New Bell Tower And Carillon
of Immanuel Lutheran Church Celebrating Our Heritage, Symbolizing Our Future
“To God Alone
The Glory!�
Dedication Sunday,
November 8, 2015
Commemorative Brochure
Immanuel Lutheran Church 726 Fuller Avenue
Big Rapids, Michigan 49307
The Bell Tower And Carillon
The New Carillon
On Sunday, November 8, 2015, the congregation of Immanuel Lutheran Church joyfully celebrates the completion and dedication of the church’s new bell tower and carillon. The bell tower is an expression of our Christian and Lutheran faith and our dedication to God’s great honor and glory. The bell tower celebrates our heritage in the form of the three bells and symbolizes our faith in the future of Immanuel Lutheran Church in the images of the beautiful liturgical art glass panels. For decades to come, the bell tower will glorify God as a visual, musical, artistic and welcoming beacon to the community.
The beautiful sounds of Immanuel’s bells are now complemented by the music of the new carillon. The carillon is a digitized musical instrument that permits the playing of hundreds of hymns, carols, and other religious songs, as well as seasonal and patriotic songs, in a wide variety of tonal choices. The capacity of the bells is also expanded to include a variety of bell voices such as chimes, peals, tolls, and strikes. The playing of the carillon can be pre-programmed in a variety of ways including a daily, weekly, and seasonal schedule. The music of the carillon will enhance worship services and special events. As well, it is expected that the periodic pealing of the bells and playing of songs will be a blessing to the community surrounding Immanuel.
of Immanuel Lutheran Church
A Description of the New Bell Tower
Immanuel’s bell tower rises a majestic 32 feet into the air and is crowned by the three bells of Swedish and Danish predecessor churches. The tower features, on each of the four sides, a 2x6 foot etched glass liturgical art panel with a burnished aluminum border. These colorful glass panels, which complete the tower as a stunning work of art, glorify God with these verses:
History of Church Bells
Bells have been used in Christian churches since about 400 A.D. Historically, they served as a means to communicate to the townspeople and parishioners, announce the beginning of worship services, and highlight significant religious events. Bells were also used for secular purposes such as keeping time, declaring emergencies, gathering the townspeople for meetings, and announcing special events. Church bells were a means of worship and communications; they were hung in a tower so that the beautiful sounds were audible throughout the small towns. As technology improved the bells became less important for communication purposes, but did not disappear from the landscape. Today, congregations treasure bell towers for a variety of historical and religious reasons. In Immanuel’s case, the congregation chose to build a bell tower to commemorate both the heritage and the future of the church. Church bells have a continued use in religious services and may be used to mark special events such as baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and funerals. The History of Immanuel ’s Bells
• A bell dating from 1899 that was installed at St. Ansgars Lutheran Church at the corner of Olaf and Darwin Streets • A bell dating from 1904 that was installed in the Swedish Lutheran Emanuel Church on Third Avenue • A bell dating from 1976 when a bell in memory of member Harold Egner was added to the other two bells in the tower of Immanuel’s former Linden Street church.
The 2013-2015 Bell Tower and Carillon Project
A Tribute to the Memory of Marliss Myran
When the Immanuel congregation built its new church on Fuller Avenue, it was expected that a new bell tower would be included in the project. When funds were not available, the three bells from the tower of the Linden Street church were stored with the Verdin Company in Ohio where they remained from 2005 to 2015, at which time they were refurbished and installed in Immanuel’s new bell tower.
Marliss Myran made the transition from earthly to heavenly life in July 2013. She loved Immanuel Lutheran Church and her many friends here. For several years, Marliss had a great interest in bringing the three “heritage” bells out of storage and creating a permanent home for them on the Immanuel site. During the last months of her life, she expressed the wish that the Myran and Braaten families would help to make this possible.
