Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2590 Navajo Road, Axtell, KS 66403, US
We Welcome You To Worship, Fellowship, Events and meditation
About Salem LUTHERAN
Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church
At Salem Lutheran we desire to be large enough to make a significant impact in evangelism and outreach, yet small enough to be intimate in prayer and a genuine faith community. We invite you to explore our website and join us in the sanctuary or virtual, as we strive to be the Body of Christ on Earth. See us also on Facebook.
Interim Pastoral Ministry to begin at Salem Lutheran
We'd very much like to introduce you to Salem Lutheran’s next Interim Pastor, Rev. Jeff Swanson, Axtell, KS, who will serve on a part-time basis. This was 1st announced during last Sunday’s worship service by David Winquist, Salem Church Council president. Reverend Jeff is a retired Association of Free Lutheran Church (AFLC) Pastor, having served in congregations for 36 years. After recent conversations with Salem members and the Salem Council and personal consideration of Salem’s Interim ministry request, Pastor Jeff and Jane have graciously decided to accept the Interim Ministry period—His Interim service is scheduled to begin May 1st. Pastor Jeff is a seasoned pastor and leader, an accomplished preacher and teacher. And, providentially, Pastor Jeff was raised in this area and Jane was a native just to the West in Washington county—they have extended family in the area. Salem Lutheran is blessed that Pastor Jeff is agreeing to serve as the Interim Pastor (part-time) for Salem Lutheran.
Pastor Jeff Swanson grew up in the Salem/Axtell, KS area, and was baptized and confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church. Pastor Jeff’s Grandfather, the Rev. Dr. Carl A.B. Swanson was Salem’s Pastor from 1943 to 1956. Pastor Jeff earned his B.A. degree from Bethany College, Lindsborg, KS. During that time, Jeff met his wife-to-be Jane Woltje there and they were married in 1980. Later, he enrolled in and graduated from the Association of Free Lutheran Church Seminary in 1986 and was ordained. The Swanson's have six children and extended families. He has previously served congregations in Kalispell, MT, and Newark, IL. In September 2007, Pastor Swanson and Jane accepted a call to serve the two congregations and surrounding villages in and around Naknek, Alaska. In the Fall of 2022, he accepted a reassignment as the Alaska Mission Coordinator. Pastor Jeff and Jane have since returned to live in the local area while retaining the part-time role of spreading the message of the AFLC Alaska Mission – Telling the story of how the mission staff is bringing Christ’s message of saving grace to people in Alaskan villages through congregational worship, radio, and aviation.
Please extend a warm welcome and a hearty thank you to Pastor Jeff and Jane Swanson for accepting this part-time Interim Ministry service at Salem Lutheran. Let’s strive to gather weekly in the Salem sanctuary to hear Pastor Jeff’s Bible based messages and to have fellowship with Pastor Jeff and Jane and the rest of the congregation.
Easter Sunday Service, April 9, 2023
Pastor Jeff Swanson is pictured conducting the Easter Sunday Worship service. You can watch & listen to the Easter Sunday Worship Service video on Salem's You Tube page at this link. Easter Sunday Worship at Salem Lutheran, 4 9 23 - YouTube
Christmas Eve Service, Dec. 24, 2022
Pastor Jeff Swanson is pictured with the Children in front of the Altar area in a Children's sermon at the Christmas Eve service. You can watch & listen to the Christmas Eve Service video in the Video's/Bulletin section above.
Annual Axtell Ecumenical Christmas Cantata, Dec. 11, 2022 at Salem gifts of Hats, gloves, mittens and socks
CANTATA Hats Gloves and Mittens
The offering received for the 60th Axtell Area Cantata were hats, gloves and mittens, and additional offerings for the same. Hats, gloves, mittens, and socks given along with purchased items from the cash offerings were distributed to the Axtell, Seneca, Centralia, and Frankfort Schools in roughly equal boxed amounts to each. We received a thank you this week from "Schools That Care" family advocate Jayne Whitson on the gifts received at the Frankfort and Centralia schools. See attached note.
