duplex facing Santa Barbara St. Each unit had a living room, dining room, kitchen and service porch on the first floor, and two bedrooms and a bath on the upper story. In the 1930s, 40s and 50s the custodian lived in the east side unit and the Pastor and his family in the west unit. Eventually the church built a parsonage for the pastor away from the church and the pastor’s unit was used for a preschool Sunday school class. Later still, the church built on the land that had been the front lawn of the duplex; they built a nursery and toddler’s facility on the ground floor and a church office upstairs. At that time the custodian moved elsewhere. Additional modifications were made in the entire unit to create office space on the second story but the original timbers from eighty years ago are still in the structure.

CHURCH FACILITIES

One of the major hurtles for a newly founded congregation is the acquisition of property for a church home. This is especially true if the church is self-supporting and without the sponsorship of another church or denomination. Because of limited resources, a new church often will purchase the most economical land or facilities available. This act often becomes a very limiting factor in the growth of the church. It can be a fatal flaw to the very existence of the church. The location of a church is a most important component. For successful growth it deserves the utmost attention and consideration. A church should be visible, accessible and attractive. God has blessed the Pasadena Covenant Church in this regard.

 The development and expansion of the physical facilities of the Pasadena Covenant Church is a long and protracted story. Each parcel of land that was acquired has a unique and interesting story.  The church initially settled on the property at the corner of Lake Ave. and Santa Barbara Street in Pasadena. In a directional sense the church then expanded its campus first to the south, then to the west and finally to the north of the initial purchase. The following is a description, in chronological order, of the acquisition and development of each lot.

Here is a description of the suitability of the original location. The Pasadena City authorities had designated Lake Avenue as a major artery for vehicular traffic. At the time the church purchased the property the city was in the process of widening the street from Colorado Street to Orange Grove and installing modern street lights. North of Orange Grove, Lake Avenue was still a rather narrow street. The Pacific Electric Railway ran red colored electric street cars up and down the Avenue on a regular schedule. The tracks ran all the way to the base of the San Gabriel Mountains where an incline cable railway was located.

The area around the church was entirely residential. From the church site one could see not one business establishment. However, there were small businesses on Lake Avenue at the major intersections of Colorado, Orange Grove and Washington, plus a few more locations. To the south of the church on the west side of Lake Avenue there were two residences in succession, followed by vacant land all the way to Villa Street. In the 1930s used cars were sold from the front lawn of the house next to the church site and a miniature golf course was built on the vacant land just north of Villa Street. The golf course didn’t last long.  It folded as an unsuccessful venture.

After World War II a gas station was established on the corner at Villa. Later when the church was in need of parking space, the owner H.D. Leroy and Sons allowed the use of their property on Sundays. The business was always closed on that day. There were other local businesses that extended that same courtesy to the Covenant Congregation. In the year of 2005, the Hat restaurant and Pasadena Fire Department occupy what had once been vacant land.

NEW EDIFICE

Under Rev. Axel Sporrong’s dynamic leadership, the church built a new sanctuary in 1924. The entrance faced, Santa Barbara Street. The church was designed in the Spanish architectural style popular in that day. The sanctuary had a high ceiling, two stories in height. There was an overhanging balcony and two side rooms adjacent to the sanctuary which, were partitioned from it with wooden folding doors. In the year 2005 the original walls now remain and the room is called the Gathering Place. All told, the sanctuary, the balcony and the side rooms could seat about 200 people. The undeveloped space on the plot to the east of the original church, between it and Lake Avenue, was used as an automobile parking lot. The driveway to it was from Lake Avenue at the south end of the property.

At a much later date, one side room became part of the churches music room and the other side room became part of the east west hallway. The two story height of the sanctuary was modified to one story, with classrooms built on the second story. Two remnants of the original church are still very visible. One is the pair of double doors at the entrance to the Gathering Place. The other is the western stairway that leads to the present Church balcony. It is the very same stairway that went to the balcony in the original church.

The little church had a small courtyard immediately in front of the main church steps, between the church and the sidewalk. Some twenty five years later when the new sanctuary was built that space was utilized to add men’s and ladies restrooms and a bride’s room. That construction sealed off the main entrance to the old church, hiding it from street view.

PICTORIAL DECLARATIONS

In the Sanctuary of the original church building there were three framed paintings gracing the walls above the platform. On each one was a biblical inscription which identified the meaning of the painting.  The verses indicate the theological focus of the founding members of the Pasadena church. As viewed from the balcony, the pictures were in the following order:  On the left was a picture of Jacob’s ladder with this verse: “Surely the Lord is in this place. This is none other but the house of God and this is the gate of heaven.” Genesis 28: 16-17. The middle picture was a representation of the cross with this inscription: “We preach Christ crucified,”

1 Corinthians 1:23.  The right hand picture represented the second coming of Christ. The verse displayed was: “Behold he cometh with the clouds,” Revelation 1:7.  Any one entering the sanctuary could not miss the impact of those pictures.

FINANCES

In order to comprehend the finances of the church at its beginning one must know what the wages were at that time in the 1920’s. The average worker in America earned about $30.00 per week for 50 hours of work. A gallon of milk cost 25 cents and a postage stamp for a letter was 3 cents. The ordinary worker operated on a cash basis. He received his pay tucked in an envelope in dollars and cents. He had no deductions! The ordinary worker paid no income tax, social security or disability tax. Many people didn’t know how to write a check. Ordinary people paid their bills out of their pocket book to a cashier in a main office. The bulk of church giving was received in cash and not by check. Many covenanters purposely kept their standard of living at a low level in order to give more to the church.

It was a Herculean task for the small band that founded the church to raise the money required for a new church facility.  They did it with great effort and sacrifice. By comparison to today’s values the amounts involved seem so very small. They paid $9,500 for the original plot with the two story house on it. They paid a little over $13,000 for the new church building, not including volunteer labor. They spent some $6,500 to remodel the original house. When they dedicated the new church, they owed only about $7,000 of the $29,000 total. That was the entire cost of the original land and buildings.

