St. John's Lutheran Church

1904-2004 - 100 Years of Serving God and Community

"We Love... Because God First Loved Us"
"Let the Children Come."

Church History

The following is a summary of the history and interesting events in the life of St. John's congregation as gleamed from the church records.

St. John's Lutheran Church, Stacy, Minnesota was organized on June 15, 1904 at the home of Mr. H. Evans under the leadership of Re. F.E. Jensen. Services were held before this date at various homes and when weather permitted, religious services were also held in the park. The first religious service was held in May 1904.

A schoolhouse was purchased at public auction and moved to a lot donated by Mr. P.A. Nelson, Mrs. Alma Nelson, Mr. J.A. Levander and Mrs. Emma Levander. This location is on Old Hwy 61 across from Tim's Country Cupboard. After much remodeling and the purchase of the altar, pews, etc., the church was dedicated on Thursday, Sept. 8, 1904.

The Ladies Aid was organized on Aug. 4, 1904 and the Sunday School on Sept. 18, 1904. Progress was slow for the congregation. Members found great difficulty even in providing for the material things in their homes for their church, but each one helped and even took turns cutting and hauling wood for the heating of the church.

On March 22, 1905. The first Luther League was formed at the home of Ole Frenning.

In 1905, the congregation decided to affiliate with the Synod of the Northwest and to form a two-point parish by uniting with Trinity Church, Lindstrom, and being served by a common pastor.

The church steeple was built and the bell installed in 1906. This project was just completed when a Tornado destroyed the Swedish Lutheran Church property where Tim's Country Cupboard now sits. The damage to St. John's at the time was only slight. The Swedish congregation rented the facilities of St. John's for a few years before they disbanded, some of the members uniting with St. John's which was an English speaking congregation.

In 1907, St. John's was without a pastor for about six months because it was impossible for the pastor to get back and forth from Lindstrom. But determined members were ready to remedy this circumstance and they took turns going over to Lindstrom with horses and buggy or sleigh to transport the pastor.

In 1910, the earlier parish alignment between Trinity and St. John's was dissolved and Pastor R.A. Helms served his parish in North St. Paul as well ast St. John's. This arrangement called for someone to meet the train at Wyoming, MN and sometimes the pastor had to remain in Stacy overnight. This arrangement worked well until the congregation in North St. Paul became so large that Rev. Helms was unable to serve both congregations. In 1913, St. John's was served by the Rev. Dr. Lenker, who also served a mission congregation in Linwood.

In the years 1915-1918 gasoline (not gas but gasoline) lights were installed in the church, as a chimney was built and a furnace installed and other improvements made to the church. The first church mortgage was burned following one of the services in January 1917.

A service flag was bought by the Luther League in 1919 and placed near the altar. The flag had 19 blue stars and two gold stars in recognition that Albert Peterson and Oscar Swenson had given their lives in the service of their country. The flag also displayed one silver star to show that Arnold W. Lent had been wounded in the service of his country.

A parsonage was bought in Oct. 1920 for $1,750. This building was carefully refinished inside and wired for electricity and other improvements to make ready for occupancy by Rev. Ramsey.

Some interesting insight are gained of the early history of St. John's, for example when electric lights were first installed in the church in 1920, the current came from two gas operated engines. Later the Luther League had to suspend meetings for 10 months for the lack of lights in the church and the old gasoline lights were repaired and re-installed. These lights were then replaced by regular electrical service in 1924 with power supplied by Northern States Power Company.

St. John's has experience with other hardships. On March 11, 1924 a fire did some damage to the parsonage. But when faithful members finished repairing and redecorating there, they moved to the church and plastered the ceiling and walls.

Something of the spirit that had characterized this congregation in its 100 years is evidenced that in the depression years of 1932-1935. The ladies of the congregation felt that they must still serve somehow and so they gathered vegetables and sent them to various institutions, which were in need.

A sense of loyalty and tradition and loving respect for those who had labored before them was demonstrated in 1942 when Rev. Haker dedicated a U.S. flag and the Christian flag purchased by the Ladies Aid in memory of Rev. Haferman and all deceased charter members.

Further improvements came when a full basement, oil furnace, water service, lights, etc. were installed in 1947. In 1950, the inside of the church was renovated and eleven old windows were removed and replaced with six gothic stained glass memorial windows. Two of these windows now reside in our altar area and four others are installed in the narthex. In 1952, from funds collected from many sources, a new stained glass window was placed behind the altar as a memorial to several persons and the Sunday School children made their contribution in memory of Kermit Westlund, one of their members. This, window depicting the Good Shepard, resides behind our current altar.

In 1954, a Quonset building was purchased and erected behind the church to use as a temporary parsonage. In 1963, a parsonage and educational wing was added to the north side of the church. It served as a parsonage until 1977, when it was converted to offices and educational use.

The dedication determination to forge ahead, which as always characterized this congregation was again amply demonstrated when in 1958, under the leadership of Mr. Philip Lindblom, a lay-pastor from Center City, a new entrance addition to the front of the church was completed, which provided additional space and access to basement and restroom facilities.

The Rev. Michas M. Ohnstad came from mission development work in Nova Scotia, Canada and began labor at St. John's in April 1959. Since that time, many additional changes, developments, and improvements have taken place. For example, acolytes were added to the worship service and the sacrament of the altar has been restored to its rightful place, being available twice a month. The first Acolyte was Thomas Olson.

