A Milestone Anniversary Year for Local Church and Preschool

As Darien marks the 50th anniversary of its incorporation as a city, one of its local churches marks its 160th anniversary. St. John Lutheran Church, located at 7214 South Cass Avenue, will host a brunch on Sunday, October 13, 2019 after their 9:00 a.m. worship service to celebrate God’s faithfulness to them.

In 1859, 24 years after the first settlers arrived in Lace, a group of German Lutherans from Europe came to the area near 67th Street and Clarendon Hills Road. They built the first St. John Lutheran Church and laid out an adjacent cemetery on three acres of prairie land that cost $30. Fifteen charter members organized and signed the first constitution on October 17. Traveling and interim pastors served the congregation for the next 19 years.

Early settlers of Lace, Cass, and Downers Grove, including the Andermanns, Kleins, Warkentiens, Lehmans, Veiths, and Mochels, are among the 254 individuals interred in the cemetery. Nine Civil War and two World War I veterans also rest there. The life and contributions of these founding fathers and service men are shared with the community during the Annual Darien Historic Cemetery Walk. The cemetery still contains original, untilled prairie land and is a registered Illinois Natural Heritage Landmark.

Work began on a new parsonage in the spring of 1893. A schoolhouse was erected the following year. Five years later on February 12, 1899, a special congregational meeting voted to construct a new church to accommodate the growing membership. Conrad Buschmann donated an acre of land on the northeast corner of 75th Street and Cass Avenue in Lace for the second church. On September 3, 1899, the new sanctuary was dedicated.

Over the course of the next 26 years, St. John Lutheran Church continued to experience growth, organized with other churches, and extended God’s kingdom through Christian education, church planting, and worship in an additional language. In October 1906, a Christian day school opened with 25 students. In 1907, the church underwent a remodeling and refurbishing. In 1909, St. John helped Lutherans in Downers Grove start Immanuel Lutheran Church. In 1912, St. John Lutheran Church was received into membership by the Northern Illinois District—Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Services in English began in 1915. In 1925, St. John Lutheran Church, through canvassing, helped organize Bethel Congregation in Westmont.

Damaged by wind and lightning, the church steeple was removed in 1929. The Luther League youth paid to wire the church for electricity and the Ladies Aid funded the wiring of the parsonage in 1931.

Prompted by the widening of 75th Street, the old parsonage was sold in 1954 with the present one erected in 1958. A decision to build the current educational wing was made in 1964 and the following year on October 10, 1965 it was dedicated. In September 1969, the St. John Lutheran Early Learning Center opened. Fifty years later, the school continues to provide quality Christ-centered foundational learning in a caring and nurturing environment.

Plans began for a new sanctuary attached to the educational unit the same year. Members of the congregation formed a human outline of the new building as officers of the church organizations formed a cross in the middle. Every member present broke ground as Scripture verses were read.

Two years later on September 12, 1971, the current church was completed across the street and down the block from the second sanctuary. Members walked to their new place of worship bearing select items from the former building.

On September 17, 2016, the Illinois Historical Society at the Sesquicentennial Houses of Worship Celebration in Peoria, IL honored St. John Lutheran Church for its longevity as a congregation having been in existence for at least 150 years.

Parish churches played an important role in the community back in the 1800s. They provided a site for social interaction in addition to a place for worship. Churches were a gathering place for community members to feel a sense of togetherness regardless of age or socioeconomic level. It was a place to connect others to Christ and with each other. St. John Lutheran Church continues that mission 160 years later.

While its location, sanctuaries, and membership have changed over the years, the congregation remains firm in its vision to connect others to God through Word and Sacrament, to connect people within the church family, and to connect with the community through service and evangelism.

The church’s doors are open each week to members and guests for worship services, Sunday School, and Bible study. By sponsoring programs and special events, such as Moms Connect, Family Fun Nights, Trunk-or-Treat, Easter Eggstravaganza, Parenting Workshops, and Vacation Bible School, the church offers support to area families.

A Food Ministry supplies pre-packed bags of non-perishable groceries to community households seeking relief from hunger. The church hosts the annual Remembrance Ceremony sponsored by of the Darien-based Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) of the 416th Theater Engineer Command (TEC). It is also the site for Darien Garden Club meetings.

Over the years, St. John has increasingly realized the importance of leaving the building to perform ministry and mission. These efforts have included having a K-9 Comfort Dog; packing meals at Feed My Starving Children in Aurora; and serving breakfast at Public Action to Deliver Shelter in Naperville. Members are financially supported to serve on short-term mission trips.

Congregational collections have supplied items for Phil’s Friends cancer care packs, winter coats for St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Chicago, and shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Quilts made by the Sew What Ladies are sent all over the world via Lutheran World Relief.

If you would like to learn more about St. John Lutheran Church and its programs, please consider being their guest on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 9:00 a.m. The church looks forward to continuing its proclamation of the Gospel and its service to God and the community in the years ahead. Learn more at www.sjlcdarien.org.