A Lutheran Mission to the Pioneer Settlers of 1886
St. John's Lutheran Church has stood on Harrison Street in Annandale, Minnesota, in the Heart of the Lakes region, since the late nineteenth century. Its ministry began in 1886 or earlier, when Lutheran immigrants from Sweden and Norway settled near Annandale. Pastors Gustaf Petetson of Stockholm and J.A. Levine of Cokato made home missionary journeys to preach to these pioneer families, and it was to care for their spiritual needs that St. John's was organized.
The original congregation was called The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Church of South Side. The first building, erected after a building committee of five was appointed in 1887, stood at the northeast corner of Harrison and 3rd. Services were held in Swedish, with the exception of funerals, until 1918. Growth was steady but unhurried: 38 communicants and 30 children at the founding, 170 baptized members by 1914, and 191 by 1945. The 1997 pictorial directory listed 950 baptized members, and by the end of 2000 the figure had reached 1,225.
From Swedish Pulpits to the Heart of the Lakes
The congregation continued to expand through the twentieth century. On May 10, 1959, ground was broken for a new church building at the present site, and in 1972 an educational wing was added. The current sanctuary was dedicated on December 16, 2001. By 2006 baptized membership stood at 1,449.
Throughout its history, St. John's has remained a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Its mission statement, "With open arms to all, together we live and share the love of Jesus," sets the tone for a community that welcomes long-time believers, the curious, and the searching alike. The church describes itself as "a safe place to explore your faith" and a place where "people can meet Jesus, engage in life-giving community, and everyone is welcome."
Sunday Worship, Twice Over
Sunday worship at St. John's comes in two styles each week. A Traditional service is held at 8:30 a.m., and a Contemporary service follows at 10:00 a.m. A typical service includes singing, the reading of Scripture, a message, and Holy Communion. Sunday services run about an hour. The atmosphere is intentionally relaxed, with the invitation to come as you are, and worshipers are invited to participate in whatever way feels comfortable, even if that means simply sitting and observing.
Between services, the coffee bar is open from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. for a time of fellowship. Children's ministry programming for PreK through fourth grade runs during the 10:00 a.m. service as a vibrant Sunday School experience with biblical teaching, conversation, music, and hands-on activities.
The Feast: Wednesday Nights at St. John's
Wednesdays at St. John's revolve around The Feast, an intergenerational evening that runs most weeks during the school year. The night feeds both body and soul through a catered community meal, fellowship, music, worship, and faith formation.
Dinner is prepared by Hannah Lundquist of Any Thyme Catering and includes a main dish, two sides, and dessert. Pricing is $10 for adults, $7 for kids ages 3 to 10, free for children under 3, with a family maximum of $40. The dinners are open to everyone in the community, and no church membership is required. Punch cards are also available: $100 for adults and $70 for youth, each good for 10 meals with the 11th free. Payment at the door can be cash, check, or card.
The evening runs on a tight rhythm. At 4:30 p.m., Kid's Praise Choir rehearses. Dinner is served from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. The Feast Band sets up at 5:45, and at 6:00 p.m., "Messy Worship" begins, a lively, youth-led service that lasts about thirty minutes and is, as the church puts it, "unlike Sunday worship." From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., the night continues with D-Way, the discipleship ministry for 5th through 9th graders, an education hour, and Chancel Choir rehearsal. The 9th through 12th grade youth group gathers from 7:45 to 8:45 p.m., with the D-Way Band rehearsing alongside.
Making Room for a Growing Congregation
By 2024, it had become clear that the building could no longer fully meet the needs of the congregation. Classrooms were overcrowded, meeting spaces were limited, fellowship areas were stretched beyond capacity, accessibility needed improvement, and not all ministries fit under one roof; the youth, for example, had been meeting in an education building across the parking lot.
In March 2024, the Making Room campaign was launched to address these needs with a vision of a new education wing, larger gathering areas, additional meeting rooms, a drive-through canopy, and accessibility upgrades. The project hit an unexpected snag that fall when Vanman Architects and Builders furloughed staff midway through the design process, causing delays. The congregation pressed on, architectural plans were eventually completed, and on April 20, 2025, ground was broken with D.J. Kranz as general contractor. Construction was completed in September 2025. The expanded facilities now bring ministries together under one roof and reflect the congregation's values of hospitality, discipleship, and service.
