On Sunday, Feb. 22, Rev. Gary Mills performed the final service at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church. After 45 years, the Hicksville house of worship, located at 17 New South Road in Hicksville, closed its doors due to a significant decline in congregation membership.

The decision to close the church, however, was not an easy one. Over the past two years, a new pastor was brought in and several committees were formed in the hopes of coming up with an alternative solution. In the end, however, the congregation was left with no other choice but to close the church.

While more than 200 Lutherans from Hicksville and the surrounding communities once attended services at Redeemer, membership had declined dramatically over the years. At the time a decision was made as to whether or not to close the church, approximately 65 people were listed as members of the church with attendance at Sunday services down by more than half that amount.

For Jean Bansbach, a resident of Hicksville for over 50 years and a charter member of Redeemer Lutheran, last Sunday's mass was a sad moment. "I am heartbroken because we did so much to start the church. I've been involved since the beginning, when that first hole was dug," she said, adding that during the final mass, her thoughts were of all the fond memories she had of the church. "When I sat in that pew on Sunday, I saw my son's wedding, my daughter's wedding and all the work that was put into the church," said Bansbach.

According to Hicksville resident Rita Sharkey, a 40-year member of Redeemer, "The process of closing the church was difficult and emotionally challenging, yet Redeemer members are thankful and proud. Their good works have certainly left a mark in and around the Hicksville community."

Sharkey added, "Life and death is as natural to a congregation as it is to an individual. So, with only the church building closing its doors, look for Redeemer's spirit and ministry, strongly embedded in the hearts of its remaining members, to flourish wherever these hearts will go."

Joan Hagner, president of the Redeemer Council and a member of the congregation for 24 years, said, "It is troubling to me that the people in the community did not feel the need to attend church or have their children exposed to a religious experience. The closing of Redeemer will leave a tremendous void in the lives of its faithful parishioners."

As of press time, the fate of the building and its land lies in the hands of the New York Metropolitan Senate of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Parishioners of Redeemer Lutheran seeking to join another local parish can contact the Lutheran Church of St. Stephen at 931-0710 or Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at 931-2225 for more information.

Redeemer Lutheran: 45 Years of Worship

The idea for Redeemer Lutheran Church first began in 1958 when 38 people met in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Krogman to discuss forming a new Lutheran church in Hicksville. Over the next few years, the congregation, under the leadership of Pastor Richard Weiskotten, held its first Sunday School for 43 children in the home of the Dames family and its first church service at the Schutt family home with 73 people attending. Soon after, the congregation acquired a home at 316 Plainview Road, which became the parsonage with worship services and Sunday School held in the basement. By 1963, Redeemer was able to purchase a vacant piece of property across the street on New South Road.

During the mid-1960s, Harvey Sindahl succeeded Rev. Weiskotten as pastor and instituted an "Open Door" policy. Redeemer soon became known as "The Church of the Open Door." By 1968, Theodore Grant had become pastor and Carol Dort was named director of music. Between 1973 and 1978, an educational wing was built and by 1983, the original church mortgage was satisfied and the congregation renovated the nave and sanctuary, adding the narthex and rebuilding and augmenting the organ.

Between 1983 and 1988, meetings of SAMS, Redeemer's Singles and Married Social group, began taking place and pews, handcrafted by Ray Vitters, were installed in the sanctuary. By 1993, at the time of its 35th anniversary, Redeemer was the host site for Hicksville's Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN) soup kitchen. John Krahn served as interim pastor, Rev. Grant was named pastor emeritus and the church's all-purpose room was dedicated as the Grant Fellowship Room. Pastor Nancy Ruckert succeeded Rev. Grant, the carillon was installed and the narthex was dedicated in honor of Pastor Weiskotten.

Over the next 10 years, the church implemented Wally's Circle, an Alzheimer's day care program; the Cut-Ups Group, a quilting ministry; and the Bell Choir. Ernest Helmke succeeded Pastor Ruckert as pastor during the mid-1990s. From 1998 to 2004 Robert Neuhaus served as interim pastor, followed by Pastor Nancy Hainfeld, who served as vice pastor.