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Holy Trinity's church bell was cast in
Amsterdam in 1753. |
Our church had its beginnings, as in
many localities where early settlers were German, with the union of the
Lutheran and Reformed churches. We began according to the oldest church
record book, "in the year of our Redeemer Jesus Christ 1777."
Together we built a union school house near the site of the old
Reformed Cemetery. The following account was written in our record: "Both
the above named congregations have in the above named year united together
to build a good schoolhouse to have their children instructed in the word
and grace of God! Also, on certain days, to hold public worship in it, as
well as reading of sermons on Sunday by the school teacher, or other
religious books by a person who is a member of one of the congregations;
also at certain times to preach in it by certain ministers of the honorable
Reform Classes and Ministerium who pay a visit and also attend to the
sacrament until either congregation is in good condition to build a
comfortable church."
The following is a time line of historical events in our church:
· April 4, 1786, The Supreme Executive
Council grants Jacob Keefer a tract of land in trust for Calvinistic and
Lutheran Churches.
· In 1800 the first Lutheran church is built. It was a two-story log
building with a balcony on three sides.
· In 1808 Jacob Fisher, Jacob Keffer and others emigrate to Sherwood,
Canada, and establish a Lutheran church, a child of our church. However, not
the last, for a number of the Lutheran churches in this area are offspring
of our congregation.
· Janaury 1, 1825, the Rev. Mr. Criegler and John Fletcher, with a few
other persons, organized a Sunday School in our church. It was the first
Sunday School of any denomination in Somerset County. Mr. Peter Lane was the
first superintendent.
· Mr. Fletcher also bequeathed the sum of $2,140 to the Sunday School,
the interest of which is to purchase Bibles, New Testaments and sacred
literature for the Sunday School. To this date we continue to provide Bibles
for our youth attending Sunday School through this fund.
· From 1844-1846 and 1864-1872: Berlin was pastored by a Rev. Jess
Wincoff, "a man of scholarly attainments, deep piety, and fervent zeal for
the cause of Christ." Through his influence a number of young men prepared
for gospel ministry: the Revs. B.B. Collins, W.E. Fisher, D.D., and John
Brubaker, D.D.
· In 1853 a second church building was erected where the Cedar Heights
Apartments are today. The total cost of this was $2,145.
· During the pastorate of Rev. A.M. Strauss [1872-1875] the north wing
of the Sunday School was erected.
· In 1876 the Somerset County Lutheran Sunday School Association was
founded in the Berlin Church. Rev. Mr. Poffenberger was involved in
developing that association.
· In 1880 the Synodical Women's Home and Foreign Mission Society was
organized. That synodical meeting was hosted by our church in Berlin.
· On June 8, 1889, the cornerstone of our present church building was
laid, and the church was dedicated on June 29, 1890. The church was
dedicated free of debt, although the cost was $13,630.61.
· On June 22, 1893, through the resolution adopted at a congregational
meeting, the congregation decided to become a separate pastorate.
· From 1904-1905 the "old" parsonage opposite the former high school
was sold and a "new" parsonage was built on Main Street at a cost of $3,000.
· During the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Patterson [1899-1906], the first
pipe organ was installed in the church.
· In the summer of 1907, an addition of twenty-five feet was built to
the Sunday School room, at a cost of $2,000.
· In the summer of 1916, another addition to the Sunday School room
was built as the enrollment of Sunday School was 425 and growing.
· In 1919 the Rev. Mr. C.P. Bastian became pastor and served for 23
years until 1942. He was a well loved and well respected pastor.
· In 1933 the Altar was dedicated in memory of Ellen Coleman Hauger by
her husband, Wes Hauger.
· A youth choir was organized and the first Christmas Eve candlelight
service was held in 1942.
· During World War II, 93 men and women from the congregation served
our country in various branches of the armed services. Two young men were
killed in World War II: Eugene G. Coleman died in action on Luzon on March
2, 1945, and J. Robert Walker lost his life over Paris, France, on July 14,
1943.
