A Brief Account of the blessings bestowed on Our Savior Lutheran Church, Pagosa Springs, Colorado
1968
In the summer of 1968, Pastor Elmer Bergmann, retired Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Durango, Colorado, was asked if he would instruct the children of Dan Peters of Pagosa Springs, in preparation for confirmation. There being no Lutheran Church in Pagosa. Pastor Bergman was happy to do so. Instead of the family traveling to Durango Pastor offered to come to Pagosa and would also conduct a Lutheran worship service.
1970
Thus a small group of Lutherans were able to worship at least 2 to 3 times a month depending on the weather. The group worshiped in various places including the basement of the Peters home on Main Street, the San Juan Forest Service Rangers house. Dan Peters was a district ranger. From there they moved to various homes of the worshiping Lutherans. The numbers were small but the enthusiasm was obvious. Dan Peters had purchased a small portable pump organ from army surplus. The unit was very portable weighing probably only 30 pounds. Not only did Pastor Bergman lead us in worship but vigorously played the organ and led us in singing. The organ had two straps which were pumped by foot power and required the organist to produce air for the organ. One of the straps broke and Pastor had to pump twice as fast with one foot to get the required sound. The problem was pastor was sitting on a varnished wooden floor which was very slippery. Pastor pumped twice as fast with one foot causing him to slide backwards from the organ. One of the worshipers had to stand behind him and hold him in position to play.
1971 and 1972
The congregation at this time consisted of perhaps four families. We outgrew the basement at the Forest Service home. The Episcopal Church had a house of worship on Lewis Street which wasn’t being used so we rented that. This worked fine but the Mormons were also using it. Our time of worship was 9:00, the Mormons at 11:00. Every once in a while a Mormon family would wander in thinking this was a Mormon service. All was fine until they spotted our altar then they would beat a hasty retreat. It was at this time that we began our Friday morning Bible Breakfast. Many men from other local congregations attended this popular Friday morning study. One of these folks was Ralph; he heard of our wishes to build a church and offered us the property we are presently on.
1976
Our numbers had been increasing, perhaps 10 families. Pastor Bergmann was still willing to come over form Durango on a good weather basis. The Episcopalians were becoming more active thus we Lutherans had to look for other space.
1982
We were growing gradually; it was difficult for Pastor Bergmann to continue to travel back and between Durango and Pagosa. We were encouraged by the district to apply for a Pastor assigned to us by the Synod. In 1982 we applied to the MO Synod and we were blessed to have David Nehrenz as our first Pastor. What a blessing Pastor Nehrenz was. He was young, eager and single. It was easy taking care of the single problem, as he met one of our young ladies in the congregation and they were married within a year of his call to Pagosa. Having had no church to worship in we sought a more permanent facility. Trails Clubhouse was available on Sundays. We rented it and we were most happy with the arrangement. The only problem was if there had been a party or some sort of celebration on Saturday night with beer and other refreshments being served and most likely not cleaned up from the festivities our services reeked of the odor of beer and smoke. On one occasion there had been a big wedding, beer was served in kegs and there was beer residue all over the floor. We actually stuck to the floor as we were moving about the room.
1984
Several members of our approximately 25 families were semi experienced builders, some more than others. We heard of a group of Lutherans who donated their building skills to helping other Lutherans build churches; they were called “Builders for Christ”. They answered our call for help and began our building program in the summer of 1984. Our sanctuary, fellowship hall and offices were built. We moved in. It was wonderful to have our own facilities.
1987
Much of the landscaping you now see on our property was done this summer. Rock was hauled around the property and installed into walls. A big truck with a mounted tree spade (owned by a member) was used to dig up the aspen and spruce trees you see growing around our church. The trees were from a ranch at the base of Wolf Creek pass and dug up and hauled to the church property.
1989
Pastor David Nehrenz accepted a call to Norman, Oklahoma. The congregation voted to call Pastor William Heine from South Dakota. Pastor Heine is married to Melinda and they have four children.
1990
An additional Sunday school wing was built.
1992
The Heine’s wanted a Christian school for their children. A committee was formed, the feasibility of a school was studied and it was decided it would be successful. Our first class consisted of 6 grades and 14 children with Melinda Heine as the teacher.
