Who We Are
Big Drywood Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
and a part of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin.
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Our Pastor
Pastor Lucy Schottelkorb is originally from Pennsylvania, a graduate of Kutztown University (B.A. in English/Professional Writing) in 2002, and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (now United Lutheran Seminary) (M. Div.) in 2009.
Prior to coming to Big Drywood, she served Emanuel Lutheran Church outside of Elmer, NJ and completed internships in Rural Retreat, VA and Jennerstown, PA.
Pastor Lucy and her husband are parents to five children, two in heaven and three here on earth. She is passionate about children's ministry and community-building, and in her free time enjoys music, nature, reading, volunteering with a local Girl Scout Troop, and eating as many black olives as she can.
Our History
1800s
December 7, 1874- An organizational meeting was held in a log school house to form the "Anson Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation" later to be known as Big Drywood Lutheran Church. Acting Pastor was Rev. Amund Johnson.
September 6, 1875- Rev. Carl J. Helsem was called as pastor. He was to preach 12 sermons each year and received $56.00 annually. He also served eight other congregations at the time.
1885- Rev. Ivar Tharaldson was called to serve.
1897- Rev. Anton Peter Lea was called to serve.
July 22, 1898- Corner-stone of new church building was laid.
November 7, 1899- The name of the congregation was changed to "Big Drywood Scandinavian Lutheran Church".
1900s
1903- First services were held in the new church.
1905- Ladies Aide Society was organized.
July 1, 1920- Rev. G.A. Sovde was called to serve.
November 18, 1923- Rev. Theodore Kleppe was called to serve.
May 1, 1930- Services were scheduled every two weeks, of which every two out of three were to be held in English.
May 1933- The congregation decided to separate from the Chippewa Falls Parish and to join with Cornell and Yellow River to form a new three-point parish. Rev. Edward Eidsvik was called to serve the new parish.
April 17, 1939- Rev. Alexander Thompson was called to serve. During his pastorate, the women of the church were granted equal rights with the men.
1945- Rev. C.M. Vevle was called to serve.
February 1948- Rev. Vevle died of leukemia. Rev. John Alver was called to serve.
November 5, 1957- The congregation voted to withdraw from the three-point parish of Cornell, Yellow River, and Big Drywood, and to join with English Lutheran of Bateman. Services were now held every Sunday. Rev. Johnnie Glad was called to serve the new parish.
1959- The parsonage was built next to English Lutheran Church at Bateman.
March 1961- Rev. LeRoy Remmers was called to serve. Circles were established for the purpose of Bible Study.
September 1961- Chap Creek School House was acquired from the Cadott School District.
1962- The schoolhouse was remodled to serve as a parish hall.
1967- Rev. Calvin Thoreson was called to serve.
1967- Parking lot east of the church was established.
1971- Rev. Calvin Thoreson was called to serve.
1974- Centennial celebration for Big Drywood Lutheran Church was held.
August 1, 1976- Rev. Jeffery Williams was called to serve.
November 1977- New Parish Hall was built on to the east end of the church was dedicated.
1980- Rev. Jack Ottoson was called to serve.
November 1983- The congregation voted to separate from English Lutheran Church of Bateman and to form their own single-point parish.
May 13, 1984- Rev. Steve Kaste was called to serve.
August 1984- New parsonage in Cadott was purchased.
July 1997- Rev. Todd Iverson was called to serve.
July 25, 1999- Big Drywood Lutheran Church celebrated its 125th Anniversary.
2000s
Sept. 9, 2007- Rev. Diane House was called to serve.
July 11, 2014- Rev. Lucy Schottelkorb was called to serve.
