In 1908 during the pastorate of H. C. Stuckenberg, the roof of the church was repaired and the exterior painted. Inside the plastering was repaired, the walls and ceiling redecorated and the woodwork varnished at a cost of approximately $400.00. It was not until the closing months of 1922 that, with the installation of the alter, lectern and other furnishings, the chancel setting finally conformed to the liturgical practices of the Lutheran Church. It is interesting to note that the auditorium was still being illuminated with kerosene lamps, for which new chimneys were purchase at that time.
On January 2, 1924 Mr Samuel J. Motherspaugh, a lifelong member of the congregation, died. In his will he directed that the income from the residue of his estate be divided equally between the trustees of St. John's Lutheran Church and the cemetery would have a continuing source of income. However, in 1978, permission was received from the courts to sell the farm at auction with the stipulation that the proceeds be invested in the interest bearing accounts with the annual income to be divided equally between St. John's and the care and improvement of the Lutheran cemetery.
St. John's congregation voted in a special meeting that such proceeds would never be used to fund budget items. Instead the income would be designated to underwrite special projects and ministries otherwise unfunded. two such ministries are the crisis Fund to which 10% of the interest amount is given each fall; and the Scolarship Fund which grants $100 scholarships, annually to any member of the congregation who is attending accredited college full time. Since its inception, in 1974, St. John's has received $117,626.42 in interest payments.
In 1972 during the pastorate of B. C. Kreis, a basement was excavated under the church building and a new coal furnace installed. Only minor improvements were made from that year until after the installation of pastor W. Refus Rings, B.A., B. D. , in October 1958. Although new Service Books and Hymnals had been purchased earlier that year, they were not placed in use until after Rev. Rings pastorate began. In February 1954 Mrs. George was appointed pianist, later becoming organist, and Mrs. Hugh Stevens became choir director. Mrs. George has continued faithfully as our organist, and in 1992 will celebrate 37 years of continuous service.
On September 6, 1959 the congregation authorized the purchase of a new oil furnace at a cost of $1,587.00, an amount which exceded the origional cost of the church building. For the first time in its history, in October of 1959, the congregation adopted a budget which estimated the current expenses, benevolence payments, and the amount needed for improvements in the following year. In comparison the adopted budget for 1992 totals over $116,000.
In 1960 the church auditorium was again redecorated, new choir and acolyte vestments were purchased and a dorsal in memory of Mr. and Mrs. George Edward Cotterman, was hung in the chancel. These improvements were dedicated at a homecoming service held on Sunday, October 9. On November 26, 1961 a flag that had flown over the nations capitol, presented to the church by U.S. Representative John Asjbrook, was dedicated.
Sensing the need for additional room for Sunday School classes and social activities, on August 27, 1962 the congregation authorized the construction of an extension of the church basement. Ground for this extension was broken on September 9 and construction which includ-
ed the installation of an additional furnace, restrooms and an entire kitchen, was completed during the winter months at a total cost $6063.00. Expenses were minimized by a donation of a generous amount of volunteer labor. During 1962 the church windows were releaded and a new congregational constitution, approved by the Synod of Ohio, was adopted. In October 1963 new entrance doors were installed and a shelter over the entrance steps was built with funds received from the estate of Mrs. Lillian Vance. With a bequest from the same estate, the Lutheran Church women provided a new outdoor sign.
Looking forward to a proper observance of the 150th anniversary of the church's organization, in August 1965 the pastor appointed an anniversary planning committee and designated Mr. HarryCotterman as its general chairman. At its first meeting November 9, the membership of the committee was subdivided into Program, Historical and Improvement Committees. Early in 1966 the Improvement Committee began to explore the possibility of adding more SundaySchool rooms over the extended basement at the rear of the church, and of improving the walls and lighting fixtures of the church auditorium.
After carefully reviewing plans for such improvements, the church council approved the plans submitted by the Improvement Committee. Upon hearing a presentation of these plans and how the project could be financed, at a meeting held Sunday, June 5, 1966, the congrega-
tion authorized the proposed improvements. Work proceeded so rapidly that the improvements were ready for public inspection during the ice cream festival held in August. The total cost of remolding the basement, the addition of Sunday School rooms above it, the re-covering of the ceiling and walls, and the installation of new lighting fixtures in the church auditorium, was $1,740.00.
Concurrent with the work of the Improvement Committee, the Program Committee designated Sunday, October 8, 1967 as Anniversary Sunday and asked the Rev. John W. Rilling, D. D., president of the Ohio Synod to speak and dedicate the new constructed parish hall.
When Pastor Rings began his pastorate at St. John's in October 1958, there was a total confirmed membership of 75, by the anniversary year of 1967, our small country church had grown to 132 with many of the new young couples brought in bringing more and more children into our SundaySchool. Before his retirement in 1969, Rev. Rings had the vision of St. John's becoming an independent congregation from the three church Vanatta Parish of which it had been a member for most of its existence. (see Vanantta Parish page)
With confidence in the leadership, of Rev Paul Rings and needless to say, a fair amount of prayer trust in the unseen future, on September 4, 1969 St. John's called a special congregational meeting to petition the Ohio Synod to become an independent congregation. It was also petitioned to obtain a grant of $2,400.00 to offset the salary cost of having our own minister. Reverend Robert Fitzpatrick was hired by secret ballot and began full time ministry on October 26, 1969. Thus began a new chapter in the history of St. John's.
