I REMEMBER WHEN…
   When the members and friends of Risen Savior were asked to give us their favorite memories, anecdotes, and stories from the 25 years of our history, here's what they had to say:

"I remember when Ricky Zimmerman got up from the pew during Dad's sermon and sat on the window sill. It took a pause and stern look from Dad to get him back to his seat (he wasn't listening to Mom)." -- Jan Krueger

"It was one of the first times that I was taking communion. Danny Lese was standing next to me. Pastor Ferch was still here and he was distributing the wafers, but when he got to Dan he dropped the wafer."
-- Wendy Quade

"I remember the Friendship Village group announcing the end of services by leaving 'on time' -- they still do." --Jan Krueger

"Quite a number of years ago plastic was used to cover the inside of the windows of Risen Savior in the cold, cold winters. This was sealed very tightly to keep out the cold. Little ones had to be brought to choir rehearsals at the time. One of the little ones found it very entertaining to poke his little fingers into the plastic. We had all sung with gusto and never noticed until too late--many of the window coverings were peppered with little holes. Even so, we all survived the cold that winter." -- Emily Zimmerman

"I remember when we joined Risen Savior there was one member on the Altar Guild. I soon joined her, but before a year had gone by she moved away. That left only me. After talking with several ladies we soon had quite a few ladies interested. Today there are eight of us, four teams, who serve a month at a time." -- Emily Zimmerman

"I remember when Russ roasted corn." -- Jan Krueger

"After Pastor Fred Zimmerman moved here from Vancouver, WA, a former member of his sent us large boxes of holly every Christmas to decorate the church. What fun we had taping up sprigs of holly wherever we could. There was just one warning--don't get near it -- it picks!!" -- Emily Zimmerman

"I remember when Rich Quade bet me that the Green Bay Packers would win the Super Bowl and, of course, he lost. As a penance to his bet, he gleefully and proudly wore a Detroit Lions' T-shirt to the preschool spaghetti dinner." -- Nicole Fisher

"I remember the midnight Christmas Eve services beckoning worshipers with carols from the bell tower and lighting our paths with sand candles on the walkways." -- Jan Krueger

"I remember one Easter Sunday morning, instead of the usual church bells recording, the people coming to church heard Easter hymns being played. The strains of I Know That My Redeemer Lives, Christ the Lord is Risen Today and other hymns could be heard in the neighbor-hood. What a glorious way to begin Easter worship! The air and our hearts were filled with 'Alleluias'!" -- Lois Silverman

"I remember when our Sunday school and grade school combined for large Christmas Services with standing room only."
-- Jan Krueger

"During Risen Savior's first years of existence altar paraments were not affordable. Surprisingly, some suitable altar covers were found at Goodwill and purchased by Mark Krueger. Church doors were not customarily locked in those days. Much to our surprise, our Goodwill paraments were missing when we came to arrange the altar for communion. Several days later a brown paper bag was found by our church door. When former Pastor Zimmerman examined the bag he found inside the missing paraments. Who had taken them is still a mystery?" -- Emily Zimmerman

"I remember when the Risen Savior pews would move when reaching for them to 'rise' (due to missing bolts)." -- Jan Krueger
"I remember when the people of this church helped to pay my gas bill through a free-will offering. It was a most gratifying example of Christian love because no one else would help." -- Anonymous

"At the time we first came to Risen Savior a number of new babies were on their way. We soon had quite a little nursery group in the back pews. What a nice sound on Sunday mornings, some talked, some cried, some gurgled. We welcomed every sound. It was a sound of the future." -- Emily Zimmerman

"I remember when the church treasury was negative and utilities were ready to shut us off and we received an unexpected $500 check in the mail from a former member." --Mark and Jan Krueger

"I remember when my older sister and I had races under the pew benches on our bellies during church choir rehearsal. My sister always cheated by pushing me." -- Ben Schram

