A History of Mount Olive
Mount Olive was started as a mission of Lutheran Church of the
Redeemer in St. Paul in 1908, under the leadership of Pastor O. C.
Kreinheder.
The first services were conducted in the “Old Republican Wigwam”
on Lake Street.
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April 19, 1909 the congregation was formally organized as
a parish of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, with sixteen
charter voting members and forty communicants. Mount Olive
called its first pastor, the Rev. Herman Prange (who
served until 1921).
Two lots at the corner of Chicago Avenue and 31st Street
were purchased in 1909 at a cost of $1,900. Building began
on June 1 and the first church was dedicated on the Sunday
before Christmas. A third lot was purchased in 1910 and a
parsonage erected. |
The young congregation quickly
outgrew its first building.
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Construction
of current building 1925-31 |
 The
Rev. Theo H. Schroedel succeeded Pastor Prange on April
10, 1921. During his pastorate of nearly 42 years (ending
in 1962), all the present facilities were erected. A current
church structure was begun in 1925, and until 1931 the congregation
held worship services in the basement area. The present Gothic
church was dedicated on January 25, 1931. The total cost of
the building was $100,750.
The education wing project began in 1951 when a new parsonage
was secured. In 1953 additional lots were purchased and in
1956 the wing was started. Dedication was held on February
17, 1957. The cost, including furnishings and architect fees,
was $268,566. |
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Dr. Paul Manz came to Mount Olive in 1946 as Director of Christian Education
and Music. He led Mount Olive in worship and singing for 37
years, ending as its first Cantor. Dr. Manz instituted Mount
Olive's venerable tradition of hymn festivals, and his compositions
and teachings have influenced music in the Lutheran church
worldwide.
On June 8, 1958 the Rev. Herbert Mueller came to Mount
Olive as an Associate Pastor. He served the congregation with
kindness and grace until his sudden death on June 19, 1961.
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In 1965 an extensive renovation of the church and the undercroft
was completed and the Louise Schroedel Memorial Library was
established. On October 2, 1966, a new organ was dedicated.
Specifications for the three-manual and pedal pipe organ in
the west gallery and the antiphonal organ in the north transept
was designed by Herman Schlicker in collaboration with Dr.
Manz. In early 1966 the congregation purchased four parcels
of land at 31st and Chicago. The houses were removed and the
land was developed as a parking facility for Mount Olive. |
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The Rev. Alton Wedel assumed the pastorate on January
18, 1962 and served until 1984. |
In 1976 the congregation voted to end its 67-year old relationship
with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and to join instead with
the new Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC). When
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was formed in 1988, all
AELC parishes became a part of the ELCA.
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In August 1984, Mr. Mark Sedio came to Mount Olive
as Music and Youth Coordinator. In October 1986 the congregation
extended a call to him to be Mount Olive’s Cantor. He
served until 2000.
September of 1984 saw the advent of a stronger role for community
ministry at Mount Olive, as Ms.
Donna Neste joined the staff as the Neighborhood Ministries
Coordinator. Through more than 20 years of innovative ministry,
she has designed and administered programs that address the
needs of Mount Olive's neighborhhood, including a free legal
clinic, tutoring for local children and an after school jobs
program for teenagers.
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In early 1995 plans were approved to make Mount Olive’s
facilities handicapped accessible. A new grade level entry
way to the education building was constructed, an elevator
was installed, and a handicapped accessible restroom was added.
The entry foyer and elevator were dedicated in honor of Pastor
Wegener, who helped inspire the construction through his vision
of the church as a house of God for all people. |
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The Rev. Mark Wegener became Mount Olive’s fifth
pastor upon his installation on November 24, 1985. |
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In December 1997 the Rev. William
Heisley accepted the call to become Mount Olive’s
sixth pastor. His installation service was held on Transfiguration
Sunday, February 22, 1998, and he serves faithfully to this
day.
In August, 2000 Dr. David Cherwien
began his ministry as Cantor at Mount Olive. He concurrently
serves as Director of the
National Lutheran Choir and as adjunct faculty at Luther
Seminary in St. Paul for the Masters of Sacred Music program.
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Mount Olive's Vicars
Since 1955, Mount Olive has undertaken it's call to raise up new
leaders for the church. Each year in the fall, a new intern comes
from seminary to engage the challenges of pastoral ministry under
the mentorship of our pastor and staff, our lay support committee
and our congregation. Mount Olive's vicars have gone on to serve
the church as pastors, lay leaders and seminary professors.
| 1955-56 - Robert W. Gentzke
1956-57 - Roger E. Klemz
1957-58 - Martin J. Luecke
1963-64 - Thomas T. Stephan
1964-65 - Gary A. Muehler
1965-66 - Wayne Rutz
1966-67 - Dale Banke
1967-68 - David C. Yagow
1968-69 - Paul K. Schwartzkopf
1969-70 - Werner K. Boos
1970-71 - H. Martin Miller
1971-72 - Leslie F. Weber, Jr.
1972-73 - Ronald C. Neustadt
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1973-74 - Timothy T. Weber
1974-75 - Robert A. Rimbo
1974-75 - James A. McDaniels
1975-76 - Patrick R. Keifert
1976-77 - Stephen G. Haschig
1977-78 - Brian J. Claasen
1978-79 - Glenn A. Seefeldt
1979-80 - David P. Schreiber
1991-92 - Arden D. Haug
1992-93 - Stephan Schmid
1993-94 - Peter J. Soli
1994-95 - Gary L. Anholt
1995-96 - Christine A. Wenzel |
1996-97 - Kirsten Mebust
1997-98 - Gloria J. Anderson
1998-99 - Micah Stumme
1999-2000 - Heather Vietz
2000-01 - Carrie Scheller
2001-02 - Laurie Underkoffler
2002-03 - Mark Youngdahl
2003-04 - Edward Daniel Ruen
2004-05 - Jean Hay
2005-06 - Adam Roberts
2007 - Jennifer R. P. McCurry
2007-08 - Mark Niethammer
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