1993
Construction by members of the congregation was begun on a free standing building with 2 classrooms. The new school year begins with 2 teachers (Melinda Heine and Shirley Fiedler) and 30 students.
1994
Pastor Heine accepted a call to Canada, and we were once again vacant. Pastor Bob Kamrath, who had just retired from the ministry in Texas was in the process of purchasing land and building a home in the area. He consented to serving as vacancy pastor while we were in the process of calling a new pastor.
1995
Richard Bolland is called to be our Pastor and accepts. Pastor Bolland’s wife Linda is a synod graduate teacher and will be teaching in the upper grades. Due to the steady growth of Our Savior another service is added. Worship hours are now 9:00 and 10:45 with Bible Class and Sunday school between services. School then had 8 grades and 30 students. Member builders added two more school rooms to our rapidly growing facilities.
1997
A preschool is established as part of Our Savior Lutheran School’s educational facilities.
1998
With the growth Our Savior was experiencing, additional space was needed. Thus in 1998 a Parish Activity Center (gymnasium) was built along with two additional classrooms, shower rooms, and a commercial kitchen. The Parish Activity Center (PAC) was dedicated in September. Now we needed increased play area where the children can play and not track dirt and mud into the buildings. So we paved the parking lot.
2001
Sanctuary is remodeled. The entrance doors and closets were installed. The squeaky floor was replaced and new carpet was laid. In the nave of the church the floor was raised and tiled. A communion rail was added. The pews were repositioned to focus on the altar. A rock wall was built on the property lined dividing the property from the Pines property. An athletic field was leveled and top soil added and property graded. The PAC building parking lot was extended by the addition of a concrete slab, 125 feet by 60 feet. The slab was striped plus the drive between parking areas was paved. Gravel fill was added south of the PAC building and church parking areas. The ceilings of the two upstairs classrooms in the PAC building were insulated.
2003
Stained glass windows showing the risen Christ were added to the South side of the church. A bell tower and bell were dedicated on the 4th of May. The bell will be rung during the worship services as what has been the tradition in many confessional Lutheran churches. Construction on a new classroom and Sunday school facility was started to be finished by the start of the 2003 school year. Further landscaping and seeding was done on the lawns surrounding the church property.
To be continued....
1968
In the summer of 1968, Pastor Elmer Bergmann, retired Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Durango, Colorado, was asked if he would instruct the children of Dan Peters of Pagosa Springs, in preparation for confirmation. There being no Lutheran Church in Pagosa. Pastor Bergman was happy to do so. Instead of the family traveling to Durango Pastor offered to come to Pagosa and would also conduct a Lutheran worship service.
1970
Thus a small group of Lutherans were able to worship at least 2 to 3 times a month depending on the weather. The group worshiped in various places including the basement of the Peters home on Main Street, the San Juan Forest Service Rangers house. Dan Peters was a district ranger. From there they moved to various homes of the worshiping Lutherans. The numbers were small but the enthusiasm was obvious. Dan Peters had purchased a small portable pump organ from army surplus. The unit was very portable weighing probably only 30 pounds. Not only did Pastor Bergman lead us in worship but vigorously played the organ and led us in singing. The organ had two straps which were pumped by foot power and required the organist to produce air for the organ. One of the straps broke and Pastor had to pump twice as fast with one foot to get the required sound. The problem was pastor was sitting on a varnished wooden floor which was very slippery. Pastor pumped twice as fast with one foot causing him to slide backwards from the organ. One of the worshipers had to stand behind him and hold him in position to play.
1971 and 1972
The congregation at this time consisted of perhaps four families. We outgrew the basement at the Forest Service home. The Episcopal Church had a house of worship on Lewis Street which wasn’t being used so we rented that. This worked fine but the Mormons were also using it. Our time of worship was 9:00, the Mormons at 11:00. Every once in a while a Mormon family would wander in thinking this was a Mormon service. All was fine until they spotted our altar then they would beat a hasty retreat. It was at this time that we began our Friday morning Bible Breakfast. Many men from other local congregations attended this popular Friday morning study. One of these folks was Ralph; he heard of our wishes to build a church and offered us the property we are presently on.
1976
Our numbers had been increasing, perhaps 10 families. Pastor Bergmann was still willing to come over form Durango on a good weather basis. The Episcopalians were becoming more active thus we Lutherans had to look for other space.
