The Concordia Story: A Fifty-Year History of Concordia Lutheran Church 1951-2001

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✦ Above: Concordia’s school presented The Pied Piper of Hamlin as the school’s annual dramatic presentation in the early 1970’s. Below: Concordia School students are shown in the school cafeteria in this photo from the early 1970’s. nearly 30 years, and we have held Health Fairs for members and for the community.” The Health Care Committee, at one time, even provided influenza injections to members. “Our committee has always visited the sick,” she said, “and those in the hospital.” Two women singled out by many Concordia members for their roles in the congregation’s dynamic ministry are Dr. Merkens’ wife, Barbara, and his sister, Rhoda Canion. Art Samuel recalls that Barbara played the pivotal role in supporting the pastoral ministry at Concordia: “We of the laity often overlook, or do not know, how important the role of the pastor’s wife is. I say this because Mrs. Merkens has always played it very low key. Even though we were not members from the beginning, Jeanette and I were good friends of the Merkens. So I knew first hand that, in addition to raising four children, she had a must list from Pastor almost every day. When we began traveling together, her list was longer than some of his secretaries’.” Samuel has similar praise for Mrs. Canion, who served as Concordia’s music director from 1956 to 1997: “Not only was she one of the first teachers, but she came equipped as an organist first class and a choir director as well. We all know how very important music is to our worship, and she did an outstanding job. How she could run both feet up and down the foot pedals, play and direct the choir with one or both hands, all at the same time, was something to behold. I have heard it said many times that she played like her brother preached.” The 1970’s drew to a close with Concordia firmly in command of the title of the largest church in Synod. Although several Missouri Synod congregations claimed communicant membership near the 3,000 mark, Concordia stood out alone with over 2,000 average worship attendance in 1980. The goal Dr. Merkens had set on arriving in 1951 had been accomplished. But even more exciting years were in store for Concordia. 32 ✦ THE CONCORDIA STORY
✦ Above: At Easter Sunday services in 1975, a total of 3,500 attended three services. Left: Concordia celebrated a special anniversary day on August 24, 1975. Four Concordia members were recognized for anniversaries of service to His kingdom. From left to right, Dr. A.G. Merkens was recognized for 55 years, Verena Moll for 25 years, Esther Bierbaum for 30 years, and Pastor Theodore Graalman for 40 years. Chapter II ✦ 33
Page 1 and 2: THE CONCORDIA STORY A Fifty-Year Hi
Page 3 and 4: THE CONCORDIA STORY A Fifty-Year Hi
Page 5 and 6: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I first came to Co
Page 7 and 8: gregations across the U.S. and in m
Page 9 and 10: ✦ Left: The original chapel serve
Page 11 and 12: Rast that this aggressive, young pa
Page 13 and 14: that would express God’s love thr
Page 15 and 16: Address Record, which gave us the n
Page 17 and 18: School led to action. A companion b
Page 19 and 20: they kept in mind Merkens’ commen
Page 21 and 22: was sent gratis by CPH to every pas
Page 23 and 24: We tried to get everything done in
Page 25 and 26: Perhaps the innovation in which Mer
Page 27 and 28: format was to be a series of semina
Page 29 and 30: other congregations, all of which h
Page 31 and 32: ✦ Left: “They come to play and
Page 33: prospective members, and over one h
Page 37 and 38: ice.’ So they came that week and
Page 39 and 40: The year 1982 marked the publicatio
Page 41 and 42: ✦ Left: Concordia operated a bus
Page 43 and 44: The day was planned so the dedicati
Page 45 and 46: springs forward to daylight-savings
Page 47 and 48: eally selling short the good people
Page 49 and 50: Still the period beginning in Janua
Page 51 and 52: ✦ Left: The sanctuary as it looke
Page 53 and 54: has up here on 281,” Thompson sai
Page 55 and 56: experience as a lay pastor had dram
Page 57 and 58: tract for the purchase, but also au
Page 59 and 60: ✦ Left: Carl Steiger, right, serv
Page 61 and 62: gage. And it was not the kind of pr
Page 63 and 64: ✦ Left: San Antonio Mayor Howard
Page 65 and 66: two full-time pastors and two part-
Page 67 and 68: ✦ Left: Concordia’s Men’s Min
Page 69 and 70: Seminar speakers, like Paul Maier,
Page 71 and 72: Concordia who live in the area and
Page 73 and 74: Prior to the arrival of the Prieto
Page 75 and 76: ✦ Far left: Concordians Mike Manu
Page 77 and 78: ✦ Above: Concordia’s administra
Page 79 and 80: P ASTORS W HO H AVE S ERVED C ONCOR
Page 81 and 82: ✦ Above: Adult Bible Class is hel
Page 83: Sunday School, 1952. Vacation Bible

The Concordia Story: A Fifty-Year History of Concordia Lutheran Church 1951-2001

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