ATONEMENT HISTORY - 1970

1972

Loretta Follingstad was hired as a part-time secretary; the women of the church asked for more pledges to pay her salary
1973
January 4 - King's Kids Preschool (now nationally accredited) began as an outreach to the children in our community; Carol Pesola was Director and Dorri Olson was Assistant Director
March 28 - The congregation voted to build a new addition
May 23 - Groundbreaking ceremony for a new two-story addition (today's education wing)
November 12 - The parking lot was black-topped
November 28 - 190 people attended a stewardship dinner in the still uncompleted addition. There was no water or stove hook-up, but there were counter-tops!
1974
January 6 - A smorgasbord dedication dinner was held in the new addition, which included a kitchen, nursery, choir room and storage area, in addition to classrooms
August 1 - John Peshek began his year of internship
Thought to be the first year of ALCW-sponsored Boutique (even bigger and better today!)
1975
February 27 - Pastor Akre submitted his letter of resignation; he accepted a call to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Riverview, Michigan
April 1 - John Peshek, a second year student from Luther Seminary, was licensed by District President J. Elmo Agrimson to serve as Atonement's interim pastor
April 6 - Open house farewell for the Akres; over 200 attended the meal and nearly 300 were at the open house
April 6 - The congregation decided to sell the parsonage
June 2 - The congregation voted to issue a call to Rev. John L. (Jack) Drier, who was the youth minister at University of Hope Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota
September 7 - Pastor Drier's first Sunday at Atonement after accepting the call
September 14 - Pastor Drier's installation at both services followed by a fish fry at 6:00 PM (fish were caught, filleted and prepared by Lu and Dale Anderson)
1976
March 5 - Atonement hosted a World Day of Prayer Service. Due to heavy snows, many schools were closed and many prayer services were cancelled; Atonement, however, had a full church; the King's Kids afternoon class sang.
1977
February - Share and Care meetings were held at Pastor Drier's home; participants committed to pray for each other daily
June 5 - Atonement charter member, Pastor John Fahning, preached at Atonement
June 19 - Carl and Ida Nelson celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary...the first couple from Atonement to do so!
October - With assistance from James Dehn of Hope Lutheran and Truman Jackson, Atonement began youth group activities
December - After a year of strengthened faith and pride in their church, many Atonement couples accompanied Pastor Drier to Heritage to sing for and with the residents
1978
Members were pleased with their stewardship efforts, and met their budget!
July - Pastor took the youth on a backpacking trip to Montana; other than an injured leg by Terri Moe, the experience was wonderful!
November 4 - The Boutique was again well-received, with $1,000 profit!
1979
May 6 - The congregation voted to hire Linda Schumacher as a part-time pastor; she will soon be ordained and then begin serving our congregation
September 9 - Lorna Schultz coordinated a program to introduce the congregation to the new green hymnal
September 16 - The annual fish fry was held in conjunction with Boyer Recognition Day; Henry and Gladys Boyer were presented with an engraved hymnal at the 8:45 AM worship service, and were given a pewter hurricane lamp at a special program that evening. They were honored as wonderful Christians at Atonement and in the community!

Please click on the decades below for a list of events and highlights:
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s