Annual Axtell Ecumenical Christmas Cantata, Dec. 11, 2022 at Salem
The 60th Annual Axtell Ecumenical Christmas Cantata will be performed at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, (rural) Axtell on the evening of December 11, 2022 starting at 7:30 p.m. This year we are presenting ALL IS WELL by Michael Barrett & David Angerman. Blending traditional carols with contemporary Christian selections, this cantata has something for everyone! The narrations remind us of the comfort and joy we have in the miracle of grace. An offering of hats, gloves/mittens and socks or a cash offering to purchase additional items for distribution to local area schools will be received. After the Cantata, everyone is invited to a time of fellowship downstairs in the Fellowship area.
Fellowship November 6, 2022 at Salem
NOVEMBER 6 -- Gather your family and friends and join us at Salem Lutheran Church for a night of TACOS & TRIVIA! Come for tacos beginning at 5:00, then you can test your Bible and trivia knowledge if you dare. All ages are welcome to compete.
Teams can be made up of 4-5 persons and pre-registration is requested, but not required to Lori Haug 785-456-3123, or Rhonda Heinen at 785-410-2030. If you’d like to be on a team but don’t have one, we can help you find one! There is no registration fee, but a free will offering will be taken for the local food pantries.
Prayer and Worship during 2022
AXTELL ECUMENICAL CHRISTMAS CANTATA - Practices will be held every Sunday evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Salem through December 4, 2022. As you can see, Stan Murphy, Cantata Director, is busy giving the choir directions at a recent practice. The Axtell Ecumenical Christmas Cantata will be held in the Salem sanctuary on the evening of December 11, 2022 beginning at 7:30 pm.
Prayer and Worship during 2022
Each Sunday Service will be streamed on Facebook Live at 10 a.m., and later in the day it will be on the Salem website (https://www.salemevangelicallutheran.church and the Salem You Tube channel. It will be scheduled to be shown on the Blue Valley Channel 3 cable channel at 2 p.m. Sunday, with a 1-week delay.
We have in-person adult Sunday School at 9AM and youth Sunday School (beginning in September) also beginning at 9AM. Worship services beginning at 10 AM. on Sundays. Also, it is your choice and we support the fact that you choose to wear a facemask and to practice social distancing. Also, we will observe Holy Communion on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays.
Worship Services are streamed on Salem Lutheran, Axtell KS Facebook live at 10AM Sundays and later available on this website on the "Video's and Bulletin's" link above. Our Church's overall statement on "Overcoming Covid 19" can be read as one of the pages on the menu title above "We Invite You".
Site Content
Come Sing in the Cantata!
Salem Lutheran Church (rural) Axtell is pleased to be hosting this year's 60th Axtell Ecumenical Christmas Cantata on the evening of December 11, 2022. Rehearsals will be on Sunday evenings, 7:00-8:30 p.m. beginning on October 2, 2022, at Salem Lutheran Church. Stan Murphy will be our director and Owen Zinke will be our accompanist. We are encouraging singers from all over the area to sing in the cantata. This year we are singing ALL IS WELL by Michael Barrett & David Angerman. Blending traditional carols with contemporary Christian selections, this cantata has something for everyone! This musical includes songs by Michael W. Smith, Keith Getty, Amy Grant, and Point of Grace, just to name a few. The narrations remind us of the comfort and joy we have in the miracle of grace. The songs are: Prepare Ye the Way; O Savior of Our Fallen Race; Promises of Isaiah; Breath of Heaven; Here I Am to Worship; One King; Light of the Stable; All Is Well. We would appreciate your help in getting the word out----please tell and encourage any singers you know of in this area about this upcoming event. Sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses are needed --- and there are no tryouts, all wanting to participate will be accepted. We will be accepting new singers for the first few rehearsals. We look forward to seeing you on October 2 at 7 p.m.
Thank you so much for your participation, and Stan Murphy thanks everyone also! If you need more information, please contact me at 785-292-4246 or salemlc@bluevalley.net Pauline Swanson
Thank you to Ice Cream Social servers
Servers getting set up
The Ice Cream social begins!
The Ice Cream social begins!
