West Nidaros Lutheran Church stands on a rise of prairie three miles north and one mile east of Crooks, South Dakota, in the rolling country between Sioux Falls and the Dell Rapids quarry lands. Its roots reach back to a sod house on the banks of the Sioux River where Norwegian pioneers from Trondheim first gathered for worship on August 12, 1868. Today the congregation carries forward that pioneer legacy as a church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, holding the simple motto "Sharing Christ's Love With All" and offering two Sunday morning services, a wide-ranging ministry to children and families, and mission partnerships that extend from the Rosebud Reservation to Cameroon.

From a Sod House on the Sioux River to West Nidaros

The Nidaros Congregation began when settlers from Trondheim, Norway, held their first worship in a sod house on the Sioux River. By 1874 the young congregation had grown to about 200 members, and the people were ready to build a church, but three years of grasshopper invasions delayed the project until 1878. That first church, raised on the east side of the river, was destroyed by a windstorm only weeks after it was completed. Local volunteers rebuilt it at the same site, and the congregation continued to grow, drawing members from an area that extended seven miles in every direction.

Coming to worship was not easy. There were no bridges across the Sioux River, and the bottomland roads were often unpassable. A boat was kept on the east side for those traveling from the west, but someone had to be there to bring it across. Latecomers sometimes had to wade or go home. As early as 1882 the congregation began debating whether to divide so that worship could be more accessible to everyone. On November 19, 1910 the decision was finally made to build two churches, one on each side of the river.

West Nidaros was built on about three acres donated by pioneer stalwarts Nels and Christine Otterby for $100. The total cost of construction was $12,103.75. Members of the Nidaros Congregation excavated the site, and local farmers hauled roughly 200 loads of rock for the basement from the Dell Rapids quarry, using bobsleds and horses and following the frozen river for the first three miles to shorten the trip. The first meeting in the new church was held on January 11, 1912, and the building was dedicated that June.

The Nidaros Congregation grew into a four-point parish, adding churches in Baltic and Renner with one pastor serving all four. In the late 1950s the Renner, Baltic, and East Nidaros churches requested release from the parish, leaving West Nidaros as the sole survivor of the original Nidaros Congregation.

A Square Sanctuary with a 75-Foot Bell Tower

Where most churches built in the early 1900s were rectangular with a single center aisle, West Nidaros was built as a square, an unusual design believed to have been inspired by a Lake Preston church that has since been torn down. The architectural style traces back to Henry Hobson Richardson's Trinity Church in Boston (1874) and was copied in modified form across America. The sanctuary measures roughly 58 by 56 feet, and the bell tower and steeple at the north end of the east wall rises to about 75 feet. A smaller version of the bell tower crowns the south end of the east wall as well, a feature that serves no practical purpose but provides aesthetic balance.

The sanctuary sits a little over five feet above ground level. Exterior steps once led up to the main entrance, but the south steps were enclosed in 1955 with the addition of a parish education unit, and in 2001-2002 the east steps were removed and replaced with steps inside a new narthex. The 2002 narthex addition, with a ground-level entrance and an elevator, transformed the front of the church and made the sanctuary wheelchair accessible, although it did enclose one of the stained-glass windows.

The 1955-1956 parish education unit added seven classrooms on the upper floor and six rooms on the lower level at a cost of about $28,000. An addition in 1985 added bathrooms on both levels, two rooms below, and a large L-shaped chapel and meeting room above. In 1960 the pastor's office moved from the parsonage into the education unit.

By 2006 membership had grown and Sunday School enrollment had passed 130 children. The congregation sold and moved the 1958 parsonage, purchased 2.7 additional acres, and built the Family Life Center, completed in 2008 at a cost of $1.25 million. The Family Life Center, the largest construction project in West Nidaros history, added classrooms and offices, a new kitchen, a new library, and a multipurpose facility that has been heavily used for education, fellowship, and recreation.

Worship That Blends Organ and "The Call"

West Nidaros worships every Sunday during the school year at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., with a livestream of the 10:30 service on Facebook and YouTube. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend the schedule shifts to a single 9:30 a.m. service, also livestreamed. The 10:30 service is broadcast on YouTube for later viewing as well.

The worship style is a deliberate blend. Traditional organ music sits alongside non-traditional music led by the church's worship team, called "The Call." Holy Communion is celebrated on the first two Sundays of each month, and the table is open to all who are baptized. The invitation is intentionally wide: "Come as you are, for all are welcome." Pastor Jared Rakness summarizes the congregation's posture this way: "We are the church that shares a living, daring confidence in God's grace. Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person, questions, complexities and all."

