Redeemer Lutheran - 1953 to 1971
This is the fourth article in a series which reviews the history of Redeemer Lutheran Church as its diamond (75th) anniversary is celebrated. For the anniversary Isaiah 62:3 notes the promise: “You shall be…a royal diadem in the hand of your God” - a promise that is ours only because of what our Lord makes and calls us by His amazing grace toward us. The verse also prompts the anniversary theme: “75 Years in God’s Hands.”
The previous anniversary article closed by noting that after serving as Redeemer’s first resident pastor beginning in 1949, Pastor Henry Dequin received and accepted a call to Missouri in January, 1953.
After just two months, the Rev. Otto W. Meyer accepted Redeemer’s pastoral call and was installed on March 29, 1953. Pastor Meyer was also called to serve Trinity Lutheran in Nowata, Oklahoma. Services in Nowata were at 9:00 a.m. with Sunday school at 10 a.m. In Claremore worship was at 10:45 a.m. after Sunday school and Bible study at 9:30 a.m. After living a few months in the old parsonage at 8th and Weenonah, Pastor Meyer and family were able to move to a new parsonage at 306 E. 10th Street, which, with the help of the Oklahoma District was purchased for about $10,200.00. The District also was subsidizing the congregation at this time.
As time passed, more room was needed for Redeemer’s Sunday school. With the help of a Church Extension loan of about $30,000.00 an addition was approved and built. Ground was broken in August,1962 and dedication took place with a special worship service in April, 1963.
Pastor Meyer died on October 10, 1968 while still in service to the congregation and his Lord.
The Rev. Richard Mayerhoff accepted Redeemer’s call and was installed as pastor on July 6, 1969. Pastor Mayerhoff was also installed as pastor at Zion Lutheran, Chelsea, Oklahoma. Services at Zion were at 9:15 a.m. and at Redeemer at 11:00 a.m. (We look forward to having Pastor Mayerhoff as preacher at our 75th anniversary service on October 27, 2024!)
Redeemer Lutheran continued to grow, and more building space was again needed. After much planning by the Building Committee (Huey Schulze, Don Purkey, and Jerry Brasel) along with Congregation President Harry Powers and Pastor Mayerhoff, a construction contract was extended. Work on the building was scheduled so that the building could be used every Sunday. The addition, which increased worship seating from 95 to 185, was dedicated on February 28, 1971. At this time Redeemer numbered 213 souls with an average worship attendance of 112 and Sunday school attendance of 55. A preaching station was also established in Oologah while Pastor Mayerhoff served Redeemer.
