A Swedish-Heritage Congregation South of Cokato
Stockholm Lutheran Church sits on County Road 30 SW about four miles south of Cokato, Minnesota, surrounded by the same farmland that the first Swedish settlers broke when they organized the congregation in 1866. Sixteen decades later, the church still identifies with those roots and is shaped by warm acceptance of fellow worshipers, rural values, Scandinavian heritage, and strong family ties. With 447 baptized members and a typical Sunday attendance of about 100, Stockholm Lutheran draws families from Cokato, Howard Lake, Dassel, and the surrounding countryside within roughly a ten-mile radius, while still being close enough to the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, and Hutchinson to stay connected to the wider region.
One Sunday Morning Service, Two Seasonal Schedules
Stockholm Lutheran gathers for a single Sunday morning worship service, with the hour shifting between the program year and summer. From September through May, Sunday School begins at 9:00 am, an adult discussion class meets at 9:15 am, and worship follows at 10:30 am. During June, July, and August, the schedule simplifies to a 9:00 am worship service with Sunday School on break. Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month throughout the year. The service is livestreamed, with the live video typically opening at 10:27 am so that worshipers near and far can join in. Visitors are welcomed as part of a relaxed, caring congregation where everyone is welcome.
Worship That Blends Tradition and Contemporary Praise
Music sits at the center of Stockholm's worship life. The Stockholm Singers lead a mix of traditional and modern songs, gathering a few weeks before Christmas and Easter to prepare music for festival services. Youth from late elementary school through high school are welcome to join the singers. On the second Sunday of each month, the contemporary service is led by Joyful Noise, a small group of singers who introduce the congregation to new, upbeat praise songs and rehearse the Wednesday evening before. Many members and returning visitors also share solos, small ensembles, piano, and other instruments as part of regular worship. The congregation values the participation of musicians of every skill level, encouraging people to offer their gifts to lead the assembly in song.
Faith Formation for Every Age
Faith formation at Stockholm runs from the nursery years through high school and into adult Bible study.
- Sunday School welcomes children from age 3 (potty trained) through 9th grade. The program includes Rally Sunday, a Backpack Blessing, Bible Distribution Sunday, Sundae Sunday, and times when the children sing during worship. Teachers are drawn from the congregation.
- Confirmation gathers 8th and 9th grade students on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm. Classes cover the Old and New Testaments and invite students to bring their real questions about faith and life, with two or three field trips each year that emphasize how faith shapes everyday choices. Students also serve as acolytes during worship throughout the year. There is no class on school holidays or when school is cancelled for weather.
- Family Ministry is a multi-generational group that plans indoor and outdoor gatherings, including Snow Day, Game Day, Movie Day, the Como Zoo trip, and a parade entry in Red Rooster Days, to bring babies through grandparents together around food, fun, and fellowship.
- Adult Education offers several ongoing opportunities: the Sunday morning class during the education hour at 9:15 am, WELCA unit meetings, a men's discussion group that talks through issues of faith and life, and other studies announced in the bulletin and The Stockholm Story newsletter.
160 Years on the Same Ground
Stockholm Lutheran marked its 150th anniversary in 2016 with a three-day celebration that brought together current and former members, families, and friends from across the region. The weekend included a Friday evening of music, a ventriloquist show, and a fireworks display; a Saturday social hour and catered dinner with a memory video of anniversary celebrations going back to the 75th; and a Sunday worship service attended by about 190 people, followed by a potluck meal and the dedication of an inscribed "Built on a Rock" landscape stone. Former pastors, including Rev. Lee Boleman and the family of Rev. Swan Johnson, took part, with the Swan Johnson family singing "Children of the Heavenly Father" with the first verse in Swedish. A 160th anniversary milestone followed in 2026, with the congregation gathering again to remember and give thanks. A monthly newsletter called The Stockholm Story, edited by Melissa Berglund, carries the congregation's continuing story.
WELCA, Brotherhood, and Quilting
Stockholm Lutheran's life is shaped by several long-standing groups. Women of the ELCA (WELCA) invites all women and girls to participate in a Mother/Daughter Luncheon, the Tractor Show food stand, the Harvest Festival silent auction, and other gatherings throughout the year. The Brotherhood, open to all men and boys, plans the Father/Son Banquet, the Ice Cream Social and Pork Chop Dinner, the Tractor Show, a trap shoot, and the Harvest Festival. The Brotherhood also builds Faith Chests, which are presented to newly baptized members. A quilting group meets on the last Tuesday of each month in the church basement, beginning at 10:00 am with a potluck at noon, and welcomes anyone who wants to join in stitching quilts that are shared near and far.
Serving the Surrounding Community
Although Stockholm is a small, rural parish, its reach extends well beyond its own walls. Members support Lutheran World Relief and participate in CROP Walk, an annual fundraising walk for hunger relief. The Evangelism and Social Ministry committee keeps the congregation informed of the wider mission of the ELCA, promotes mission festivals, and studies local needs in partnership with community and government agencies. The Worship and Music committee schedules two months each year of Sunday worship at Cokato Manor, bringing the congregation's ministry to residents of a nearby care community. Members also share music, preaching, and youth activities with other area churches, including a Good Friday service and a summer community service that rotates among congregations and is hosted at Stockholm on its turn.
Two Favorite Annual Traditions
Two traditions draw the broader community to Stockholm each year. Stockholm Snow Day, usually held on the fourth Sunday in January, brings people of all ages out for sledding and snowboarding, with free hot chocolate and cider and a warm meal served inside in the evening. The Antique Tractor Show takes place on Father's Day weekend and fills the grounds with a tractor parade from Cokato out to Stockholm, outdoor worship, a Pork Chop Dinner and Ice Cream Social at the Stockholm Community Center, a slow race, raffles, and other activities for all ages.
Church Life and Governance
A Church Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month, with devotions at 7:00 pm and the meeting at 7:15 pm. Council members help serve the Harvest Festival meal and decorate the church for Christmas. Elected committees include Auditing, Nominating, Cemetery Board, Synod Delegates, Usher Captains, Local Hunger Contact, and Global Mission Contact. Additional committees carry out the work of the congregation: Finance, Stewardship and Memorial; Staff Support; Property and Gardening; Christian Education; Worship and Music; Archives; and Altar Guild, which tends to the linens, candles, paraments, communion set-up, and baptismal banners. New volunteers are welcome at any time, and inquiries can be directed through the church office.
Giving and Communication
Members and friends can support the ministry of Stockholm Lutheran in three ways. Offerings may be mailed to the church at 16133 County Road 30 SW, Cokato, MN 55321. Online giving is available through ChurchTrac, and the church also offers a text-to-give option for United States donors who set up an account online and link a phone number. The Stockholm Story newsletter, The Story's online posts, and weekly bulletins keep members informed of upcoming events, faith reflections, and seasonal activities. Social media connections are available on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Visiting Stockholm Lutheran
The church is located at 16133 County Road 30 SW, four miles south of Cokato, Minnesota. Office hours can be reached at (320) 286-2991, and Pastor Mark Little can be reached at (763) 412-2915. Sunday School runs from age 3 through 9th grade during the program year, and the adult discussion class meets at the same hour, so families can attend together. Worship is followed by fellowship, and visitors are encouraged to introduce themselves to the pastor or to any of the council members who greet at the door. Whether attending in person or joining through the livestream, those who come to Stockholm Lutheran find a small congregation that takes seriously its calling to follow Christ, serve neighbors near and far, and pass the faith from one generation to the next.