August 5, 1958: Rev. Herbert HInman conducts an initial survey of Oakland.
September 2, 1958: The appraisal for the parsonage valued the land at $25,920 and the original church building at $12,000.
October 5, 1958 First Worship service at the Oakland Academy, Yawpo & Route 202.
January 1959: The nearly 4-acre parcel of land on which the church building now stands was acquired.
March 8, 1959: Messiah was officially organized as a congregation with 159 charter members.
June 14, 1959: The Rev. Hinman was installed as the first pastor.
December 11, 1960: Groundbreaking for First Unit Building – the fellowship hall section.
September 10, 1961: 315 people attended the Dedication of the First Unit of the church
July 21, 1963: The Rev. Elwood Dietz was called as the second pastor
March 30, 1969: The Rev. Otto Jacobson was called to serve as the third pastor.
May 16, 1975: Groundbreaking Service for a new nave, designed by Hassinger & Schwam.
April 3, 1977: A historic Palm Sunday with 375 present for the Dedication of the Church.
January 14, 1979: Dedication of an Allen Digital Organ.
March 11, 1979: Bishop Herluf Jensen speaks at 20th Anniversary Service
May 9, 1985: Messiah’s new Softball Team opens the season against KOC and we participate in the first Ecumenical VBS at Ramapo Valley Baptist church.
September 27, 1992: Dedication of Bell Tower.
November 1, 1997: The Rev. J. David Knecht was called to serve as the fourth pastor.
September 2000: Contemporary Worship Service began on Saturday evenings with music led by Fred Monk.
September 2004: Contemporary Service moved to Sunday mornings.
March 15, 2009: The Rev. Julia Haspel-Schoenfeld was called to serve as the fifth pastor.
August 29, 2021: The Rev. Courtney Smith Westerlund was called to serve as the sixth pastor.
May 22, 2022: Messiah hosts a Memorial Tree Planting to honor all those who died during the COVID-19 Pandemic both in our congregation and the world with three new trees planted on the property.
Messiah is looking forward to celebrating our 65th anniversary!
Throughout these 60+ years, we have supported a variety of mission and service projects.
St. Paul’s Community Development Center, Mahwah Center for Food Action, Meals on Wheels, CROP walk, a dedicated group of women who knit for TLC Ministries, Oakland Cares, Lutheran Braille Workers, and Scouting for Food.
Some of the Benevolence of the Month: LAMP for Haiti, Seafarers International, Lutheran Social Services NJ, Lutheran World Relief, Doctors without Borders, Star of Hope Mission, Heifer International, Shelter Our Sisters, as well as Missionaries in various areas of the world.
