Trinity Lutheran Church
Golden Anniversary
1941-1991
Dedication:
To the former pastors of Trinity Lutheran Church; the present pastor; to the faithful pioneers who, by the Grace of God brought this church into being; to those who followed and to the present members who love their Savior and commit their lives to him; to our posterity whom we pray will treasure the spiritual blessings granted us, we dedicate this 50th anniversary booklet.
-The 50th Anniversary Committee
A Note from Pastor:
"Building for Eternity" is the goal of Trinity Lutheran Church. Jesus said to all Disciples: "Pray therefore the Lord of Harvest to send out laborers into His Harvest". Matthew 9:38. This congregation exists today, 50 years, due to the many dedicated laborers who believed in Jesus Christ and who were willing to allow their Lord to plant through them. "Building for eternity" is not finished. God has planted Trinity in Hermiston to continue the nurturing of souls and to proclaim Jesus, as "the way, the truth, and the life". May God bless the consecrated prayers and Spirit-led effort of each of us as we work together in unity to the glory of God. By His grace the work will continue as we hold fast to the word of life.
-Pastor Wesley Sackmann
Pastors Who Have Served:
Edward M. Butenshan 1941 -1945
Ernest W. Philippi 1945 - 1948
Armin Reitz 1949 - 1957
Robert Drewes 1958 - 1964
Samuel Goldenman 1964 - 1971
Gary Peterson 1972 - 1978
Richard Eggen 1979 - 1984
Wesley Sackmann 1984 - 1996
Ernest W. Philippi was called and installed in February, 1945, at the USO building (now Civic Recreation Center). Under his guidance the Luther League for young people and the Men's Brotherhood were organized. (The Ladies Aid had started previously). (The first Vacation Bible School was held in 1948.) He expanded his missionary efforts by conducting services at Ordnance and Lexington.
City lots, including an unfinished house, were purchased in early 1945 for use of a future church site and a parsonage. In 1947 the congregation proceeded with building the new church. Excavation was begun by George Liebe and Lloyd Thompson. Actual construction began in October 1947. Mr. A.H. Fintel (church member) served as Construction Foreman. The cornerstone was laid on November 16, 1947.
The dedication of the new church on March 7, 1948 was celebrated by two services with special music performed by the choir from Baker. Approximately 400 people attended the afternoon Service. Large delegations were present from Baker, La Grande, Pendleton, Walla Walla, and other churches in our vicinity. Offerings for the special day totaled $1,000; many gifts being received from other churches.
Upon acceptance of a call Pastor Philipppi left in late October, 1948, for his new church in Seattle.
Pastor Armin Reitz accepted a call to this church in the spring of 1949 and was installed in May. He organized an adult choir, edited the parish paper and held "family night" once a month.
In 1950, the congregation sponsored a displaced persons family named Rocens. The services that had been held in Lexington were moved to Heppner. Because of the building of MacNary Dam, two public grade school classes were held in the church basement and the rental payments were used for special projects.
In 1952, working with the Lutheran Welfare Board and seed funds from Lutheran Mutual, Trinity and other Lutheran churches in the area helped to establish Good Shepherd Hospital, and through its required six members on the hospital board, Trinity still helps to direct its activities. In 1953 the mortgage on the parsonage was burned, the brotherhood sponsored a Boy Scout Troop, and the Womens Missionary Society voted to equip a room in the hospital with furniture.
Just as the Pendleton congregation nurtured us as a mission, we, too, helped Heppner's Hope Lutheran Church. In 1955, Trinity transferred 46 of our members. In 1956 we broadcasted a Sunday radio program called "Chapel Time" over KOHU. We bought the lots north of the church which are now used as a parking lot.
In December, 1957, Pastor Armin Reitz accepted a call to North Bend, Washington. Robert Drewes was installed as pastor March 2, 1958. Trinity celebrated the 10th anniversary of the building and later in July, the burning of the church mortgage dated Dec. 23, 1947, for $16,000.
In 1960, the outdoor church sign was erected in June. In November the congregation changed from the "brown" American Lutheran Hymnal to the "red" Service Book and Hymnal. An extensive remodeling was done to the church with LaVern Martin spending many days paneling the interior. A new altar, insulation, tile, carpet, and Sunday school rooms enhanced the interior, and shingles and paint, the exterior. In the parsonage a basement bedroom and bath were added. The church was rededicated April 23, 1961 with Pastor Armin H. Reitz as guest speaker.
Between 1961 and 1964 Trinity had over seven guest missionary speakers from New Guinea, Indonesia, Cameroons, Africa, and India. We donated money to furnish a room at Good Shepherd Hospital. Pastor Drewes received a call to Trinity Lutheran near the PLU campus in Tacoma, Washington.
The Rev. Samuel Goldenman from Colville, Washington was installed by Rev. O.W. Reitz on December 6, 1964. In 1965 the library was started with Lucille Bauer being librarian until 1984. From 1966 to 1971 many improvements and donations were made. The Ladies Aid Society divided into three Bible Study Circles. Also a general TLCW meeting was held once a month.
