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History of St. Luke's
February 19, 1897 St. Luke Lutheran Church was incorporated. It was formed under the guidance of a Red Wing pastor and a group of men who wanted to begin an English speaking congregation. Initially a member of the Synod of the Northwest of the ULCA we have remained committed members of the Lutheran church throughout and are now, after several mergers within the denomination, members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 1898 St. Luke's first church structure was erected for $1,320.00. The land was given by the railroad company. 1908 The steeple was extended to its present height, and a 1000lb, tin-copper bell was installed. 1914 The basement was excavated sufficiently to make room for the Sunday School and catechetical classes. 1919 A parsonage was purchased with Redeemer in Zumbrota. 1924 The interior of St. Luke's was redecorated. 1949-1954 Our church was remodeled for the first time. The altar was extended and the basement was dug out, giving the ladies a kitchen and large room for meetings and Sunday School. It also gave us a choir loft and rest rooms. 1968 A chancel and educational unit was added to our church. 1968 The parsonage in Zumbrota was sold and another in Zumbrota was purchased. Sept. 1969 St. Luke's newly remodeled chancel and educational unit was dedicated. June 1972 St. Luke's celebrated their 75th Anniversary. Sept. 1975 A meeting was held between St. Luke's and United Redeemer in Zumbrota. At this time a decision was made to terminate St. Luke's relationship with their sister church. Both councils decided to sell the Zumbrota parsonage. Oct. 1975 St. Luke congregation voted to call their own pastor. March 1976 St. Luke congregation voted and purchased the John Matthees home as a parsonage in Goodhue. Jan. 1987 St. Luke Church accepted the transfer of Zion Swedish Evangelical Cemetery from Vasa Lutheran Church on condition the forty acres of land used for care and upkeep of the cemetery shall never be sold by St. Luke. Jan. 1988 The American Lutheran, Lutheran Church in America and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America merged into one body called The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. St. Luke was then part of the ELCA. April 1990 Groundbreaking began for a new addition to be added onto St. Luke church, which is our narthex today. August 2022 Groundbreaking began for our new church building, at it's new location off of County Rd 6. February 25, 2024 Decommissioning Service (last worship service in our old building located at 308 1st Ave. Goodhue) March 3, 2024 Dedication Service (first worship service in our new church building). |
History of Pastors
1897-1898 Pastor J. A. Leas 1898-1903 Pastor Merrell E. Boulton 1903-1906 Pastor R. A. Helms 1906-1926 Pastor Willis Beck 1926-1930 Pastor G. S. A. Eyrich 1930-1936 Pastor Albert E. Birch 1936-1945 Pastor A. Edward Peterson 1946-1949 Pastor Paul L. Roth 1949-1954 Pastor John W. Spann 1954-1957 Pastor Paul Dumke 1958-1967 Pastor Wallace Livers 1968-1975 Pastor Roger E. Carlson 1976-1980 Pastor Gerald W. Gengenbach 1980-1981 Pastor Gary C. Brown 1982-1984 Pastor Paul A. Edstrom 1985-1995 Pastor Ron H. Allen 1996-2000 Pastor Kevin Olson 2000-2000 Interim Pastor Solberg 2001-2004 Pastors Dave and Jennifer Jarvis-Schroeder 2005-2011 Pastor Michael Gustafson 2012-2019 Pastor Regina M. Hassanally 2019-2020 Interim Pastor Kris Ferkin 2020-current Pastor Eric Hanson |