Christ Lutheran celebrates 100 years
Pastor Don Schmiege stands in front of Christ Lutheran Church, located on Diffley Road between Rahn and Blackhawk roads in Eagan, which celebrates its 100-year anniversary this year. Photo by Rick Orndorf
by Erin Johnson
Thisweek Newspapers
Florence O’Brien has been a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Eagan since 1919, nine years after it was founded.
“Almost 91 years,” she said.
O’Brien was baptized, confirmed and married at the church, as were her three children and four of her six grandchildren. Her seven great-grandchildren have also been baptized there.
As its longest-serving member, O’Brien said she is excited to help Christ Lutheran celebrate its 100-year anniversary this year.
“I think we have lots to be thankful for,” she said. “I have all good memories. All the people that came and went during my 90 years, I can’t say a bad word about anybody.”
Christ Lutheran was founded in 1910 as a daughter congregation to Trinity Lone Oak Church, the oldest continuing church in Eagan, which was established in 1880.
Located on Diffley Road about five miles from Trinity Lone Oak, Christ Lutheran was built to make it easier for members who couldn’t easily traverse several miles on dirt roads.
O’Brien remembers the original church as a small wooden building next to a one-room schoolhouse, where she attended school through seventh grade.
That building and schoolhouse were sold and moved to Shakopee in 1958. A new church was built in 1959, with the current fellowship hall serving as the sanctuary until an addition was built in 1979.
Other additions to the church include a regular Anuak worship service for the Sudanese community – the first of its kind in the south metro – which began in 2003.
The church’s congregation grew rapidly in the late 1970s and then began to decline a bit, and has now essentially stabilized at about 250 members, said Pastor Don Schmiege.
Schmiege said he hopes the 100-year celebration will expose the church to new members. A Missouri Synod church, Christ Lutheran is very centered in gospel ministry and outreach, he said.
“We’re hoping to get the word out that we’re still here, we’re still faithful to God’s word,” he said. “We care about people – who they are, what they need, and where they’re going.”
Lynne Halterman, a member since 1960 and chair of the anniversary planning committee, agrees.
“We’d love to invite the community to come and check out the church and get involved. There’s lots of great opportunities, and the people in the congregation are great,” she said.
The public is invited to two events celebrating the church’s milestone.
On Saturday, Sept. 11, Dr. Paul Maier of Western Michigan University will present “Christ or Caricature,” described as a genuine portrait of Christ at a time when the broadcast media, books like “The Da Vinci Code” and newsmagazines offer caricatures.
The presentation is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes lunch. Tickets are $15.
On Sunday, Sept. 12, a special celebration worship service at 10 a.m. will be followed by a buffet lunch at the Eagan Community Center, with music provided by Christ Lutheran pianist Alex Metzeritski and violinist Gasan Guseyn-Zade.
Tickets to the lunch are available through Sept. 5 and cost $15 for adults and $8 for children ages 2 to 7. To make a reservation, call Sharonlee at (952) 431-1865 or Eileen at (952) 469-6552.
Christ Lutheran Church is located at 1930 Diffley Road, between Rahn and Blackhawk roads.
Erin Johnson is at eagan.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
