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SAINT MICHAEL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1952-1990
500 E. 31^st Street, La Grange Park, Illinois 60525

In 1952 Saint Michael's Lutheran Church was planted as a mission outreach to the expanding suburban population in La Grange Park. One year from Saint Michael's organization under the English Synod of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the congregation broke ground for the church building along 31^st between Sherwood Drive and Forest Road, on January 3, 1954.  The cornerstone was laid on Palm Sunday, and the dedication took place on November 21, 1954.

From the beginning Saint Michael's promoted Christian Education offering a Sunday Bible School at Brook Park School in 1952, then in the Social Hall of the new building in 1954.  By 1967 the need for more classrooms led to a building addition.

In 1976, dissension within the Missouri Synod grew and the English Synod of the A. E. L. C. (Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches) was started, with Saint Michael’s voting to join the newly established English Synod. The church grew in membership and programs of worship, mission, service, Christian Education, Music and the spiritual growth of its members. By their 25^th anniversary, a repair and remodeling project which included relocating the organ was underway. Youth outreach expanded to include a Vacation Bible School for the community, classes from birth through age three with parental participation, and a Junior High youth group joined the group for Senior High Youth and Sunday Bible School.

Saint Michael's has choir programs for sacred and contemporary music and children as well as instrumental music have enhanced the worship. The Ministry of Healing became a regular part of worship in 1982 on the first & third Sundays of the month.

Saint Michael's has had three full time pastors:

• Reverend Jack Ruff (1953-1962)
• Reverend Arlan H. Brandt (1963-1974)
• Reverend William F. Bakewicz (1974 to present)

Several Deaconess Interns have served one year periods at various times. In 1975, Saint Michael's called Deaconess Karen Bakewicz to serve in a team ministry with Pastor Bill primarily in the areas of women and youth ministries. A leader in Vacation Bible School, Sunday Bible School, Bible Study groups, directing retreats and counseling. She has been a leader at the National level of the Lutheran Deaconess Association and supervised deaconess interns.

Field work students from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago also served under Pastor Bill. The Reverend Paul Cutler was ordained at Saint Michael's. St. Michael's also ordained its first member as a pastor in the Lutheran Church, the Reverend Gail Sherin in 1987. She now has a pastorate in Florida.

As of 1990 the Church has sent three of its families into the Mission Field.

• Miss Barbara Runkel, a missionary with Lutheran Bible Translator in Sierra Leone, Africa
• Mr. and Mrs. William (Rhonda) Weber, in Budapest, Hungary
• Mr. and Mrs. Victor (Sara) Gaultney and children, with Wycliffe Bible Translators

In 1987 there was a merger of three major branches of the Lutheran Church, and Saint Michael's is now a member of the newly formed Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). Pastor Bill is one of the national leaders who helped launch Lutheran renewal efforts for fellowship, support, and witness among renewed pastors and congregations in die new church.

The primary source of this information is:

History of Saint Michael's Lutheran Church, author unknown, 1990, found at the La Grange Park Public Library

Last Modified:  06/24/2002