Our Story.......
Covenant Lutheran Church had its beginning on April 18, 1948.
On this day services and Sunday School were held in a garage at
7487 West Appleton Avenue. Four pupils were present at the Sunday
School session and sixteen people attended the worship service.
The bank deposit was $8.35, the total offering for the initial Sunday.
Services and Sunday School were continued in the garage until September 12th of 1948 when the 100 seat chapel
at 3924 North 76th Street was dedicated. It was noted in the history of 1948 that no Sunday School was held from
August 15th through September 19th because of the polio
epidemic. Missionary-at-large Louis A. Neuberger served
Covenant form its inception until January of 1949. On
Sunday, March 6, 1949 the Reverend Harold A. Neuberger,
who had been serving a church in Madison Wisconsin, was
installed and became the pastor of mission congregation.
The formal organization of the mission took place on May
3, 1949. On this day six families met with the pastor and the
new congregation was organized and incorporated as
“Covenant Evangelical Lutheran Church of Milwaukee,
Wisconsin.” Charter membership was continued through
September 25th, on which date the congregation numbered 30 communicant and 56 baptized members.
From its inception Covenant was concerned with the Christian education of its children. In addition to developing
and expanding its Sunday School, the church played a leading role in the formation of the Wauwatosa Lutheran
School Association in 1950 and the Northwest Lutheran School
Association in 1956. On November 3, 1957, Covenant transferred
its worship services and Sunday School to the new and larger
facilities of Northwest Lutheran School and Auditorium. Church
services were held in the auditorium, currently the resource
center.
With the opening of Milwaukee Lutheran High School in 1955,
Our Northwest Lutheran School two years later, and the
development of the community, Covenant experienced a
rapid growth in membership. On April 13, 1959, the congregation
authorized the formation of a building committee and entrusted
it with the planning and construction of a new church plant.
The property at North 81st Street and West Hope Avenue was purchased from the South Wisconsin District. On
Sunday, June 18, 1961, ground was broken for the new church building. Three months later, on September 24th,
the cornerstone was laid, located on the southeast corner of the building. On Sunday, May 6, 1962, the church with
all its appointments and educational unit and fellowship hall were dedicated.
In February of 1960, Professor G. Waldmar Degner of
Concordia College was called to serve as our chancel
assistant. Lester Pursha and Richard Allsing served the
church as vicars from August of 1963 to July of 1965.
On August 1, 1965, James A. Schroeder, a graduate of
graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, was
installed as Assistant Pastor. Following a fruitful
ministry of nearly three and on-half years, Pastor
Schroeder accepted a call to the church in which he
had formerly vicared. Pastor Carl J. Egloff of Milwaukee
Lutheran High School Assisted at Covenant during 1969. On
our 20th Anniversary, May 4, 1969 w, we were privileged to
dedicate the ten stained-glass windows along the east side of
our santuary. On January 11, 1970 the Reverend J. George
Hauser of Elgin, Illinois, was installed as Assistant Pastor. On
July 1, 1977, Mr. Dennis Wallinger of Park Ridge, Illinois, began
serving as Director of Christian Education. Currently Dennis is
serving as Principal of Northwest Lutheran School. At the end
of 1980 Pastor Neuberger retired from the full-time ministry and
became Pastor Emeritus of Covenant. On January 11, 1981, the
Reverend John Koch of Collinsville, Illinois was installed as
Senior Administrative Pastor. At the end of 1994 Pastor Hauser
retired from full-time ministry and became our Pastor Emeritus.
On July 9, 1995, the Reverend Steven J. Voigt of Washburn, Illinois was installed as Associate Pastor.
In February of 2001, Pastor Koch retired from full-time ministry and continued serving the congregation by calling
on homebound members until the summer of 2002. Pastor Voigt was called to be our Administrative Pastor in
March of 2001. On January 6, 2002, the Reverend Richard Bartholomew was installed as Associate Pastor of
Covenant. In the summer of 2003, Miss Jennifer Bernhardt began serving Covenant as our Director of Youth and
Family Ministry. In January of 2008, Mr. Paul Larsen began serving Covenant as Director of Evangelism and
Outreach. Pastor Bartholomew has left our Covenant staff and now serves as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in
Omro, Wisconsin.
