Our Story

St. Luke Lutheran Church was started in April, 1902 with a group of seven families worshiping at the home of Edmond and Sophia Werly.  Charter members of St. Luke included John Hecksel Sr., William Barbrick, Edmund Werly, Emil Peiler, and John Hecksel Jr., and families.  Divine services were held here, under the direction of the Rev. Carl Huth, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Muskegon, and the services were spoken in German.  

The congregation continued to expand, moving to the Taylor school.  As growth continued, the church body then moved southwest of Nunica to the no-longer existing Spoonville Chapel, located at the corner of Leonard and 120th Avenue.  From there it moved to the former Congregational Church that was located one block south of the present church site.  In the fall of 1912, the congregation was large enough to afford a building of their own. Under the direction of Claus Erhorn, members erected their own church-home on the site next to where the present church now stands.  A frame structure was completed and dedicated that fall in Nunica.  The old church structure was sold to a neighbor and is still used as a family dwelling to this day, at the end of First Street.

In October 24, 1933, short English services were implemented on the third Sunday of each month, following German services.  The new English Constitution and bylaws were read in 1935, as previous constitution was in German.  Services were changed to be in English the majority of services on November 6, 1936.  German services were discontinued in 1938.

By the early 1950s, Nunica was in decline, but St. Luke continued to grow. For their 50th anniversary, the congregation built its present church and fellowship hall, dedicating it in November of 1952. The total cost of the church as $56,666.33.  More than 1,000 people attended the two dedication services that morning.  

St. Luke celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2002.  Since then, St. Luke has continued to proclaim the Good News about Jesus throughout Nunica and all of western Michigan. By God's grace, we intend to continue to do so.

 

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