Fjeldberg was founded in 1865 as a result of a lot of families coming to the Midwest from the Fjeldberg region in Norway. Today, we are an active congregation seeking to grow in our Christian maturity.

Our faith community is slighty under 1,000 members and we worship at 2 different times every Sunday (8:30am and 11am) during the winter months, from September 9, 2007 to May 18, 2008, and at 9am during the summer. Check out our calendar to find out what midweek activities are happening each week.

The mission statement of Fjeldberg is "to be a Christ centered congregation seeking ways to deepen our faith in God and widen the love of Jesus to ourselves and our neighbors far and near!"

The first Ladies Aid was organized at the parsonage in the fall of 1888. The ladies made a full day of these meetings. They met in the mornings, stayed for dinner and in the afternoon the pastor conducted devotions and read articles pertaining to mission work. Meetings were held every four weeks in the homes; each member usually giving twenty-five cents. The pastor’s wife acted as Bestyrerinde (woman foreman) and treasurer and there were no other officers.

In 1906, the decision was made to move the church into Huxley and this was accomplished by crossing fields and moving the building into town on planks. In 1910, the parsonage was built northeast of the church.

Sometime after 1911 the Ladies Aid changed their form of government to President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, each to hold office for a term of two years. The meetings were held in the church basement in the afternoons on the third Thursday of each month. Money was raised by luncheons, mission boxes, thank and self-denial offerings, bazaars and auction sales of items made by the members.

In the 1911-1920 time period, Parochial instruction had been confined to a few weeks of summer school in different districts of the congregation, with all grades under one teacher plus what was done in Sunday School. While the workers in the Sunday School were devoted workers, only a few children attended. The Sunday School was not graded or departmentalized, so a Saturday Parochial School with four paid teachers was organized to run concurrently with the public school year.

In 1913, the church was remodeled by enlarging the building and making a sloping floor so that nowhere in the church was the altar obstructed from view. The windows were large, made of beautiful glass designs. The cost of the project was $13,000 and completed without assuming indebtedness.

The Norwegian language was used exclusively until nearly 1920 when World War I changed all of this with the patriotic fever that war arouses. At the annual meeting on January 9, 1935, it was decided that all services be conducted in English.

The depression of 1921 brought a financial cloud over the congregation, affecting the farming population especially and because the congregation was largely rural, the unpleasantness of an unbalanced budget seriously crippled the work, not to mention the demoralizing effect it had on the members. The situation became more serious when the 1929 big depression set in.

In 1927 Saturday School became Sunday School and the graded system was introduced in 1928 and there were two Bible classes, one in English and one in Norwegian.

On February 22, 1945, a great calamity struck the congregation when the church building and all of its contents were destroyed by fire. However, two weeks later at a special meeting of the congregation in the auditorium of the Huxley High School, it was decided to build a new church. Work was soon begun, and the cornerstone was laid on October 28, 1945. In June of 1946, the basement was ready for use. Because of wartime shortages, the church was not completed and dedicated until February 22, 1948, exactly three years after the fire. The cost of the new church and equipment was $64,251.52. This entire total was raised by December of 1948. Church services and other church meetings were held in the school building and funeral services were held at the Palestine Church until the basement was put into use in 1946.

On January 23, 1957, the congregation voted to build a new parish addition. This new unit was dedicated on May 24, 1959. The dedication also included an afternoon children's service. A total of $81,507.40 was spent on this new building, which also included some remodeling of the main building, new hot water heating equipment and all furnishings. The remaining debt resulting from building the parish addition was paid in full during 1968.

When the American Lutheran Church (ALC) was organized in April of 1960, Fjeldberg became affiliated with this synodical body. The Fjeldberg congregation observed its centennial with special programs during June of 1965.

With the growing number of small children in the congregation in the 1960’s, a nursery was set up during the worship service. The nursery was staffed with volunteers from the congregation.

Sometime around 1970, two morning worship services began, 8:30 and 11:00 a.m., to accommodate all walks of life.

