Years of Growth and Service
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Years of Growth and Service
December 1924
A group of 17 inspired Christians gathered in at the home of a local Point Place citizen on 116th Street to discuss the possibility of organizing the first Lutheran congregation in Point Place.
A brief devotional service was lead at this time by the Field Missionary.
An executive committee was elected to plan for the organization.
A worship service was held a week later at the Portable Schools on Sable Drive.
Five weeks after that (January 18, 1925), the congregation
was organized and a constitution adopted.
was granted in April of that year. Fourty-one children were enrolled in February with the organization of the Sunday School.
A groundbreaking service was held by August for the building of the
" Little White Church".
Many interesting and exciting things have taken place since that small Christian group gathered and had a dream.
We enjoyed remembering these experiences especially in the year
2000 as we celebebrated our 75th Anniversary
of Messiah Lutheran Church.
The spotlight shines on at least four specifics:
First they include enthusiasm, faithful and committed Christian members who always looked to God for strength in their desire to grow spiritually and in numbers.
Secondly, during that time, we have seen thirteen pastors who were gifted in a variety of ways and also referred to God for strength, vision and insight. These gifted pastors have promoted growth to what we have become. We continued this growth under the leadership of Pastor David Rushton who joined us in the Fall of 2003. After his recent retirement, Pastor James VanBrussel is fulfilling our pastorial needs until a new full time pastor joins us.
Messiah has also been honored to have sponsored several members of our congressional family who felt the calling to continue into full time ministry.
Thirdly, the growing numbers of children promoted expansion and were primarily responsible for the need to build the congregation's first church building, as well as our present facility built in 1954.
Thanks to the church pastor and church treasurer at that time, the new facility became a possibility. Both signed for the loan.
Much of that 1954 facility was then renovated in 1999 and we have just finished an extensive renovation of the sanctuary and our church building to enable us to meet the continuing needs of growth and serving the community by our works through and in Christ our Lord.
A fourth reason for expansion and an active Messiah congregation
has to do with the Christian-Spirited activities that have been available for all ages including young children, teenagers and adults which were promoted by our creative and energetic pastors throughout
our now seventy-five plus year history.
Some of those services include:
worship...catechism instruction...Sunday School...Health Ministry Program...adult education...a variety of athletic programs (such as bowling, softball, basketball, and dartball teams)...various youth programs...Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America...Woman of the Church...organized usher and acolyte programs...choir and music activities...Alter Guild...and at one time a live outdoor Nativity scene
All activities are always with focus on the CROSS!
Some of these you will find in special areas of the left menu list. leading
to full pages of information.
Clicking on an activity from the monthly calendar will also give more information.
Note:
Clicking on any date on the Events Calendar, will take you to that day's activities.
The top of the page gives several options of viewing the calendar.
Choosing "monthly" will give a good view of activities for the month.
Clicking on any activity will give you more information about that activity.
Page 2.... you will find more pictures of Messiah's early beginning.