Altar Guild

Prepared in 2023 by: Pam Deimel, Diane Johnson and Mary Schmitz

Trinity’s Altar Guild was formed in January 1955. According to a 1985-86 Altar Guild brochure,

“The Altar Guild is entrusted with the privilege of preparing the chancel and its furnishings for corporate worship. The overall goal of the Altar Guild is to see that the worship space is kept beautiful and in good order, both to glorify God and provide a better setting which enables the congregation to worship in a meaningful way.”

(Corporate worship is the bringing together of God’s word, prayer and fellowship with other believers.)

At the January 12, 1955, meeting of the Women of the Church, the Altar Committee was announced, the volunteer members were Mrs. Art Anderson, Mrs. Ernest Brostrom, Mrs. Carl Gustafson, Mrs. Roy Horton, Mrs. Steven Grandstrand, Mrs. E. J. Cedarholm, Miss Violet Lindgren, Mrs. Elwood Petrson, Mrs. John Ostrom and Mrs. Roy Johnson. 

In February, the Altar Guild became a new service organization within the church with 30 members (in 1956 they had 37 members). Mr. Lindbloom provided lessons of instruction following a manual for Altar Guild. Mrs. Ostrom (the first Directress) suggested the Altar Guild’s year should run from February 1^st to January 31^st. Mrs. Ernest Brostrom was the first secretary/treasurer. 

They polished the altar wear on February 1^st. Then, they started making linen napkins to be used at Baptisms and then given to the families. 

During 1955, six major projects were accomplished.

1.     The new purple paraments were sewn by hand.

2.     Improvement of the sacristy was planned and carried out.

3.     A candlelight service was given during Advent when almost $70.00 was given to the church improvement fund.

4.     Baptismal napkins were embroidered by members and given to each child received by the church through baptism.

5.     The work of keeping up the memorial record book was assumed by this group and assistance in choosing memorials were given when desired.

6.     A major part of each meeting is the study of worship, by talks and the use of the Altar Guild Manual.

Unfinished business In 1955 included preparation of a constitution.

Members would meet bi-monthly at 7:00 pm on the first Monday of the month at the church. Meetings were very formal, starting with a devotion. The secretary and treasurer’s reports were given before each business meeting followed by studying the Altar Guild Manual. A free-will offering was taken and a hostess would be assigned to serve a dessert. Funding is through free will offering or memorials. The goal is to keep membership at or above 24 members to have two members available for each month of the year.

The Easter Memorial Garden started in December 1959 under the direction of Mrs. J. O. Magnuson, Directress. It was very satisfying in that it made the Church beautiful for Easter Sunday and also provided flowers for our shut-ins. Also in 1959, with 24 members, the Altar Guild took responsibility for the Christmas decorations, purchasing the wreaths and boughs, and two poinsettias. Plus assuming the responsibility for the acolytes. 

In 1964, Altar Guild assisted in adding a number of Memorials: Advent wreaths, Pectoral Cross, Host Box, Corporal, Sanctuary Lamp, and one pair of candelabras.

Weekly duties of the Altar Guild have evolved over the decades. Here are a few examples:

·       Through 1961, six or seven Communion Seasons were observed – 1^st Sunday of February; Ash Wednesday; 3 services during Holy Week; Festival of Trinity; 1^st Sunday in August; World Communion Sunday on the 1^st Sunday in October; and the 1^st Sunday during Advent.

·       Beginning in 1962, communion was served once a month using glass communion cups and wafers. Eventually, communion was offered on the second and fourth Sundays of the month using plastic cups. Communion is now offered every Sunday using plastic cups and pita bread or gluten free wafers. Intinction using divided chalices was also used for the second service prior to the Covid lockdown in March 2020. Prefilled cups with grape juice and a wafer were used after we returned to in-house services in April 2022. 

·       A year-long flower chart was displayed for members to bring fresh flowers for the altar. If there were no flowers designated or available, Altar Guild members would order from the Lindstrom Greenhouse and arrange attractively in the brass vases. Funeral sprays could be broken down to be used as church service flowers. The flower chart does not exist anymore. Trinity members can call the church office if they want flowers displayed in the altar area for a specific Sunday.

·       Another duty was to change candles in the candelabras and on the altar when they got down to about 4 inches. Wax candles have been replaced with oil candles and the custodial staff maintains the candles.

·       Put the hymn numbers on the hymn boards. Hymn numbers are printed in the bulletin and the hymns are displayed on three pull-down screens.

·       Place proper paraments on the altar, pulpit and lectern. The Spit and Shine group took over placement of banners and paraments, however, the custodial staff takes care of changing them since Covid.

·       Bi-monthly evening meetings have been changed to two or three meetings a year after the 9:00 service in the Kirvida lounge.

·       Member offerings and the Easter Memorial Garden funded the earlier Altar Guild. Memorial gifts and Endowment Funds have been given to the Guild to fund many purchases. 

Trinity’s Altar Guild has received, purchased or help purchase many gifts over the last 15 years (2008 – 2023). The list below are some examples of gifts given, refurbished or received:

-Silver chalice and paten set from the Sauter Family

-Contributed $50 towards funeral pall

-Black covers for friendship pads on the blue chairs

-Purchased a new Advent/Christmas candle stand

-Don Johnson designed and created a communion table in memory of Darlene Scullen

-Purchased 20 green-wired plant stands

-Six additional silver communion trays were acquired for special occasions when a third                               station is needed

-Purchased new pew reservation ropes in a collaborative effort with Spit and Shine

-Helped purchase new light green paraments and banners created by Jeanette Paulson, Duluth

-Ten pastoral stoles were created to match the paraments and banners by Jeanette Paulson

-Dan Ford purchased purple cloth and decorated the Sanctuary for Advent

-Sandy Nickelson created marriage, baptismal and funeral banners

-Two new acolyte candle holders were bought

-Eight hooded acolyte robes and ropes were purchased from the Sig Stene family gift

-Two birch trees dividers with lights were acquired

-Don Johnson has created several wooden plant stands

-Christmas trees and Christmas decorations have been donated

-Sandy Nickelson has created all five colors of banners for the gold and red cross

-Received Endowment money to purchase a new missal stand to hold the Book of Worship

-Colleen Guilfoile created two funeral urn palls.

-Large silver host bowl donated by Scullen Family

-Brass restoration of offering plates

-Brass eternal candle stand was given in memory of Kyle Johnson

Another responsibility of the Altar Guild’s is to maintain old and new vessels and paraments. Retired vessels are on display in a glass cabinet in the Kirvida lounge. Some examples of restoration are:

·       Refurbished brass candlesticks in memory of Frank R. Victor from 1967.

·       1963 paraments in memory of A. Vivian Benson were framed and displayed in the Kirvida Lounge.

·       Refurbished large brass vases from 1960’s to 1990’s on display in the foyer.

Over the last six decades plus, Altar Guild has been blessed with tireless members who have made Trinity’s worship space beautiful and in good order to meet the goal of glorifying God and providing a setting for the congregation to worship in a meaningful way.