· Another of our members was also killed during the Korean Conflict:
Cecil C. Norris was killed in action in Korea on January 4, 1951.
· In the fall of 1951, a young married couples class was formed and
became known as the Fidelis Class.
· In 1952 the youth began acolyting.
· During the pastorate of Rev. Walter Brandau [1959-1967], the scout
troops were begun, a community kindergarten was started, and many other
modifications were done to the building as well.
· In 1967, at the beginning of Rev. Robert A. Miller's pastorate
[1967-1973], the coal furnace was replaced with a gas furnace.
· In 1968, 42 members from St. Matthew's in Roxbury were welcomed into
our congregation.
· In the spring of 1969, under the leadership of Mr. Ernest Landis,
Chairman of the Property Committee, work began on excavating beneath the
main auditorium of the Church. Mr. Landis personally drew up the plans and
supervised the work for five classrooms as well as a secretary and pastor's
office. This was a very welcomed addition to our church.
· During the pastorate of Rev. George Buechner [1973-1976], from May
4-8, 1975, the 150th anniversary of the Sunday School was celebrated with
three elaborate programs.
· Our church's 200th anniversary was celebrated during the pastorate
of Rev. Kenneth Swanson [1976-1986] with special events throughout the year.
· Rev. Melvin Kirk Jr. began his pastorate in 1987. A year later we
purchased the Western Auto Store and transformed it into offices, Sunday
School rooms and a youth room. We renamed it Luther Haus.
· In 1989 a set of needlepoint paraments were started under the
supervision of Mr. John O. Ream Jr. and our needlepoint group, and were
dedicated in 1992 to enrich our worship life.
· On October 15, 1989, the 100th anniversary of the laying of the
cornerstone was commemorated.
· In 1990 on the Fourth Sunday of Advent a tradition was started to
have an evening communion service at Wayne and Nancy Schrock's barn. The
"Barn Service" has grown in popularity over the years.
· In 1991 we began a lay Homebound Communion program. In this program
lay members were trained by the pastor to take communion to our homebound
members. This has allowed us to bring communion to each of our homebound
members on a monthly basis.
· In 1993, through the generous bequest of Harold Croner, several
octaves of hand bells were purchased and three bell choirs have since been
developed.
· In 1994 we began organizing a Colonial Liturgy, which we hold in
conjunction with the Berlin Whiskey Rebellion Celebration.
· In 1998 Rev. Glen Foster was called to be our Associate Pastor,
along with his duties as pastor of the White Oak and Garrett charges.
· In 2002 the 225th anniversary of the church was celebrated with a
special church service with Bishop Gregory Pile as celebrant, a combined
picnic with Trinity United Church of Christ (the former Reformed church), a
"homecoming" service, a wooden Cat's Meow replica of the church, and a
congregational picture.
· In September 2004 Rev. Dr. John W. Harmon was called to pastor the
congregation. In January 2005 he instituted the Alpha program. During 2005
the church sanctuary also underwent an extensive refurbishing. (Click here
for photos of the Sanctuary Project)
· In 2006 the church will celebrate the 182nd anniversary of its
Sunday School.
· On October 15, 2006, the congregation celebrated Pastor
Harmon's 30th anniversary of his ordination with a special Pastor
Appreciation Sunday.
· The membership of our church according to the 2004 records is as
follows: 730 baptized members; 593 confirmed members; 334 communing members.
Average attendance at worship is 150 and average attendance at Sunday School
is 90.
In our history, four men have entered the Gospel Ministry. The are:
Rev. B.B. Collins, Rev. John Brubaker, Rev. W.E. Fisher, and Rev. Robert
Suder. It is of interest to note that the tune of two hymns in the Common
Service Book were composed by Rev. Fisher. We are also fortunate to have two
parish workers from our congregation. They are Shirley [Mason] Martin and
Eleanor [Dively] Morra.
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