About

History of United In Christ Lutheran Church
United in Christ Lutheran Church of Eveleth, Minnesota has emerged from roots that go back almost a century. One root goes back to January 11th, 1896 when Finnish immigrants met in a private home to discuss starting a Finnish Congregation.
In 1897 the Evangelical Lutheran Suomi Synod, Church of Eveleth was fonned with Reverend John Back as its first pastor. The first Church was dedicated in October 1901. In 1942 the name of the Church was changed to Concordia Lutheran Church.
Services were held in Finn until 1943 when English was added. Some of the active organizations included Ladies Aid, Luther League, Sunday school. Choirs and Brotherhood. Luther League members presented the congregation with the alter mural entitled (In the Garden of Gethsemane). During this time the Church was planning on remodeling and building and addition. The mural is still the focal point in the front of the Church and remains the pride and joy of the old Luther League members.
The other roots back as far as 1900 when the first Evangelical Lutheran (Swedish) was organized by Pastor P. O. Hanson, who served as the Pastor until 1907. Prior to that time services were held as early as 1896 by Pastor E. Edman. It was not until 1901 when the congregation was incorporated and admitted into the Augustan a Synod. The services were conducted in Swedish until 1916 when English was added at an evening service on night a month. Some of the active organizations were ladies Aid, Luther League, Women’s Missionary Society, Sunday school. Brotherhood and Choir. Each year since 1950 from Sept, to May “9-12 Quilters” make 150 quilts with 200 lbs of material. These quilts are sent all over the world. Also 54 laprobes for members plus 40 for the dialasys center are made.
On January 1st, 1968 the First Lutheran and Concordia Congregations were consolidated under its new name Christ Lutheran Church.
Reverend Roger L. Anderson was pastor until November, 1968. Other Pastors since the consolidation of the two Churches were Reverend R. J. Kennedy-Vice pastor, Reverend W. C. Ingman, Reverend Grey Redfield,
Reverend C. Shaffner from 1986-1997 and Reverend Pearson. The present Pastor is Reverend Daniel L. Johns and Associate Pastor Eric P. Lemonholm. Church staff includes Sonja L. Simonson, Administrative Assistant, Larry Groves, Choir Director, John Miller, Organist, Janet Barg, Custodian and Peggy Sederlund, Parish Nurse.
In August of 2001, Pastor Daniel Johns began meeting with the Eveleth Economic Development Authority to review available land for the construction of a new church declaring that the present church structure had worn out and the congregation had outgrown the available worship space. After much review and discussion the location most suited for the church was chosen as the former “Vaughn’s Drive Inn” site located off of
Highway 53. In November of 2001 a motion was made and supported by the Eveleth Economic Development Authority to recommend the construction of a new church at the former “Vaughn’s Drive Inn” to the site
committee working with United in Christ Lutheran Church. The Eveleth City Council approved a development agreement that included the purchase of 6.2 acres of land for $25,000 with general contracts awarded within 5yrs and the completion of the church within 1 year of the awarded contracts. (History taken from the Christ Lutheran ELCA Booklet of 1989)