First Lutheran Church Timeline
1892 Congregation organized on April 14th with 19 Members.
1895 The Reverend Jones Magney, pastor of Balsam Lutheran Church, conducted services here once a month from 1895-1903.
1898 The congregation bought a lot and built a church for $1,000.
1905 Built the first parsonage.
1906 The Ladies Aid was organized.
1917 Our 25th Anniversary was celebrated.
1920 The Women's Missionary Society was formed.
1921 Offering envelopes were used for the first time.
1927 A basement was added to the church for $1,000.
1941 The original church was remodeled at a cost of $3,000.
1942 We celebrated our 50th Anniversary.
1950 Pipe organ was was installed. The M&M Club was organized.
1956 New parsonage on Hyland Avenue.
1957 The Mortgage for the basement addition was burned.
1962 White church was razed in April. First worship service and laying of cornerstone was held in the new church on November 11. Total cost of church including furnishings: $164,600.
1963 New church dedicated on April 28th.
1967 The 75th Anniversary was celebrated.
1974 Stained glass windows were installed. Couples Club started.
1975 Elaine Meyer was the first woman to serve on the Council. The church mortgage was burned.
1981 The organ was expanded to 10 ranks. Food Shelf started.
1982 90th Anniversary celebrated.
1989 Karen Christopherson started as Church Secretary.
1991 Men in Mission began.
1992 100th Anniversary was celebrated. Fellowship Hall addition and remodeling started. ($550,000)
1993 Sold Parsonage. First Stephen Ministers commissioned. Women, Infant, Children Clinic started meeting here.
1994 Mick Larsen hired as a custodian. (retired from position 2022)
1996 Bought Bob Lee Property for parking. ($26,000)
2004 Men in Mission began making Baptismal Faith Chests.
2005 Bought LaMere property, removed house for parking. ($71,950)
2006 Parking lots paved. Loan balance was $435,126.
2007 Wednesday youth program Friends in Faith started.
2008 Men in Mission started selling scrip. Food Pantry moved to old hospital Building.
2009 Hosted Walk through Bethlehem. Blacktopped south lots. New First Lutheran Logo. Started supporting Sunbeam Boy's Home in Jamaica with mission trips.
2010 Organ console restored with midi-system. ($40,250)
2012 Church men refurbished new youth area downstairs.
2013 Liz Bowmen joined our staff working with our youth. (Took different job 2021)
2014 Honored Julie Selle for being our organist for 40 years. Mortgage Burned.
2015 New pew cushions installed. Purchased property north of our Fellowship Hall ($49,500) House removed, and landscaped into a nice yard for our youth.
2016 Remodeled Sanctuary, narthex, gathering area. Much of the work done by members. ($55,476), Put linoleum in the serving area of the Fellowship Hall. We thanked Julie for faithfully being our organist. Beth Ray and Julie Hanlon Johnson hired to provide music. Received a large endowment gift in memory of Milt and Irene Simon. Received a grand piano in memory of Chuck Polfus.
2017 Celebrated 125 years with monthly activities. Remodeled sacristy, and carpeted Fellowship Hall.
2019 Starting streaming services and special events online
1895 The Reverend Jones Magney, pastor of Balsam Lutheran Church, conducted services here once a month from 1895-1903.
1898 The congregation bought a lot and built a church for $1,000.
1905 Built the first parsonage.
1906 The Ladies Aid was organized.
1917 Our 25th Anniversary was celebrated.
1920 The Women's Missionary Society was formed.
1921 Offering envelopes were used for the first time.
1927 A basement was added to the church for $1,000.
1941 The original church was remodeled at a cost of $3,000.
1942 We celebrated our 50th Anniversary.
1950 Pipe organ was was installed. The M&M Club was organized.
1956 New parsonage on Hyland Avenue.
1957 The Mortgage for the basement addition was burned.
1962 White church was razed in April. First worship service and laying of cornerstone was held in the new church on November 11. Total cost of church including furnishings: $164,600.
1963 New church dedicated on April 28th.
1967 The 75th Anniversary was celebrated.
1974 Stained glass windows were installed. Couples Club started.
1975 Elaine Meyer was the first woman to serve on the Council. The church mortgage was burned.
1981 The organ was expanded to 10 ranks. Food Shelf started.
1982 90th Anniversary celebrated.
