Menu
Church restored, rededicated
By Connie Jo Discoe
Regional editor
OBERLIN -- St. Mark's Lutheran Church of Norcatur hadn't sheltered worshippers or resonated with solemn hymns of praise for many years. That silence came to an end Sunday, after a move to Oberlin, restoration efforts and rededication of the church to the glorification of God.
"The word of our God will stand forever," said Pastor Charlotte Strecker-Baseler, who conducted the service to officially close St. Mark's Lutheran Church and rededicate it to the Decatur County Last Indian Raid Museum, on whose property in downtown Oberlin the 117-year-old church has found a new home.
Bea Nelson of Norcatur handed the church's records to Strecker-Baseler, and told her, "These records symbolize the joys and sorrows of the people of God in this place."
The church originally was dedicated on Dec. 16, 1888, and a news story in the Dec. 21, 1888, Norcatur Register, read, "The people of Norcatur are justly proud of this beautiful structure, the only one that has as yet been erected here, expressly for the worship of God."
Pastor Strecker-Baseler said the reason for the second dedication service -- nearly 117 year later -- was to give thanks to God for nearly 100 years of Lutheran faith in Northwest Kansas and for the pioneering spirit of the church's founders.
Nelson asked that the records be preserved so that the ministry of St. Mark's congregation is not forgotten.
Strecker-Baseler respon-ded, "St. Mark's has been given to the museum, where it will be maintained for years and used by people of all denominations, hopefully for church services again."
The pastor commended all the church's worship furnishings and sacramental vessels, and accepted an offering that will be used for the continued restoration of the church.
"May this church be used once again," she said, "as a place of worship, and as a place to pause and pray."