Milestones

Our Redeemer Milestones

  • April 1932 – St. James Mission Sunday School began in Durst Hall on the northwest corner of 24th and Broadway.
  • January 21, 1940 – Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Quincy, Illinois, was officially organized.
  • June 13, 1940 – The congregation was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois.
  • December 1, 1940 – Candidate Ewald J. Otto was ordained and installed as the Pastor of Our Redeemer.
  • October 18, 1942 – The chapel was dedicated.
  • During 1947 – The congregation became debt-free and self-supporting.
  • During 1948 – Baptized membership surpassed 250.
  • October 15, 1950 – An addition to the chapel was dedicated, a wing to the east.
  • December 3, 1953 – The campanile  of Our Redeemer was dedicated, and the bell rung for the first time.  The bell weighs almost a ton and was obtained from the Canton,  Mo. Lutheran church which was being torn down.
  • October 1954 – A second Sunday morning service was added.
  • During 1960 membership surpassed 500.
  • May 20, 1962 – Ground breaking for the new church.
  • During 1962 the parsonage at 712 Kenwood was purchased.
  • May 26, 1962 – Dedication of the new church.
  • November 14, 1965 – Congregation celebrated its 25th anniversary, the 25th anniversary of Pastor Otto’s ordination, and the 25th wedding anniversary of Pastor and Mrs. Otto.
  • Christmas Eve 1968 – Candlelight Service was begun.
  • October 3, 1970 – A Saturday evening service was begun.  A second such service was added in January 1988.
  • During 1975 – A second “Communion Sunday” was added to the worship schedule each month.
  • October 12, 1980 – The congregation celebrated its 40th anniversary, the 40th anniversary of Pastor Otto’s ordination, and the 40th wedding anniversary of Pastor and Mrs. Otto.
  • March 1982 – Pastor Otto announced his retirement.
  • November 28, 1982 – Pastor Otto’s farewell sermon was preached in the morning services.  Rev. Larry Troxel installed as Pastor in afternoon service.
  • During 1986 – The worship schedule was revised to provide Communion celebrations of 4 Sundays each month.  Individual cups were added.
  • July 9, 1986 – Women gained voting membership in the congregation.
  • June 7, 1987 – Rev. Peter R. Brechbuhl was installed as Our Redeemer’s first Assistant Pastor.
  • July 17, 1987 – Pastor Otto died.  His funeral was on July 21, 1987.
  • April 22, 1990 – Pastor Brechbuhl formally became Associate Pastor.
  • June 10, 1990 – The congregation celebrated its 50th anniversary.
  • July 11, 1993 – Pastor Brechbuhl’s farewell.  He accepted a call to become Pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, IL.
  • October 1, 1995 – New constitution and Bylaws, approved in October 1994, went into effect.
  • October 29, 1995 – Rededication of renovated pipe organ.  Work was done by Wicks Organ Company during September and October 1995.
  • January 17, 1999 – Voters Assembly called Mrs. Andrea Hoover to serve as Director of Christian Education.
  • May 1999 – Three Parish nurses began serving the congregation:  Reva Ehmen, Wanda Spohr, Donna Troxel.
  • July 2000 – Andrea Hoover resigned as D.C.E. since her husband had been accepted as a student at Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN.
  • June 9, 2002 – The new east entry, elevator, nave lighting and handicapped-accessible restrooms were dedicated.
  • June 2009 – Rev. Martin Eden installed as Pastor in afternoon service.
  • Summer 2012 – Sunday School Rooms Renovation
  • September 2014 – Evelyn retirement, Gretchen starts as Secretary