Faith&Worship Highland Prairie Lutheran Church
143267 Bowl Drive, Peterson, MN ~ (507) 452-0622 Church/Pre-School ~Pastor Wade Davick January - April Worship Service 10:30 AM ~ Sunday School 9:30 AM Visit website for new schedule beginning in May - www.highlandprairielutheranchurch.org The Highland Prairie Lutheran Church mission statement: “Unified in Christian faith, we strive to be a loving and caring community, sharing our gift of Christ’s love in a compassionate way.” Highland Prairie Lutheran Church had its beginning in 1854 with Pastor U.V. Koren. The arrival of Rev. and Mrs. U.V. Koren provided Norwegian Lutherans their first resident pastor in six counties of Iowa and two adjoining counties in the then territory of Minnesota. This area had become the oldest permanent Norwegian settlement on the western side of the upper Mississippi. Our first church was built in 1865 with N.E. Jensen serving as pastor. In 1869 Rev. Kristian Magelssen was called as pastor. During his ministry, Highland Prairie membership grew to number more than 1200. In 1896, a new church with a seating capacity of about 500 was completed late in the year, just in time for Christmas services. Around 1914, during the pastorate of Rev. N.S. Magelssen (Rev. Kristian Magelssen’s son), many outstanding improvements were made to the surrounding church properties. The church park was enlarged and the plot surrounding the bowl was purchased. The congregation was supportive in making improvements on church property to such an unusual degree that visitors from far and near have exclaimed over its beauty and uniqueness. A large and stately parsonage was erected in 1916. In the early morning hours of Easter Sunday in 1973, a fire of unknown origin swept through and destroyed the 1896 church building. In the traditional moving-forward spirit, the congregation rallied, voted to rebuild and on September 22, 1974, worshipped in their new church building. In 1987, a Sunday school addition was completed that accommodates our 80+ children. Along with our beautiful country setting, Highland Prairie Lutheran Church sits on the edge of a song bird-filled park. The park is a landcaped plot of natural beauty bordered on the west by a native forest of oak trees. Beyond the white pergola entrance of the park, stands the Pioneer Memorial and not far from that is the bandstand. It is shaped like a huge flower and is nestled beneath an oak tree. Both of these structures are the artistry of Mr. Tarkjel Landsverk. Equally beautiful is the ladies’ building with its cozy porch and not far from there is the Pioneer cabin that was transported log by log from its original founation. A picnic shelter with k,itchen and a once-lighted ball diamond draws people to come and enjoy what once was. In the far northwest corner of the park is an amphitheater or “the bowl.” The bowl is actually a sinkhole and was the brainchild of Rev. N.S. Magelssen. The sides were terraced and seating put in place. The bowl has been the setting for many weddings, concerts and pageants. There are usually three worship services in the bowl during the summer where the acoustics are almost perfect. Those service times will be announced soon with the names of the groups who will be featured for those praise services. Today, on the site of the first two churches, there now stands a wayside chapel, a small-scale replica of the second church. Using salvage brick and held-over stained glass, the chapel was contracted in 1978-79. Over the course of our 158 years, we have shared a pastor with Elstad Lutheran Church. As a two-point parish we have been served by 14 pastors either as full-time or interim Pastors. Presently, Pastor Wade Davick serves the two churches and will be retiring at the end of June. Highland Prairie Lutheran Church is blessed to have an active and vibrant Sunday School with over 80 children in preschool through high school. Each year the children delight us with their Christmas program, country kids worship service and singing and playing the bells for various worship services. We have a Lutheran Youth Organization that is involved in the Feed My Starving Children project. They also assist with the annual meatball dinner, Lenten soup suppers and help with the church park and grounds maintenance. Organizing an Easter egg hunt for our youngest members and participating in the sunrise Easter service is a wonderful contribution as part of our Easter celebration. The women of the church have monthly circle meetings with a fellowship and Bible study time. The women work throughout the year sewing and assembling 100+ quilts for Lutheran World Relief. A quilt is sewn and given to each graduating high school senior as a token of love and affection from the church. Celebrating birthdays at the Good Samaritan Lutheran Home and honoring our older members with a summer celebration are held each year. Providing alter flowers and baptismal blankets are done month after month. Their biggest and most important fund raiser is the annual meatball dinner held in April. The entire congregation and everyone comes together to make it a success. We invite everyone to come and visit Highland Prairie Lutheran Church. Come and worship with us and admire the wood carving work of Halvor Lansverk that adorns the sanctuary. Walk around the park and grounds. Hear God speaking to you in the song of the birds and the whisper of the old oaks. It has been given to all of us.
Highland Prairie WELCA
Meatball Dinner Sunday, april 15 11:00 am - 1:30 pm
Menu: Meatballs, mashed potatoes & gravy, vegetables, coleslaw, rolls, dessert, & beverage Cost: Adults $8.00; Children 5-12 $4.00; Age 4 & under free.
Highland Prairie lutheran Church South of Rushford, Minnesota
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