March 1, 2015
In Our History – Our history is more than dates and events. It is the people who participated in those events that we relate to. One of the lessons we learn reading through the Bible is that names are important. Fifty-two men signed the original constitution organizing the German Evangelical Lutheran St. Stephanus Congregation, U.A.C. One hundred and twenty five years later some of the names may still be familiar. Here are those names: August Richter, Henry Lange, Ferdinand Beyer, Albert Mueggenberg, Joyn Otto, Dietrich Hoelscher, Albert Belde, Leo Schultz, Herman Mueller, Henry Minx, Wm. Bahr, John Beyer, Albert Rauch, C. Krutsch, Edward Birkholtz, Christian Wittwer, Fred Bartels, Carl Schultz, Albert Knuth, Carl Loeffler, Gustav Arndt, Dietrich Hastad, F. Adler, August Gruetzmann, Bernhard Sturm, Frank Woller, Albert Krengel, Henry Berger, Ferdinand Abel, Herman Berg, Carl Nitz, Reinhardt Brandt, Fred Brandt, Louis Nitsche, Robert Machgan, Otto Stenzel, Albert Kirchoff, Ferdinand Radmann, August Dettman, Fred Bunde, Wm. Neujahr, John Wachholz, Herman Wilke, Hinrich Koelln, Paul Kirchoff, Carl Kirchoff, Herman Radmann, E. Litschke, Herman Schubring, John Gutz, Albert Kirchoff, and Henry Koelln.
March 8, 2015
In Our History – Let there be music. What would a Lutheran church be without a pipe organ? On July 15, 1900 St. Stephanus dedicated its first pipe organ. It was a Vogelpohl and Spaeth two-manual pipe organ made in New Ulm. It cost $1300 which was donated by the ladies of the congregation. In 1925 a fire did extensive damage to the church and organ. Restoration included a new Reuter three-manual organ purchased for $13,000. Both of these organs were located in the front of the sanctuary on the lecture side. As part of our 75 anniversary a fund was established for a new organ. In February 1969 a contract for $51,290 was signed for the construction of a 28 rank Cassavant Organ. Due to the size of the pipes the new organ was installed in its current location in the choir loft. It was dedicated on October 24, 1971. Voters approved the donation of the Reuter organ to a man in Albert Lea who was in the process of becoming a master organ builder in exchange for removing it from the church.
March 15, 2015
In Our History- Our congregation was organized on May 26, 1890 and one of the first official acts was the baptism of Anna Augusta Marie Raasch on June 1, 1980. Anna was born on May 25th and baptized one week later. Her parents were August and Augusta Raasch, German immigrants having come to the United States in 1884. When Anna was born they lived at 573 Edmund and later purchased a home at 670 Blair. August was a laborer. Anna was the 5th of seven children. She died on May 23, 1975 in San Diego, California; just shy of her 85th birthday. It appears she never married and we are uncertain what took her to California.
March 22, 2015
In Our History – New Missions – The Reverend F. J. Seltz become our third pastor in 1919; serving until 1953. There were many changes during this time, including the formation of two daughter churches. In 1923 the Hamline District was seen as a new mission field. Several members living in that area asked for permission to organize a daughter congregation. This was the beginning of Jehovah Lutheran Church. In 1929 the congregation canvassed the Dale-Wheelock neighborhood. A vacant store was rented at 1500 North Dale and a Sunday School was begun with 23 pupils. Our congregation petitioned the District Mission Board to place a missionary there, and Bethel came into existence.
March 29, 2015
In Our History – Synod Affiliation – In June 1890 the new Evangelical Lutheran Saint Stephanus Congregation, UAC joined the Minnesota Synod. In 1892 Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan united. Our congregation believed that our interests would best be served by leaving the Minnesota Synod and joining the Missouri Synod, then known as The German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States. The Missouri Synod had been founded in 1847 by German immigrants to combat what they saw as “the liberalization of Lutheranism in America.” Our congregation contributed much in the form of services and funds to assist the Missouri Synod in the establishing of Concordia College. That relationship continues to this day.