The Reverend James Ilten, who was the pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church when the Mt Pleasant Road house of worship was founded in 1961, returned to Newtown to join other founding and current members for the church's official anniversary year service.

By Shannon Hicks

The Reverend James Ilten helped the members of Christ the King Lutheran Church celebrate the church's 45th anniversary last weekend. Pastor Ilten was the pastor of the church when it was founded in 1961. He and his wife, Nadine, returned to Newtown late last week to join founding members of Newtown's Lutheran church along with current members for the church's official anniversary year service on April 2.

Dr Gregory J. Wismar, pastor of Christ the King, opened Sunday morning's service with greetings and notes of welcome. The choir offered "How Beautiful" as its anthem, and Anita Harris was the lay reader.

"It is good to be here in God's house, with God's people," Pastor Ilten opened his sermon. "Congregations have to be intentional in remembering, in not forgetting the past. Look to the past — this church has been through great challenges and changes, but God has always been with you.

"What are your dreams for the next five years?" he then challenged.

Pastor Ilten referred many times to Jeremiah during his sermon, and admitted it could have initially seemed an odd choice to single out that particular prophet on a day of celebration. Titled "Memories and Dreams," the sermon was in fact based on Jeremiah 31:31-34. Anita Harris's first reading was made up of those four chapters.

"We often hear Jeremiah called the Prophet of Doom, or the Weeping Prophet," said Pastor Ilten. "But today we hear of another side of Jeremiah. I speak of his consolation and hope for the future."

Pastor Ilten referred then to Jeremiah 29:11, in which the Lord says He has plans for Jeremiah, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you home and a future."

"I feel honored and privileged to be with you," Pastor Ilten said. "Take honor in memories, and we must be intentional with them in three ways.

"Speak the word," he said. "Let people know what your church means to you."

Keeping track of minutes from meetings, worship services, special events, and other occasions is the second way to preserve memories.

"Write these words down," Pastor Ilten said. "Faces change. There are new additions. Praise the Lord for His special gifts, and keep them up to date.

"Finally there's ritual. That's why we are here today. The role of ritual is so important to us. Whether it's Lenten celebrations, Palm Sunday — cycles are repeated and they are important. Remember God's willingness to go to the cross, for you and for me."

Pastor Wismar returned to the altar area to offer Prayers of the Church, saying, "We bless You for our founders and for the thousands who through the years have called this church home. We ask You to continue to lead us. Watch over our parish family — young people, families and the elderly, those recuperating and those in hospital stays."

Pastor Wismar asked for a blessing "for all those in our parish family, and be our hope for years to come."

Sunday was the fifth Sunday in Lent, and also a Communion Sunday at Christ the King. Pastor Ilten assisted Pastor Wismar in serving the Holy Communion; Mark Lynch and Steve Odams were the elders assisting the pastors.

Following their worship service members of Christ the King gathered in their church hall for an anniversary banquet. Large collections of photos and literature from throughout the church's history had been gathered into scrapbooks, and a caterer had prepared a feast that began with salad and appetizers, moved into a buffet dinner, and continued to coffee and dessert.

During the banquet there was a slide show, a musical program by Diane Wardenburg and Mary Ann Grogan, and anniversary reflections from charter member George Gollenberg, Bud Williams and Dan Dittmar, and Pastor and Nadine Ilten.

When Christ the King Lutheran Church was founded in 1961, its services were held at Hawley School. The church's current building, on Mt Pleasant Road at Tory Lane, was constructed five years later.