Thirty years is a short time for history, a long time for
marriage but, apparently, just the right time for a church. Morgan
Hill
’s Advent Lutheran Church celebrated its 30th anniversary on
Sunday, with a time to remember the past and think about the
future.
Thirty years is a short time for history, a long time for marriage but, apparently, just the right time for a church.
Morgan Hill’s Advent Lutheran Church celebrated its 30th anniversary on Sunday, with a time to remember the past and think about the future.
“It was a wonderful celebration of 30 years,” said Pastor Anita Warner.
The day started with two worship services in the three-year-old sanctuary on Murphy Avenue, followed by a lunch that, Warner said, was not the potluck so typical of church events.
“It was a real party,” Warner said with no one having to stand over a hot stove.
While Advent’s regular church services are complemented by both children’s and chancel choirs and instrumentalists performing along with the liturgy, Sunday’s celebration included more music than usual with even more singing and playing. Warner said the instrumental group contains piano, trumpet, French horn, guitar, violins and sometimes even a viola.
Advent’s founding pastor, the Rev. Gary Berklund, returned from retirement to read the gospel at both services and gave a “dialogue sermon” together with Warner. The two had worked together for seven years before Berklund’s retirement and Warner moved up from associate pastor to pastor, so, Warner said, they were comfortable with the format. Both pastors found the scripture lesson on which the sermon was based “compelling.” Acts 1, verses six through 11 deals with Jesus saying to his disciples, “You will be my witnesses.”
“We met over coffee and talked about direction,” Warner said. She explained that, as Christians, her congregation is a “witness to Christ, that God’s love and saving power is still available to our everyday lives. But it’s up to us to work out how to do that.”
Following the services and lunch, more than 130 people stayed to remember the church’s early days. Several former members returned for the celebration but not as many as Warner had hoped. All former members were invited and many sent greetings if they weren’t able to attend.
After a video of Advent’s history and speakers talking about their memories of the church’s early days, Warner said she was invited to share an image for the future.
“I said we were strong-centered with an open door,” Warner said. “Strong center means centered in Christ,” she said. “And the open door means that people come to the church in many different ways.”
Warner said Advent welcomes people looking for a new “church home” as well as those who have never been part of a church community.
“We also welcome people who have been hurt or wounded from churches in the past,” Warner said.
The new sanctuary replaced a smaller one in 2000, that was turned into a social hall. The architect, Warner said, designed sliding glass walls that can open to handle overflow crowds, which was the case on Sunday. The church also has built new classrooms, a youth facility, choir rooms and a sacristy.
Advent Lutheran’s congregation numbers 530, Warner said, with 200 showing up on a typical Sunday.
Advent Lutheran Church, 16870 Murphy Ave., www.advent-lutheran.org or 779-3551.
