History, heritage, vision
foundations
The year 1916 was an opportune time to establish a Lutheran church in Bend. Several factors converged to provide momentum toward that end. A railroad had recently been completed to Bend, which eased travel to and from our small town and thus encouraged the emigration of homesteaders. Deschutes County was formed, which attracted business and governmental activities. Of most importance was the arrival of the Brooks and the Scanlon mills and the large number of workers needed to operate the facilities. These mills migrated from Minnesota and encouraged employees to move with them, most of whom were Scandinavians who were also Lutherans. “The First Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bend” was built at the cost of $1,073.11 and celebrated the first Sunday service with 76 founding members. In 1924 it was decided that the name should change to better reflect the entire congregation to “First Lutheran Church of Bend'“.
growing community
After struggling through the Great Depression and WWII, recovery in Bend included lots of church growth. Soon enough, with over 150 children enrolled in Sunday school, several parsonages were purchased to house the Pastor and the Sunday School program. In 1961, a new building on NW Idaho Ave. in Downtown Bend, “Luther House” was dedicated and supplied the church with space for Sunday school classrooms, a church kitchen and offices. By 1973 the congregation had built a new adjacent sanctuary building and knocked down the original church for parking spaces.
new vision
Through a long-term visioning process that began in the early 2000's, it was determined that the downtown location would be a difficult place to grow and meet our vision of what we felt God was calling us to become in the community. We began to explore different areas of town and looked West due to the established presence of other Lutheran churches in the other quadrants of town. Northwest Crossing aspired to be a community that offered retail, commercial and residential spaces. The developers were convinced to provide a discounted property that would allow a faith community to thrive as an integral part of the neighborhood. In 2008, the new facility was built on Shevlin Park Road in Northwest Crossing and the move from downtown happened.
spirit led future
Our roots are growing in the community of Bend and beyond. We are committed to seeking, celebrating and sharing God’s grace with our neighbors. As a welcoming and affirming congregation, we seek authentic, supportive and loving relationships. We celebrate the reality of God’s love in our lives and uplift the same in others through worship and intentional faith events. We are all called to share grace in our everyday relationships and communities beyond this church. This is our vision and hope for our future!
