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First Steps in the Formationof

Salem Mennonite Church

Salem – Shalem – Pax - Peace

1955First discussion of starting a church in Salem

1960January 15 - Eight families met at Bernard and Miriam Showalter’s to discuss starting a fellowship. February – Six families formed a midweek fellowship

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1961 A Year of FirstsSept. - First Pastor,Wilbert J. Nafziger, served from September 1961-1967.

Oct.1- First regularly scheduled servicebasement of Salem’s Johnson Memorial Seventh Day Adventist Church. First church bulletin.

Nov.12 – 43 charter members of Salem Mennonite Church Nov.19 - First communion served

Nov. - Women’s Group organized

Dec. Church Constitution adopted. Became members of Pacific Coast Conf.First wedding of a charter member-Ralph Holderman to Lucille Mullet,Bloomfield,MTInternational Service – Myron Harms Ontario, Canada 1959-60 Newfoundland, Canada 1960-61

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1962Henry Becker called to serve as pastor once a month.

First Church Library opened. Books in collection were all loaned to the library.

International Service –Norm & Phyllis Lind MCC-Jordan-1961-63

Current Events: Cuban Missile Crisis Civil Rights Movement

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1963Purchased 1.4 acres at present locationLeo King, charter member, chosen as Consultant and Architectural Designer.Bernard Showalter chaired the BuildingCommittee. Much volunteer labor used.

May 11-First death of a charter member Gladys (Mrs. Henry) Becker

Oct. 22-Death, Debra Lyn, infant daughter of Dave & Donna Stutzman

Current EventsPresident J.F. Kennedy assassinated

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1964June 10 - Ground-breaking service

July 12 – John & Beulah Fretz and family joined SMC. They met and married in France where both served with MCC after W.W.II, 1945-1947.

International ServiceCarl Newswanger-Newfoundland-1964-66

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1965Feb. 21- First service in new building

October 24 - Building dedicated

June 19 – First wedding in new building- Joanne Hostetler and Leroy Martin

First Summer Vacation Bible School – met in evenings for two weeks

First custodian, Orvan Miller, paid $25.00 per month

Women’s, girls’ and boys’ groups organized and became active; only the women’s group remains functional.

Mar. 3 – Death, Baby girl Hochstetler, (stillborn), to Paul & Ila Hochstetler

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1966May - Church Library organized and opened for use

April – Church Council recommended non-clerical attire for ministry

Sept. 16-18 - First Retreat – Berean S. S. class met at Suttle Lake. Annual retreat tradition evolved to include all adults in 1971, then became the annual family Church-wide Retreat.

Dec. 11 – First Parent-Child Dedication

International ServiceDel and Lee Snyder Nigeria 1965-68Gale & Florence Gingrich-France 1966-68

Current Events Hippie Movement: 66-69

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1967October 1967 – John Heyerly ordained as pastor. He served from October 1967- September 1972.

Spring – First pictorial directory of congregation

1971Church pews purchased – replaced folding chairs

International ServiceMyron & Pat Harms MCC – Botswana 1971-1974Jerry & Sharon Stutzman EMM – Tanzania 1971-1974

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1972July 25 –Death, Giselle Fretz Shank

1973

July 1- John Willems, pastor, 1972-1985He compiled the first Church Newsletter, forerunner of Salemennonews

International ServiceKen & Mabel Snyder & family MCC - Jamaica 1973-19761975Jan. 19 – First mortgage burned

Current Events- Vietnam War ends

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1977June 4 – Groundbreaking service for building addition

Nov. 23- Death, Charles Seiber Kauffman

International ServiceJerry & Sharon Stutzman family EMM – Kenya - 1977-1980

Current Events: President-Jimmy Carter

1978Jan. 22 – Bernice Kauffman was the first woman to serve on Pastoral Council, filling the term of her husband Charles after his death.

June 4 – Groundbreaking for building

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addition. Bernard Showalter was coordinator of the building project.

Series of break-ins during the building project with loss of valuable items.

Aug. 6 – Rick Showalter ordained as minister.

International ServiceAug. 6 – Rick Showalter and his wife, Joyce, commissioned for mission work in Belize.

