St. Andrew’s 100th Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, June 26, 2022
Worship at 3 pm with Reception following
Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall and Gathering Space
St. Andrew’s turns 100 this year and we’re throwing a celebration you won’t want to miss!
We’ll reflect on a century of sharing the healing power of Christ’s love and share how we’ll continue to bless people’s lives in our church, in our community and around the world. The event includes:
- Worship service with reflections from Pastors Roger Eigenfeld, Michael Carlson and Amy Mihelich Smith
- Introduction of a choral composition by René Clausen
- Reception with traditional potluck appetizers with a modern twist from Scheel’s Catering
(Reception sponsored by The Foundation of St. Andrew’s)
Questions? Contact Mark Jackson, Director of Community Engagement, using our Contact Us form.
New Choral Work by Rene Clausen Commissioned for 100th Anniversary
Dr. René Clausen, retired conductor of the Concordia Choir (Moorhead), is the commissioned composer of a new work for our 100th Anniversary. Dr. Clausen is a prolific composer and our choir has sung many of his works. He chose Psalm 145 as the text. The words are appropriate for our celebration of 100 years of ministry and the music wonderfully expresses the text. The music opens with rich full dynamic sounds for “I will extol you, my God and Creator,” goes to prayerful, subdued music for “the eyes of all wait upon you,” then a triumphant dance-like section of “my mouth shall sing the praise of God” and closes with a dynamic setting of “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.” Learning music no one has ever sung or recorded has added a challenge to our discovery. You’ll hear this wonderful music on June 26th at the 100th Anniversary service with St. Andrew’s Choir and Orchestra!
Looking Back to Look Forward
More than 70 people attended the first worship service on Sunday, January 1, 1922, led by Pastor R.H. Gerberding, a field missionary sent to start a new church in the area. The congregation was formally organized on January 29 with the name “St. Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lincolntown” chosen by the first Church Council. In the century since, St. Andrew’s has been led by the Holy Spirit to Proclaim Christ, Live in Christ and Serve in our community and around the world.
St. Andrew’s choral heritage has been strong from the start. A volunteer choir was organized in the 1920s, followed by an all-women’s choir in the 1940s, multiple adult choirs, children’s and youth choirs, the Good News Band, contemporary Gathering Band, and more. Carol Bufton (pictured here in the 1980s – front row, second from right) says singing with the St. Andrew’s choir has always been part of her faith journey: “It connects us to Christians around the world and throughout time. It unites us as we sing, is a powerful teacher of the Word, and it goes with us as we take our faith into the world.”
Pastor Roger Eigenfeld (pictured here) came to St. Andrew’s in 1972, initiating an era of significant membership growth, from 1,000 to 9,000 members during his 33-year tenure. His bold vision for St. Andrew’s future became a reality when the present church campus was acquired in the early 1980s. The Great Hall building was completed in 1986, followed by the Youth and Sports Center (1991), Sanctuary (1999), and St. Andrew’s Village (2000). “Through it all, we trusted God – and we trusted one another,” Eigenfeld said, reflecting on his ministry. St. Andrew’s has continued to grow, becoming one of the largest Lutheran churches in the United States.
The late 1980s brought a renewed sense of putting faith into action through service, which led to launching the Habitat for Humanity partnership in 1992. (A build team in 2011 is pictured here.) It started when Vicki (Barton) Henry approached Pastor John Keller with an idea for a college class project – a vision that has built more than 50 homes. “It’s a mission with tangible results,” Vicki says. “We leave each day both tired and renewed.” Other local partnerships have included the Loaves and Fishes meal ministry in St. Paul, hosting TreeHouse youth outreach, Thursday Community Meals, and the creation of our Community Resource Center in 2011, with a particular focus on homelessness and housing insecurity.