The “Young at Heart” dinners were started in 1973 and served on Wednesdays in the fellowship hall. The dinners were for the 60+ retired citizens in the community. There was always a speaker or entertainment of some kind. Meals on wheels became part of this project as meals were delivered to the shut-ins. Eventually Story County folks duplicated this program and it is still in operation in 2005 with meals prepared in Ames and brought to the Huxley Shelter House for the seniors on Tuesday through Friday. Meals on wheels are still a part of this program.

A new Reuter pipe organ was purchased, installed and dedicated on February 24, 1974 at a cost of $18,000. The old organ was given to the new United Methodist congregation in Huxley. The parsonage was remodeled in early 1976.

A new pastor came to Fjeldberg in 1976 and found Huxley and Fjeldberg in the midst of changing times with countless people, with varied interests and vocations moving into a “bedroom” town” that had been having a population explosion during the past five years. The challenge was met with many new and refreshing ideas to the worship service, Sunday School instruction, support committees, and other areas of the Lord’s work.

During this time, the pastor’s wife, became the first Parish Secretary. “The Fjeldberg Outreach” became the new name for the monthly church paper. The fellowship hall kitchen was refurbished in November 1977 by the Lutheran Church Women. The “Lutheran Book of Worship” hymnals were purchased and dedicated on November 4, 1979. Ecumenical joint Thanksgiving services were held with the United Methodist and Palestine churches. An assistant pastor was hired. He resigned in 1987 and the assistant pastor position was not filled.

Due to the large enrollment in the Sunday School the congregation in October 1977 decided to purchase the Wisecup house southwest of the church at a cost of $35,000 and the Kampley house west of the church at a cost of $28,500 for a total of $63,500. The houses were used for Sunday School classes. The Wisecup house was sold and the Kalsem house was purchased in 1982. The Kampley house was torn down in 1983 and the lot made into a gravel parking lot.

The Thematic program for teaching Sunday School was used as the curriculum. A Resource Room was organized with educational materials and supplies, made available for all areas of the church especially Sunday School. Sunday worship services were taped and sent to members who were unable to attend services. Later amplifiers were installed so that shut-ins could listen to the worship services through a telephone hook-up (listen in line).

The Huxley Food Pantry was established in 1982 which is an ecumenical effort by the local churches and located in the Kalsem house renamed the Ark. The food pantry has helped to supply food for many unfortunate families in the Huxley area. It is staffed by volunteers and receives private donations of food and money. Two of the more recent programs the food pantry supports are The Angel Tree where donations of clothing and toys are received and distributed at Christmas time to area needy families and the Angel Tree School Supplies where monetary donations are used to purchase school items for the less fortunate attending the Ballard Schools.

The year 1986 brought new challenges for Fjeldberg. The Farm Progress Show, scheduled to be held at the Holland, Stall and Twedt farms near Alleman, was to involve the church to host a food tent. Due to an abundance of rain that Fall the show was cancelled. However, Fjeldberg did operate a food tent that served food to the working crews for one week. The proceeds were shared with other church food tents as a mission project. The show was rescheduled for 1987 and again Fjeldberg operated a food tent. Fjeldberg has participated in every Farm Progress Show held in this area since and the show has become an event the whole congregation has come to enjoy and look forward to.

During the Minneapolis ALC Convention, the AELC, ALC, and LCA merged to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. The Fjeldberg Congregation voted to merge into the ELCA at their January 1987 annual meeting. The Constitution was adopted in 1989 and ratified at the January 1990 annual meeting. The By-Laws were adopted in 1990. Ladies Aid became known as WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America).

A third worship service at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday night was added in 1999 and then moved to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday night in 2002 making three Sunday services to accommodate more members.

The parsonage received a coat of paint on the walls, new carpet was installed in the upstairs and in the hall, and the bathroom was remodeled in 1990.