In August of 1995 the Covenant Child Care Center opened its doors with Mrs. Marcia Rosynek as our Child Care
Director. The center opened with two staff members caring for children enrolled, ages 3 years old through the
children in our before and after school program. The first year saw 45 children registered in the program and has
steadily increased ever year. The childcare program has been renamed Covenant Early Childhood Center. At
present time, the center has become a State-of-Wisconsin license day-care facility for 70 children, and has
expanded its full time services to include care for infants as young as 6 weeks of age through preschool. We
continue to offer the before and after school program for school age children. Our current staff of fourteen
certified early childhood childcare teachers allows us to continue to provide a home away form home setting in a
loving Christian environment.
The history of Covenant would not be complete without a paragraph recognizing the various educational and
auxiliary organizations which have contributed to the growth and well-being of the congregation. These include
Northwest Lutheran School, which is now operated as an association of Covenant Lutheran Church, Beautiful
Savior Lutheran Church and Berea Lutheran Church; the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee;
the Family Education Hour; the choir; ushers; Ladies Society; Women’s Ministry; Stephen Ministry; Vintage Group;
Meals Ministry; Mary Martha’s; Worship Committee; Evangelism / Outreach Ministry; Worship Assistants; Prayer
Chain Ministry; the Youth Group which began as the Walther League in 1950 and is now known as LYFE (Lutheran
Youth Finding Eternal Life); The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League; the Northwest Lutheran Parent-Teacher
League; the Alter Guild; the acolyte program including the scouting and sports programs.
In addition to all of these groups and organizations, our church boards, committees, and officers have served
faithfully since the church was founded. We most recently have changed our church board governance to a policy
based governance with the formation of the Mission & Ministry Council in 2006. Most importantly are the many
volunteers that have served the church over the years. We appreciate and thank them, without their constant help
we may not be as healthy as we are today. All have played an important part in the life of your church. Throughout
the years, Covenant has truly been blessed with faithful and dedicated servant leaders!
Covenant Lutheran Church had its beginning on April 18, 1948.
On this day services and Sunday School were held in a garage at
7487 West Appleton Avenue. Four pupils were present at the Sunday
School session and sixteen people attended the worship service.
The bank deposit was $8.35, the total offering for the initial Sunday.
Services and Sunday School were continued in the garage until September 12th of 1948 when the 100 seat chapel
at 3924 North 76th Street was dedicated. It was noted in the history of 1948 that no Sunday School was held from
August 15th through September 19th because of the polio
epidemic. Missionary-at-large Louis A. Neuberger served
Covenant form its inception until January of 1949. On
Sunday, March 6, 1949 the Reverend Harold A. Neuberger,
who had been serving a church in Madison Wisconsin, was
installed and became the pastor of mission congregation.
The formal organization of the mission took place on May
3, 1949. On this day six families met with the pastor and the
new congregation was organized and incorporated as
“Covenant Evangelical Lutheran Church of Milwaukee,
Wisconsin.” Charter membership was continued through
September 25th, on which date the congregation numbered 30 communicant and 56 baptized members.
From its inception Covenant was concerned with the Christian education of its children. In addition to developing
and expanding its Sunday School, the church played a leading role in the formation of the Wauwatosa Lutheran
School Association in 1950 and the Northwest Lutheran School
Association in 1956. On November 3, 1957, Covenant transferred
its worship services and Sunday School to the new and larger
facilities of Northwest Lutheran School and Auditorium. Church
services were held in the auditorium, currently the resource
center.
With the opening of Milwaukee Lutheran High School in 1955,
Our Northwest Lutheran School two years later, and the
development of the community, Covenant experienced a
rapid growth in membership. On April 13, 1959, the congregation
authorized the formation of a building committee and entrusted
it with the planning and construction of a new church plant.
The property at North 81st Street and West Hope Avenue was purchased from the South Wisconsin District. On
Sunday, June 18, 1961, ground was broken for the new church building. Three months later, on September 24th,
the cornerstone was laid, located on the southeast corner of the building. On Sunday, May 6, 1962, the church with
all its appointments and educational unit and fellowship hall were dedicated.
