Odell church gets new building

The anniversary of the congregation is May 13, 1927, and the hope to celebrate it in the new building in 2024.

Pastor Greg Stuckwisch said the congregation decided about three years ago to build a new church.

“We wanted to handicap accessibility, better bathrooms and it was more feasible to build new than to update the old building,” he said. “The sanctuary will be shorter, but twice as wide,”

Secretary Kristine Riggert said the fellowship area and the restrooms are in the basement of the current building.

“Structurally the building was not sound enough to add a new parish hall,” she said.

Joyce Kostal said there would be several other benefits of the new building.

“The fellowship area will be larger,” she said. “There will be more storage and a larger office. Technology will be improved also.

Riggert said she is excited for the space near the front of the church where they can prepare communion.

The pews and alter from the old church building will be moved to the new construction. Some of the work has been contracted out, but there have been several volunteers from the church helping with the work.

Stuckwisch said they were both sad and happy.

“We are both sad to leave the old building with so many memories,” he said. “But we are excited for the new space.”

The 6,500 square foot building is expected to have a cost of approximately $1 million.

The new church building is the first phase of the plan for the congregation. Although there are no specific dates planned, they hope to build a parish hall where the current building is located.

Approximately 320 members attend the Odell church.

Stuckwisch said there was a good group of members from each generation.

“We actually have a good group of people from each generation,” he said. “We have great-grandparents worshiping with their great-grandchildren and carrying for different generations. We also continue to grow in memberships.”

Kostal said there are people in the community that still need a church.

“We have limited space, and it is kind of daunting walking into a church,” she said.

The Missouri Synod Church partners with three other churches in the area. also serves Zion Lutheran near Harbine, St. Peters in Wymore, and First Lutheran in Summerfield, Kansas.

Stuckwisch said they support each other.

“We all support each other and rejoice in what the other churches are doing,” he said. “Our congregations are more about what we do with the people and not the building. We have gone to each of the different congregations to worship, have fellowship and meals.”

The six stained glass windows are expected to be placed in the sanctuary in the next week.

Photos of the progress can be seen on the Our Savior Lutheran Odell Facebook page.