The sanctuary itself is part of the worship experience. Stained-glass windows line the walls, and the bell tower and steeple give the building a distinctive profile on the prairie. In addition to the regular Sunday services, the church holds special services during Lent, Holy Week, and Christmas.

Children, Youth, and Family at Every Stage

West Nidaros takes a long view of faith formation, walking alongside families from age 3 through high school graduation. Sunday School classes for ages 3 and up meet at 9:35 a.m. between the two worship services during the school year. All ages gather in the sanctuary for music and a video lesson before breaking into smaller classes. Younger children have music, a Bible lesson, an activity, and a snack. Older students dig into Bible lessons and discussion. The whole Sunday School participates together in the annual Christmas program.

The Milestone Ministry marks key faith moments at every stage. At age 3, children receive a prayer pillow. Kindergartners are blessed with the Benediction. First graders learn the Lord's Prayer. Second graders study the Ten Commandments. Third graders receive an Adventure Bible and learn the books of the Bible. Fourth graders receive First Communion. Fifth graders learn the Apostles' Creed. Sixth graders attend Confirmation Camp. Ninth graders are confirmed on Reformation Sunday through Affirmation of Baptism. Seniors receive a handmade quilt and are recognized for graduation. Each year the congregation also holds a Blessing of the Backpacks as students head back to school.

Confirmation gathers 7th graders at 6:00 p.m. and 8th graders at 6:30 p.m. during the program year. Students attend weekly worship, assist with Sunday School, participate in three fellowship events, and take on service projects before being confirmed on Reformation Sunday of their 9th grade year.

iFaith is a Wednesday after-school program for 4th through 6th graders, meeting from 4 to 5 p.m. during the school year. Students enjoy games, snacks, and a lesson, and Baltic and Tri-Valley buses drop off students from those school districts.

High School Ministry meets Wednesdays from 7:05 to 8:05 p.m. in the Youth Room. Throughout the year the students take part in community activities and service projects. Each summer the group heads to Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in Colorado, choosing between the Compass Points adventure trip and on-site camp. Fundraising events provide fellowship and service along the way.

Vacation Bible School takes over the Family Life Center for four days each summer. The whole group gathers together for opening time, then breaks into smaller groups for Bible lessons, movies, music, crafts, and snacks. Visitors are welcomed to participate, teach, and help.

GIFT Sundays, which stands for Growing In Faith Together, are special Sundays when students, families, and the whole congregation come together for a combined time of learning and fellowship in place of regular Sunday School classes.

Horse Creek, Cameroon, and the Baltic Food Pantry

West Nidaros has partnered with the community of Horse Creek on the Rosebud Reservation in southwestern South Dakota for more than 40 years. The Mission and Outreach team travels to Horse Creek at least twice a year, once in the summer to lead Vacation Bible School and complete work projects, and once in the week before Thanksgiving to serve a meal and deliver Christmas presents. Each trip brings collections of cereal, winter outerwear, blankets, bedding, and Christmas gifts for the children, with many members sponsoring a teen toiletries kit or a specific child's gift.

The congregation also supports the missionary work of Rev. Dr. Elisabeth Johnson in Cameroon. Elisabeth serves as a seminary professor at the Lutheran Institute of Theology in Meiganga, teaching students preparing for service as pastors and leaders in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon and other countries in western Africa. She also helps provide continuing education for clergy and builds networks between the theological institute and other global institutions.

Closer to home, the Baltic Food Bank operates out of the Old School Gym in Baltic, open the second Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and the fourth Saturday of each month from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. A photo ID and Baltic residency are required to receive goods. West Nidaros collects items such as coffee, juice, canned chicken, tuna, flour, peanut butter, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies, and also welcomes monetary donations mailed to PO Box 244, Baltic, SD 57003.

Music as a Way to Praise

Music ministry at West Nidaros is built around two complementary expressions. The traditional service features the church organ, while a contemporary worship team called "The Call" leads non-traditional music, with the overall Sunday morning weaving the two together. Kristi Stelter, the Director of Worship and Music, is a band and choir teacher who also teaches at Westside Christian School in Sioux Falls and gives private piano and instrumental lessons. She joined the West Nidaros staff in November 2014 after teaching music for several years in South Dakota and Minnesota and helping start the WestSide Lutheran community.

The music program extends beyond Sunday mornings. The annual Christmas program brings every age of Sunday School together, and music is woven into Vacation Bible School, Milestone Ministry celebrations, and intergenerational services.

Health Ministry: Stretch and Pray, Walkers, and a Bike Rodeo

West Nidaros established its Health Ministry program in the spring of 2006 with the mission of facilitating the healing ministry of the church through professional services, consultation, events, activities, and relationships that convey the love of Jesus Christ. The Health Ministry Team supports individual members in their pursuit of health and provides activities designed to promote the health of the whole congregation.