Thank you to Rhonda Heinen, Jessie & Jeff Martin, Sharmon and John Polson, Lori Haug, MacKenzie Chadwick and Karen Chadwick for managing the Salem Ice Cream Social for 2022. In the first hour, we noticed that there were folks from the Salem Congregation as well as friends from Axtell, Vliets, Vermillion, Centralia, Marysville, and other
Thank you to Rhonda Heinen, Jessie & Jeff Martin, Sharmon and John Polson, Lori Haug, MacKenzie Chadwick and Karen Chadwick for managing the Salem Ice Cream Social for 2022. In the first hour, we noticed that there were folks from the Salem Congregation as well as friends from Axtell, Vliets, Vermillion, Centralia, Marysville, and other locations. Proceeds from the event are designated to be given to the Marshall County Special Olympics group.
The Ice Cream social begins!
The Ice Cream social begins!
The Ice Cream social begins!
Third Sunday after Pentecost worship with Beverly Halliday
Worship Supply Minister Beverly Halliday
Beverly Halliday is supporting Salem as a scheduled Supply Minister during the Call Process
Worship on 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, Pastor Janelle Knowles gives the sermon
Salem is served by David Winquist, Parish Ministry Associate
David Winquist, Interim Worship Leader 2022
Our previous Pastor Cindy Cone has left Salem in April 2022 to answer a Call at Christ Lutheran Church, Norfolk NE. During this period of transition, David Winquist, Salem congregation member and certified Lay Minister has accepted the request of the congregation to lead us in worship and service beginning in May 2022 while our Salem Call Committee works to Call a new Pastor. David Winquist is a lifetime member of the congregation. David has earned the designation of “Parish Ministry Associate” through religious studies in years previous. The purpose of the Parish Ministry Associate (PMA) program is to raise up and equip lay leaders who understand themselves to be servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries. As servants, they are obedient to Christ. As stewards of God's mysteries, they are responsible to care for and use the gifts given to them and to the church. PMA's are accountable to the church, and are called, trained, and equipped to work alongside rostered leaders to participate in God's mission to love and bless the world. PMAs may serve as leaders in their own congregations or in other congregations by providing pulpit supply or as Lay Ministry Leaders. David’s PMA credentials with the ELCA were transferred and accepted by our LCMC denomination. With the request and blessing by the Salem Church Council and the Congregation, David began a full-time lay ministry at Salem by conducting services and periodically arranging for supporting LCMC and other Lay Ministers to lead Church services.
AT PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP The family of Reece & Will celebrate
Pastor Cindy gives 1st Communion to Reece and Will along with their family.
Ecumenical Mens Lenten Breakfast 4.3.22
Pastor Cindy gave the message on the Gospel of Jesus Christ spreading to all people!
It was a team effort after the speaker's message and closing prayer to clean the area and then prepare for worship in our respective churches
It was a team effort after the speaker's message and closing prayer to clean the area and then prepare for worship in our respective churches
We enjoyed a group of 18 attending from the Axtell area Churches
It was a team effort after the speaker's message and closing prayer to clean the area and then prepare for worship in our respective churches
It was a team effort after the speaker's message and closing prayer to clean the area and then prepare for worship in our respective churches
It was a team effort after the speaker's message and closing prayer to clean the area and then prepare for worship in our respective churches
Breakfast was held in the Salem Lutheran Fellowship hall
Recent Event
A Day to Celebrate and Remember September 11, 2021 20 years later
Come and let us worship, pray, sing and draw closer to God
Salem Lutheran Church
2590 Navajo Road, Axtell, KS 66403
7:00 pm
Refreshments following
Recent Event
Women of the Word, Save the date for a great event, October 23, 2021, Peace Lutheran Church, Fremont
We are gathering to share time, make friends, renew friendships and to grow in our faith.
Our speaker will be Patti Winkler, a middle school teacher who uses quilts to teach history.
Come and see, touch, and learn about our history through her gift of teaching.
More details to follow, stay tuned.
Salem Lutheran welcomes you to the website
Welcome! We encourage you to watch any of the streaming video's, or Mission and Ministry service areas.