“Loving - Living - Serving - Giving - In God’s Name”

holy trinity church history

History of Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1952, and the first site for the church was at 2100 Roswell Road, Marietta (in the shadow of the “Big Chicken”). Services were held in a cottage on this property until a Chapel was completed, and a parsonage was purchased nearby for the first pastor and his family. In 1953, the first Christian Kindergarten in Marietta was organized and began operation in the cottage adjacent to the Chapel, and continued until 1976.

Over a period of 5 years, the Roswell Road property was sold, and property purchased on Sandy Plains Road. Our first Worship service at the Sandy Plains location was held on Reformation Sunday, 1980, with the official dedication of the new facility in February, 1981. During the time of construction, we had our Worship services at Kincaid Elementary School. In 1982, an educational annex was constructed. In 1990, an all-purpose building was completed for classrooms, choirs, administration and storage.

In 2022, Holy Trinity celebrated 70 years of ministry and outreach in the community.

Our Mission Statement: “Loving, Living, Serving, Giving, All In God’s Name.”

History of the Holy Trinity Pipe Organ

The Holtkamp/Parkey Organ at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church has a long history. The organ was first owned by First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, Missouri. It was originally built in 1892 by Ferrand & Votey Organ Company. The core of the organ then received new pipe which, was added by Votteler-Holtkamp 1929. In 1955, a new pneumatic console and several ranks wereadded by the Kilgen Organ Company.

The organ was purchased from First & Calvary Presbyterian Church in 1978 for $2,500 by 3 Holy Trinity church members. It was dedication on Reformation Sunday, 1980 and it first sounded on that Christmas Eve. In 1995, a multi-phase renewal was formulated and implemented with a fund raiser in April of 1999.

There are now a total of 41 ranks with 49 stops. The moveable console has keyboards with tracker touch. The oak shell is finished in clear stain with zebra wood draw knobs and coupler tabs. MIDI record and playback is available and a sound module provides digital orchestral voices. The instrument, is centered on the front axis of the room, and tonally balanced. It is American Classic in design and sound with a nod to romantic and English tones in the accompanying divisions. Over all it is well-suited to the liturgical and concert needs of this congregation. Much appreciation is expressed to Ralph Daniel, organ curator, the team of craftsmen at Parkey Organ Builders and to the members of Holy Trinity for their support of this project. The organ dedication at Holy Trinity was on Reformation Sunday, 1980 and it first sounded on Christmas Eve that same year.

History of the Holy Trinity Suspended Cross

A dominant symbol for Lutherans is the cross. Sometimes this can be a crucifix (a cross with Christ on it, symbolizing Jesus' sacrifice for us), but it is often an empty cross (symbolizing Jesus' resurrection). At one time, the only cross in the sanctuary at Holy Trinity was a small cross that was carried in by an acolyte. George McCoy, a member of the Holy Trinity Council, often mused that Holy Trinity needed a more prominent symbol. In early 1993, during a Property Committee meeting, Sam Miller, the committee chairman mentioned that the church council was discussing the possibility of obtaining a large cross for the sanctuary. Based upon Sam’s information, a couple of quotes had been obtained which ran between $8,000 - $10,000. George thought that was excessive for such a simple undertaking. George discussed the possibility of building the cross himself with his wife, Gerda, even though at the time, George was in the midst of remodeling Gerda’s kitchen. Gerda agreed that George suspend her project until the Cross was finished. It was then that George drew up his concept of a “Suspended Cross” for Holy Trinity. At the next meeting of the Property Committee, George presented his “Suspended Cross” concept to the committee. The council unanimously approved the project and George began construction of the cross.

Materials for the cross were purchased in Mayodan, NC from a company which specializes in a variety of hardwoods. The cross is a mix of red oak and black walnut. The wood was finished in George’s home shop using a planer. The cross is composed of 3/4” boards of red oak and black walnut in various lengths placed side by side, glued and screwed together. After George completed the lamination process of the individual pieces, (the cross arm and the upright), John Lundborg, who was also on the property committee, helped George run the individual pieces through the planer.

After final assembly and finishing, the property committee agreed on a date to install the cross. John Lundborg came to the McCoy house with his small pickup and appropriate padding, and together George & John succeeded in hauling the cross to the church, where members of the property committee and others hung the cross using a combination of pulleys, ropes and brute strength. Gerda and George McCoy donated the cross to Holy Trinity and it was dedicated on Reformation Sunday, 1993.

History of the Lutheran Faith

MARTIN LUTHER - Those that identify with Luther's teachings are called Lutherans.

Martin Luther (10 November 1483 - 18 February 1546) changed the course of Western civilization by initiating the Protestant Reformation. As a priest and theology professor, he confronted indulgence salesmen with his The Ninety-Five Theses in 1517.

Luther strongly disputed their claim that freedom from God's punishment of sin could be purchased with money. His refusal to retract all of his writings at the demand of Pope Leo X in 1520 and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Edict of Worms meeting in 1521 resulted in his excommunication by the pope and condemnation as an outlaw by the emperor.

Luther taught that salvation is not form good works, but a free gift of God, received only by grace through faith in Jesus as redeemer from sin. His theology challenged the authority of the pope of the Roman Catholic Church by teaching that the Bible is the only source of divinely revealed knowledge and opposed sacerdotal by considering all baptized Christians to be a holy priesthood. Those that identify with Luther's teachings are called Lutherans.

His translation of the Bible into the language of the people (instead of Latin) made it more accessible, causing a tremendous impact on the church and on German culture. It fostered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation into English of the King James Bible. His hymns inspired the development of singing in churches. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage, allowing Protestant priests to marry.

Luther wrote, "The common people knowing nothing at all of Christian doctrine and unfortunately many pastors are well-nigh unskilled and incapable of teaching." He devised a method of imparting the basics of Christianity to the congregations. In 1529, he wrote the Large Catechism, a manual for pastors and teachers, as well as a synopsis, the Small Catechism, to be memorized by the people themselves. The catechisms provide easy- to-understand instructional and devotional material on the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, baptism, and the Lord's Supper. Luther incorporated questions and answers in the catechism, so that the basics of Christian faith would not just be learned by rote, "the way monkeys do it", but understood. The Small Catechism has earned a reputation as a model of clear religious teaching. It remains in use today, along with Luther's hymns and his translation of the Bible.

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