Two free exercise classes meet regularly. Stretch and Pray is offered every Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. and every Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the Family Life Center, led by Shirley McCormick. The class focuses on mobility, balance, and flexibility and is adapted to fit any fitness level. Group Exercise Class meets every Sunday and Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Family Life Center and is open to everyone regardless of fitness level.

Throughout the year the Health Ministry Team offers a monthly blood pressure screening, a "For Your Health: Body, Mind and Spirit" column in the newsletter, health fairs for breast cancer awareness, heart health for women, prostate cancer awareness, and an Earth Day Celebration, plus adult forums on topics like heart health and advance directives. Children's education during Sunday School and Vacation Bible School at Horse Creek covers nutrition, exercise, and safety. Walking programs have included Walking to the Cross, West Nidaros Walkers, Get My People Going, Choose to Move, and Faithfully Fit Forever. A nutrition program called the Daniel Plan has been offered as well.

Safety programming includes Safety Sunday for children, a Bike Rodeo with bike safety education and free bike helmets, training sessions on First Aid, CPR, and the use of the AED, regular checks of the AED, and a disaster preparedness plan for the church. The Health Ministry Team also maintains First Aid kits throughout the building.

Caring Friends and Bereavement Ministry

The Caring Friends program pairs two Christians together in a special relationship. Members who want the companionship of a Caring Friend receive periodic visits and phone calls from their designated friend. Caring Friends also deliver handmade baby blankets to all newborns in the congregation.

The Bereavement Ministry provides individualized assistance, resources, and support to West Nidaros members following the death of a loved one through a series of mailings and visits by the pastor and a Bereavement Visitor over the course of a year. The ministry is offered only to those who wish to receive this extended support.

Women of the ELCA, Library, and Book Club

West Nidaros has an active Women of the ELCA (WELCA) group that is part of the larger women's organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The church library offers an online catalog searchable through LibraryThing, with sections for adult and teen books, children's books, grief and loss resources, audio-visual materials, and activities and crafts for kids. Books are shelved by Dewey Decimal and the shelves are clearly marked.

Book Club meets the third Tuesday of each month from August through May (with no December meeting) at 7:00 p.m. in the church library. The club reserves Book Bags from Siouxland Libraries so that twelve copies of the same title are available to check out. The discussions are informal and open to anyone interested in reading.

Family Service Groups: Matthew, John, Mark, Paul, Luke, Sarah, and Ruth

Family Service Groups give new and long-time members a way to serve the West Nidaros community and get to know one another. The seven groups take their names from Gospel writers and biblical figures: Matthew, John, Mark, Paul, Luke, Sarah, and Ruth. Each group is led by two co-leaders and helps serve during worship, assists with funerals, supports the annual Harvest Dinner, and pitches in on other events throughout the year.

The Little Nidaros Church and the Cemetery

The West Nidaros Cemetery has been part of the church property since the beginning. The original three-acre site was purchased from Nels and Christine Otterby for $100, and Lewis Otterby later donated a little less than an acre in 1934. In 1975 the church purchased another three acres from Curtis and Agnes Otterby. As of May 16, 2011, the cemetery held 793 graves, including six "sons of the congregation": Anders Larsgaard, Hans Peter Aasan, Reinhardt Ulvilden, George Ulvilden, Selmer Hilmoe, and Lee Pederson. Veterans buried there include one from the Spanish American War, twenty from World War I, twenty-three from World War II, thirty-three from the Korean conflict, and additional veterans since then. Nine centenarians rest in the cemetery. Written records of interments go back to 1868 under the name Nidaros Evangelical Lutheran, and the church staff can look up records for visitors who call or email.

Inside the church grounds stands a 12-by-18-foot replica of the 1878 Old Nidaros Church, which is now located in Renner. Art Moe, who drove past the Old Church every day on his way to work, was inspired to build the replica and spent 5,300 hours on it over fifteen years after retirement. He paid $9,000 for materials, attended classes to learn how to duplicate stained-glass windows, and built the interior to match the original, including an altar with a built-in pulpit painted Norwegian red. The replica is built on a scale of four inches to the foot and seats about twenty people. Moe donated the replica to West Nidaros in August 1993 for the congregation's 125th anniversary, and a mover transported it from his farm. Dedicated to the glory of God in memory of the pioneers who started the congregation and in honor of the members who have sustained it, the replica is occasionally used for baptisms and weddings.