BASEMENT EXPANSION

Eight years after the initial unit of the church was built, the church felt the need for more space. It was in the depths of the great economic depression of the 1930s. A number of the men in the church were without work and available to volunteer their services. It was decided to build a basement under the church to include an assembly hall and a kitchen. The men shored up the building and dug the basement by hand, using shovels and buckets and wheel barrows. No mechanical equipment was used. Amazingly enough, the building did not tumble into the hole. They carefully built the walls and supports to sustain the building above and kept it from tipping or shifting. A kitchen was located at the south end to the basement. It had serving windows above a counter that opened up into the assembly hall.

Some twenty years later the church again wanted more space yet in the basement so they excavated again and enlarged the assembly hall by including what had been the original kitchen area and built a new kitchen to the south of it. The new kitchen was a more efficient facility compared to the old one but it didn’t have an automatic dishwasher. All of the dishes for church dinners, which occurred frequently, were washed by hand.

ADJACENT PROPERTY

In 1940, the property immediately to the south of the church building was offered for sale. The church was growing under the ministry of Rev. Melvin Dahlstrom. There were discussions about building another, larger church building. The church membership voted to purchase the property at 533 North Lake Avenue. This was the very first parcel to be acquired after the original plot.

The property was about 50 feet by 180 feet. On it was a modest bungalow encompassing about 800 sq. ft. total space. After possession, the building was cleaned up and slightly modified to accommodate primary age children. The building was called Sunshine Hall. The rest of the land was used for parking cars. Today that plot of land is called Magnolia Court.

After World War II a two story educational unit was built on the back of the property. The old Sunshine Hall was raised. The new educational unit was erected in one day by volunteer help. There were perhaps thirty five men of the church that labored that Saturday. William B. Erickson was the building superintendent. Plans and preparations had been previously made. Concrete foundations had been poured and the lumber had been pre cut by Everett Swardstrom, a carpenter during the previous week. There was great excitement and enthusiasm as crews competed against each other to create the wall, of the building. . By night fall even the roof was in place. It was an inspiring sight.

NEW SANCTUARY

The church became serious about building a new sanctuary during the last years of World War II. They had plans drawn and started to raise the funds needed. An impediment was the restrictions caused by the War effort.

Many materials were in short supply and rationing limited the availability of many items. One example is that ordinary citizens were limited to four gallons of gasoline per week. The plan was to build on the vacant land between the original sanctuary and Lake Ave.  The plans called for a seating capacity of 500.

It wasn’t until 1947 that plans for a new sanctuary came to fruition. Rev. Arvid Carlson had come as pastor the previous year, with all of his energy and drive. A number of service men who had passed through the church during the war years came back and became involved in the church. The new church building with its tower increased the visibility of the church to the citizens of Pasadena. New people appeared to fill the increased seating capacity of the sanctuary. At that time there was no fire station in close proximity to the church.

The many programs of the church swung into high gear. An interesting feature was implemented to increase the available seating. Two sliding windows were installed into the common wall between the old sanctuary and the new sanctuary. This enabled the placement of chairs in the old sanctuary so that people could be a part of the worship service in the new sanctuary. A speaker system was also installed.

Many individuals and groups made donations towards the furnishing of the new sanctuary such as stained glass windows, speaker systems and furniture. A nursery for infants and their mothers was located in the space that is now the western half of the present church foyer. A plate glass window and a speaker allowed the mothers to enjoy the service while tending to their babies. At a morning service the pastor announced that the Couriers, the young couple’s Bible class, would stock the nursery. Of course he meant the cribs and necessary supplies, but the double meaning was amusing.

A remodel of the Sanctuary was made in 1971. There were two major problems to be addressed. One was noise. The city had built a fire station next to the church property. The church did not have air-conditioning so that in warm weather the windows would be open for ventilation. When the fire trucks blew their sirens, it totally disrupted the worship service. In addition, the traffic on Lake Avenue had greatly increased with a resulting increase in noise. The other problem was sunlight streaming through the windows during the morning services. Certain seating positions were uncomfortable at times. The architect’s solution to these problems was to cover over or eliminate the windows and add air-conditioning. Control of the lighting made visual projections much more satisfactory. A negative factor was that the aesthetic appeal of the stained glass windows was lost.

Another negative result was precipitated by the change and that had to do with seating. The church decided to have padded pews instead of individual opera type seats. They also changed the arrangement of the aisles. The original sanctuary had a center aisle and two side aisles. In the new arrangement there were only two aisles dividing the seating into three sections. The rationale was that the best seats were located in the middle where the center aisle had been located. The result was that many young brides preferred to be married in a church with the traditional arrangement of a center aisle, so they went elsewhere. Their attachment to the Covenant church was diminished.

CARLSON HALL

The year was 1961, approaching the fortieth year of the existence of the Pasadena Covenant Church. The membership had grown so that there were many children and youth in attendance. There was a pressing need for more Sunday school space. Additionally, the youth programs included sports teams and various active games. The church Trustees, responding to the needs, decided that the next property to the south on Lake Avenue would be a valuable asset to have. It was owned by two brothers named  Faulk who were both single and lived there alone. The brothers had no connection to the church but their Swedish mother had attended before she died.

Milton Moberg, a real estate agent and church member, was designated to approach the Faulk brothers about sale of their property.  They were receptive to the idea, but needed time to arrange their affairs before moving elsewhere. While the details were being settled the church was granted limited permission for the back half of the property so the land was cleared to allow cars to park there. Access was from Lake Ave. then across the church property and finally out onto the unimproved dirt lot at the back of the Faulk property. It was a dusty proposition.  Preliminary plans were drawn for a new facility. They included a basketball court which could double as a dining or assembly hall, a modern kitchen, educational class rooms and a room for the scout troop. Roy Johnston’s engineering firm drew the plans for the building.  Construction occurred in the year 1962.

Financing for the new facility came in a miraculous way. Dr Doehring, a physician in the membership, had treated a Mrs. Smith in the hospital some years previously. In the course of events, Rev. Arvid Carlson had paid a call to Mrs. Smith and she was greatly impressed with him and the work of the church. As a result of their contact the church was included in the woman’s will. She had designated specific amounts to her heirs with any remains to be left to the church.  Before the estate was settled years later that nebulous amount had grown to a sizeable sum, in the end it amounted to about $100,000. In the meantime two of the charter members, Miss Anna Johnson and Miss Hanna Newberg had died, leaving their individual estates to the church. The contribution in all these bequests amounted to approximately $200,000, which covered the construction of the new facilities. The David Ridbom family donated the installation of the roof, while others gave for the furnishings. Some years later that facility was designated Arvid F. Carlson Hall, honoring the former pastor.

