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In April 1977, the Reverend John Braund (of Redmond) led Sunday evening services for the soon-to-be charter members that met at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Prineville. The SDA rented their church building for $25.00 a month for weekly services. On Memorial Day weekend (1977), the first organizational meeting was held. Subsequent meetings and Sunday evening worship services were held with the hope of finding an organizing minister by the fall of 1977.
On August 14, 1977, the Reverend Henry “Hank” Hartman was called to serve as an organizing part-time pastor. The Rev. Hartman lived in Salem, Oregon and commuted to Prineville on weekends. He specialized in working with congregations who wanted to organize their own Presbyterian Church.
Morning services led by Rev. Hartman and Sunday School classes started on September 11, 1977 for 20-30 families. An adult sharing and learning time was held on Sunday evenings.
The church celebrated its official organization under the direction of Rev. Hartman on November 13, 1977. Prineville United Presbyterian Church was now an official Presbyterian Church.
The session sought assistance from the Presbytery to receive aid toward supporting this budget. The Presbytery supplemented the pastor’s housing allowance to help with the budget needs. The Reverend Hank Hartman left Prineville within a year after its organization to help a Presbyterian congregation in Vancouver, Washington get started (Click to Continue).
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