Updates from the Transition Team.
The transition team meets every two weeks. In addition, the team will be having a retreat on Saturday, November 13 from 9am-3pm at the Office of the Bishop. The team is currently interviewing members of the congregation about how the church supports their renewal process. We'd love your input! If you are willing, please fill out the survey below of 6 questions.

As the Transition Team explores the history of the church, we'll be sharing with you some of what we have been learning in our research. Please read the article below from Karla Briggs as well as an excerpt from the history of ELC that was put together for the 60th anniversary.

Mark your calendar for Dec. 5th. On that day, we'll have one worship service at 9:00 a.m. followed by a history day activity led by the Transition Team where we'll create an ELC timeline and share what we've learned as a family of faith and how God has walked with us in joys and sorrows.
Leaving Missouri Synod
Written by Karla Briggs
Evergreen Lutheran Church remained an independent congregation for ten years. Looking to the future we began conversations about joining the ELCA synod. We found ourselves growing into changes that aligned with the ELCA and wanted to be part of a synod with the resources and support systems to help us with the transition when Pastor Schutt retired. Those early conversations were unnerving at times and folks asked hard questions. Our distrust of synods ran deep but we had respected, experienced voices in Ted Lamms and Martin Nees both steeped in the Lutheran traditions and doctrine reminding us that remaining on the periphery left us disconnected from the fellowship to be had in joining the greater community of faith.

Our meetings alone and with representatives from the ELCA synod were packed. Participation, respect and the will of the people to work together brought us to a unanimous decision to join the ELCA. No one left the congregation and we moved forward together as sisters and brothers in Christ.

Peggy Fetchenhier remembers being overwhelmed to the point of tears attending the first ELCA synod five state conference. Being with so many people who had the same beliefs, the same struggles and the realization that we were not alone was a gift. Evergreen Lutheran Church has been an active, involved and supportive congregation in the ELCA synod, tithing ten percent of our financial offerings to support the synod's work over the last thirty three years.

"so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." Romans 12:5 
History of Evergreen Lutheran Church
The early years
Originally, Evergreen residents, Antweilers, Fahnenstiels, Keifers, Wilkeys and several others were members at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakewood, CO. Adele Fahnenstiel asked Irving if he thought they might be able to start a Lutheran Church in Evergreen. Irving spoke with the pastor at Bethlehem to find out how to go about it. He suggested Irving invite some folks to their home to see how many might want to have a congregation in Evergreen. So, the first meetings about Evergreen Lutheran Church happened at Irving and Gertie Antweiler’s home in June 1954 when Gary Antweiler was 7 years old.

There was a Norwegian Lutheran Church in NE Colorado (Brush) called Ebenezer Lutheran Church. They had a summer camp located above the town of Evergreen called Ebenezer of the Pines. On July 10, 1955, this small group of Lutherans met there. They put an ad in the local paper about this new congregation. There were 38 people who attended the first service. The following Sunday, July 17, the first officers were chosen. They were: Irving Antweiler, President; Bert Ranum, Treasurer; Ralph Evans, Secretary.

Pastor O. R. Graumann who was the Chaplain of Lutheran Hospital was asked by the Colorado District Mission Board to serve this new mission church. He continued on as Chaplain while serving this congregation until they had their own church building (1955-1959). Pastor Graumann’s wife also played the organ.

The congregation only met at the church camp during the summer of 1955. They had to be out by winter since where they met only had an old wood stove for heat and no back wall, so they got permission to meet in the grade school in the old brick schoolhouse which was located where the library currently is. Then they moved to the Junior High School which was located adjacent to the old brick school house (now the south parking lot of the library). Next they moved to Wilmot Elementary School. Later, they moved to the high school (where it currently is).
The church was growing and they needed a permanent home, so they got a loan from the Missouri Synod to start a building program. By this time, they had about 100 members. Ground was broken for the new church on October 27, 1957. The cornerstone laying ceremony took place on November 16, 1958 and the first worship service at the new site was conducted in the basement on December 7, 1958. The dedication ceremony and installation of the Rev. Frederick H. Worthman occurred on January 4, 1959.
Meet the Transition Team
The transition team wanted to make sure everyone could put a face with their names so you know exactly who is working on this process. Below you will find contact information for each of them should you need to reach out.
Pastor Sara

pastor@evergreenlutheran.org

303-674-4654
Mark Bly

pharmerbly@msn.com

(303) 882-6466
Karla Briggs

karladbriggs@gmail.com

(720) 272-7720
Alicia Harker

alicia.harker@gmail.com

text: (214) 901-2330
George Hellmuth

george@hellmuth.com

(303) 601-7399 
Jon Johnson

jondenver0753@gmail.com

(303) 909-9052
Elaine Sohrweid

elainelarry@comcast.net

(303) 674-3491