Celebrating service

Celebrating service Subhead Our Savior's Lutheran honors organist, dedicates new organ Simone Wichers-voss Chisholm Country Magazine Wed, 06/26/2024 - 06:07 Image

• Photo by Simone Wichers-Voss | Chisholm Country magazine Our Savior’s Lutheran Church organist Patsy Squyres shows off the cake celebrating her 65 years of service to the church, Sunday, June 23, 2024.

Body

At Our Savior's Lutheran Church at Norse the worship music represents the heartbeat of the church’s spirituality. Patsy Erickson Squyres and the church organ and piano gave been an integral part of the services for the past 65 years.

The congregation honored Squyres for her music ministry last Sunday, and Pastor Ryan Pederson dedicated the church’s new digital pipe organ in her name. A plaque on the new instrument commemorates this historic day for the church and Squyres contributions.

“Just as Miriam enriched the celebration of the People of Israel after they crossed the sea, so Patsy has and continues to lead us at Our Savior’s in our worship,” the congregation’s thank you note said when Squyres was presented with framed “Then and Now” photos. They feel blessed to have such a gifted and dedicated musician accompanying their worship services.

And while 65 years is a long time, 82-year-old Squyres has no intention of retiring from her music ministry.

A plethora of dishes and desserts covered the work tops in the fellowship hall kitchen for the many guests to enjoy after the service. Over the delicious and copious lunch, people had time to visit and remember the past 65 years and reminisce on stories about the guest of honor.

“What a great, wonderful and glorious day this is.” soft-spoken Squyres said in her speech thanking those present for the honor and appreciation bestowed on her. She went on, not to talk about herself, but to thank all that made the day possible, especially Bishop Erik K.J. Gronberg for being present.

“Thank you Patsy for the joy you bring to the church sermons,” Bishop Gronberg said. “Pastors come and go, but the organist remains.”

Through all the years, Squyres played for nine pastors, outlasted several organs, and with her music accompanied countless worship services, weddings, funerals, family reunions and other special events including the King of Norway’s visit to the church. As far as he knows, Bishop Gronberg stated that Squyres holds the record for the longest tenure of any organist within the church.

During the celebratory service, Bill Bane – the organ’s builder – performed a several special arrangements, while Squyres took behind the keys in the hymns supporting the liturgy, the prelude.

Touted as one of Johan Sebastian Bach’s most enduring creations “Joy of Man’s Desiring,” unfolded beautifully in the church filled with friends, family and wellwishers. The new organ allowed Bane to add bells and an oboe to the piece.

The theme of “Jesus Loves Me” came back in the sermon hymn and Bishop Gronberg’s sermon, which focused finding peace in our busy, busy lives and going back to the essence of God’s presence, that he is faithful and that he cares, even in the direst of times.

Nestled among the rolling hills and pastures, dotted with Live Oaks west of Clifton, Our Savior’s Lutheran has provided a spiritual community for multiple generations. Founded in 1869, Our Savior's Lutheran Church part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at Norse, and the congregation prides their Norwegian heritage. And Squyres in her turn provided many musical additions to the Sunday sermons and provided piano lessons to many generations of Bosque County youth. Her music is her legacy and her lifelong ministry.