Written by Phil Wala

Throughout Hennepin’s 150-year history, the second week of August has been a “slow news week.” So instead of reviewing newspaper headlines, we are going to share one of the 16mm films we recently had scanned.

During 1975, as the church celebrated its centennial, much attention was paid to the concept of time, and how we use the time allotted to us. In keeping with that theme, the Theatre Arts Committee created a multimedia presentation called Twenty-Six Thousand Days that used slides, film clips, music, and narration to explore the concept of time. (26,000 days was the approximate life expectancy in 1975.) The multimedia event was recorded on a reel of 16mm film, which we recently had scanned.

The presentation was created and written by Paul Eide and Bill Steinbrecker. Ruth Adams was Talent Coordinator, music was written by Steve Blons with lyrics by Rodgers Adams,  Nan Kraehling directed, and narration was by Nan’s husband, long-time WCCO-TV weatherman Bud Kraehling.

The presentation debuted in January 1975, and was repeated on Sunday, April 13, 1975. On that day, designated “Hennepin Sunday,” the entire day was devoted to the concept of time. Throughout the afternoon and early evening, seminars were presented by Hennepin pastors and lay people on subjects such as “The Old Testament and Time”, “Mother Nature and Time,” “Music History,” and “Intentional Living,” The seminars were held throughout the building at various times, and participants could choose their own curriculum.

See the bulletin describing the events of “Hennepin Sunday” and listing the full credits for Twenty-Six Thousand Days > > > HERE

View, for the first time in 50 years, the 16mm filmed version of Twenty-Six Thousand Days > > > HERE