Updated July 02, 2010



 

 

Our Mission

Our History

Our Staff

 

Our Mission

Our purpose as members of the Estherville United Methodist Church is to nurture, support, and sustain ALL persons in their search for a closer relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. We are a fellowship of believers who are working in the service of God with our goal to provide a setting wherein each person will be accepted, receive encouragement, hear the Good News and live it, enjoy fellowship with one another, learn to share his/her gifts (talents), experience faith in action, and know that she/he is a beloved member of the Family of God. Through our daily life and action we seek to be witnesses for Jesus Christ by our regular attendance and sharing our time, talent, and treasures. We want to strive always to carry out the work of Christ in our community by reaching everyone in all corners of the world.

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Our History

The Estherville United Methodist Church invites each of you to attend Sunday Services each Sunday morning at 9:30 am. Our Pastor is Rev. Lynn Elrod, who has just recently moved to our community. The services are broadcast weekly on Channel 3 on TV and also on KILR Radio at 95.9 fm.

The history of our church is very unique and interesting. We are the oldest church in Emmet County and 2009 is a celebration of 150 years of Methodism in Estherville.

It seems the first settlers arrived in this area in 1856. In 1857 the Robert Ridleys came from Maine by train and covered wagon. They built a log cabin where the Rock Island Round House was located by the railroad tracks. In 1858 the Ridleys acquired about one hundred and sixty acres, where the City of Estherville is now incorporated. When the town was later platted, it was named Estherville in honor of Esther Ridley, the first white woman settler and the mother of the first white child, Anna, born here.

Robert and Esther Ridley, like the other early settlers, had been touched by ‘the fire of early Methodism’ before they came to this area. It was in their newly built log home that the first settlers met and ‘raised an alter of prayer.’

The Upper Iowa Conference had supervision over the north half of the state. It was rumored that preaching services were desired here, so the Reverend C.F. McLean was appointed to come. He came directly to the home of Robert and Esther Ridley and organized the first Methodist Episcopal Church Class in Emmet County with nine members. In 1859 they started meeting in Esther Ridley’s kitchen, which was always ‘spic and span.’

By the end of ten years, as the number of members grew, the group met in tents, school houses and prairie sod places.

On May 17, 1880, Robert E. Ridley presented a lot to the church (lot 4, block 56). During the summer of 1881 a church building was constructed; the first house of worship in the county. Labor was donated, so the 28’ x 40’ building cost about $1500. This building, with additions, served the members for several years.

The Ladies Aid of the Estherville Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the summer of 1887. The Estherville Auxiliary of the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society was organized in June of 1890. The Women’s Home Missionary Society was organized in the summer 1898.

In 1906 a second lot was purchased. The old church was sold as a residence and is now at 309 South 10th Street. A new bid was accepted April 16, 1907 for $16,290 by I.N. Salyers. Dedication for the new church was held on March 29, 1908. This church seated 900 people. Many notable happenings occurred during the lifetime of this church. The first parsonage was added in 1910. This later moved to be a residence and the new and present parsonage was built in 1955 at a cost of $52,000.

Our Education Building was added in 1963 at a cost of $143,000, and was paid upon completion. Our present church was built in 1972 and was consecrated in 1973 on Palm Sunday.

We are proud of our ‘Church in the Round’; ‘without steps to enter.’ We have many good and fun happenings for the people who enter here.

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Our Staff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pastor Lynn Elrod

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nancy Hanby

Church Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kathy Culbertson

Business Administrator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lynn Kesler

Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pat Erickson

Evangelism Coordinator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terry and Edna Lutzow

Christian Education Coordinators

 

 

 

Linda Woldruff - Church Organist

Diane Blom - Chancel Choir Director

Aaron Lindell - Church Camera Operator

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