25 Years Together in Christ
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
God’s work. Our hands.
25th Anniversary of the ELCA
Join us on Rally Day, September 8, we will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the ELCA in Sunday School, and after worship, we will have a cake reception. One of the themes is “God’s work. Our hands.”
Reflections from Pastor Ingrid
Twenty five years ago, when the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was birthed, I was attending Arizona State University, pledging a fraternity, working on a bachelor’s degree in Business, and not giving church or God much thought at all. Note to current college students: You never know where you’ll be in 25 years!
Fast forward a few years to New Jersey: After moving here for work and feeling lonely, I stumbled into an ELCA congregation and was immediately engaged in worship, especially by the preaching of a scandalously gracious God that I hadn’t ever experienced. Fast forward a few more years to seminary: I began to learn why and how to lead the worship that had so profoundly reached me.
Another 10 years forward, now in a place called Moorestown: The congregation welcomed the newest ELCA Lutheran hymnal in 2006, a little gem, which both treasures the old but insists on the new. It provides a blueprint for worship, through which, namely, the Word & Sacraments, God puts to death the old sinner and raises up the new creation-in and among us. God’s been up to this in the ELCA for 25 years, in its predecessor bodies for 250 years and among Christians for 2000 years. ”Always Being Made New.” Thanks be to God.
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Because we are a church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work. We work every day to welcome our neighbors and make our community a better place. We would love to know how this is already happening through you. Please email Kim or Pastor with some of the ways that you welcome neighbors and make your community a better place.