1989 Karen Christopherson started as Church Secretary.
1991 Men in Mission began.
1992 100th Anniversary was celebrated. Fellowship Hall addition and remodeling started. ($550,000)
1993 Sold Parsonage. First Stephen Ministers commissioned. Women, Infant, Children Clinic started meeting here.
1994 Mick Larsen hired as a custodian. (retired from position 2022)
1996 Bought Bob Lee Property for parking. ($26,000)
2004 Men in Mission began making Baptismal Faith Chests.
2005 Bought LaMere property, removed house for parking. ($71,950)
2006 Parking lots paved. Loan balance was $435,126.
2007 Wednesday youth program Friends in Faith started.
2008 Men in Mission started selling scrip. Food Pantry moved to old hospital Building.
2009 Hosted Walk through Bethlehem. Blacktopped south lots. New First Lutheran Logo. Started supporting Sunbeam Boy's Home in Jamaica with mission trips.
2010 Organ console restored with midi-system. ($40,250)
2012 Church men refurbished new youth area downstairs.
2013 Liz Bowmen joined our staff working with our youth. (Took different job 2021)
2014 Honored Julie Selle for being our organist for 40 years. Mortgage Burned.
2015 New pew cushions installed. Purchased property north of our Fellowship Hall ($49,500) House removed, and landscaped into a nice yard for our youth.
2016 Remodeled Sanctuary, narthex, gathering area. Much of the work done by members. ($55,476), Put linoleum in the serving area of the Fellowship Hall. We thanked Julie for faithfully being our organist. Beth Ray and Julie Hanlon Johnson hired to provide music. Received a large endowment gift in memory of Milt and Irene Simon. Received a grand piano in memory of Chuck Polfus.
2017 Celebrated 125 years with monthly activities. Remodeled sacristy, and carpeted Fellowship Hall.
2019 Starting streaming services and special events online
Resident Pastors who have Served First Lutheran
1904-1910 Rev. J.A. Gustafson
1910-1926 Rev. M.Th. Andren
1927-1931 Rev. M.A. Melford
1931-1936 Rev. A.P. Almen
1937-1942 Rev. C.J. Karl
1942-1948 Rev. L.K. Anderson
1949-1953 Rev. Norman I. Magnuson
1954-1955 Rev. Clarence Seburg
1956-1965 Rev. Marvin D. Johnson
1965-1970 Rev. John M. Loberg
1971-1984 Rev. Tom A. Nygaard
1985-1989 Rev. Lawrence J. Day
1990-1991 Interim Pastor Rev. Emil Dockter
1991-2005 Rev. Marcia Lynn Pyle
2005-2006 Interim Pastor Rev. Mike Soppeland
2006-Today Rev. Tim Bjorge
Intern Pastors: This program began in 1978 with Walter "Chip" Bouzard, followed by Katie Herman, Robin Pearson, Tim Dusenberg, Don Clifford, Ann Bergstrom, and Dan Alexander.
Visitation Pastors included Lowell Bolstad and Loren & Linda Schumacher
Seminarians included Greg Stoddard, Douglas Johnson, Tom Nacey, Diane Blahauvietz, Dave Teig, Tricia Noha, Diane Norstad, and Heidi Williamson
Youth Workers have included Neil & Sally Pickard, Dave Teig, Carole DeJardin, Travis Bauermeister, Heidi & Josh Williamson, Liz Bowman, Steve & Erin Osero.
As of December 30 2016 Total Baptized membership 514.
1910-1926 Rev. M.Th. Andren
1927-1931 Rev. M.A. Melford
1931-1936 Rev. A.P. Almen
1937-1942 Rev. C.J. Karl
1942-1948 Rev. L.K. Anderson
1949-1953 Rev. Norman I. Magnuson
1954-1955 Rev. Clarence Seburg
1956-1965 Rev. Marvin D. Johnson
1965-1970 Rev. John M. Loberg
1971-1984 Rev. Tom A. Nygaard
1985-1989 Rev. Lawrence J. Day
1990-1991 Interim Pastor Rev. Emil Dockter
1991-2005 Rev. Marcia Lynn Pyle
2005-2006 Interim Pastor Rev. Mike Soppeland
2006-Today Rev. Tim Bjorge
Intern Pastors: This program began in 1978 with Walter "Chip" Bouzard, followed by Katie Herman, Robin Pearson, Tim Dusenberg, Don Clifford, Ann Bergstrom, and Dan Alexander.
Visitation Pastors included Lowell Bolstad and Loren & Linda Schumacher
Seminarians included Greg Stoddard, Douglas Johnson, Tom Nacey, Diane Blahauvietz, Dave Teig, Tricia Noha, Diane Norstad, and Heidi Williamson
Youth Workers have included Neil & Sally Pickard, Dave Teig, Carole DeJardin, Travis Bauermeister, Heidi & Josh Williamson, Liz Bowman, Steve & Erin Osero.
As of December 30 2016 Total Baptized membership 514.