The Rev. Ohnstad. Left our church on June 14, 1964 and Rev. Rueben Ford was Pastor for one year. In 1966, rev. Dr. Richard Reusch, a retired missionary and college professor, served as pastor until his death in 1975. He is buried in the Stacy cemetery as he asked to be.

The Rev. Robert Bjornlund became pastor in 1977. He was the first pastor to receive a housing allowance and purchase his own home. The former parsonage was used for office and Sunday School space.

In 1979, land was purchased for a new church and the present church was constructed at a cost of $360,000. The first worship service in the new sanctuary was June 22, 1980. Dedication was on Sept. 14, 1980 with Bishop Herbert W. Chilstrom, Minnesota Synod, LCA, presiding. Pastor Bob departed in November 1983 and Pastor Al Valerius holds the record as serving the longest as the full-time pastor. He will be celebrating both his 20th anniversary of ordination and pastor at St. John's during the same time we celebrate our 100th anniversary as a congregation.

As the congregation continued to grow, there was a need for additional space. The Stacy Lions donated a memorial of $10,000 in honor of Jim Sperl which was used to add the altar area to the nave. This increased the sanctuary space by 100 seats. Work began in the Fall of 1991 and on January 5, 1992, the present nave was dedicated. Our pews were a gift from St. Philip, the Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth.

In 1988, the church had a debt of $220,000 remaining on the original building loan. It would have taken another 20 years to pay off this loan, so a mortgage reduction campaign was begun. Six years later we burned the mortgage and since then we have lived as a debt free congregation.

A youth pastor had been our hope for several years. In 1992, Pastor Ed Wheatley was hired as our first youth pastor. The Youth Committee raised $10,000 to pay his first year's salary. Since then, the congregation has met this need.

In March of 1992, three Lay Leaders and 12 Lay Shepherds were commissioned for the new Lay Ministry Program. Since then, over 35 persons have been commissioned. Other items of interest include Pastor Al receiving a Doctorate of Pastoral Theology degree and we changed from the red to the green hymnal.

In 1994, work began on the west wing addition. A nursery, two classrooms and a hallway were added at a cost of about $25,000. The congregation provided all the labor. The next summer, the ceiling in the sanctuary was covered in oak as a memorial for Tim Allquist.

Work on the building continued in 1998 with the west wing addition. At that time, a new kitchen, classroom and hallway were added at a cost of about $50,000. Half of the cost went to equipping the kitchen. The congregation provided most of the labor for the project.

Little Angels Preschool was opened in 1997 with 35 students. St. John's Academy was opened the following year. The school currently goes to 2nd grade and has a total enrollment of 65 students. We hope to keep growing until there are at least 8 grades.

Mary Welty has been president of the School Board form the very beginning and Pastor Al has served as its director. Current teachers are Donna Keacher, Beth Borlaug, Colleen Howe. Dawn Ash serves as the assistant.

The largest addition is now underway. It will add 8,000 sq. ft. for use, which will include five classrooms, meeting room, coatroom, four bathrooms, utility room and a new narthex. The plans also call for adding another 75 seats to the sanctuary, plus a crying room. The church building is currently valued at $2,000,000 and the congregation is debt free.

Rally Day September 2003.
The congregation keeps growing. There are currently around 300 families, consisting of 800 members. Sunday School enrolls around 150 students. In December of 2001, the first son of the congregation was ordained: Rev. Tom Dornan. The first conformant was ordained in June of 2003: Rev. Chris Wheatley. Tim Wheatly is currently serving on internship and will be ordained in 2005.

Charter Members: Mr. & Mrs. John Allquist, Joseph A. Allquist, Ole Frenning, Mr. & Mrs S.N. Alm, Olaf Anderson, Mr. & Mrs. C.H. Elkstrand, E. H Evans, Ole Frenning, Mr. & Mrs. John Inglis, Mr. & Mrs. Edwaqrd Johnson, Mrs. Dora K. Lent, Mr. & Mrs. A.J. Levander, Mr. & Mrs. J.S. McCurdy, Peter Nowe, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Palmer, Charles E. Waller, Mr. & Mrs. Edward C. Waller, C. Vernon Waller, Francis L. Waller, Percy C. Waller, Stephan Waller and Mr. & Mrs. F.W. Youngberg

Pastors
Rev. F.E. Jensen	1904-1905
John N. Lenker (seminarian)	1905-1907
Rev. C.W. Valentine	1907
Rev. O.S. Yerger	1909-1910
Rev. J. Sander	1910
Rev. A.R. Helms	1910-1912
Rev. Grover Rapp	1912
Rev. Rockey	1912
Rev. John. N. Lenker	1913
Rev. W.H. Wickman	1918
Rev. Dack	1919
Rev. Dr. Alfred Ramsey	1920-1925
Rev. Martin Haferman	1925-1936
Rev. M.A. Haker	1936-1952
Rev. Marvin Moll	1952-1956
Philip Lindblom (lay preacher)	1957-1959
Rev. Michas M. Ohnstad	1959-1964
Rev. Rueben Ford	1965
David Kallio (seminarian)	1965
Rev. Harold Simmons	1965-1966
Rev. Dr. Richard Reusch	1966-1975
Rev. J.M. Ahlstrom (interim)	1975
Rev. Michael McGowan	1975-1977
Rev. J.M. Ahlstrom (interim)	1977
Rev. Robert Bjornland	1977-1983
Rev. Dr. Alfred Valarius	1984-present
Rev. Ed Wheatley	1992-present