Old Memories
Pastor Doring Served from 1959 until 2012
The Lutheran Church of Our Savior celebrated the retirement of its pastor of the last 54 years, Arthur R. Doring, Sunday, on Dec. 2, at Perona Farms in Andover. The celebration began with the 10:30 a.m. worship service followed immediately by a special fellowship hour concluded with a dinner at Perona Farms.Doring was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of Arthur and Marie Doring. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan in 1950; Concordia College, Bronxville, N.Y., in 1953; and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1958. He was ordained into the holy ministry at his home congregation, St. Peter Lutheran Church, Brooklyn N.Y., July 13, 1958.
Doring married Lois Ruth Prokopy Aug. 2, 1958, at Zion Lutheran Church in Manchester, Conn. The Lord blessed them with two children: Lisa Marie and David Paul. Lisa is married to Jon Baermann and they have four children: Sarah, Anna, Micah and Kaethe. David married Suelyn Trimmer and they have two sons: Griffin and Jackson.
Upon graduation from the Seminary in 1958, Doring received a "call" from the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, to establish a new congregation in the Stanhope-Hopatcong area.
After extensive canvassing, the first service was held Feb. 22, 1959, and a congregation was established. Services were held in the River Styx School in Hopatcong followed by another temporary location at the American Legion Hall in Stanhope. Easter Sunrise Services and summer services also were held at the Ledgewood Drive-in Theater. The dedication of The Lutheran Church of Our Savior and education facilities was held June 9, 1968.
Doring has served on a number of committees and boards throughout the years including Lutheran Social Ministry-NJ, Ministry of Hope, adviser to the New Jersey district Youth Board and Lutheran Woman's Missionary League. He has served on the New Jersey District Evangelism Outreach and Finance Committees and was circuit counselor and district vice president. Under the impetus and organization of wife Lois Doring, Our Savior congregation began its Christian Nursery School in 1971 with Lois as director/teacher.
The Reverend Arthur R. Doring entered his heavenly home on January 26, 2021 at the age of 88. He was born on August 21, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY,
Daniel S. Merz 2016 - 2020
Pastor Daniel Merz was selected by God through the call ceremony in St. Louis Missouri on Tuesday April 26, 2016. Daniel Merz and his wife Deanna are from Seattle, WA , have been married 4 years and have 1 child , Axel (2). Dan enjoys tennis, golf, camping, hiking and board games. Deanna enjoys singing, swimming, and hiking. In Daniel's own words, " We are natives of the Pacific Northwest, having met in the choir at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. We both earned degrees in music, studying vocal performance. Deanna is also a talented piano and voice teacher with a degree in secondary education. We enjoy hiking, camping, boating, Frisbee, and puddle jumping…”
Pastor Daniel S. Merz was ordained and installed as Pastor of The Lutheran Church of Our Savior on Saturday, June 18th, 2016, and preached his first sermon the following day on Father's Day, June 19th, 2016. After four years he accepted a call to Emmaus Lutheran Church in Livingston, Montana. He preached his last sermon on August 8, 2020 and moved with wife, Deanna and their three children, Axel, Titus and Cecilia to be closer to the west coast.