Church History

Christ the Servant Lutheran Church welcomes you.  What follows is a bit of our history and memories of the early years here in Louisville, on up to present day ministry.   On July 7, 1983, the Mission Committee of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) approved a new congregation for Louisville, Colorado.  At that time, the town’s population was about 7,000, almost three times its 1970 population of 2,409.  In September 1983, the Rev. Dr. Earl Matson was called as Pastor/Developer of the planned new congregation.  He moved into a house in Louisville that served as home, office, and initial meeting place.   March 1984 marked the beginning of worship services for Christ the Servant (CTS) Lutheran Church held at Louisville Middle School.  During these “Middle School” years, the altar and worship supplies were kept in a white trailer, including the communion ware and wine, the bronze cross that stood on the stage behind the makeshift altar, hymnals, banners and their stands, sound system, and much, much more.  Everyone who showed up a little early helped to lug all the paraphernalia into the Louisville Middle School auditorium.   On May 6, 1984, CTS submitted its original mission statement: Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, seeking to do the mission of Christ, is established to glorify and serve God by serving individuals and the community which encourage the sharing of talents and needs.  We provide resources to sustain active witnessing, worshiping and learning.  Together, we will strive for perfect harmony through God’s gifts of grace, peace and love. On May 20, 1984 Ken Grove became the first person to sign the Congregational Charter.  One hundred signatures were required before the Lutheran Church could officially recognize the congregation.   On Reformation Sunday on October 27, 1985, CTS became an official congregation of the Rocky Mountain Synod, Lutheran Church in America.  Bishop Franklin Heglund preached at the festive service that included numerous baptisms of adults and children, as well as many affirmations of faith.    In February 1988, the Louisville Planning Commission gave final approval for the construction of the church building.  On June 15, 1988, ground was officially broken.  People gathered in the middle of a field, Via Appia had not been extended that far yet, and gathered around surveyors stakes marking out the spot where the altar was to be.  The first worship service in the new building was held on Christmas Eve, 1988.   In February of 1994, Pastor Earl Matson submitted his resignation to the Congregational Council upon accepting a call as the mission developer for Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church in Estes Park.   Rev. Franklin Heglund, who had previously served as the Bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod of LCA from 1970 to 1987, accepted the call to serve as the interim pastor until a new pastor could be found.  While he was only working part time, he brought with him a lifetime of experience.   After months of weekly meetings and a series of interviews, the committee recommended the congregation extend a call to the Rev. Dan Hoeger who was then serving as pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan.  The congregation extended the call to Pastor Dan and he began his ministry with us in January of 1995.    As the population of Louisville and the surrounding communities grew, so did our congregation.  This growth generated the need for an updated Mission and Vision Statement, a building expansion, and additional staff.   In 2000 a committee met regularly to determine how best to define our growing congregation.  The mission statement was updated to read: Our Mission: The mission of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church is to proclaim, celebrate and live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the glory of God. With that in mind, the congregation outlined areas we should intentionally work on in order to grow deeper in living out our congregation’s mission.  This culminated in the vision statement: Our Vision:

• Spread the Gospel beyond our congregation through witness and service opportunities for youth and adults.
• Develop a strong, supportive fellowship for youth and adults within our congregational family.
• Prepare and equip youth and adults for continued spiritual growth through Christian education.
• Continue to provide diverse and meaningful worship opportunities for youth and adults.

As the congregation grew, so did the needs for pastoral services. The need for an additional pastor had become clear and in January 2001, the search began for a co-pastor to work with Pastor Dan. In February 2002, Pastor Steve Cox joined the staff at CTS, giving up the ministry he had started at New Beginnings Church at the Women’s Correctional Facility in Denver.   Our growth also generated the need for more space.  A committee was developed in January 2001 to research requirements for a building expansion project.  By the end of that year much of the formal preparations were completed.  By Spring of 2002, the ground was dedicated and the construction process began.  The expansion was completed by the Fall of 2002, doubling the size of Christ the Servant, providing 10 new classrooms and 5 administrative offices.   In 2004, 3 part-time positions encompassing Christian Education, Middle School Youth Group and High School Youth Group were combined into a full-time position.  Christina Kirkpatrick accepted the newly created position of Director of Youth and Education in August 2004. Shortly after her arrival, we embarked on a new style for preschool-elementary Sunday School using a rotational model format.  This program has flourished and is alive with activity.

Our congregation was stunned by Pastor Steve’s unexpected death in November 2005, when the Lord called him home.  A call committee was established in 2006, and by Spring of 2007 a call was extended to the Rev. Joel Brandt who was then serving as co-pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Livonia, Michigan.  Pastor Brandt began his service with Christ the Servant by the end of August 2007.

Pastor Dan resigned in April 2009 upon accepting a call to serve as Senior Pastor at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois. His wife, Yumiko, had begun medical studies in Illinois in the fall of 2007, and while the congregation was sad to see Pastor Dan leave, we were glad the family could be reunited in Chicago.

A new staffing structure begins in the summer of 2009 as we seek a new Associate Pastor and new staff in youth and children’s ministries. We continue to rely on God’s gracious care and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that in faithfulness and service to our community, we might live up to our name: Christ the SERVANT.

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