Ty Theiss and Zack Espinosa confirmed their Baptismal faith May 25, 2008 at Bethlehem, North Zulch.
St. Luke's, Honey Grove recently received Mr. and Mrs. John and Julia Ryder as communing members.
St. Luke's, Honey Grove, recently dedicated a new crucifix for use above
their altar.
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Anderson Anniversary
Zion Lutheran
Church in Anderson celebrated its 125th anniversary on October 28,
2007. About 250 people attended a morning Reformation service,
followed by an anniversary dinner.
In the late 1800's, German immigrants began settling in and around
Anderson. Because they were Lutherans, they sought out the services
of a Lutheran Pastor. Rev. P. Klindworth of William Penn Lutheran
Church rode horseback to Anderson and conducted services in member's
homes. In 1881 a congregation was organized. The next summer land
was purchased and construction of a church building began. On
October 12, 1882 the congregation's constitution was formally
adopted and Zion Evangelische Lutheran Church was born. A month
later, on November 12, 1882, the church building was dedicated.
Pastor Clarence Sierks was ordained and installed as Zion's first
pastor on October 28, 1883. He served until his death in 1886.
He was followed by > Rev. Emmanuel Eckhardt (1886 - 1907)
> Rev. Herman Foerster (1908 to his death in 1913)
> Rev. Paul B. Miertschin (1913 - 1921)
> Rev. G. A. Obenhaus (1922 - 1924)
> Rev. W. P. Urban (1925 - 1931)
> Rev. Ludwig Karcher (1932 - 1947)
> Rev. Arthur J. Niemann (1948 - 1959)
> Rev. Larry Miller (1963 - 1966)
> Rev. Alvin G. Meissner (1966- 1976)
> Rev. Joseph C. Lowery (1977 - 1980)
> Rev. Melvin Boehlke (1982 - 1987)
> Rev. Klebe W. Brumble (1988 - 1991)
> Rev. Daniel Schoessow (1992 - present)
From the beginning, Zion conducted a Christian day school. The
first pastors also served as teachers, until Mr. A. E. Gruetzner was
called to be the first full-time teacher. He taught for two years.
In 1929, Clarence Y. Best was called from Concordia Teachers
College, (River Forest, Ill.) to teach 40-60 children in the first
through seventh grades.
In 1938, the bell tower and 2 rooms were added to the original
church building. Three years later, voters authorized construction
of a new parsonage. The kitchen of the old parsonage was converted
into a parish hall, and was dedicated on July 1, 1962.
On June 27, 1993, Zion held a ground-breaking service for the
construction of a new Education Building. That fall, seven Laborers
for Christ couples from around the country moved onto the property
and constructed the building. It was dedicated on May 1, 1994, and
stands today as a testimony of God's continued goodness to our Zion
Lutheran congregation.
At dawn on Saturday morning, August 23, 1997, an electrical storm
came over Anderson and a flash of lighting hit the steeple of the
115 year old church building, setting it afire. Attempts to save
the wooden structure failed, and it burned to the ground.
Thankfully the Education Building was not damaged and it served as a
temporary house of worship while the new church was planned and
constructed.
On March 30, 1998, the slab for the new sanctuary was poured. Six
Laborers for Christ couples began construction in April, working
alongside members of the congregation. The first worship service in
the new sanctuary was held in September. Once the parking lot and
landscaping were completed, the church building was dedicated on May
2, 1999.
In the spring of 2000, the voters decided to sell and move the
parsonage and build a new one. Construction began in August and the
house was dedicated on October 29, 2000. Two weeks later, Pastor
Daniel Schoessow married Courtney Watson and moved into the new
parsonage, where they are now raising their twin children, Caleb and
Abigail.
Zion Lutheran Church in Anderson looks forward to many more years of
God's continued blessings, and we rely on His Holy Spirit to enable
us to faithfully teach God's Word and boldly proclaim Christ's
salvation.
Pastor Schoessow and Zion were very
instrumental in the founding of the Montgomery Mission which LMA
supports along with a number of neighboring congregations.
St. Luke’s
Lutheran
Church
in
Houston
will be confirming four youth on March 16, Palm Sunday. The
youths have been catechized in the Lutheran doctrine by using Luther’s
Small Catechism and Explanation.
Holy Shepherd,
Haslet, is currently enjoying her first year in our new sanctuary.