1979March 25 – First use of new classrooms

July 8 – New addition dedicated

U.S. ServiceRoy & Patty Ratzlaff – MDS-Pike Co., KY; Mobile, AL; & Southern CA. Aug.79-80

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International ServiceKaren Kenagy Perez -MCC-Bolivia, 79-85

1980Dec. 4 - Refugee Ngnon Tran arrived from Vietnam, sponsored for resettlement

Task Force wrote job descriptions for all church offices

November 13 – Death, Beulah Bumstead

Current EventsGorbachev unravels the Soviet System

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1981June 7 - Elmer Yoder licensed as Pastor at Buena Vista Methodist Church in a service at Salem Mennonite Church

Nov. 1- Roger Pierce licensed, he and wife Jan commissioned for ministry

An anonymous gift of $100 bill found in church mailbox. Anonymous gifts of $100 or $200 then found periodicallythrough at least February of 1986. Over $1500 was received in this way. No communication was ever received,the donor was never identified.

Current Events: President-Ronald Reagan

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1982July - Church constitution adopted after revision

Church building shingled

Custodial care attempted on volunteer basis

First organ, small electric – donated

International ServiceRandall & Diane Toews MCC - Upper Volta 1981-84

Gale & Florence Gingrich family MCC – Bangladesh 1982-84

Eunice King Mexico 1981-82

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1983November – First piano purchased for Sanctuary

Dec. 13, Louis Lehman ordained and licensed as hospital chaplain

1984January-April - John Willems granted a 3-mos. Sabbatical.July - John Willems ended his pastorate

Oct. 13-congregation participated in the first Oregon MCC Fall Festival, held at the Polk Co. Fairgrounds in Rickreall

January 13 – Death, Mary Ann Stutzman

International ServiceGale & Florence Gingrich family MCC-Bangladesh 1984-86

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1985 August 23 – Death, Elsie Berkey

International ServiceSandy Smith ELI - China 1985-88

1986Norman Derstine, Interim Pastor, 1986-87Small groups form, begin to meet, primarily on Sunday evenings.

Nov. 23, 25th Anniversary Celebration of Salem Mennonite Church

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1987Ross & Allison CollingwoodCo-Pastors - Aug. 1987-July 1991.

SMC purchased a plaque for the Peace Plaza at Salem Civic center.

Pastoral Elder election changed to affirmation

1988June 5 – Death - Levi Stutzman

International ServiceLance & Frances Loberg family MCC-Kampuchea 1988-89

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1989June 4 - Brenda Yoder licensed –chaplain

October -Video and TV purchased for church activity use

First paid, part time Youth Leaders Jason & Melissa Wolfer

Pastoral Elder discernment process adopted

Current Events Geo. H.W. Bush, President 1989-93

1990International ServiceKaren Kenagy Perez MCC - El Salvador 1990-94

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1991Leo Schlegel, interim pastor Sept. 91-June 92

Learning to Process DifferencesEarly in l991, Marcus Smucker was hired as consultant to help the congregation process our differences prior to calling a new pastor. He continued this work intermittently throughout the year.

June 30-Aug. 13: many members involved in planning and hosting the Mennonite Assembly meeting in Eugene, OR.

Community InvolvementSalem Outreach Shelter- Congregation did once-a-month meal preparation for SOS. Barry & Brenda Bartel initiatedthis project and our involvement continued for several years.

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1992Carl Newswanger, pastor, Autumn 1992-Summer 2003.

Aug. 10-Richard Regier commissioned to serve as pastor of Zion Mennonite Church.

May 17, 1992-House Against Hunger groundbreaking

First Christmas Eve Candlight Service, beginning a tradition.

August 24 – Death, Barbara Chupp

International ServiceJerry & Sharon Stutzman family EMM-Nairobi, Kenya 1992-2000

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1993Summer-Brenda Bartel conducted VBS students in musical Adam’s Apple at closing program.

Fall-Marion Bontrager taught 7-weeks class sessions for regional Mennonite churches at SMC on “Interpreting the Bible from an Anabaptist Perspective”

U.S. ServicePaul & Carolyn Roth - volunteers at Bethel College, Newton, KS. Oct.1993-94

Current EventsBill Clinton Presidency 1993-2001

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1994

July 22 – Death, Monroe Chupp

1995Group of members involved in protesting start of ROTC at North Salem High School (unsuccessful in prevention)

March 25 – Death, Grace Widmer

International ServiceKen & Mabel Snyder MCC - Laos 1995-1996

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1996Feb. 4 - First time morning worship service cancelled due to icy roads

International ServiceJon Newswanger EMM - Moldova 1996-1997Sarah Acosta MCC – Haiti 1996-1999Al & Sara Lind MCC – Brazil 1996-l999

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1998April 2 – Serious burglary, theft of Vida Nueva’s sound equipment as well as our Easter breakfast food.May 2–Juel Yoder-licensed Youth Minister.Summer – Jodi Hostetler, Goshen College, served as our First Ministry Inquiry Program student.

