Lucerne
California
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First Lutheran Church of Lucerne
History:
The people who would later become First Lutheran Church first met for worship on March 8, 1953, in the Episcopal church in Lakeport. Twenty-four attended this service. Albert C. Young was the pastor and Mrs. Adeline Young was the organist. The first Sunday School was held on April 5, 1953, with three classes: Primary, Junior, and adult Bible Class. Mrs. Elsie Bakke, Mrs. Roland Esteves and Rev. Young served as teachers. Temporary officers of the new congregation were: Mrs. Elsie Bakke, Treasurer -- Roger Bakke, Usher -- Mrs. Roland Esteves, Secretary.
On November 14, 1954, an historic meeting was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wayland Crouch. The church was named First Lutheran Church of Lake County. The constitution was drawn up and made ready for presentation to the State of California. Lots in Lucerne were discussed as a site for the church. A church floor plan was also discussed.
On December 13, 1954, a special meeting was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Ellingson. Rev. Henry Hartner was present at this important meeting. Plans for raising funds, building and calling a vicar were discussed. Elected as officers of the church were: Ray Magee, President -- Harold Lemke, Vice-President -- Roland Esteves, Secretary -- Sigurd Bakke, Treasurer.
The Sunday School was moved from Lakeport to Lucerne on November 14, 1954, and attendance rose from 12 to 60. On July 1, 1955, Arthur C. Krueger, a vicar from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, arrived. Services had been held at the Club House in Lucerne since January, 1955. On August 7, 1955, the ground-breaking ceremony was held at the site of our new church in Lucerne. On August 21, 1955, services began at the grade school auditorium in Lucerne. Seventy-two people attended this service.
Construction was begun on the new church in the last part of August. An organ and a piano were donated by a Mrs. Biddle of San Francisco. The first confirmation class was held on November 9, 1955, at the grade school with six people present. On December 18, 1955, a week before Christmas, we held our first service in our newly-erected church. On December 24th, a children's program was held with 110 people attending!
On January 13, 1956, a Women's Missionary League was formed at the home of the Magees. The annual meeting was held that same night. Seven new members were received.
At the time of the completion of the building, there were thirty-six members on the register; seven more were considered communicant members. The church building was dedicated on May 20, 1956. The fortieth anniversary of the dedication was celebrated on Reformation Sunday, 1996.
First Lutheran was the "mother" church of St. John's Lutheran, Clearlake, which it supported as a mission church until its own church was built in early 1962. Rev. Tobias Buehner was the first pastor to serve both churches.
The people who would later become First Lutheran Church first met for worship on March 8, 1953, in the Episcopal church in Lakeport. Twenty-four attended this service. Albert C. Young was the pastor and Mrs. Adeline Young was the organist. The first Sunday School was held on April 5, 1953, with three classes: Primary, Junior, and adult Bible Class. Mrs. Elsie Bakke, Mrs. Roland Esteves and Rev. Young served as teachers. Temporary officers of the new congregation were: Mrs. Elsie Bakke, Treasurer -- Roger Bakke, Usher -- Mrs. Roland Esteves, Secretary.
On November 14, 1954, an historic meeting was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wayland Crouch. The church was named First Lutheran Church of Lake County. The constitution was drawn up and made ready for presentation to the State of California. Lots in Lucerne were discussed as a site for the church. A church floor plan was also discussed.
On December 13, 1954, a special meeting was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Ellingson. Rev. Henry Hartner was present at this important meeting. Plans for raising funds, building and calling a vicar were discussed. Elected as officers of the church were: Ray Magee, President -- Harold Lemke, Vice-President -- Roland Esteves, Secretary -- Sigurd Bakke, Treasurer.
The Sunday School was moved from Lakeport to Lucerne on November 14, 1954, and attendance rose from 12 to 60. On July 1, 1955, Arthur C. Krueger, a vicar from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, arrived. Services had been held at the Club House in Lucerne since January, 1955. On August 7, 1955, the ground-breaking ceremony was held at the site of our new church in Lucerne. On August 21, 1955, services began at the grade school auditorium in Lucerne. Seventy-two people attended this service.
Construction was begun on the new church in the last part of August. An organ and a piano were donated by a Mrs. Biddle of San Francisco. The first confirmation class was held on November 9, 1955, at the grade school with six people present. On December 18, 1955, a week before Christmas, we held our first service in our newly-erected church. On December 24th, a children's program was held with 110 people attending!
On January 13, 1956, a Women's Missionary League was formed at the home of the Magees. The annual meeting was held that same night. Seven new members were received.
At the time of the completion of the building, there were thirty-six members on the register; seven more were considered communicant members. The church building was dedicated on May 20, 1956. The fortieth anniversary of the dedication was celebrated on Reformation Sunday, 1996.
First Lutheran was the "mother" church of St. John's Lutheran, Clearlake, which it supported as a mission church until its own church was built in early 1962. Rev. Tobias Buehner was the first pastor to serve both churches.