Reference number = E-11260453d1151
Data compiled by Udo Momma. (deceased)
Data contributed by Frederick Roberts Reenstjerna. (deceased)
Henry Reenstjerna, 77
SUN CITY ---- Henry W. Reenstjerna, 77, died Friday, May 26, 2006.
Born Oct. 12, 1928, in Brooklyn N.Y., he lived in Sun City for 18 years. He received a master's degree in divinity and was a parish minister for 41 years. He was a member of the Sun City Kiwanis, Trinity Lutheran Church in Hemet and the Players Club of Sun City. He was a convocator at California Lutheran University in Thousands Oaks for 20 years. He was a volunteer for the Great program at Ridgemoor Elementary School.
The Rev. Reenstjerna was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Edna Reenstjerna. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Patricia Reenstjerna of Sun City; daughters Kristin Reenstjerna of Naperville, Ill., and Karen Reenstjerna of Modesto; and four grandchildren.
Visitation is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at Miller-Jones Mortuary & Crematory in Sun City. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, June 9, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hemet. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Menifee Valley Memorial Park in Sun City.
The family suggests donations to Central City Lutheran Mission, 1354 North G. St., San Bernardino, CA 92408, in memory of the Rev. Henry W. Reenstjerna.
Miller-Jones is handling arrangements.
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From the History of Elim Lutheran Church
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http://www.elimlutheran.org/history/history.htm]
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Transitions in Church and Community
Pastor Henry W. Reenstjerna of Brooklyn, New York, who had been serving a church in Altadena, California, accepted Elim's call in August of 1973 and arrived to take up his duties on December 1. Since he preferred to build a home, the parsonage was sold. Through most of the Reenstjerna years there was a gradual decline in membership as the congregation grew older and the surrounding downtown neighborhood began to decline. However, income continued to increase to about $120,000 annually in 1987 and 1988, the congregation began a restoration program to fund badly needed capital improvements. The sanctuary was completely remodeled in 1987 and other major and minor renovations plans completed. Again, the men of the congregation did much of the work.
In the late 1970s, Elim's congregational president, Rollin Boe, was elected to the Synod Council of the Pacific Southwest Synod of the Lutheran Church in America.
Pastor Reenstjerna and the congregation continued to support many of the social ministry initiatives begun during the Paulsen years and added others like SHARE, a community food program for the needy, and the Battered Women's Shelter. In 1984, Elim opened its doors for a neighborhood after school program for latchkey children, fittingly called the Oasis Program and called Deaconess Karen McClendon to lead this ministry.
There was also the development and cementing of ecumenical relationships with other congregations, particularly Good Shepherd Episcopal and St. Joseph's Catholic Churches. Together, these churches support needed community services like St. Anne's Center that provides meals, clothing, shelter, education and job placement for the homeless. They have also joined together for Lutheran/Roman Catholic dialogs, Lenten classes and services as well as Vacation Bible Schools.
In January, 1988, Utah Lutherans gathered at St. Joseph's Catholic Church to celebrate the national merger that united the American Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church in America and Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches to become the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Elim became a part of the Rocky Mountain Synod of the ELCA.
Elim member Shirley Ash was appointed to the Outdoor Ministry Commission and the Minority Affairs Commission of the Synod, and Elim member David Thomas was appointed to the Inclusiveness Commission.
Pastor Reenstjerna instituted several adult courses including one that was particularly helpful to members who felt they needed to know more about comparisons between the Lutheran and Mormon faiths. He developed a curriculum called "Apologetics" that proved helpful in greatly lessening the minority complex that plagues so many non-Mormons in the land of "Zion".
In the summer of 1988, Pastor Reenstjerna was called to lead a congregation in the retirement community of Sun City, California. They left Elim that August after serving for 14 years and nine months, the longest ministry in Elim's history at that time.
Possible living individual, birth date and location removed!