Church History...
Trinity Lutheran Church of Cyrus was officially organized on October 16,
1968, although incorporation papers were not filed until November 1968 and its first
joined worship service and congregational meeting were not until January 18, 1969.
Trinity was formed by the merger of three older congregations -- St. Petri Free Lutheran
(formed 1883), Scandia Free Lutheran (formed 1869), and Cyrus Lutheran (formed 1884 and
joined by Scandia Lutheran (ELC) in 1953). From the time of its merger until
December 1971, the people worshiped at two locations -- Trinity East (the former Cyrus
Lutheran Church) and Trinity West (the former St. Petri Lutheran Church). In January
of 1972, all worship services were moved to the Trinity East site and the former St. Petri
Lutheran Church became a youth center and eventually a senior citizen center until it was
dismantled in 1982.
In January of 1972 Trinity Lutheran became one of the first Lutheran congregations in the
area to have early communion for fifth graders.
An addition to the Sunday School class rooms and a narthex on the front of the church were
dedicated on August 4, 1975. The mortgage for this addition was burned on July 19,
1981.
The Lutheran Book of Worship (the green hymnal) was introduced to the congregation
in October 1978 and one year later, in October of 1979, the permanent use of lay readers
in the worship service was instituted. New paraments, sewn by members of the
congregation and utilizing traditional forms of stitchery, began to be made in 1982 and a
new organ was dedicated in January of 1984.
It was voted on January 18, 1987, to approve the church merger which formed the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). This merger was finalized with the
ratification of a new constitution on January 15, 1989.
1989 saw a new public address system installed and the congregation vary active in the All
Cyrus School Reunion services held on June 18th.
In the fall of 1990, the congregation installed a closed circuit television system for the
use of those unable to climb steps and began sponsorship of missionaries Mark and Linda
Jacobson who minister in Arusha, Tanzania. Furthermore they raised over $14,500 for
the Luther Crest Bible Camp building project and over $1,320 for a Lutheran Social
Services appeal. In May 1992, the congregation voted to install a full size elevator
and a building addition to make the congregation more handicap accessible.
From the time of its organization, Trinity Lutheran has had an active Sunday School and
adult education program as well as an active Luther League. In 1976, '79, '82, '85,
'88, '91, '94, '97, large delegations of senior high youth attended national youth
gatherings in New Orleans, Kansas City, San Antonio, Denver, and Dallas. The Trinity
Lutheran women, officially organized on December 9, 1968, have regular Bible studies and
"Do Days" in which quilts, soap, layettes, and various other items are made for
world missions. Since October of 1969 the women of the church have also been
involved in a yearly Bazaar in which most of the proceeds go to missions outside the local
congregation.
Soli Deo Gloria