ABOUT OUR CHURCH
MISSION STATEMENT
In 2004, a committee worked for several months to create Our Savior's mission statement, which was approved by the entire congregation. In a concise way, the mission statement sums up the purpose of our congregation:
Making Christ Known
by Inviting All to Grow
in Faith, Hope and Love.
Then, a quilting group made the above banner for the church, which bears the mission statement. Pastor Laura Gentry created the design and Carolyn Vogel, Eileen Smith, Lisa Endres, and Grace Ziegelmaier worked together to quilt it. It now hangs in our sanctuary as an ever-present reminder of our mission.
TO BECOME A MEMBER
All visitors are welcome to worship with us, receive the monthly newsletter, and participate in all of our other church activities. You may, however, wish to affiliate yourself more closely with our church family by becoming a member.
The Christian church is made up of those who have been baptized and thus have received Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world. Lutherans believe that they are a part of a community of faith that began with the gift of the Holy Spirit—God's presence with God’s people—on the day of Pentecost. The church, regardless of the external form it takes, is the fellowship of those who have been restored to God by Christ. Indeed, to be called into fellowship with Christ is also to be called into community with other believers. We welcome you to join our community and live out the call of your faith.
To become a Lutheran, baptism and instruction in the Christian faith is required. If you are already baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, it will be necessary only to attend a brief membership orientation and thus signify your desire to make a commitment to this church.
Active members of most Christian denominations need only to transfer their membership. We will take care of requesting your letter transfer should you desire it. If you would like to retain membership at another Lutheran congregation but become an integral part of this community, you may choose to become an associate member.
Periodically, we receive new members at a special Sunday morning service. Please fill in the contact form below if you are interested in becoming a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church.
The Christian church is made up of those who have been baptized and thus have received Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world. Lutherans believe that they are a part of a community of faith that began with the gift of the Holy Spirit—God's presence with God’s people—on the day of Pentecost. The church, regardless of the external form it takes, is the fellowship of those who have been restored to God by Christ. Indeed, to be called into fellowship with Christ is also to be called into community with other believers. We welcome you to join our community and live out the call of your faith.
To become a Lutheran, baptism and instruction in the Christian faith is required. If you are already baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, it will be necessary only to attend a brief membership orientation and thus signify your desire to make a commitment to this church.
Active members of most Christian denominations need only to transfer their membership. We will take care of requesting your letter transfer should you desire it. If you would like to retain membership at another Lutheran congregation but become an integral part of this community, you may choose to become an associate member.
Periodically, we receive new members at a special Sunday morning service. Please fill in the contact form below if you are interested in becoming a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church.
PASTOR LAURA GENTRY
Our Pastor is the Reverend Laura E. Gentry. She began her ministry at Our Savior's in June of 2001.
Prior to serving Our Savior's, Pastor Gentry was the Associate Pastor and Creative Arts Director at American Lutheran Church and Elementary School in Burbank, California. Before her ordination, she was the interim pastor of Highland Avenue Lutheran Church in San Bernardino, California. During seminary, she directed Peacing Together, an ecumenical afterschool program of Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church in Newark, California.
Originally from the Midwest, Pastor Gentry received her Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Arts in the area of "Worship and the Arts" from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. Her undergraduate degree in art, theatre, and dance, was from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
In addition to being a pastor, Laura Gentry is an artist, author, freelance writer, motivational speaker and laughter yoga teacher. She and her husband, William, published their first book, Living Word, in 2005. She writes regularly for Augsburg Fortress publishers and Cafe Magazine, an on-line magazine for young women. Pastor Gentry and her husband, William, have an on-line art gallery at thegentryjoint.com. Click here to e-mail Pastor Gentry.
Prior to serving Our Savior's, Pastor Gentry was the Associate Pastor and Creative Arts Director at American Lutheran Church and Elementary School in Burbank, California. Before her ordination, she was the interim pastor of Highland Avenue Lutheran Church in San Bernardino, California. During seminary, she directed Peacing Together, an ecumenical afterschool program of Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church in Newark, California.