The early 1990’s became a trying time for the congregation as poor pastorial decisions were made and the pastor was asked to leave. Some of the congregation are still in a healing process today but they are healthy and their faith is stronger.

The restoration of the sanctuary began in January 1990 and services were held in the fellowship hall. Major restoration and remodeling projects included: removal of the sanctuary level choir loft, rearrangement of furniture in the altar area, redesign of the art work behind the altar, insulation of walls and ceiling and dry wall applied, installation of air conditioning, application of oak veneer trim to ceiling beams, clean and applying new finish to pews and altar furniture, installation of carpet and new pew cushions, and installation of new wiring throughout the church. Montgomery Specialty Co. of Carroll, Iowa did the work. Ed and Wanda Kamp, members of the congregation, restored the electrical system throughout the church.

Youth are a valuable part of the Fjeldberg congregation so the congregation voted to add a youth director. The first Youth Director was hired in 1993.

There have been four ordinations in the Fjeldberg Church: Rev. Louritz Guttebo, ordained in 1904; Rev. Herman Lunde in 1922; Rev.Jim Hill in 1978; and Dwight DoBell in 1984. Miss Belle Richardson was commissioned as a missionary and served on the mission field in China beginning in 1927. The congregation sponsored and supported Martha Gisselquist as a missionary nurse serving in the Manambora Lutheran Hospital located in Fort Dauphin, Madagascar in 1971-72. Tim and Paula Tjernagel were commissioned as missionaries in 1997 and are serving the Lord in Spain.

A building improvement/handicap access project was approved in 1998 at a cost of $337.368. A handicap access addition was built onto the southeast corner of the church starting in 1998, completed in 2000, and dedicated in February 2001. This addition included a 4-stop elevator, new carpeting, and stained glass windows. Heinen Building Co. of Huxley finished the project which was started by another contractor who ran into financial problems. The handicap access addition project cost $274,997. Maintenance-free windows were installed in the educational unit (Marvin windows purchased through Roger Weyer) and church basement (purchased from RKB in Des Moines) at a cost of $24,641. The west parking lot was asphalted and the east parking lot was repaired and striped at a cost of $24,925. Air conditioning in the education unit and acoustical tile ceiling was installed in the Fellowship Hall at a cost of $8,742. Miscellaneous items such as fire safety, security system, emergency lighting, etc. was completed at a cost of $2,960. Repairs at the Parsonage were also completed at a cost of $1,103. This debt was paid off in the fall of 2003.

Changes or enhancements that have taken place more recently are the addition of computers for record keeping and daily communication with the congregation, worship services shown on a local television channel (delayed broadcast), copy machine, added enhancements to the sound and video system, computer assisted instruction, etc.

New ministries have been added. Stephen Ministry, a one-to-one caring ministry, was added in 1994 with two members of the congregation receiving instruction in Seattle. ChristCare Group Ministry was added in 1997. A successful fellowship program was revised in 2003 called the JOY (Just Older Youth) Seekers. Attendees may dine at a local restaurant, travel to Des Moines shopping or maybe Kansas City, spend an evening at Ballard Creek with the residents, or meet in a congregation member’s home for fellowship time and relaxation. Another program that was revised was the Conversational Dinners. Participants would follow a preplanned schedule showing where to meet and what to bring and would meet once a month for an evening meal and fellowship. Conflicts caused this group to end.

WELCA circles (Elizabeth, Mary, Naomi, and Rebekah) meet once a month for 1-2 hours for Bible study and fellowship. WELCA holds special meetings at Bethany Manor and Ballard Creek, hosts Cluster I meetings, supports Sunday School Rally Day with goodies; hosts Fellowship Coffees each Sunday during the summer for the congregation, supports the Children's Christmas Program with cookies, serves luncheons for funerals, and collects special offerings for WELCA service projects and Thankofferings for the Synod. A big undertaking for WELCA each year is Prairie Festival when the ladies serve lunch to festival attendees. Sewing Circle makes quilts and school kits for the Lutheran World Relief and lap robes for area sick and needy. Altar Guild prepares the altar each week for worship services.

