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Zoar Evangelical Lutheran Church (1892)
"Little Place of Refuge"

This page is work in progress - visit us again soon!

​Zoar's Family Tree

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​The first meeting of Zoar Church was in 1892. It started small and grew over the next 60 years as three other Lutheran congregations merged into Zoar. Those congregations were Scandinavian American Lutheran Church (1901-1917), Zion Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church (1905-1911), and Bethlehem Scandinavian Lutheran Church (1909-1949).

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Scandinavian American Lutheran Church (SALC) (Barlow)

  • 1901 - The church is formally organized as part of the Norwegian Synod, a national organization of Norwegian speaking Lutheran Churches.

  • 1903 - The congregation purchases a church building from the Methodists at the intersection of First and Maple in Barlow. (PHOTO) They would eventually share this building with ZNELCA.

  • 1906 - in conjunction with ZNELCA, property south of Barlow is purchased for a cemetery. Today, this is Zoar Lutheran Cemetery at the corner of Barlow and Lone Elder Road.

  • 1917 - The congregation formally joins Zoar Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canby.

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Zion Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church (ZNELC) (Barlow)

  • 1905 - Lutherans had been holding church services in homes in the Barlow areas since 1895. Many of them joined the SALC in 1901, but others did not because of a disagreement over predestination. The remaining Lutherans formed ZNELC.

  • 1906 - in conjunction with SALC, property south of Barlow is purchased for a cemetery. Today, this is Zoar Lutheran Cemetery at the corner of Barlow and Lone Elder Road. The congregation also starts holding separate services in the Scandinavian American Lutheran church building.

  • 1910- ZNELC moves its worship services into Canby at Knight's Hall.

  • 1911- ZNELC joins Zoar Scandinavian Lutheran Church on the condition that the congregation move to a church inside the city of Canby.

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Bethlehem Scandinavian Lutheran Church (BSLC) (Yoder)

  • 1909 - BSLC is formed in Yoder

  • 1910 - BSLC is incorporated with the State of Oregon

  • 1911 - BSLC builds a church in Yoder (PHOTO)

  • 1932 - Zoar Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church calls a new Pastor. BSLC agrees to pay part of his salary so he can preach on the 4th Sunday of the month in Yoder.

  • 1949 - BSLC joins Zoar Scandinavian Lutheran Church. ​

​Zoar (1892) // Zoar Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church (1895) //
Zoar Evangelical Lutheran Church (1945)​​

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  • 1891 - In September, the first worship service was held at the New Era home of Mr. & Mrs. Paul Sollie. The Pastor was Rev. O.R. Sletten of Silverton. On December 29, the first Lutheran service was held in Canby at the home of J.O. Ringness.

  • 1892 - On December 2nd, the congregation organized at the Paul Sollie home. The name "Zoar" was proposed by E.O. Hinderlie and adopted by the group. The Constitution and Bylaws were written in Norwegian, as were meeting minutes and treasurers' notes for many years. They also joined the Norwegian Synod, a national organization of Norwegian speaking Lutheran Churches.

  • 1895 - The congregation incorporated under Oregon law on February 17 as Zoar Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. The first chapel ‑‑ 26' square ‑‑ was built on land donated by E.O. Hinderlie for the church lot and cemetery on Walnut Street where Zoar Lutheran Cemetery is currently located.

  • 1907 - Zoar was accepted into the United Lutheran Church of America.

  • 1911 -   Zoar purchased land on Township Road at Fourth Ave from Tom Mahlum and moved their church to this site. (PHOTO). Today, this is the home of Canby Evangelical Church.

  • 1927 - Zoar congregation bought its present site at SE 3rd Avenue. (PHOTO at top of page)

  • 1928 - Dedication services were held for the SE 3rd Ave church building on October 28.

  • 1953 - Five classroom were added and the sanctuary enlarged.

  • 1962 -   Narthex, nursery, two restrooms, and three additional classrooms were added. (PHOTO)

  • 1970s - Zoar sponsored several Vietnamese and Laotian families.

  • 1988 - Zoar became part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America after the merger of the American Lutheran Church (with which Zoar was affiliated), the Lutheran Church of America, and the Associated Evangelical Church.

  • 1998 - Pastor Nick Doversberger was installed in October.

  • 2002 - Zoar embarks on a Capital Fund Appeal to continue and expand its ministry in a new church facility to be built on the current site.

  • 2005 - On Sunday, September 11, the first phase of our new church building was dedicated. It includes classrooms and offices for church staff. We continue to raise funds to complete the second and third phases of our building project.

  • 2005 - Zoar Pre‑school opened its doors in the new building in September 2005. Currently we offer a morning class for 3-year-olds two days per week. For 4-year-olds, we offer a morning and an afternoon class three days per week. Classes have been consistently full so parents who wish to register their children should do so early in the new year.

  • 2010 - Plans are in progress for another Capital Appeal to continue our building project with Phase 2. This building will have the fellowship hall, kitchen facility, and additional office space. It will also serve temporarily as the sanctuary until the actual sanctuary is completed in Phase 3.

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