History

We as members of Sinai appreciate the dedication and work of our forefathers for beginning and nurturing our Christian lives throughout the years. Our heritage includes the following congregations.

1879-1896 HOLDEN CONGREGATION (WEST CHURCH)

• 10/20/1879

  • • • Services were held in Ole Tisland's sod house.

• 1882

  • • • Pioneer cemetery was located in Section 34 on land donated by Halvor Thompson. There is a marker by this site where some of the earliest pioneers were buried.

• 1890

  • • • In the summer, a church was built in cooperation with the Bloom congregation.

• 1891

  • • • The West Cemetery was established in Section 15.

• 7/20/1895

  • • • The church was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.

1887-1896 BLOOM CONGREGATION

• 1887

  • • • At the split of the Bloom Congregation the majority incorporated under this name.

1896-1917 LAKE SINAI CONGREGATION

• 1/30/1896

  • • • The Holden and Bloom Congregations were united to form the Lake Sinai Congregation.

• 1896

  • • • The church was rebuilt.

1879-1917 BLOOM CONGREGATION (EAST CHURCH)

• 11/26/1879

  • • • Services were held in John Teslo's sod house.

• 1880

  • • • The East Cemetery was established in Section 23.

• 1887

  • • • There was a split of this congregation. The minority remained and retained the name.

• 1899

  • • • The church was built at the site of the cemetery.

• 1909

  • • • The church was moved to the East end of Sinai's main street.

1917 to the present - SINAI LUTHERAN CHURCH

• 12/17/1917

  • • • Lake Sinai Congregation and the Bloom Congregation united to form Sinai Lutheran.

• 1928

  • • • The serving of dinner on Memorial Day originated.

• 1929

  • • • First 4th of July celebration was sponsored by the Luther League.

• 1935

  • • • The Mission Club was organized.

• 4/19/1950

  • • • Ground breaking for our present church building.

• 12/24/1950

  • • • The bell was moved from the West Church and rang for the first time on Christmas Eve. The engraving on it reads, "I am placed here by Lake Sinai Congregation on June 12, 1916. When you hear my voice, then remember that it always has a purpose."

• 7/18/1951

  • • • The first worship service in the present church was held. The alter, alter rail, pews and the picture in the chapel are from the West Church.

• 12/13/1951

  • • • The Alter Guild was organized.

• 1959

  • • • In April, the church library was organized.

• 1966

  • • • The sewing group started.

• 11/18/1969

  • • • We became a two-point parish with Lake Campbell.

• 1985

  • • • The 4'Fs was organized.

• 1981

  • • • In the summer, Osborne B. Stime build the monuments at the East and West Cemeterys and also the one along the fence line in Section 34 which is near the Pioneer Cemetery. Members of the congregation brought rocks from their homes and pastures to be used in these monuments. The big white rock in the back of the monument at the West Cemetery is the northwest cornerstone of Ole Tisland's sod house where the Holden Congregation first met.

Sinai Lutheran, 1879-1989
by Dorothy Husher

One hundred ten years ago our surrounding prairies were wild and uninhabited. Prairie fires and blizzards swept the plains unhindered. So it had been through the ages. It was not to continue; a new era had begun. Hardy pioneers were building homes on the prairies.
The pioneers had not only taken with them their oxen and their plows; they had also with them their catechism, their hymn book, and their Bible. These they loved and used. But they felt the need for spiritual help and guidance, they needed to come together for worship, and their children needed instruction. They needed a pastor. But where could they get a pastor, few and far apart as they were? It seemed nearly hopeless and then Mr. Halvor Thompson drove to Canby, Minnesota, for a harvester he had ordered. During his stay, he became acquainted with a young pastor who had just arrived there, the Rev. I. H. Hinderrocker of the Norwegian Augustana Synod. He held the first Christian church services of this community on August 24, 1879, in the John Jackson basement (located on the Kenneth Nelson farm.) This was an historical event in this community as it marked the beginning of regular services and led to the organizing of the first congregation here.
On October 26, 1879, services were held in Ole Tisland's sod house where the Holden Congregation was organized. The coming of the pastor was a festive event, looked forward to with joy, and dear to the memory of every member. Services were held in different sod houses. The rooms were small and the chairs were few, but spring seats from the wagons and rough boards from grain bins provided all with seats. After services, meals were generally served to all, and the best the house had to offer. After the hearty dinner the people usually stayed during the afternoon and enjoyed a pleasant visit together. It was their most cheerful social event. Rev. Hinderocker served Holden for seventeen years, all the while driving seventy miles from Canby with horses in road cart, buggy, or sled, for a salary of $50 a year. Once he even came on skis. His labor was strenuous but was crowned with success. As activity developed in the congregation, services were held once a month with the pastor, but the members soon began to gather regularly for Lay Services and Sunday School.
On February 22, 1891, the Holden and Bloom Congregation, although not yet united, went together and erected a church west of Sinai where the cemetery is located. On July 20, 1895, it was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. It was a sad occurrence as the church was all paid for and fully furnished. Former pastor Rev. Hinderrocker said, "I take this as a sign from God that these congregations belonging to the same church body shall unite." In 1896 the Bloom and Holden congregations formed the "Lake Sinai Congregation."
The Bloom Congregation consisted of Sioux River Valley pioneers connected to the Norwegian Synod. Rev. E. O. Ruste conducted the first meeting November 26, 1879, in Mr. John Teslo's sod house with communion and baptism. The Bloom church was built in 1899 south of Sinai where the East Cemetery is now located. It was moved to Sinai by a winch powered by hourses and relocated at the east end of Main Street. It was used for worship services until December 7, 1917, when Bloom and Lake Sinai congregations merged. From then until it was torn down in 1951, it was used as a fellowship hall.
A second west Sinai church was built in 1896 replacing the burned church. Rev. Aaberg served for 17 years; his thoughtfulness and devotion wiped out all lines of differences in the united congregation. The Black Hills pines were planted around the church in 1902 at a cost of 8 cents apiece. The trees were replaced in 1987. In 1901 a church bell was hung. It cracked after 14 years of service, was melted, and again installed. It contains the following inscription: "I am placed here by the Lutherans of the Lake Sinai congregation on June 12, 1916. When you hear my voice, then remember that it always has a purpose."
Ground was broken for the new brick church in Sinai on April 9, 1950, with Rev. C. A. Hauge as pastor. The original bell hangs here. It was rung for the first time in Sinai on Christmas Eve, 1950 and it still rings today.
In 1961, our Sinai Church was included in the birth of the American Lutheran Church. As of January 1, 1988, Sinai voted to become apart of ELCA.
Our church centennial was celebrated July 1979 with the verse Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever."
A hardy thank you to our pioneers and families for their dedication. There have been many faithful workers in the Sinai Lutheran church, giving their time and talents. May we be kept faithful in His service, serving our God, and our neighbor, to the furtherance of his Kingdom.