History at a glance
The 70's
The 50's
The 70's
Added stained-glass and a balcony to the sanctuary. Pastor Ashley retires.
The 80's
The 2000's
The 80's
Welcomed Pastor Spong, launched the pre-school and installed the pipe organ.
The 90's
The 2000's
The 80's
Welcome pastors Hall, Young, Fricke, and Cavendish. Added the chapel and bell tower.
The 2000's
The 2000's
The 2000's
Welcome pastors Schacht and Miller and several actrivities sourounding our 50th anniversary.
The 10's
The Future
The Future
Continue to grow our programs: scholarship, refugee project, ...
The Future
The Future
The Future
We hope to continue to shine the Light of Christ through service to others and spiritual growth for ourselves.
History - (Still under construction)
1955 - Began
April - Pastor Martin Ashley arrives to call on prospective members and determines the need for a church.
September - First service with Pastor Ashley in the parsonage living room
December - First service in the House Chapel at 330 South 84th Street.
1956 - Congregation Established
April - The congregation is organized with 70 charter members
1959 - Pastor Traub Joins
Pastor Walter C. Traub joins Morning Star as co-pastor with Pastor Ashley after retiring from Kontze Memorial Lutheran Church. Pastor Traub serves from 1959 through 1967.
1958 - Received Property
December - Recied gift of porerty at 311 South 85th Street as a memorial to Carl A. and Caroline G. Swanson.
60's
1961 - New building
March 19 - Groundbreaking service held for the new church building
April - Construction underway
December 16 - Dedication of the main sancuary of the new church at a cost of $321,845.
1964 - Order of St. John
Organized by John Boyer
1966 - Fund for Education Wing
Congregation grows and plans are made to add an education wing for a church office and classrooms.
1967 - Altar Guild
Altar guld created.
Pastor Traub retires.
1968 - Order of Ruth
Order of Ruth established.
1969 - Education Wing Dedicated
March 18 - Education wing is dedicated.
Pastor Roger Shewanick joins to serve as assistant pastor from 1969 through 1972.
70's
1971 - Stained-glass windows
The first of the stained-glass window along the sides of the sanctuary are installed. These depict the stories of the Bible.
1972 - Pastor Arganbright
Dr. Burd Arganbright is welcomed as a Visitation Pastor.
1973 - Fund Missionaries
Morning Star funds church members Dr. and Mrs. Jack Lausterer as medical missionaries to Liberia
1974 - Balcony Completed
Construction of a balcony in the back of the sancuary is completed.
1977 - Pastor Ashley Retires
Pastor Ashley retires after 22 years of ministry.
1978 -
Large stained-glass window in the west end of the church is dedicated,
Pastor Richard Faust begins his ministry at Morning Star.
Pastor Faust
80's
1980 - New Paraments
New altar paraments designed by member Richard Thompson are completed and still used today.
1984 - Pastor Spong
Pastor David Spong arrives and continues his ministry until 1998.
1985 - Pre-school begins
Morning Star Lutheran Church Preschool and Child Care Center is opened under its first director Gloria Spong.
90's
1993 - Pastor Hall
Welcome Pastor Peggy hall to serve as Associate Pastor
1996 - Chapel and bell tower
Morning Star celebrates its 40th Anniversary with several gifts
- $40,000 for a new mission church
- $5,000 for Habitat for Humanity
- $110,000 to build and chapel and bell tower.
1999 - Pastor Fricke
2000's
2000 - Pastor Cavendish
Welcome Assistant Pastor Brent Cavendish from 2000 through 2002.
2002 - Pastor Schacht
2004 - Bringing the Light of Christ
"Bringing the Light of Christ to All Creation" is adopted as Morning Star's vision statement.
2005 - Pastor Miller
April - Welcome new lead pastor Tom O. Miller.
December 3 - Kick-off of 50th Anniversary Celebration
2006 - 50th Anniversary
April 29 - Special anniversary service and dinner.
10's
Pastor Gayle
Welcome intrum Pastor Gayle
2013 - Pastor Chris