Sunday morning, Glennys Knutson stood before the congregation at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, and spoke of coming to see Jesus.

Monday, March 29, 1999

Sunday morning, Glennys Knutson stood before the congregation at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, and spoke of coming to see Jesus. Many of the people there were coming to see Knutson for the 47th straight Palm Sunday.

"I never thought 50 years could pass so fast," mused Knutson the Friday before, and that’s what it was, his 50th Palm Sunday service, 47 of which had been celebrated in Austin.

Though Knutson is officially retired, and has been for the last decade or so, he has been continuing to celebrate the occasional service at Our Saviors – the church he founded – as well as doing interim pastorships at other churches.

"You never completely retire," he said.

Knutson, who is 77, marks his 50th year of ordination as well, this year, and though this was most likely his last Palm Sunday service, he had much to look forward in doing it.

"There are still a number of charter members who helped found this church. We’ll see how many are there on Palm Sunday."

"It’ll be great to see those people again," he said.

Knutson, when younger, entertained ideas of doing things other than serving in the church.

"I really felt a calling though," he said. "I couldn’t get away from the fact that this is the place I thought I should be."

He served three years in churches in Iowa, then was called to found a church in Austin.

"For the first six weeks I was here, I did nothing but go from door to door."

He rounded up enough people to found the church, which started off small. The church went through several growth stages from there, from being held first in the Sterling Theater to moving into the first unit of the church. Since then there have been chances to the building and changes to the people who preach within it. Most of these things have pleased Knutson over the years.

"I’m really pleased with the pastors who are here now," he said. "They’re a dedicated group with the welfare of the church at heart."

Life has changed since the church was first founded, Knutson said, acknowledging that there is more competition for the time of his parishioners. Still, he takes great pride in the church and its accomplishments, and sees it as having a good future.

Knutson and his wife, Margaret have four daughters. His granddaughter, Kaia Voelker, is the director of education for his church, too, a fact which brings a look of immeasurable pride to his face. All of these people were there on Sunday, a fact that clearly made him very happy.

"The whole family will be there," he said, smiling at his wife. "Of course, we think of the church as our family too, and not one over the other."

On Sunday, Knutson called upon the founding members to stand during the service. Close to 20 did, exchanging smiles with the pastor who founded their church.

On Friday, Knutson noted that all he’d be doing in this service was preaching.

"Fifty years on one text is a lot," he said with a chuckle. "I still find things there I haven’t seen before. Still, I think this will be the last one."

"It’s been a real privilege for me, and now it’s time for the privilege to go to someone else."