History

 In the not so distant past we at Gethsemane were a small, agricultural-based community with local people making up the membership of our church and community. Today we are a fast-changing community and church. Those choosing to live in our community now find their lives a mix of metropolitan and rural lifestyles. Approximately two-thirds of our people work in the greater metro area daily. The relaxed lifestyle, attractive housing opportunities, good schools, along with many other opportunities provide an attractive backdrop for people to return home to at the end of the day. In all of this, we, the members of Gethsemane, are challenged to meet the spiritual needs of people who have been here all their lives as well as those who come from a melting-pot of experiences in other congregations, along with people who are new to the Christian walk.

Every church has a beginning—our story started in early 1872, with a group of hardy Norwegian settlers starting new lives.  Faith was an integral part of the lives of the settlers, and many of the them were Lutherans.  It was a natural step for them to create a Lutheran church where they could worship and raise their children in their faith.  
The first two years the Lutherans worshipped in the Presbyterian church, generously offered for their use.  The church grew quickly as the original thirteen families grew and Norwegian immigration into the area continued.  The first recorded meeting was April 3, 1874, though it is evident from this first record that there had been previous meetings.  
June 27, 1874, building plans and specifications were brought to local carpenters, bids were made and Peter Aphelan (spelled "Aflan" in the early record)won the contract.