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PASTOR CHARLES PHILIP COLLIER INSTALLED |
The Reverend Charles Philip Collier, 2008 |
On Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. a new pastor was installed at Faith Lutheran Church, 7749 Apperson Street, Tujunga. The Reverend Charles Philip Collier, who also celebrated the 25th Anniversary of his Ordination on September 17, has been serving as the church’s vacancy pastor during the past two years. In August 2008 a Divine Call was issued by the congregation to Pastor Collier in accordance with the practices of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LC-MS).The congregation welcomed to the service the President of the Pacific Southwest District of the LC-MS, the Reverend Dr. Larry Stoterau, who presided over the installation and who also preached the sermon. Members of the congregation served as Lectors and assisted with the service of Holy Communion, which was celebrated by Pastor Collier.
Special music added to the service, with guest organist, Mrs. Linda Stoterau (wife of President Stoterau). A guitar ensemble led by Mrs. Katherine Galbo and Mr. Scott Sill led the songs “Trust in the Lord” and “They’ll Know We Are Christians” and Mrs. Galbo sang “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” a favorite hymn of Pastor Collier.
The church’s Hospitality Committee, led by Mrs. Carol Dameron and Mrs. Lynn Garske, prepared a lunch and reception following the service Church members assisted with potluck dishes, and a cake was served. Many friends of the congregation and attended the service and the reception, where Pastor Collier was presented with a congratulatory certificate from the City of Los Angeles for his 25th anniversary and installation, thanks to the office of Councilmember Wendy Greuel.
Pastor Collier received his Master of Divinity degree in 1983 from Christ Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, and later continued his studies at Concordia Seminary, also in St. Louis. Previously, he had received a B.A. from St. Francis College, Brooklyn, New York; a Masters in Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; and School Administrative Certification from Azusa University. He was ordained on September 17, 1938. He has previously served churches in Illinois and Georgia; and he has served various congregations throughout the Los Angeles area.
About Faith congregation he remarked, “Faith has a rich tradition of liturgy and is a very close fellowship. I am very humbled and blessed to receive the Call.”
Established in 1946, Faith Lutheran Church held its first services at the Sunland Women’s Club before purchasing the property where it now stands at the corner of Mt. Gleason Avenue and Apperson Street. The original chapel facing Mt. Gleason Avenue was converted to a multi-purpose hall a number of years after the dedication in 1967 of the current brick Sanctuary that sits next to it. The Abbott and Sieker Classical Baroque pipe organ was completed in 1979.
During its sixty-two years serving the community of Sunland-Tujunga and nearby areas, Faith Lutheran Church has been served by two previous pastors: the late Reverend Robert O. Mittelstaedt, and the Reverend Claude H. Baker, Emeritus.
Pastor Mittelstaedt served Faith Tujunga from its beginning until November 1974, when he moved to Desert Hot Springs. In his later years he moved back to the Sunland-Tujunga area where he was preceded in death by his wife Mildred and he was called to glory in December of 2006.
Pastor Baker served Faith Tujunga from March of 1975 until June of 2006. Following his retirement he and wife Candice remain in the local area. | |
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Lawrence Schulz is Called to Glory |
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Mr. Lawrence Schulz, Emeritus, the first commissioned Teacher and Principal called to the then-newly-built Faith Lutheran School in 1956, was called to Glory on January 8, 2009 at age 74. A Memorial Service was held at Faith Lutheran Church, Tujunga, on Saturday, January 24 at 11:00 AM. The Reverend C. Philip Collier officiated and the Reverend Loren Kramer, former President of the Pacific Southwest District, and friend of the deceased, delivered the homily. Special music included "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" by Soloist Katherine Galbo and selections by J.S. Bach by organist Freddie Lu McGinnis. Following the service, friends and family gathered at Descanso Gardens for a reception to visit and share memories in celebration of the life of Mr. Schulz, who resided in Sunland. Faith Lutheran School combined with Mt. Olive Lutheran (La Crescenta) in 1972 and was incorporated as Lutheran School of the Foothills in 1976. Mr. Schulz administered the combined school. He accepted a call to Pilgrim Lutheran School in Santa Monica in 1988 where he served until his retirement from Lutheran education in 1996. A Memorial Fund has been established at Faith Lutheran Church in memory of Lawrence Schulz. If desired, cards may be addressed to the family c/o Faith Lutheran Church at P.O. Box 577, Tujunga, CA 91043. | |
