Historical Highlights of Faith Lutheran Church

·        1965      April 23, 1^st congregational meeting of the merger of St. John’s North Sidney Church and Immanuel Lutheran of Sidney.  Voted to join the A.L.C Synod.

May 13^th, constitution adopted and new church was named Faith Lutheran Church.

August 23^rd, building site of 5 acres was donated by member of congregation.

Construction of the parsonage was started in fall.

November 29^th, Articles of Incorporation were adopted.

·        1966      March 7, Pastor Knauff resigned and on April 24^th, Pastor Pederson accepted call.

·        1967      August 11, parish house and church building of Immanuel Church were sold.

·        1968      June 3^rd, Church Council voted to put before the congregation a church building program.

·        1969      September 28^th, construction of new church approved with ground breaking on October 26^th.  Construction started on October 27^th.

·        1970      June 14^th, Council sets August 23^rd as the date of dedication.

June 28^th, first service held in the new building.

The bells on the front lawn of Faith Lutheran came from Immanuel and St. John's Lutheran Churches.

Faith Lutheran Church Building Committee.
From Left:
Viggo Hansen, Leo Schachtele, Lawrence Jensen, Emily Petersen, Andrew Lamb and Lynn Noah

Drawing of Faith Lutheran Church

Historical Highlights of St. John's Lutheran Church of North Sidney

·        1873      Little Denmark Danish Evangelical Lutheran congregation organized by  Rev. J.H. Ward of Whitehall, MI

·        1874       Pastor Ole Amble arrived at Gowen, May 20^th

·        1883       April 18, an acre of land purchased for church and grave sites

·        1884      New parish called St. Johannes formed.  April 24, Work began on new church and dedicated Nov. 2^nd by Pastor Ole Amble.

·        1902      Church destroyed by tornado and was rebuilt in 1903 and dedicated by Pastor Amble.

·        1906      Ladies Aid formed

·        1927      Pastor Amble retired and Pastor Kildegaard was installed

·        1938      Pastor Stub became pastor and it was during this period that a complete change from Danish to English language was made.

·        1951      Pastor Peter Thomsen served

·        1954      Pastor Beryn Knudsen was installed on August 1^st.

·        1959      Congregation voted to purchase Dickerson Lake school for parish house.  Pastor Knudsen left and Lay Pastor Arnold Johnson served until 1963.

·        1963      Pastor LaVern Larkowski served until merger in April of 1965.

St. John's North Sidney Lutheran Church

Historical Highlights of Immanuel Lutheran Church

·        1891      Congregation organized by Pastor R. Nielsen of Gowen, MI

·        1894      Pastor Thomas Jersild served.

·        1902      Corner stone laid for new church with Pastor Miller of Gowen presiding.

·        1903      Church was dedicated on August 30^th.

·        1910      Services held every two weeks with Our Saviors of Edmore.

·        1914      Pastor Nielsen served.

·        1919      Pastor Benston served and under his leadership the Benston Memorial house was started.

·        1925      There were two Ladies Aid groups - “Danish Ladies” (older ladies held in Danish) and the Dorcas Club.

·        1926      The following pastors served:  Pastor Iverson, Pastor Thorgensen, Pastor Anker Jensen, Pastor Hansen, and Pastor Knauff.

·        1965      April – Merges with St. John’s of North Sidney to form Faith Lutheran Church.

Immanuel Lutheran Church of Sidney