HISTORY OF COMMUNITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

Early 1987

• Board of Elders at Grace Lutheran decided to explore the possibility of Grace beginning a mission church on the east side of Escondido.  This was formalized in the fall of 1987.

June 1988

• The LCMS purchased 10 acres on the corner of Lake Wohlford Rd and Valley Center Rd.

Sept 1988

• Rev. Dr. Charles Keturakat announces retirement from Grace Lutheran Church.

Oct 16

• First worship service of Community Lutheran Church held at Orange Glen Elementary School.  Rev. Dr. Charles Keturakat, Senior Pastor at Grace leads worship.

Jan 29

• Pastor Charles W. Keturakat resigns from Grace Lutheran and begins part time duties at Community Lutheran Church.

Jan

• Church office is rented on Valley Parkway, where Palomar College is located.

• Twilla Coleman hired as part time secretary.

Apr 30

• CLC Chartered with 153 souls.  -115 adults, 38 children- 20 adults confirmed -5 baptized

• Ernie Matthes is Charter President

• (Meeting at Orange Glen Elementary School)

• Charter Member Picnic

June

• Church moves worship services to Grant Middle School

Sept 3

• Pastor Wm Vogelsang of Mountain Home Arkansas identified as possible candidate for Pastor of CLC

Nov 19

• Installation services held for Pastor W. Vogelsang at Grant Middle School Auditorium

Nov 20

• Mildred Hansen begins volunteer service

Dec 11

• Committed to finance construction of facility to house the ministries of CLC

June 90

• Constitution of Community Lutheran Church is accepted by the Pacific Southwest District.
• Church office moves to Trafalgar Square Shopping Center

July

• Worship services are moved to Hidden Valley Middle School

Nov

• Pete Van Deloo first elected President of Community Lutheran Church

Dec 6

• Community Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Society received into membership with the Lutheran Women’s Mission League of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

Dec 25

• Hand bells dedicated in memory of Sean Bingham

June 5

• Escondido City Council meets to vote on church project

June 26

• Escondido City Council Reviews Building Program for approval of conditional use program

Mar 1

• Ground Breaking Ceremony for Phase 1 of our Master Plan

June

• Church Council approves hiring of Karol Rickenberg as Preschool Director

Sept 13

• Karol Rickenberg hired as preschool director

Dec 11

• Christmas Party held on new site with conditional permit given for the occasion by the Esc. City Council

Dec 24

• First worship service held in the new sanctuary Christmas Eve with over 400 in attendance.

• Sarah Grainger employed as secretary

Jan

• Preschool Opens with Karol Rickenberg as our first Director, two teachers, Sherry Konrad and Darlene (Bonnett) Beebe and with twenty students attending preschool.

Feb 21

• Dedication of new Sanctuary/ Parish Hall & Preschool.  Rev. Ken Behnken, Mission Executive of the Pacific Southwest District as guest speaker.

June

• Intern Sharon Merrick begins a one year ministry training as a Director of Christian Education

Nov

• Preschool has 62 students

Aug 1

• Sharon Boyer begins as Preschool Director

Oct 8

• Chris Deknatel arrives to be DCE

Dec

• Herb Connors retires as SS Superintendent

Jan

• Cindy Kennedy assumes the role of Sunday School Superintendent

Feb 4

• Library opens and room dedicated to Herb Connors

Apr 20

• Third service introduced at 6:00 PM

Mar 9

• Voters meeting when Community adopts current mission statement

Aug 1

• DCE intern, Danny Santamarina begins, main area to be music

Nov 22

• Saturday evening service changed to Sunday evening worship service beginning Jan. 4^th at 6:00PM

Sept

• Bill Boyer hired as sexton to work 20 hours per week

Aug 30

• Kevin Kersten begins as DCE

• Parking Lot Construction

Sept 15

• Ministry Building Dedicated, Pacific Southwest District President Larry Stoterau guest speaker

Oct 1

• Jim Meyer begins as DCE

Nov 1

• Chris Deknatel leaves to become Vicar/Pastor of Promise Lutheran Church

Mar 1

• Donna Hinke begins as Ministry Coordinator

Jul 24- 31

• Community Youth attend National Youth Gathering in Orlando Florida

Nov

• Voters approve formation of Health Cabinet and parish nurses

Feb 14

• Debbie Lundberg begins as Secretary

• Sarah Grainger assumes role as Office Manager

Aug

• Community Youth travel to San Francisco for a Servant Event

Aug 11

• Mildred Hansen dies having served as personal assistant to Pastor Vogelsang for 16 years.

Sept 4

• Walking Trail (Eagle Scout Project by Jordan More) dedicated

Sept 18

• Columbarium dedicated

Oct 1

• Bill Baker begins as Vicar

January

• Worship services time changes and third serve added
• Chris Ryan begins as Director of Drama Ministries

June

• Community Youth travel to China for a Servant Event

Aug.

• Community Youth travel to San Francisco for a Servant Event

• Margaret Simonsen named new Parish Nurse

Apr 4

• Grading Plans approved for new Sanctuary

Aug 11

• Bycor chosen amongst bidders

Aug 26

• Groundbreaking Ceremony for new sanctuary

Oct

• Construction begins