HISTORY OF ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH
The history of St. John’s goes back to 1877. The creation of St. John’s Lutheran Church was brought about by a committee of the Lutheran church residing in Millheim, which met on April 28, 1877 to discuss the viability of organizing a congregation there.
On August 25, 1877, a second meeting was held where it was reported that the U.B. Church could be rented at an annual rent of not exceeding fifteen dollars. The committee also reported that they were offered a choice building lot, the corner of Penn and Mill Streets, as a free gift. After hearing the report, a resolution was made to organize a Lutheran congregation in Millheim to be connected with the Aaronsburg charge. It was passed unanimously.
On October 13, 1877, a third and final meeting preliminary to the organization of the congregation was held. A charter was adopted and the first council was named. The first church council meeting was held on October 27, 1877, during which by-laws were adopted. And it was at this meeting that the U.B. Church was rented for $15 per year.
The first regular worship service was held Sunday evening, December 30, 1877, with Pastor John Tomlinson of the Aarons burg Charge, preaching the sermon in English. The sermons were delivered in German and in English on alternating Sundays.
In March, 1878, the congregation decided to establish regular congregational prayer meetings to be held on Wednesday evenings at the United Brethren Church. At the time there were forty-five members enrolled or who had made application for membership. The first Communion Service was held on Easter, April 21, 1878 with nineteen members communing.
A congregational meeting was called for December 8, 1880, to take action in reference to the building of a Lutheran Church in Millheim. Another meeting was held on January 5, 1881, where it was reported that a sum of about $4,000 is necessary to build da church suited to our purposes. A subscription was started and the sum of $1595 was subscribed at the meeting. On January 19, 1881, it was decided at a t congregational meeting to accept the lot on Mill and Penn Streets offered to them in 1877. An architect, J.C. Nesbit of Lewisburg, was employed to draw up plans.
On October 16, 1881, the cornerstone for the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church was laid, and on Sunday, December 31, 1882, the dedication of the Chapel was held. The entire building was dedicated on February 20, 1884. The entire cost of the church proper, the furnishings and outside improvements up to the day of the dedication was about $7500. A final accounting in 1886 noted that everything cost a total of $8,042.19.
A piece of land containing seven acres and one hundred thirty-two perches a short distance west of Millheim was purchased in May, 1885, for the purpose of establishing a cemetery. The cost of the land was $1,050, and the name dedicated for the burial grounds was Fairview Cemetery.
Mrs. Polly Keen, a member of the congregation, presented a marble baptismal font to St. John’s in 1892. This baptismal font is still used today.
In 1924, the family of Mrs. Lizzie B. Kurzenknabe, the daughter of Jonathan Harter, offered to present a memorial in the form of organ chimes provided the church installed a pipe organ within a year. The offer was accepted. A committee went to the Moller Organ Company of Hagerstown, Maryland. A special price of $2250 was secured. The first organist elected was Mrs. A.H. Stover, assisted by Margaret Mensch. During 1938 and 1939, the congregation decided to renovate the church building and purchase a new Moller pipe organ.
On January 3, 1956, a special meeting of the congregation was held to accept a bid on the new addition of a parish house. The addition was dedicated on December 2, 1956.
In 1960, the Church Council accepted sponsorship of the Boy Scout program in the Penns Valley Area.
The Epistle, the church newsletter made its debut in 1961.
Easter Sunday, April 22, 1962, was the first time Church Sacramental Wine was used at a Communion Service instead of the traditional grape juice.
At a meeting of the church council in January 1966, the Building Evaluation Committee recommended that the services of an architect be secured to determine the physical soundness of the facilities and to draw up plans to provide for our future needs as recommended by the Christian Education Committee. In April 1967, the congregation voted that the plans submitted by they architect be approved, and that authorization be given to build according to the plans. The education wing that was built is now the home of the St. John’s Childhood Center.
There are countless individuals who have contributed their time, talents and treasure to St. John’s Lutheran Church. We owe thanks to everyone, past and present, for their service to Christ and this congregation.
We celebrate 143 years of ministry in our community, may we remember with love and thanksgiving that we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses that have made our ministry possible!