"...Help me as Thou hast helped me."
1991. U.S. troops led U.N. forces to quick victory over Saddam Hussein, pushing
the Iraqis out of Kuwait. USSR collapsed and the new Russian Commonwealth was formed.
Moviegoers were astonished by computer morphing in Terminator 2. The collapse of
Soviet anti-Gorbachev plot was aided by a global system called the Internet. More than 4
billion cassette tapes were rented in the U.S. alone. Leningrad changed its name to St.
Petersburg. President deKlerk announced abolition of apartheid laws in South Africa. Three
out of four U.S. homes own video cassette recorders, making the VCR the fastest selling
domestic appliance in history. The Daniel Barenboim era at the Chicago Symphony began
with a labor dispute, moving the season opening forward three weeks.
Bethlehem's church building was designated as a non-smoking area except for the
library which will be a designated smoking area. Smoke alarms were installed. Bethlehem
Social Ministry Board members and other congregation members served at EEAC soup
kitchens for the Homeless. A pictorial directory was prepared. Sunday School had an average
attendance of 20 children.
1992. Cable TV revenues reached $22 billion. At least 50 U.S. cities had competing
cable services. South Africa approved reforms, giving blacks equal legal rights. Bethlehem
celebrated its 120th anniversary. Campus Ministry passed out cookies on campus on
Valentine's Day and jelly beans on April 14. New carpeting was purchased for the sanctuary.
An open house, a dinner dance and a special Sunday morning service were held to celebrate
120 years of God's grace. Pastor Hertwig preached the sermon at the special service.
1993. Bill Clinton became President. North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) linked Canada, Mexico and the United States. Dinosaurs roamed the earth in
Jurassic Park. Unfounded rumors flew that cellphones cause brain cancer. Demand began
for "V-chip" to block out violent television programs. One in three Americans did
some work at home instead of driving to work. Devastating floods occurred all along the
Mississippi River. The movie Schindler's List was released. The European Common
Market began. Rabin and Arafat shook hands in Washington. Paleontologists discovered oldest
known dinosaur. The CTA opened its Midway rail line. Police estimated the crowd at Grant
Park for Matthew Sweet, Belly and the Jayhawks as the biggest since the Pope visited in
1979.
Monthly "Birthday Sunday" celebrations were started on the third Sunday
of each month after the worship service by the Board of Parish Fellowship (Vivian Koch and
Christine Harloff). The altar guild purchased new paraments. Campus Ministry handed out
tracts at the Northwestern Homecoming Parade and held two services on campus. Social
Ministry Board helps with EEAC soup kitchen and makes and distributes Advent calendars to
shut-ins.
1994. The Republican Party gained control of both houses of Congress for the first
time since 1954. After 25 years, U.S. government privatizes Internet management. Prodigy
bulletin board fields 12,000 messages in one hour after L.A. quake. Nelson Mandela was
sworn in as president of South Africa. New Davis Street train station linked Evanston's Metra
and CTA to bus routes. The new Evanston Public Library opened. Bethlehem's AAL Branch
presented program "It's About Time" with a free lunch.
1995. A CD-ROM disk carried a full-length feature film. Sony demonstrated a flat
TV set. Major U.S. dailies created a national on-line newspaper network. Lamar Alexander
chose the Internet to announce presidential candidacy. A major earthquake hit Kobe, Japan.
Federal building in Oklahoma City was destroyed by bomb. Leaders of Serbia, Bosnia and
Croatia signed peace agreement in Dayton, Ohio. Israel and Palestine signed an agreement
granting Palestinians autonomy in the West Bank and Gaza. Hutus were massacred in refugee
camps in Rwanda. At Bethlehem, the "My Father's World" stewardship program
was undertaken.
1996. The National Association of Lutheran Ministries with the Aging merged with
the Coalition of Executives to form the Association of Lutheran Social Ministry
Organizations. The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod began celebration of its 150th year.
Museum of Contemporary Art had a 24-hour preview of its new building designed by Berlin
architect Josef Paul Kleihues on the site of the former U.S. National Guard Armory at 220 E.
Chicago Avenue. State Street reopened after a ten month $24.5 million renovation, and once
again permitted automobile traffic. Bethlehem got a listing on "Digital City:
Evanston" on the Internet. An unofficial web page for Bethlehem was maintained on the
Internet by Marilyn Gardner. The Evangelism Board gave away free New Testaments at the
Flea Market at the Robert Crown Center. Campus Ministry began "Food for Body and
Soul" on Wednesdays from 6:15 pm until 7:30 pm, supper followed by a short worship
service. Social Ministry Board's rummage sale reported receipts of $941.
1997. Illinois ranked third in the nation in the number of interstate highway miles.
Lutheran Hour Ministries had 77 radio programs broadcast in 31 languages in 130 countries
throughout the world. For the third consecutive year, Valparaiso University was named as one
of the best regional universities in the Midwest by US News & World Report.
Bethesda Lutheran Home and Services provided residential care and training for more than
700 children and adults through 39 facilities, nine support programs and service offices in 11
states. The International Housewares Show in January marked its 100th appearance in
Chicago. Northwestern University was a major private research university with an annual
budget of more than $800 million, about 5,650 employees, and more than 17,000 students
enrolled in 12 academic divisions on two lakefront campuses. Bethlehem began a "50-
Day Spiritual Adventure" in the fall. Bethlehem's AAL Branch 1460 hosted four after-
church dinners, set up by Agnes Jacoby and Irving Danneil, followed by services
remembering marriage, baptism, confirmation and deaths of our congregation. Special
programs prepared by Marilyn Gardner listed all names from the permanent record books.
Meta Miletic prepared banners for each special service and for the 125th anniversary. An open
house, a dinner dance, and a special service were held.
Questions, comments, etc. are welcome.
Send them to Marilyn
Gardner at MFGardner@aol.com