Children in the Sanctuary
Having children in worship is an explicit value at St. John's. To make services meaningful for young ones, the congregation provides a children's message, activity bags, and a pray-ground. The church recognizes that there will be activity and noise in the sanctuary during services, and prefers it that way. For families who want it, the nursery is staffed most Sundays throughout the year for children ages four and under.
Beyond Sunday mornings, Kid's Praise Choir welcomes children in 1st through 5th grade for rehearsals on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. The Children's Choir typically sings once a month, alternating between services. During the school year, kids can also be part of D-Way, the Wednesday evening discipleship ministry.
Youth: D-Way, High School, and Breakfast Club
The youth ministry at St. John's is designed to meet students where they are. D-Way (Discipleship Way) is for 5th through 9th graders and meets most Wednesday nights from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., with an optional community meal to start the night. The High School Ministry is a place for students to grow in a more personal and independent relationship with Jesus, learning to care about justice, mercy, humility, and love. On the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 a.m., Breakfast Club offers high schoolers a free breakfast, time with friends, and an inspiring midweek message.
A longstanding Mentor Ministry pairs 9th-grade D-Way participants with adult mentors as they prepare for their Rite of Confirmation in 10th grade. The program is described as a tradition that has shaped generations of young people.
Music Across Generations
Music is woven into nearly every part of life at St. John's. The Chancel Choir rehearses Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the church Choir Room, beginning in mid-September and continuing through the end of May. The choir typically sings twice a month at the first service during the program year.
The Kid's Praise Choir (1st through 5th grade) rehearses Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:00 p.m., and The Feast Band is open to students in 6th through 12th grade who sing or play guitar, piano, or drums. The Feast Band leads worship on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. throughout the school year. Pat Nelsen serves as Minister of Worship + Music.
Life Groups, Bible Studies, and Grief Support
Beyond Sunday worship, Life Groups are the backbone of small-group life at St. John's. The Mom's Life Group meets the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., often rotating among local venues like Kings 46 Wine Bar in nearby Maple Lake. A Grief Group meets every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. in the church library, led by a caring professional for those experiencing loss. Guys + Brews gathers on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. at Spilled Grain Brewhouse for trivia, with guys of all ages welcome.
Two weekly Bible studies anchor adult formation. A pastor-led Men's Bible Study meets Tuesdays at 8:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall, with fresh-brewed coffee ready each week. A Women's Bible Study meets Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Both are open to newcomers at any time. For those who want to start a new Life Group or find the right fit, the church office helps connect people to existing groups.
Hands-on Serving, From the Coffee Bar to Meals on Wheels
Volunteer life at St. John's is varied and intergenerational. The Volunteer Coordinator, Karen Larson, oversees opportunities ranging from greeting at the door to running the tech booth (slides, Facebook livestream, sound board, and cameras, with no tech experience required). Ushers help distribute bulletins and collect the offering. Scripture Readers proclaim the appointed lessons during services. Altar Guild volunteers prepare the worship space for Holy Communion and care for the altar furnishings and paraments.
Hospitality volunteers staff the coffee bar on Sunday mornings. Bakers are invited to bake communion bread from a provided recipe. Feast Clean-Up volunteers wipe down tables in the Fellowship Hall after the Wednesday community meal. Outreach includes delivering Meals on Wheels to the Annandale community during the month of September.
Leadership and the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
St. John's is led by Lead Pastor Alex Becker and Pastor Todd Nelsen, with Emily Combs serving as Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries and Pat Nelsen as Minister of Worship + Music. The church is governed by a council of elected members who serve two-year terms and meet on the second Monday of each month.
Adjacent to the church grounds at 880 Harrison Street W sits the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, with an older section (Cemetery A) and a newer section (Cemetery B) featuring pre-poured headstone footings. Only lots with existing headstone footings are currently available for purchase.
Across more than 130 years of ministry, St. John's has remained an ELCA congregation rooted in the Swedish Lutheran pioneer heritage of Annandale while continually adapting its buildings, programs, and rhythms to serve a growing community. The mission - "With open arms to all, together we live and share the love of Jesus" - frames a church that opens its doors wide, gathers twice on Sunday and once on Wednesday, and finds room at the table for everyone who walks through it.