| Installation: Trinity Lutheran |
Central Oregon Loves Rodgers!
Just blocks away from St. Francis of Assisi’s new Rodgers Pipe Combination Organ is Trinity Lutheran Church. Trinity is a growing Lutheran congregation on a 5-acre site. 
Currently home of the largest Christian school in the area with over 300 students enrolled, funds for building expansion have been focused on dual-purpose structures. Thus the “Jubilation Center” aka multi-purpose gymnasium was the new home for their Rodgers organ.
Our challenge was that the space was used for many different school events and sports classes during the week and only set-up for church services on the weekends. The organ had to be moved into a storage facility during the week. Also the audio system had to be hung in such a way to be out of the way of flying basket and volley balls. Also the instrument had to be designed so that weekly connection and disconnection to the audio system could be done by lay people who helped with set-up and take-down of chairs and staging elements. To meet these needs, George Kirkwood engineered a military style “twist” plug that made the organ a simple task to connect/disconnect and could be done by anyone. Speakers were hung by aircraft cable from the steel structures supporting the roof, high over the activities below. The instrument has added a wonderful “familiar” sound to the worship service and added flexibility through the orchestral sounds found in the organs specifications. It also has the flexibility through its MIDI
implementation to be used in the most contemporary of worship styles.
When the new sanctuary is built in the future the church will be able to add windblown pipes if they choose. All Rodgers consoles are pipe compatible.
Carol Podwils, Trinities’ Music Director and Organist, has become a big Rodgers supporter/expert, playing her new instrument weekly at church, at the Lutheran Education Conference in Seaside these past few years, as well at the recent LWML Convention in Redmond, OR.
Other newer installations in Central Oregon include Zion Lutheran Church and St. Thomas Catholic Church in Redmond.
Let us show you what a difference a new organ can make in your worship service. Now is a great time to start planning for the fall.
For more information about this installation, or how we could help your school and/or church make the right decision contact marketing@stephensonassoc.com.