Grace First Lutheran Church, Bend (Or.)

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.

From the guide to the Grace First Lutheran Church, Bend, Oregon, Records, 1916-2012, (Pacific Lutheran University)