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The erection of the new St. Paul's Lutheran Church presents a spirit of cooperation and unity amongst a group of people that is seldom paralleled. Truly, the "help your brother" spirit, prevalent in this part of the West, found real and purposeful expression in completing this endeavor. On Sunday, April 6, 1947, a special meeting of St. Paul's congregation was held to determine the type of building the people wished for their new church. After deliberation, it was decided to build a modified Spanish Mission style, one that would be in harmony with the nature of this territory, and fitting the general pattern of the buildings of the city of Burlington. After engaging an architect from Denver, and studying the plans which he submitted, the congregation found that to let a contract on such a building as they desired would be a financial impossibility, and that some other plan would have to be adopted. So a plan was promoted whereby each member would give an average of three days every two weeks in voluntary labor to the church and work was begun on August 18, 1947. Progress continued through the winter months and into the spring. About eight weeks prior to this dedication day, the congregation set Sunday, May 9, as their goal for completion. The work schedule was re-emphasized and a night shift put on who would work until nearly 11:00 o'clock every night. The women of the church deserve great credit, because they worked also, putting in long hours. Without their help the completion date would have to have been postponed several months. Faithfulness marks the work done here. God will reward all who sacrificed time and money to make this church building a possibility. To give the public an idea of how large an undertaking this was and what a real sacrifice was made to St. Paul's, a time record was kept of the number of days worked. This record now reveals that a total of 1,589 man-days of labor and 113 evenings were given. The furniture of the church represents a great deal of work. The alter, pulpit, lecturn, kneeling rail, and pews were all made on the job. Solid oak was brought in by our own men, having to secure it from the oak forests of Arkansas. The planing, sawing, laminating, gluing and pressing, sanding, and finishing was all done in the church basement. The spirit of the congregation has attracted the eye of the community, gained the well wishes of all with whom they came into contact, and has been instrumental in adding substantially to St. Paul's membership. To all people, first
those of St. Paul's, who have been so faithful and have given so much, and then
for everyone in the community for their help and support, we tender our hearty
thanks, and pray that God will continue to rest His blessing upon you!
First St. Paul's Lutheran Church was organized on June 8, 1925, with the Rev. G. Wiencke and the Rev. C. Goede in charge. This organization then became affiliated with the United Lutheran Church of America, and began slowly to grow. It was incorporated in 1926, and the Rev. H. J. Diekhoff was called to serve as resident pastor. In the same year, plans were laid to build a new church, but because financial conditions did not warrant completion, only the basement structure with a roof was completed. In 1930 the First St.
Paul's congregation applied for and received entrance into the Iowa Synod of the
Lutheran Church, and in 1932 automatically became a member of the American
Lutheran Church, after a merger of the Iowa, Ohio, and Buffalo synods. In February, 1947, the congregation called the Rev. L. C. Johnson to serve in their midst, During the past year the new plans for a church were drawn up. God having blessed the people materially and with a forward spirit of progress, resulted in this beautiful building with all of its furnishings. May His blessings be and abide with us forever. |
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