A Summary History of Hope
A meeting was held in August 1965 at the home of Mr and Mrs Clifford Kiehler to start a Lutheran mission. Pastor Theodore Klein agreed to hold services in the former Goodells School on Wales Center Road starting September 12, 1965.
With the blessings of our Lord we continued from this small beginning and decided on the name of Hope and thus began Hope Lutheran Mission--which would become Hope Lutheran Church, LCMS. |
Detailed History of Hope Lutheran Church
Rev. Theodore Klein
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Kiehler and Mr. and Mrs. Leo Radatz started the mission and after contacting several ministers.
Pastor Theodore Klein of Trinity Lutheran church, Port Huron, MI agreed to conduct Sunday Evening services. On September 12, 1965, Hope Lutheran Church in Goodells, was organized by Trinity Lutheran of Port Huron and served under Pastor Klein's pastorate. The women's club, Mary-Elizabeth Guild, was form formed shortly after this. In late 1965 we held our services in a rented vacant school. In 1971 we purchased the building. During this time we received much assistance from Trinity, such as bulletins, donations of communion services, and other altar supplies. With contributions of the Mary-Elizabeth Guild and Mr and Mrs Leo Raditz, 40 Lutheran Red Hymnals were purchased and a choir of 9 members led by organist Miss Marion Lill was organized.
The first confirmation class was confirmed on June 5, 1966 and consisted of 3 adults and 1 youth. It was decided at this time to hold communion at least once a month. The first infant baptism was on November 24, 1968. The mission was then organized as a Hope Lutheran Church on December 1, 1968 with 23 Charter Members, accepted into the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in 1970, in 1971 the Goodells schoolhouse on Wales Center Rd was purchased from the Yale school district, and the church was incorporated by the State of Michigan on January 7, 1972. Shortly afterward the building was completely paid for.
During the 1970's, several Vicars assisted Pastor Klein in conducting services and in September 1973 Jane Morris started as the organist. During the 1970's many challenges came up from vandalism, theft of the church organ, and disappearance of brass altar pieces. Although Pastor Klein was disappointed in the vandals, he led the congregation in praying for the thieves. With the help of Good Shepard Lutheran Church of New Baltimore, MI giving Hope a used organ and donations to replace the lost articles. On an Easter Morning, the thieves returned the brass cross; it was found on the other side of the church's boundary fence. The greatest challenge the congregation faced in the close of 70's decade was the old Hope Lutheran Church on Wales Center Rd being condemned for the new I-69 highway that was going to be laid between Lapeer to Port Huron, MI. In 1980, due to the construction of I-69, Hope was moved to 2792 Goodells Rd. on the corner of County Park Dr. and Goodells Rd. where it remains today.
The building where we are today started out as a hardware store in 1936 and was then used as a machine shop before it became our home. Many ideas were explored and finally Hope purchased the former Gibbs Hardware turned factory on the corner of Goodells Rd and County Park Dr in Goodells, MI. The congregation of Hope worked long and diligently on remodeling the new Hope Lutheran Church before moving in.
Hope has never had a full time pastor in its history and in the fall of 1981, Pastor Klein told Hope that he had to leave us as his schedule had become too full to conduct services any longer. At that time Rev. David Winningham agreed to conduct services on a part time basis along with the help of teachers from Lutheran High School North of Mt Clemens, MI. Soon Pastor Winningham also departed us to answer a call in Armada, MI. Retired minister Rev. Wilfred Junke then stepped in to perform the monthly communion services while Mr Robert Carpenter and other teachers from the high school would perform Sunday morning services. To this day, Mr Dave Rochlitz and teachers from Lutheran High School North and retired pastor Rev. William Otten have continued to minister to the small congregation at Hope. As of 2018, a member of the congregation, William Warsinski entered in and completed training to become a called licensed lay deacon of Hope that, under the authority of Pastor Otten, provides Hope with communion services and visitation outreach.
Pastor Theodore Klein of Trinity Lutheran church, Port Huron, MI agreed to conduct Sunday Evening services. On September 12, 1965, Hope Lutheran Church in Goodells, was organized by Trinity Lutheran of Port Huron and served under Pastor Klein's pastorate. The women's club, Mary-Elizabeth Guild, was form formed shortly after this. In late 1965 we held our services in a rented vacant school. In 1971 we purchased the building. During this time we received much assistance from Trinity, such as bulletins, donations of communion services, and other altar supplies. With contributions of the Mary-Elizabeth Guild and Mr and Mrs Leo Raditz, 40 Lutheran Red Hymnals were purchased and a choir of 9 members led by organist Miss Marion Lill was organized.
