HOLY TRINITY TIMES A Century of Change 1904-2004 ❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈ With One Voice 100 Years of Worship at Holy Trinity English Lutheran Church Our stories... When a group in 1904 chose to leave its home their families on Confirmation Day. The church congregation of St. Peder’s Lutheran Church, it was always appropriately decorated for special With One Voice — 100 Years of Worship was embracing the new realities of the commu- church seasons by members of the congrega- at Holy Trinity English Lutheran Church ........ 1 nities in which members lived and worked. St. tion. ‘Unless You Come as a Child’ — The Christian Peder’s was a Danish-speaking congregation in Education of Holy Trinity’s Youth .................... 3 Longfellow. This group, ripe with what we HE YEARS OF SOCIAL CHANGE: 1950 to 1969—Dr. The ‘Unruly Truth’ of Life — Confirmation T might now call “missionary zeal,” believed that Paul Graf began his ministry at Holy Trinity and the Questions of Faith .............................. 4 the new church should use the English lan- Equipped and Educated — with a congregation of approximately 2,030 guage. The efforts of these members fittingly Living the Ethical Life..................................... 5 baptized members. He wrote his sermons at the ‘Let’s Start at the Very Beginning’— resulted in the establishment of the Evangelical dining room table on Saturday night after a Origin and Early Years, 1904-1908 ................ 5 English Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity. week of thinking about the text. During his Building the Church— early years, the baby boom contributed greatly Locations of Holy Trinity’s Buildings ............. 6 to rapid growth of the congregation. By 1954 the Giving Birth to a New Congregation— The founding group of Holy baptized worshipping community was 3,744, St. Peder’s Lutheran Church........................... 7 In the Heart of the City— Trinity, ripe with what we making Holy Trinity the third largest church in Longfellow at the Turn of the Century............ 8 might now call “missionary the United Lutheran Church of America The Boom Years in Longfellow— (ULCA). That same year the 64th annual conven- 1900 to 1930.................................................... 8 zeal,” believed that the new tion of the English Evangelical Lutheran Synod Toboggans, Hayrides, and Wiener Roasts — church should use the English of the North West was held at Holy Trinity. From Luther League to Youth Groups .......... 10 Graf had a strong emphasis on World Mis- Hoopin’ It Up— language. sions and served as president of the Board of The Church’s Gym Program ......................... 11 World Mission of the ULCA. He also had a Getting the “Lutefisk Fix”— strong stewardship commitment. As it was Community Events and Fundraisers ............ 11 th A Welcome Table—Hospitality is a Key to THE EARLY YEARS: 1904 to 1917—During the noted in the congregation’s 50 Anniversary Congregational Sustenance........................... 12 early years, many “firsts” occurred. Eugene booklet, “In the worship service each Sunday Engaged and Active — Lamonte Madvig was the first infant baptized every person is given the privilege of placing a The Church as Public Participant ................. 13 (January 1, 1905), and Mrs. Charles (Sophia) part of this personal life (by means of his Holy Trinity Youth Called to Ordained Baker was the first adult baptized (April 29, money) on the altar of God.” Ministry e ..................................................... 14 1908). The first confirmation class of five Evangelism was also emphasized. Children A Love for People and Work— persons was confirmed on June 11, 1905. were encouraged to bring a new person when Ministry of Carl Bartsch ............................... 14 Theodore Bernard Koopman and Sarah May they came the following Sunday. Congregation Keeping the Faith — Wilkirs were the first couple married (July 15, members were trained to do door-to-door Ministry of Pastor Paul Graf ........................ 15 In Touch with the Times...and the Kids— 1908), and the first funeral was that of Mrs. J. outreach. Community children came to Vacation Ministry of Wayne Wickoren........................ 16 Christian Cliplef on March 11, 1908. Church School. As the congregation grew, a trial The Healing Begins— This was a period of rapid growth of the third service was initiated to add to the 8:00 Team Ministry in the 1970s .......................... 16 worshipping community, as it moved from a a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services. After a month it An Eye Towards the Future — baptized membership of 37 members to 273 was decided to discontinue the 12:15 p.m. Ministry of Pastor Ron Johnson ................... 