Zoar

The first meeting of Zoar Evangelical Lutheran Church was in 1892. It started small and grew as two other Lutheran congregations merged into Zoar. Those congregations were Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Barlow and Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Yoder.

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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. 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. 

• 1895    The congregation incorporated under Oregon laws on February 17. 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 Cemetery is currently located.

• 1901    On November 11, a Scandinavian‑American Evangelical Lutheran congregation was formed at the Barlow home of Fred Anderson.

• 1905    Lutheran families arriving from the Midwest formed Barlow Lutheran congregation.

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

• 1910    The Barlow Lutheran and Scandinavian congregations joined to create Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.

• 1909    Bethlehem Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran congregation was formed in the Yoder area. {photo}

• 1911    Zoar purchased land on Township Road from Tom Mahlum and moved their church to this site.

• 1917    The Zion Evangelical congregation of Barlow and Zoar joined to become Zoar Evangelical Lutheran Church.

• 1927    Zoar congregation bought its present site at 190 SE 3rd Avenue. {photo}

• 1928    Dedication services were held for Zoar's present church building on October 28.

• 1949    Bethlehem Congregation of Yoder became part of Zoar.

• 1953    Five classroom were added and the sanctuary enlarged.

• 1962    Narthex, nursery, two restrooms, and three additional classrooms were added.

• 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 build 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.