A NEWSLETTER FOR THE ALUMNI OF COLLEGE HILL LUTHERAN CHURCH

The Beacon

November 2006
End of the Church year

A Fond Farewell

by Pastor Tom Ogilvie

Since January 1997, I have been privileged to serve as the pastor of College Hill Lutheran Church and Brammer Student Center. Over that time, there have been many joys and celebrations within the ministry here. The most important part of it, of course, is the number of wonderful students that have joined in our fellowship, continuing the wonderful numbers of college students that have been a part of this ministry for 64 years.

On Sunday, October 15, I announced that I have accepted a call to serve as a pastor at a congregation in West Des Moines, Iowa. My last Sunday at CHLC will be November 26. It is with a never ending fondness that I bid farewell to CHLC and the many students who have been and are involved in the ministry.

There have been many things accomplished at CHLC and BSC in the last few years, all by the grace of God. It is the message of Christ crucified that has sustained and led the ministry that has taken place here. The proclamation of the Word of God and the administration of the sacraments has always been central in the ministry at College Hill, and that is what will continue to sustain and guide the ministry.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews wrote, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to Jay and forever" (13:8, NIV). This is how we know the blessings will continue upon the work here. It is Christ's church, His ministry, and we all are privileged to be the carriers of His Word to the world around us.

I thank God for the opportunity to be a part of this entity we call College Hill. More importantly, I thank God for the certainty of His unchanging presence that will lead and guide this ministry through the faithful servants here and who come.

In Christ,

Help us keep up to date

It is refreshing and reaffirming to hear from alumni from time to time—whether via mail, email or in person—that they enjoy receiving this newsletter. We hope this publication not only enables you to keep up to date with what is going on at CHLC/BSC, but also with one another. Maybe you have even learned something about the ministry's history and how close to you other alumni might be.

Within the last year, the University of Northern Iowa has discontinued the service of allowing us to access alumni addresses that we may keep our files up to date. Thus, we make an appeal to you. If you have a change of address, please let us know so we may continue to keep you up to date on what is happening with CHLC. Also, if you know of some alumni who might like to receive this publication but presently are not, please contact us with their address.

You may submit addresses and changes to us by mail (2322 Olive Street), phone (319-266-1274) or email (chlc.lcms@cfu.net).

Alumni Notes

Ruth Ullerich Hein 1939-1943

Five of our thirteen grandchildren are now married, and we have four great grandchildren.

I wrote the historical column for the Worthington Daily Globe for fourteen years, letting go of it at the end of December 2003.

A revised edition of my Ghostly Tales of Iowa book just came out in September of 2005, after Iowa State Press sold out to Blackwell Publishing and they discontinued the book, but didn't let us know for a while. It is now available from Adventure Publications at Cambridge, MN in the new edition, with lower price, added stories (58 total), a new cover and book design.

Hilda Dorow Jacob 1941-1943

I attended college in Cedar Falls and transferred to the University of Minnesota receiving BA and BS degrees.

I was an active Gamma Deltan at both colleges.

May God bless your many endeavors among college students. (Hilda sent two pages from the scrap book she kept during her time in Gamma Delta at Cedar Falls.)

Berniece Jaeschke Nowack 1947-1949

What a delightful tribute to Elsa Brammer! I didn't know all of those wonderful things mentioned in the tribute but was not surprised at all. As I read it, among tears of sadness and joy, I couldn't help but recall the fun we had at the College Hill Student Center and Gamma Delta in the years 1947—1949. Think "Dickie" (Dick Brammer) at that time was about 3 or 4 years old. The "church" was this house and it was always packed on Sunday. Looking back those were truly happy years.

I recall that first week of orientation—think it was a Friday night and a representative, probably Pastor, met us in this large room and college students of that faith met him and I imagine went to the Student Center. Anyway, it was a welcoming invitation to attend church on Sunday. Should get out my annual to recall names—Arnie Grummer, Borghild Fjeld, Joan Dahms were some I remember. (Doubt that these things happen on today's campus but hope they do.)

