Grace St. Luke’s Lutheran Church

History

There are 2 separate church histories:

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church history

At the Thirty-third Biennial Convention of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States, held in Kountze Memorial Church, 16th and Harney Streets, Omaha, June 1-13, 1887, the Shull heirs gave to the Board of Church Extension, two lots in the new Shull’s 2nd Addition to the City of Omaha. These lots were in memory of their father and mother, Jacob S. and Susanna, for the expressed purpose of establishing a Lutheran Church in the southwestern part of Omaha.

In 1888, the Board of Home Missions of the General Synod commissioned Rev. Luther M. Kuhns to found and establish this new work. He arrived in Omaha, August 23, 1888. He was told the Parish boundaries were set at “20th Street on the east, Pierce Street on the north, and the Park.” The area was very sparsely settled.

Sunday, December 2, 1888, a temporary chapel was dedicated. The chapel was a frame structure with a vestibule and a room for the use of the sexton. The total cost to build and furnish was $902.75. This chapel remained in use until 1958 when it was demolished.

The congregation officially organized on Sunday, April 7, 1889, as Shull Memorial Evangelical Lutheran Church with 25 charter members. In Pastor Kuhn’s words, “It was a delightful day.” The first congregational meeting was held on Wednesday, April 17, 1889, and articles of incorporation were adopted. The congregation was received into Synodical membership within the Nebraska Synod on September 15, 1889.

On Wednesday, October 12, 1892, a special congregational meeting was held to change the name of Shull Memorial Evangelical Lutheran Church to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mrs. Grace Wilke Dreibus told her daughter, Helen Dreibus Disney, that her grandfather, Mr. William Wilke, had suggested the name change during the discussions around building a new brick church building.

On August 5, 1896, Messrs. J.F. Smith and William Wilke, together with Rev. Kuhns visited Oakland, Iowa, to see a church recommended to them to duplicate. The trip was made by buggy going and returning the same day some 72 miles. On September 1, 1896, Bell and Kent, Architects, Council Bluffs, Iowa, were invited to furnish plans similar to that of the church in Oakland. On October 5, 1896, at a congregational meeting, the church council was empowered to enter into a contract to build the church. Ground was broken for the new church building on Wednesday, October 7, 1896. On Sunday, October 25, 1896, the cornerstone of the new Grace Church was laid. On Sunday, August 5, 1897, the church was formally dedicated. The total cost for the new building, its furnishings, and moving the old chapel to the south was $5,759.87.

There were additions to the building in 1901 consisting of a Pastor’s Study and in 1912 consisting of doubling the Sunday School room and excavating under the church to permit the addition of a kitchen and other accommodations.

Two fires damaged the building. The first occurred in 1912 and the second in January of 1927. The second destroyed the interior of the church. It was restored and rededicated on Sunday, December 11, 1927.

The nave of the church was enlarged and remodeled in 1949. Much of the labor and materials for this extensive project was donated by members of the church. The look of the nave remains similar today.

The increased membership of the church and also the Sunday School caused the congregation to think about either further expansion on the present site or relocation to a different site. The decision was made when the congregation approved plans for theconstruction of an education/administration unit as an addition to the north of the existing church. The unit was completed at a cost of about $80,000 and the unit was dedicated on August 25, 1957.

An all-weather parking lot was installed in June of 1962. In 1967, the congregation replaced all the stained glass windows. They remain to this day. In 1978, the northeast entry was redesigned to provide ground level entry into the church. In 1987, the church was completely air-conditioned, thanks to a gift of Mr. Leonard Peterson. In 1990, a memorial window commemorating the Centennial of the congregation was placed in the sanctuary along with new lighting to brighten the sanctuary. These were gifts of Mrs. Helen Dreibus Disney in memory of her grandparents, William and Lucinda Wilke.

A new Temple Organ was installed in December of 1999. This new organ was a combination of the parts from the Moeller Organ of 1928 and new technology. There was an additional antiphonal unit placed in the balcony along with additional pipes installed in the organ chamber. The new organ also incorporates digital technology.

A new parking lot was installed in the fall of 2011. Additional parking spaces and a redesign creates a better opportunity for access.

A new stone coated steel roof was added to the building in 2012. This special roofing replaced the asbestos tile roof that had served its purpose for many many years.

The congregation continues to be vital part of the Columbus Park Neighborhood. It continues to reevaluate its mission to provide Christian outreach and a Lutheran presence in its community. God has a purpose for its presence here.