"At the request of my friend and Seminary classmate, Pastor Winfred Nommensen of Salem Church, I conducted services for Salem's 'daughter congregation' on Brown Deer Road for the first year of its existence. When Risen Savior celebrated its 10th anniversary, I was invited to be the guest speaker. During the week preceding the anniversary service, however, I came down with a case of laryngitis; I couldn't speak much above a whisper. Pastor Spiegelberg wasn't worried. He said, 'We'll just turn up the public address system.' That Sunday the public address system chose not to work at all, and the only people who benefited from that sermon were people who could read lips." -- Pastor John C. Jeske

"In 1976 Don and I were the 'seniors' in our church. After Luther Haven was built and people started coming from there, we didn't seem quite as old anymore. We had lots of company." -- Emily Zimmerman

"I remember moving Pastor Zimmerman from the apartments to the parsonage and rolling the piano down 96th street to save trailer costs."-- Jan Krueger

"I remember the first time I walked in the doors of Risen Savior. I was pleased by the warm way that my wife and I were received even before they knew I was their vacancy pastor. I was impressed with the friendliness of those who gathered here to serve their Savior. I still am." -- Pastor Kenneth Fisher

"I remember that shortly after our Brink's alarm system was installed in the church, I came over to do some office work and unlocked the door and walked in. It wasn't too long before I heard the frightening screech of the alarm system and, not knowing as yet how to turn it off, I went into the office to call Pastor Ferch. He was not at home, nor was anyone else I had tried to contact. It wasn't too long before I noticed a police car coming around the corner and stopping at the church. The Brink's office then called here and I told them what had happened. They had to have verification that this was true, so the police had to be involved. Yes, it was an embarrassing situation and most unpleasant with the intermittent screech of the alarm system. Thankfully, I was given the secret 'code' number to avoid a repeat of the incident!" -- Lois Silverman

"The building of the parsonage was a real excitement to all the members of Risen Savior. Many trips were taken to the spot to see the progression of work. One of the first trips was a real surprise! A heavy rain had fallen and the hole dug for the basement had practically filled with water." -- Emily Zimmerman

"Risen Savior was blessed with having a choir, and we were able to get some second-hand choir robes, thanks to Mark Krueger. There was little storage space at that time so the robes had to hang in a crowded room in the basement between wearings. The choir did not sing in the summer but usually resumed in September. One September Sunday morning the choir was scheduled to sing and, after donning our robes in the basement, we were walking up the steps when I noticed cobwebs hanging from the hem of former Salem teacher and member Dan Whitney's robe, and on several others. It was too late to do anything about it at the time, so we marched into church, cobwebs and all. Certain spiders had had a busy summer!" -- Lois Silverman

"I remember Theresa and Gretchen 's voices --our strong sopranos." -- Jan Krueger

"I remember when my husband and I first came to Luther Haven, what thankful joy we felt that Risen Savior church would be available to us as our new church home. When I became widowed before our letter of transfer from Jordan came through, how warmly I was received at Risen Savior, especially in the hearts of Pastor and Mrs. Ferch and the ladies of the Evening Fellowship. They helped in my time of grieving. I remember when Pastor Ferch said to me at that time, 'You can't rest on your laurels from Jordan Church,' and he put me to work helping count the church offerings after each Sunday service, together with Mr. Elmer Michel and Evelyn Clark. Becoming involved immediately made me feel like a real part of Risen Savior and that feeling has grown stronger with each year. I have been happy for almost 15 years worshipping and serving my Lord at Risen Savior." -- Lucille Wiesendanger

"I remember when our crying room was full and we decided to put up sheers to hide the activity." -- Jan Krueger

"Five years ago, in 1993, we celebrated the burning of our church mortgage. It was a beautiful Sunday morning and we all enjoyed a wonderful chicken dinner under a big tent which was pitched on the front lawn of our church. After dinner, Don Zimmerman gave a brief history of our church and then held up the mortgage papers. With thankful hearts we watched as he lit the match that burned these papers, and forever freed our congregation of that debt. Nearby sat his elderly mother (in her 90's) in her wheelchair, clapping her hands and rejoicing along with the rest of us. It is a moment I will always remember! Our hearts were all singing, 'Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices.' Then, as now in our 25th year, we are still singing our thanks to Him who so graciously continues to bless us!" -- Lois Silverman

"I remember when we had 43 children enrolled at Salem grade school." -- Jan Krueger