History

The lot at Telford Avenue and Noble Street was purchased for about $4000 in January 1925. The building plans for the Sunday School unit included 18 individual classrooms and a large room with the capacity to seat 534 people. The ground- breaking service took place on June 10, 1928. The Advent Church building was dedicated and the first services were held on December 16, 1928, with 406 people in attendance.

On August 7, 1955, a parsonage was purchased in the West Lawn area.

Groundbreaking for the present sanctuary was held on June 19, 1960 and it was dedicated October 15, 1961.

The church basement was used by two 4th grade classes of the West Lawn Grade School for 27 days in the spring of 1936. Flooding in the school building necessitated relocation.

In 1943, the church basement was equipped for blackouts to enable its use as an air raid shelter and sector headquarters for the Defense Council.

Currently, the facilities of the church are used for meetings of several local organizations. In September 1999 it became the site of the Wilshire Preschool.

The first choir was organized on December 7, 1924. The first full-sized organ was purchased and installed in 1951. The current pipe organ in the sanctuary was built by M. P. Moller, Co. and was installed in 1977.

Four octaves of Malmark handbells were purchased in 1985 and a Handbell Choir was formed soon afterwards. The unique tones of the ringing bells are a glorious addition to the music of the worship services.

Today, the Children's, Youth, Senior, and Bell Choirs and a medley of instrumental groups, programs and special concerts, offer enriched music worship at Advent.

Advent "Firsts"

The first Advent-sponsored Boy Scout Troop was formed in 1938. Today several Cub Scout Dens and a Boy Scout Troop meet weekly at the church.

Girls started serving as acolytes in 1970.

The use of lay assistants in the worship services was approved by the Church Council in 1971.

Grape juice was offered as an alternative to wine at communion services in 1991.

The "New Lutheran Book of Worship" was introduced in 1978. The supplemental hymnal, "With One Voice", was put into use in 1996.

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Advent Pastors

		Pastor Mark R. Rigg January 2011 - present

Pastor William E. Zimmermann July 2003 - December 2008

		Pastor William B. Fryer Jr. June 1970 - October 2001

Pastor Malcolm W. Albright December 1955 - July 1969

		Pastor Ernest A. Weber January 1928 - March 1955

Pastor Harry A. Herman September 1925 - May 1927

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