Calvary is a vibrant, growing church with friendly members of all ages. Pastor Joshua Obermann is our dynamic spiritual leader who through Word and Sacrament guides us with love in the way of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We invite you to join us as we celebrate and explore our faith. It is our mission to connect people to the love of Jesus.
Calvary Celebrates 60 years of Connecting People with the love of Jesus
Our History
It all began in the fall of 1955 when Rev. J. Ralph Hess, Pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Brushton, was calling on two of his members, Carl and Helen Pilz. They mentioned that a “church should be built in the proximity of Murrysville.” Pastor Hess told them to put a notice in the local newspaper about organizing a congregation here. As a result of this announcement and a subsequent survey, 18 persons attended a meeting on Nov. 20, 1955, in the Pilz home on Hobaugh Ave. This group of people made a formal request for the establishment of a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation in Murrysville. Thus, the formation of a mission congregation started to take shape under the guidance of Pastor Schultz and Rev. William Griebel, who at the time was Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Irwin.
In 1956 Rev. Frederick Schoof was installed as the mission pastor of Calvary. He became the permanent pastor in 1957 and served until 1964. Then Pastor Ken Hoener served as pastor until his retirement in 1993. Pastor Ray Simmons was Calvary’s Interim Pastor from 1993 to 1995, after which Pastor Charles Minetree served as pastor for over ten years. During his pastorate Calvary adopted its mission statement of “Connecting People to the Love of Jesus”.
On September 10, 2006, David Weeks was installed as Calvary’s pastor, and he continued to be a blessing through his retirement on September 30, 2020 and as Calvary's Interim Pastor until February 28, 2021.
Calvary completed the Call process fo a new Pastor with the acceptance of our call by Pastor Joshua Obermann. Pastor Josh was Installed as Pastor for Calvary on March 14, 2021. We look forward to many progressive years of outreach ministries as we continue to "Connect People to the Love of Jesus Christ."
The present church sanctuary and basement were constructed in 1957.
In 1980 a pipe organ was installed in a newly constructed balcony within the sanctuary.
In 1986 the education wing and narthex connecting it to the sanctuary was constructed.
Calvary began its first kindergarten class in 1958, and it continued in operation for more than 20 years. In 1997 Calvary’s Early Learning Center was founded to serve children from age two through Kindergarten. In 2007 Laura Hoff was called to be the School Administrator/Kindergarten teacher of the Early Learning Center.
In 2019 Calvary purchased the old PNC Bank building across the street. The building was renamed "Calvary Community Center." Many internal and external updates have been made over the last 2 years with many expected uses for Calvary ministries and community activities.
Calvary Lutheran Church offers many ways to connect with the love of Jesus, whether it is through traditional or contemporary worship, Christian education, or church and community ministries. We invite you to be a part of the journey to everlasting life and to know and experience the loving, saving grace of God.