An interesting spectacle occurred during construction. The building was built with masonry walls and a cement floor in the gym part. These contained a lot of moisture when first constructed. When the workmen installed the hardwood floor they laid it flush with the walls.  The next day or so, the wood absorbed the moisture and it swelled. The result was the floor had a shape like the waves on the ocean. To solve the problem a workman had to use a circular saw to cut all around the perimeter of the floor away from the walls. Then they could push the floor back into place.

                                                                                                                         IV.      CAMPUS EXPANSION

PARKING LOT

In the 1960s space for parking was a big problem and the church leadership was looking for solutions. When a property on Villa Street was offered for sale the church decided to buy it. That didn’t seem like a very wise move. It was a two story house owned by a family named Chalmers. The land was remote from the church, with no access to it from the church campus. Worse yet, the house was reached only by going around the block to the next street. The escrow closed and the church became a landlord with tenants.

Some time later a house on Santa Barbara, owned by a family named Hollywood, became available. Their lot shared the same back property line with the former Chalmers property. Possession of the Hollywood property would give access to the Villa street property from Santa Barbara Street. This purchase seemed like a very good move on the Church’s part. When the Church bought the Hollywood property they decided to turn the Villa Street property into a parking lot by demolishing the house and paving the lot.

Around this time a new complication arose. The City of Pasadena passed a law that any house fifty or more years old could not be razed without city approval. When the church applied for approval to tear down the Hollywood house the city would not grant approval. This prevented its use for parking. At that point in time an alternate plan was implemented. The church again became a landlord, renting the house to a family named Erickson. They had no connection to the church. There was an understanding with the Erickson’s that the church people could use the driveway of the house for access to the newly built parking lot on Villa Street. It was a very strange circumstance. Cars would roll down the driveway, meander around the garage in the back and then park on the Villa lot. On a pleasant Sunday morning the family would be outside reading the paper while church goers walked past them. At a later date the church applied for permission and the city granted it. The house was demolished and the lot paved.

The next acquisition of the church was the house to the west of the former Hollywood property. In due course the church obtained possession in order to add to the church’s parking lot. The year was 1972. This time the city of Pasadena would not grant permission to destroy the house under any circumstances. Several applications were made over a period of time to no avail. The city was supporting a policy designed to maintain existing low rent housing. Finally a compromise was reached.  The church could remove the house if it were moved intact to another location. The church incurred minimum expense in passing ownership to a new owner who moved it to a location in North Pasadena.

THE MARTIN PROPERTY

The property at 834 Santa Barbara Street is a very key piece of property to the Pasadena Covenant Church.This year of 2005 it is located between the main church campus and the parking lot. Possession of that property prevents any other party from using it in a manner detrimental to the interest of the church. Ownership gives opportunity and flexibility for any possible expansion of the church facilities or for possible redevelopment of them. In the meantime the rental units contribute to the income of the church and to its outreach in the community.

The property was purchased from the Martin family around 1970. When it was bought it was a fully developed lot and contained a two story main house on the front lot and three ground level rental units located to the rear. The Martin family had owned the property for many years. Alice Anderson, the church’s custodian’s wife, had enjoyed a very good relationship with the Martin family. From time to time Alice would bring freshly baked pies and other goodies to the family. This generosity was extended even more frequently after Mrs. Martin died and Mr. Martin lived there alone in the big house. No doubt this gave the church an advantage when it came time to buy the property.

Use of the Martin property has been of benefit to the church. Soon after its acquisition the Rev. Robert E Verme Jr. family occupied the main house. That family just arrived from Japan where they had been missionaries. Bob Verme served as associate minister to the church for a short period of time. After the Vermes left, Roland and Betty Tabell lived in the house for about twenty years. Roland was the Minister of Music in the Pasadena church for a total of thirty seven years. Living next door to the church cut his travel time to zero. When the Tabell’s vacated the big house and became owners of their own home the residence was thoroughly renovated by Victor and Monica James. It was a real labor of love. The 1910 era house was restored to its original appeal.

At one point during the ministry of Rev. Michael Halleen there was consideration to change the traffic pattern of the church. The thought was to construct a walk across the Martin property for access from the parking lot to the main church property. Entrance to the church would be changed and use of Magnolia Court would be a part of the traffic pattern to a new entrance to the church.

THE JUNVIK PROPERTY

Extension of the campus of the Pasadena Covenant Church to the north, across Santa Barbara Street did not occur until after 1980. Once again the church had forward looking leadership in the person of Bengt Junvik. He had emigrated from Sweden as a young adult. He was sponsored by his machinist brother Philip Johnson and Phil’s wife Elsie. Mr. Junvik became a skilled tool and die maker under the tutelage of his brother. Bengt Junvik had tremendous energy and drive that propelled him into a very successful manufacturing business. He became owner of a firm which made parts for the aerospace business.

The Junviks were very devoted Christians with a warm heart for missionary work. They were most generous with their time and their resources toward many Christian organizations, as well as for the Covenant Church. Mr. Junvik served as chairman of the Board of Trustee of the Pasadena Church in the 1970’s.

Across from the Church on Santa Barbara Street there was a rental house on the corner owned by a private owner. Adjacent to it on the two sides were other houses that belonged to another owner. The two properties when viewed on a property map formed the capital letter “L” and surrounded the corner property. One house faced Lake Ave. and the other faced Santa Barbara Street. When the properties came up for sale Bengt and Betty Junvik seized the opportunity, purchasing the two properties for their own account. It did not include the corner property. Their reasoning was that the church needed that property and they would own it until the Church decided it needed those parcels. They felt that the corner property was too small to be developed commercially, so that their move would protect the church’s interest.

