In just a few weeks, St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church members will celebrate its 180th anniversary with a program entitled ‘Voices of the Past - In Faith and Fellowship for 180 Years.’
The church is one of the oldest in Northwest Missouri. Many local residents have ancestors who date back to St. Matthew’s earliest days, including active members of the congregation: Kenneth Klamm, Robert Gieseke, his daughter Joyce Hisel and her son Heath Hisel, and others including the Brenner, Hartman, Filger, Groh, Knoth, Russ, Leimkuhler and Renner families.
Lisa Wittmeyer, local historian and curator at the Platte County Ben Ferrel Museum, and a member of the church’s consistory, has been a member for most of her life, and her mother’s family also goes back to some of the charter members.
The founders of the church were German immigrants from both Platte and Clay counties. The church was on a hilltop location to keep it safe from flood waters during the Great Flood of 1844.
“At that time, south Platte County was considered the frontier, and the congregation was served by a circuit-riding minister who also traveled to Westport, Weston and Savannah, Mo., Wittmeyer said.
According to William Paxton in his historical chronicle, ‘The Annals of Platte County’, many people in the region thought about leaving the area due to the devastation caused by the flood. But the pioneer congregation built a log church, and stayed.
In 1877, the original log church was replaced by a one-room, timber-frame structure of simple Gothic style. St. Matthews has been expanded over the years, but the 1877 structure still defines the present sanctuary, and when visitors enter the church they might feel as though they are stepping back in time.
A bell tower and fellowship hall were added in the early 1900s.
The church in the early 1900s.
In 1951 Riverside was established and so St. Matthews, now within that city, became its oldest institution.
Robert and Marie Gieseke, lifelong members of St. Matthews, were married in the church, and they just celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary.
“St. Matthew’s is part of my history,” Robert said. “It’s where I found the love of Jesus Christ.” Marie said, “St. Matthews was the place to bring our children to learn about God. We wanted to raise them having the Lord in their lives.”
The program for Voices of the Past -180 Years in Faith and Fellowship was written by Wittmeyer and it is framed as a historical narrative interspersed with speakers representing the words of individuals from the past, along with music (selected by Joyce Hisel) to span three centuries. Joyce has been the church’s music director for many decades. She taught music for 29 years in the Platte County School District, and she is the former PCHS Choral Director.
“The Rev. Dr. Mark Braatan (Southern Area Assistant to the Bishop of the NALC - North American Lutheran Church) will deliver a short sermon,” Wittmeyer said. “The program also will feature the Sunday School class at St. Matthews with the children presenting through recitation and song. Mayor Kathy Rose will read a congratulatory proclamation from the city of Riverside and we will present a Congressional Record entry from Congressman Sam Graves honoring the church for this celebration. At the end of the program, guests will be invited to share their own memories of St. Matthew’s.”
While the church is currently looking for a permanent pastor, Kevin Piscator, an ordained Lutheran minister from the Kansas City area is filling in.
One of the guests who is expected to attend the event is Martha Brenner Noland, who, at 101 years old has seen a great deal of history regarding the church.
“Although she hasn’t regularly attended in the last three decades, she still could share about church life long ago such as the picnics held nearby in a grove that the church members and their friends would enjoy and how local schoolchildren (Brenner Ridge School was located nearby- a school named for her family) would use the church facility for graduations and other activities (approximately between the 1920s – 1950s),” Wittmeyer said. “Martha attended Brenner Ridge school when she was growing up. Her family farm was near the church. She later taught elementary school for Park Hill.”
St. Matthew’s church member Mary Temperelli described attending services as, “I feel you are standing on a rock.” Her husband, Bob Temperelli said, “I enjoy the historical continuity, that there is a family of believers that came before us and hopefully will follow us.”
Church member for 36 years, Mindy Ohrenberg said the thing she most enjoys about St. Matthew’s is worshiping with neighbors, family and friends.
During the anniversary celebration, in the adjacent fellowship hall guests will be able to watch a video, prepared by long-time church member, Andy Williams, which will highlight images of St. Matthews throughout the years.
There will also be a display of historical-themed items, children’s artwork and a symbolic representation of the original log church made with Lincoln logs and overseen by church member, Jim Hunter.
“Since no original photographs exist of this church, the replica will be based on photographs of Flintlock Church, another log church from Platte County’s past that was relocated many years ago to Missouri Town in Jackson County,” Wittmeyer said.
Saint Matthew’s has been well known over the decades not only as a church, but as a center for community groups to gather.
At one time the church hosted dinners that would attract many people from the surrounding countryside. The women of the church were known as some of the best cooks in the county.
The church is still well known for its annual Turkey Dinner in October. The congregation also contributes regularly to a local food pantry.
In recent years St. Matthews has been in fellowship with several other NALC churches in Riverside. The Ebenezer Oromo Evangelical Church held services for a time at St. Matthew’s prior to finding a permanent church building. The Missouri Micronesian Church holds services in the sanctuary at St. Mathew’s on Sunday afternoons.
For St. Matthew’s church members, their appreciation for their place of worship includes its welcoming atmosphere, traditional service, unchanging biblical message, along with potluck Sunday, annual turkey dinner and historical continuity.
“It is a source of pride for all church members,” Wittmeyer said. “For over 180 years, the lives of countless individuals have been influenced by St. Matthew’s.”
When asked what had meant the most to them in being part of St. Matthews, the Church Sunday School Group’s answer was, “What matters greatly about St. Matthew’s to many of our members is summed up in the title words of the 180th birthday program, ‘in faith and fellowship’. St. Matthews is truly a congregational family that exemplifies these qualities.”
St. Matthew's church member Cheri Collins described her love and commitment to this community treasure by saying, “When you visit this church you can feel the opening of the hearts and arms of this congregation.”
The church celebration will be at 10 a.m., Sept. 29 at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at 5047 N.W. Gateway Ave. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP requested by Sept. 20 for the BBQ lunch following the program. Call (816) 741-9210 for more information and to RSVP.