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Augustana is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with more than 3.3 million members in 8,900 congregations across the 50 states and
in the Caribbean region.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America coordinates an annual day of service called "God's Work. Our Hands.' You can read about our participation in this day on our Outreach page.
We are also part of the Upstate New York Synod, which is led by Bishop Lee Miller II, and the Niagara Frontier Conference, led by the Rev. Jeremiah Smith.
Reconciling in Christ (RIC)
It is the vision of the ELCA and our congregation to keep expanding our welcome, to keep building bridges, to keep providing a safe space, and to keep working until all of God's beloved have equity.
It is the mission of the ELCA and our congregation to advocate for the acceptance, full participation, and liberation of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions within the Lutheran Church.
We believe that God values and embraces each person as a beloved child, that the Spirit gives a diversity of gifts for the common good, and that Jesus Christ calls us to work for justice.
However you express yourself, we invite you to join us as we gather in love and grace for all, sharing the love of Jesus in our changing world. You are unique, you are seen, you are heard, you are safe here, you are needed, you matter --- you are loved.
Tri-Church Worship
Pastor Adam Arends is the Transition Pastor for Augustana, Trinity Old Lutheran and Good Shepherd Lutheran churches as we work together to make plans for the future. Worship and ministries take place at each church, with special joint worship services on some Sundays. Check Augustana's home page for announcements of joint worship services. Check the websites of TOL and Good Shepherd for their worship information.
Trinity Old Lutheran Church (TOL)
3445 Sheridan Drive
Amherst, NY 14226
716-836-4868
https://www.trinityoldlutheran.com
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
2669 Sheridan Drive
Tonawanda, NY 14150
716-832-5390
https://goodshepherdtona.org
History
More than 140 years ago a group of Swedish immigrants in Buffalo started a Lutheran congregation so they could worship in the heritage of their homeland. They built the first church in 1888 on Spring Street. In about 1912, the congregation constructed a new church on West Utica at Chenango, and the present church on Eggert Road was dedicated in 1957.
The name of this church, Augustana, dates back to the beginning of the Lutheran church in Augsburg, Germany. Augustana is the Latin word for Augsburg, where the core beliefs (confessions) of the Lutheran movement were drawn up in 1530 in a document called Confessio Augustana.
The stained glass windows in the sanctuary were added in the late 1990’s. They highlight stories in the Bible and illustrate the sacraments of Baptism and Communion. The windows were designed by Valerie O’Hara at Pike Stained Glass Studios in Rochester, NY.
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What We Believe
The Lutheran Church confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe. Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through whom everything was made and through whose life, death, and resurrection God fashions a new creation.
The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God. Inspired by God's Spirit speaking through their authors, they record and announce God's revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through them God's Spirit speaks to us to create and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the world
We stand on the long history of the Protestant Reformation and deal with the modern world and its people out of a response to God's unfailing love and mercy.
