Member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) |
St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church 400 North Broadway St., Medina, Ohio 44256 Membership of 850 baptized members.
Reaching toward one another in love, out to others in service, and up to God in praise.
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Home Services Times Important Dates Directions Mission Statement Vision Slogan History Ministries SECTION 4 |
HISTORICAL NOTES
CHRONOLOGY OF ST. MATTHEW EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
1938 February 6 the first service was held at 110 W. Washington St. This was the ninth church established in Medina. There were 22 charter members. 1939 Two lots were purchased on the corner of Broadway and Pearl Streets and a building fund was started. An Altar Guild was formed in November. 1948 St. Matthew became a self-supporting church. 1950 June 4 ground was broken for the current church building. The corner stone was laid on October 1.. 1951 April 29 the final service was held at 110 W. Washington St. May 6 the first service was held in the present St. Matthew building. September 16-26, dedication of the new church building. 1956 In January the new parsonage was dedicated (brick building across the street from St. Matthew). 1961 November 19 the first educational unit was dedicated. 1963 September 22 the 25th anniversary was celebrated. 1972 January 9, the congregation voted to purchase a new pipe organ. 1973 February 18, the dedication of the remodeled facilities and the blessing of the new pipe organ. February 25 celebrated the 35th anniversary and the burning of the mortgage. 1976 Resettled family from Laos. 1981 In September the new educational unit and the Otto Disch bridge (spanning the creek dividing the parking lots) were dedicated. Parsonage sold. 1982 Stephen Ministry, lay pastoral care program, initiated. 1988 The merger of the Lutheran Church in America and the American Lutheran Church Synods occurred January 1 under the name Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. February 7, the 50th anniversary was celebrated. 1989 With the calling of an associate pastor, a two ordained clergy ministry began. The ministry of Rehoboth Cottage began. In September, The Rev. Thomas W. Schwartz was installed. 1990 Installation of an elevator for handicap accessibility. 1993 April 13, completion of the Five-Year Strategic Plan. In August the nursery was updated and relocated to a visitor-friendly location. 1994 Seven sets of altar paraments were dedicated. 1996 A facility task force was appointed to carry out the plan approved by the congregation to remodel the sanctuary and the balcony. 1996 Priscilla House purchased for second Transitional Housing family. A task force was appointed to revisit the 1995 Strategic Plan. It was named "Revisioning Task Force". 1998 The 60th anniversary was celebrated with a reception in the Fellowship Hall on February 8. The Revisioning Task Force presented a Five-Star Ministry plan and it was adopted by the congregation.. Renovated the Sanctuary and Facilities. 2000 New Ministry Outreach Development Outreach initiated between five local Lutheran Church (St. Matthew, St. Paul, Living Word, Grace and Jerusalem. 2001 The first Transitional Housing Ministry's house, Rehoboth Cottage, was razed and a parking lot was added. 2002 Transitional Housing Ministry purchased a six-apartment building on Jefferson Street for government subsidized and also transitional housing. It was dedicated as Promise Place. 2003 The Rev. William R. Lucht, Jr., retired after 33 years in the ministry at St. Matthew and a Call Committee was formed to call another pastor. The Rev. Kenneth Anderson served as Interim Pastor. 2005 The Rev. Thomas W. Schwartz and the Rev. David P. Anderson were called as team pastors. They were installed on February 6, 2005, 2006 The house next to the church was purchased and dedicated on May 28 for Transitional Housing. In July it was named Faith House. 022300 |
