CHRIST OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH CELEBRATES 50 YEARS IN WINFIELD
WINFIELD, IL – Members, friends, former pastors and Winfield neighbors will join together on Sunday, October 26, 2014, to celebrate Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church’s 50th Anniversary. With the theme, “Celebrating God’s Blessings – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” the 50th Anniversary events will include a special worship service at 9 a.m., with Rev. William Ameiss, former Northern Illinois District president of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, delivering the anniversary message.
Current pastor, Rev. Dr. Dennis Aubey, who has been serving the church since 2006, will lead the worship service. Founding pastor, Rev. Donald H. Hoffmann, and former pastor, Rev. James Plackner, and Rev. Donald Kretzschmar, retired Executive Director of Voice of Care, will also be present. Special music is being prepared by Roger Turek, the church’s Music Director.
Following the service, a brunch for members, guests and friends will be held at 11 a.m. to help celebrate the occasion through fellowship and the opportunity to renew old friendships.
As an added gift to the community, members, guests and the public are cordially invited to attend a Community Outreach Concert on Sunday, October 26 at 2 p.m. featuring the Wheaton College Men’s Glee Club Chorus. The chorus is under the direction of Dr. Mary Hopper, who is Professor of Choral Music and Director of Performance Studies at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music. Also an active church musician, she has served in several parishes and is currently Minister of Music at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, in Warrenville, IL. There is no charge to attend this event and everyone is welcome. The concert will be held at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 0S501 Summit Drive, in Winfield.
All Christ Our Savior Lutheran 50th Anniversary events are being sponsored by Thrivent Financial, which provided matching funds for the occasion. Thrivent Financial provides a diverse portfolio of financial products for members, including retirement plans, annuities, life insurance and health insurance to members.
Founding member perspectives
Looking back on the past 50 years are founding members Hil and Alice Teske, of Winfield, who played a key role in the church’s beginnings as a mission church, its incorporation as Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in 1963, to its role in the community today. Hil recalls many challenges in those early years that included moving from temporary locations to purchasing property on Summit Drive and building the church’s present sanctuary and parsonage, but said, “Most everyone pitched in and worked well together.” He added, “We had no trouble getting volunteers.” Hil fondly recalls many Christmas services when church was filled to capacity and folding chairs had to be brought in.
Alice Teske added that the church’s “can-do” attitude helped foster a united commitment to help maintain the church and the congregation’s desire to grow. “During these early days, many people eagerly stepped up to work together and people – young and old – helped the church grow quickly.” “Over these 50 years, God has blessed us even in hard times,” she added.
WINFIELD, IL – Members, friends, former pastors and Winfield neighbors will join together on Sunday, October 26, 2014, to celebrate Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church’s 50th Anniversary. With the theme, “Celebrating God’s Blessings – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” the 50th Anniversary events will include a special worship service at 9 a.m., with Rev. William Ameiss, former Northern Illinois District president of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, delivering the anniversary message.
Current pastor, Rev. Dr. Dennis Aubey, who has been serving the church since 2006, will lead the worship service. Founding pastor, Rev. Donald H. Hoffmann, and former pastor, Rev. James Plackner, and Rev. Donald Kretzschmar, retired Executive Director of Voice of Care, will also be present. Special music is being prepared by Roger Turek, the church’s Music Director.
Following the service, a brunch for members, guests and friends will be held at 11 a.m. to help celebrate the occasion through fellowship and the opportunity to renew old friendships.
As an added gift to the community, members, guests and the public are cordially invited to attend a Community Outreach Concert on Sunday, October 26 at 2 p.m. featuring the Wheaton College Men’s Glee Club Chorus. The chorus is under the direction of Dr. Mary Hopper, who is Professor of Choral Music and Director of Performance Studies at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music. Also an active church musician, she has served in several parishes and is currently Minister of Music at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, in Warrenville, IL. There is no charge to attend this event and everyone is welcome. The concert will be held at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 0S501 Summit Drive, in Winfield.
All Christ Our Savior Lutheran 50th Anniversary events are being sponsored by Thrivent Financial, which provided matching funds for the occasion. Thrivent Financial provides a diverse portfolio of financial products for members, including retirement plans, annuities, life insurance and health insurance to members.
Founding member perspectives
Looking back on the past 50 years are founding members Hil and Alice Teske, of Winfield, who played a key role in the church’s beginnings as a mission church, its incorporation as Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in 1963, to its role in the community today. Hil recalls many challenges in those early years that included moving from temporary locations to purchasing property on Summit Drive and building the church’s present sanctuary and parsonage, but said, “Most everyone pitched in and worked well together.” He added, “We had no trouble getting volunteers.” Hil fondly recalls many Christmas services when church was filled to capacity and folding chairs had to be brought in.
Alice Teske added that the church’s “can-do” attitude helped foster a united commitment to help maintain the church and the congregation’s desire to grow. “During these early days, many people eagerly stepped up to work together and people – young and old – helped the church grow quickly.” “Over these 50 years, God has blessed us even in hard times,” she added.
Founding youth member, Sandy Rauschenberger, of Winfield, also recalls the early years when she helped lay the cornerstone for the new church sanctuary in May 1970. The youth were very active in the church’s activities, including the youth group, Vacation Bible School and Sunday School. “Our confirmation class of four girls and one boy was very close,” Sandy said, “and we often sang for the congregation during church services, which led us to join our church adult choir later on.”
While the 50th anniversary is an occasion to look back on the church’s history, Pastor Aubey is focused today on leading the congregation into its next 50 years as the church family continues in its faithfulness, spirit and unity as a congregation. He invites all church members, friends and community neighbors to be part of the church’s 50th celebration on October 26 – and all are welcome to join us for future worship.
If you have any questions about the special worship service, brunch or Community Outreach Concert with Wheaton College’s Men’s Glee Club Chorus, please contact the church office at (630) 665-5110.
While the 50th anniversary is an occasion to look back on the church’s history, Pastor Aubey is focused today on leading the congregation into its next 50 years as the church family continues in its faithfulness, spirit and unity as a congregation. He invites all church members, friends and community neighbors to be part of the church’s 50th celebration on October 26 – and all are welcome to join us for future worship.
If you have any questions about the special worship service, brunch or Community Outreach Concert with Wheaton College’s Men’s Glee Club Chorus, please contact the church office at (630) 665-5110.