Created 27 March 2009, Updated 07 February 2010

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Bend's First Lutheran Church: An Architectural and Historical Study

Grace First Lutheran Church
 (now an annex to Trinity Episcopal Church across the street)
231 Northwest Idaho Avenue
Bend, Oregon

Photos and text by Mr. Dana Johnson (except where noted)
Copyright 2009 Dana Johnson Enterprises, all rights reserved, duplication in part or in whole is prohibited without written consent of the author/photographer/webmaster.
Photos are available as high-resolution prints to your size and specifications, or for download of up to 10 megapixels.  Contact Mr. Johnson for details.

For additional photo pages, visit these links below:

Birds of Bend and Central Oregon

Bull Elk Encounter on the Deschutes River

Bessie Butte:  After the Fire

Nature of Bend and Central Oregon

Photo Tour of Bend and Central Oregon

Rockchucks/Yellow-bellied Marmots/Whistle Pigs

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Originally built in 1916 as the First Norwegian Lutheran Church, the former Grace First Lutheran Church on Idaho Avenue was renovated in 1972 by Grace & Hebert, Architects, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, based on a design by architect Fred J. Grace III.  New siding and paint was applied to match the Trinity Episcopal Church next door who purchased the structure in 2008.

The first sermons at the First Norwegian Lutheran Church were delivered in Norwegian language only.  Only later did English become the sole language of the pulpit.

The Lutheran congregation has now moved to a new larger facility with much more ample parking west of town at 2265 Shevlin Park Road.

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Historical roots of the Lutheran faith (from Wikipedia):  Martin Luther (1483 - 1546) founded Protestantism, one of the major movements within Christianity. He was a German monk, theologian, university professor, priest, and church reformer whose ideas started the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of Western civilization.  Luther taught that salvation is a free gift of God and received only through true faith in Jesus as redeemer from sin, not from work or good deeds. His theology challenged the authority of the pope of the Roman Catholic Church by saying that the Bible is the final source of Christian doctrine and rejecting the strict division between priests and ordinary Christians.
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Above:  The main entrance on Tumalo Avenue invites parishioners up steps flanked by a massive locally-quarried basalt banister, echoing the rugged stone foundation.  Bold red handrails and doors accent the pale gray structure surrounded by mature ponderosa pines and low-lying juniper bushes.

Below:  The main sanctuary reflects the austere but elegant style typical of Scandinavian architecture.


Above:  The St. Helens Place entrance repeats the bold red accents of the main entrance on the doors, handrails and exterior light fixtures.

Right:  As viewed from Wall Street, blue spruce and ponderosa pines surround the structure.

Left:  The new Grace First Lutheran Church at 2265 Shevlin Park Road maintains the austere architecture, inside and out, that is typical of Scandinavian design.

As expansion continues, the main sanctuary will  extend out from the east side of the building.  The existing stained glass window will be moved to accommodate the addition.

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