Celebrating a century!

This coming Sunday, we will be celebrating the 100th birthday of Hazel Torgerson.  Hazel is a founding member of St. Andrew's Church, has been deeply devoted to this church family for all of its' existence, and her name is engraved on this plaque that most of us pass by every Sunday.

As you can see, Hazel served as the Clerk of Session when the sanctuary was dedicated, half a lifetime (for her, at least) ago.  

What a legacy for Hazel, and what a fantastic opportunity we have as a church family to celebrate life!

It is our honor to celebrate such an incredible milestone.  And it is mind-blowing for me to consider the significance of 1 century of life.  I don't know if every century feels this way about itself, but I can't imagine that many centuries have seen the transformation that our world has seen during Hazel's lifetime.

Consider some of these facts from the year of Hazel's birth.
- The telephone was invented.
- Automobiles were becoming widely available, with the 1 millionth Ford car rolling off the assembly line in December, and the transcontinental Lincoln Highway completed.
- Sears and Roebuck began selling showers as indoor plumbing became commonplace, at least in urban areas.
- There were just over 100 million people in the United States.  Today there are over 316 million.
- The House of Representatives rejected a bill that would give women the right to vote.

From transportation to communications to indoor plumbing, our world has been transformed, and Hazel has been there to see it all.  What a joy it will be to celebrate her life!