Endowment and Memorial Giving

The West Nidaros Endowment was established in 2000 through a vote of the congregation to encourage, receive, and administer gifts in accordance with donor wishes. The Endowment Fund supports the mission of Sharing Christ's Love With All, while the Memorial Fund receives gifts given in memory of others. Principal amounts in the Endowment Fund are retained and only the income is expended, except where authorized otherwise in the terms of a gift.

A five-member committee elected by the congregation serves as steward of gifts to the Endowment. All Endowment funds are currently invested with Lutheran Planned Giving of South Dakota, which also offers free confidential gift planning to donors. Giving options include bequests through a will, life insurance policies, gift annuities, charitable trusts (held by an individual trustee, a corporate trustee, or the ELCA Foundation), life estate gifts of a personal residence or farm, and lifetime gifts of appreciated property. The Horizon Fund grants from the Endowment support ministry initiatives that fall outside the operating budget.

Pastors and Staff

Pastor Jared Rakness grew up in Watertown, South Dakota, earned a degree in business management from the University of South Dakota, and worked in information technology before entering Luther Seminary in 2002. He previously served as pastor at Immanuel and Brule Creek Lutheran Parish in Elk Point and as associate pastor at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. He began his call at West Nidaros in December 2016. His favorite Bible passages are Romans 5 and John 10.

Jessi Rakness, Director of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry, has been on staff since March 2007. A graduate of Moorhead State University and Luther Seminary, Jessi grew up in Duluth, Minnesota, and is the wife of Pastor Jared. She and Jared are parents to Bergan, Anja, Trygg, and Stian. Romans 8:38-39, read at their wedding, remains one of her favorite passages.

Kristi Stelter, Director of Worship and Music, joined the staff in November 2014. A graduate of Augustana University, she has taught band and choir in South Dakota and Minnesota and attended Sioux Falls Seminary. She is also the music and band teacher at Westside Christian School in Sioux Falls and teaches private piano and instrumental lessons.

Elise Hasche, Office Administrator and Youth Coordinator, joined the staff in the fall of 2017 as Director of Youth Ministry and now serves as Office Administrator. A pastor's kid who has lived all over the Midwest, Elise is married to Ben Hasche. She is a photographer and a guitarist and singer whose go-to Bible verse is Romans 5:1-5.

Chris Langloss serves as Property Manager.

The Church Council is led by Jennie Criddle (President), Ben Hasche (Vice-President), Becky Langloss (Secretary), Lynette Kautz (Treasurer), and Trish Olthoff (Financial Secretary). Council members include Andy Carpenter, Jodi Hoyt, Amber Kirkvold, Nicole Finnesand, Dean Fischer, Chris Langloss, Russ Parker, Janna Schneiderman, and Mike Wendland.

Weddings, Baptisms, and Space Rentals

Couples interested in being married at West Nidaros begin by contacting Pastor Jared to secure a date and then complete the Wedding Info Form. A Wedding Booklet outlines the congregation's theology of marriage and the practical details of a West Nidaros wedding. Baptisms are scheduled by contacting the church office and submitting the Baptism Info Form. The church teaches that in Holy Baptism, the gracious heavenly Father liberates the person from sin and death by joining them to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Two spaces are available for rental by West Nidaros members. The Family Life Center is a large multipurpose space with a kitchen, suitable for larger gatherings and also available for basketball practices. The Heritage Dining Room is a more intimate space ideal for bridal or baby showers and small gatherings. Renters complete a Reservation Agreement, Usage Guidelines, and Liability Form, and church activities, including weddings and funerals, take priority over all other scheduled events. The Family Life Center is reserved for church activities on Wednesday afternoons and evenings during the school year.

Visiting West Nidaros

West Nidaros is located at 25403 471st Avenue, Crooks, SD 57020, about three miles north and one mile east of Crooks. The church phone is (605) 543-5215 and the email is office@westnidaros.org. The office is open Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and is closed on Friday. Visitors are welcomed to come as they are. The worship style blends traditional organ music and the contemporary worship team "The Call," and Holy Communion is celebrated on the first two Sundays of the month, with the table open to all who are baptized. Sunday School for ages 3 through high school meets at 9:35 a.m. between the two school-year worship services. The 10:30 a.m. service is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube during the school year, and the 9:30 a.m. summer service is livestreamed at the same time. The building is wheelchair accessible through the narthex entrance and elevator. Newcomers can connect with the church through Church Center, where they can also explore the directory, register for Sunday School, sign up for Vacation Bible School, and complete forms for weddings, baptisms, and room rentals. A printed directory is available through Instant Church Directory. Weekly announcements and the monthly Reporter newsletter keep the congregation informed, and the West Nidaros Library and Book Club invite readers to drop in on the third Tuesday of the month. Giving is available online through the church's giving page.