"...Help me through Jesus' dying blood..."
1985. CD-ROM put 270,000 pages of paper text on a CD record. Cellular telephones went into cars. U.S. TV networks began satellite distribution to affiliates. Pay-per-view channels opened for business. Scientists discovered a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. "Live Aid" rock concert was held in London for Ethiopian famine relief. Gorbachev unilaterally halted deployment of missiles in Europe. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada was formed by merger of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada (started in 1966 by Canadian congregations of the American Lutheran Church) and three synods of the Lutheran Church in America, called the Canada Section. Bethlehem got another vicar.
1986. Space Shuttle Challenger blew up on the launch pad. American warplanes bombed terrorists targets in Libya. HBO scrambled its signals. Cable shopping networks made their debut. Chernobyl reactor disaster fallout affected all of Europe and resulted in relocation of 133,000 people. With the ouster of Marcos in Philippines, Corazon Aquino became president. William Rehnquist became U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice. ALC, AELC, LCA conventions approved merger plans. Oprah Winfrey's first syndicated show aired from Chicago. Bethlehem's school property was sold and the proceeds used to establish an endowment fund.
1987. Half of all U.S. homes with TV were on cable. Government deregulated the cable industry. Professional football players went on strike. World stock market crashed. Bangladesh's worst floods made millions homeless. U.S. and U.S.S.R. signed a treaty to ban short- and medium-range nuclear weapons in Europe. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was formed by merger of the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, The American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church in America at the ELCA Constituting Convention in Columbus, Ohio, April 30. Herbert Chilstrom became its first churchwide bishop. Pastor Frick accepted a call to Cary, Illinois.
1988. PanAm flight 103 was destroyed over Locherbie, Scotland. Armenian earthquake killed 80,000 people and left 500,000 homeless. Nationalist demonstrations and strikes hit Albania, Poland, the Baltics and Caucasus. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) began operations in Chicago on January 1. Its publications were The Lutheran, Lutheran Woman Today, Lutheran Partners, Seeds for the Parish.
At Bethlehem, on March 22, on recommendation of the Social Ministry Board, the congregation joined the Evanston Ecumenical Action Council in order to have help with community action projects. Three amendments to the by-laws of the constitution were approved: council will meet eleven times a year instead of five; applicants for voting membership can have full voting privileges when attending a meeting subsequent to their request for membership and signing the constitution; and trustees are protected from personal liability when they take action to protect and preserve the property of the congregation. Monthly worship services were started at Dobson Plaza by Ann Eckert and Marilyn Gardner. $4292 was sent to missions. The Social Ministry Board gave Thanksgiving baskets to selected member families, Christmas gifts to shut-ins, and conducted drives for clothing for Lutheran World Relief and the Evanston Coat Drive. Three- and five-year plans were prepared as part of the pastoral call process. $333. was collected by the Social Ministry Board at a Rummage Sale.
1989. Exxon Valdez left history's largest oil spill in Alaska. U.S. troops were sent to oust Panama's General Manuel Noriega. Tiananmen Square demonstrated the power of the media to inform the world. Pacific Link fiber optic cable opened, capable of carrying 40,000 phone calls. East German government resigned and the Berlin Wall was torn down. Namibia gained independence. At Bethlehem, a wheelchair ramp was installed. The Rev. Victor J. Van Kanegan, Jr. accepted the congregation's call to serve as pastor. Edith Kruse died and a Zimbelstern for the organ was purchased as a memorial. The Social Ministry Board scheduled a blood drive.
1990. Iraq invaded Kuwait in August. Communist governments of Eastern Europe fell. Germany was unified. The Americans With Disabilities Act required lift- equipment on new transit vehicles. Illinois was the sixth most populous state in the country with almost 11.5 million people. Nelson Mandela was freed from decades in jail and amnesty is declared for African National Congress. St. Francis and First United congregations in San Francisco "ordain" openly practicing homosexuals, contrary to ELCA policy, and were suspended for five years. Cher opened the World Music Theater in Tinley Park. The population of Evanston was 73,706. "Christmas in June" invited visitors to Bethlehem with Christmas carols, a decorated tree, and a program by VBS students. Midweek Advent collections were given to missions. All-Church Christmas party with sponsorship of several organizations was held on December 9. A New Year's Eve service was held at 7:30 pm December 31.
Questions, comments, etc. are welcome.
Send them to Marilyn
Gardner at MFGardner@aol.com