History

Our congregation began with the efforts of a small group of Germans from Russia who held German Lutheran worship services in the Havelock community in 1911. A small, white, wooden church building on the northeast corner of 69th and Ballard streets was used. In 1913 the congregation had a membership of 25 adults and was known as Evangelical German Lutheran Church. By 1915 membership had grown to 150 adults.

In 1916 the Lutheran community in Havelock became divided and several families from the congregation left to form a new congregation. The remnant of Lutheran families was reorganized into a new congregation named Zoar Evangelical Lutheran Church. New property was purchased on the northwest corner of 70th and Platte Streets and a small building was moved onto this site from the country.

A very long and difficult strike on the Burlington Railroad caused many families to leave the Havelock community in 1922. Zoar Evangelical Lutheran Church lost many members. This, together with the growing depression, greatly diminished the size and activity of the congregation. In 1925 the congregation closed.

In 1929 the congregation was reorganized and reopened under the name Zion Lutheran Church of Havelock. However, attendance at German language services was so low that the congregation closed again in 1931. In 1937 German language services were started again, but after much difficulty and frustration the congregation was closed again in 1939.

The decision was made in 1940 to restart the congregation, but this time to widen its ministry to include families of all ethnic backgrounds. This was a turning point for the congregation. That year English worship services began and were conducted by a Lutheran seminarian and later by a volunteer pastor from Emerald, NE.

The first full-time pastor was called to serve the congregation in 1946. By this time Havelock had become part of Northeast Lincoln. In 1948 the congregation's official name was changed to Havelock Evangelical Lutheran Church and land was purchased on the southwest corner of 60th and Fremont Streets. In May of 1950 a new building was dedicated on that site (our present location) and the congregation became known as United Lutheran Church. The membership at that time was 66 baptized members. By 1958 the congregation had grown to 528 baptized members.

In 1977 our present worship space was built. Today United Lutheran Church has over 1,000 members.... and still growing!

On May 21, 2000, we celebrated our 50 year anniversary (since being named United Lutheran).