Welcome to Fertile Lutheran Church

I am so glad you decided to join us in worship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our church family loves God and loves one another, and I sincerely hope that you feel both welcomed and loved today.

The Word of God is the foundation from which we both teach and preach each Sunday. The scripture is the basis of our hope, peace and strength and it is my intention to show how it applies to our lives today. My hope is that when you leave today you will know more about God, his amazing and steadfast love, mercy, and grace for all of us.

God is at the center of everything we do, and we affirm the truth of the Bible. This is God’s church, we are his servants, and we obey God because we love him. We are truly blessed and honored to be called to serve God and our neighbors within the community.

As a community of faith, we are overjoyed to pray for one another because of the love of the Lord and our commitment to walk alongside each other in times of need.

If you are looking for a church home, I advise you to spend time in prayer to discern whether God is leading you here. We would love to have you as a member of our church family!

Pastor Mary

Vision Statement:

A church where all members feel valued and encouraged to use their gifts so that all may let the light of Christ shine through them

Mission Statement:

To know, live and share the Gospel

Service Schedule

Sunday School

Every Sunday at 10:30am. during the school year.

Sunday Service

Join us every Sunday at 9:30am for our uplifting worship service.

Church History

The history of Fertile Lutheran Church dates to the 1870-1873 timeframe when the Reverend Ole Dalager, the first Lutheran pastor began visiting the local area. The first Lutheran service that is recorded was conducted by Rev. Torgerson in the home of Andreas Grovum on October 21, 1870. It wasn’t until 1874, when Rev. J.M. Dahl arrived that the Fertile Evangelical Congregation was officially organized.

As the community continued to grow it became clear that the Platt Schoolhouse and creamery hall in Fertile would no longer be sufficient. Plans were soon underway to find land to build a church. A bit of controversy surrounds where the church would be located; members to the west preferred the church be built in Fertile while those living to the east built a church east of the cemetery. This church ultimately moved to Hanlontown and is known as Grace Lutheran Church. The remainder of the congregation founded “Village of Fertile Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation.

In 1892, the Village of Fertile Congregation united with the Clear Lake Congregation to form one parish. The church edifice was built in 1895 and dedicated the following year. The church was not isolated from experiencing controversies within the national organization especially the Augsburg strife that ultimately caused the church to split off forming Fertile Lutheran Church, a member of the United Church. In 1917, the Hauge, the United Church merged to form the Norwegian Lutheran Church. In 1948 the synodical name was changed to Evangelical Lutheran Church. In 2011 Joined the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ.

APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;

the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven,

and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Statement of Faith

We believe, teach and confess the Triune God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

We confess Jesus as Lord and Savior who is revealed through the Word of God as the Lord of the church.

Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through whom everything was made and through whose life, death, and resurrection God fashions a new creation.
The proclamation of God’s message to us as both Law and Gospel is the Word of God, revealing judgement and mercy through word and deed, beginning with the Word of God, creation, continuing in the history of Israel, and centering in all its fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
The congregation accepts the Apostles’, Nicene and Athanasian Creeds as true declarations of the faith.
The congregation accepts the other confessional writings in the Book of Concord, namely the Catechism, and the Formula of Concord as further valid expositions of the Holy Scriptures

Beyond the Walls of Fertile Lutheran Church

Schools – Forest City Community Schools |Clear Lake Community Schools | Mason City Schools

Fertile Lutheran Church Community Clothes Closet Ministry

Food Pantry – Forest City | Fertile Church of Christ

Assisted Living | Nursing Care | Senior Living |

Movie Night with Fellowship for members and non-members at the church

Food, Fellowship and Fun Bingo Nights

Pastor hospital and home visits

Community involvement - Church members and Pastor getting out and assisting

Wednesday Night programs