The Junviks made their newly acquired properties available to the church. The Lake Avenue property became a facility for ministry called “Operation Help” The purpose was to distribute food and clothing to those in need. It was conducted on a volunteer basis and was headed by Edith (Mrs. Knute) Johnson. She was the mother of Glen Lindell, a Covenant pastor.  The property on Santa Barbara Street was used to house missionary families’ home on furlough and later as a residence for the custodian and his family. Bengt Junvik died in 1979 of a sudden heart attack. His wife sold the property to the church several years after Bengt’s death.

The work of “Operation Help” continued for several years until Mrs. Johnson died. There was no one who felt constrained to assume leadership and donate the required time for the work. After that the youth programs had a need for more space. The house on the Lake Avenue property was demolished to make room for a new facility to be used by the Jr. High & Sr. High programs.

CORNER HOUSE

Up to and including the year 2005 the last property to be acquired by the Pasadena Covenant Church was the “Corner House” at the northwest location of Lake Avenue and Santa Barbara Street. Over the years many people in the church were of the opinion that the church should own that property. Several times overtures were made to the owners to purchase the house, but to no avail. Again it was individual initiative which benefited the church.

Scott and Karen Garland who were members of the church had been looking to purchase vacation property. They had considered far away places from Pasadena. At the same time they had a strong interest in the improvements of the facilities of the church and had given of themselves in various ways. Scott had designed the handicap ramps and access to church buildings. Karen had made landscaping plans and executed them in 2002. The Garlands decided that rather than buy a vacation property they would purchase the Corner House property if they could. They as private investors negotiated with the owner and successfully arrived at a contract of sale. After the escrow closed the Garlands donated the property to the church what a generous act that was.

The Corner House had a commanding view of the main church building and of the street activity, but as houses go, it wasn’t much of a house. It had been built in about 1910 with low grade materials and design. It had been rental property for many years with a minimum of maintenance. It had a tiny garage that was half burrowed into the hill. Some people were of the opinion that the house wasn’t worth the effort to rehabilitate it. Others felt that the unique craftsman style was worth preserving. The latter opinion prevailed. In the end the Corner House became an architectural gem when restored and re-landscaped.

There were four individuals that made major contributions to that effort. Jim Tyberg, Church Chairperson, managed the project and gave of his resources. Scott Garland focused on usable design. Roy Johnston planned the structural elements in the design and James Steinmeier was the builder who lovingly constructed the new facility. The outside of the house was preserved so that the form of it did not change. However, the interior was gutted and entirely new arrangement was implemented. There were two considerations included in the new arrangement. One was that the house could be used as a family residence. The other was to have an open plan that would be suitable for group meetings. There was an immediate demand by various church groups to use the Corner House.

MAINTENANCE OF FACILITIES

Volunteer labor played a large role in the maintenance of the church. To those early pioneers it was unthinkable to hire outside help for any task that could be done by church members on a volunteer basis. As the church membership grew there were many men who worked in the construction trades. There were carpenters, electricians, plumbers, gardeners and handymen. Of the men that worked in offices, most had mechanical skills. A great number of the men at one time had worked in the country on a farm. Most of them were accustomed to hard work and had calluses on their hands.

Several years after construction of the first church building it became evident that a more permanent arrangement was needed. Albert and Alice Anderson were hired to be part time care takers for the property. They moved into the adjacent duplex unit. Mr. Anderson typified the image of a Swede. He said very little but did a lot. He was a carpenter by trade and a lover of and collector of tools. Mrs. Anderson was a jovial person. Together, they were the perfect couple for that position. They had no children so that they were fully available for whatever task needed to be done. They did the work lovingly as to the Lord.

To supplement the work of the Andersons, there were regular church work days. Both men and women were expected to participate if they possibly could. The women would do most of the inside jobs such as sweeping, dusting, polishing, kitchen organizing and the like. The men would do minor construction projects, painting, gardening and any heavy labor jobs. Depending on the needs, the work days were scheduled for once a month or a quarter. Working together shoulder to shoulder, the church members built comradeship and lasting friendships.

                                                                                                                             V.      DEDICATED SERVICE

REGIONAL INSTITUTION

Since the second decade of its existence, The Covenant Church has been a regional fellowship, attracting families from some distance. They faithfully attended the services and shared in the work. For example, John D. Lund and his daughter Elsa came from Azusa in the days before there were freeways. Mr. Lund was a Real Estate agent and used his financial skills on the Trustee Board. Elsa was active in the women’s ministry and in the Sunday school.

Going to church was an all-day affair for some families; they came for the Sunday school at 9:45 am and remained in Pasadena until after the evening service. In good weather they brought picnic lunches and enjoyed the afternoon in Tournament Park. During inclement weather they made use of the facilities in the church basement. Often some of them would be invited to private homes for the afternoon. The Emanuel Petersons came from Burbank; The William Erickson’s from Glendale, The Karl Johnston’s from Alhambra, and the Swanson’s from Arcadia.

PASTORS

The Senior Pastors that served the Covenant Church have been effective orators and forceful presenters of the Gospel. As a group, over the years they have attracted considerable attention both locally and nationally. Their effectiveness is shown in part by the growth of the church. Here is a history of their names and the period they served.

Axel G. Sporrong         1923-1930       7 years

Reuben C. Dahl            1931-1935       4 years

Charles L. Ledin           1935-1938       3 years

Melvin Dahlstrom         1938-1944       6 years

Carl G. Westerdahl       1944-1946       2 years

Arvid F. Carlson           1946-1963       17 years

Paul E. Larsen              1964-1971       7 years

Rober W. Neiman        1972                1 year

J. Melville White           1974-1984       10 years

John S Bray                  1977-1984       7 years

Michael A. Halleen       1985-1990       5 years

Charles W. Barker       1991-present    14 years

One of the pastors, Paul E. Larsen became president of the denomination, The Evangelical Covenant Church in America. When he came to the Pasadena Church he was a single man. It caused quite a stir when it was announced that he was engaged to be married to Elizabeth Taylor. Miss Taylor was not the movie star, but a very fine Bible teacher having the same name.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Over many years the church has been very careful in the areas of financial matters. Individual giving has been a strictly private affair. Members have never been pressured or assessed monetary dues. However, church leaders have encouraged systematic and regular giving to the church. They have emphasized that there is a strong relationship between spiritual blessings and financial responsibility. As a group, members have been exceedingly generous. They have felt that each and every member should share in the financial load.

