CEDAR COUNTY, NEBRASKA - HISTORY OF WYNOT LUTHERAN CHURCH
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History of the Lutheran Church in Wynot through 1982

Excerpted from a History of Wynot  1907 - 1982  
Written by Irene Lenzen, Typed by Pat Recker

Bethany Lutheran Church was organized under the originial name of Our Saviors 
Lutheran Church on July 1, 1917, by Rev. Nels Carlson. Deacons elected were 
Peter Beyschau and Harry Ferber, trustees were Lloyd Lynde, 
George Thompson and Christ Schaller; secretary was E A Miller; treasuer was 
F R Beyschau. The first list of members in the record book, dating from some 
time in the 1920's contains 105 names. It may be added that a list dated 1941 
consists of 105 names, to which 12 names were added later. By 1964  the membership 
was down to 55 and it has been decreasing ever since. 

In the Early years services were held about twice a month in the 
Presbyterian church which was located a block west of Main Street on 6th. Services 
were conducted by Pastor Carlson who was then a student at the university of South 
Dakota. The Presbyterian Church had been built in St. James in 1899. After Wynot was 
founded the church was moved in 1908. Prior to 1917 the Lutherans  had held services 
there intermittently conducted by the Rev. Albert J. Anders of Maskell. 

In 1918, Pastor Carlson became the first resident pastor. In 1919 the 
congregation bought the Prebyterian Church when the Presbyterian congregation was 
discontinued. 

In 1930 the congregation joined the Norwegian Lutheran Chruch of America. 

In 1931 the Wynot pastor, the Rev. Falk became the pastor of the congregation 
in Obert and Maskell. He moved to Maskell.

On Sunday, Oct. 25, 1936, the church was completely destroyed by fire. The Sunday 
School pupils and their teacher, Miss Alice Kleinberg escaped unharmed. For three years 
services were held in the theater and in the parsonage.

Then a new church was built on the site of the old one. Work was begun on September 
26, 1938. Jim Nelsen, a carpenter supervised the work which included much donated labor. The 
Ladies Aid also gave important help in planning, furnishing dinner to the workers, and earning 
money for electric light fixtures, the furnace, the pews, etc.

On August 27, 1935, the first service was held in the basement of the new church. 
George Bowder made the altar. It is made of black walnut and hand carved. Crystal Kay Thompson, 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Thompson was the first baby baptised in the new church.

On May 7, 1939, the name of the congregation was changed to Bethany. This was 
presumably to avoid confusion with Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Obert. 

The church was dedicated on June 2, 1949. The 30th anniversary was celebrated on 
July 6, 1947. The 35th anniversary was noted on July 6, 1952. 

Now the name of the congregation is the Faith Parish. Church services are held the 
first and third Sundays from Easter until November. The rest of the time all services are 
held in Maskell.

The congregation has been served by the following pastors: Rev. Anders of Maskell prior 
to the buying of the Presbyterian Church.  Others include:

pre-1917   Rev Anders of Maskell
1917-1919  M J  Carlson                 1928-1940  Robert L Falk
1919-1921  Jacob M Hesteness            1942-1945  Olaf J Ench
1922-1923  Oscer C Harang               1945-1950  Palmer L Loken
1923-1925  Rhuben O Aga                 1951-1954  Clifford M Grindland
1925-1928  Leonard Bentson             	1955-1957  Dale E Striker
 
 
1958-1964  Carl Grindberg               1978-1979  Served by neighboring Student Pastors
1965-1969  Marvin L Ehnen               1979-1980  Jeffery Chubb
1969-1974  John A Lindquist             1980-1981  Frederick Jensen
1974-1978  Wilfred Lindquist            1981-1982  Douglas Gyers