Milestones in the History of St. Matthew Lutheran
Church
1930
Worship services begin in Barrington under the leadership of the
Rev. Paul Gerth of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Fairfield (now Lake
Zurich) and Teacher Albert Bierwagen.
1932
April 27, St. Matthew Lutheran Church is chartered as a congregation
with thirty-five members.
1933
October 8, the Rev. A. T. Kretzmann is installed as St. Matthew's
first resident pastor.
1934
May 27, the congregation dedicates its first church building,
an abandoned church building which had been moved from Algonquin to
Barrington. Over 800 people attend the three services of dedication.
1942
Under Pastor Kretzmann's leadership, St. Matthew helps to found a
daughter congregation, St. John Lutheran Church, in Island Lake. St.
Matthew and St. John operate as a dual parish, served by one pastor,
until 1953.
1943
St. Matthew becomes a completely self-supporting congregation.
1945
Pastor Kretzmann accepts a call to serve Trinity Lutheran Church
in Crete, Illinois. The Rev. H. H. Heinemann, who was serving St.
Peter Lutheran Church, North Plato, and St. Peter Lutheran Church,
Pingree Grove, is called to serve St. Matthew. On April 29, he is
installed as the second pastor of the congregation.
1954
Having outgrown their church building at Lill and Coolidge, the congregation
purchases 10 acres of land just south of Evergreen Cemetery. At that
time this land was outside the village boundaries.
1957
The congregation breaks ground for its new church building and parsonage
at the corner of Dundee Avenue and Tower Road.
1959
February 22, the congregation conducts a brief farewell service
in the church building at Lill and Coolidge and processes to its new
church for the service of dedication.
1967
April 9, a new church organ is dedicated.
1968
The first of nine vicars, pastoral interns, serve at St. Matthew
under the supervision of Pastor Heinemann.
1971
December 5, the congregation determines to expand the church
facilities by adding office space, Sunday School rooms, a youth room,
and gymnasium.
1973
September 9, the congregation dedicates its newly expanded facilities.
1981
January 1, Pastor Heinemann retires after serving St. Matthew for
36 years. He, however, agrees to continue to serve the congregation
until a new pastor is installed. August 1, Robert Moll assumes pastoral
responsibilities while fulfilling his vicarage requirements.
1982 
April 25, the Rev. Robert Moll is ordained and installed
as the third pastor to serve St. Matthew.
1983
June 15, Jon Salminen is inducted as the congregation's Director
of Christian Education, with responsibilities for education, youth,
and recreation within the congregation.
1985
The congregation's "Special Gifts" program is launched
to support ministry needs both at St. Matthew and throughout the denomination
and its agencies.
1985
Jon Salminen leaves his position at St. Matthew to enroll at Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis. Lisa Groeber (later Mirly) serves as Director
of Christian Education.
1986
A portion of the congregation's Jubilee Offering is designated in
support of the mission congregation, Risen Savior Lutheran Church,
Indian Creek, Illinois.
1986
October 27, the Rev. H. H. Heinemann is called home to life eternal
with his Savior.
1988
February 7, the Rev. Gerald Schalk is installed as Associate Pastor
at St. Matthew.
1989
Lisa Mirly leaves her position at St. Matthew when her husband accepts
a call to serve a congregation in southern Illinois. James Elsner
serves as Director of Christian Education.
1990 
The congregation enters into a partnership with a mission
congregation, King of Glory Lutheran Church in South Elgin, Illinois,
to provide them with financial support as they begin their building
project.
1993
February 20, the Rev. A. T. Kretzmann is called home to life eternal
with his Savior.
1994
The congregation takes a new approach to staffing music ministry
as Cathy Gathman becomes Director of Music and Gary Krohne takes over
responsibilities for instrumental and keyboard music.
1995
James Elsner accepts a call to serve a congregation in Wisconsin.
Marjory Mack joins the ministry staff as part-time Coordinator of
Children's Ministries.
1995
St. Matthew sends its first servant team to work in Mexico. Ysleta
Lutheran Mission in El Paso, Texas, serves as the team's base of operations.
1996
Delaine Schiestel joins the ministry staff as part-time Coordinator
of Youth Ministry.
1996
October 20, the congregation dedicates a new church organ.
1997
Nancy Klaman joins the ministry staff as Parish Nurse.
2000
Delaine Schiestel's resignation as Coordinator of Youth Ministry
brings about a complete review of ministry staffing. Pastor Schalk
takes over responsibilities for youth ministry and the congregation
determines to call a lay minister.
2000
November 13, Gary Zehnder is consecrated and installed as Lay Minister,
serving in the areas of evangelism, education, human care, and parish
fellowship.
2003
Gary Zehnder became the lay minister at Faith Lutheran Church in
Carpentersville, Illinois. Krysia Kludt joined the church staff working
in the areas of youth, evangelism, human care, and parish fellowship.
2003
During the October Adult Mission Trip, members of St. Matthew took
part in the dedication of the new church building at Santisima Trinidad,
the Lutheran congregation in Zaragosa, Mexico.
2004
Krysia Kludt moved to Texas following her wedding. Natalie Becker
was consecrated and installed as lay ministry, working in the areas
of youth, human care, and parish fellowship.
2004
During the congregation's eighteenth mission trip to Mexico, the
members of the Adult Mission Team dedicated the house which had been
built for Pastor Hernandez and his family. The congregation had funded
the construction of this home as well as working on the project.
2006
In conjunction with St. John Lutheran Church, Algonquin, St. Matthew
sends a mission team to the Gulf Coast (Metairie, Louisiana) to do
relief work following Hurricane Katrina.
2006
On July 31, the Rev. Robert Moll retired after serving St. Matthew
for 25 years. The Rev. Gerald Schalk became pastor. Natalie (Becker)
Soper left the ministry staff after two years of service. Sue Mullen
joined the ministry staff as Assistant to the Pastor and David Moll
became Coordinator of Youth Ministries.
