Alsace Lutheran Church : About Alsace

Welcome to Alsace

Alsace Lutheran Church believes that:

There is one God... He is known to us as:
- Father, Creator of all that exists.
- Son, Jesus Christ, is God incarnate, our Lord and Savior who redeemed us.
- Holy Spirit who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments.
All men/women are sinners and can do nothing to help themselves to get into God's favor.
Salvation is a free gift from God given by His Grace Alone through Faith Alone by means of the Word Alone.
- Grace Alone - God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to save every human being.
- Faith Alone - By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased forgiveness and eternal life for those who, in return, love God with all their heart and mind and soul and strength.
- Scripture Alone - The Bible is God's inspired and inerrant Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.
We condemn ourselves when we reject His free gift of salvation.
Good works are a manifestation of our love for God.

Whether you are a new member or just visiting, we want to let you know how excited we are in having you here. Our web site contains helpful information about the varied ministries and programs of Alsace Lutheran Church. The entire "Family of Alsace" is delighted to share Christian fellowship with you.

Alsace has had a long and storied tradition of Christian worship, education, witness, and service. Since 1732, God's people at Alsace have gathered as a congregation in five different church structures on Alsace Hill. The present church edifice was dedicated in 1908 and a chapel was erected in 1990.

Alsace membership is comprised of individuals of all ages and diverse backgrounds. We are considered to be a regional church in that our members live in virtually all sections of Reading and Berks County, and even beyond! We faithfully preach and teach the living word of God to help you further develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Then, we nurture Christian lives by meeting spiritual needs and make disciples through our witness. We are, by the grace of God, the Alsace Lutheran Church.

Please consider yourself an important part of the Alsace Church family. Here you will find a church in which you will be welcomed, greeted, loved, and cared for, in the name of Jesus the Risen Savior. There is a very special place for you at Alsace, and if you haven't already, we hope you will consider making Alsace your church home.

Our Mission

"Our purpose as a church is to glorify God and carry out Christ's great commission by reaching out to all people and bringing them to saving faith in Jesus Christ."

Our Affiliation

In fall of 2006, Alsace Lutheran Church joined the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC).

What is the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations?

"The Association of Free Lutheran Congregations is a venture of faith. It is an attempt to build an effective and orderly Christian fellowship with a minimum of human organization. It is an experiment in extreme ecclesiastical democracy and decentralization. It is a searching test of faith in the power of the spirit of God."

What does the AFLC believe?

The Association of Free Lutheran churches...

Recognizes the Bible as being inerrant and the authority in all areas of life.
Recognizes that the teaching and preaching of God's Word is the main task of the Church, to be conducted in such a way that the saints are built up in the faith and unbelievers see their need for salvation.
Believes that the congregation is the right form of the Kingdom of God on earth, with no authority above it but the Word and Spirit of God.
Believes that Christian unity is a spiritual concept, not a man-made organization or body such as the World Council of Churches or the National Council of Churches.
Believes that Christians are called to be salt and light in the world, separated from the ways of the world (Pietism), and that this difference is to be reflected in the life of the congregation as well as in the institutions of the church body.

How does the AFLC relate to Alsace?

The AFLC gives Alsace Lutheran Church the freedom to worship God as was intended.

How can I find out more about the AFLC?

Alsace offers several pamphlets and resources that are provided by the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations. These materials can be obtained at tables throughout the church or from a pastor.

The Association of Free Lutheran Congregations website also can provide a bounty of information on the history and other important facts regarding the organization. Events and contact information can also be found at the website.

Some materials used in this section are adapted or quoted from materials produced by the AFLC. We claim no copyright.

History

It all began in 1732 for God's Family at Alsace when services were held by our Lutheran and Reformed brothers and sisters who came here from Europe. Preaching and singing were originally in German and French. The first church building was a log chapel, erected in 1740. Three church buildings followed until the early 20th century, when Lutheran and Reformed congregations voted to erect their own houses of worship.

The "Twin Alsace Churches" were dedicated in 1908, the same year that Good Shepherd Home in Allentown began. The Twin Churches were built alike, with the same architect and contractor. Each church cost about $50,000. The churches were impressive with granite stone walls, massive bell towers, stained glass windows, slanted floor in the nave, curved pews, balcony and classrooms on three levels.

Over the years, our church has been enlarged and improved. Major renovations were done in 1971 and 1990 which included the addition of a beautiful marble altar, a 43 rank Schantz pipe organ, new pews and carpeting, a new choir balcony, two Pastor's offices, a new Chapel, Sunday School room improvements and climate-control throughout the building. Alsace then erected a large outdoor cross on her back parking lot overlooking the highway as a symbol of our salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We completed a 4 year restoration of our beautiful stained glass windows and impressive bell tower, and, most recently, finished a renovation of our annex with the result of making it handicap accessible. All of this was accomplished by the Grace of God and the dedication of His servants at Alsace.

Located strategically between the City of Reading, and Muhlenburg Township, Alsace stands out as a lighthouse as we embark upon the 21st century. We are dedicated to fulfilling the Lord's Great Commission to share the Gospel with our neighbors, our community and our world in a real and loving way. We hope you will join us as we shout with Jacob in Genesis 28:17, "This is none other than the House of God, and this is the Kingdom of Heaven!"

Click here to read an in-depth history of the Twin Churches!

Location

We are located at 2201 Kutztown Road in Hyde Park which is in Muhlenberg Township. If you are traveling on Kutztown Road, Alsace is just a few blocks north of Burlington Factory Coat Outlet on top of the hill facing Grace Alsace U.C.C. which is the "Twin Alsace Church". You can also access our back parking lot from 11th Street.