It’s been 50 years since the first family worship service was held at Detroit Lakes’ Grace Lutheran Church, on Oct. 4, 1964. This weekend, the parishioners of Grace Lutheran will observe that milestone with a two-day celebration, starting on Saturday afternoon and continuing until Sunday morning. The festivities begin with an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, followed by a special evening meal for charter members and former church employees at 6 p.m. “The open house will include historical displays - about our women’s group, children’s group, confirmation classes - along with tours of the church, and refreshments, of course,” said Bertha Anderson, a charter member of Grace Lutheran who is co-chairing the anniversary celebration, along with Lois Flatau. On Sunday, the traditional 9:30 a.m. worship service will be followed by a special Memorial Candle Lighting Service at 10:30 a.m., in remembrance of former pastors, charter members and other loved ones who have passed on. “Anyone can come and light a candle for their loved ones,” said Anderson.
“Clint Felker will sing, and I’m giving the memorial address,” she added. Anderson has been a part of the congregation since that first service in the new church, back in 1964, and even before that, when there was “talk” of establishing a new Lutheran congregation north of the railroad tracks in Detroit Lakes. On Oct. 12, 1961, a meeting of the First Lutheran Church Council included discussion of the possible establishment of a new mission church on the north side of town. By May 4, 1964, they were breaking ground on a new church, and in August, Rev. Richard Hofstad was called to serve the new congregation. Five months later, the first official worship service was held there, with a total of over 300 people in attendance. The new church building was dedicated on Jan. 25 of the following year, just five days after the congregation’s first constitution was adopted. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1175359","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"240","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"450"}}]] Since that first year, the congregation has witnessed a total of 672 baptisms, 515 confirmations, 279 marriages and 332 deaths. The church itself has also been expanded twice, first in 1975, and again in 2007. It has also been served by a total of 11 pastors, the most recent being Rev. Rob Nelson, who first came to Grace as an interim pastor in March 2011, and has since been called to serve them in a more permanent capacity. Follow reporter Vicki Gerdes on Twitter at @VickiLGerdes.It’s been 50 years since the first family worship service was held at Detroit Lakes’ Grace Lutheran Church, on Oct. 4, 1964. This weekend, the parishioners of Grace Lutheran will observe that milestone with a two-day celebration, starting on Saturday afternoon and continuing until Sunday morning. The festivities begin with an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, followed by a special evening meal for charter members and former church employees at 6 p.m. “The open house will include historical displays - about our women’s group, children’s group, confirmation classes - along with tours of the church, and refreshments, of course,” said Bertha Anderson, a charter member of Grace Lutheran who is co-chairing the anniversary celebration, along with Lois Flatau. On Sunday, the traditional 9:30 a.m. worship service will be followed by a special Memorial Candle Lighting Service at 10:30 a.m., in remembrance of former pastors, charter members and other loved ones who have passed on. “Anyone can come and light a candle for their loved ones,” said Anderson. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1175358","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"209","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"750"}}]] “Clint Felker will sing, and I’m giving the memorial address,” she added. Anderson has been a part of the congregation since that first service in the new church, back in 1964, and even before that, when there was “talk” of establishing a new Lutheran congregation north of the railroad tracks in Detroit Lakes. On Oct. 12, 1961, a meeting of the First Lutheran Church Council included discussion of the possible establishment of a new mission church on the north side of town. By May 4, 1964, they were breaking ground on a new church, and in August, Rev. Richard Hofstad was called to serve the new congregation. Five months later, the first official worship service was held there, with a total of over 300 people in attendance. The new church building was dedicated on Jan. 25 of the following year, just five days after the congregation’s first constitution was adopted.
