Our History
• 1891 — Six Norwegian immigrant families meet to begin the Little Falls Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church.
• 1893 — First location, 514 NE 3rd St in fall of 1893
• 1901 — First American-born pastor
• 1910 — English is first used in worship services
• 1922 — Name changed to “First English Lutheran Church”
• 1925-26 — Church remodeled and full basement added
• 1926 — Norwegian no longer used in worship
• 1930 — Congregation becomes self-supporting, following 35 years of mission support from national church
• 1963 — Congregation moves to new location at 2100 Riverview Drive
• 1969 — Two worship services held due to growth
• 1978 — Beginning in 1978, seven intern pastors served First Lutheran
• 1985 — Second pastor called
• 1988 — ELCA formed in 1988,
• 1990 — Membership was 951
• 1991 — The congregation name was officially changed to First Lutheran Church
• 1997 — “Building to Serve” campaign to provide adequate space for the congregation and community
• 2000 — "Children First" Christian Preschool formed, the community's only faith-based preschool
• 2009 — Some 75 families leave First Lutheran after ELCA vote, along with others from neighboring congregations to begin “Faith Lutheran”
• 2009 — Congregation is now served by a solo pastor
• 2009 — Sanctuary and gathering space were remodeled for worship and fellowship, including addition of new sound/projection technology
• 2014 — Parish Nursing program added to Staff
• 2018 — New website is launched, April, 2018
• 2020 — Building was closed, and service was recorded online due to social distancing and Covid-19 protocols.
• 2021 — The building was reopened for spatially distanced worship
• 2022 — Full in person services, confirmation classes, and Wednesday night worship resumed
• 2023 — Began livestreaming services online instead of DVD recording
• 2024 — Membership is 813
CONNECT WITH US
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email
[email protected] |
phone
320.632.6667 |
address
2100 Riverview Drive Little Falls, MN 56345 |
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© 2019 First Lutheran Church