Golden milestone: Methodists celebrate 50th year on Fern Ridge

By Mary Owen

Stayton United Methodist Church celebrates 50 years in its Fern Ridge Road facility this month.

“When we moved to Stayton in 1958, we attended church on Virginia Street, built in 1895,” said Dave Karr, a member since before the “new” church was built five decades ago. “We were all used to that, but it was on a single city lot. There was no room to do anything there, so we decided it was time to spread our wings.”

The congregation bought the small acreage on Fern Ridge Road, hired an architect, and in the spring of 1962, started to build.

“The congregation did lots of volunteer work – sheeting, roofing, hammering,” Karr said.

“On Oct. 12 came the ‘big blow,’ a Columbus Day storm that damaged the old building. It made it easy for anybody who didn’t want to leave the old building, because it had been part of life for so long, to move on.”

The group decided to build Sunday School rooms and a large multi-purpose to use as a church until funds were raised to take on the most expensive undertaking, a sanctuary, Karr said.

“Our first Sunday there was the Sunday before Christmas in 1962,” he said. “That was quite an occasion. We had our regular service and an open house with tours all afternoon.”
Typical of Oregon in December, it rained at the event.

“A couple of us were out there pushing cars that got stuck in the parking lot,” Karr said.

For the next few decades, the facility served the small congregation. The multi-purpose room hosted United Methodist Women fundraisers, weddings, funerals, even community meetings.

But as the congregation grew, the facility became crowded, and in 2005, the sanctuary and administrative wing of the church were completed, with the mortgage to be paid off early in 2013.

“This is not just a building,” Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen said. “It represents the congregation’s commitment to welcome people and help them grow spiritually.”

The additional space increased the congregation’s ability to “showing God’s love by serving others,” she said.

“Members from our congregation started and continue to serve in the area SLAMMS chapter of Habitat for Humanity,” Kidner-Miesen said.

“Along with GED classes, several English as a Second Language classes meet in our building during the week and are taught by people from our church.”

Proceeds from the annual Fall Bazaar go to help people in the surrounding area and the world, she added.

“Through the Angel Tree program, we support children who have a parent in prison,” she said.

“People from our congregation volunteer in the area schools, support the library, work at and donate to the food bank, give Christmas food baskets to over 30 households, are active in various service organizations, help their neighbors, and serve in many other ways.”

Now that Stayton United Methodist is about to pay off its new wing, members can devote more focus and resources to being a vital spiritual community, Kidner-Miesen said.

“We are here to help people love God, connect to others, and serve,” she said. “We are beginning a three-year plan that will enhance the worship experience, strengthen small groups, and empower service. God has done wonderful things in and through our spiritual community. I look forward to seeing what we and God will do in the future.”

Stayton United Methodist will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Fern Ridge Road by honoring people who have been members since its beginnings there during the 10 a.m. worship service on Sunday, Dec. 30.

These members include: Delores Belden, Don and Helen Carey, Myrna Headrick, Hilda Lee, Nina Leffler, Merle and Carolyn Limbeck, Mable Overholts, Betty Spencer, Ralph and Loretta Strohmeyer, and Karr.

Guest speaker will be the Rev. Carol Swanson, retired school teacher and pastor who has lived her entire life in the North Santiam Canyon.

“My kids all grew up in this church,” Karr said. “This preacher we have now is extraordinary. And my wife and I have sung in the choir for most of the time. They came and went over those 50 years, but we made lots of good friends.”