Cedar Crest Lutheran Church (White Lake Township, Michigan)

Cedar Crest Church was begun in 1929 in four new subdivisions in the area called Cedar Crest. The church was intended to be a community church. After three unsuccessful attempts, the effort was abandoned, and the half-completed building stood empty until 1934. Due to the efforts of Lutherans living in the area, the church building and property were deeded to the English District of the LCMS, with the provision that the building would be completed within a given period of time, that it always be used as a church, and that it always have the name Cedar Crest. The first service was held in the basement of the church on November 25, 1934, as the chapel area was not completed. The church building was dedicated on May 2, 1937. The congregation was formally organized in 1939 and admitted to the English District of the LCMS in 1940. The tenth anniversary was celebrated on November 26, 1944. The first parsonage was purchased in 1945. A massive rebuilding program had been undertaken by the members of the church, and their efforts resulted in a dedication service on June 5, 1955. The dedication of an educational unit took place on January 18, 1959, even though a fire had broken out in the basement of that building. The fire was contained in the furnace room. The unit was utilized as a Sunday School, Christian Day School, and fellowship hall. The congregation celebrated the 25th anniversary in 1959 as well. In March 1959, the Voters' Assembly had unanimously voted to open a Christian Day School that September. The third building in the Cedar Crest complex was a brick school built in 1963. In 1963, Cedar Crest was transferred from the English District to the Michigan District. The school building was dedicated in January 1964. The school had to close in 1967, so students were transferred to Saint Matthew Lutheran School in Walled lake. From 1971-1973, Saint Timothy, Waterford operated their Christian Day School in the Cedar Crest school building. Cedar Crest's 50th anniversary was celebrated in 1984. at that time, Cedar Crest declined a proposal to relocate and merge with Peace Lutheran Church. The 1990s were difficult times for the congregation, with declining membership, though many loyal members continued their support. In 2001, the congregation sold the parsonage, and some of that money was used to several major improvements, including a paved parking lot, new sign, sound system, lighting. Ten thousand dollars was set aside from the sale for mission projects. Cedar Crest celebrated their 70th anniversary in 2004 and sent their own mission team to Nicaragua. Many building improvements were completed betweern 2006 and 2009. The 80th anniversary was celebrated in 2014. This congregation closed on January 13, 2020.

• Rev. William F. Mundt 1934-1945
• Rev. Otto T. Deifenbach 1945-1948
• Rev. Eugene C. Ryding 1948-1954
• Rev. Howard Claycombe 1954-1960
• Rev. Ronald A. Michael 1961-1965
• Rev. Earle T. Beck 1966-1970
• Rev. Richard D. Paul 1970-1981
• Rev. David A. Jung 1982-1987
• Rev. Robert A. Dibell 1988-1998
• Rev. Fred W. Traugott 1998-2000
• Rev. Paul E. Wargo 2000-2006
• Rev. Kirk W. Abatelli 2006-2009
• Various Guest Preachers 2009-2011
• Rev. Aaron Reickert 2011-2013
• Deacon Steve Smith 2011-2014
• Deacon Ronald C. Nieman 2014-?