Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

File

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

This folder contains a church business card, a bulletin from 1984, a booklet from the 10th anniversary, a booklet from the building dedication, a congregational historical record, a booklet from the 100th anniversary of the church, a bulletin from 1984, a first mortgage note, a bulletin from 1984, annual meeting programs from 1974 and 1975, a booklet from the 100th anniversary celebration, a church relations visit summary from Pacific Lutheran University, a bulletin from 1981, a Centennial Edition booklet, church constitution, and various letters about the constitution.

Augustana’s traveling missionary, Rev. Peter Carlson, came to Marshfield, Oregon in August of 1884. On Sunday evening, September 7, 1884, forty-four persons of Scandinavian descent declared their intent to join the new Lutheran church. Twenty-three others soon added their names. One member donated a lot and a church was soon built. Swedish Lutherans from Eastside, North Bend, Empire and Coos River also attended the church. In the early 1900s travel was often by boat. The services were conducted in Swedish. The North Bend Church was organized in 1908. From 1908-1949 the Marshfield and North Bend churches were served by the same pastor. On May 1, 1958, after careful groundwork was laid by the pastors then serving the two congregations, the merger took place that brought Gloria Dei into being. By 1960 a new church was dedicated. In 1970 an educational wing was added. In the late seventies a recession in the lumber and timber industries affected the area, but the congregation responded with various support ministries and continued to improve its properties, even paying off its mortgage before celebrating its 100th anniversary in 1984.