Since that first year, the congregation has witnessed a total of 672 baptisms, 515 confirmations, 279 marriages and 332 deaths. The church itself has also been expanded twice, first in 1975, and again in 2007. It has also been served by a total of 11 pastors, the most recent being Rev. Rob Nelson, who first came to Grace as an interim pastor in March 2011, and has since been called to serve them in a more permanent capacity. Follow reporter Vicki Gerdes on Twitter at @VickiLGerdes.It’s been 50 years since the first family worship service was held at Detroit Lakes’ Grace Lutheran Church, on Oct. 4, 1964.This weekend, the parishioners of Grace Lutheran will observe that milestone with a two-day celebration, starting on Saturday afternoon and continuing until Sunday morning.The festivities begin with an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, followed by a special evening meal for charter members and former church employees at 6 p.m.“The open house will include historical displays - about our women’s group, children’s group, confirmation classes - along with tours of the church, and refreshments, of course,” said Bertha Anderson, a charter member of Grace Lutheran who is co-chairing the anniversary celebration, along with Lois Flatau.On Sunday, the traditional 9:30 a.m. worship service will be followed by a special Memorial Candle Lighting Service at 10:30 a.m., in remembrance of former pastors, charter members and other loved ones who have passed on.“Anyone can come and light a candle for their loved ones,” said Anderson.
“Clint Felker will sing, and I’m giving the memorial address,” she added.Anderson has been a part of the congregation since that first service in the new church, back in 1964, and even before that, when there was “talk” of establishing a new Lutheran congregation north of the railroad tracks in Detroit Lakes.On Oct. 12, 1961, a meeting of the First Lutheran Church Council included discussion of the possible establishment of a new mission church on the north side of town.By May 4, 1964, they were breaking ground on a new church, and in August, Rev. Richard Hofstad was called to serve the new congregation. Five months later, the first official worship service was held there, with a total of over 300 people in attendance.The new church building was dedicated on Jan. 25 of the following year, just five days after the congregation’s first constitution was adopted.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1175359","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"240","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"450"}}]]Since that first year, the congregation has witnessed a total of 672 baptisms, 515 confirmations, 279 marriages and 332 deaths.The church itself has also been expanded twice, first in 1975, and again in 2007. It has also been served by a total of 11 pastors, the most recent being Rev. Rob Nelson, who first came to Grace as an interim pastor in March 2011, and has since been called to serve them in a more permanent capacity.Follow reporter Vicki Gerdes on Twitter at @VickiLGerdes.It’s been 50 years since the first family worship service was held at Detroit Lakes’ Grace Lutheran Church, on Oct. 4, 1964.This weekend, the parishioners of Grace Lutheran will observe that milestone with a two-day celebration, starting on Saturday afternoon and continuing until Sunday morning.The festivities begin with an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, followed by a special evening meal for charter members and former church employees at 6 p.m.“The open house will include historical displays - about our women’s group, children’s group, confirmation classes - along with tours of the church, and refreshments, of course,” said Bertha Anderson, a charter member of Grace Lutheran who is co-chairing the anniversary celebration, along with Lois Flatau.On Sunday, the traditional 9:30 a.m. worship service will be followed by a special Memorial Candle Lighting Service at 10:30 a.m., in remembrance of former pastors, charter members and other loved ones who have passed on.“Anyone can come and light a candle for their loved ones,” said Anderson.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1175358","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"209","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"750"}}]]“Clint Felker will sing, and I’m giving the memorial address,” she added.Anderson has been a part of the congregation since that first service in the new church, back in 1964, and even before that, when there was “talk” of establishing a new Lutheran congregation north of the railroad tracks in Detroit Lakes.On Oct. 12, 1961, a meeting of the First Lutheran Church Council included discussion of the possible establishment of a new mission church on the north side of town.By May 4, 1964, they were breaking ground on a new church, and in August, Rev. Richard Hofstad was called to serve the new congregation. Five months later, the first official worship service was held there, with a total of over 300 people in attendance.The new church building was dedicated on Jan. 25 of the following year, just five days after the congregation’s first constitution was adopted.
Since that first year, the congregation has witnessed a total of 672 baptisms, 515 confirmations, 279 marriages and 332 deaths.The church itself has also been expanded twice, first in 1975, and again in 2007. It has also been served by a total of 11 pastors, the most recent being Rev. Rob Nelson, who first came to Grace as an interim pastor in March 2011, and has since been called to serve them in a more permanent capacity.Follow reporter Vicki Gerdes on Twitter at @VickiLGerdes.