In February of 1960, Professor G. Waldmar Degner of
Concordia College was called to serve as our chancel
assistant. Lester Pursha and Richard Allsing served the
church as vicars from August of 1963 to July of 1965.
On August 1, 1965, James A. Schroeder, a graduate of
graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, was
installed as Assistant Pastor. Following a fruitful
ministry of nearly three and on-half years, Pastor
Schroeder accepted a call to the church in which he
had formerly vicared. Pastor Carl J. Egloff of Milwaukee
Lutheran High School Assisted at Covenant during 1969. On
our 20th Anniversary, May 4, 1969 w, we were privileged to
dedicate the ten stained-glass windows along the east side of
our santuary. On January 11, 1970 the Reverend J. George
Hauser of Elgin, Illinois, was installed as Assistant Pastor. On
July 1, 1977, Mr. Dennis Wallinger of Park Ridge, Illinois, began
serving as Director of Christian Education. Currently Dennis is
serving as Principal of Northwest Lutheran School. At the end
of 1980 Pastor Neuberger retired from the full-time ministry and
became Pastor Emeritus of Covenant. On January 11, 1981, the
Reverend John Koch of Collinsville, Illinois was installed as
Senior Administrative Pastor. At the end of 1994 Pastor Hauser
retired from full-time ministry and became our Pastor Emeritus.
On July 9, 1995, the Reverend Steven J. Voigt of Washburn, Illinois was installed as Associate Pastor.
In February of 2001, Pastor Koch retired from full-time ministry and continued serving the congregation by calling
on homebound members until the summer of 2002. Pastor Voigt was called to be our Administrative Pastor in
March of 2001. On January 6, 2002, the Reverend Richard Bartholomew was installed as Associate Pastor of
Covenant. In the summer of 2003, Miss Jennifer Bernhardt began serving Covenant as our Director of Youth and
Family Ministry. In January of 2008, Mr. Paul Larsen began serving Covenant as Director of Evangelism and
Outreach. Pastor Bartholomew has left our Covenant staff and now serves as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in
Omro, Wisconsin.
In August of 1995 the Covenant Child Care Center opened its doors with Mrs. Marcia Rosynek as our Child Care
Director. The center opened with two staff members caring for children enrolled, ages 3 years old through the
children in our before and after school program. The first year saw 45 children registered in the program and has
steadily increased ever year. The childcare program has been renamed Covenant Early Childhood Center. At
present time, the center has become a State-of-Wisconsin license day-care facility for 70 children, and has
expanded its full time services to include care for infants as young as 6 weeks of age through preschool. We
continue to offer the before and after school program for school age children. Our current staff of fourteen
certified early childhood childcare teachers allows us to continue to provide a home away form home setting in a
loving Christian environment.
The history of Covenant would not be complete without a paragraph recognizing the various educational and
auxiliary organizations which have contributed to the growth and well-being of the congregation. These include
Northwest Lutheran School, which is now operated as an association of Covenant Lutheran Church, Beautiful
Savior Lutheran Church and Berea Lutheran Church; the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee;
the Family Education Hour; the choir; ushers; Ladies Society; Women’s Ministry; Stephen Ministry; Vintage Group;
Meals Ministry; Mary Martha’s; Worship Committee; Evangelism / Outreach Ministry; Worship Assistants; Prayer
Chain Ministry; the Youth Group which began as the Walther League in 1950 and is now known as LYFE (Lutheran
Youth Finding Eternal Life); The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League; the Northwest Lutheran Parent-Teacher
League; the Alter Guild; the acolyte program including the scouting and sports programs.
In addition to all of these groups and organizations, our church boards, committees, and officers have served
faithfully since the church was founded. We most recently have changed our church board governance to a policy
based governance with the formation of the Mission & Ministry Council in 2006. Most importantly are the many
volunteers that have served the church over the years. We appreciate and thank them, without their constant help
we may not be as healthy as we are today. All have played an important part in the life of your church. Throughout
the years, Covenant has truly been blessed with faithful and dedicated servant leaders!
COVENANT LUTHERAN CHURCH "IT'S A NEW DAY... ... A NEW BEGINNING" |
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