WELCOME        The Ascension Sanctuary       HISTORY

THIS  IS  MY  STORY

(Ascension History)

by

Helen Kneten

Music and New Sanctuary - 1970's

  Although Ascension had a choir previously, it had been discontinued as they had no choir director.  In 1974, Anna Simmons was asked to be the new Music Director and she formed the present choir, which she continues to direct.
          The building of a new sanctuary was much on our minds and hearts and a great deal of attention was given to every detail. Alfred Tramp was Chairman of the Building Committee and he and his committee worked closely with the architect and later with the contractor.
          The fall of 1976 saw Douglas Hester, son of Roy and Ethel Hester, enter Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. Doug was the first "child of Ascension" to enter the ministry.
          Also that fall, we held a fund campaign to raise money for the new sanctuary and in February 1977, we held our first bond sale. We sold $140,000 in bonds in two weeks. Later we sold an additional $40,000 in bonds in order to meet the contract.
          In December 1977, the parking lot was enlarged and the west entrance made. Paving the parking lot would wait until all construction work on the new sanctuary was completed.
          January 1978, the congregation awarded the contract for the building to Sylvester Construction Company for $219,168. The contract was signed January 23, 1978, and ground breaking took place on February 12th. Dr. Vernon Mohr, Bishop of The Southern District, ALC, along with Pastor Engeling, pastor Sieberg, and members of the church council and Building Committee broke ground to begin - at last - a new sanctuary for Ascension congregation.
          In March we sold the additional bonds to finance the building and watched week by week as the construction progressed right in our back yard.  By November it was time to move the two portable Sunday School buildings (installed in the 60's) in order to complete the entrance to the new building. The portable buildings had been just west of the original building and were moved to the area where the Parish Life Center now stands.

WELCOME        The Ascension Sanctuary       HISTORY