Timeline of Trinity Lutheran Church
| December 1, 1882 | Norwegian Lutheran Trinity Church was founded | The founders and their families numbered 42. |
| December 15, 1882 | Constitution adopted | This constitution remained in effect until 1909 when the congregation became known as Trinity Lutheran Church. |
| February 4, 1883 | First Sunday school class was held | Four adults and six children were present. Within a few days so many more enrolled that by February 11 four more teachers were required. |
| July 6, 1884 | First Service held in the first church | The building was a “bare bones” structure. |
| February 10, 1890 | Women of Trinity granted the right to vote | This was far ahead of the passage of women’s suffrage in the 1920’s. |
| 1891 | First mission Sunday | Mission and outreach have always been an important part of Trinity’s mission |
| August 4, 1895 | First service in the second church | The original building was moved to the east end of the original lot so that new church could be built in its place. |
| 1898 | First organized choir introduced | This choir consisted of 16 to 18 young people interested in singing. |
| December 25, 1915 | First service held in the third church | This building would seat 750 on the main floor and have a balcony. |
| November 1914 | Trinity’s first parish paper is published | Titled “The Trinity Lutheran” this publication contained eight pages with three pages of ads in English, but the text was 50/50 English and Norwegian. |
| 1919 | First pipe organ to serve the Trinity Congregation installed | It cost $4,500 and was a Votteler-Holtkamp organ, a gift of the Young People’s Society. It was completely destroyed with the church sanctuary in the fire on April 5, 1950. |
| March 21, 1919 | Trinity and First English Lutheran, of Moorhead, merged to become Trinity Lutheran Congregation | The agreement stated “the official language… shall be the English language.” |
| October 23, 1920 | Trinity’s second parish paper is published | Titled “The Trinity Messenger” with front page articles including “If Christ Came to Moorhead” and “Reformation Festival.” |
| 1926 | First worship services broadcast on the radio | The initial radio broadcasts were discontinued due to the economy but were later resumed in 1938 at the request of congregation members. |
| November 1934 | Trinity’s third parish paper is published | Titled “Trinity Lutheran Messenger” with front page articles including “God’s Pence” and “Three Days of Missionary Opportunity.” |
| April 1950 | Trinity Lutheran Congregation becomes Trinity Lutheran Church of Moorhead | |
| April 5, 1950 | A fire erupts at the church | Pastor Jacobson prayed, “Father, all my strengths has been used; You’ll have to take over.” One man walked over to Jacobson, put his arm on his shoulder and said, “We’ll build it bigger and better.” And they did. |
| September 30, 1951 | Cornerstone laid for the fourth church | Today’s church has contents from the churches built in 1884, 1895 and 1915. Seating 650 plus 300 in three galleries and 300 in the education building with the 78-foot tower, dating to 1898, is the base of a lighted cross that peaks at 102 feet. |
| 1955 | First television Bible class airs | Bible study is an integral part of Trinity’s mission. |
| 1957 | New pipe organ installed | This $40,000 pipe organ of 33 ranks was dedicated at the 75th Anniversary of Trinity, and was a unique organ for the area. |
| September 15, 1974 | First contemporary service introduced | |
| Palm Sunday 1981 | Trinity hears the newly remodeled organ for the first time. | The organ continues to serve the congregation and community as it leads and inspires congregational worship, and serves as a teaching and recital instrument, both for the church and Concordia College. |
| 1987 | Lost and Found Ministry founded | Thea Gullings, a member of Trinity, left a funds to Trinity to be used for a ministry to help the chemically dependent and their families. |
| January 20, 1991 | First service in the newly built Christian Life Center | The first contemporary service was held in the Christian Life Center at 11:30 am and was called Worship, Too! |
| January 28, 1990 | Trinity changes mission statement | This new mission statement stands today. |
| 2002 | Small Group Ministry developed with the Trinity Foundation | The funds of the Trinity Foundation were used for research, training, salary for the SGM assistant, and materials. |
| September 14, 2005 | First Taizé service held in the sanctuary | This type of worship is a deeply moving candlelight service of music, silence, scripture, prayer, and Holy Communion. |
| January 28, 2007 | Trinity announces being debt free | At the annual meeting, Pastor Steve Wold announces that a member had walked into his office and asked how much was still owed on the mortgage. Wold responded, “$6,500.” The person wrote a check for that amount. Everyone at the final meeting of the first 125 years smiled as the symbolic Mortgage Burning took place. |
Trinity has been served by the following senior pastors:
- John H. Bruno (1884-1892)
- Andreas A. Oefstedel (1892-1897)
- Gustav A. Larsen (1897-1903)
- John Peterson (1903-1913)
- Martin Anderson (1914-1920)
- Sigurd T. Sorenson (1919-1931)
- Fredrik A. Schiotz (1932-1938)
- Roy A. Harrisville, Sr. (1938-1947)
- Erling R. Jacobson (1947-1954)
- Oscar A. Anderson (1954-1963)
- Paul A. Hanson (1964-1973)
- David L. Anderson (1973-1985)
- Richard J. Foss (1986-1992)
- John Matthews (1993-1994)
- David W. Preus (1994-1996)
- Ann Svennungsen (1996-2003)
- Ray Siegle (2003-2004)
- Stephen Wold (2004-2011)
- Simon G. Fensom (2013 – )
Trinity Archive and History Committee
Lyle Nelson