Life was breathed into The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ham Lake in 1872 when a small group of charter members expressed great determination to organize a parish in this community. The name of our church was later changed to Our Saviour's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ham Lake, and now is officially Our Saviour's Evangelical Lutheran Church of East Bethel.
Shortly after the date of organization a House of God was erected on the Johan P. Magnuson homestead. Today we refer to that church building on Swedish Drive as Our Saviour's Chapel. Worship is conducted there on Monday evenings throughout the summer, as well as Good Friday, Founder's Day, and Christmas morning.
In 1964, with faith and vision, the church relocated on 5.9 acres of land donated by Eddie and Martha Pearson on County Road 22. The bell, which rang occasionally in the first church, was moved to the new site. This site is now referred to as Our Saviour's Ministry Center.
The journey of transforming the vision statement, "GROWING THE FAMILY TREE OF GOD," into the church we dedicated on July 18, 2004, began in 2000 with the search for suitable land. In 2002 fifty-three acres of farmland just - mile west off Viking Boulevard were purchased from Earl "Bud" and LaVerne Anderson. Bud is the great-grandson of Johan and Fredricka Magnuson, donors of the first church site!
Our Saviour's Building Phases include: Phase 1, our current structure, includes the Worship Center, the Gathering Space,Rotunda, administrative/education rooms, music room, and youth room. This facility has 26,000 square feet and cost $5.1 million, including the property.
Phase 2 will include classrooms, kitchen, pre-school rooms, and a multi-purpose room. This phase will be mostly to the south. The freestanding wall seen near the entrance has been built to show where Phase 2 will be located. That wall will be a part of the pre-school area.
Phase 3 will be an 1100 seat Worship Center to the east of the Gathering Space. The current Worship Center will then become a fellowship hall.
On land donated by Our Saviour's will be a senior housing cooperative, built and managed by Augustana Homes.
© 2003-2008 Our Saviour's Lutheran Church
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