Hark. Can you hear the echoes of faith resonating from Saint Stephens Lutheran Church? The Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Stephen began as an English-speaking congregation in January 1910. Imagine that small group of people full of hope. They gathered.
Worship services happened in different places first. Then in April 1910, they purchased the land where the church now stands. Plans quickly developed for a basement. For many years, Saint Stephens was known as the Basement Church. In just six months, St. Stephen had 106 charter members. What a flying start.
The Great Depression in 1929 brought hard times. The nation suffered. The community suffered. The members of Saint Stephens suffered. Despite the depression, Saint Stephens continued to grow. The worship space needed to be larger. Construction on the upstairs church began in late 1937.
The new Estry pipe organ was dedicated in December 1941. It arrived just in time for Christmas services. The upstairs church had to wait for completion. World War II caused delays. During this time, in January 1943, St. Stephen became a member of the United Lutheran Church in America. Finally, the long-awaited upstairs worship space and furnishings were dedicated in May 1949. Construction had begun twelve years earlier.
The Education Building became a reality in 1960. It united three separated units of the church. Worship, Sunday Church School and Administration all came under one roof. A special celebration occurred on Thanksgiving Day 1971. The mortgage on the Ernest F. Francke Memorial Education Building was retired. That happened eleven years after its dedication in December 1960. Saint Stephens became active in community affairs.
A Head Start program was sponsored. A Nursery School program began in 1976. Its mission was to provide excellent education in a safe Christian environment at a reasonable cost. Saint Stephens provided the Ecumenical Consultation Center its first home. It still exists today. It provides professional services to individuals, church and community.
A building campaign started in the spring of 1991. It renovated the chancel area. It provided a new lobby with a lift to the upper and lower levels. The new lobby, the lift, modifications to the Chancel were completed in December 1991. These included a free-standing altar. The pulpit was removed. The Baptismal Font moved to the entrance. The parking lot was finished. In January 1992, the Bishop of the Synod rededicated the Sanctuary. In 1995, the Sanctuary and the Pastors’ Lounge got air-conditioning.
The congregation aged. People were on the move. Services were cut from three to two. The church remained vibrant. The church became a member of the Lutheran Church in America. Mergers of Lutheran bodies took place. Saint Stephens has been a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America since 1988. St. Stephen’s developed a Mission Statement. It says “We, the church of Saint Stephen, gather to worship The Lord and to grow in our intention to reflect his example. To share the peace and joy which comes from knowing His true presence and encourage others to follow him, too.”
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary involved a year-long exciting event. The theme was “Many hands, Many hearts, One Lord.” The years since have brought more changes and challenges. The most recent challenge involved a Capital Campaign. It brought renewal, much needed maintenance and additional facilities.
Each of the Pastors has served faithfully. They moved this church forward. The current Pastor, Dr. Joann Heaney-Hunter, began her ministry in December 2020. She is the fifteenth Pastor. Saint Stephens has always been a generous church. Benevolence giving has always been an important part of church life. It’s exciting to anticipate God’s unfolding plan for St. Stephen.
This is Saint Stephens Lutheran Church’s history: grace-filled and full to overflowing. It attempts to live within its baptismal vows.