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Rev. Robert Mittelstaedt Called to Glory |
The Reverend Robert O. Mittelstaedt, March 1, 1975. |
The Reverend Robert O. Mittelstaedt, Emeritus of this District, was called to glory on December 6 at the age of 87. Pastor Mittelstaedt was called to open a mission station in 1945 in the Sunland-Tujunga area that was organized in 1946 as Faith Lutheran Church, Tujunga. Pastor Mittelstaedt served this congregation until 1974 when he took a call to Christ Lutheran in Desert Hot Springs. He retired in 1984 and later moved back to the Tujunga area. For many years Pastor Mittelstaedt edited the District News insert for the Lutheran Witness. An avid photographer, his work appeared in numerous church publications and bulletin covers. Pastor Mittelstaedt's wife Mildred predeceased him. He is survived by his children Ruth Peterson, Robert A., Mary Nickel, Lois Brown, and Alan; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service was arranged by the family to be held at Faith, Tujunga on Monday, December 11 at 10:00 A.M., with his son-in-law, the Reverend Ron Nickel presiding. Final Resting Place is Glen Haven Memorial Park, Sylmar, California. A Memorial Fund has been established in the name of Rev. Robert Mittelstaedt at Faith Lutheran Church, Tujunga at the request of the family. Our whole family of Faith prays for God's comfort on those who mourn his passing, and we look forward to a glorious reunion in Christ Jesus our Lord. | |
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Farewell Message from Rev. Claude Baker |
Rev. Claude H. Baker in June 1996 Photo.
Faith's Pastor from May 1975 to June 2006
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ON GOD MY SALVATION AND MY GLORY REST --Psalm 62:7[Pastor Baker announced his retirement at the end of June 2006. He had served in the ministry for 40 years, and was pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Tujunga, California for a little over 31 years. Pastor Baker remains in the local community, but is worshiping elsewhere. If you wish, we can forward messages for Rev. Claude H. Baker C/O Faith Lutheran Church at P.O. Box 577, Tujunga, CA 91043.] Pastor Baker's message follows: + LOOKING FORWARD +
To a future unknown--revealed by the Father of time. Filled with hope to see greater accomplishments ... newer thinking ... possibilities unfolding ... advancing into the plan created by the Spirit for our welfare.
We who believe in the Risen Christ without seeing or touching can also trust his time-plan. The schedule has been set; we need to discover and propel its accomplishment. The Lord of the church has wonderful days and years in his gracious store. We are to seek and find His future. Prayer precedes action. Divine direction blesses human effort.One cannot step into the same stream twice. Challenge and change are part of the human experience. The words of Christ do not become obsolete amid the trends of time. We are a Gospel-outpost on the frontier of this new age. Exciting terrain lies outside our gates. We are on the path of discovery ? Looking forward. + REMEMBERING + Our heritage begins at Pentecost. Thrust forward by the fire of the Spirit we address peoples of cultures unlike our past. Creative thinking crosses old barriers. Provincial patterns become universal in outreach. The pebble dropped into the pond sends ripples reaching ever outward.
Heirs of Western Christianity, believers in Europe constructed the church through numerous generations. Reformation and Renaissance changed its teaching and mission. Exploration transported the message to new continents and cultures. North Europeans taught justification by faith and rediscovered the Biblical emphasis. Our heritage grew.
Into this fair climate, come the transfers to build the new industry, aeronautics. Community develops from individuals gathering together in faith. A preaching station offers structure to families needing nourishment. The Lutheran Church?Missouri Synod sends pastors and a plan to the Sunland-Tujunga inhabitants. The Word is delivered, the Sacraments are celebrated and a gathering of believers becomes church. Recent heritage develops.
Vineyard acreage becomes soil for planting (at the corner of Mt. Gleason Avenue and Apperson Street). Worship center, parsonage, and school grow. Mission and movement of people bring additional harvest. From 1946-1967 many come and then a larger worship structure is planned and developed.
From late in 1945 through November of 1974, the Reverend Robert Mittelstaedt served, first as missionary and then as pastor. While he is alive today, his health does not permit participation in this happy anniversary.
The second pastor arrived in May of 1975 and continues today. Truly this is an unusual fact, that Faith has been served for 60 years by only two individual men. This is our heritage.
Sixty years of service accomplished -- Looking to the future -- What joys has the Lord of the church awaiting us? We pray for His guidance in the days, years and decades yet to be. Thanking God for His past, we look forward to His future. + LOOKING FORWARD + 2006 AND BEYOND +
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