Hamlet Union Church celebrating 100 years

Hamlet Union Church in Hamlet will be celebrating its 100th anniversary Sunday, June 13.
Activities will begin Saturday with a float in the parade at Palisade’s Pioneer Days.
Activities on Sunday will start with the worship service at 10:45 a.m. CT. Several former pastors will be sharing, and there will be singing of favorite old hymns.
There will be a lunch at noon and everyone is invited.
At 1:30 p.m. CT attendees will enjoy a time of reflection and “remember when,” and conclude the afternoon with anniversary cake and visiting.
Many changes have taken place over the past 100 years since the Hamlet Union Church was organized.
In the early 1900s, homesteaders were moving into the valley. The village of Hamlet was prospering and people gathered at the school to worship God. It became evident that the community needed a church building.
In July 1920, William Rutherford gave ground to build the church. Rutherford donated the ground with the understanding that the church would be called Hamlet Union Church, union meaning “a group together” for a special purpose. It was also understood that it was to be an independent, nondenominational church.
Basement excavation began in August 1920 and the church was completed 10 months later in June 1921.
The church was affiliated with the American Sunday School Union.
Pastors, or missionaries as they were then called, traveled a circuit to hold services, sometimes staying a month at a time.
Brother Don Duncan, an evangelist, helped organize the church and held its first services June 2-5, 1921.
Mrs. Frank Graves wrote, “There was the biggest baptismal service ever held in western Nebraska when 69 were baptized at this time with a number joining the church.”
In the mid-1930s the church reorganized.
Since it was a nondenominational church, it was hard to get pastors. It became apparent the church needed to affiliate to some extent with a church organization to get a pastor.
This was when the church became affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. It continues this affiliation to this day.
After continued growth, in 1994, it was decided it was time for an expansion. The new facility was constructed to the south of the original sanctuary.
The expansion included a new sanctuary, restrooms, kitchen facilities and pastor’s office. The original sanctuary became the fellowship hall. The digging for the new facility’s basement began in September 1995.
The first service in the new addition was held April 28, 1996.
Dedication was held May 26, 1996 in conjunction with the church’s 75th anniversary.
At this time the church is between pastors, but many activities are still occurring, including Sunday school classes for all ages, Sunday morning service, weekly Bible study and prayer time, youth group, vacation Bible school, Alliance women and MOPS.
Missions also continue to be a big part of the church’s ministry.