Have you ever worshipped in a church once housed in a water bottling plant? Welcome to Morning Star Lutheran Church in San Diego. This isn’t your typical church story. It’s a tale of perseverance resourcefulness and faith.
Morning Star Lutheran Church began in 1972. It was a mission of First Lutheran Church in El Cajon. Pastor Gordon MacKensen led the charge. He had a vision to plant churches throughout East County. Morning Star was a part of that bold plan.
Early services were held in the Lakeside VFW Hall. Imagine setting up chairs an altar and a pulpit each Sunday. Sunday School took place outdoors in Lindo Lake Park. The church moved around Lakeside for its first decade. One Sunday the church pianist couldn’t play the piano. It was full of beer cans from a party the previous night. Another location was the Seventh Day Adventist Church. This worked well since they worshipped on Saturdays.
In 1981 Morning Star acquired its own property on Los Coches Road. The property included an unheated warehouse. This former water bottling plant became their sanctuary. Services were held outside until the weather turned cold. Then they used the warehouse. It had a tin roof. The rain was so loud you could barely hear the sermon. One Sunday School class was held in a moldy bathroom. Buckets caught the leaks in the roof.
The congregation decided they needed a real building. Calvary Lutheran Church sold its buildings. Morning Star took out a huge loan. They moved the buildings! The hill was blasted with dynamite to make room. You can still see the holes in the rock behind the church. In the spring of 1982 the buildings arrived. The first service in the new sanctuary was Easter 1982. It was a glorious day for Morning Star Lutheran Church.
Morning Star has had several pastors. Pastor David Grauer was a worker-priest. He also worked as a chaplain. He once illustrated a sermon by shooting an arrow down the aisle. Pastor Tim Spilker was a gifted guitarist and composer. He created entire liturgies for guitar. He helped start the Lakeside Ministerial Association. Pastor Art Maynard focused on Bible study. Pastor Richard Ross currently serves. He’s a teacher at Southwestern College. He sees himself more as a teacher than a preacher.
The church also cares for Los Coches Creek. This is a rare spring-fed waterway. The Kumeyaay tribe used this area to grind acorns. A 150-foot dam built in 1887 still stands. Morning Star works to preserve the creek removing invasive plants. They protect the creek and its unique ecosystem.
So next time you’re in San Diego remember Morning Star. It’s a church with a unique history. It’s a story of faith and community. It’s a testament to the power of perseverance. It’s a church built on a foundation of faith and love.