To illustrate the point in the previous paragraph, here is an example. The collection plate always was passed in the mid-week prayer and Bible study. Most people felt obligated to contribute each time. At a meeting of the board of trustees one member said he felt that the offerings detracted from the spirit of the mid-week meeting and that the amount of money received didn’t amount to much. The average offering at that time amounted to something like $18.00 per meeting. Another member spoke of the accumulated benefit that accrued. He stated that there were fifty meetings each year. Multiplying the $18.00 by 50 yielded $900.00 annually, which was not small change. In terms of today’s dollars this amount could probably be multiplied by ten. As a result, the board passed a motion to continue the practice of passing the plate in the mid-week service.

                                                                                                  VI.      PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

MUSIC MINISTRY

The members of the Pasadena Covenant Church through the decades have loved music, especially as it has been an expression of their faith and spiritual journey.  All forms of religious music have been used in the services - -including hymns of faith. Simple choruses, praise songs, cantatas and negro spirituals. The early pioneers sang from Sions Basun, words of faith sung to the notes of folk songs from their native country. Often times, in their everyday life, they would hum or softly sing as they labored at arduous tasks. Music was to them a comfort and a joy

The Covenant Church has been blessed with wonderful leaders in music. The first pastor, Reverend Sporrong was a fine musician and singer. He played the piano and organ. To raise money for a new church, he even toured in other parts of the country, singing and preaching. His talents were well received and appreciated.

In the early 1930s Alfred Bridston came from North Dakota looking for occupational opportunity in secular work. As soon as the church discovered his talent he was immediately invited to lead the church choir. As it often happens, the spouse of a musician will have skills that complement those of the other. Gladys Bridston was a fine soprano soloist with a repertoire of her own. Her favorite song was “I heard the voice of one crying in the wilderness”.  Alfred Bridston led the music ministry to and through the years of World War II. He developed fine male choirs

Richard Gerig was a soldier in the U.S. Army from Indiana who was stationed in Southern California during the war. Somehow he found his way to the Covenant Church and that changed his life. He married Wilma Erickson, a daughter from one of the church families. While in the service, and after, he developed several male quartets in addition to leading the choir in Pasadena. He took advantage of the G.I. Bill to attend Wheaton College. There the Gerigs remained and raised a family. Richard Gerig became the minister of music of the Wheaton Bible Church, a very large congregation.

Prior to the coming of Roland Tabell, the music at the church was led by Milton Moberg, Les Hedman and Norman Johnson. Roland Tabell came to the church in 1962 as a single young man from the study of music at USC. He was on the staff of the church for the next 37 years.

Roland Tabell’s contribution to the ministry of the Covenant Church has been marvelous. He greatly expanded the scope and depth of the musical program with sensitivity to the needs and desires of the congregation. He was very successful in obtaining new talent from outside the church. Even in retirement, he and his wife, Betty, continue to sing in the Sanctuary Choir and support the work in the areas of music and worship.

Joan Reeve Owens succeeded Roland Tabell. She and her family had worshiped in the Covenant Church for years before she was chosen to be pastor of Worship and Music. She was a trained vocal soloist and came with much experience as a leader of choirs. Her ability to develop and lead youth choir has been greatly appreciated. She has challenged the Sanctuary Choir in the areas of vocal expression and excellence.

FULLER SEMINARY

The close proximity of Fuller Seminary has been of mutual benefit to both Pasadena Covenant Church and that institution. Fuller Seminary was started by Charles E. Fuller, a renowned radio evangelist in the days before the advent of television. A prominent leader in the church worked in the Fuller business office of the radio program in Pasadena. The seminary began in 1950 with classes in the Lake Avenue Congregational Church, two blocks south of the Covenant Church. Later on the Seminary carved out a sizable campus in the heart of Pasadena, still walking distance to the church.

Throughout the years many Fuller professors and students have been a part of the ministry of the Covenant Church. Many professors have inspired and added to the theological knowledge of the congregation. They filled the pulpit from time to time, or taught Sunday school classes. Fuller students have served the church as pastoral interns and youth leaders. They have used their musical skills in the services. This association with students has lead many young people into Christian service in the Covenant Denomination. The national leadership is very cognizant of the importance of this opportunity to recruit clergy from this source. Fuller people have had an influence within the church in many other ways. Mrs. Helga Henry, wife of the noted theologian Carl F.H. Henry, organized the Christian Education program in the Pasadena Church.

COFFEE

Coffee is a favorite beverage for many. Coffee is also a social medium. To the Swedes and early Covenants it was that, and much more. It was an institution. In the formative days of the Pasadena Covenant Church, the drinking of coffee played an important function. Most of the people in the congregation used cream and sugar in their drink. While gathered around the counter or table the process gave people an opportunity to visit with old friends and a chance to make new acquaintances. In the Covenant Church coffee was served at every opportunity and always at church dinners. That was a requirement.

The Swedes also loved their sweets. They enjoyed a cookie or pastry to go along with their coffee. In those days there was an interesting custom that some drinkers observed. They would place a sugar cube into their mouth and sort of strain the coffee through the cube as they drank it. They savored the taste.

For many years the church had a most official position, that of chief coffee maker. It was held by Alice Anderson, the wife of the church custodian. She had a special way to brew coffee. Mrs. Anderson would fill huge pots with water, and then start them heating. In the meantime she would measure out the right amount of coffee grounds into a bowl, take a raw egg, break it, and drop the contents into the coffee and stir the mixture. The next step was to pour the mixture into the water including the two halves of the egg shell.  What that did to the drink nobody seems to know, the final step after the coffee was brewed was to pour a small amount of cold water into the pot to settle any floating coffee grounds. People said nobody made better coffee then Alice Anderson.

After the new sanctuary was built and when the church kitchen was located in the basement a funny incident occurred. There was to be a social time after a service. The aroma of coffee being prepared drifted upward and into the sanctuary. As the meeting drew to a close, the pastor said “well I think it’s time to adjourn for I can smell the ladies in the kitchen”. The more staid members of the congregation were mortified, but most enjoyed a good laugh.

