Pastors at St. Luke
1730 -to- Present

***Note: pictures (if available) will be posted when scanner is fixed.  Sorry for the inconvenience,***
John Casper Stover

1730-1748

John Nicholas Kurtz

1748-1770

  • Arrived on "James Goodwill"
  • organized first congregations
  • held services in Schaefferstown
  • Missionary to PA Germans
  • first ordained minister of Lutheran Church of America
  • pastor when church was built
  • traveled in countryside which was populated by savages
  • grandfather of Rev. Dr. Benjamin Kurtz an eminent Lutheran Church in America pastor
Frederick AC Muhlenberg

1770-1773

Christopher Schultz

1770-1809

  • Served St. Luke with Schultz
  • arrived on "James Goodwill"
  • assisted H.M. Muhlenberg and married his daughter
  • father of J. Andrew Schultz - governor of PA
  • assisted by F.A.C. Muhlenberg
  • last years of service he was very feeble
  • preached his last sermon at his parsonage and passed away the next week
William Baetes

1810-1836

Jonathan Ruthrauf

1837-1849

  • First pastor born in US
  • part of Warwick now which included Brickerville
  • traveled on horseback
  • first pastor of Frieden's in Myerstown
  • somewhat sickly
  • served Zion Lancaster till his death
  • good spiritual preacher
  • East PA Synod formed
  • introduced prayer meetings and revival sessions
  • served Salem in Lebanon
  • Zion Lebanon was formed after difficulties arose @ Salem
  • S-town had some problems also, but resolved them and harmony was restored.
J.M. Deitzler

1849-1864

Uriel Graves

1865-1866

  • meager education in public schools
  • training for ministry with uncle
  • founded 7th St. Lutheran Church
  • faithful to General Synod
  • possessed of great physical and mental vigor
  • especially gifted in prayer
  • endured unrest among the Synod groups
  • man of fine ability
  • fluent and graceful speaker
  • conducted the centennial celebration of the church
  • good instructor in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church
George J. Martz

1867-1878

Moses Fernsler

1878-1900

  • missionary to India
  • health brought him back to US
  • served Womelsdorf & S-town
  • had an accident in S.C. with severe head injuries
  • came back to Lebanon where he died
  • born in Lebanon County
  • orphan at 6 months
  • had S-town & Brickerville charge
  • church was remodeled during his term
  • Brickerville was involved in church litigation and lost in the courts--a new church was built there
  • resigned due to ill health
Morris Good

1901-1908

Elmer Edwin Schantz

1908-1926

  • strong inclination for holy office
  • served S-town/Brickerville & Bernville
  • excellent relationship with congregation
  • large parish took its toll and he had to resign due to ill health
  • had failing health at the beginning of his pastoral career
  • first early Christmas service was held
  • pavement was placed on two sides of the church
  • committee was formed to investigate the building of a Chapel
  • furnace was installed in church
Otis Orville Leidich

1927-1936

Paul Heindel Sheffer

1936-1951

  • Chapel was built but many problems associated its building
  • benevolence was paid to Eastern PA Synod
  • many lapsed members renewed allegiance
  • two visits to each member/year were started
  • nervous breakdown at the death of his wife
  • indebtedness was paid of on Chapel
  • organ repaired
  • cross/candles/vases were placed on communion table
  • choir & pastor were vested
  • Vacation Bible School was started
  • church property was improved
  • died in a collision on 1/9/56
William W. Miller

1952-1992

Larry R. Bergh

1994-2003

  • Anything, anytime, anywhere, barring nothing was his mission.
  • A True Shepherd----
  • New hymnals (1996)
  • New grand piano with community concerts started (1998)

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