Window to the past

Elizabeth Ekdale and Christian Jennert, pastors of St. Mark Lutheran Church, San Francisco, uncover papers from a time capsule sealed in 1863. Inside a copper strongbox found this summer during renovation of the church were newspapers, a hymnal, a catechism, church documents and a silver half dollar. St. Mark was founded in 1849 and is known to be the oldest Lutheran congregation west of the Mississippi River. The time capsule is more than just an interesting piece of San Francisco's history, said Barbara Engmann, St. Mark's president. "This capsule is from the congregation's past," she said. "This is their hope and their faith for the future."

Copyright Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Jan 2006
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