[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 93 (Monday, June 13, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E892-E893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CELEBRATING THE HISTORY OF ST. LUCAS LUTHERAN CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 13, 2016

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize St. Lucas Lutheran 
Church in South Toledo. On Sunday, June 12, the church dedicated a 
state historic marker as part of its 130th anniversary celebration. The 
celebration began on Mothers Day 2016 with a concert featuring the 
Toledo Symphony's Brass Quintet.
  St. Lucas is a progressive Lutheran Church wrapping itself around its 
congregants in their faith journeys. It describes itself as ``a faith 
community of many ministries and many ministers. In all we do we strive 
to glorify Jesus Christ.''
  The church began on March 21, 1886 when a group of people met in the 
home of Louis Burman to discuss the formation of a Lutheran church in 
Toledo's southern neighborhood to serve the Germans settling there. 
Though first meeting in borrowed space, by 1887 the congregation had 
its own church building and parsonage on Walbridge Avenue. With both 
German and English services, a Ladies Aid Society, Young People's 
Society and choir, the church was well established. Though these 
organizations were briefly disbanded, by 1897 they were a permanent 
part of the mission of St. Lucas. That same year, a monthly paper was 
published in coordination with two other congregations, with an 
eventual readership in 1200 homes.
  As it grew, the church outgrew its space and the last services in St. 
Lucas' first church building were held on May 8, 1910. The new building 
was a reflection of the church's origins as a German mission church and 
built in the Gothic revival style. During the 1911 dedication 
celebration of the new church building, the congregation received a 
German language Bible inscribed by Kaiser Wilhelm II. The dedication 
also saw the first English-speaking sermon, offered by Pastor Hugo 
Hamfeldt. Soon Sunday services were spoken in English. The church 
undertook renovations in 1931, 1945, 1961 and as part of its 1986 
centennial celebration in order to ``enhance and update the

[[Page E893]]

worship atmosphere.'' In the 1960s as the ecumenism movement 
flourished, St. Lucas was a charter member of the Old South End's 
ecumenical organization known as CROSS (Christians Relating Our Savior 
on the South Side.) CROSS has engaged in exchanges in the pulpit, 
Thanksgiving Eve and Unity Good Friday services, Feed Your Neighbor 
food pantry and children's summer services. As the neighborhood 
changed, St. Lucas continued to adapt itself, ``taking risks for the 
sake of the Gospel.'' It now sits in the heart of a neighborhood with 
many challenges, yet the church soldiers on meeting the needs of its 
congregation and neighborhood through outreach.
  Now as it comes to its 130th anniversary, St Lucas Lutheran Church 
proudly dedicates a historic marker outlining the church's history in 
the neighborhood. A special feature of the dedication ceremony is the 
world premiere of a hymn which was commissioned especially for the 
130th anniversary. With words and music by the parish's husband and 
wife team of Michael and Karen Biscay, Choirmaster Ron Lang conducts 
the St. Lucas Choir, accompanied by organist Jamie Dauel in the fast-
ever performance of the anthem. At its 125th anniversary, the Biscays 
wrote a hymn in tribute to the congregation's German heritage and this 
work is also featured in Sunday's dedication ceremony. I was pleased to 
join the congregation and members of our community in celebrating this 
joyous occasion.
  St. Lucas Lutheran Church stands today in testament to the faith and 
perseverance of its members through the ages. Generations have 
worshiped together, prayed together, served together. Truly, it can be 
said of St. Lucas that its congregation has lived the Gospels and 
Christ's message as written in Matthew 12:30-31 to ``Love the Lord your 
God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind 
and with all your strength . . . Love your neighbor as yourself.'' As 
the congregation of St. Lucas Lutheran Church continues on its faith 
journey, living the Gospel and sharing Christ's message of Love, it 
stands on a rich and deep history. The Ohio Historic Marker records 
that history as the church turns forward to a future strong in its 
faith.

                          ____________________