1872 - The congregation was organized under the name “Norwegian – Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church”, Willmar congregation.
1874 - The first church was built on Litchfield Avenue between First and Second Streets East.
1885 - First mission group organized as “Mands og Kvindeforening” (Men’s and Ladies Aid Society).
1887 - Two acres of land purchased for a church cemetery.  Lots were sold for $3.50 each to members and $5.00 each to non-members. Willmar Sewing Society formed.  Later renamed “Ladies Aid”.  Two rural ladies groups were organized – Willmar Lands Ladies Aid and Vestre Eagle Lake Kvindeforening.
1893 - Bethania organized as a girl’s society; opened to all young people in 1906.  Renamed Bethany Luther League.
1896 - First choir organized.
1897 - The Willmar congregation became the “Lutheran Free Church”.
1903 - The second church was built on the corner of Litchfield Avenue and First Street East.
between 1905-1916 ~ Men’s choir organized.
1909 - The last “Klokket” (cantor) was hired.  From 1913-1916, G.O. Sand served as “Forsanger”.
1912 - A new pipe replaced the reed organ.  Dorcas Society (for women) was formed to help those in need, especially at Bethesda Homes.
1916 - Women were allowed to vote on matters concerning the yearly convention.
1921 - Dovre Ladies Aid (later Dovre Circle) was created by combining Willmar Land Ladies and Vestre Eagle Lake Kvindeforening.
1925 - Junior choir was organized.
1927 - Ladies chorus was organized.  The Ladies Guild was organized.
1933 - Church services and meetings began to be held in English. Men’s Brotherhood of Calvary Lutheran Church was organized by permission of the Church.
1934 - Boy Scout Troop No. 224 was organized and sponsored by the Men’s Brotherhood.  The Secretary’s minutes were recorded in English for the first time.  Willing Workers Junior Mission Society was established for children from Third grade to confirmation age.
1936 - Mands og Kvindeforening was renamed Foreign Mission Society.
1937-  The Dorcas Auxiliary was formed as a society for girls and young ladies of the Church, to assist the Dorcas Society in working at Bethesda Children’s Home and the Old People’s Home.
1942 - An altar committee was formed.
1943 - The congregation voted to change the name to “Calvary Lutheran Church”.  The Sunshine Group is organized.  They furnished new altar hangings, a pulpit lamp, Easter gifts for Bethesda Homes, and remembrances to patients in Rice hospital on Christmas Day.
1944 - Calvary Mission Band created to teach children about the mission work of our Church.  Girl Scout Troop No. 6 is organized, sponsored by the Ladies Guild.
1950 - Five ladies organized, namely the Ladies Guild, Sunshine Group, Dorcas Society, Dorcas Auxiliary and the Ladies Aid, all joined into one large organization as the Calvary Lutheran Ladies Aid.
1958 -  Congregation votes to build a new church on Olena Avenue, between Third and Fourth Streets East.
1961 - Calvary congregation votes to merge with the American Lutheran Church.  The first Advent Tea is held in the First Street Church.
1962 - The first service is held in the new church on Olena Avenue.
1963 - The second Advent Tea is held in the new Bethany Hall.
1967 - The second Wednesday of each month was designated sewing day at church.  Later, the third Wednesday was added.
1969 - “Doing Days” was held on Thursdays.
1972 - The Centennial Anniversary of the Church was celebrated.
1979 - The congregation begins using the green Lutheran Book of Worship.
1984 - The Education Wing is dedicated.  Stephen Ministry program begins.
1988 - The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is created by combining the A.L.C., L.C.A. and A.E.L.C. Church bodies.
1994 - The new Chapel, Friendship Room, offices and stained glass windows are dedicated.
1996 - The Tuesday Release Time program for students in grades 3 through 6 was discontinued.  A new program, Calvary Youth Connection, will meet on Wednesday evenings instead.  A Capital Fund was initiated to ensure needed funds for maintenance projects.
1997 - The congregation celebrates it 125th Anniversary.  The Grand Piano was purchased and dedicated.  The Parish Nursing program began with nurses doing blood pressure checks once a month.
1998 - The Mission Endowment Fund was established.
1999 - A Prayer Ministry Team was formed and will search for an appropriate area to be designated as a Prayer Room.  The Mission Committee began planning the first ever mission trip for early in 2001.
2000 - The new Prayer Room (former nursery) was dedicated.
2001 - PromiseLand, rotational Sunday School  program is started.  The first mission     trip to Sunbeam Children’s Home in Jamaica.   Congregation members begin delivering Home Communion.
2002 - Funds raised to purchase hand bells and accessories.  Hand bell Choir is
                        organized.  Dedication of “In Hac Petra”, a sculpted mezzo-relief in memory of
            Reverend Ernest and Ellen Larson, by Fred Cogelow. Calvary Cemetery Committee was formed.
2003 - Prisoners of Hope ministry begins.
2004 - ChristCare Small Group Ministry and Men’s Morning Bible Study begins.
2005 - The “First-Fruits Benevolence Giving” plan was adopted at the January
            Congregational Annual Meeting.
The Staffing For the Future Task Force was established in August to lay out a
 long range staffing/ministry plan for the future.
2006 - The “Stepping Forward” campaign was implemented to provide financial backing
             for the staffing/ministry plan.
            The first Breakthrough Leadership Conference, sponsored by Stephen Ministries, was attended by Calvary Leaders in St. Louis, MO.
2007 - The Calvary Prayer Ministry provides a congregational prayer calendar in honor
             of the 135th Anniversary of Calvary congregation.

Those Who Have Served

302 Olena Ave SE - Willmar, MN 56201

 Phone (320) 235-2508 - Fax (320) 235-2543