Bell from old church will be in new church

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Thursday, November 6, 2008

Photo by Tom Hintgen

Adam Strand of Minnesota Drywall, Detroit Lakes, finished a task during construction of the new First Lutheran Church on the southwest side of Battle Lake.

The bell at the former First Lutheran Church just west of downtown Battle Lake was removed and will be part of the new church on the southwest side of town. The weight of the bell is estimated at 1,600 pounds.

“The bell currently is in interim storage,” said building committee member Richard Osman.

The new facility, of 20,600 square feet and built in the shape of a cross, will allow for new additions in future years.

“Our new church is an efficient structure,” Osman said, “with a geothermal heating and cooling system, and other features.”

On reasons for building a new church, Osman cited the need for more space for the many church and community-related activities. The church is seeing more and more younger families joining the ranks of the congregation.

Five years ago plans moved forward in order to make the $2 million church a reality.

“It will be nice to have seating for 350 to 400 with use of overflow space if we need it,” Osman said. “We’ll have space for multiple events — at the same time — and especially children’s activities and educational opportunities.”

He credits the many volunteers who are part of the church project, including financial chairman John Dixon. Generous support of congregation members are cited by both Osman and Dixon.

Many of the 860 members of First Lutheran Church, Battle Lake, contributed financially to the project. Financial support also has come from people who live at area lakes and who worship at First Lutheran.

Another building committee member, Alice Hofstad, said the move from the old church to the new facility is a change at the right time in the history of the church. That history includes a service attended in the fall of 1952 by candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower who several weeks later was sworn in as president of the United States.

“For our older members, there’s the need to have everything on one floor and eliminate stairways like what we have now, in the current church,” Hofstad said.

One wing at the new facility will include the chapel, library and offices. A second wing will house the sanctuary. In the third wing will be the fellowship hall and the fourth wing will include educational facilities.

Building committee chairperson Dean Damrau, finance chairman Dixon and other volunteers worked closely with the church council and the Rev. George Dahl, the church pastor.

Osman, Hofstad and other volunteers are especially proud that the new church complex will allow for First Lutheran Church to expand its current role as an outreach to the community. They see the church serving as a community center and gathering place for youth and young families — along with everyone else in the Battle Lake area.