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April 5, 1961, Rev.
Frank A. Miller arrived in Streetsboro to begin a new Lutheran
congregation. August 6, 1961 the first service for the young
congregation was held in a rented house at 1412 Russell Drive. The
initial congregation had 104 children and 79 adults. |
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Here are some pictures of the first
church council, Organization Sunday, and the organization reception
held at the old Methodist church in Streetsboro. |
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Very soon thereafter property for the
new congregation was purchased and worship moved to the farmhouse
located at 9042 SR 43. 103 persons attended the initial service in
the “House Chapel.” The interior walls were knocked out and the
“house chapel” became the “farmhouse chapel.” On April 20, 1962 a call was extended to
Pastor William McCabe. The congregation had 113 children and 116
adults. |
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It wasn’t long, however that the new and
growing congregation was out of space in the old farmhouse. So plans
were made up and a building campaign was under way.
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June 4, 1967 saw the dedication of new
worship facility for the St. Thomas’ congregation. |
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Mr. Albert Edelman
was the first church organist.
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Pastors of the
congregation have included: |
Rev. Frank Miller
1961-62 |
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Rev. William McCabe
1962-66 |
No Picture Available |
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Rev. Fred Michelson
1967-68 |
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Rev. Phillip Tammaru |
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Rev. David Bliss |
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Rev. Duane Miller |
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Rev. Senia Taipali |
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Rev. Taipali & 3 previous Pastors |
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Rev. Gerald Bauer |
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Rev. Denise Sager
1996-2000Pastor
Sager came to St. Thomas on the heels of a dramatic congregational
split and began a ministry of healing within the congregation while
she worked on her Ph.D. from Kent State University in Psychology and
Counseling. |
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Rev. Rob Taylor
2000-present
Pastor Taylor came to St. Thomas Lutheran from the Presbyterian
Church (USA) as a full-time lay redeveloper and
worship leader. He led the St. Thomas congregation through a four
year revitalization program
that resulted in substantial congregational growth financial
self-sufficiency. While
revitalizing the congregation, Rob completed his MDiv. begun at
Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne at
Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, OH.
Because of
theological difficulties within the ELCA and the Northeast Ohio
Synod, the St. Thomas congregation and Rob left the ELCA and joined
another Lutheran synod. |
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Vicar Jerry Storrs
Mr. Jerry Storrs came to St. Thomas for
his vicarage year
2005-2006.
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St. Thomas Lutheran becomes a new
congregation of the English District of the Lutheran Church -
Missouri Synod
After a disastrous experience within a
smaller Lutheran church body called the (ELCM), St. Thomas and
pastor Rob sought colloquy with the Lutheran Church - Missouri
Synod. On June 18, 2008, St.
Thomas and pastor Rob were formally received into the English
District of the LC-MS.
Pr. Rob finished his colloquy with
the LC-MS and was ordained on October 25, 2009 at Grace Lutheran
Church, Akron, Oh.
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Above: LC-MS English
District Bishop/District President David Stechholz presents Pr.
Rob, Carl Lipscik, president, and other members of the St. Thomas
council: (Steven Hlava, Kathy Pocket, Marcy Harrison, Deb Wolff,
and Jan Bahle), the new charter for the congregation joining the
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. |
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 Above: LC-MS English
and Ohio District Clergy present to welcome Pr. Rob and the St.
Thomas congregation are, beginning front row left: Circuit
Counselor Rev. Bob Tauscher of Concordia Lutheran in Akron; (Rev.
Rob Taylor of St. Thomas Lutheran), Bishop
David Stechholz, English District President; Rev. Chris Just of
Epiphany Lutheran in Northfield; (Back row left to right) Rev. Bob
Mertz, interim Pastor at Calvary Lutheran in Parma; Rev. Peter Mills of Grace Lutheran
in Akron; Rev. Lon Landsmann of Good Shepherd Lutheran in Akron;
and Rev. Dean Kavouros of Christ Lutheran in Cleveland.
** Special thanks to
Mrs. Carol Mertz, world-class organist, for blessing the evening
with her wonderful talent in music.
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