Church celebrates 60 years

Submitted by Paula Hansen

St. Michael’s Lutheran Church

After several years of planning, members of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Camillus broke ground on March 11, 1962, for a new house of worship. It was built in a mere eight months and dedicated on Nov. 18, 1962.

The service included a processional with the pastor, choir, council and congregation walking from the house chapel (later the parsonage) to the church entrance.  Following the Lutheran Service for the Dedication of a Church, the builder presented the keys to the architect, who in turn, handed them to Carl Toth, chairman of the building committee.

He unlocked the door and handed the keys to The Rev. Kenneth Heuermann and they all entered and took their seats.

Organist Morton Davis played the prelude,then Pastor Heuermann set the Bible, sacramental vessels and altar service book in place and the service began.

The sermon was delivered by the Rev. Paul Kaiser, mission developer and first pastor of St. Michael’s from 1956 to 1959.

Three major changes to the building have taken place since that day.  As donations increased, the sanctuary windows, initially clear glass, were changed to stained glass, designed by Keck Studios in Syracuse.

The original watercolor designs have been framed and hang in the narthex by the front doors.

A second change is the Helen Fellows Memorial Pipe Organ, a gift from David Fellows in memory of his wife.  The organ was built at the Schlicker Organ Company in Buffalo, NY, at a cost of $23,000.

Until 1965, Mr. Davis played on “a very capable two-manual electric organ which had speakers to amplify the sound” within the nave.

The third change from the 1962 church is the educational wing, first built in 1969 and rebuilt after a fire in 1991. The fire was traumatic, but members rallied to clean and adjust to space reductions during the eight-month rebuilding process.

Today you will hear the same anthem arrangement of Psalm 100 sung by the choir that day and Allison Evans Henry will play the same postlude performed by Morton Davis on this day in 1962.

Today we have a number of members who were present that day, including some who were children at the time. We also have Pastor Ken and Pastor Janet, the two pastors who have served the longest and guided us along the pathways of our lives.