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The First Lutheran Church of Lake Elsinsore turns 65 this February, and the church has announced plans for an anniversary celebration Sunday, Feb. 12, starting with the morning service at 10:30 a.m., a luncheon at 11:45 a.m., and a celebration ceremony at 1:30 pm.  Brian Tisdale, Lake Elsinore Mayor, is expected to attend the ceremony, long-time members will share memories of the church in years past, and musical entertainment will be presented. A special pictoral show will feature photos of past and present during the luncheon.

      The Rev. Kevin Kolander, pastor of First Lutheran Church the past 15 years, invites the community to share the church’s history with the members and special guests, starting with the traditional Sunday service at 10:30 a.m. A spaghetti luncheon will be served by the church youth, and the anniversary celebration ceremony will immediately follow lunch at 1:30 p.m. “We would love to see anyone in the community share our celebration of faith,” Kolander said, “especially anyone who has ever been a member here.”

      Kolander said that the celebration would include “memory lane comments” by some members who remember when, how, and why the church started in the then small, dusty and remote town of Elsinore, California.  At the time, Elsinore had less than 2000 people, a military academy, one of the only high schools in the area, and a thriving spa business served by a train station.  World War II had just ended, and young men were returning home to start new lives and families, and the Lutherans of the Missouri Synod coming to the Elsinore valley wanted their own church. At the time, the nearest Lutheran churches were in Corona and Perris.

First Lutheran found its start in early 1946 as a mission congregation, and the first voters’ meeting was held May 28, 1946 with officers selected, a name for the church, a constitution adopted, and the Ladies’ Society was organized. In 1974 the Rev. Rodger Gredvig was installed as the first “called minister” to the pulpit. Since September 1998 the Rev. Kevin L. Kolander has served the congregation.

      Sixty-five years later, the church is still in the same location, which has survived and thrived as Southwestern Riverside County has doubled in population, and (now renamed) Lake Elsinore has mushroomed to over 52,000 residents.  The church facilities have been expanded twice since the original military surplus building was purchased—in March 1982 a new sanctuary was dedicated, and in Nov. 2002 First Lutheran dedicated an expansion of the Fellowship Hall complete with a commercial-grade kitchen.  Rev. Kolander said the church looks forward to “continued service and growth in the Lake Elsinore community.”

      More information can be obtained by contacting the church.  We would especially love to hear from any past member.

The church is located at the corner of Sumner and Lindsay streets at 600 West Sumner St., only 4 blocks north of Main Street and 2 blocks east of West Graham Ave.  Take the Main Street exit from the 15 Freeway toward town, turn right at Sumner and go 5 blocks to the church.

January-February 2012 Crosscurrents Newsletter.  Click to view!
 

November / December 2011 Cross Currents Newsletter.  Click to view.See archived Cross Currents Newsletters here.