At 98 years, Margaret Gustavson is embracing a new church.
The Aurora resident is the eldest member of the former Aurora Advent Christian Church. Aurora Advent and Redeemer Community Church, formerly of Oswego, but sharing Aurora Advent facilities since 2022, merged Easter Sunday.
During a Redeemer rededication service, Gustavson joined eight Aurora Advent and Redeemer congregants in reading parts of a 1983 dedicatory prayer for the Aurora building. The congregation was invited to read the last paragraph and doxology. Late Aurora College religion professor Rev. Asa Colby wrote a moving and timeless prayer for the dedication of the current building that was rediscovered in the church archives.
Josh Fenska, Redeemer lead pastor, introduced the prayer readers. In addition to Gustavson, readers were Elias Mull, Sandy Mulligan, Ken Wharam, Bethany Cox, Steve Thicksten, Laura Roman, Chris Rogers and Titus Fenska.
The rededication took place during Redeemer’s Super Soup Sunday observance marking significant milestones of the combined congregation. The event celebrated 165 years of Aurora Advent, 40 years of the Aurora building and 25 years of Redeemer Community Church.
Rev. Mark Mull, Redeemer pastor and former pastor, Aurora Advent Church, preached on “Joyful Thanksgiving.”
Wall-mounted historical displays chronicled both churches’ histories.
A soup supper followed in the church gym.
Rev. Mull reflected in a November 3, “Final e-blast from the Aurora Advent Christian Church…” He said,
“As I type these words, it has been 21 years, 7 days since I was voted in as Youth Pastor at the Aurora Advent Christian Church. Twenty-one years ago, I had just had the opportunity to attend Friends Forever as an observer, and now after 20 years of leadership in Friends Forever I once again find myself on the sidelines as we have passed the mantle of Friends Forever to The Church of the Highlands.
“As Solomon recorded in Ecclesiastes, there is a time for everything under the sun … and so after so many amazing friendships and memories the time has come to write a final eblast. While these communications may end, it does not mark the end of our relationships, nor our commitment to be there for one another.
“There are so many things that could be said, so many memories to be thankful for, so many of you who have walked through the ups and downs of life, but with tears in my eyes God has impressed that the greatest thing I could say is to offer a blessing for you.
“So until the day that the trumpet sounds I leave you with this blessing: May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord make his face to shine upon you, may the Lord go before you, and be gracious unto you, and give you his peace, both now and forevermore. Amen.”
He added that the popular prayer chain ministry will continue as long as there are willing prayer warriors and people to send requests..
According to Rev. Mull, much work has been done to gather, scan, record and safely store church records, photos, audio and videos, some dating to the 1890s. ” A significant portion of records were to be available online by Sunday, Nov. 12. “Grateful acknowledgement needs to be made for the dedication of (late Aurorans) Pauline and Homer Easley who were such a big part of making it possible,” he said.
Records will be available at www.AuroraAdvent.org until the end of March when the website will be closed.
Redeemer holds Sunday worship at 10 a.m. at 905 N. Edgelawn Drive in Aurora. The public is invited. Parking is free.
Call (630) 896-1963 for more information.
–Al Benson