Youth programs have increased. In addition to the regular youth church activities the following programs have been added. A “3456 Event" for the 3rd through 6th graders replaced the LAP/DNT programs that were held after school and conflicted with the pubic school. “Junior High Thing” is a new program for the 7th and 8th graders. These two programs meet once a month during the academic year. ACT (Area Christian Teens) meets jointly with area churches several times a year. Wednesday night is once again church night for children taking part in confirmation, first communion or Bible study. The KIS (Keep It Simple) meals are served during the academic year to help families who are short on time. Youth Bible study small groups became a reality in the fall of 2003. The youth are active in the worship services by acolyting, doing the Easter SonRise Service, preparing and serving the Easter breakfast with the help of some other church members, etc. The old van was replaced in 2003 so the youth and other groups can travel in a reliable vehicle on mission trips, do service projects or attend national rallies. On the local level the youth work with Ballard Creek Community, Beloit or Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp. The youth and congregation members refurbished two cabins at Riverside spring 2005.

There is a Sunday School class for every age group including the adults. Memorial monies made it possible to purchase the Cradle Roll program that will be added this Fall for children from birth to 3 years of age when they are old enough to attend Sunday School. The Sunday School curriculum used for children 3 years old through 6th grade is “Life Together.” A week-long Vacation Bible School is held in June and this year a very successful VBS was co-facilitated with Trinity Methodist Church here in Huxley.

One of the air conditioning units in the church proper went out and the other was shut off for fear of burning it out too. Two families in the congregation replaced the unit at a cost of $2,526.00. The new unit was purchased from Redmond Mechanical of Boone.

New and additional choir robes (the choir was/is growing) were purchased from memorial funds and dedicated on May 16, 2004. New Great Hymns of Faith hymnals, purchased with memorial money to replace the worn, well used ones were dedicated on April 4, 2004 . A new paschal candle using oil was also purchased and dedicated on April 3, 2005. Many members of the congregation are excited about the new Bell Choir that will be started this Fall 2005. The purchase of the two octave bell choir was made possible by memorial monies.

Mid-year in 2004 a Visioning Committee was formed to look at the future. The committee reviewed the worship service, church staffing, ministries, needs of the congregation and Sunday School with input from members of the congregation. Their findings were shared with the congregation at an "Explore Fjeldberg's Vision Fellowship Night.” At the 2005 annual meeting the congregation voted to accept the findings of the Visioning Committee and form a Facility Committee. The Facility Committee has a goal of studying, preparing and presenting a proposal(s) to the congregation in early Spring 2006 for their vote to build or not. More will take place in the future at Fjeldberg.

The following pastors and youth directors have served the Fjeldberg Lutheran Church:

Pastors
N. Amlund - 1865-1869
O.A. Sauer - 1869-1872
N. Amlund - 1872-1874
Markus Fredrick Wiese - 1874-1890
K.L. Guttebo - 1890-1911
P.C. Birkelo - 1912-1920
J.H. Lunde - 1920-1932
W.B. Scarvie - 1932-1933
J.N. Anderson - 1933-1939
Perry Sampson - 1939-1943
O.C. Hellekson - 1943-1947
S.M. Topness - 1948
M. Harold Rye - 1948-1967
Marvin Nygaard - 1967-1975
Olaf Holan, Interim Pastor - 1975-1976
Merlin Norris - 1976-1989
Dolliver Thogerson, Asst. Pastor - 1978-1987
Marcus Aurelius, Interim Pastor - 1989
Russell J. Tessman - 1990-1993
Beryl "Gus" Knutson, Interim P. - 1993-1994
Russell Creydt - 1994-1999
Forrest Chaffee, Interim Pastor - 1999
Terry Slinde, Interim Pastor - 2000
Thomas E. Hilger - 2000-2008
Paul Nelson, Interim Pastor - 2008
Timothy J. Maybee - November 2008 - present