Brief History of Christ Lutheran Church

1958 June

Pastor Wendell Jacobson came to Yakima to develop a mission congregation in this area. The first service was held in the Westpark Kindergarten building on Sunday, October 28, 1958, with 87 people attending. Mrs. Cheryl Jacobson headed the first Sunday Church School which met on November 9, 1958 with 30 students enrolled.

1959 May 10

CLC was officially organized with 64 charter members.

1959 June 28

Pastor Jacobson was called as the first Pastor and installed.

1959 September

The parsonage was purchased and dedicated. The Women's group was organized. The site for the new church was chosen (It was then a pear orchard).

1961

Congregation members felled trees and sold firewood in preparation for construction.

1962

The youth's Luther League was organized. Ground breaking services were held at the construction site on August 26, 1962.

1963 March 3

The new church was dedicated as Christ Lutheran Church of Yakima.

1965 August 15

Pastor James L. Seiffert succeeded Pastor Jacobson and served until 1971. CLC was without a pastor for about one year.

1972 May

Pastor Steven Morrison accepted the call and served until June of 1976.

1976 June

Ordination and installation of Pastor Al Harness.

1980 October

Construction began on additional classrooms and on extending the fellowship hall.

1981 October

The burning of the mortgage on the original building was held.

Pastor Kurt Gieschen was installed as our pastor.

1984 May 10

CLC celebrated it's 25th Anniversary.

1986 October

CLC held a Lutheran Lay Renewal weekend with visiting guests sharing their "Christ Stories" with us. It was a very joyous spirit-filled weekend.

1987 June

CLC was a partner in the merger of ALC, LCA and AELC churches to become the new Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as of January 1, 1988.

1994 May 10

We celebrated our 35th year as a congregation and gave a special offering to a sister mission congregation, Celebration Lutheran Church in E. Wenatchee.

1997 June

Pastor Gieschen went on a 4 month Sabbatical and the congregation was served by Pastor Emery Rohde.

1999 May 16

We celebrated our 40th year as a congregation with a reception between services.

1999 August 1

Jeff Kallevig was ordained at CLC. Jeff was confirmed at CLC in 1984.

2001 Dec. 31

Pastor Kurt Gieschen accepted a call to Emmanuel Lutheran in Longview, WA.

2002 April 14

Pastors Karen and Robert Edwards were installed as our interim pastors.

2004 February 1