Originally from the Midwest, Pastor Gentry received her Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Arts in the area of "Worship and the Arts" from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. Her undergraduate degree in art, theatre, and dance, was from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
In addition to being a pastor, Laura Gentry is an artist, author, freelance writer, motivational speaker and laughter yoga teacher. She and her husband, William, published their first book, Living Word, in 2005. She writes regularly for Augsburg Fortress publishers and Cafe Magazine, an on-line magazine for young women. Pastor Gentry and her husband, William, have an on-line art gallery at thegentryjoint.com. Click here to e-mail Pastor Gentry.
LOCATION
Lansing is located in the Northeast corner of Iowa along the beautiful Mississippi River. Click here to see a live picture of the Blackhawk Bridge. Our Savior's is just up the hill from the river at 480 Diagonal Street, one block north of Main Street. The church facility is fully accessible to the disabled.
THE HISTORY
OF OUR SAVIOR'S
OF OUR SAVIOR'S
The history of this congregation is an exciting story filled with the accomplishments of many men and women who believed in the mission of this ministry. Yet, it is the Lord who founded this church and has continued to sustain it for one hundred and thirty nine years.
The congregation began back in the early 1860s when Reverend O.J. Hjort and a few Norwegian immigrants recognized the need for a Lutheran church in Lansing. On June 12, 1867, after two years of ground work, the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lansing was officially organized. Services were held in the Episcopal church until a building was erected.
The following year, two lots were purchased, a fundraising campaign was launched and building began. The first service in the new church was held in 1872. Pastor Hjort also served East and West Paint Creek Churches, as well as the churches in Faegre Prairie and New Albin. He traveled between the parishes on horseback. Therefore, his travel expenses, which consisted of horse feed, amounted to four dollars a year. Services were held in Norwegian.
In 1920, the church yoked with Waterville Lutheran Church and the churches began holding one service per month in English. The Sunday School program also began at this time.
To meet the needs of the expanding church, the Faegre Prairie church, which had closed, was moved in to become the Parish House. It was dedicated in 1946. The following year, the congregation’s name was changed to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.
In another building project, the pastor’s office and the kitchen were added. Later, a basement was dug under the Parish House to accommodate the growing Sunday school program.
In 1967, a centennial anniversary was held to celebrate God’s faithfulness to this ministry throughout its 100 year history.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church became a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) when the predecessor church bodies merged in 1988. In the fall of 2006, the Our Savior's voted to terminate the yoke with Waterville Lutheran and become an independent ministry.
Our history continues as we strive to meet the ministry needs of the Lansing area. We are growing rapidly and we look to the future with hope and excitement, trusting in God’s faithfulness.
The congregation began back in the early 1860s when Reverend O.J. Hjort and a few Norwegian immigrants recognized the need for a Lutheran church in Lansing. On June 12, 1867, after two years of ground work, the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lansing was officially organized. Services were held in the Episcopal church until a building was erected.
The following year, two lots were purchased, a fundraising campaign was launched and building began. The first service in the new church was held in 1872. Pastor Hjort also served East and West Paint Creek Churches, as well as the churches in Faegre Prairie and New Albin. He traveled between the parishes on horseback. Therefore, his travel expenses, which consisted of horse feed, amounted to four dollars a year. Services were held in Norwegian.
In 1920, the church yoked with Waterville Lutheran Church and the churches began holding one service per month in English. The Sunday School program also began at this time.
To meet the needs of the expanding church, the Faegre Prairie church, which had closed, was moved in to become the Parish House. It was dedicated in 1946. The following year, the congregation’s name was changed to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.
In another building project, the pastor’s office and the kitchen were added. Later, a basement was dug under the Parish House to accommodate the growing Sunday school program.
In 1967, a centennial anniversary was held to celebrate God’s faithfulness to this ministry throughout its 100 year history.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church became a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) when the predecessor church bodies merged in 1988. In the fall of 2006, the Our Savior's voted to terminate the yoke with Waterville Lutheran and become an independent ministry.
Our history continues as we strive to meet the ministry needs of the Lansing area. We are growing rapidly and we look to the future with hope and excitement, trusting in God’s faithfulness.
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