The first confirmation class was confirmed on June 5, 1966 and consisted of 3 adults and 1 youth. It was decided at this time to hold communion at least once a month. The first infant baptism was on November 24, 1968. The mission was then organized as a Hope Lutheran Church on December 1, 1968 with 23 Charter Members, accepted into the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in 1970, in 1971 the Goodells schoolhouse on Wales Center Rd was purchased from the Yale school district, and the church was incorporated by the State of Michigan on January 7, 1972. Shortly afterward the building was completely paid for.
During the 1970's, several Vicars assisted Pastor Klein in conducting services and in September 1973 Jane Morris started as the organist. During the 1970's many challenges came up from vandalism, theft of the church organ, and disappearance of brass altar pieces. Although Pastor Klein was disappointed in the vandals, he led the congregation in praying for the thieves. With the help of Good Shepard Lutheran Church of New Baltimore, MI giving Hope a used organ and donations to replace the lost articles. On an Easter Morning, the thieves returned the brass cross; it was found on the other side of the church's boundary fence. The greatest challenge the congregation faced in the close of 70's decade was the old Hope Lutheran Church on Wales Center Rd being condemned for the new I-69 highway that was going to be laid between Lapeer to Port Huron, MI. In 1980, due to the construction of I-69, Hope was moved to 2792 Goodells Rd. on the corner of County Park Dr. and Goodells Rd. where it remains today.
The building where we are today started out as a hardware store in 1936 and was then used as a machine shop before it became our home. Many ideas were explored and finally Hope purchased the former Gibbs Hardware turned factory on the corner of Goodells Rd and County Park Dr in Goodells, MI. The congregation of Hope worked long and diligently on remodeling the new Hope Lutheran Church before moving in.
Hope has never had a full time pastor in its history and in the fall of 1981, Pastor Klein told Hope that he had to leave us as his schedule had become too full to conduct services any longer. At that time Rev. David Winningham agreed to conduct services on a part time basis along with the help of teachers from Lutheran High School North of Mt Clemens, MI. Soon Pastor Winningham also departed us to answer a call in Armada, MI. Retired minister Rev. Wilfred Junke then stepped in to perform the monthly communion services while Mr Robert Carpenter and other teachers from the high school would perform Sunday morning services. To this day, Mr Dave Rochlitz and teachers from Lutheran High School North and retired pastor Rev. William Otten have continued to minister to the small congregation at Hope. As of 2018, a member of the congregation, William Warsinski entered in and completed training to become a called licensed lay deacon of Hope that, under the authority of Pastor Otten, provides Hope with communion services and visitation outreach.
From Hardware to Factory to God's House
A Poem by Beulah M. Short
The village hardware was constructed
By the Depression-displaced banker Whose ship had hit a rocky shoal And needed a place to anchor. He and his spouse figured and toiled Until it came time to retire From the everyday village business To the home they had acquired. The sold out to a tradesman Who a factory did require For making some machine parts Or whatever else his mind inspired. |
He used the building industriously
for several years or more, And left it finally empty With oil and grease upon the floor. Then some ambitious Lutherans Who were displaced by an interstate Needed a suitable building Before the moving date. They had searched, bargained and wondered, Would they ever find a place ? When gossip brought up the factory In the old hardware space. |
It was greasy, dirty and messy;
The inside was a sight, But after thinking it over, They decided the price was right. They poured cement, hammered and painted With a zeal that was amazing, and after much toil and sweat, Time for moving was near phasing. Precious memories were flooding in As moving day came to pass, Of a windy night when a tree fell in On a confirmation class. |
Many gainful suppers had been served
In this building which was small, Sunday schools and picnics Are other things that they recalled. They had been robbed and vandalized In the schoolhouse by the road, And maintaining that lonely building had become a monstrous load. On a chilly Easter Sunday the heating oil had been stolen, So the congregation thought ‘twas time To get the ball a-rollin’. |
In memory of Beulah M. Short |
They packed up and moved that very day
To the building in the town, And continued to design and build Until a church’s style was found. The building is now God’s House; After many years it stands. We pray God’s sanction and blessing Will continue to follow this band. They have never had their own minister But God continues to send a preacher, They’re worshipfully praying and hoping To one day provide this feature. |
Hope’s people are warm and friendly-
the money keeps coming in. The preachers keep warning the listener To stay away from sin. They welcome each bashful new face With a joyful Christian smile, And aid and support the old ones In a loving Christian style. If you need a place to worship On Sundays of the week, Hope is the place to come to. We have the atmosphere you seek. |
Services
Sundays: 10:30am |
Office
810-434-5787 |
Email
Church: hope@hopegoodells-lcms.org Pastor Wm Otten: wotten@hopegoodells-lcms.org Deacon Wm Warsinski: 10wfwars@gmail.com Mr Dave Rochlitz, Lay Minister: drochlitz@hopegoodells-lcms.org |