Abita Springs, Louisiana
100 Years of Grace History Project
Project Finish Date October 30, 2005
Abita Springs, Louisiana100 Years of Grace History ProjectProject Finish Date October 30, 2005 |
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The project was finished on time and presented to the congregation at the Sunday service and lunch celebration at the Abita Springs Town Hall. 100 copies of the history booklet and CD with all the scanned documents and two audio interviews were distributed to all present. You can see the booklet and CD files at:
The Booklet Introduction:
THE FIRST 100 YEARS
Trinity was organized in April 1905. Its present church building was built that same year and finished in 1906. Its architecture reflects the high regard the founders had for the Word of God. Its simple beauty reflects the simple clarity of Scripture—believe in Jesus Christ and be saved. The high ceilings and arches point upward to heaven. The raised pulpit honors the Word of God that is spoken from the pulpit. The high steeple and cross on the top tell all of Jesus Christ who died on the cross to save us from sin. The bell rings every Sunday calling people to worship and to grow in the grace of Jesus Christ. We invite you to join us for God’s timeless message of love.
This publication was produced for the 100th year anniversary service and celebration on October 30, 2005 and distributed to all present at no cost.
The purpose of this record is primarily the preservation of the historical documents, which are now in one place. Second, each member will have a copy of all the documents to study as they will and pass on to their friends and relatives.
You will find the material to be complete but with a lot more development possible. You may want to contribute to it for an addendum.
You have here a brief history outline of the church, two audio interviews with long term members who have some insight into the conflicts and resolutions that help any organization to grow, and copies of all the historical documents available.
This history was compiled from all the records, letters, newspaper clippings, and photographs stored by the church over the 100 years. A scanned copy of each is on the accompanying CD (optical laser disc). No effort was made to verify the information and you may find some discrepancies which are a result of the different sources scanned.
The primary source of the documents is the storage boxes found at the church. The newspaper clippings labeled 'St. Tammany Farmer' were supplied by the St. Tammany Library. The files in the directory 'Holy Trinity Supplied Documents' were in the files of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Covington.
Calls were made to the State of Louisiana and the Parish of St. Tammany, but they were never returned. Perhaps the Katrina hurricane disaster prevented this.
Additional work that must be done is to label each scanned document with its content. Further digital clarification of each document may be possible to make it more readable. The text of each document can also be read by a computer (OCR) to be added to a database, which can be searchable. The members were reluctant to be interviewed, but perhaps this history will bring forth others. It might also be useful to video record them as they speak. It would also be useful to photograph each member at this time, but no one has indicated that would be desirable. Finally, because this history is presented as a factual chronology, someone could produce an interesting narrative to paint a colorful story.
The copyright (c) is held by Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Abita Springs 2005. All rights are reserved.
Barrett Leibe, Editor
OUR FORMER PASTORS
LUTHERAN CHURCH - MISSOURI SYNOD
1904-08 Rev. Arthur H. Kaub
1909-10 Rev. Paul E. Wagner
1910-13 Rev. Martin Kuegle
1913-15 Rev. Christ Kuegle
1915-22 Rev. 0scar W. Luecke
1923-25 Rev. H. Bielenberg
1922 and 1925 Rev. R. E. Scaer, Supply Pastor
1926-58 Rev. A. H. Klamt
1958-60 Rev. F. Runge
1961-65 Rev. D. Krabbe
1966 Rev. D. Karloski
1966-68 Rev. R. Klein
THE AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH
1968-70 Rev. P. Ronning
WISCONSIN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD
1971-73 Rev. D. Weiser
1973-74 Rev. P. Koeninger
1974-75 Rev. John P. Meyer, vacancy pastor
1975-85 Rev. James E. Werner
1982-83 Rev. Dennis R. Bratz
1984-92 Rev. Herbert C. Kuske
1992-99 Rev. David Sternhagen
1999-04 Rev. Edward Frey
2004- Rev. Joseph M. Dietrich