Alumni participate in Messiah after 45 year hiatus

After retiring this past year, Fred Nelson ’65 and his wife, Barb (Erickson) Nelson ’65 decided to return to Lindsborg, a place that has always been home even when they haven’t had a permanent address in town.

Barb, a retired educator, grew up in Lindsborg. Her dad owned a service station, which is now the Hemslojd, and she still has ownership of her parent’s home. Fred, a retired Lutheran Pastor, also has family ties to Lindsborg – his grandfather built the Swedish Country Inn.

Their connections to Bethany are also extensive. Barb played in the orchestra for the Messiah performances beginning as a sophomore in high school through her senior year of college. Fred also sang in the Messiah during college. Both will return to the stage this year, the first time since 1965.

Fred served on the board of directors from 1990-1994 and now, the couple serves on the Pearson Chapel and Welcome Center Committee. As they recalled, “when we were in college, chapel was in Old Main at the center of campus and it was mandatory. It was an opportunity to meet up with friends.” Their service to the new chapel comes from a feeling that chapel should always be a central place on campus. “We have always loved Bethany and while we were students, chapel was a major part of our week,” the couple said.

The Nelsons will remain in Lindsborg until after the Messiah Festival.

Chapel Update from Campus Pastor Noni Strand

We’ve had some meaningful services on campus in chapel this semester. Last week, our wonderful Bethany Handbell Ensemble performed and left us all entranced by their musicianship and skill! (I kept thinking how nice it will be when we have our new chapel and they don’t have to lug all their tables and bells over to Burnett Center from the third floor of Presser!)

The handbell ensemble recently returned from a tour through Iowa, including a concert at Bud’s beloved Lakes Art Center in Okoboji. For Ash Wednesday, the Chapel Choir sang adding such meaning and beauty to our worship. It was a full house that day as we began the season of Lent on campus.

Each year, we have a Lenten series to help us think about issues of faith and life. This year, we are focusing on “Wellness and Wholeness” in the midst of the national conversation around health care. We want to approach health and wellness, not from a political point of view, but as a broader conversation about what it means for us as humans in the midst of all of creation. What does it mean for us to be healthy, whole and well?

Five different people from campus will help us ponder seven types of wellness, based on a holistic wellness model from University of California Riverside. Together, we will consider social, emotional, spiritual, environmental, intellectual, physical and occupational wellness and how these intersect and interact in our lives as we seek to be people of health and wholeness. Then, during Holy Week, our series will conclude on Maundy Thursday with a Service of Healing.

We are fortunate, as a college of the Church, to be able to integrate faith and meaning into our daily life on campus and to think about issues together with thought and purpose. Chapel is a regular time for our community to gather, and we are blessed with so many talented people who share their thoughts. It’s exciting to think about how the presence of the new Pearson Chapel and Welcome Center will provide even greater visibility for regular chapel services and the faithful conversations that take place at Bethany.

Pearson Challenge nearly answered

Bethany College has received $100,000 for the Pearson Chapel and Welcome Center.

Bethany alumnus and current board member Sid Stolz ’83 has pledged $50,000 to the new chapel. The pledge, noted Stolz, “is a continuation of my faith and belief that Bethany College is a special place with its best years ahead. It’s also a chance to give back to an institution that so greatly enhanced my life.” The pledge is in addition to a gift of five distinctive pieces of sculpture to be featured for meditation. Previously, Stolz made major financial gifts in support of the recently completed Campus Green beautification project.

Also pledging $50,000 to the Pearson Chapel and Welcome Center are descendants of the Peter Nelson and Ed Sahlin families, Swedish immigrants who passed on to their children and grandchildren a commitment to faith, service and learning. “We are excited and honored to be a part of the Pearson Challenge for the Pearson Chapel and Welcome Center. The construction of this center is a tremendous way to celebrate what Bethany is all about,” said Bethany College Board Member Nelson Newcomer ’65, a descendant of the Nelson and Sahlin families.

These two gifts will support the new building to be located at the heart of campus. The Pearson Chapel and Welcome Center will be a hospitable place for all who worship, visit, learn and work in the Bethany Community.

“These gifts symbolize the importance of the new chapel and welcome center to friends and alumni of Bethany College. We are pleased that Sid and the families of Peter Nelson and Ed Sahlin have chosen to support this project that is so central to the mission and values of Bethany College,” said Bethany College President Edward F. Leonard III.

Bethany has raised more than $940,000 towards the Pearson Challenge, a $1 million challenge grant from the late Gerald “Bud” Pearson, to be met by June 2010. The total project cost is $3.5 million.

Photos Available Online

Please view photos from Pearson Chapel & Welcome Center events plus other campus photos online at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41351739@N05/. (Go to our flickr site, click on "sets" and view our "Launch on the Lawn Event" photos plus more!)

Introduction

Yesterday morning in chapel, President Leonard told the story of the recent adoption of baby Thomas, a long hoped-for second child for the family. Sheila sat in the front row, holding Thomas in her lap. You could have heard a snowflake fall as he spoke movingly of the experience – full of ups and downs and moments of anxiety and uncertainty. It was, he noted, an example of the importance of never giving up, never losing faith that what is meant to be, will be.

It was a wonderful illustration of the role of chapel in the life of Bethany – a place to gather regularly as a caring community of faith, sharing each other’s daily burdens and joys. It was also a reminder of the role of faith and perseverance in any big undertaking!

This blog is about another kind of big undertaking, but one that will bring transformation and joy to Bethany’s campus – just as baby Thomas will bring transforming joy to the Leonard family.

The Pearson Chapel and Welcome Center at Bethany College, a $3.5 million project, will be located at the heart of the campus, and will be a visible statement for all who enter that we are a college of the church, and a place where all are welcome.

This would be an ambitious effort for any college, under any circumstances, but doing it in the midst of one of the worst recessions in American history? Well, let’s just say it’s given us plenty of opportunities to practice faith and perseverance!

In the last nine months or so, we’ve made our case to groups of Bethany alumni and friends in St. Paul, Lindsborg, Oakland, Denver, and Kansas City, as well as individuals and families throughout the region. There has been lots of enthusiasm, and, thankfully, lots of support.

Please join us on our journey of faith! In upcoming days and weeks, you’ll hear from many members of our team as we keep you updated on our progress. We have lots of good news to report, too!