During the years that the bells were in storage, Immanuel members maintained a keen interest in “bringing the bells home.” In 2013, a Bell Tower Team was created and a feasibility study conducted. The funding, design, construction, installation, and maintenance of the tower were determined to be feasible. The Bell Tower Team recommendation to implement the bell tower and carillon project was presented to the Church Council and the Immanuel congregation in 2014, and a vote to proceed was obtained. The final team report contained the recommendation that the following principles would guide the design of the bell tower:
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Conveys a dedication to God’s greater honor and glory Reflects the values of our Christian faith, Lutheranism, and Immanuel Lutheran Church Serves as a dramatic visual symbol of Immanuel’s connection to the community Is a dramatic structure that is itself a work of liturgical art Complements the design and materials of the church building Projects a simplicity of form
Funding the Bell Tower and Carillon Project
The Celebrate Immanuel Funds Committee (CIF) was charged with implementing a strategy to fund the bell tower and carillon. The full funding of the project was accomplished through a three-dimensional strategy:
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The Marliss Myran Memorial Fund was created by the Myran family to honor the memory of Gunder’s wife, Marliss. Gunder’s gift to fund the bell tower project was supplemented by gifts to the fund from other members of the Myran and Braaten families, members of Immanuel, and friends from Minnesota, Michigan, and other states. The CIF fund raising campaign, “Ring a Joyful Song,” raised additional funds given by members of the congregation and others. Memorial gifts designated for the bell tower project were given in memory of the loved ones of Immanuel members.
Marliss and Gunder imagined not just an ordinary bell tower, but a beautiful work of art and liturgical expression to the glory of God. Upon her death, the Marliss Myran Memorial Fund was created to advance the bell tower and carillon project. The Myran and Braaten families are deeply grateful to all those who contributed to the Marliss Myran Memorial Fund, the members of the Bell Tower Team, and others who shepherded the project to completion. “To God Alone the Glory!” Marliss loved music and art in many forms, and she was herself a gifted artist, musician, and teacher. She played French horn in the Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota) concert band. She worked as an interior decorator for many years. She had the joy of planning her own dream home at Canadian Lakes. Marliss won state and national awards in clothing construction contests. Some of her quilts and other art objects now hang as treasured keepsakes in the homes of her family and friends. Marliss was involved in planning Immanuel’s Fuller Avenue church. She had a particular interest in designing the steeple as a dramatic religious and artistic statement. She helped with the interior decorating, the design of the kitchen, and the completion of the stained glass windows. Marliss’ wish was that the bell tower be completed, further expressing her love of creating beautiful works of art to the glory of God. May her labors stand as a testament to her blessed life and may God bless her memory.
Thank You Many people merit thanks for their contributions to the funding, design, and building of the bell tower. • Members of the Immanuel Congregation • Contributors to the Marliss Myran Memorial Fund and other bell tower funds • Chad Root -Bell tower team member and general contractor • Bill Ballard - Bell tower team member and project coordinator • Pastor Clay Bates - Bell tower team member • Beth Krueger - Bell tower team member • Doug Haneline - Bell tower team member • Gunder Myran - Bell Tower team chair • Pastors Bob Garrels and Jerry Switzer - Groundbreaking and dedication services • Marlies Manning - Landscape architect • Dawn Carpenter - Artist, design of glass panels • Gary Gerber - Architect • David Murray - FSU Welding instructor—fabrication of the bell tower • FSU Welding Program students - Class of 2015—fabrication of the bell tower • Mike Armato - Electrician • Echo Etching - Etching of glass panels • Verdin Company - Refurbishing of bronze bells, bell-ringing equipment, carillon • Travis Kizer - Engineering support • Bob Krueger - Ring A Joyful Song Campaign • Carol Wilson-Jungck - Ring A Joyful Song Campaign, commemorative brochure • Dedication Preparation - Leah Monger, Linda Greene, Beth Krueger, David Scott, Judy O’dell, Kara Kizer, Mikki Garrels, Carol Wilson-Jungck, and the Church Life Committee.
The Dedication Statement
November 8, 2015 Brothers and Sisters in Christ: We are gathered here on the site of Immanuel’s new bell tower to dedicate this instrument of worship, song, and praise to the glory of God. We are thankful that the “heritage” bells of Immanuel have come home. We are called here today to celebrate our heritage through the hanging of these bells and also to symbolize our faith in Immanuel’s future through the beautiful images and words of the glass panels. We are joyful today that this good work has been completed and will stand as a visual, musical, artistic, and welcoming beacon to the community for decades to come. Heavenly Father, send your blessings upon us and upon this bell tower which we dedicate to Your praise and glory. Enrich the lives of all who hear the ministry of music we now share with the community. Grant us faith to see and hear Your gracious purpose in this beautiful work of art and its chimes and songs. Let the music of the bells and carillon proclaim Your praise to all who hear it. By Your Holy Spirit, let this bell tower enliven the proclamation of Your word, and the building up of Your church, to Your glory and to the good of all Your people. Bell Tower Plaque