Pastor Dale was born and raised in Peru, Illinois, where his father and brother still live. He graduated with an undergraduate degree in organizational administration from the University of Illinois, an MBA from Bradley University, and a Masters of Divinity Degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary.
His wife, Kelly, is a licensed professional civil engineer and together, they have two adult sons. Pastor Dale and Kelly live in Johnson Creek along with their bulldog, Rudy.
Pastor Dale’s favorite thing about ministry is “being able to tell people about Jesus every day. I love telling people about Jesus!
History of Our Church
FEBRUARY 7th, 1885: FOUNDING OF CONGREGATION
OCTOBER 4th, 1885: DEDICATION OF 1st CHURCH
NOVEMBER 20th, 1910: DEDICATION OF NEW BELL
JANUARY 1910: DEDICATION OF NEW CHURCH
THE FIRST 100 YEARS: 1885 to 1985
The beginning history of St. John’s Lutheran Church through 1900 was translated by an old German friend, Dieter Hagen…
The Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Johnson Creek, WI was founded in February of 1885, by several former members of the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Farmington and some other Lutherans living in the Johnson Creek area, but without a church affiliation. Pastor Johan Denninger of Farmington wrote a constitution. Messrs. Louis Siegmann, Deitrich Manz and Carl Harnack were elected as elders. The minutes of the first congregational meeting were recorded by Mr. Heinrick Christians. The people, thus united, purchased an old, unused Baptist Church and the lot, on which the present church and parsonage stand, for $700.00. On the lot at the time of purchase were a blacksmith shop and a house. These were torn down and the Baptist Church moved into the foundation of the old shop.
OUR MISSION
St. John’s Lutheran Church in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, is God’s children “growing in faith at the CROSSroads.” We are a caring, sharing, giving, loving, forgiving and serving community of faith. We are committed to reaching out as God’s ministers at Johnson Creek’s CROSSroads and beyond.
WEEKLY HOLY COMMUNION
Please know that visitors are always welcome at St. John’s Lutheran Church. To that end, please know that you may commune if you are a baptized Christian and believe that the body and blood of Christ are truly present in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. We do not exclude baptized Christians from other denominations from partaking of Holy Communion at St. John’s. All are welcome to partake equally in God’s forgiveness and grace. Wine and grape juice are always available.
OUR HERITAGE
St. John’s Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), first founded in 1885. St. John’s is the red brick building with a bell tower, located on the east side of the street at 129 N. Watertown Street in Johnson Creek, WI.
Our church, however, is much more than that quaint red brick building with the beautiful steeple out front. We are the growing body of Christ who come together to serve God and in so doing help to make our community a better place.
While we recognize that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America officially began operation as a church body on January 1, 1988, through the uniting of three predecessor bodies, we realize that our roots reach deep into the soil of the Lutheran Confessions and we draw constant nourishment from our biblical foundations.
St. John’s Lutheran Church is part of a particular gathering of people known as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. As part of the whole Church of Christ, we announce and declare the teachings of the prophets and apostles and seek to confess in our time the faith once delivered to the saints.
WHAT WE BELIVE IN THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
- This church confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- This church confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe
- Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through whom everything was made and through whose life, death, and resurrection God fashions a new creation.
- The proclamation of God’s message to us as both Law and Gospel is the Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy through word and deed, beginning with the Word in creation, continuing in the history of Israel, and centering in all its fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
- The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God. Inspired by God’s Spirit speaking through their authors, they record and announce God’s revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through them God’s Spirit speaks to us to create and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the world.
- This church accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life.
- This church accepts the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds as true declarations of the faith of this church.
- This church accepts the Unaltered Augsburg Confession as a true witness to the Gospel, acknowledging as one with it In faith and doctrine all churches that likewise accept the teachings of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.
- This church accepts the other confessional writings in the Book of Concord, namely, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise, the Small Catechism, the Large Catechism, and the Formula of Concord, as further valid interpretations of the faith of the Church.
- This church confesses the Gospel, recorded in the Holy Scriptures and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain the Church for God’s mission in the world
Helpful Lutheran Links
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
ELCA Find online resources, catch-up on the latest news, subscribe to daily Bible readings, and much more!
Women of the ELCA
For 20 years, the women’s organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has committed itself to “grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry and action, and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and the world.”
Gather, A Magazine for Women of the ELCA
Gather is a magazine that can be viewed in part online or ordered and received by mail.
Cafe’
Café is an electronic magazine for young women who want to build Community, participate in Advocacy, strengthen Faith, and strive toward Enlightenment (CAFE!).
Thrivent Financial
A faith-based, not-for-profit membership organization nearly 2.5 million members strong. We’re a Fortune 500 financial services organization with the strength of more than $73 billion in assets under management.
St. John's Lutheran Church - Johnson Creek, WI 