About Us

First Lutheran Evangelical Church of Redlands is one of the oldest Lutheran churches in the Inland area of Southern California, having been organized on April 21, 1901, when 12 persons met the Rev. F.V. Vierke to establish the “Zion Envangelisch Llutherische Kirche” in this city of 4,797 residents.

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In 1902, the church incorporated and services were changed from German to English and the sign read “First Evangelical Lutheran Church.”

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Services were conducted in McGinnis Hall in the Knights of Pythias Lodge at what is now 12 East State St.

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In 1904, lots were purchased for $900 at the corner of Olive Avenue and Myrtle Street and the first church building was constructed. Four years later the mortgage was burned (paid off).

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The church continued its service to the community for the next 46 years until the Rev. John D. Foerster accepted a call to be the pastor in 1950. Immediately the congregation bought an additional lot adjacent to the church and built the Parish House with room for offices and Sunday School classes.

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The growing congregation outgrew its facilities by 1960 and the congregation voted to purchase the current campus site at San Mateo Street and Cypress Avenue. Ground was broken in 1964 and the new sanctuary was dedicated in September 1966.

Seven years later, construction began on a new church educational facility and fellowship hall in January of 1973.

After 31 years as senior pastor, Rev. Foerster retired from full-time ministry in 1981 and the church called Rev. Frank Gearhart. 

The mortgage on the new campus was burned (paid off) in 1984, clearing the way for another expansion. In March of 1989, ground was broken and a $1.3 million building and remodeling program was initiated.

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A new office complex, compete with a library and workroom was built adjacent to the sanctuary along with a new chapel, nursery and music room. The First Lutheran Children’s Center education building opened in April of 1990, starting a successful pre-school ministry to the community that lasted until 2022.

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The fellowship/parish hall and kitchen were remodeled. An addition to the pipe organ was completed in 1988. And the carillon tower was updated and improved in 1994.

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In 1993, Pastors Gearhart and Chapman accepted calls to other congregations and Rev. Richard Hites was called from a parish in Victorville to be senior pastor, serving the congregation for 15 years before accepting a call to the east coast.

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The congregation celebrated the centennial year of First Lutheran in 2001 under the theme “Receiving from the Past, Giving to the Future.” A 100th anniversary dinner was celebrated at Edwards Mansion adjacent to the San Bernardino County Museum. 

The late Joyce Muckenfuss was chair of a 17-member committee that not only organized the year-long celebration but produced a 180-page Legacy book telling the story of the congregation’s first 100 years. 

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Average worship attendance at that time was 313 covering three Sunday services and the annual budget was $452.000. 

 

Rev. Kim Krogstad accepted a call to serve First Lutheran in 2012. She continued in that role until her retirement from full-time ministry in 2022. When Covid-19 spread in late 2019 and early 2020, Sunday services were suspended for several months and members viewed video-taped sermons on the website. Later in-person worship took place in the parking lot and eventually led to a return to worship in the sanctuary with masks and social distancing.

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The Covid-19 pandemic also forced the closure of the Children’s Center in 2020. A brief re-opening in 2021-22 could not be sustained due to lack of state-mandated staffing and insufficient enrollment and the center ceased operations.

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Rev. Woody Hall became the church’s next interim pastor that year and served the congregation through the extensive transition and call process until Rev. Rachel Reeder accepted the call to First Lutheran in the fall of 2023. 

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At the same time, a privately-operated “Star Kids” preschool opened and is now in its second year of operation. It is not affiliated with the church.

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As of the start of 2024, average worship attendance was 111 of which 66 were in-person and 45 worshipped via our streaming video service. The proposed budget for 2024 was $362,415.00.

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The congregation welcomed Lauren Schafer as our new office administrator in August, 2024. Tom Olsen continues our audio-visual technician responsible for our worship video streaming service and sound system.

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“God’s Work, Our Hands” is still the mission at First Lutheran where loving hearts and hands are at work each day, continuing the task started so many years ago by that tiny group of believers.

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The church continues to volunteer or contribute to many community-based organizations like Central City Lutheran Mission, Family Services Association, Youth Hope as well as support the Pacifica Synod and ELCA ministries.

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Among the ministries active within the congregation are Altar Guild, Usher team,  Counters, Property Committee, Endowment Committee, Financial Secretary, COMIC Quilters, Book Club, Zoom Bible study with Pastor Rachel, Chancel Choir, Adult Forum, Music (organ and piano and choir director),  and Lutheran Retreats Camps and Conferences. 

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First Lutheran remains an inclusive congregation serving a diverse community. Members are anticipating celebrating the quasquicentennial in April of 2026, marking 125 years of continuous ministry in Redlands.