Church History |
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The history of Grace Lutheran Church goes all the way back to 1946 when some of the founding members of the congregation first arrived in a primitive China Lake. In their search for a church family, they were involved first, with the Community Church (the Station Theater), and then with the Missouri Synod congregation. But there was always a longing for a church affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, with which many of these people had been associated.
In the summer of 1955 Pastor Roger Veum and parish worker Dorothy Murray arrived as a result of a long dialogue with the Evangelical Lutheran Church. In August of 1955, 78 grateful people gathered together for the first service of the congregation in the VFW auditorium. In February of 1956 three acres of land were purchased for a building site at a cost of $4,500. Building of the former sanctuary began in June of 1957. The dedication of the sanctuary took place in January of 1958. By 1960 a Christian Education wing had been added to the facilities. In 1966 a parsonage was built next to the church. As the church membership continued to increase, steps were taken to add to our ministerial services. In the spring of 1975 a second pastor was called. The congregation began plans for a new sanctuary and office complex and in July of 1979 the ground breaking ceremony for our new facilities was held. June 1, 1980, Grace Lutheran celebrated the Service of Dedication of the new sanctuary. In 1985 the congregation completed construction of a much-needed kitchen to replace the closet-sized 1958 version. Three years later the old sanctuary was remodeled into the Fellowship Hall. Surely the Lord has been good to us and richly blessed us! |
