Cedonia Church Celebrating 100th

The Cedonia Community Church, formed by families among the first settlers to arrive in what is now southwest Stevens County, will observe its centennial anniversary Sunday.

It was built and dedicated as a Union Church, welcoming people of all denominations.

A hundred years ago, parishioners worshiped while sitting on planks laid on blocks of wood. These days, between 60 and 80 people sit on proper pews, there are Sunday school classes, and between 15 and 25 teenagers meet each week.

The original structure is used these days for classrooms and an office for the pastor, the Rev. Ed Dashiell, great-grandson of Robert L. Dashiell, a founder of the church and town.

Dashiell, the founder, was among those selected to find a biblical name for the church. The committee settled on Cedonia, a shortened version of Macedonia, as found in Acts 16:9.

The unincorporated town of Cedonia is small, not even worthy of a dot on the map.

“The town proper would (include) the church, the parsonage, a closed store and a couple residents,” said Dashiell, the pastor.

But the town was larger in its heyday.

“There used to be two stores,” Dashiell jested with a straight face.

All former church members and those in surrounding communities are invited to attend the 100th anniversary celebration. Festivities will begin with a service at 11 Sunday morning, followed by a catered barbecued lunch.

A program of music, messages from former pastors and descendents of the original settlers, and a video history begins at 2:30.

Descendents of three couples who were married in a triple wedding ceremony in the church on New Year’s Eve in 1908 will also be in attendance.

For more information on the schedule of events, call the church at (509) 722-3542.

The barbecue is free, but donations will be accepted to help cover costs.

The Cedonia Community Church is at the junction of Highway 25 and Addy-Cedonia Road, four miles north of Hunters.

St. Mark’s plans picnic

The pastoral team of the Revs. Tim and Kay Tostengard has resigned from St. Mark’s Lutheran Church at the corner of 24th and Grand Boulevard after six years of ministry.

Church members, totaling 1,600, will gather Sunday to say goodbye and also celebrate the church’s 50th anniversary.

All members and former members are invited to bring a salad or dessert to a potluck picnic at 11:30 a.m. in lower Manito Park.

The Rev. Kay Tostengard will become campus pastor at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and the Rev. Tim Tostengard will be pastor of a Lutheran church in the same town.

St. Mark’s Sunday morning worship services are at 8 and 9:30.

Seminar for women today

A Women of Impact leadership seminar, “Soaring Toward Excellence,” will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., today at Cavanaugh’s Fourth Avenue, 110 E. Fourth.

Sponsored by Women’s Aglow, the seminar is designed for women of all walks of life. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. Cost is $45.

Old-time religion featured

Harvest Christian Fellowship Church has set up camp on the corner of Post and Sinto for a summer of old-fashioned revivals.

The meetings, featuring contemporary worship and dance, are every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and 9:30 a.m. on Sundays. Saturday meetings are geared toward youth and young adults.

The revival meetings will run through Sept. 14. For more information, call 327-3278.