St. Paul’s faith legacy celebration

Present and former pastors’ wives serve the anniversary cake: Tillie Welk, Cindy Lunderby, Kris Stroup, and Kathy Lassman.

CHILLIWACK, B.C. – In 1923, Lutheran missionary Rev. V.L. Meyer began work in the Fraser Valley. Traveling from Vancouver, he brought the Word of God to a little group of Lutherans. From those humble beginnings, the Lord raised up St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, where 100 years of God’s blessings were celebrated on September 10, 2023.

At a conference in Trail in 1929, Rev. Meyer reported the great need for mission work in the area and the conference petitioned the District Mission Board for a full-time missionary. In 1930, Candidate A.H. Haake took over the work in the valley, serving seven other communities in addition to Chilliwack, and became the founding pastor of Mt. Calvary Lutheran in New Westminster. His faithful efforts were blessed by God so that by 1935, the congregation at Chilliwack numbered 35 souls. In that year, Chilliwack received its first resident pastor, Rev. R. F. Holtzen. Records show that at one time Rev. Holtzen served as many as 16 congregations and preaching stations! On May 18, 1938, St. Paul’s congregation was officially constituted, making 2023 also the 85^th anniversary of the founding of the congregation.

Current pastor of St. Paul’s, Rev. Lunderby, and Rev. Ernie Lassman, guest preacher from Seattle, Washington.

The congregation marked the anniversary with a special afternoon worship service and dinner attended by about 150 people. The guest preacher was former pastor Rev. Ernie Lassman, who served there from 1984-1987. Written congratulations included a note from the grandson of Rev. M.A. Cohrs, who led the congregation from 1947-1954, former Assistant Pastor Rev. Donald Mossman (2003-2006), and Dcn. Lenora (Wallden) Simpson, a daughter of the congregation who is now serving as DPS at Holy Cross Lutheran in Kitchener, Ontario. The longest-term member in attendance was Anne Schaefer, who celebrated her 100^th birthday in 2022 and who has been a member of the congregation for more than 70 years!

Today, the congregation continues to share the Gospel and serve its community. The congregation hosts life skills classes for the residents of The Village supportive housing project next door; leads a social program for adults with developmental disabilities; and serves the community through Grief Share. The congregation is also open to God’s leading as it looks forward to other opportunities the Lord will provide to love and serve this community for the next 100 years.

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