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The
60th Anniversary BookletSunday, May 21, 1950 In addition to the history printed below, this 60th Anniversary Booklet also included the Services for both the Morning "Anniversary Service" and "Afternoon Service" The six stanzas of the poem "O Church of God Triumphantt" by Ralph Harlow are printed on the inside back cover. There are screened illustrations of Rev. L.C. Johnson, Rev. H.L. Woelber, and Pioneer S. Schaal, Sr. The services included the morning sermon given by Rev. H. Woelber. The afternoon service included special music numbers by Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Goodland, Kansas; St. John Lutheran Church in Bird City, Kansas; Salem Lutheran Church in St. Francis, Kansas; St. Paul Lutheran Church in Burlington, Colorado; and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bethune. Dr. Fritschel gave the afternoon sermon and Rev. Woelber gave the German Sermon. |
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Sixty years ago, in the spring of 1890, several families moved
from Scotland, South Dakota, and settled in the community
which they called the "Settlement," about 18 miles northwest
of Burlington. Small adobe houses and barns were erected,
patches of ground were put under cultivation, and this group
of people looked expectantly into the future.
Love of Christ and His Church has been deeply ingrained into the souls of these people. After a short while, because they had no pastor, they began to meet in the house of Christian Dobler, for "Lesegottesdienst" or reading services. The fathers Dobler and Strobel usually alternated at leading these services. People nearly always walked to attend these Church meetings. But reading services alone did not satisfy these early pioneers. There were children to be baptized, and they longed very much for the blessings of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. So they called on Rev. D. Maier, who served a congregation about 12 miles northeast of them and also one at Idalia, to come to minister to them. He was able to serve them every third Sunday, the Sundays in between being filled with the usual reading services. In the fall of 1892 a couple more families moved into their
group, and Rev. A. Leupp was called to serve the congregation.
During the spring of 1893, decision was made to build a new
Church, whose measurements were to be 24x40x10. Because it was
to be built out of rock, each married family was required to
get eight loads of rock and each single man had to get four
loads. Mr. Dobler was the
carpenter, and all of the work was given as donation. In
October of that year the Church was dedicated. Then, because
Rev. Leupp left the field, Rev. G. Janssen was asked to serve
them every third Sunday. He remained until May, 1903, and was
succeeded by Rev. R. Ackerman, who was installed in the early
part of August. He remained as Pastor of the congregation
until May 1906. Rev. A. Stein then served until July 1909.
Rev. M. Jensen then was call ed and he remained until 1912. In
the spring of 1913, the Church bought its first organ. Rev. N. Brun served our Settlement Congregation from 1913 until the fall of 1915, when he was succeeded by Rev. G. Adolf. He remained with the congregation until the fall of 1921. Upon his leaving, Rev. O. Kloeckner was called. During the pastorate of
Rev. Kloeckner, a new Church was
built. This building is our present Church. It was a building
32x60 with a steeple 55 feet high, erected at a cost of $7500.
With the unity and cooperation of the congregation and of many
in the community, the entire building cost was paid upon the
day of dedication. Much credit goes to
Rev. O. Kloeckner who gave untiringly of his
efforts in seeing that all necessary things were done.
Dedication day for this Church was September 26, 1926. Rev. Kloeckner resigned his charge on the last Sunday in November, 1928. Succumbing to ill health, he passed from this life on August 17 1931, at the age of 74 years. After the resignation of Rev. Kloeckner, the Church was without a pastor until January, 1930, when Rev. H. L. Woelber, now of Loveland, Colorado, accepted the call. He served long and faithfully, through bad times and good, and through the time of the Second World War, until he received a call to Loveland, Colorado, that he felt inclined to accept. He left for Loveland at the beginning of the year 1947. In February, 1947, Rev. L. Johnson was installed as pastor,
following Rev. H. Woelber. He is still serving the
congregation at the time of this anniversary service. The
Church, under the guidance of God, is progressing normally. Immanuel's Lutheran Church has one son in the active ministry. He is Rev. E. Stolz, now located at Lincoln, Nebraska. There are three young men of the congregation in college studying for the Holy Ministry at the present time. They are: Ivan Amman, Everett Adolf, and Henry Stolz. May the gracious guidance of God be with all these sons of the congregation. The first child born into this congregation was
A. W. Adolf, born in May 1890.
He is still active in the congregation and has reared a family
in this Church. The first couple married were
Matthies Schaal and
Eva Baltzer in November, 1891.
The first person buried from this church was
Daniel Adolf, son of
August Adolf, Sr., in the summer
of 1892. Samuel Schaal, Sr., was one of the early settlers that came here from South Dakota. He came about a year after the first group arrived. We honor him today as being the oldest charter member of our congregation. He served actively during these many years, and his face is still a familiar sight every Sunday morning. Until the present pastorate, he served at least part time as treasurer of the Church under every Pastor. May God be praised that we have such an example of active faith in our midst! Of interest also is the fact that Mr. Schaal's wife, Dorothea, who has faithfully stood beside him for more than fifty years, is the only member left in our Church who was confirmed on Palm Sunday, 1894--the first class in the new Rock Church of that day. Statistical reports taken from the records of the Church show that in these 60 years. 592 have been brought to their Lord and Savior through Baptism, 301 have stood before the altar in Confirmation, 64 marriages were solemnized, and 125 people were laid to their resting place in death. Thanks be to God for all of these truly Christian ministrations. At the present time there are fifty active families that belong to the congregation, which total 198 souls. Church services are held in the English language every Sunday morning at 9:30. The active Sunday School, under the leadership of Buddy Schlichenmayer, totals 50 in its membership, and meets every Sunday at 10:30. A fine ladies Missionary Society has been organized in the past few years, and it is very active in studying and helping the Mission program of the American Lutheran Church. This Society numbers 32 in membership. The Luther League, a group of young men and women, meet twice every month and have a varied and interesting program, including planned recreation and refreshments. They number 26. A choir of approximately 26 voices practice and sing for most special occasions and special seasons of the Church. There are six men on the General Council of the Church. Mr. J. Hasart is the chairman of this Council and of the congregation. It is of special interest that Immanuel's Lutheran Church of Bethune is the oldest active American Lutheran Church in the state of Colorado. The Central District of the A. L. C., of which Colorado is a part, will memorialize this special 60th Anniversary with a suitable plaque for our Church, and it will be presented when it has been completed. Our Lord Jesus Christ, Head of the Church, has lead our congregation these 60 years through joy and sorrow, through progress and adversity. May all glory and honor be to His most holy name! |
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