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About Us
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Who are we?
Swedeburg Covenant Church, founded in 1876 by Swedish immigrants near Wahoo, Nebraska, began as a small congregation meeting in homes and grew into a vital spiritual and cultural hub for the local Swedish community. Over the years, it evolved from Swedish-language to English-language services, was rebuilt after a fire, changed its name, and joined the Evangelical Covenant Church denomination in the early 1900s. Known for its stunning stained-glass windows and commitment to outreach, the church has welcomed people from all backgrounds and continues to serve Swedeburg, Ceresco, Wahoo, and beyond. Today, it's in a season of growth, living out the belief that faith is best expressed in community, where everyone belongs.
Our Foundational ROOts
Swedeburg Covenant Church is a part of the Evangelical Covenant Church where the vision is to join in God’s mission to see more disciples among more populations in a more caring and just world.
The Evangelical Covenant Church is a rapidly growing multi-ethnic denomination in the United States and Canada with ministries on five continents of the world. Founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants, the Evangelical Covenant Church values the Bible as the Word of God, the gift of God’s grace, an ever-deepening spiritual life that comes through a faith in Jesus Christ, the importance of extending God’s love and compassion to a hurting world, and the strength that comes from unity within diversity.
The Evangelical Covenant Church is:
Evangelical, but not exclusive
Biblical, but not doctrinaire
Traditional, but not rigid
Congregational, but not independent
What we believe can be summed up in our six affirmations:
We affirm the centrality of the word of God.
We affirm the necessity of the new birth.
We affirm a commitment to the whole mission of the church.
We affirm the church as a fellowship of believers.
We affirm a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit.
We affirm the reality of freedom in Christ.
We are a part of the Midwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, which consists of 94 churches and fellowship groups. This growing movement of God’s Covenant people spans Western Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming.
Worship rhythms
We meet for Gathered Worship on Sunday Mornings at 10:30 a.m. During Gathered Worship, we are intentionally intergenerational and offer a children's message during the service for those in the 5th Grade and younger.
At Swedeburg Covenant Church, we embrace a blended worship style, drawing inspiration from both the richness of historic, liturgical traditions and the vibrancy of modern worship expressions. Our services might include hymns alongside contemporary songs, Scripture readings, and reflective prayers, all woven together to invite people of all ages into meaningful worship.
We're a casual, come-as-you-are community where you don’t have to dress up or have it all together to feel welcome. Our messages are deeply rooted in the Bible and invite people to live out their faith every day—not just on Sunday mornings.
We believe generosity flows from a life transformed by Christ. That’s why we don’t pressure anyone to give. Instead, we trust God to provide for our mission through the faithful, generous living of those who call Swedeburg home.
On Sunday evenings during the school year, 7-9th grade students meet for Confirmation. Also, during the school year, all kids and youth meet at the UMC church for Children's and Youth Ministry.
Meet Pastor Tamara
Pastor Tamara serves as the solo lead pastor of Swedeburg Covenant Church and holds a Master’s degree in Spiritual Formation from North Park Theological Seminary. Her ministry and leadership experience spans women’s ministry within the Midwest Conference and the Evangelical Covenant Church, as well as worship, youth, and camping ministry. She helped write the Safe Sanctuaries Curriculum and is currently working on a book addressing the unique challenges and opportunities facing rural congregations.
An advocate for rural ministry and the pastors who serve in town and country settings, Tamara recently joined the ECC’s Town and Country Commission and is passionate about helping ministry leaders cultivate healthy, sustainable lives rooted in Christ. She developed Well Tended out of a desire to help pastors move beyond good intentions and create intentional rhythms that nurture the life of the pastor and the ministry that flows from it.
Tamara is married to Bryce, and together they are raising two daughters. Their family is being formed through adoption, with the adoption of their daughters expected to be finalized in November. Tamara treasures the ordinary rhythms of family life and loves music, football, fall campfires, a good hoodie, and finding practical ways to meet real needs of those around her.
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