Throughout our history, Our Saviour's Lutheran Church has been blessed with many talented and dedicated pastors and lay ministers. We continue to be served by people who are truly inspired by the Holy Spirit, and unselfishly serve and nurture their fellow members. They use their unique talents, creativity, innovativeness, and enthusiasm to bring God's Word to life in ways that make sermons, worship, adult and youth education programs, and fellowship events meaningful and enjoyable. They also have provided a stability that weaves a common thread and consistency to our ministries.

Our Saviour's Lutheran Church began as a "mission" congregation of 81 adults and 55 baptized children in 1954. A mission developer, Pastor George Hoog, worked with a group of six couples in the fall of 1954 to begin establishing a United Lutheran Church in America (ULCA) congregation in Arlington Heights.

The first service was held in Dryden School, Arlington Heights, on November 21, 1954, and the congregation was officially organized on February 20, 1955. Pastor John Petersen became our first permanent Pastor in 1955.

Worship services continued to be held at Dryden School until 1958 when the first unit of the present church building at 1234 N. Arlington Heights Road was dedicated. A church parsonage was maintained at 944 N. Kaspar.

Rapid growth continued under Pastor Petersen's leadership and an educational wing was constructed in 1962.

Pastor Donald D. Pritz came to lead Our Saviour's in August 1964. Growth continued and Assistant Pastors were called to serve at Our Saviour's. Pastor Wilfred Hendricks served as Assistant in 1968. Pastor Gerald Myers served as Assistant from 1969 to 1972. At that time, Carla Haubrich was called to direct the education and youth programs. She served two years in that position. Pastor Pritz resigned in 1974 and the parsonage was sold.

Pastor Richard Jessen began serving Our Saviour's as Senior Pastor in March 1975 with baptized membership at 1302. In 1976, Pastor William Zieche came to begin a strong staff ministry that developed each team member to his fullest potential and helped the congregation realize its goals of growth and fellowship. Pastor Zieche resigned to accept the challenge of a mission church developer in Wisconsin and Pastor Christine Anderson Stiger accepted the call in July 1980 to become the Associate Pastor of our church. A few months later, Mr. James Valentine accepted the position of Youth Director and all the elements were in place for a staff (Jessen, Stiger, Valentine) that was to bring unprecendented strength to Our Saviour's. Adminstrative skills, coupled with enthusiasm and creativity were combined to offer direction and vision to a receptive and eager congregation. Upon leaving Our Saviour's in 1982, Pastor Jessen accepted a call to Cedar Rapids, IA and eventually became bishop of the Nebraska Synod.

Pastor Frederick Aigner, Ph.D., served our congregation as Senior Pastor for 14 years, from 1983 through 1997. During his tenure, he guided us through four fund raising campaigns that led to the building of our current sanctuary (1990); renovation of the old sanctuary into the Fellowship Hall, a $100,000 contribution to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), and debt reduction (1993); the acquistion of a Gabriel Kney pipe organ (1995); sponsorship of the New Day Lutheran Church, a mission congregation (1996); and expansion of our administrative offices (1997). Pastor Aigner presided over a significant growth in membership, from 1739 baptized members in 1982 to 2507 in 1997. To handle this growth, the staff was increased to include two full-time Associates.

Pastor Aigner continued growth in outreach and he instituted many new programs. Those programs include Stephen Ministers, expanded adult education, small group ministry, a homeless shelter as part of the Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) program and involvement in United Power for Action and Justice. Pastor Aigner resigned in 1997 to accept a call to serve as President of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.

Pastor Russell Sorensen accepted a call to be Our Saviour's Senior Pastor in 1999. Prior to joining us, he had most recently served as Associate Pastor in Albuquerque, NM from 1990 to 1999. Under Pastor Sorensen, membership continued to grow and a contemporary worship service was added in September 2000. Pastor Sorensen left in January 2006 for a call in northern Wisconsin. In May 2009, Pastor Dan Hoeger was called to Our Saviours from Colorado and is our current Senior Pastor.

Paul Hanson, served Our Saviour's as music director from 1965 to 2005. An organist by training, he combined a traditional approach to church music with an appreciation for musical variety and varied vocal and instrumental presentations. Don Mead succeeded Paul as the Music Director in July 2005.

Our Contemporary Worship leader is Roy Salinas, having served as a musician at Our Saviour's since 1998. Roy also leads the music in the confirmation program.

Jim Valentine, our Congregational Operations Officer, has served Our Saviour's since 1980. His energy, enthusiasm, good humor, creative teaching approaches, and committment to our children, has helped make teaching the Good News of the Gospel to our children relevant and fun. As our former Lay Associate, for over 20 years he was in charge of all youth programming, including Sunday School and Confirmation. In 2003, Mr. Valentine took on his current responsibility of overseeing the office staff and church administrative functions.

In the summer of 2007, Cariann Petersen became Children's Ministry Coordinator for children birth through fifth grade. She leads the Sunday School teachers and Vacation Bible School staff and other children's leaders to make OSLC a place where children and their familes are welcomed and encouraged to grow. Penny Harney became Middle School Ministry Coordinator in the summer of 2004 and is primarily responsible for the Confirmation program.

An Older Adult Ministry was started in 2003 with the addition of a part-time pastor, Larry Morkert and a part-time coordinator, currently Carrie Ann Hill. There are a number of programs conducted in association with Harper College.

In 2004-2005, Our Saviours celebrated its 50th Anniversary. The congregation looks forward to its next 50 years.