September 2026
St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Rockton, Illinois recently dedicated a new crucifix, due to the handiwork of their resident woodworker.
NIDnews.org was able to speak with Rev. Don Stein, pastor at St. Andrew, about the history of the congregation and the story behind this new crucifix.
Pastor Stein shared that St. Andrew was founded as a mission plant with support from Trinity Lutheran Church in Beloit,
Wisconsin in 1963. Beloit, Wisconsin, you say? Yes, Rockton is way up at the northern edge of the LCMS Northern Illinois District, less than five miles from the Wisconsin border, and directly across the border from Beloit.
The families that gathered to begin this new congregation had one mission: to know Christ and make Him known. They initially met in the local American Legion, until a fire destroyed the building, leaving only a single candleholder in its wake. In 1964, they purchase 17.5 acres of land in an area where community growth was expected: on Rockton Road, between the interstate and Rockton’s historic downtown. As Pastor Stein stated, “That foresight combined with sound pastoral care led to great growth.”
A new sanctuary was then dedicated in 1999. A Education Building followed in the early 2000s to accommodate the growth of youth and family ministries at St. Andrew. Currently, St. Andrew has a worship attendance of around 215 people each week, holds several Bible studies weekly, and hosts many activities, which are offered for the community throughout the year.
When asked what prompted the new crucifix, Pastor Stein responded, “The ‘new’ sanctuary was completed in 1999. To keep continuity with the old space, the cross from the old sanctuary was given a fresh coat of white pain and installed in the new sanctuary. The effect was a clean white-on-white look, but it also left the altar area somewhat plain and spartan.”
Mark Swanson is a longtime member and a master woodworker. He had previously crafted each of the wooden pieces in the sanctuary, including the altar, pulpit, lectern, and pews. Apparently, ever since the new sanctuary was built, he thought the cross looked unfinished.
Pastor Stein continued, “A few years ago, he (Mark) handmade a new processional crucifix.
This is when inspiration struck. He made plans for a new cross to match the wood around the sanctuary, accented by a new crown molding to fit atop the wall. The new crucifix was to be a larger version of the processional crucifix. Other members pitched in to cover the cost of a new corpus from Europe (not far from the childhood home of another longtime member). The entire project was a labor of love by Mark Swanson, and the corpus was paid for entirely by anonymous donations.”
The original cross will be restored to its place in the old sanctuary, which is now the Fellowship Hall.
Pastor Stein shared, “It is said that ‘art is the language of the illiterate,’ and this crucifix really serves as a beautiful teaching tool for our little ones! St. Andrew’s mission (as it has been from the beginning, in 1963) is ‘to know Christ and make Him known,’ and with this visual to focus our minds, we will do just that!”
WORD: Helping congregations be more centered on a rich life of Word and Sacrament, with congregational support in transitions, as well as time of joys and sorrows.