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Tuesday, February 9, 2010 |
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Celebrating a Century
Published February 27, 2009
A century ago, Texas Lutheran College made its way from Brenham to Seguin, William Howard Taft was inaugurated as the 27th president of the United States and Cross United Church of Christ held its first services.
“It began in 1909, the actual building was built in 1913,” explained the Rev. James Price, current pastor of the congregation.
On Saturday, Feb. 28, Price and fellow church members will be celebrating the centennial birthday of the church at the Seguin Knights of Columbus Hall.
In honoring their success, president of the church council, Al Machaud, will speak of the past and give praise to their achievements.
“Part of my talk will be the history and how we began,” he said. “Also in my speech I refer to the generosity and the volunteerism of this congregation.”
A little of that history started exactly 100 years ago on March 28, when the German Evangelical Cross Church was formed. However, the place of worship came later, Price said.
Even though the original building was not built for another five years, the services started after the Rev. Joseph Jaworski answered the request for an independent church, separate from the German Methodist Church.
“The church on Austin Street used to be called the German Methodist Church, but it was in English and this congregation was basically German-speaking,” he said. “So this is where they asked Rev. Joseph Jaworski to come over and he led out the call to assemble and that is really the beginning of our congregation.”
With a small group of founding members, becoming a church was not an unfeasible task, Machaud said.
“Our first service, 18 people attended, and that was when they proposed and passed the constitution which, of course, was all in German,” he said. “All services were conducted in German in those very first years.”
After a century, the congregation has grown more than Jaworski could have imagined.
“During the 100 years, as with any church, there were some highs and lows,” Price said. “Right now, we have around 367 active members.”
Not too long after the chapel was built, the ceremonies were transformed from one language to the other, Price said.
“They converted to English around 1930,” he said.
The building that stands now was constructed in the late ‘60s and dedicated in 1969. Church members are currently striving to make it a historical marker, Machaud said.
“I have been looking into it, but have not filled out the application for it yet,” he said.
The Centennial Celebration dinner that is scheduled for Saturday will be catered by All Occasions and features an ice sculpture commemorating the 100 years.
As part of the program set for the evening, public officials will shine as they show their support and appreciation for the sanctuary.
“Mayor Betty Ann Matthies, Guadalupe County Judge Mike Wiggins and State Representative Edmund Kuempel will be there to say a few words,” Machaud said.
The mayor has more than a few words to say, Price added.
“Betty Ann will have a real nice proclamation, something along the lines of ‘Cross Church Day,’” he said.
Looking forward to the celebration, Price said, local dignitaries won’t be the only ones in attendance.
“We have more than 400 confirmed reservations for Saturday,” he said. “Sunday morning, I anticipate around 250 to 300.”
The soiree, 100 years in-the-making, was funded by the offerings of many dedicated church members.
“This celebration that we are having is quite expensive,” he said. “We have established a model of the church and as people come through they can drop off a donation.”
There were also other contributing factors other than private and personal donations, Price said.
“We have managed to pay for almost the entire celebration through gifts,” he said. “And the sale of the first cookbook the church has ever done. It is a 100-year anniversary cookbook with over 700 recipes and we have never had a bad meal. From the sale of the cookbooks, the net proceeds have helped, as well.”
Cross United Church of Christ will continue their 100-year fete the next morning during their 10:15 a.m. worship, Machaud said.
“Our Centennial Celebration is constituted of the party on Saturday night and the church service on Sunday, at which time we will be taking in 12 new members,” he said. “What better time to join the congregation?”
The new members will not be the only ones that join in the ceremony that morning, Price said.
“On Sunday the TLU Quintet will be with us,” he said. “And the San Antonio Pipes and Drums will be here for the opening processional.”
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