St. Peter's Heritage
Heritage Collection by Jess Arnett
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and School has been blessed with a rich history of faith, community, and education since our founding in 1855. Over nearly 170 years, generations of families have worshiped, studied, and served together here, leaving behind a treasure trove of photographs, documents, hymnals, artifacts, and stories. These are not just dusty items from the past — they are living reminders of the faithfulness of God and the devotion of His people.
To honor this legacy, we are creating the St. Peter’s Heritage Collection — a carefully preserved archive and display of our congregation’s history. Using archival-quality boxes, sleeves, and tissue, we will protect fragile items from further deterioration. With museum-quality display cases and stands, we will share this history with our congregation, our students, alumni, and the broader community.
We recently received a grant to help support this effort, but the grant only covers a portion of the project. The remainder will need to be raised by our own church family.
This is where we come together.
Every member of St. Peter’s — whether you have been here your whole life or have just recently joined us — is part of this story. By contributing to this project, you are helping preserve the memories of those who came before us, while also ensuring that our children and grandchildren will see themselves in this ongoing story of faith. Together, we are linking past, present, and future in a visible reminder of God’s work among His people.
This project is also a crucial step in preparing for our 175th anniversary in 2030. Imagine the joy of gathering as a church family, surrounded by displays that bring our past to life — photographs of confirmation classes, hymnals sung from in German, school records from the earliest years, artifacts that speak to nearly two centuries of faithful ministry. Your gift will help make this possible.
We invite you to prayerfully consider supporting the Heritage Collection. Together, we will preserve our history, celebrate our heritage, and inspire the generations to come. There will be a few opportunities in the coming months to help us reach our goal to match this grant. The next one will be an offering given during the November Lunch N' Learn sponsored by the Senior Saints with our very own Larry Goeglein sharing one of many stories of the early days of St. Peter's and the journey across the ocean and through generations.
“One generation shall commend Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.”
— Psalm 145:4
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