Hartland Ev. Lutheran Church dedicates new classroom addition

The members of Hartland Ev. Lutheran Church in Hartland, Minnesota dedicated a new classroom addition to their worship facility on Sunday, September 10th, during the Sunday morning worship service. The ceremony of dedication, led by Pastor Dennis Schmidt, was held as the congregation and visitors were gathered on the lawn adjacent to the addition itself. It was concluded with the singing of the Doxology of praise to the Triune God, in recognition of His blessings in this addition. 

The two-story structure features an upper floor with conference room and a new pastor's office with a closet for supplies. The lower story has an open classroom area, which may in the future be divided into more classroom space and a storage room.

An elevator makes the entire worship facility accessible for the physically challenged, a feature desired by the congregation for many years.

Extensive remodeling was done in the main church entryway, the stairwells, the dining room and the balcony. Tiling to facilitate drainage was installed the entire church and addition. A brick and rock landscaping border and a beautiful retaining wall near the entrance completed the project.

The construction was designed to be highly energy efficient, with steel reinforced concrete walls, multiple layers of ceiling insulation, steel roof and tube floor heating. The vast majority of the work was donated, with the result that the facility was debt-free at its dedication.

Pastor Alexander Ring Installed at Lakewood

Installation of Pastor Alexander Ring took place at Lakewood Lutheran Church of Tacoma, Washington took place on Sunday, September 10th at a 4:00 pm service. For many years Lakewood was served part-time by the Rev. John Schmidt, a retired pastor living in Parkland. Installed was the Rev. Alexander Ring, who had been associate pastor at Parkland Lutheran Church. The Rev. Anthony Pittenger preached and performed the rite of installation. His sermon text was Matthew 11:2-10. Vicar Dale Jaech served as liturgist and the Reverends Timothy Bartels and Joel Nitz (WELS) were lectors. The Rev. Steven Brockdorf also participated in the service. A reception was held after the service.

PHOTO CAPTION: (From left to right): Vicar Dale Jaech, and pastors Anthony Pittenger, Alexander Ring, Timothy Bartels, Steven Brockdorf, Joel Nitz (WELS).

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Celebrates 50th Anniversary

On October 8, 2006 members and friends of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Weston, Ohio joined to celebrate fifty years of God’s grace as a congregation. The Reverend Richard Fyffe, former pastor, was the guest preacher who spoke on Hebrews 13; his theme was, “The God of Peace Has Equipped You to Do His Will.” The Rev. John Merseth Sr., the current pastor, conducted the liturgy, and the Rev. Ken Mellon served as the lector. A meal was served after the service.

Grace Lutheran congregation began in November of 1956 with ten charter communicant members and their children. They first worshiped in the Legion hall and then in the school. On November 30th of that year they bought a former Presbyterian church which had been closed and was being used to store hay and straw. With hours of hard work they were able to prepare the first floor of the building so that worship service could be held there and by December 23, 1956 they held Sunday school and worship service for the first time. That evening the first Sunday school Christmas program was held. By September 29 the following year the second floor nave was completely renovated and the church was dedicated to the glory of God.

God’s abundant blessings have truly been bestowed upon Grace Lutheran Church. Let us never cease to thank and praise Him for His great goodness.