CRADLE ROLL

For the first fifty years of the Pasadena Covenant Church the cradle roll was a ministry for young mother’s that was helpful and successful. Through it many young families were drawn into the church. Within the first year of the founding of the church, two women organized that program. One was the pastor’s wife, Mrs. Sporrong and the other was Mrs. Anna Peterson, a young widow who had no children. There was a monthly afternoon meeting where young mothers could bring their babies and toddlers. It was a time of fellowship that included a short message, and of course, coffee was served.

It should be noted that the social order was different then. Very few married women worked outside the home. Most all children walked to neighborhood schools. This enabled mothers to have a few hours off for other activities, such as Cradle Roll. New mothers benefited from the advice of the experienced ones.

After World War II the cradle roll program was intensified under the leadership of Mrs. Ollie Roth and others. At that time new births were noted in the local newspaper, along with the names of the parents. Using the telephone directory, the women were able to get the addresses of the new mothers and pay them a call. Most of the time, they received a warm welcome from the mothers. Women of the Covenant Church went out in pairs to make the contacts.  The meetings were held mostly in private homes, a more easy setting.

In the 1950’s and 60’s two other women joined the leadership, Mrs. Rose Tahmisian and Mrs. Naomi Johnston. Mrs. Johnston took the responsibility for the content of the meeting and was its principal speaker. She divided the time into two half’s. The first part was devoted to child care and development and the second part on biblical themes and principles. Because of the mother’s involvement in Cradle Roll, many families joined the church. Eventually the newspaper discontinued the practice of publishing the new births and the program suffered.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

The Sunday school was another program of the Covenant Church that contributed greatly to its growth. Through the years many folk preferred to call it “Bible School”, for learning the scriptures was its specific objective. It was a program for everyone, adults included. From the beginning and for many years the Pastor taught one of the classes. The Sunday school had its own organization with periodic planning meetings. When it was fully developed it had a superintendent, Vice superintendent, secretary and treasures. It determined its own budget and raised its own funds. Each Sunday school class, even the toddlers, collected an offering and the funds were taken to the office and counted. Attendance was taken in each class and the secretary tallied the total each Sunday. The Sunday school staff was an all volunteer corps. Some of the volunteers included Rev. Sporrong, John Lund, David Hettema, Calvin Anderson and Earnest L. Hanks.

The Sunday school began in March, 1923. Five of the six children in the John Bergstrom household were the main children in attendance. They had previously attended Sunday school at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church on Sunday afternoons. From the beginning, English was the language used for youth classes while the adult classes used the Swedish language. For the first year growth was slow but then accelerated.

When the service men returned after World War II and Arvid Carlson came to the church as pastor the Sunday school organization really blossomed. Departments were organized with a leader for each department. Teacher training classes were implemented to ensure a continuing flow of qualified teachers. Teachers were encouraged to take a special interest in each of their students and to call on them in their own homes in order to make contact with others in the family. There were work books to be taken home and assignments completed each week and they were graded. Church members made an effort to invite their neighbors’ children to join them in attending Sunday school. At one point the church had a bus which went out on Sunday mornings to transport the neighborhood children to the church and back home again.

One feature in those years was an annual attendance contest. Another Covenant Church would be challenged. Rules were drawn up in order to make the contest equitable. Each had a goal where they had to stretch to meet the objective. The highest number in attendance at Pasadena church was about 700 in Sunday school during one of those contests. Needless to say, that effort took much organizational skill and taxed the church facilities to the limit. Immediately after the Sunday school hour the tallied results were telephoned to the competing church.

SUNDAY SCHOOL PICNIC

The Sunday school had an annual picnic which was held on May 30^th, Memorial Day, but never on Sunday. It began with a softball game which commenced at 10:00am sharp. It was a battle between a team of single men and one of married men. Competition was so keen that the players would practice for weeks prior to the contest. “Bragging Rights” were the prize. Many would come just to view the spectacle and enjoy the camaraderie. The game would continue until noon when the people would set up the picnic tables for a potluck lunch. After a period of rest to allow the food to settle, there were races and games for all the children and youth. There were red, white and blue ribbons which indicated first, second and third places. In some cases children proudly wore multiple ribbons on their chests in addition to displaying their other prizes. The smaller children participated only in running races appropriate for their age. For the older children there were all manner of contests. There were sack races, three legged races, pie eating contests, potato races, backwards races, couples races and endless variety of contests.

When the games were over it was time for an ice cream feast. But before the ice cream was served there was always a spiritual time when scripture was read, a homily was given and finally a prayer was offered to God. After the “Amen”, the line for the treats quickly formed. Following the ice cream there were no more organized activities but each person did what appealed to them. There was volleyball and horseshoes among other things. Many people would stay in the park until after dark.

VISUAL AIDS

During the peak years of the Sunday school, it maintained a visual aids department to assist those who taught. There were pictures, maps, charts, flannel graphs and projectors. The material was organized to be directly applicable to a particular lesson. Teachers would make known their needs on a prior Sunday, pick up the aids before class and return them after class. Records were kept so that all would know where the materials were and who was responsible. Two people who worked for years to accumulate and maintain the audio and visual aids were Marjory Nichols, a school teacher and Harvey Neumann, a welder by occupation.

JUNIOR DEPARTMENT

In the Junior Department, grades four through six, there was a memorization program with incentives. Scripture verses, The Apostle’s Creed, Psalms, and even whole chapters such as I Corinthians 13 were committed to memory. At that time the only version of the bible used was the King James, which eliminated any confusion in the wording. Teachers and special people would hear the recitations and certify that this exercise was satisfactorily completed. One incentive was a trophy printed on paper, which was of a design that symbolized the passage learned. Each trophy was attached to a ribbon. Over time the children could see the string of trophies grow after each passage was memorized. At meetings where both students and parents were present, the trophy strings would be displayed. Rusty and Marty Bowman were the superintendents in the Junior Department for many years.

In the Junior Department there was another exciting feature, which was the talent case. It was a glass case similar to the ones in commercial stores, and was filled with items that children desired. There were toys and balls, puzzles and books and all manner of attractive items. These could be purchase with talents. The goal of many students was to possess their very own Bible. Talents were a form of play money. They were given by the teacher as a reward for performance. Talents could be earned for attendance, homework, memory work and behavior. Before and after the session students could be seen hanging over the case, contemplating their next purchase.

