Grace First Lutheran Church

This folder contains a copy of a newspaper article about the church, a congregational historical record, a bulletin from 1962, a booklet from the fundraising for a new building, a bulletin from the dedication of the new sanctuary, a booklet from the 50th anniversary, various letters, copies of pictures of the church, a letter of call to Richard Knutzen, a congregational statistical record, a bulletin from 1982, an invitation and program for the installation of Joel K. Liabraaten, service program from 1993, 75th anniversary commenorative pin, 75th anniversary booklet, and a bulletin for the 75th anniversary banquet.

The village of Bend was incorporated in 1905 and by 1916 a real effort was put forth for the establishment of a Lutheran congregation. The actual organization took place on April 5, 1916, under the name of The First Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Mission Board called a pastor, and Rev. J.H. Brona arrived in the latter part of 1916. A church was built, and the first services there were held on the last Sunday of October, 1916, the formal cornerstone laying taking place March 11, 1917. The Ladies’ Aid Society formed in May of 1916. Their great financial help prompted the men in 1920 to give the ladies the same right as men in voting at congregational meetings. The first parsonage behind the church was built in 1920. In the early 1950s more space was needed in the church, so the parsonage was taken over for Sunday school rooms and a house on Congress Street was purchased for a second parsonage. In January of 1959 a finance plan was established to support the building of an educational unit for the church. Groundbreaking in March, 1961 marked the beginning of work on Luther House. The old church was razed, the old parsonage moved away, and the new unit was built. Another sanctuary was started May 14, 1972 and dedicated July 8, 1973.