I wish your campus ministry continued success and may God bless each one that enters your house of worship.

Bonnie Wilkens Pestotrik. 1950-1952

I was so thankful to have a Lutheran Center to go to and meet Pastor Brammer and Elsa. They opened their home to us. I attended Teachers' College for 2 years and went to Webster City to teach 2 nd grade. Since then I taught at Fort Dodge for 2 years. Met my first husband and he died. My husband Dick worked at Northern Natural Gas so we knew each other. His wife died and Dick and I renewed friendship and married. I taught school in Boone 38 years, retired. And graduated from Drake and took many courses. I have two stepchildren who graduated from UNI. My husband and I are active in our Trinity Lutheran Church in Boone, IA.

I shall never forget all the great Christian people I met at CHLC and thank God for it.

Steve Hoemann BA 1964; MA 1973

(Excerpts from letter.)

I regularly attended College Hill Lutheran while 1 was in undergraduate school, finishing my degree from UNI in 1964. 1 later returned to campus for two summers until I finished my masters in English in 1973. During the second summer, Pastor Brammer asked me to house sit for him and Elsa while he attended the Missouri Synod Convention in Denver, Colorado. When he returned, I told him about my great-grandfather Heinrich W. Hoemann being the first ordained minister for a small German Lutheran congregation in Westcliffe, Colorado, and that, ironically enough, a Pastor Brammer had conducted the ordination ceremony. Pastor simply smiled and said, "That Pastor Brammer was my grandfather."

My memories of many Sunday evenings enjoying the fellowship of nearly grown up former Walther Leaguers were highlighted by the smiles and guidance given to us from both Pastor Brammer and Elsa. I guess that's why 1 felt so much at home nine years after graduation when 1 spent three weeks caring for their home and then making those unbelievable family connections when they returned from Denver where I had been teaching for nearly six years.

Jonathan Manor 1989-1993

In May 2005, Jonathan Manor graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis with a Masters of Divinity degree. He has been called to serve Christ's church as pastor of Hosanna-Tabor Lutheran Church and School. Jonathan served at Hosanna-Tabor with Rev. Dr. Steve Eggers, former pastor of College Hill Lutheran Church, until Rev. Eggers death on December 2, 2005.

Carrie Garlich 1995-2000

We are still in Des Moines. Dave took a job at Principal Financial. Going to seminary did not work out at this time, but possibly in the future. 1 am staying at home this year, home schooling our son, Philip, 5, and I'm busy with my twin one year olds, Luke and Lily. We are very blessed!

New Web Site for CHLC/BSC

Technology is a wonderful thing, but it changes quickly and one must keep on top of things to be current. To that end, the College Hill Lutheran Church and Brammer Student Center has a new website. The new address for our site is www.college-hill.org. CHLC alum Nick Anderson ('06) deserves much credit and great thanks for the hard work he put in to developing and maintaining the site.

On the site, you can find many things, including our monthly newsletter and weekly bulletin that will keep you current on all that is happening within the ministry. We are also considering future plans of posting The Beacon on the site so you may access it at anytime.

As we look at issues of stewardship of time and resources, we are also exploring the possibility of distributing this newsletter via email to those of you who would like to receive in that manner. If you would like to, please email us (chlc.lcms@cfu.net) your address and name and your desire to receive The Beacon by email.

Feedback: Keeping in Touch

Remember, we always enjoy hearing from you and learning about what is happening in the lives of people who have been associated with CHLC in the past. The members of the congregation get excited also when they hear from an alumni associated with the church. If there is any information you would like to share with us that we can include in the newsletter, please fill out the form below and return it to us. We hope to build a network of alumni who called College Hill home during their college years. If you know of someone you think might appreciate receiving this newsletter, please let us know that, as well.

Also, we ask your continued prayer support for the work and ministry of College Hill Lutheran Church and the Brammer Student Center. If you would be interested in any particular needs of the ministry, please contact us. We would love to hear from you.

CHLC ALUMNI NEWS

Name___________________ Years attended CHLC___________

Address _____________________________________