Church History

 

History of Our Church

 

Advent Lutheran Church, founded in 1966, has a rich history.  Advent started as a mission church meeting in a local bank building with 40 charter members.  

 

The original section of the church building, however, was not built until 1968 and today houses our  offices, library, nursery and classrooms.  The  current worship center was built in 1975.  The newest section of the building which contains the Family Life Center, kitchen and additional classrooms was completed in 2001. 

 

Our current membership is about 140 local households totaling about 460 baptized members.  We are privileged to have a very multi generational congregation, with a good representation of all age groups. .

 

History of the ELCA

 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was formed in 1988. This new church was formed from three separate and well-established North American church bodies:

• The American Lutheran Church
• The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, and
• The Lutheran Church in America.

Beginning January 1, 1988, these churches, with shared beliefs and missions, officially formed the ELCA. Two decades later, this energized church is composed of 4.8 million members and nearly 10,500 congregations across the U.S. and Caribbean. Today, the ELCA reflects the rich and diverse heritage of the people it serves.

 

But to understand our heritage fully, one must trace our roots back through the mid-17th century, when early Lutherans came to America from Europe, settling in the Virgin Islands and the area that is now known as New York. Even before that, Martin Luther sought reform for the church in the 16th century, laying the framework for our beliefs.

Read about Lutheran Roots in America on the ELCA website >>

 

Go to our own What is the ELCA page >>