Altar Church Altar	Cake 100th Anniversary Cake with replica of church on top	Cake 100th Anniversary Cake
Pastors and Wives Pastor and Mrs. Erling Carmichael (Beverly) Pastor and Mrs. Henry Klug (Ruth) Pastor and Mrs. Russel Kobs (Ruth)	Fellowship Ruby Sanborn, Ladies Aid President Robert Retzlaff, Church President	Pastors Pastor Max Herrman Pastor Erling Carmichael Pastor Henry Klug Pastor Del Bedalka
Pastors' Wives Mrs. Max Herrman Mrs. Del Bedalka Mrs. Erling Carmichael	Worship Service Inside the church	Centennial Sign Centennial Sign donated by Roger and Bonnie Behrens
Ramp The first walking ramp installed the summer of 1994	Front of Church Lectern, Flowers and Organ	Shelf Centennial Shelf Cover designed and made by Ruby Sanborn
Flowers Flowers for the centennial anniversary	Table Table Settings	Pastor Pastor Henry H. Klug

 

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On this Centennial Occasion -

May we be thankful for God's gracious love and blessings;

Guiding and blessing this church's congregation,

keeping them steadfast in the true faith as they continue on.

On this Joyous Occasion -

For many years, O God of Grace

This church has been your dwelling place

And we Thy congregation

Upon this precious cornerstone

Our faith is built, and Christ alone

Is still our one Foundation.

 

 

From an article in The Tomah Journal:

St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kirby commemorated its 100-year anniversary with words from two of its former leaders.

About 170 church members and visitors gathered for the centennial services at the church, located on top of a small hill along U.S. Highway 12 in the township of Grant.

The former church leader who spoke at the morning service was the Reverend Erling Carmichael, Nodine, Minnesota. Later in the day, another former church leader, the Reverend Russel Kobs, spoke to another audience.

"A century of grace. A century of birth. It's a long time," said Kobs, who now resides in Cambridge.

"Look at all the things that have transpired since that time," he said to church members and visitors who filled all the seating in the pews. "We send people to the moon. We send them to outer space. We have TV transmission from any particular place in the world."

"Even 25 years ago would you have thought of a heart transplant?" he said.

The birth of the church followed some major turns in the makeup of the Lutheran Church. The Lutheran Church once had separate synods in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, but in 1892 a joint synod of the three churches was formed. A year later the synod sent its first missionary to a foreign land - Arizona.

The church congregation first met around the time when a few of today's modern conveniences were invented. Kobs said that by the time the church began services in 1894, the "zipper" was only four years old.

He put the church's age in perspective to other new comings before the turn of the century: In 1895 the first radio transmission was made and the first X-ray was taken. Thomas Edison invented the motion picture the year before. In 1892 the alternating current generator was invented. "There were a lot of things on both sides of it but nothing really worth except for your founding here," he said.

Not too many people are privileged to attain 100 years or better, but Kobs recognized those who have, saying, "Maybe it's the water up here," he said.

The congregation dates back to 1875, when services were held in people's homes with the Reverend A.F. Siegler of Ridgeville serving them.

St. Matthew's congregation was formally organized in 1894. However, for several years, they held services in the former Summit Valley School near the present church, with visiting pastors.

The first church - 40 by 32 feet with a 52-foot tower - was built in 1900 at the present site.

In 1918 the church was joined by members of St. Luke in the town of Knapp and St. John in the town of Shennington.

That church was struck by lightning and burned in 1928. After several months' discussion, the members decided to rebuild.

The present building was formally dedicated in May 1930. It also is 40 by 32 feet with a tower, but the building faces a different direction. There have been several improvements in the past 64 years.

Kobs' sermon theme focused on "Our Thanksgiving for a century of Divine Grace," in which he asked the congregation to "remember the 100 years of grace and mercy that the Lord has shown you."

"When we look back on a hundred years or even more we cannot be but impressed by the many evidences of God's mercy, his blessings and his grace."

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