Glendale Lutheran Church

History of Glendale Lutheran Church

The beginning of Glendale Lutheran Church dates back to May 2, 1943, when the first worship service was held at North Glendale Elementary School. The congregation was formally organized into a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on June 24, 1943. The two and a half acre site of our church was purchased for $5,250 in June, 1944 and the first chapel (now called Cooper Hall) was dedicated five years later. As the congregation grew, additional facilities were provided with the completion of the Parish House in September, 1956, where worship was held until the present $400,000 sanctuary was completed in September, 1969. It now stands as an impressive visual expression of the giving glory to God. The most recent phase of our expansion took place with the completion of the Family Life Center in September, 1991. Currently, construction is in progress for a $2.7 million addition, the first phase of which may be completed by mid-November.

Pastors who have served the congregation are: Richard R. Caemmerer (pro tem 1943-1945); Warren H. Schmidt (1945-1946); Lewis C. Niemoeller (1947-1953); Elmer E. Maschoff (1954-1977); Dale E. Griffin (vacancy pastor 1978-1979) and Steven H. Albers (1979-present). Directors of Christian Growth have included: Debra Andrus (1982-1983); Nancy Steffan (1983-1987); Richard Riggert (1988-1991) and James Lohman (1992-1996). Bill Lubben, our Director of Music and Adult Education, has served since 1997 and Jolene Siebarth, our Director of Children’s and Youth Ministry, has served since April, 1999.