I wrote an article for the September Messenger about building the new church in 1971-72 and the dedication on September 10, 1972. There will be a special recognition of the 50th anniversary during worship on October 2, with a reception following the service. Below are some additional notes about the building that might be of interest.
- The building consists of 11,000 square feet, including a narthex (foyer) of 2000 square feet – much larger than the very small narthex in the old church.
- The sanctuary (nave) is designed in “arena style” with a seating capacity of 350, compared to 125 in the previous sanctuary.
- Site and restoration work had to be done in the old Parish Hall to make it more usable: kitchen removed (now choir room); classroom refurbished (now office for music director/Cantor); stage removed (now choir robe closet and handbell storage; assembly room (now gym).
- The Senior Choir previously robed and assembled in the Parish Hall and walked outside (in any weather) to get to the church. They processed in the sanctuary from front to back where the choir loft and organ were located.
- In an interview for “The Lutheran” magazine, architect Herman Hassinger was asked what it was like to design a church for his own congregation. He replied, “It is a lot like doing your own open heart surgery.”
- Herman and Doris Hassinger died tragically in a plane crash in October 2012. Information from the family said Herman, an experienced pilot, suffered a heart attack while piloting his plane. He and Doris, also a licensed pilot, were on their way from their Block Island home to the board meeting of a private school in New Hampshire where 2 children and a grandchild had graduated and where he had served as a trustee for over 30 years. They had known each other since 4th grade in Philadelphia. The building he had designed and used for his office on our church property was sold earlier this year.
- In 1976 the church won a design award given by the Guild for Religious Architecture, an affiliate of the American Institute of Architects. In making the award, the jury recognized outstanding American religious buildings constructed over the previous five years. The jury commented, “the design was a very well done and thought through building, with carefully integrated scale, nice attention to detail, very cleanly and tastefully executed.”
- (To correct an error in the September Messenger) In the Service of Dedication there were bearers of items for the church, designed by Herman and made by people in the congregation. Pastor Jensen was the Liturgist and the preacher was former Pastor, The Reverend Edwin Ehlers, President of the New Jersey Synod of the Lutheran Church in America.
- The 19 rank Wicks Pipe Organ was not installed until the fall of 1972 and has since been upgraded.
- The building mortgage was “burned” (paid off) in 1986 during a worship service.
- Times have changed: In 1972 there were 12 people serving on the Church Council (as it was known then): 9 men and 3 women. On this year’s Congregation Council there are 4 men and 8 women. The Building Commission consisted of 14 men, 1 woman; and the Capital Fund Campaign General Committee included 7 men, 2 women.
- Other indicators of changing times: In the bulletin/program for the Dedication Service married women’s names were listed using the husband’s name; i.e., Mrs. William Sheppard instead of Virginia Sheppard and Mrs. Lester Bower instead of Rozella Bower (as they would be today), etc.
There are a few of us who are still church members who have good memories of that “Time To Build Up” and that special day 50 years ago. We give thanks for the 7 pastors who served us well since then (including 2 associate pastors and 1 second pastor, plus vice pastors and interns). We look forward to the ongoing ministry of Pastor Trozzo and those who are assuming leadership roles in many areas of our congregation’s life and service. We also pray for God’s continued blessings on all of those who will follow after us, worshiping in this building and serving in the ministry of this good church in the community and throughout the world. To God be the Glory!