By Norma Dittman
Fulda Free Press staff writer
Lutherans in Avoca, Minnesota have shared in one another’s milestones for 140 years. Cooperatively working together with their faith in God to bind them to each other, these people have seen many changes brought about by a shift away from organized religion, aging congregations, and a drop in church attendance.
Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Avoca, will hold the congregation’s final worship service on Sunday, August 5th, 2018. This Service of Celebration and Declaration of Leave-Taking will begin at 10:30 a.m. that morning.
The congregation’s decision to dissolve is based upon a full year of contemplation, discernment, and prayerful consideration which included two public/congregational discussions held on April 23rd and July 23rd, of 2017.
The Church Council members met in a regular meeting and voted, unanimously, to dissolve. A special meeting of the congregation was held on May 20, 2018, to discuss ‘the dissolution and to set the August 5th date for their final worship service.
“Once discussion became open and honest, all votes were unanimous to dissolve. Once we decided to talk about where our congregation was at, I think the majority were ready personally, privately and publically to make the decision,” Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church Council President, Marvin Isder stated.
To read the rest of this article – pick up a copy of this weeks Fulda Free Press or subscribe to our e-edition at http://eedition.fuldafreepress.net/sub/account_login.asp
