Greeting
This is Newsletter No. 31. North Sidney Messenger is sent to you once a year to bring you news since last Memorial Day to present time. If you are a first-time reader of the letter, we say WELCOME. Thank you to long-time readers for your continued support and interest.
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About Us
North Sidney Church and Cemetery Historical Association is registered with the State of Michigan as a non-profit organization. Our purpose is to take care of the church and cemetery and to preserve it for future generations. Membership can be either by paying dues yearly of $2.00 per year after the first fee of $10.00 is paid or life membership of $50 per person and is a one-time fee which is much easier. Dues are used for newsletter, postage and other general up-keep expenses. Memorial money is used for special projects. Other gifts or donations help with larger projects. Cemetery up-keep is paid from the Perpetual Care Fund. Download a printable membership application.
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Issue Dedication: Harriet K. Olson
This year's issue is in memory of one of the Founders of the North Sidney Church and Cemetery Association who passed away this last year, Harriet Olson.
Harriet K. Olson, 92, of Stanton, died Sunday, August 10, 2008 at her home. She was born February 22, 1916, in Sidney Township, Montcalm County, the daughter of Peter S. and Tena (Nelson) Thomsen. She married Clarence E. Olson on June 2, 1946 in Sidney. Harriet was a life-long resident of the Sidney and Stanton areas. She was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church, the Danish Sisterhood Society, The Central Montcalm Historical Association and the North Sidney Church and Cemetery Historical Association. In addition, she was a district aide for the Montcalm Soil Conversation District for 12 years.
She is survived by one son, Albern and Linda Olson of Stanton; two grandchildren Paul and Vicki Olson, Tena and Chad Hoover, all of Stanton; and four great-grandchildren, Cole and Kade Olson and Cass and Lauren Hoover. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clarence Olson on April 1, 1997; and a brother, Hugh Thomsen.
I can remember going to the Memorial Day Services and was always amazed when Harriet would go to the front of the Church and announce who everyone was and who they were related to. Harriet spent many hours at the Church the weeks before Memorial Day greeting anyone that happened to stop by. She loved the Church and had fond memories of her days there. Harriet was also the person responsible for the publishing of the North Sidney Area book. She and her helpers spent many hours putting the pages together and getting it published.
Everyone, especially her family, will miss Harriet. God Bless Harriet!
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Website If you have an email address and would like the information from the website instead of mailing the letter please let us know. If you have ideas on how to improve it or information that could be added or have information you'd like included in next year's newsletter, just send Krista an email.
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Historical Poem
The Beacon On The Hill
The OLD NORTH CHURCH must go they said,
Alas, Alack, my heart just bled;
That dear old Beacon against the sky,
It called us to worship the Lord on High.
And what would it cost, to take it away?
Perhaps 'twould pay to keep the old church for many a day!
And who would want that spot for a mound?
Oh No! to me, that's Holy Ground!
It's part of the landscape, It's part of the hill,
Way out over the valley, we heard the bell trill;
So God Bless THE OLD ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, so dear, so fair,
And please help us dear Lord, to keep it here.
---Emma Sorensen
The above piece of poetry was written by Emma Sorensen, Trufant, MI in response to a letter to "Our readers say" by D. Alma Corfixsen. This letter entitled "Must another of our landmarks go," drew comments from near and wide. It was really the spark that kindled the move to preserve the Old St. John's Church of North Sidney as it is often referred to. Mrs. Sorensen related in an interview how her feelings for this landmark went back to the days when she visited her Aunt and Uncle, Marie and Nels Jensen who lived just west of the North Sidney church. She recalled how the Rev. Ole Amble often was a guest of the Jensen's when he was in the North Sidney area for services.
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Danish Cookin' Corner
Try this recipe, it's delicious. Of course, you need the Aebleskiver pan to bake them in!
Aebleskivers
|
2 eggs | 1/2 t baking soda |
| 1 t salt | 1 t baking powder |
| 2 T thick cream | 2 T sugar |
| 2 C buttermilk | 2-1/2 C flour |
Separate eggs. Beat egg yolks with sugar and salt. Cream in shortening. Dissolve soda in buttermilk and add. Add flour and baking powder. Fold in beaten egg whites. Batter should be thick. Bake in shortening in Aebleskiver pan. Turn with a fork, hatpin or pick to brown on all sides. Be sure they are done all the way through. Serve while hot with brown sugar, jam or jelly.
If you don't want to make Aebleskiver yourself, you can sample a Danish Sisterhood Breakfast during the Danish Festival on August 22 at the Danish Brotherhood Hall in Greenville. Breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
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Memorial Day Service & Volunteers
Please plan on attending the Memorial Day Service on Monday, May
25. Final plans will be made at the Annual Meeting on May 13. The meeting
is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the Church.
The Memorial Day Service will begin at 2:00 p.m.
Luke Dudenhofer has again agreed to deliver this year's message. Luke and his wife Melissa grew up
in the Stanton/Sidney area and now live in Chicago. Luke is pastor of the New Life Community Church
in the Bridgeport neighborhood and they have two adopted sons, Josiah Wesley, 4 years old and Titus Charles who will be 3 on June 1 and their newest addition, Ethni Aniyah Rose born last September 29.
The week prior to Memorial Day we are looking for volunteers to spend
a few hours to keep the church open and greet visitors. Please let Jennifer
Thomsen know if you are willing to do this, so we can make sure
the church will be unlocked.
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North Sidney Book
We still have copies of the North Sidney 1884-1984 book. There
is much information on the Sidney area and families in the area (much of the information I write in this news letter comes from this book). Contact
Jennifer Thomsen at the Church during the Memorial Day service or you print out the order
form and mail it in with your check.
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Memorium
In the last year we have had several friends and family members leave us Luella Burgess, Cheryl Martin Dell, George Trygstad, Marion Dickensen, Paul Dudenhofer, Harriet Olson and Tom Hallock. Our thoughts and prayers are with these families. If I have missed your loved ones I am truly sorry.
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Friends & Family in the Armed Services
Please remember and pray for all of our men and women serving
in the military. May they all return soon. Flags are placed on the grave
of Veterans each year. A special thanks to Sidney Township for furnishing
the flags and John and Lillian Christophersen for placing them on the
grave sites.
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Events
Memorial Day Service, May 25, 2009, 2:00 p.m.
Fall Meeting, September 9, 2009, 6:00 p.m.
Spring Meeting, May 12, 2010, 6:00 p.m.
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Salutation
As I close for another year, I want to thank everyone who assists with keeping the Association running smoothly. Hope to see you May 25. ~Marilyn Thomsen
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Subscriptions, Dues & Address Changes
If you know of someone who would enjoy the newsletter and currently
doesn’t receive it, please let us know. Also, if your address has changed, make sure we get updated
information so our postage expenses aren’t wasted with returns.
Please send dues or donations to Jennifer Thomsen, Treasurer. Due to the increase in the cost of stamps receipts will no longer be sent if you pay dues by check. Donations will be recognized.
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Church & Cemetery Historical Association |
