A New House of Worship
Rev. Walter Schienbein
Rev. Walter Schienbein 1952 - 1959 Pastor Schienbein was called to serve Grace and Rosalind congregations in 1952 and served in this capacity for seven years. In 1953, a decision was made to construct a new house of worship. A building committee was formed with Wm. Obenauer as chairman. In July 1953, the old building was sold to the Bethel Lutheran congregation (LCA) and it was moved two blocks south. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new building was held in June of 1954. Despite adverse weather conditions and unavoidable delays, the corner stone for the new structure was laid November 28, 1954. The new church was dedicated on September 11, 1955. During the time the church was under construction, the congregation shared the old building with the Bethel Congregation. The Constitution of Grace Lutheran Church was revised in October 1957. The various organizations of the congregation continued to grow and function and the choir, under the direction of Mrs. Schienbein, enjoyed much success. In June 1959, Pastor Schienbein accepted a position on the staff of Concordia College in Edmonton.
Pastor and Mrs. Schienbein
Pastor and Mrs. Schienbein with VBS students
Moving the old church building from her location at 53rd Street and 50th Avenue to her new site at 53rd Street and 48 A Avenue
Settling down on her new foundation overlooking Mirror Lake
From the years of fundraising, the ground-breaking ceremony in June of 1954 and through to the dedication of the new church on September 11, 1955 the building of Grace Lutheran Church was a cooperative effort.
Rev. Norman W. Eifert 1959 - 1967
In August of 1959, Pastor Eifert accepted a call to Grace Lutheran Church, Camrose and Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Rosalind. During his 8 years in serving this congregation, many challenges were met. Walther League membership increased. With a large increase in Sunday School attendance, there was a corresponding need for more Sunday School rooms. These rooms were added to the church basement during the winter of 1960-61. With all of the work being completed with volunteer labor. In May of 1965, a confirmation reunion was held for confirmands of the past 20 years. Over 80 confirmands were in attendance at a reunion service followed by a banquet. In 1966, the congregation negotiated a bank loan in order to repay in full the loan received from the District Church Extension Fund. This loan was acquired 11 years earlier for the building of the new church. Pastor Eifert accepted a call to Faith Lutheran Church, Winnipeg, and on June 18, 1967 he preached his farewell sermon.
Floats entered by Grace Lutheran Church in the 1960 and 1961 Camrose Fair Parades
Wheelbarrow racing at the Church Picnic
