Bethesda Lutheran Church (Pine Lawn, Missouri) Records

• Rev. Louis A. Wisler 1910-1913
• Rev. William O. Schmidt, part-time 1913-1914 (also Served Zion, Ferguson)
• Rev. Frederick C. Trauterman, part-time 1915-1916 (also served Zion, Ferguson)
• Rev. Berthold von Schenk (Bethesda's first full-time pastor) 1918-1925
• Rev. Adolph A. Kollmorgen 1925-1940
• Rev. Raymond A. Krueger 1941-1952
• Rev. Frederick John William Duecker 1953-1964
• Rev. Robert A. Brockoff 1965-1970
• Rev. Clifford L. Bischoff 1970-1980
• Rev. N. Oli 1980-?

The first worship service was held in the Arcade Building on September 12. 1909, and Sunday School was organized. Bethesda Lutheran congregation organized with 17 charter members on March 28, 1911. The frame chapel was dedicated on December 10, 1911. In April 1915, a small frame building for the Day School was erected behind the church building. In June 1919, property was purchased on the corner of Suburban Avenue and Oakwood, but the relocation was abandoned. A parsonage was purchased in November 1919. The congregation voted to become incorporated in December 1919. Three additional lots were purchased in February 1920. It was resolved to build a new church in June 1920. Groundbreaking took place on August 8, 1920, the cornerstone was laid in November 1920, and dedication of the basement chapel was held on March 13, 1921. In May 1922, six additional lots between the church and parsonage were purchased. It was resolved to finish the church superstructure in April 1924. Faith Lutheran Church, Normandy, was begun in 1924 with Rev. B. Von Schenk assisting. In April 1925, the congregation decided to postpone plans for a church superstructure and built a school. The school was dedicated on September 5, 1926. The PTA was organized in 1927 and began meeting in January 1928. It was discussed to complete the church building in June 1933, but no action was taken. In January 1934 the congregation granted the pastor permission to begin branch church services and Sunday School somewhere in Pine Lawn, preferably at the Studio Theatre, but this was not done. Property was purchased at the corner of Natural Bridge and Vista Place for relocation, but the congregation did not relocate. This property was sold in March 1937. The congregation made an appeal to the district for help in the fall of 1939. The Mission Board of the Western District assumed full charge of Bethesda as a mission congregation in Summer 1940. The basement chapel was rededicated in March 1941. In September 1942 the Kindergarten was reopened. The congregation requested the District Mission Board to engage a full-time teacher in May 1943. In the Fall of 1944, the District Mission Board granted permission to proceed with a Building Program and a Building Fund was established. Sketches of the church were submitted in March 1945, but due to high costs and difficulties in getting sketches, the architect was dismissed. A different architect was engaged to provide sketches in October 1948, and those plans were accepted in March 1949. The cornerstone was laid on May 15, 1949, and the new church was dedicated on December 18, 1949. The congregation's 50th Anniversary was celebrated in 1960. In 1961, a planning committee organized to renovate the parsonage, to look at plans for a new school, and to study financing for building projects. A new parsonage was built, and the old frame school building was torn down in August 1962. Planning bonds were signed and released for the construction of an education building in October 1962. The cornerstone of the new school was laid on March 31, 1963, and the new education building was dedicated on September 15, 1963. Discussions took place to merge with Faith Lutheran in 1964, but Faith voted it down. The teacherage was sold in April 1968. Women were given suffrage on September 21, 1969. The congregation's 60th Anniversary was celebrated on March 8. 1970, and the Christian Day School closed that May. The Normandy School District then began renting the building. There was another discussion to merge with Faith in 1970, but no progress was made. This was under discussion again in 1972. The parsonage was sold in April 1974. The mortgage burning service was held in June 1974, and all indebtedness was cleared. This was the first time the congregation was debt-free since 1915. December 1974 marked the 25th Anniversary of the church superstructure. Extensive and long neglected repairs were undertaken and completed on the church and education buildings in 1975. The 75th Anniversary of the congregation was celebrated in March 1985.