The congregation voted for the Bethel Bible study, and sent the pastor and his wife, Margaret, to Madison, Wis, for the basic training and then they, in turn, trained many of the congregation to be teachers. In 1970 Trinity took part in the LIFE campaign by donating over $2000 to the ALC benevolence budget. It also gave approximately $2000 toward the Good Samaritan Center furnishings.
We celebrated our thirtieth anniversary in 1971.
Pastor Goldenman received a call from Tacoma, and we had Oscar Reitz from Toppenish, WA, as interim pastor for six months. Pastor Gary Peterson was installed April 8, 1972. A Lay Renewal Week-end was held May 4-6, 1975, with Christian witnesses coming from east-central Washington and the Willamette Valley to share their faith. This Weekend truly brought a renewal of Christian love among the members and one way this love was expressed was through the sponsoring of four Vietnamese refugee men. Pastor and his wife were also active participants in several Marriage Encounter Retreats. He received a call to Fir-Conway, Washington in 1978.
About this time Trinity replaced the "red" hymnals with the "green" Lutheran Book of Worship.
Trinity had Pastor Art Sortland from Tacoma as interim pastor until Pastor Richard Eggen from Everett, WA, was installed on July 29, 1979. Ethe Eggen family were the first to buy their own home and we sold the old parsonage for $6,000.
During Rich's ministry a Passover Celebration was presented by one of the "Jews for Jesus" group during Lent explaining the symbols that were used to indicate a coming Messiah, and how Jesus was the one that fulfilled them. It was quite memorable. We sponsored another refugee family for a few months.
The council voted to subscribe to the Lutheran Standard for each family in the congregation. The Sweetheart Dinners were started on the Sunday nearest Valentines Day with the men participating. The Luther League started their traditional Easter breakfasts about this time.
Pastor Eggen held church services in the mission church at Boardman, starting January 6, 1980, for our members who lived there. In June 1981, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church was accepted for membership at the North Pacific District Convention. In September, Michael Sparby came as an intern to help Eggen at Boardman and Hermiston.
In 1982, the congregation committed itself to further the building planning by hiring Jim Dillman, church architect from Tri-Cities.
Dana Peterson was our second intern. Our last intern was Larry Morris who later filled in when Pastor Eggen resigned in February of 1984 to go into private business and to be part-time minister to Good Shepherd. Ralph Fisher from Burlington WA came to be our interim pastor.
An Outreach program to create a family atmosphere in our congregation was started. It included greeters, lay readers for the Lessons, sharing time of blessings or for requests for personal prayers, and coffee-time after services.
Pastor Wesley Sackmann from North Bend, WA accepted our call and started his ministry the first Sunday in September. He was installed Nov. 25, 1984.
Projects started with Pastor Sackmann include: taking confirmands to retreats to LBI at Issaqua, WA, soup and bread suppers before Lenten services, expansion of the library with religious videos and the entire Bible on cassettes, and fellowship gatherings with St. John's Episcopal Church. A Lay Renewal weekend was held in Feb 1989. As a result the "Vision" group was formed. The congregation established a Card-Chain ministry to send cards to members suffering illness or other concerns. Trinity became the trustee of the Carol Ann Rea Leukemia fund.
At this time a 5-year Lay Bible study, called "Search", was begun. There were approximately 80 participants at first and we are still averaging 50 at the end of the 5 years.
The building committee worked with James Dillman, Inland Empire Bank, and Knerr and Taft Construction Co, to get the remodeling of the church building up to code in 1986.
Trinity Lutheran dedicated its remodeled church building on September 21st. Some of the changes were: a ramp and front entrance on the east side, a new narthex with pastor's and secretary's offices, plus a library-Sunday school room and restrooms on the south side of the main floor. A small meeting room replaced the old entrance. A new structure on the west side housed the new staircases to the basement and upper area of the church. Dave Knerr built the outside fire escape plus all the railings. A wireless speaker system and air conditioning were installed, with some rooms having separate heating and air systems for economy. The church was painted inside and out, carpeting was installed, and landscaping was done with John Spomer's guidance. In 1988 the church was reroofed.
The Debt Elimination Drive hit $40,000 which paid off our building indebtedness with enough left over for repairs to the organ. Our pews, altar and pulpit were refinished.
In the summer of 1990, we broke tradition and held Vacation Bible School in the evening. About seventy pupils attended showing an increase over previous years.
Our latest improvements are: a new copier was purchased for the office, the kitchen was repainted with new counters and sinks installed. The stove and refrigerator were replaced. Also new stoles for the pastor's use were purchased.
1991, our fiftieth year is an exciting one. The Trinity family, past and present, are celebrating our Golden Anniversary May 18th and 19th. We have worshiped and worked for the Glory of God and pray for His continued blessings so we will be a blessing to others.
