When a group of Lutheran believers begin to meet for Bible study and worship in a new mission location, with growth and interest, typically in a couple of years a congregation is named, organized, and chartered as a member of the District and Synod. Not so, with Redeemer Lutheran of Claremore.
Redeemer Lutheran was chartered in March, 1949, making this our 75th anniversary. Since a 75th is a “diamond” anniversary, we might note Isaiah 62:3 which includes the glorious promise: “You shall be…a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” We might claim those inspired words for ourselves, but we remain aware that such a lofty claim for ourselves is possible only because of what our Lord makes and calls us by His amazing grace toward us.
However, in this case, the believers who would charter in 1949 as Redeemer Lutheran began to gather already 27 years earlier – in 1922. Across those 27 years, dedicated pastors traveled to Claremore from their congregations or locations across northeast Oklahoma. Their names were Brackensisck, Marschke, Duessel, Frese, Walle, Hensel, Fellbaum, Frank, and Meyer. Some served a few weeks or months, but some for 5 or 6 years. They came from Bartlesville, Chelsea, Tulsa, Sand Springs, Broken Arrow, and Nowata. Services were on held on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. During 1945 and 1946, services were held at the Claremore American Legion Hut. At that time about 40 souls were numbered in the Claremore mission.
Two years before the charter, the Oklahoma District purchased a red sandstone house with four rooms at the corner of 8th and Weenonah Streets on behalf of the Claremore mission, for which over $6000.00 was paid. It was furnished with a piano, altar, and a small plywood pulpit. 200 chairs squeezed into the four rooms were not enough for the dedication worship service on March 2, 1947, so some latecomers had to stand. Visitors from Lutheran congregations in Adair, Broken Arrow, Miami, Tulsa, and Nowata were present. A choir from Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Adair sang, and Pastor O. K. Hensel of Broken Arrow, who had been leading worship in Claremore, was the preacher.
On March 13, 1949, the congregation decided to formally organize and to submit a Call to the Board of Assignments of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod for a new pastor, to be shared with the congregation then in Nowata, Oklahoma. Two days later Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church was formally organized and a Diploma of Vocation (divine Call) was signed. Leaders of the congregation included Ernest Kunze, Harry Powers, A. G. Preiss, Raymond Roger, Theo Gregory, S. K. Vogt, and Monte Chigston.
More of the Redeemer Lutheran history is intended for future articles.
