St. John’s Lutheran Church of Kimball is finalizing their centennial celebration on June 9. The celebration began in August of 2001, with the church recognizing special events in its history and former pastors coming back to preach. With five separate celebrations held, they now look forward to the finale. In their 100 years of existence, God has blessed St. John’s with 18 pastors, one assistant pastor, one vicar, three directors of Christian Education and one youth to go on into the ministry.
On June 9, 2002, the celebration begins at the 9 a.m. morning worship service in St. John’s church building. Rev. James Mackereth, son of Dean and Betty Mackereth of Kimball, comes back to preach in his home church. Jim attended Concordia University in Seward, Neb., and accepted his first call in family and youth ministry at Boulder, Colo., where he met his wife, Lynn. In August, 1981, Jim and Lynn were led to go into the mission field with a commissioning service held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kimball, with Rev. Robert Krueger officiating. They began their linguistic studies in Texas, to prepare for a placement in Nigeria, West Africa, for three years. After their return to the states, they went on to a Navajo Indian Reservation in New Mexico for four years. Jim had a desire to go on for pastoral ministries at the Concordia Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Pastor James Mackereth was ordained on July 9, 1995, at Zion Lutheran Church, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Jim is now pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Lompoc, Calif. They have three children: Ryan, Katie and Jennifer.
After the morning service, there will be fellowship and a confirmation reunion held at Playland Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The serving of the ham and chicken dinner begins at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are on sale at the church and reservations are required.
To finish off the celebration, Rev. Robert Krueger, a former pastor, will be coming to preach at the festival service to begin at 2 p.m. in St. John’s church building. Pastor Krueger (preferring to be called Pastor Bob) was pastor at St. John’s and Concordia Lutheran Churches from 1973-1981. He was the last shared pastor that St. John’s had with a joint congregation. Rev. Krueger has been pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Paul for almost 21 years. This church has a Christian day school from K-ninth-grade, along with preschool and daycare. One of the many challenges faced at Bethlehem is the racially and culturally diverse neighborhoods. There were 50 Hmong brought into membership through baptism and confirmation on Reformation Day.
Pastor Bob and Linda have three sons. Their sons Rob and Scott graduated from Concordia College in Seward, Neb. Rob is married and teaches at Concordia College in St. Paul. He and his wife Rachel have blessed Bob and Linda with their only grandson Jonathan, with another grandchild due in June. Scott is also married and teaches at Horoncon High School in Horoncon, Wis. The youngest son Jonathan graduated from Concordia College in St. Paul with a communications degree and he works for the city of St. Paul.
The services are open to all, but if you want to attend the dinner, a reservation is needed. Please contact the church at (320) 398-7151, Terre Harff at (320) 764-9153, or Carol Marohn at (320) 236-7598 to make your reservations.