Kickoff of the ULC 100th Anniversary was held on Sunday, June 5, 2016 with the raising of the banners (including an introduction to the Bellingham, Washington artist, Kristen Gilge) before worship and a sing-along of congregational favorite hymns after worship.
Here are pictures of the 100th Anniversary Banners:
Here is a short explanation of the elements in the two banners: “ULC 1917” and “On Our Way Rejoicing”:
The banner with the clasped hands represents different persons, families, communities, and ethnicities reaching out to welcome one another. The houses indicate our mission to hospitality, including housing and caring for the homeless. The grapes and wheat represent the bread and wine and the body of Christ. University Lutheran Church (ULC) was established in March 1917. The road indicates the WAY or path we follow on our way.
The banner with the dove represents the the soaring Spirit encouraging us to go “On our Way Rejoicing”. The tendrils contain music notes and instruments that are such an integral part of our congregations love of music . The 100th Anniversary Theme “On Our Way Rejoicing” is taken from a ULC congregation-favorite hymn of the same name, which was the last sing-along hymn sung at the June 5, 2015 Anniversary Kickoff. The text of that hymn is available by clicking the following link: On Our Way Rejoicing TEXT
The colors in both banners are found in the ULC church stain glass windows.
Below is a picture of the banner artist, Kristen Gilje, flanked on the right and left by the ULC Anniversary Committee Co-chairs, Sue Tong and Yolanda Houze respectively, and with the banners raised in the background above the altar and to the right and left of the back-lit cross:
Below is a picture from the rear balcony of the church with banners raised and worship in progress:
After the worship service, a large group of the congregation stayed in the sanctuary to sing many favorite hymns chosen by congregation members. A list of those hymns can be downloaded in a pdf 2-page document by clicking HERE (in process of uploading; stay tuned).
Below is a picture of the sing-along leader, Janice Gockel (far right in the picture), and the musical accompanists (from left to right) Rich Hinrichsen, Brian Maschhoff, Jim Hunter, William Bryant (ULC Organist), and Brian Higham (ULC Minister of Music):
Below is a picture taken of the ULC congregation members who enthusiastically and with gusto participated in the sing-along:
The list of songs for the sing-along can be opened in this pdf document: 100thSingAlongSongList1 The songs are all taken from the Lutheran Book of Worship (1978).