Trinity Lutheran Church

This folder contains a congregational historical record, a 75th anniversary booklet, an invitation to join the church for an installation service, a proposed budget for 1974-75, various letters, a church constitution, proposed by-laws, a drawing of the church, a bulletin from 1983, installation of Mary Peterson bulletin from 1998, ordination and installation of Julie Marie Gebben Green bulletin from 1998, remembrance service for Larry Sailer 1993, profile of Wendell Hendershott, church constitution, installation of Wendell Hendershott 1989, ordination and installation program of Michael Francis Keys 1990, installation bulletin of Gregory Ames 1988, notice letter on Michael Keys, ordination and installation of Dan B. Hallgrimson 1977.

Eight families from the Swedish settlement in Powell Valley, two miles east of Gresham, came together on January 23, 1899 and organized the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Saron Congregation. Before the end of the year a decision was made to build a church. The language of the church was Swedish. English services began to be offered in 1916, but it was not until 1938 that it became the sole language of worship. Growth was slow but steady. In 1921 it became apparent that Gresham was the better location and a new site was donated by a member. When the church basement was dedicated in 1933 the congregation changed its name to Trinity. The education building was added in 1954 and the mortgage was paid off in 1965. In 1984, when the congregation celebrated its 85th anniversary, the sanctuary was enlarged, and a new kitchen, library, and classrooms were added.