Offerings collected for park developed by the Southeast Keizer Neighborhood Association, matching grant from MMA.

July 28 – Death, Iva F. Snyder

1999Summer – Carl Newswanger on 3-mos. Sabbatical; he explored ways for SMC to become more involved in our community.

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2000June 11-Gilberto Estrada, pastor of Vida Nueva, licensed at SMC as minister in PNMC.

Southeast Keizer Community Center began functioning regularly on Friday evenings.

International ServiceKen & Mabel Snyder MCC Laos 2000-2002Beryl Forrester (Independent) Gambia 2000-present

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2001January-First Ladies’ Bible Study coffee group began meeting

July 15-Juel Yoder ordained for ministry

November 25 – Death, Daniel Widmer

Current Events:Geo. W. Bush presidency9/11 Terrorist AttacksAnimals clonedU.S. at war with Afghanistan 2001-present

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2002SMC joined Mennonite Churches nationwide in Affirmation of Faithas Mennonite Church and General Conference combined to become Mennonite Church USA.

2003Sept. 28 - Jack Knox licensed as pastor

Oct. 12 - First Peace Cabinet formed

June 13 – Death, Tobe YoderJuly 19 – Death, Orrin Berg

2003-2009 Iraq War

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2005Jennifer Gingerich Jan. 2005 – Aug. 2008 Youth Minister and Outreach Coordinator, SEKCC, both half-time positions.

Spring-Telephone audio connection set up for use by home-bound members.

April-First SEKCC Homework Club-Tutoring students from Weddle Elem.

Oct. 31 – Death, Carolyn Hill

U.S. Service Lindsay Martin MVS - San Francisco 2005-06International Service Ben Handrich SALT – Jamaica 2005-06 Jon & Shawn Newswanger MMN -North Ireland 2005-06

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2006Aug. 27-Jack Knox ordained as pastor

Summer-Gemma Patton, Ministry Inquiry Program student

Feb. 7 – Dedication of new organ acquired from former Dallas MB Church

March 5 – First Senior Lunch.Lunch at McGrath’s Restaurant after church first Sunday of the month.

March 9 – Death, Dale RussellMarch 11 – Death, David Roth August 9 – Death, John Fretz

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2007Fall & Spring-Pastor Jack Knox took his Sabbatical time in various intervals rather than at one uninterrupted time. One such period he and wife Linda served with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Colombia.

Nov. 25- Birth, twin daughters, Eliza Mae and Adie Lee to Ryan & Melissa Nisley. First birth of twins at SMC.

International ServiceJack and Linda Knox CPT Colombia

Global financial crisis & recession begins

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2008August 8 - Joseph Penner named Youth Leader and SEKCC Coordinator. He served until June 2011.

Jennifer Gingerich left to attend Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, IN.

September 20 – Death, Caleb Heppner

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2009May 24- Dedication of the Pearl River piano donated by Bonnie Heppner in memory of her husband, Caleb.

Summer-Community Garden planted

July 26-Eric Martin licensed as chaplain for Mennonite Village, Albany, Oregon

Aug 2- Jacob Brubaker & Josiah Dalke commissioned for service in Europe.

July 11 – Death, Bernice Kauffman Yoder

International ServiceJacob Brubaker and Josiah Dalke MCC/Intermenno Europe 2009-2010

Barack Obama becomes first African-American U.S. President

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2010Feb. 28-Dedication of comforters and relief kits for Haiti

June-Jack Knox participated in the Migrant Trail Walk

Summer-Audrey Engle, served us as Ministry Inquiry Student

Dec. 29 – Death, Barbara Burkey

U.S. and International ServiceKen & Mabel Snyder & Norm & Phyl Lind MDS - SamoaNathan Yoder, MVS - San Miguel School, Chicago, IL Richie Aguirre MVS - Fuller Center, Americas, GAKaari Toren - YWAM

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2011Mar. 6, May 22, & June 19-Dwelling in the Word exercise in Worship Services April 10-Hosted Rockway Choir, Ontario, Canada

Peace Cabinet sponsors several movies & special speakers

Co-hosted PNMC Annual Meeting with Western Mennonite Congregation. Conference held at WMS. Guest speaker: Jack Suderman

Collected school supplies for Mathare Menno Kids Academy in Nairobi, Kenya which were delivered by Julie Graber.

Summer Peace Reading Program

Average Sunday morning attendance: 106

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Facing the Future

Trusting in

God’s

Faithfulness