Attendance has been growing steadily as more and more homes are built in
Northwest
Tarrant
County. Pastor
Bramich is currently teaching two pastors classes which are
predominantly attended by preschool teachers and parents. Lenten
services and suppers are also underway as we begin this penitential
season of following our Lord to His cross. Currently, we are exploring
the possibilities of redoing our church website and installing an
additional concrete parking lot.
Our youth group
here is also beginning to take shape. We expect to have around six
students in confirmation next year. We hope to be able to attend a
Higher Things gathering this summer, so we are taking a look at some
ways for our youth group to raise funds.
We very much
appreciate those congregations who have supported us for many years and
who are continuing to support us at this time. We believe this will be
our final year of needing outside support.
Bethlehem, North Zulch, will be hosting
the Lutheran High North Concert Band on March12 at 7:30 pm. They
will play three sacred selections and accompany the hymns during the
last Lenten service before Holy Week. Following the service, the
band will present a concert of secular music. They will begin a
tour of central Texas after their concert at Bethlehem. Director
Michael Staub is the son-in-law of Annie Roth, Bethlehem's organist.
Everyone is invited.
Bethlehem, North Zulch, Trustees and Mary
Martha Guild cooperated to place a much needed sidewalk at the cemetery.
In addition, a neighbor, Mr. John Hale, who was pouring a large slab for his
machine shop, donated the concrete. The pictures above were added later
when the roses and lillies were blooming.
I am happy to report that the LMA was
well represented at Pastor Bill Brummett's funeral at St. Peter's,
Bowie. There were 15 or 16 pastors present and from the LMA the
following were in attendance: Rev. Robert Hill, Rev. Pat Erickson, Rev.
Chris Bramich, Rev. Glen Huebel, Rev. James Wolmer, Rev. Leif Hasskarl,
and myself. This list does not include Rev. Dennis Kitzman who was also
present. All in all, I was very pleased.
Pastor Hasskarl preached a good
sermon and district president Ken Henning said a few words of
consolation. Pastor Brummett was given a burial with military honors (he
was retired Navy) and the congregation served a wonderful meal
afterwards. All in all, it was a very nice afternoon. I got an
opportunity to talk to the congregation president reminding him that St.
Peter’s was an LMA member, and if there was anything I could help them
with to please contact me.
LMA President Toby Byrd
Pastor Bill Brummett,
St. Peter's, Bowie + + + Nov. 30, 2007
The family request that Memorials be
given to St. Peter Lutheran Church Building Fund, PO Box 133, Bowie,
Texas 76230.
Becky Geis, Church Secretary
On Sunday November 18, 2007 three new
souls were added to God’s kingdom, buried with Christ in the waters of
baptism and raised from the dead by the glory of God the Father to walk
in the newness of the baptized life; a life of repentance (Rom. 6:4);
Julia Ryder, Aedriana Ryder, and Victor Ryder. Pastor Toby Byrd is
pastor at St. Luke's, Honey Grove, TX.
Bethlehem, North Zulch, surprised
Pastor Al Loeschman with several gifts in thanksgiving for his ministry
to them in Jesus name on Nov. 11 at the congregation's annual
Thanksgiving Dinner. The congregation presented Pastor Loeschman
with a handmade banner, a cake and a gift certificate.
LMA Pulpit Exchange
A Report From Pastor
Jerome Teichmiller
The
first LMA Pulpit Exchange has been completed.
On July 29th, I
had the privilege of preaching at The Lutheran Church of the Incarnate
Word in Florence, South Carolina. They had just installed a new graduate
from the Fort Wayne Seminary as their shepherd, Pastor Jeffords. It was
a joy and a privilege to be with them. I will attach a picture of the
church with this note. They are using the one year series in LSB and the
Gospel reading assigned for that day was very appropriate, "Watch out
for False Prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them."
(Matt. 7: 15-23)
In keeping with
the guidelines for the pulpit exchange, there was no remuneration
accepted -- either for travel expense or honorarium. I just happened to
be in the neighborhood and dropped by. ("FOR YOU" in Ashville, North
Carolina was only 3 hours away.) They are a fantastic people of God and
it was a privilege to be with them that Sunday. I hope all our Pastors
in the LMA get that same opportunity to meet more of God's people
through the LMA Pulpit Exchange. It is well worth our time, our effort,
and our expense!
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