Grace Lutheran Church (Dodge Center, Minnesota) Records

• 1881 - 1909 Rev. G. Rumsch
• 1909 - 1915 Rev. W. Rolf
• 1915 - 1918 Rev. Koeneke
• 1918 - 1923 Rev. O. Schultz
• 1924 - 1943 Rev. F. C. Ahrens
• 1944 - 1949 Rev. E. Borchert
• 1950 - 1955 Rev. A. Mueller
• 1956 - 1958 Rev. H. K. Scharleman
• 1958 - 1968 Rev. M. Kirsch
• 1968 - 1971 Rev. B. C. Betow
• 1972 - 1982 Rev. J. C. Schildwachter
• 1982 - 1992 Rev. R. Trinklein
• 1994 - 2013 Rev. Robert Lentz

In 1887, initially, services were held in members' homes. Then the Seventh Day Baptist Church was rented for Sunday services. This congregation was organized and adopted a constitution in 1892. Incorporation was in 1898. The Congregational Church building was purchased and dedicated as Grace Lutheran Church in 1902. A parochial school started in 1910 which was taught by the pastor. A school building was built in 1920. A Sunday School was organized in 1925. The parochial school closed in 1927 due to lack of students. English services were held alternating with German services beginning in 1937. The school reopened in 1943. An architect was hired in 1947 to draw a sketch and blueprints for a new church building. Ground breaking for the new building was held on May 20, 1952 and the cornerstone was laid on July 15, 1951. The old church building and parochial school building were sold in 1952. The school closed for the second time that same year. The new church building was dedicated on June 15, 1952. The school was reopened on the second floor of the new church building. The 10th anniversary of the new church building was celebrated in 1962, and a new parsonage was dedicated on November 10, 1963. The school closed again in 1966 and the 75th anniversary of the congregation was celebrated in 1967. The old parsonage was removed in 1969. A preschool was started in 1973. A second service was added in 1979. Kindergarten was added to the school in 1981. The 100th anniversary of the church was celebrated in 1992. Sanctuary remodeling took place in 1995. First grade was added to the school in 1999 and second grade in 2000. Women suffrage went through in 2001. Third grade was added to the school in 2002, with fourth grade in 2006. The first mission trip to Point of Grace in Kenya occurred in 2015, with a second in 2017. The 125th anniversary was celebrated on August 20, 2017. The 175th anniversary of the LCMS and 70th anniversary of the dedication of the church building were celebrated in 2022.