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. Rich with imagery, it is a warm and invigorating place to offer worship to the Lord. A Family Life Center was dedicated in September, 1991, and provided a much-needed link between the Parish House and the sanctuary. On October 18, 2009, a $2.7 million expansion for new offices, educational space, youth, and outreach opportunities was dedicated; its cornerstone reads, "In all things grow up into him who is the head, that is Christ" (Ephesians 4:15)

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); Steven H. Albers (1979-June 30, 2011); and Stephen J. Carter – present vacancy pastor. 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 served as Director of Music and Adult Education from 1997 to January, 2011. Jolene Siebarth, our Director of Children's and Youth Ministry, has served since April, 1999.