Pilgrims of Zion Lutheran Church, Bookpurnong, Celebrates 100 Years
On Sunday, 8th September, Pilgrims of Zion Lutheran Church, Bookpurnong, came alive with the spirit of fellowship and history as the congregation celebrated the 100th anniversary of their third church building. While the actual date of the anniversary was 7th September, the celebration on Sunday brought together past and present members, along with many distinguished guests.
A highlight of the day was the availability of a detailed History Book, capturing over a century of the church’s journey. The book includes insightful messages from most of the 16 ministers who have served the congregation from 1897 to 2024, including three assistant pastors. The congregation was blessed to welcome back seven past ministers: Colin Helbig, Paul Fielke, John Gerhardy, John Borchert, Chris Georg, Avito da Costa, and Mat Eckermann. Unfortunately, Chris Gallasch and Neil Stiller sent their apologies.
The celebration featured addresses by SA Bishop Andrew Brook and Pastor Maurice Fielke, a “son of the congregation” now based in Queensland. Their heartfelt words were shared with an audience of 160 guests, which included past and present members, as well as visitors.
A particularly touching moment was the attendance of Pastor David Kuss from Murray Bridge, who has a deep family connection to the church. His grandfather, Pastor LE Kuss, was the first minister to serve the Bookpurnong congregation from 1897 to 1910, and his uncle, Pastor M Kuss, followed as the second minister from 1910 to 1921.
Robert Fielke, Chairman of Pilgrims of Zion, extended a warm welcome to everyone and shared greetings from many other congregations. Trevor Fielke, Chairman of the 100th Anniversary Committee, offered a brief but rich history of the church and the congregation. It is worth noting that Sedan and Bookpurnong are the only two congregations in Australia named “Pilgrims of Zion.”
The day began with a morning tea before the worship service, which was held under marquees as the church itself only seats around 100 people. The service was followed by lunch, where guests had the chance to reconnect, share stories from the past, and make new acquaintances.
In preparation for the anniversary, the church’s cemetery received a beautiful facelift, with each grave and cremation plaque adorned with fresh flowers. The sight was a bright and touching tribute to those who had passed, bringing a sense of peace and remembrance to the occasion.
The souvenir History Book was so well received that it has already gone into reprint, with another run planned if needed. Priced at just $5 plus postage, it offers a wonderful way to preserve and share the church’s legacy.
If you would like to purchase a copy, please contact Lori Fielke at 0408 858 989, via email at ltfielke@hotmail.com, or through the church’s Facebook page: Bookpurnong Pilgrims of Zion Lutheran Church.
As the celebrations drew to a close, the atmosphere was filled with gratitude for the past 100 years and hope for the future of this cherished congregation.