Pastors Who Have Served The Congregation

  • Luther M. Kuhns August 23, 1888 – February 1, 1903
  • M.L. Melick May 1, 1903 – December 1, 1911
  • Clarence N. Swihart November 8, 1912 – November 8, 1918
  • Fred R. Shirck June 15, 1919 – September 23, 1920
  • A.O. Soholm February 1, 1922 – October 2, 1927
  • Luther M. Kuhns May 1, 1928 – May 1, 1929
  • Charles L. Ramme August 1, 1929 – January 26, 1930
  • George E. Mortensen February 1, 1930 – August 10, 1938
  • Henry J. Goede December 4, 1938 – July 28, 1959
  • Kenneth E. Strecker May 11, 1960 – July 15, 1966
  • Chester R. Nelson October 16, 1966 – November 19, 1972
  • Paul H. Konig June 1, 1973 – June 1, 1976
  • Dennis N. Hahle September 1, 1976 – July 31, 1983
  • Damon D. Laaker February 1, 1984 – present

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church history

It was on June 10, 1905, that the initial work was begun with a canvas of the area by Mr. Ralph w. Livers, a student attending Western Theology Seminary. The first preaching services were held on the third floor of the YMCA building on lower “N” Street on August 6, 1905. A Sunday School was organized that day with 46 students in attendance. The congregation was officially organized on October 15, 1905 with 33 charter members. Ralph W. Livers, now ordained, was called as the first pastor. Articles of Incorporation were filed for First English Evangelical Lutheran Church of South Omaha on January 26, 1909. The struggling congregation purchased its first building on the corner of 25th and K Streets in 1909.

Pastor Livers resigned due to ill health at Easter, March 27, 1910. The Rev. S. H. Yerian came to serve on May 1, 1910. Under his guidance , the congregation added on to the little church building, securing money from the Board of Church Extension of the General Synod of the Lutheran Church. The completion and dedication took place on March 12, 1911. It was at this time that the leadership realized that South Omaha would become a part of Omaha, and that the congregation could not be called First English Lutheran Church because there was another congregation by that name in Omaha. Therefore, the name St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church was chosen. The appropriate name change papers were filed with the County Clerk. Pastor Yerian resigned October 1, 1919.

The Rev. A. Krauth Walborn came to serve on February 1, 1920. The next year the congregation purchased several lots and houses on the corner of 24th & I Streets. Pastor Walborn resigned on July 30, 1924.

The Rev. D. W. Ebright came to serve on September 1, 1924. The building fund for the new church was begun. The current building was sold, and because the new owners wanted possession before the new building was completed, services were held in the new Masonic Hall while Sunday School was held upstairs at Kunold’s Mortuary.

Pastor Ebright had seen a church in a suburb of Philadelphia that he admired. He told the congregation about it, and it was decided to pattern St. Luke’s building after this church. Pastor Ebright and council member, Howard T. Corbet, traveled to Pennsylvania to the church and came back with the blueprints. The blueprints were approved and St. Luke’s was ready to begin building. Businessmen in the city thought the congregation was foolish to undertake such an effort in the depression. The congregation believed God was with them and they forged ahead.

The original plans called for the church to face 24th Street and to be built east and west. However, this was the Great Depression and it was decided to sell the corner lot to an oil company for $15,000 and use that money to begin construction. Consequently, the building faces I Street and runs north and south. The building was dedicated on Mary 6, 1932. Pastor Ebright resigned December 31, 1935.

The Rev. A. H. Pinkall came to serve on May 10, 1935. During his tenure, the mortgage on the building was retired in 1948. In 1954, and educational building was built. The cost of this new portion of the building was $94,000. It was dedicated in 1961 and the mortgage retired in 1968. The unit was named in honor of Pastor Pinkall after his retirement. He retired in July 1, 1968.

The Rev. Robert E. Shirck came to serve in September 1968. Under his leadership, significant remodeling was done. The organ was renovated and another rank of pipes added. The Bethel Bible Study Series was begun. Handbells were purchased and used for worship. Pastor Shirck retired in April 7, 1985.

The Rev. David B. Matson came to serve from November 20, 1985 to February 28, 1995.

The Rev. Robert Johnson came to serve from December 1, 1995 to June 11, 2006. The congregation celebrated its 100th Anniversary of Organization in August of 2005.

The Rev. Patricia Webb came to serve from September 8, 2009 to March 15, 2014.