Bethpage-Tribune_1998-03-13

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BETHRACE LIB
47 POWELL (WE
BETHPAGE WV 1173
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YOUR OFFICIAL HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
Serving Bethpage, Island Trees, Plainedge, Seaford, Old Bethpage & Plainview
VOL. 32 NO. 11 March 13-19, 1998 40 CENTS
St. Paul's Lutheran Church Celebrates 75th Anniversary
—^msmsm
St. Paul Lutheran Church
St. Paul Lutheran Church in
Bethpage has been blessed in the
75 years that it has served the Lord
and the community. St. Paul's has
been an element of Bethpage his­tory
which has made an impact on
many people over the years.
A dinner/dance will be held on
Friday evening, March 20, 1998, at
the Imperial Manor, Bethpage, New
York, in honor of this special occa­sion.
A special service of praise and
thanksgiving will be held in the fall.
On March 5, 1923, a meeting of
Lutherans from Central Park (later
to be named Bethpage) was held in
the Theodore Roosevelt Republican
Hall. Thirty-five people attended and
$8 was collected. Pastor William
Rush of Hicksville offered to conduct
services on Sunday afternoons at
the fire-house on Stewart Avenue
(across from the present site of St.
Paul's.) The first worship service was
held on March 11, 1923, 75 at­tended,
and an offering was re­ceived
in the sum of $17.18.
The name of St. Paul's was
chosen and the first officers were:
Henry Schaaf, Chairman; Theodore
Damm, Secretary; and Edward
Sengstacken, Treasurer and Su­perintendent
of Sunday School, po­sitions
which he held for many
years.
The present property was pur­chased
and in November, 1923,
work was started on the church
building. On November 25, 1923,
the cornerstone was laid. The
church building is unique in that the
members gathered from nearby ar­eas,
all the large stones that com­prise
the outside walls of the
church. In a few months, services
were held even though there was
not heat except for a wood-burning
stove.-
The church was dedicated on
September 28, 1924. The building,
lots and water came to a total of
$16,522.14.
The Dorcas Aid Society was
started on May 31, 1923. A choir
was also begun shortly thereafter.
Pastor Rusch served until 1928
when Pastor August Brunn was
called. The personage was on La­fayette
Avenue (Ludwig home). The
Walther League (young people's
group) was started.
Pastor Brunn started a Lutheran
Church in Amityville and accepted a
call there. Pastor Alfred Faulstick
served as next pastor until 1935
and Pastor Edmund Bohm served
until 1943 when he accepted a call
to Amityville. Pastor James Taylor
served St. Paul's from 1943 until his
retirement in 1981.
Rev. Edwin Marohn served
during the vacancy until Vicar Wil­liam
Flammann arrived in 1982. In
1983, he was ordained as pastor
and served until 1986 when he ac­cepted
a call as Chaplain in the
U.S. Navy.
Rev. Stephen Brighton and
Rev. Albert Neibacher served as va­cancy
pastors until 1987 when Rev.
Bruce Hanson was called a pastor.
Pastor Hanson served until 1992.
Rev. Herbert Kern served as va­cancy
pastor until 1993 when Rev.
James W. Berry, our present pastor,
was installed on May 16, 1993. Our
mission statement is "Led By the
Spirit, We Serve God and proclaim
Christ The Lord And Savior." (Acts
1:8)
Four young men who grew up in
St. Paul's became Lutheran pastors
and are either now serving churches
or are retired. They are Walter
Koller, Lquis Jasper, Robert Mordr
norst and Robert Mitchell, A number
or St. Paul's young men and
women went on to become teach­ers
in Lutheran schools.
St. Paul's has been blessed
over the years and continues to be
blessed with people devoted to do­ing
the Lord's work. This Missouri
Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church
was formed with the intent to
spread the good news of salvation
through Jesus Christ to our neigh­bors,
and this still holds true today .
We invite you to come and hear
the Goods News of God's forgive­ness
of our sins through the shed­ding
of blood of His Son and our
Savior Jesus Christ at 8:00 a.m.
and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays and
Lenten services Wednesday eve­nings
at 7:30 p.m. St. Paul Lu­theran
Church is located at 449
Stewart Ave., two blocks south of
the railroad tracks) in Bethpage. If
you would like more information,
please call the church office at 931 -
8262.
American Legion Post 86
Attends Military Ball
Members of the American Legion, Archie McCord Post 86,
attended the Annual American Legion Military Ball on
February 22,1998 at the Crest Hollow Country Club. (L to R)
Post Commander Terry Ryan, Finance Officer & Post
Commander Vincent Busuttil, Membership Officer & Past
Commander Herb Granberg. Seated Commander's Wife
Terry Ryan, Kay Auletta, wife of Past Commander Sal Auletta
seated on left. A good time was had by all.