Zion Lutheran Church Celebrating 100 Years

On July 14, 1918 Reverend Olaf Carlson was installed as the full-time pastor for four different churches. Scandinavian Lutheran was in Four Mile, Montana, St. Peter's Lutheran was in Sioux Pass, Montana, Bethel Lutheran was in Cartwright, North Dakota and the freshly started Zion Lutheran Church was in Fairview, Montana. As the years rolled on, attendance in most of the churches dwindled and they merged with Zion in Fairview. Scandinavian Lutheran joined with Zion in 1954, St. Peter's in 1965 and, Bethel Lutheran in 1970. One hundred years from its beginning; from Sunday, May 27, through Saturday, July 21, Zion Lutheran Church will be taking the time to remember the congregation's past.

In truth, their remembrance began on Easter Sunday when attendees were greeted by the stunning sight of hundreds of white paper doves hanging from the ceiling of the sanctuary with the names of every baptized member from 1943 to date on them. On Memorial Sunday, May 27, a song service with a little history was held at the old St. Peter's Lutheran Church site. On Sunday, June 10, a similar service will be held at the old Scandinavian Lutheran site and June 24 a service will be held at the old Bethel Lutheran. The church bus will be leaving at approximately 10:15 a.m. to take people to those services. Zion Lutheran's actual centennial service will be Sunday, July 15, at 309 S. Central Ave, in Fairview Montana, the current location of the church. Service will start at 9 a.m. and there will be a potluck afterward. Also, as part of the celebrations, a model was made of each of the dissolved churches plus one of Zion Lutheran's former church building. All four models are on display in the hallway just outside Zion's sanctuary and they will be on a float in the Old Timer's Festival Parade. Lastly, July 21 will be Zion Lutheran's Open House and Ice Cream Social. It will start at 1 p.m.

The church asks that anyone who wants to attend the Centennial service and potluck or Open House with Social to please RSVP by June 1. Committee member and volunteer Rhonda Cayko said: "Our anniversary theme is Let the rivers clap their hands, let the hills sing for joy together. Psalms 98:8. It was chosen because of the history of the rural churches in the hills joining Zion in the valley by the river. So celebrating at each rural site with song and service seemed appropriate."