Parkers Prairie, MN

                Immanuel Lutheran Church                               First Evangelical Lutheran Church


St Williams Catholic Church


First Baptist Church

Pastor: Rev. Kenneth Bowman
Address: 309 S Otter Ave., PO Box 29
Phone: (218) 338-5731
Email: felcpp@midwestinfo.net

Worship:   9:00am from the first Sunday in June through Labor Day Weekend.
                10:00am from the Sunday after Labor Day through the end of May.
Sunday School:   9:00 am from the Sunday after Labor Day through the middle of May.
Youth Group (the King's Kids): Scheduled monthly from September through May; some activities in summer.
Other Activities: see weekly listing in local newspaper/cable TV

History:
In October of 1871, Swedish immigrants in and around Parkers Prairie organized the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Congregation. This congregation was a member of the Augustana Lutheran Synod. The first church building was erected in 1876, outside of town, south of the lake currently known as Horsehead Lake. A cemetery, still in existence, was located next to the church building.

After World War I was over, a decision was made to relocate the church and build in the town of Parkers Prairie. Work on this new building began in the summer of 1920. The first worship service of the new Swedish Lutheran Church was held in February of 1921. During the 1950's, a name change took place. The congregation became known as First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Parkers Prairie. Additional remodeling of the church, and adding on of an education wing, took place in 1968.

Currently (spring of 2005) the church is adding on a new entry area which will have a full size elevator, handicap accessible restrooms, and a new multi-purpose room.

Immanuel Lutheran Church

Pastor: Pastor Kirk Lee
Address: 709 S Douglas Ave., PO Box 66
Phone: (218) 338-2511
Fax: (218) 338-5106
Web: www.immanuelparkersprairie.com
Email: immanuel@midwestinfo.net

Worship: Saturday 7:00pm
Sunday 9:00am
Sunday School: 10:15am

History:
Immanuel was organized in 1905 by a small group of German speaking settlers living in and near Parkers Prairie. After worshiping in rented facilities for a few years, they built their own church in 1914 (which still stands as part of their current facility). In 1921 the congregation became large enough to call its own full time pastor. As Immanuel continued to grow it added on to its facility in 1941 and then in 1965 added an education wing. Continued growth has led to the completion of a new fellowship hall, kitchen, gathering space, library, and offices, and new classrooms. Immanuel has 700 baptized members and 550 communicant members.
For more information visit their web site at www.immanuelparkersprairie.com
Immanuel Lutheran Church is a congregation of Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

Pastor: Father Leroy Scheierl
Address: 209 W Soo St., PO Box 339
Phone: (218) 338-2761
Web: www.stclouddiocese.org
Email: swilliam@midwestinfo.net

Worship:   Jan-April Sunday at 10:15am
                 May-Aug   Saturday 5:30pm
                 Sep-Dec    Sunday 8:15am

St William's Catholic Church welcomes you to the Parkers Prairie Lakes area! Our church community is comprised of approximately 413 parish members who are mostly of German Catholic descent. St William's church works in close association with the St William's Living Center (an up-to-date modern nursing home, retirement, and mental health care facility located just across the street) to provide both spiritual and health care related services for both young and old of all religious beliefs and denominations.

The history of St William's Catholic Church had humble Catholic beginnings, starting out as a small hospital in 1914 staffed by Dr. Herbert Leibold who eventually sold the hospital in 1948 to the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls with Fr. Hyacinth Cismowski O.S.B. as chaplain. Soon the need for a Catholic Church was felt and so with the help of Dr. Liebold and Math Kraemer, the Bishop of the St. Cloud Diocese was approached to establish a Catholic parish here in the Parkers Prairie area. On November 2, 1950 the parish corporation was established with the first mass offered on Christmas Day 1950 in the city hall. Not long after, the building of a church structure was begun. Construction began in early 1951 with land an home donated by Dr. Liebold. Other funds were raised by local people. The new church structure was officially dedicated by Bishop Bartholome on June 25, 1952 with Father Joseph Vogrin as founding pastor. The history of Pastors include: Fr. Hyacinth Cismowski (1950-51), Fr. Joseph Vogrin (1951-87), Fr. Frank Poncelet (1987-91), Fr. Jeff Ethan (1991-2004), and Fr. Leroy Scheierl (2004-present).

During these Fifty some years, our "young" parish community has been steadily growing, and continues to look for new ways to serve our local community and parish people with the help of various volunteers and parish organizations such as Christian Mothers, Ladies Aid, Knights of Columbus, Youth Group, Parish staff members and others. We welcome all those who would like to deepen their faith and be a part of our Catholic Church community as well as those who would like to be a part of our wonderful area in or near the City of Parkers Prairie.