17 members by 1909. The congregation’s first worship but the door was left open to recon- The Intersection of Faith and Daily Life— pastor, Luther Bushong Deck, remained with sider a third service. Ministry of Stacy K. Johnson........................ 17 the congregation for five years. The second Special services abounded. Special Sundays ‘Go Into All the World’ elected pastor, Rev. John Sutherland Albert, was were emphasized with one such service saw 30 Study Trips Offer a New Perspective............ 19 Lutheran Church Women — installed on June 22, 1912. He served the to 40 baptisms on Easter Sunday afternoon. Doers, Servers, and Workers of congregation until the arrival of the Rev. Carl Special Sundays designated for communion the Church ..................................................... 21 Herbert Bartsch, the congregation’s third pastor, were also held, to which shut-ins were occasion- Connected by More Than a Thread— on November 1, 1917. ally brought. Thanksgiving saw both Wednes- The Sewing Club ........................................... 21 day evening and Thursday services. Services Lift Every Voice— HE YEARS OF NEIGHBORHOOD GROWTH: 1917 to were held daily during Easter week and Ad- Music in the Life of Holy Trinity ................. 22 T 1950—Carl Herbert Bartsch was described as an vent. On New Year’s Day an afternoon com- Acting Out— munion service was held. It was noted in 1969 When Faith and Drama Meet ....................... 23 animated, friendly, personable man who served that the Good Friday service was the largest By the Numbers— Holy Trinity for 33 years until his death at age Membership and Other Measurements......... 24 61. During this time the congregation grew from service of the year. Investing in the Future— 700 baptized members to approximately 2,000 Decorations also were special for the season. Endowment and Investment Funds .............. 24 worshipping members. Six worship services A large tree decorated with Chrismons (white Call to Lead— were scheduled for Easter Sunday in 1945. Christian symbols) made by the congregation The Challenge of Church Governance........... 25 Sunday school classes were large and Keeping the Door Open—Metro Work Center Expands the Ministry........................ 25 totaled 270 at the beginning of his ministry ‘Go Into All the World’— at Holy Trinity. A Drive Toward Mission............................... 26 Bartsch’s sermons were considered The Fulfillment of God’s Mandate— accessible and Biblical, though his prepara- Finding Jesus Amidst the Poor, the Sick, tion did not include the writing out of his the Imprisoned, and the Homeless................. 26 sermons. Preaching from an outline in his A Place to Belong— mind, his sermons included current events Increasing the Housing Options and personal experiences. He did not in Longfellow................................................. 28 necessarily use the prescribed liturgies for baptisms and weddings, but the overall tone was worshipful and orderly. Com- Holy Trinity Lutheran Church munion was open to all who believed and 2730 East 31st Street felt the need of forgiveness, but was Minneapolis MN 55406 offered at only one service on given 612 729-8358 Sundays, on an occasional Wednesday www.htlcmpls.org evening, and at special occasions such as 2004 Holy Trinity Pastors: Front row—Elieshi Mungure an afternoon service for confirmands and and Stacy K. Johnson, Back Row—Andrea Mwalilino, Ronald K. Johnson, and Peter Ndungu. 100th Anniversary Page 1 was used for several years. Crosses made by the THE YEARS OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE: 1974 to the The concept of story has been occasionally congregation from palms were special favors for present—Ronald Karl Johnson began his work woven into the theme for the worship day, and Easter worship attendees and graced the meal at Holy Trinity on September 1, 1974. He was chancel plays have from time to time been trays of several local hospitals on Easter Sunday. called to be pastor and staff coordinator. incorporated into Lenten worship or on a Music was central to worship as well. The The worship space took on a new look in 1975 Sunday morning have been provided in a Junior Choir, Senior Choir, and bell choir played with the renovation of the chancel area of the musical setting by the Sunday School and monthly at worship. (Handbells made by White sanctuary. A free-standing altar, made from the Vacation Church School children. Chapel in England were purchased by the wood of the old altar, was made by Wayne At least eight different liturgies have been congregation in 1961.) The Service Book and Siewert and Eric Fors and served to bring the used in recent years providing an awareness of Hymnal, published in 1958, became the guide focus of worship closer to the congregation. A a variety of offerings. Still in use are the