Rejoicing in Our Present: Nancy Sveden
If you have entered the doors of Brewster Baptist Church, you have likely seen and been welcomed by the warm smile and laughter of Nancy Sveden.
Nancy shared the following story about first coming to BBC in the mid-1970s, after visiting a few other churches with her family:
“We went to Brewster Baptist when it was still upstairs in the old church. Pastor Don Mills was preaching and there was a good-sized choir up there, but they hadn’t sung yet. Pastor Don started to do the sermon and Jackie Price (pictured 5th from the right in the front row) stood up and she said, ‘Excuse me, Don, but would you like the choir to sing the anthem, or shall we just forget it today?’ Everybody laughed, and I thought, this is the place for me.”
Soon after she began attending BBC, Nancy joined the church choir which was under the direction of Esther Galbraith. At that time there were over forty people who sang in the choir, and she has enjoyed being a part of the choir ever since.
She was also a member of the original praise and worship team, formed in 2000 under the direction of Pastor Kip Mickelson.
In November of 1981, Pastor Don Mills shared that God directed the congregation to employ Nancy Sveden as the church’s first youth and young adult worker.
For the next 19 years, Nancy would lead students in fun Youth Group meetings, sponsoring Compassion International children, serving at nursing homes, participating in retreat weekends at Grotonwood, going on countless ski trips and whitewater rafting trips, taking part in Growl for Hunger weekends, and serving on a mission trip to Neon, KY.
Nancy has many favorite Youth Group memories.
When she first started, her daughter, Marta, was around 14 years old and part of the Youth Group.
Nancy took them all skiing.
A few of the kids on the trip had never been skiing before, so Nancy kept making Marta fall down and get up, fall down and get up, over and over again, so the other kids could learn how to do it.
Marta shared a story about a Growl for Hunger (the students would fast for 30 hours). Nancy decided to do an experiment for the dinner at the end of the fast to demonstrate how people felt in developing countries. She had a hat with tickets in it. There were just a few green tickets that allowed the student an extravagant meal – a pork chop, baked potato, salad and dessert. Many more blue tickets promised a meal of noodles, sauce and bread. Finally, there were a few black tickets and those people were only given pumpernickel bread. To the amusement of Marta, she got a green ticket, and her mom (Nancy) got a black one, and sat beside her eating her pumpernickel bread.
One year, the Youth Group served a Roast Beef dinner as a fundraiser for one of their trips in what is now Community Hall.
Nancy was talking to someone at one of the tables and looked up to see two of the teenage boys in a wheelchair riding down the ramp from the Sanctuary.
Also, during these years, Nancy, a regular participant in musical theater, was the director for the annual Children’s Christmas pageant and she made Sharon Linnell (Kautz) the “little girl” each year (long after she was no longer “little”).
Every year there was a marvelous production. Kids were encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and become a star for a night. Nancy would also choreograph a sacred dance for the girls of the Youth Group to share during those evenings.
The funny stories with Nancy are endless, as anyone who knows her can attest, but her time as Youth Group Director was incredibly meaningful to all who were a part of it.
Sharon Kautz reached out to her former students and shared the following at the service celebrating Nancy’s retirement as Youth Director on June 4, 2000:
“As I thought about what to say today, I read through the letters that I have received from past and present youth group members. I decided that they have said it best, so I have taken lines from our letters to share our experiences with Nancy –
‘Anyone who had Nancy as an influence growing up should consider themselves truly fortunate.’
‘She brought the meaning of God closer into focus for all of us, and she was an example of love and faith.’
‘The lives she has touched have been many.’
‘Nancy has done so much, not just for me but for everyone.’
‘She’s always been someone I could talk to.’
‘I couldn’t think of a better youth director – she’s patient, understanding and good with kids of all ages.’
‘Not only did she teach us about the Bible, but she taught us how to work as a group, have fun and experience life.’
‘My spirituality, moral conscience, and sense of teamwork are all rooted in the BBYF.’
‘Whenever I think back to all the trips we took and all the times she put up with all of us kids, doing all sorts of immature things, I am in awe of the patience you had.’
‘Nancy showed us God’s love and led us down the right path living our teenage years as Christians.’
‘I believe that God sees through our hands and through Nancy I think He sees a beautiful world.’
‘Nancy was a very positive influence in my life throughout high school, and you still are today.’
‘I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without Nancy there as a shepherd guiding all of us naïve sheep.’
‘Nancy makes everyone feel like they have someone.’
‘I can always replace the material things in my life, but the thanks and love I have for Nancy can never be replaced.’
‘Thank you for the many years that you were my leader and teacher. Thank you even more for the years since that you’ve been my friend.’”
In the nearly twenty-five years since retiring as Youth Group Director, Nancy has kept herself busy in many other ways serving others here at BBC. Every year, she gathers a faithful group of women for a fun couple of “Dip Days” when they make the seafood dips that Nancy and her husband, Ron, made at their “Sveds” fish market to sell at the Annual Holiday Fair. For many years, she was the Connecting Core Ministry Leader. She loved calling all the people who turned in visitor cards, greeting people on Sunday mornings, and helping many people through the new member process.
Nancy also leads a weekly Bible Study of women on Tuesday afternoons. They have a great time together, growing in their faith and sharing many laughs.
This year, Nancy has been an active member of our Bicentennial Team, helping us to celebrate our 200th Anniversary. She shared how much she loves BBC because there is so much joy and laughter and she is so thankful to be a part of it all. And we are so thankful for Nancy!