HISTORY OF ST. LUKE’S 1919-2009

1919 - Request to Mission Board of Atlantic District to establish a congregation. Candidate Henry L.Koepchen ordained and installed in St. Luke’s, New York City, by his father, Rev. William Koepchen. House purchased at 210 Westfield Ave. by Church Extension Fund for $7000.

1922 - Trustees negotiated to purchase All Saints Episcopal Chapel and property at the corner of Westfield and Elmora Avenues.

1923 - Congregation becomes self supporting.First service held at new location on April 29th with 45 members.

1926 - Property at Elmora and Westfield Avenues sold and title taken to present property at Hillside and Colonia Roads.

1927 - Service of Dedication was held for our new Tudor Gothic styled church.

1956 - Property purchased at 867 Westfield Ave for Sunday school, meetings, etc.

1957 - Vicar William Mitschke sought to assist Pastor Koepchen after he suffered a serious illness. In November, Pastor Koepchen was called to his heavenly home. Vicar Mitschke continued as student pastor until January 1958.

1958 - Rev. James von Schenk, former Army Chaplain, was installed at St. Luke’s.

1961 - Pastor von Schenk called to serve Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bronx.In April, a call was issued to Pastor Mitschke. Installed on June 18th.

1962 - Large memorial stained glass window dedicated to memory of Pastor Koepchen who served faithfully for 38 years.

1967 - New Communion Rail and Chancel alterations dedicated on March 12th.

1969 - Construction of choir area, chamber for organ pipes and console, sacristy, and private office for Pastor. Dedication in October. Pastor Mitschke accepts call to Good Shepherd, Old Bridge, NJ.

1970 - Divine call issued to Rev. Willis Poggemeier. Installed on August 30th. New five rank, two manual pipe organ dedicated on September 20th at a special organ recital given by our organist, Mrs. Glare Coxson.

1971 - All members 18 years and older granted voting rights.

1981 - Due to declining membership, the Voters Assembly voted to return to one service each Sunday and Holy Communion the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays.

1982 - Pastor Poggemeier accepted a call to St. Paul’s in Marshfield, MO. Call issued to candidate . Bragdon. Ordained and installed on July 11th.

1987 – Pastor Dennis J. Bragdon accepts call to Mt. Calvary, LaGrange, Texas.

1988 - Reverend John B. Warther was installed on July 10th.

1989 - Mission statement adopted by the congregation. Dedication of new “Lutheran Worship” hymnals.

1992 - Friendship Sunday, Intergenerational Sunday School and Annual Picnic.

1993 - Renovation of first floor of the Parish Center due to a water leak. Second annual Friendship Sunday, Intergenerational Sunday School and Picnic.

1994 - Glare Coxson, our organist for 45 years, honored at Third Friendship Sunday, Intergenerational Sunday School and Picnic. She has retired and will live in Fitchburg, MA.

- Annual Vacation Bible School held the last week in July.

- New organist, Gertrude Mintzer, hired in August.

1994 - The congregation celebrated the 75 th Anniversary Reunion.

1998 - in June the congregation celebrated the 10 th Anniversary of Pastor Warther’s graduation, and his farewell party. Pastor Warther accepted a call to a congregation in Maryland.

1999 – Pastor James F. Pemberton was called from the Seminary, ordained and installed in July; he served the congregation until mid 2002

2000 - Gertrude Mintzer retired in April.

2000 – Helen Bermel was hired as the new organist in May, and she was the congregation’s organist until May 2008.

2003 – Pastor Erik A. Riecker accepted our call and was installed in May. He served the congregation until June 2005.

2008 – Pastor Paul S. Basil accepted the call from St. Luke’s and was installed in January 2009. After Pastor Basil’s installation some significant changes in our congregation were made.

- Communion Services were started each Sunday

- Dedication of new “Lutheran Service Book” hymnals

- the Table of Fellowship was established on a regular basis

- the Church went online