Submitted photos The Redeemer Lutheran Church has been a fixture in New Ulm at its South Broadway Street location since 1947.

Still standing at its original location on South Broadway Street in New Ulm, the Redeemer Lutheran Church is celebrating its 75th anniversary on Sunday, Sept 18, with the theme: “God’s Grace with God’s People.”

The celebration includes a church service at 10 a.m., social hour and catered dinner (reservations only) and a program.

Redeemer Lutheran Church is a member of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. It was organized Sept. 14, 1947, with four men present. Rev. E.J.A. Marxhausen was the pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church of rural Courtland and guided and served the new congregation.

The first services were held at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home with 45 members present. The Minnesota District of the Missouri Synod did much to assist the congregation to become established with guidance, loans and gifts.

Five lots were purchased on the 500 and 700 blocks of South Broadway Street. A parsonage was built on the 500 block and three lots at 700 South Broadway were for the church’s first church, and 75 years later, it stands at its original location.

The first resident pastor was installed on Feb. 22, 1948. The church’s first chapel was completed and dedicated on Aug. 29, 1948.

After 15 years of growth, cramped facilities resulted in the need for a larger house of worship and more room for education needs. A building project started with the final service in the old chapel held May 7, 1967.

The first chapel was torn down and the new construction started. During construction, services were held in the Payton Nichols building on South Broadway, the current location of Kwik Trip.

The new church would seat 400 and was dedicated on April 21, 1968.

The members of Redeemer continue to support the Immanuel Lutheran School in rural Courtland with students and financial assistance.

The church now owns the church building, parsonage and parking lot, and two former homes that now serve as day care facilities, all on the 700 block of South Broadway and State streets.

In the past 75 years, there have been 774 baptisms, 768 confirmands, 295 weddings and 314 funerals.

Previous pastors are: Edward Lazarz (1948-50), Victor Lemke (1951-55), Paul Mueller (1955-61), Clement Joesting (1961-72),

James Bollhagen (1972-75), Alfred Luehmann (1975-83), Keith Wachter (1983-93), Robert Hines (1993-2003).

The current pastor and church officials are the Rev. Grant Bode (2003-present), Lisa Cole, director of education and youth, and Ben Holten, director of music.

The church assumed an additions mission in 2001 when it established Kinder Haus Daycare to serve the community by providing a Christian faith-based day care. The center operates in the two former homes south of the church. Jeanne Holten is the director of the day care, with the help of a number of full-time and part-time staff.

The current congregation numbers 475 souls. Sunday services are held in person and on social media platforms such as its website, YouTube and Facebook, as well as the community access TV. Christian education includes Sunday school, Confirmation, Vacation Bible School and Camp Omega Day Camp.

Redeemer members financially support local, district and synod missions, including Mission Central. which sponsors missionaries and their families. Financial assistance is provided to member families with LCMS grade school and high school tuition and college tuition subsidy for those committed to enter an LCMS church-work vocation.