EARLY INSTRUCTION

One faithful couple, Herman and Evangeline Glaeser taught a preschool Sunday school class for some twenty five years. They developed a wholesome curriculum to indoctrinate those students in the Christian faith. They felt strongly that the hour should be profitably used rather than be wasted in play time. They even held graduation ceremonies when the students advanced to the next department. They dressed the tiny students in hand made caps and gowns and even took individual pictures to record the event.

PERFECT ATTENDANCE

During the early years in the Pasadena Covenant Church Sunday school, much attention was given to regular attendance. If a person was absent someone was responsible to find out why. It was like a shepherd watching over the sheep. Pins were awarded and proudly worn. They recognized perfect attendance for one year, two years, and so on. Some folk had ten or more year’s perfect attendance. Attendance at other locations while on vacation or while traveling would count. A note, signed and dated by the teacher of the class visited was required. Adults wore the pins just like the children.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Twice in the 1950’s the Sunday school sponsored a special event which was a train excursion to a picnic destination. A special train was charted to take all of the people from the Pasadena Station east to Sylvan Park in Redlands, a two hour ride. On board was a clown with balloons and candy and a cowboy rope trick artist to entertain the traveler en-route. The picnickers walked the short distance from the railroad siding to the park with baskets and blankets in hand. An advance party had gone to the park early to make preparations. At the end of the day the train made the return trip back to Pasadena. The events were great successes.

                                                                                                         VII.      EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS

MISSIONS

It is intriguing to learn of the culture of other peoples, their customs and beliefs. On the other hand, it can be most challenging to interact in a meaningful and compelling way with those whose background may be different from our own. This is the nature of the missionary endeavor. In today’s world the term missions has been replaced by the term cross cultural ministry because of some negative connotations. However, the objectives remain the same as always. It is to spread the good news of the Gospel.

From the earliest days the people of the Pasadena Covenant Church embraced the concepts of missions. The word mission has been a part of the church’s and the denomination’s names. The following scripture has been foremost in the thinking of the local congregation. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8.  The church took this to mean locally, regionally, nationally and to foreign lands.

There are two aspects to the commitment in missions. One is financial support and the other is personal involvement. The Pasadena church has devoted a good portion of its budget to missions beyond the local ministries. At one point in time there were some folk that proposed a lofty ideal. They suggested that fifty percent of the budget be devoted to foreign missions, but that was never achieved.

On the personal side the church has encouraged young people in the fellowship to become missionaries, and some have heeded that call. The church has welcomed missionaries and given them a venue to present their work and cause. Members have hosted missionary families on furlough in their homes. Regular communications with missionary families in the field has been a standard practice to keep them informed and encouraged.

The Pasadena Church has been very generous in their gifts to begin work in new areas. In 1951 the church donated $17,000 plus much labor to the Monrovia church. They later merged with the Azusa Church. Pasadena gave $10,000 each to Mount Miguel, 1960; Montecito, 1961; and Orange, 1962.

Other Churches receiving similar gifts were Rosemead, Norwalk and La Cresenta. In 1963 the church gave $5,000 to North Park Collage to establish the Carl G. Westendahl lectures on evangelism. They also gave $15,000 to Alpine Covenant Campground to build cabins. In order to judge the magnitude of the gifts, here is an example. At that period of time, a two bedroom tract home on a separate lot could be purchased for around $15,000.

Volumes could be written about the Covenant Church’s missionary experience. Some examples will suffice.  In the 1930’s, Joel Johnson came to the church telling of his work in China, and of the conditions prevailing there. He told how the upper-class admired the tiny feet of their women. Baby girls would have their feet bound tightly with tape to prevent the normal growth, a terrible custom. That continued throughout childhood and that treatment was very painful. Worse yet, when they were adults, their tiny feet were so malformed that they could hardly walk.

Another interesting subject that Joel Johnson touched on was the dress of the people of China. At that time women in America wore only dresses, no slacks. The Chinese woman wore pants and the men wore robes. What a contrast between the two cultures. War and communism ejected the missionaries from China for many years.

Ann Berg was one of the missionaries sent out from the Pasadena Church. She had previously come to the church in 1941 as Church Missionary where she made contacts in the homes and worked in the Sunday school. Early in World War II she felt called to serve in Africa, in the Congo. She courageously sailed the Atlantic Ocean while enemy submarines prowled the seas. She spent her whole life ministering to women and children on the Covenant mission field and she never married. What a dedicated individual and example she was. It is interesting to note that today the membership of the Covenant Church in the Congo exceeds that of the one in America.

OUTREACH MINISTRIES

In the middle years of the twentieth century members of the Pasadena Covenant were involved in outreach to people beyond the walls of the church. There were teams that went to conduct worship services at rescue missions, both in Pasadena and Los Angeles. Another team went to the Wayside Honor ranch in Castaic. The church had a strong emphasis on reaching young people. They sponsored sports teams and recruited athletes not part of the church, to participate. The basketball team played at the downtown YMCA and at PCC. The baseball team played overhand softball in the Municipal League at Brookside Park. The teams became known in the city because the church’s name was embroidered on the jerseys and the results of the game were published in the paper. There were two special men who coached the teams, provided transportation and counseled the youth.

Ed Larson was the basketball coach. He was a haberdasher and always impeccably dressed. He was very polite and never criticized the young men for their mistakes. His greatest joy was when the Covenant team was victorious over the Fuller Seminary basketball team. The baseball coach was Theron Hendrickson. In his youth he had been a catcher on semi- pro teams. He had grown children and was a carpenter by trade. A humorous incident happened to him at a game. The umpire had made a disputed call at second base. Mr. Hendrickson rushed out onto the field to protest. There was a heated argument and Mr. Hendrickson became animated. He took off his cap and threw it on the ground. There inside the hat lay a red toupee. People were shocked. There stood Mr. Hendrickson with his bald head for everyone to see. The laughter could not have been greater even if he had been a comedian.

