Luther Memorial Church


Luther Memorial Church is a Lutheran congregation at 1021 University Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin in the United States. A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, it is known for its worship, music, education, social ministry and preschool programs.

History

Luther Memorial Church was founded in 1907 as a Bible study group. Later the congregation rented space in a synagogue for weekly worship, then moved into its first permanent location at 626 University Avenue, a designated Madison landmark once called Luther Memorial Chapel and now known as the Church Key Bar and Grill. In 1923 Luther Memorial moved into its newly built Neo-Gothic building at 1021 University Avenue.
This building was designated as a Madison Landmark in 2011, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.

Worship

Luther Memorial’s worship has a traditional liturgy with Holy Communion every Sunday and on other holy days. A service of morning prayer is also held each weekday morning. Services also feature hymns and classical music.

Music

Luther Memorial’s music program is led by Andrew Schaeffer, who has served as the director of music since 2018. Three pipe organs are used in worship: a 56 rank Austin pipe organ, a Steere tracker organ, and a Bedient portative organ.
The church hosts the winter choral concerts presented by UW-Madison's choirs each December. Luther Memorial has twice been a venue for concerts by the St. Thomas Choir of Leipzig, a boys' choir founded in 1212. Luther College and St. Olaf College choirs also regularly perform in the church's nave.

Performing regularly throughout the church year are the following ensembles:

Adult choir performing Sunday mornings sacred music ranging from plainsong chant to contemporary compositions in English, Latin, and occasionally German or Russian.

Chant choir performing the monthly compline service, singing in English and Latin.

Training choir, ages K-2

Children's choir, ages 3-6

Youth choir, ages 7-12

Recorder ensemble open to all ages

Bell choir playing 5-octave and 2-octave sets of Malmark bells.

Social ministry

The following programs are examples of the church's commitment to ministering to those in need:
The congregation began participating in the Interfaith Hospitality Network in 1999 as a host congregation. IHN, now called The Road Home, is a Madison-based organization that provides housing for homeless people in churches on a rotating basis. Luther Memorial continued as host congregation until early 2018, when the Road home ended that program.
Luther Memorial was the first Adopt-a-House church partner with Habitat for Humanity of Dane County, Wisconsin, raising money and providing volunteers in 1993 to build a house for a family in need.

Campus ministry

The congregation embraces its location amid the Madison campus of the University of Wisconsin, by involving students in all parts of the church life. Luther Memorial is also one of three covenant congregations in partnership with the Lutheran Campus Center next door at 325 N. Mills Street. The LCC conducts worship at the church and its pastor often preaches at Luther Memorial.

Preschool

The church operated a Christian-based preschool on site beginning in 1997. The preschool closed in 2015 after the city school district began offering free kindergarten to four year old children.

Pastors and program staff, past and present

This list is not complete. Some lay staff members served for more years than are indicated below. Others served the church in clerical, building maintenance and other capacities.
Pre-organization ministers
1. The Rev. Howard R. Gold, pastor, 1907-1916
2. The Rev. Howard E. Snyder, pastor, 1916-1918
3. The Rev. A. J. Soldan, pastor, 1919-1929
4. The Rev. Carroll J. Rockey, pastor 1929-1936
5. The Rev. Edwin Moll, pastor, 1937-1939
6. The Rev. Charles A. Puls, pastor 1940-1962
7. The Rev. Frank Efird, senior pastor, 1963-1973
8. The Rev. J. Stephen Bremer, senior pastor, 1973-1990
9. The Rev. Harvey Spencer Peters, senior pastor, 1990-1997
10. The Rev. Shelley Bobb, senior pastor, -2007
11. The Rev. Franklin Arthur Wilson, senior pastor, 2008-2015
12. The Rev. Brad Pohlman, senior pastor, 2015-present