Allamakee co. IAGenWeb - Church Records

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
1867-1992

With the flood of immigrants that settled in the Lansing area in the late 1950s [sic - 1850s] came several Norwegian families. As they settled in, making their homes in the new world, these families recognized the need for a Lutheran congregation in Lansing. With the help of Rev. O.J. Hjort, who was serving the East and West Paint Creek parishes at that time, they set out to build their church.

After years of groundwork, the congregation was officially organized as the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lansing on June 12, 1867. Rev. Hjort was called to serve as the first pastor, hired at a salary of $16.25 a year.

Services for the first five and one-half years were held in St. Luke's Episcopal Church. But on April 23, 1868, the people's dream came closer to realization with the purchase of two lots that would be the site of their new church. By the end of the year the foundation was laid.

Rev. Hjort visited Norway in the late 1860s, and when he returned to his congregation he brought a gift for the new church, a silver communion plate and chalice. Inscribed onto the altar set, which the church still has today, is the date '1869', and a bible verse, I Corinthians, 10:16.

Also brought from Norway in 1869, and still used in the church today, is the right-hand altar candlestick holder; the left-hand candlestick holder was later made here to match it.

Financial difficulties hit hard in the New World during the next few years, and a lack of funds forced work on the church building to come to a standstill until 1872. But in the spring of that year, the final work was begun. As construction of the church structure came to a completion on August 15, 1872, a gold dollar was placed in the cap stone. There it remains today.

The first service was held in the new church on December 8 of that year, but their was still much work to be done. The exterior was bricked three years later, during the summer of 1875. And it was nearly three years after that, on March 27, 1878, that dedication services were held. Rev. Nils Brandt, a pioneer pastor in this area, was the guest speaker.

Under Rev. Hjort's leadership, the first organization, a sewing circle, was formed on January 22, 1875. In 1887, a Ladies Aid was organized by 32 women. Their first task was to raise money for an organ and a carpet.

Rev. Hjort continued to serve as pastor of the church until his death in 1880.

A youth group was organized with 15 members in 1897, during the pastorage of Rev. S.J. Gronlid. Together with the Ladies Aid, they raised funds fo a bell, which was hung in 1901, and which today still rings ever Sunday morning to announce services.

Another early part of church history continues to hang above the altar yet today. In the late 1800s, an altar painting of the crucifixion was done by Herbjorn Gausta, a pioneer artist in this area who would come to be known as the first professional artist in America of Norwegian immigrant origin.

Rev. R.H. Wareburg came to serve the parishes in 1920, and it was during his tenure that the first services were held in English, and an English language Sunday School was begun. Rev. Wareburg wouldalternate between the languages, having a service in Norwegian once a month.

The Great Depression and the war years were hard on the church. The congregation almost ceased to exist between 1938 and 1945, during which time there was no pastor. After World War II, new life came to the church. With help from the larger church body, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, a pastor, Rev. Russel Helgesen was called to serve. Development of the church began anew at a rapid pace.

On October 7, 1945, the cornerstone was laid for the parish house. The materials came from the fomer Faegre Prairie Church building, whose congregation had merged with them over 20 years before. The kitchen and sacristy were also built then. They were dedicated on Pentecost, June 9, 1946.

In 1947 the name of the church was changed to Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, though over the years the spelling has modernized to Our Savior's. During those post-war years, the congregation went from Home Mission Aid to self support. A parsonage was purchased in 1948 and a one-point pastorate was maintained through 1957.

In 1958, Our Savior's was joined with Waterville Lutheran Church, to form a two-point paish, which has continued until the present time.

