Elim Lutheran Church stands at the corner of 61st Avenue West and Cody Street in West Duluth, where the same congregation has been gathering for worship since the early 1890s. Once a Swedish-speaking church planted to serve Duluth's westward growth, Elim is today an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregation known across the neighborhood for its long-running confirmation program, its choirs, and its tradition of feeding the community.
From a Swedish Meeting to West Duluth's Largest Protestant Church
As Duluth pushed westward in the late 1800s, residents saw a need for a Swedish Lutheran church in the area. On September 3, 1890, a meeting was held to organize "Elim Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church." At its first annual meeting in 1891, the new congregation joined the Lutheran Minnesota Conference of the Augustana Synod.
With a membership of fewer than thirty and a national panic underway, the young congregation and its pastor placed their trust in God and decided to purchase lots and begin building. Construction started on April 5, 1894, helped by skilled workmen made available through widespread unemployment. On July 1, 1894, the first meeting was held in the new church. By 1896, Elim's membership had grown to 120.
For the first thirty-four years of its life, Swedish was the language of worship. The change began in 1924 with a decision to use English on the first Sunday of each month, and by 1940 Elim decided that if it was going to face its future it would do so in the native language of the nation. As the congregation grew, the church was enlarged in 1925, becoming the largest Protestant church in West Duluth.
Two Fires and the Decision to Rebuild
On Monday, May 15, 1961, a fire attributed to faulty wiring consumed the entire building. At the time, Elim was without a pastor, and many West Duluth churches opened their doors to the displaced congregation. Members debated whether to merge with Our Savior's Lutheran Church or to rebuild; the decision to build was determined by just two votes. The present site was chosen and construction began on August 18, 1963, with completion on February 23, 1964.
November 28, 1987 brought a second fire, this time in the church office, caused by arson. Cleanup and reconstruction took nearly a year. In 1988, Elim became part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the same year it called its first of many interns. In more than 125 years of ministry in West Duluth, Elim has reached out with Christ's love for all people.
What Elim's Lutherans Believe
Elim teaches that God has come to us in three forms - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As Lutherans, members believe that people are in their very nature sinful and unclean and cannot earn God's favor or forgiveness, that sin condemns and without God's intervention there would be no hope, and that Jesus became the sacrifice for that sin so that, by his death, believers now have the hope of eternal life. The church teaches that this gift is freely given, is not earned, and is available to all through faith. Members further affirm that Jesus will come again and that, in the meantime, God has sent the Spirit to empower believers to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all the world.
Sunday Worship with Communion Every Week
Worship takes place at 10:15 AM on Sundays year round and includes Holy Communion each week. Coffee hour follows the service, and reservations are not required. Greeters welcome worshipers at the door and ushers provide a bulletin and answer questions. Visitors are not singled out but invited to see themselves as part of the greater church. Biblical preaching, music, and prayer are central to the service.
Communion is open to all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord. Visitors are not pressured to give during the offering; members view their own giving as a stewardship privilege and do not want guests to feel compelled.
A Choir for Every Generation
Music at Elim includes something for nearly every age. The Adult Choir sings on the first and third Sundays of the month. The Junior Choir, for elementary-age children, sings periodically during worship and at special events like the Annual Family Christmas Gathering and Easter Sunday. Sunday School children also sing throughout the year. On the second and fourth Sundays, the Praise Team leads worshipers in contemporary Christian music.
Confirmation from Preschool Through Ninth Grade
Elim takes Christian education seriously, walking with children from age three through ninth grade. Each child in the three-year-olds through second grade class receives a full-color, illustrated "Action Bible" designed for younger readers, with the hope that parents and grandparents will use it to teach the stories of faith.
Third graders receive "The Hands On Bible," which they use throughout their confirmation years, followed by a class on how to use it. The fourth grade focuses on the seasons of the church year and their meanings; the fifth grade discusses the Sacrament of Holy Communion in the lead-up to first communion; the sixth grade explores what a sacrament is and the Sacrament of Baptism; the seventh grade studies "The Foundations of Faith: the Story of Salvation as Found in the Bible"; the eighth grade covers Lutheranism; and the ninth grade asks, "What Does It Mean to Be a Christian?" Throughout the years, students take on community projects and may attend retreats (available for grades 3-12).
Feeding the Community, Near and Far
Elim has dedicated itself to assisting people in need through financial donations and volunteer efforts. The congregation supports the local food bank, Western Lake Superior Habitat for Humanity, Lutheran World Relief, the West Duluth Ministerial Emergency Fund, the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Drive, and Elim's own Christmas Love Tree.
Food itself has become one of Elim's most successful outreach ministries. Throughout the year the church serves a Wild Game Dinner in January, a Lutheran Hot Dish Cookoff in the spring, Soup Suppers during Lent, home-cooked meals each Wednesday evening during WNW, and a Lutefisk Dinner in December.
Women of the ELCA at Elim
All women at Elim are members of the Women of the ELCA (WELCA). Through monthly circle meetings, Bible study, a Spring Rummage Sale and Fall Bazaar, quilting, and community service projects, the women serve Christ and support one another.
The Elim Foundation and Getting Involved
The Elim Foundation is organized to support and grow the congregation's ministry. Its charter directs it to provide seed money for new ministry projects, support outreach into the community, and give Elim the chance to explore creative new avenues of ministry it might not otherwise be able to afford. Members can also serve on one of several task forces and committees, including Worship and Music, Education, Social Ministry, Outreach, Property, Membership, Youth, and Business Management.
Welcome and How to Find Elim
Elim invites newcomers to come as guests, whether they are unsure about the direction of their lives, have unanswered questions, or have yet to experience God for themselves. The church encourages visitors to take advantage of the opportunities for learning, worship, and fellowship on Sunday mornings or to take part in weekday programs.
Elim is located at 6101 Cody Street in West Duluth. From the north, head west on 8th Street, cross 59th Avenue West, and go two blocks. From the west, take Grand Avenue to Central Avenue, turn left and go north one block to Cody Street, then left to 61st Avenue West. From the east, take I-35 to the Central Avenue exit, head north on Central Avenue past Grand Avenue, then turn left on Cody Street to 61st Avenue West. From the south, take I-35 to the Cody Street exit, go one block past the church, make a U-turn, and turn right on 61st Avenue West.