Trinity
Lutheran Church - The First One Hundred Years
Early
History
January
22, 1899 — Winter cloudiness hung over Powell
Valley, Oregon, as the
Swedish families there prepared for church. The temperature had climbed
only a few degrees over the freezing mark by Sunday School time. Parents
and children bundled up against the cold for the walk to the Peter
Salquist home where services were to be held. It was their custom to hold
Sunday prayer meetings in homes, there being no Lutheran church in the
valley. At the close of the morning worship that day, the group decided
that they would organize a church. The next day eight families of the
Powell Valley Swedish settlement formally organized a Lutheran church
organization. The name of this new congregation was Saron. Thus the church
was established in an orderly fashion, with members committing themselves
not only to God but also to a visible organization in the community.
The
following signed up for membership: Mr./Mrs. A.W. Anderson and Earnest;
Mr./Mrs. Peter Salquist and Annie, Betty, Rudolph; Mr./Mrs. C.A. Lindgren;
Mr./Mrs. Per Alftred Johnson and Clara, Anna, Nellie, Lillie, John;
Mr./Mrs. C.P. Erikson and Erik, Walter, Elvira; Mr./Mrs. John Anderson;
Mr. P. Blomgren; Mr./Mrs. P.E. Landin and Tekla, Bror.
Building
the Church
On
December 16, 1899, a congregation meeting was called to consider the
question of building a church. Each member was assessed $25, and this was
to be paid by February 1, 1900, the target date for commencement of the
building project. Records show that the church was to be 24 by 36 feet
with an 8 by 8 foot tower. Services in the new church were held for the
first time on Good Friday, 1900. It had cost just under $600 for
materials. Much hard labor was donated, and the church was free of debt
the day it was finished.
In
1915, the Ladies Society decided to make arrangements to obtain an altar
painting “to fill the blank wall in the church”. The painting,
“Jesus in the Garden”, which cost $60, was dedicated in January 1916.
Years later the painting was moved to the new sanctuary in Gresham, where
it remains to this day.
The
Swedish character of the early Saron congregation began to change before
1920. Although most older members still preferred the Swedish service, it
seemed certain that the pastoral leadership sensed the course of the
future, that would require the shift to English. The year of 1914 saw no
growth in the congregation, which perhaps was partially attributable to
the language barrier. Total membership was 96. It was at the 1916 annual
meeting that it was decided to have English services every other Sunday
evening. The bilingual arrangement begun in 1916 was continued, but it was
1926 before it was fully accepted, and it was another twelve years (1938)
before Swedish gave way to English entirely.
Saron’s
records show that the congregation keenly desired to stress Lutheran
liturgical forms, creeds and confessions, the instructional tool of the
catechism, and regular attendance at worship.
Moving
to Gresham
It
was in 1926 that the decision was made at Saron to build a new church,
conversations continued until December 1927 when the church board made
several recommendations. One being to drop Swedish and use only English.
Secondly, they cited the “terrible need of a new church” and noted
that the only question that remained was “How could it be done?”. They
estimated that “a well-pleasing church would amount to $145 per
communicant”. Many members were not in favor of moving to Gresham, which
had also been suggested. Nevertheless, a building fund was begun that
year. Decision to build was officially made at the January 1928 meeting.
Later, a poll was taken and it was determined that those who wanted to
build were predominantly the same people who wanted to move to Gresham,
and those who held out for the Powell Valley location really did not want
to build. The congregation considered the pros and cons for two more
years, what it would mean for the church as a whole and the sacrifices
that would be required of each family. The “Year of Opportunity” had
begun. In 1931 a formal decision was made to move the congregational home
into town and build on the northwest corner of West Powell Blvd and Ava
Street (the present location of the church).
The
building of the new church began in 1932, in the middle of The Great
Depression. Elsewhere, financial worries overshadowed all of life, the
country had twelve million unemployed, and the veterans’ marched on
Washington D.C. that ended in rout and bitterness. However, in Powell
Valley, Trinity’s people marched only towards their dream of a new
church.
Times
were uncertain, but possibly memories of other uncertainties sustained
these people. Fifty years earlier some of them, as teenagers, had left
parents and friends in their native Sweden to travel halfway around the
world to find relatives in the Oregon country. Others had endured the
dangers and rigors of wagon train travel across the American continent.
They had arrived in Powell Valley almost empty-handed, but had a new and
successful life in an area not far removed from the wilderness status.
Hadn’t God been with them then? Surely the situation would not be
different, even in 1932. To be sure, some scoffed. “We were the
laughingstock of the whole Synod for going so big” remembers one
oldster. “And some of our people were not for the new effort-they said
the church would never be filled!” Many voiced fears for the church’s
economic survival as the deflationary spiral worsened at home and abroad.
But a spirit of faith and trust in God prevailed. As the building project
went forward, the people of Saron-Trinity once more demonstrated their
love and zeal for his kingdom.
The
building’s outside dimensions, according to the plans, were to be 78 by
34 feet. Height was to be about 41 feet from grade to ridge. The building
was to be built in classic cruciform with the transept, or widest part
measuring 46 feet. The plans also called for a 56-foot tower. The full
basement was to have an assembly room with a raised stage area, a parlor,
kitchen area and other small rooms, plus the boiler room. The exterior of
the building was a brick veneer on wood framing. The interior reflected
Gothic style open beam construction, finished in wood. Windows employed
ecclesiastical symbolism and the Gothic arch.
The
new church at Powell Blvd. and Ava Street was to become the dominating
structure in that part of Gresham. Sixty-five years ago Powell Blvd. was
not the broad paved highway it is today, and there was much open land,
even orchards, in the area between Miller and Ava streets.
