THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2008
Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit Marks 50 Years In Elk Grove
By TOM ROBB
Journal Reporter
After Rev. Martin Marty graduated from the seminary in 1955 he was sent to be the Lutheran Missionary at Large in the Northwest suburbs. He then founded Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Elk Grove Village 1958.
And now Marty is being called upon again to preach at the church's 50th anniversary celebration later this year.
The church is in the middle of a yearlong celebration, which began last year during the Christmas season with the church's Live Nativity.
As the church remembers the past, they welcomed a new pastor, Rev. Timothy Manwell last year. Manwell comes to the church from rural Michigan with his wife Stacey of 24 years (in May) and two children, sixth grader Caleb and eighth grader Jared.
The church's anniversary observances brought them to Village Hall last week when Rev. Manwell and others from the church presented a certificate of appreciation to Mayor Craig Johnson and the Village Board.
The church began with 160 members when its first building was dedicated on 6.5 acres of land donated by the Centex Corporation in 1960.
The church is still in its original location at Elk Grove Boulevard and Lions Drive.
The original address of the church was 666 Elk Grove Blvd. That address was later changed to reflect its frontage at 150 Lions Drive.
Membership would swell in the mid 1970's to a peak of between 1,500 to 1,600 people when the church held three services on Sunday mornings and one during the week, according to church historian Gert Stoffregen.
At the time, the church had 400 to 500 Sunday School students.
Membership now stands at about 500, according to Rev. Manwell, and about 100 can be found filling the pews on Sunday mornings.
The church has been through several pastors, the longest serving of whom still lives in Elk Grove Village.
Rev. Marty left the church in 1963 to return to the University of Chicago's School of Divinity where he taught until he was 75 years old.
In 1963, after Marty left the church, Dr. Roger Pittelko served the church for almost half its life for 23 years. He went on to become Bishop of the English District that incorporates 17 states in the United States and one Canadian province.
Stoffregen said when Rev. Marty first came to the Northwest suburbs in 1956, he traveled through Palatine, Arlington Heights and Schaumburg looking to form a congregation.
He found one that had already formed in Schaumburg.
People from the Schaumburg congregation told Rev. Marty that a model-planned community was being formed in (then) Elk Grove Township.
Rev. Marty met Elk Grove Village's "founding father" Charles "Chick" Hodlmair.
After several proposed sites the church found its current home.
Events are being held at the church each month this year to commemorate the 50th anniversary.
After the Living Nativity last December, the church youth group held a talent show followed by a spaghetti dinner. On February 14, couples renewed their vows at the church for Valentine's Day followed by a dinner catered by the church men's group.
In March the church used a multi media presentation to virtually walk through the story of the "Passion of Christ".
This month the church gave certificates of appreciation to the village, and school districts 214, 59 and others in Schaumburg and recognized important church leaders at their service last Sunday.
Next month on Saturday, May 17, the church will hold a Lady's High Tea, and in June there will be a garden walk on Wednesday, June 25. On Sunday, July 24 the church will celebrate an outdoor service that will be followed by a picnic that will double for Rev. Manwell's first year anniversary. On Thursday, Aug. 28 the church will hold an evening prayer service.
September's events have not been detailed. Oktoberfest will be held at the church on Saturday, Oct. 18.
The culmination of the year long celebration will happen on Sunday, Nov. 30 when Rev. Marty will preach.