Spirit of Grace Church--Celebration Worship May

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-- April 28, 2015

West Bloomfield, MI— Spirit of Grace Church, a Lutheran-Episcopal Community

Moments of true Christian unity have occurred throughout history. One such event is set to occur on Wednesday, May 6th, 2015 when Advent Episcopal Church (Advent) and Sylvan Lake Lutheran Church (Sylvan Lake) unite and officially become the new Spirit of Grace Church.

In September 2012, Advent lost its building due to unforeseen circumstances and was searching for a new home for its remaining congregation. When they heard about it, Sylvan Lake, just one and a half miles away, invited Advent to share their building in a demonstration of Christian love.

Sylvan Lake moved their traditional service to 9:00 am to accommodate the Advent service at 11:00 am. For a year both churches shared a sanctuary with separate services and joined together for fellowship between services. In the summer of 2013 the two slightly different services were combined into one, and it continues that way today.

In September 2014, the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Waterford (Ascension) sold its building and its congregation began attending services at Sylvan Lake. They already shared Pastor Mary Duersken with Sylvan Lake. On March 29, 2015 Ascension and Sylvan Lake voted to merge into one Lutheran congregation--the first step of this ground breaking process.

On April 19, 2015 both the Lutheran and Episcopal congregations voted unanimously to federate and become one church that holds full membership in two denominations.

On Wednesday, May 6, 2015 the 7:00 pm service of Celebration of this New Ministry will officially unite these three congregations of two denominations to become Spirit of Grace Church, a Lutheran-Episcopal Community.

Bishop Wendell Gibbs of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan and Bishop Donald Kreiss of the Southeast Michigan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America will preside at the service to celebrate and make official the federation of Sylvan Lake Lutheran Church, already merged with Lutheran Church of the Ascension, and Advent Episcopal Church.

In the spirit of thanksgiving, guests are invited to bring canned goods for the Open Door Outreach Center to help feed people in Oakland County townships that surround the church.

For further information, please contact Pastor Manisha Dostert (248) 338-3505 or Pastor Mary Duerksen (248) 682-0770. Thank you.