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On Sunday, May 7, 2006 Hope Lutheran Church celebrated Charter Sunday. 219 individuals joined the new congregation as Charter and Associate Members. On June 2nd, 2006 Hope Lutheran was welcomed as an official congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America at the Synod Assembly of the NorthWest Synod of Wisconsin. You are encouraged to join us as we continue the process of establishing a new and welcoming Lutheran church in our community. |
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BRIEF HISTORY: A number of individuals and families with backgrounds in
the Lutheran tradition began meeting on Sunday evenings in early 2005
for lay led worship in an intimate vespers setting. After several
months of meeting and discussions, we began to explore the
possibilities of obtaining official recognition to have pastoral
participation for communion and to look toward the viability of
establishing a new church. We met every week for the second half of the
summer and planned for Sunday morning services to begin in September.
We chose "Hope Lutheran" as the formal name for our new church. Hope Lutheran Church was officially recognized as a congregation in development by the NorthWest Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangical Lutheran Church of America in July, 2005. Consequently, we were authorized to worship formally with ministry provided by ordained Lutheran pastors as we continued to work to establish a new independent ELCA congregation in River Falls, WI. Weekly morning worship and sunday School began in September, 2005. On November 1, 2005 Rev. Jean Gfall began service as our pastor and we elected a slate of officers and developed a constitution. May 7, 2006 was our Charter Sunday and on June 2, 2006 we were approved as a fully functioning ELCA congregation by the Synod Assembly. (The full Synod Resolution appears below.) Pierce and St. Croix Counties are the fastest growing areas of Wisconsin and we felt that there was a need for another church in the community that will provide an intimate and welcoming worship setting for those who are searching for connections and a deeper understanding of the amazing grace of God. This community is founded on the Hope that we as a fellowship will experience a deeper and more meaningful relationship with each other and with God. |
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HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH Join us in worship. |
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Hope Lutheran 2008 Church Council members, et al. |
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From the first congregational meeting, October 26, 2005 _________________________________________________________________ SYNOD ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION: Recognition and Reception of Hope Lutheran Church of River Falls as an Organized Congregation WHEREAS St. Croix and Pierce Counties are among the fastest growing counties in Wisconsin; and WHEREAS the people of Hope Lutheran Church, a congregation under development in the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, are reaching out to people in St. Croix and Pierce counties; and, WHEREAS Hope Lutheran Church organized itself for ministry and is already supporting the ministry of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; and WHEREAS Hope Lutheran Church has had a charter Sunday and already functions as a financially self-sufficient congregation; now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED that the 2006 Synod Assembly of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin receive Hope Lutheran Church as an officially organized congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and with full voting rights in this assembly, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 2006 Synod Assembly of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin commend the people of Hope Lutheran Church for their hard work and great faithfulness in getting this congregation established. Submitted by the Synod Council and approved unanimously by the Synod Assembly, 6/2/2006. |
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