06/01/2023
Today, June 1, 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of Trinity Lutheran Church formally organizing and adopting a constitution. In honor of TLC’s 40th anniversary in 1993, charter members Lavern Beith and Vivian Looney recounted the following history:
The History of Our Trinity Lutheran Church
Many Lutherans came to Chowchilla and found no Lutheran Church so they became a member of a local church. However, some did go to the Lutheran Church in Merced. In fact, John Wolfshorndl was confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Merced and was also a charter member. Later on, other families joined the Wolfshorndls in worshipping at St. Paul Lutheran. The pastor was GW Hoffman. Pastor Hoffman, with the consent of the Merced parish, agreed to start a mission in Chowchilla. The first meeting was in the Odd Fellows Hall on March 2, 1952 at 8:30 am with eight families attending. These 27 adults and children also attended their first Sunday School class in Chowchilla.
Soon after their first services a church building owned by the Brethren Church became available for sale. The mission board made it possible for the people to buy the church property at the corner of Ninth and Trinity. On April 20, 1952, the group held their first worship service in their own building. The church didn’t have an altar so Laverne Beith and Genevieve Seifert transformed a simple kitchen table into an altar with the use of thumbtacks and monks cloth. In less than a month Pastor Hoffman officiated at the first baptism. On May 11, 1952 Roger Wolfshorndl was taken forward for the sacrament of Holy Baptism.
Although the group was not organized officially, the first business meeting was held on October 22, 1952. The selected temporary officers were: President, Charles Beith, Secretary, John Wolfshorndl; Treasurer, Ewald Seifert. These men continued in office through 1954.
In November 1952 the voters adopted the name “Trinity Lutheran Church”. The women of the church also met in November 1952 and organized the Ladies Guild.
On June 1, 1953 the congregation formally organized and adopted a constitution.
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A few of our charter members at TLC’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, August 2003. (L-R) Vivian Looney, Glenda Wolfshorndl, Elaine Crocker, and Lavern Beith.