Pastors

Rev. O.J. Hjort, 1867-1879
Rev. H.A. Hartman, 1880-1895, when he left for Norway

Rev. C.J.M. Gronlid, 1897-1920
Rev. R.H. Wareburg, 1920-1938
Rev. Russell B. Helgeson, 1945-1948
Dr. T.A. Hoff, 1948
Rev. Jacob H. Preus, 1948-1957, grandson of Rev. Hjort

Rev. Oradell Nordness, 1958-1963
Rev. Robert W. Matthias, 1963-1966
Rev. Ronald Brugger, 1966-1973
Rev. Roger Zieg, 1973-1976
Rev. Herbert C. Hanson, 1977-1980
Rev. Terry Johnson, 1980-1986
Rev. Debra von Fischer & Rev. Peter Samuelson, 1987-1991
Rev. Kim Thacker, 1992-present (1992)

~Allamakee Journal, Wednesday, September 23, 1992, pg 16 & 17
~transcribed by S. Ferrall

DEDICATION

The ceremonies incident to the dedication of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church took place on Wednesday, per announcement, and were conducted by Rev. N. Brandt, of Decorah, assisted by Rev. T.O. Juve, of West Prairie, Wis., Rev. Larson, of Spring Grove, Minn., and the pastor, Rev. O.J. Hjort. In the afternoon Rev. Juve preached a sermon in English.

The church, situated on Diagonal street, is 32X50 feet in size, and has cost about $5,000, all of which has been paid except about $500. The building will seat about 400 persons, and is comfortably and neatly furnished.

The congregation is not large, and the members are entitled to much credit for their successful and indelatigable efforts in completing the structure, the corner stone of which was laid in August, 1872.

~Lansing Mirror, Friday, March 29, 1878; pg 3
~transcribed by S. Ferrall

To Celebrate 125th Anniversary
by Barbara K. Cain

Drawing of the church that was published with the article.

For 125 years Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Lansing, has existed to serve the spiritual needs of its congregation.

Over the decades, the church has grown and developed; today its influence is carried beyond the local community and its mission reaches world-wide.

"There have been many changes through the years," said Rev. Kim Thacker, the current pastor of Our Savior's. "But hrough all that time, the most important part of the church hasn't changed. The main thing is - the church is still here and the rites administered."

The approximately 60 family units that make up the congregation of Our Savior's today are a distince feature of the church, said Pastor Thacker. They are a new congregation, a rare exception, especially in the Lutheran church, where tradition keeps the family coming to the same church for generations.

Many new Lansing families, including a number of retirees that have moved into the local community, make up today's dedicated congregation of Our Savior's.

The church's ethnic beginnings have evolved over the years into a congregation of American people of many backgrounds, though, said Pastor Thacker, "we still pretend to be Norwegian on occasion, right down to our Austrian hardanger fiddle player."

Music is a big part of the church's identity today. The small congregation offers a great deal of musical talent and diversity, its choir and instrumentalists reknowned throughout the community. Unique to a church of its size, much of the musical accompaniment is done on a pipe organ, purchased in the late 1960s. The organ was built in 1941 in Kansas, by the Reuter Organ Company.

In recent years, the church's musical leader and organist, Lynn Feuerhelm, has taken the musical program beyond denominational lines to the community. There it has grown and expanded with the talents of members of other local churches into a program called the "Midweek Musical Offering", an ecumenical service of classical and reigious music that is preparing for its 5th season.

A small, but active group, the members of Our Savior's have not only supported the local church community, but reach out in world-wide mission programs. The Ladies Aid efforts continue with the Women of ELCA. The two circles of the womens' group have soap and quilt making projects, along with offering support to the Allamakee County food shelf and the local Meals on Wheels program. One of the circles also has a "box project" through with care packages are sent to a different needy family each year.

A two-point parish was formed with Waterville Lutheran Church in 1958, and the two churches work closely together under the pastorship of Rev. Thacker. Almost very Sunday for 125 years, interrupted only during wartie, the people of Our Savior's Lutheran Church have gathered for worship. Services now are held on a rotating schedule with Waterville Lutheran.

~Allamakee Journal, Wednesday, September 23, 1992, pgs 1 & 32
~transcribed by S. Ferrall