FIRST CHURCH BUILT 1881

The first Church, a frame structure, was erected on the corner of Second Avenue and East Tenth Street in 1881 at a cost of $800.00. It faced west, just as the present structure does today. The Rev. J. Fackler of Lyons, Iowa, who delivered the dedicatory sermon, always referred to it as a "Kirchlein" (a tiny Church). The area surrounding the property was largely cornfield. Pastor Lusskywrote, "There was no sidewalk on our side of the street. The sidewalk on the other side stopped at the corner. The only other house nearby was the home of the owner of the subdivision across the street from us."

This first house of worship was lighted by kerosene lamps because the gas main did not come out that far, though gas was commonly used in Sterling by that time. The interior of the Church was provided with an altar and pulpit, though neither a baptismal font nor a lectern was in use. Pastor Lussky wrote reminiscently about those early days, "I used a baptismal bowl which 1 held in one hand while the sponsors held the child." The altar and the pulpit were built by the contractor who erected the Church.

The congregation was from the beginning a mixture of rural and urban members. We quote again from Pastor Lussky. "A few farmers lived near Rock Falls but the rest of the congregation was composed of city people. Many of the latter worked in a distillery in the southwest part of Sterling and lived on a little street running parallel to the road to Hopkins." (This would be Miller Street, no doubt). "This street was not paved or fixed up and their small homes were on it. They were referred to as living 'in the slough' or in German 'im Fischerdorf'. These members made kegs for the distillery and tended to the Texas steers which were brought to Sterling for fattening on the mash from the distillery. Two of the members held positions as clerks in Sterling stores, Alberts and Behrens."