1982
We were growing gradually; it was difficult for Pastor Bergmann to continue to travel back and between Durango and Pagosa. We were encouraged by the district to apply for a Pastor assigned to us by the Synod. In 1982 we applied to the MO Synod and we were blessed to have David Nehrenz as our first Pastor. What a blessing Pastor Nehrenz was. He was young, eager and single. It was easy taking care of the single problem, as he met one of our young ladies in the congregation and they were married within a year of his call to Pagosa. Having had no church to worship in we sought a more permanent facility. Trails Clubhouse was available on Sundays. We rented it and we were most happy with the arrangement. The only problem was if there had been a party or some sort of celebration on Saturday night with beer and other refreshments being served and most likely not cleaned up from the festivities our services reeked of the odor of beer and smoke. On one occasion there had been a big wedding, beer was served in kegs and there was beer residue all over the floor. We actually stuck to the floor as we were moving about the room.
1984
Several members of our approximately 25 families were semi experienced builders, some more than others. We heard of a group of Lutherans who donated their building skills to helping other Lutherans build churches; they were called “Builders for Christ”. They answered our call for help and began our building program in the summer of 1984. Our sanctuary, fellowship hall and offices were built. We moved in. It was wonderful to have our own facilities.
1987
Much of the landscaping you now see on our property was done this summer. Rock was hauled around the property and installed into walls. A big truck with a mounted tree spade (owned by a member) was used to dig up the aspen and spruce trees you see growing around our church. The trees were from a ranch at the base of Wolf Creek pass and dug up and hauled to the church property.
1989
Pastor David Nehrenz accepted a call to Norman, Oklahoma. The congregation voted to call Pastor William Heine from South Dakota. Pastor Heine is married to Melinda and they have four children.
1990
An additional Sunday school wing was built.
1992
The Heine’s wanted a Christian school for their children. A committee was formed, the feasibility of a school was studied and it was decided it would be successful. Our first class consisted of 6 grades and 14 children with Melinda Heine as the teacher.
1993
Construction by members of the congregation was begun on a free standing building with 2 classrooms. The new school year begins with 2 teachers (Melinda Heine and Shirley Fiedler) and 30 students.
1994
Pastor Heine accepted a call to Canada, and we were once again vacant. Pastor Bob Kamrath, who had just retired from the ministry in Texas was in the process of purchasing land and building a home in the area. He consented to serving as vacancy pastor while we were in the process of calling a new pastor.
1995
Richard Bolland is called to be our Pastor and accepts. Pastor Bolland’s wife Linda is a synod graduate teacher and will be teaching in the upper grades. Due to the steady growth of Our Savior another service is added. Worship hours are now 9:00 and 10:45 with Bible Class and Sunday school between services. School then had 8 grades and 30 students. Member builders added two more school rooms to our rapidly growing facilities.
1997
A preschool is established as part of Our Savior Lutheran School’s educational facilities.
1998
With the growth Our Savior was experiencing, additional space was needed. Thus in 1998 a Parish Activity Center (gymnasium) was built along with two additional classrooms, shower rooms, and a commercial kitchen. The Parish Activity Center (PAC) was dedicated in September. Now we needed increased play area where the children can play and not track dirt and mud into the buildings. So we paved the parking lot.
2001
Sanctuary is remodeled. The entrance doors and closets were installed. The squeaky floor was replaced and new carpet was laid. In the nave of the church the floor was raised and tiled. A communion rail was added. The pews were repositioned to focus on the altar. A rock wall was built on the property lined dividing the property from the Pines property. An athletic field was leveled and top soil added and property graded. The PAC building parking lot was extended by the addition of a concrete slab, 125 feet by 60 feet. The slab was striped plus the drive between parking areas was paved. Gravel fill was added south of the PAC building and church parking areas. The ceilings of the two upstairs classrooms in the PAC building were insulated.
2003
Stained glass windows showing the risen Christ were added to the South side of the church. A bell tower and bell were dedicated on the 4th of May. The bell will be rung during the worship services as what has been the tradition in many confessional Lutheran churches. Construction on a new classroom and Sunday school facility was started to be finished by the start of the 2003 school year. Further landscaping and seeding was done on the lawns surrounding the church property.
To be continued....