A
cornerstone laying service on June 26, 1931, marked the commencement of
actual construction. A
consecration service was held June 4, 1933. The name, “Trinity
Evangelical Lutheran Church” had been decided upon by the congregation.
The former designation, “Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Saron Church of
Powell Valley” thus passed into history, and the era of the “The New
Church” was ushered in.
Services
Begin
In
January 1940, 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. services were established as the hours
for weekly services. Under the (14-year) pastorate of Rev. C. A. V. Lund
(1943-1957) the congregation gradually grew in membership as people moved
into the area. In an attempt to recall both the Swedish heritage and
changing complexion of the congregation, the Christmas Day services for
both 1948 and 1951 were trilingual. Three sermons were preached in German,
English and Swedish.
In
October 1952, the decision was made to go ahead with the planning of a new
parish education hall...The building was eventually dedicated on December
5, 1955. Pastor Rudy Johnson
became Trinity’s pastor in July 1960. Again in 1960, services were
changed to two morning worship services. During Pastor Rudy Johnson’s
fourteen years of service, the congregation grew from 631 to 1,212 people
and again the congregation began conversation on the question of building
a new sanctuary and fellowship hall. The burning of the 1932 church
mortgage occurred February 14, 1965 and Trinity once again became debt
free. During 1973 the
congregation hired an architect for considering feasibility of remodeling
or building a new facility. On May 19, 1974, the congregation voted to
proceed with preparation of working drawings and construction of a new
sanctuary and fellowship hall as soon as initial financing could be
arranged. The congregation obtained additional property adjacent to the
church to provide adequate space for future needs. In the spring of 1966,
about 290 feet of property west of the parish education wing was
purchased, and in 1972 the front of this property and the residence was
purchased from the Pullen family. Named “Luther House”, this residence
provided suitable room for adult education classes and social events.
The proposed 221st Drive, when approved would allow
additional access on the western perimeter as well.
Pausing
to reflect its past accomplishments, the congregation could not but
recognize that the parable of the mustard seed was being enacted in their
very midst. From small beginnings, considerable progress had been made,
and perhaps the future would demand an even greater witness. The growing
membership also pointed out the need for pastoral assistance in
administering to the needs of the congregation. Discussion centered on
advisability of securing a parish worker or intern and culminated in
establishment of an internship program in 1964 and lasted until 1972.
Growth
Transitions
The
transition from one long term pastorate for another had Trinity facing new
challenges and opportunities. Pastor Jerry Furgurson was called as lead
pastor in 1974. Through the ‘70's and ‘80's, Trinity expanded on its
history of team ministry with many associate pastors and lay leadership in
areas of Christian Education, Evangelism, Youth, Volunteer Coordination,
Small Group Ministry and Children’s Ministries. This had two major
impacts on the congregation; one an expansion of programs and secondly,
significant increases in budgets.
Some
of the facility issues, such as worship expansion, still were unresolved
as Pastor Furgurson took the reins of pastoral leadership. The visual
presentation of the church building was changed by the addition of the
ramp (quite a controversy in its day), remodeling of Luther House and then
its eventual removal, and the 1983 addition of the “Annex”.
Internally, the church organ was rebuilt, sanctuary remodeled, new
stained glass windows added where all part of the change.
The removal of Luther House and purchase of Sture House property
helped with the continuity of community services offered through Trinity.
Social
ministry of the church took on new focus in several areas.
Working through Lutheran Family Service, Trinity sponsored refugee
families from Cambodia and Afghanistan.
A Gresham branch of Snow-Cap opened using Luther House in 1976.
Trinity volunteers have been active since its opening, and over
time discovered new needs. In 1985, Zarephath Kitchen volunteers began serving hot meals
at first three days a week then grew to five days a week to those who
picked up food from Snow-Cap, approximately 75 people per day. Trinity also worked at supportive global hunger issues by
raising money through its World Hunger Auction.
This
community leadership in social ministry continued into the 90's with
additional emphasis. Many of
the same volunteers moved ahead with confronting some of the shelter
issues in East County. In
collaboration with county government, social service agencies, and many
churches, East County Shelter Projects, Inc. was formed.
Two major projects were completed at the Mayflower House (SE
Portland) and Willow Tree Inn (Gresham) addressing part of the need for
emergency and transitional housing. More
recently, Trinity has become one of the church leaders to confront the
harsh reality of domestic violence in our community.
A
high commitment for quality Christian education for children and adults
continued during these decades for new generations of children.
Trinity maintained an average Sunday School attendance of 200 young
people each week. WELCA and
morning bible studies provided adults with challenge of the Gospel.
The
change in pastoral leadership in the early 90's was different in that
Pastor Furgurson and Pastor Keys shared the role as Co-Pastor Senior
Pastor. This allowed for a
maximizing of gifts and resources for the congregation and the bringing on
of additional ordained and lay staff.
During this time, the daycare that operated out of the facility
become a more integrated part of the ministry with the creation of Trinity
Lutheran Children’s Center. Serving
a hundred families each year, TLCC has achieved recognition in its role in
working with children with special needs.
Another way in which Trinity has become a joyous voice in
proclaiming the Gospel in the community has been through its Vacation
Bible School which attracts more than two hundred participants each year
coming from partner churches and the un-churched community.
Through these same partner churches, Trinity continues its
ecumenical relationship through joint worship and community needs.
Trinity Lutheran Church continues to be a people and a place of ministry. The Gospel continues to inform and define what we are about as the people of God in this place. Let us move forward and celebrate the next hundred years.