CARLSBAD CAMPGROUND

A Christian camping program has been a part of the tradition of the Pasadena Covenant Church since the mid 1930s. At that time the events were undertaken by the Southern California Youth Group. This was an association of the youth from the four Covenant Churches in the south of California, which included Los Angeles, San Pedro, San Diego and Pasadena. The elected board of that group sponsored area wide meetings as well as the camping program. There was a Pastoral Advisor to assist the volunteer efforts. The amazing thing is that the heavy responsibility for the camps was shouldered by young adults and not professionals. They took time off from their jobs to volunteer their service.

The name Carlsbad evokes fond memories for anyone who attended the Covenant camp. Carlsbad was a very small beach town in Southern California. A campground that was a private enterprise rented its facilities to various church groups. It was an idyllic location, with salt water lagoons that contained aquatic life and a pristine sandy beach. On the inland side of the property was a railroad track where trains traveled to and from San Diego at frequent intervals. The passing of a train could not be missed because of the roar.

The Carlsbad campground was a tent city. The meetings and assemblies were held in a very large tent similar to the ones used by traveling circuses. All of the sleeping facilities were in tents that held six or eight campers. They brought their own sleeping bags or bedding and lay on cots. The only permanent structure on the grounds was a building that included a dining hall, an office and several guest rooms for speakers and dignitaries.

The Carlsbad years were in the middle of the great economic depression. The camp was billed as a family camp that drew women and children besides older youth. Men were the bread winners who had to work, if they were fortunate enough to have a job. Some men would come on weekends. The advertised price for campers was only one dollar per day. Even at that price some could not afford to come. For comparison, a hamburger with only meat and a bun sold for 10 cents at a commercial diner. The impact on the camp program was great, with many youth making commitments for Christ. The 7:00 pm service was an evangelistic meeting in every sense of the word. The Christian atmosphere of the whole camp contributed to the decisions.

For at least two of those years Roy Johnston of the Pasadena church was the camp manager. Though he was barely in his twenties, he had the willingness and ability to handle the responsibilities. One incident will serve as an example. There was a very large bell that was rung at meal times and to summon people to the meetings. A problem occurred because some mischievous youth decided to ring the bell in the middle of the night,

awakening everyone in the camp. Some adults came to Roy saying that he had to do something about it. They proposed several solutions but Roy said “don’t worry about it; I’ll take care of it.” Sure enough the bell didn’t ring at night anymore. Roy never told the adults how he solved the problem. He merely removed the clapper each night so that there was nothing to cause the bell to ring. He then replaced the clapper in the morning. It was a very resourceful solution.

CONFIRMATION

The confirmation class in the Pasadena church has been a very effective program to bring the youth to an awareness of spiritual matters. The classes have given them a foundation in the Christian faith and encouraged them in their spiritual life. The curriculum included subjects such as God and the Trinity, Creation, Old Testament overviews, New Testament review, the concept of good and evil, traditions of the church, and an orientation on the operation and function of the local church.

The invitation to join the classes is usually extended to youth of Junior High age. Classes are held once a week during the school year. At the end of the class the pastor usually has a private conference with each student encouraging them to commit their lives to God.

In the years past there was a formal graduation exercise held at a Sunday morning service. The girls wore fancy dresses with corsages and the boys coats and ties. There was an oral examination on the body of knowledge they had learned. Most were quite nervous for they did not know in advance what question they would be asked. It was astounding how much they had committed to memory.

Many years ago one girl had a very embarrassing moment. She was asked to say Ephesians 6:1 which says:

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right”. In her nervous condition she said “Parents, obey your children” which brought down the house. She sounded like a prophet of today’s world.

                                                                                                               VIII.      INTERESTED PEOPLE

FAMILIES

The early pioneers of the church were very invested in raising children. Perhaps that was because some families had so many of them. Here are some numbers in the 1930s: the John Berstrom family had 6 children, the Emanuel Petersons had 6, the Emil Nelsons had 5, the Alvin Quists had 5, the Sven Wessmans had 7, the Nels Olsons had 10 and the Hattie Stenberg’s had 6, the Sven Wessmans had six boys in a row before they got a girl.  the Stenberg family tipped the balance the other way with five girls and one boy.  Proverb: 22:6 reads “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Because of large families it would appear that growth of church membership would be from within. However, that was not the case. Only a small percentage of the children remained in the local church after they became adults. The reasons that they moved on are as varied as there are individuals. Children raised in other families and other places came and filled the seats in the Pasadena Covenant Church.

The Nels Olson family members were artists and musicians. It was a treat for the church when six or eight in the family would sing and play for a special number. Several in the family remained in the Pasadena Church for a long period of time.

DEDICATED LEADERS

There are many people who gave whole heartedly of themselves to the work of the church over a long period of time. They are Anna Peterson, Victor and Hilma Johnson, Roy and Naomi Johnston and Harold and Lucille Peterson. These, with their families, contributed greatly to the growth of the church. Anna Peterson was a woman from Galesburg, Illinois, whose husband died after only one year of marriage. She came to Pasadena to work in the homes of the wealthy. She was a charter member of the church and she shared with the first pastor’s wife in the women’s and children ministries. In her later years she was in poor health but faithfully attended every service if she was possibly able to. In spite of her poor health, she was the last of the charter members of the church to die.

Victor Johnson was an army veteran from World War I and a postman. He, his wife Hilma, and his paternal grandparents, John and Anna Johnson, all were charter members of the church. He was intimately involved in the formation of the church organization and operation. He was extremely faithful for many years in supporting the ongoing programs of the church. He was Church Chairman when the church made the important decision to change the language used in the morning service from Swedish to English. Some folk didn’t like it because “They knew that Swedish would be the language used in heaven.”

Roy Johnston was a nationally renowned structural engineer. He came to the church from Kingsburg, California in 1929 with his parents Karl and Esther Johnston. He was 15 years old at the time. By the time he was in college his outstanding leadership talent was evident. Throughout his life he served in every conceivable office and position in the church. He was a consultant after he graduated from college on every building project under taken by the church. Outside of the church he served with many professional and charitable organizations. He met his future wife Naomi Harman at Alhambra High School where they were both on the debate team. He married her in 1936 even though she was not Swedish. Naomi must have loved Roy very much because she sat through many Swedish services, though she didn’t understand a single word. Naomi served as teacher of the Courier Bible class for many years.

Harold and Lucille Peterson came to Pasadena in 1954 from the Covenant Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. It didn’t take them long to