Sometimes You Need Your Pastor

Recently I received a phone call late in the evening from the hospital chaplain letting me know one of our members had been brought to the hospital and the prognosis was not good. The family had requested the chaplain call me to come meet them at the hospital. Driving to the hospital that night I wasn’t sure what I would find once I got there, but you always know phone calls from hospitals late at night almost never bring good news. I remember praying that everything would hold stable until I could get there. It did and I spent time that night praying with the family in the certainty of God’s presence but in the uncertainty of the circumstances. The doctors told us her condition was as stable as it could be but we wouldn’t know anything more until further tests were conducted the next day. We offered a final prayer before leaving for the night.
     
The Old Trappe Church PDF Print E-mail
Written by Sandra Poulnot   
Saturday, 01 March 2008 01:00
The Old Trappe Church, also called Augustus Lutheran Church, is located in Trappe, Pennsylvania.  

What is the connection between the Old Trappe Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Charleston, SC? In 1742, a ship carrying Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, “father of American Lutheranism,” arrived in Charles Town from Europe. He was on a mission to the Salzburgers in Georgia. Upon his return to Charles Towne, he had to wait several weeks for a ship to carry him to Pennsylvania where he had accepted a call. While in Charles Town he ministered and taught to the Germans living here while awaiting his ship. St. John’s Lutheran Church in Charleston dates their origin to his visit.

He sailed from Charles Town to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He arrived in Providence (Trappe), Pa., in 1742. The congregation, which was started in 1730, had been meeting in a barn. In 1743 the Old Trappe Church was built by Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the first regularly called pastor. This marked the beginning of the organization of Lutheranism in America. The church building is of German-rural architecture and was built by the congregation. The first service was held in the unfinished interior later that year. The congregation adopted the name “Augustus Lutheran Church” in 1743 in honor of Herman Augustus Francke, Pastor Muhlenberg’s sponsor for the call. The building was completed in 1745. By 1752, the interior of the Church building was completed as it appears today.

Augustus Lutheran Church, also called the Old Trappe Church, is the oldest unchanged Lutheran Church building in continuous use in the United States. It is also known as “The Shrine of Lutheranism.” In 1968 it became a Registered National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior National Park Services.

In 1851, the old church was inadequate for the growing congregation and a new church building was started. The cornerstone was laid on May 18, 1852.

The Old Trappe Church is still used in the summer and for special services.

Sources:
  • The Old Trappe Church  by the Reverend Herbert H. Michel, D.D. Pastor
  • Augustus  Lutheran Church “The Shrine of Lutheranism” by William O. Fegely, D.D.\ Revised by W. Russell Zimmerman, B.D.
  • Old Trappe Church website
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 October 2008 06:50
 

Sunday Worship

8:30 a.m. Service with Holy Communion
9:45 a.m. Sunday Church School
11:00 a.m. Service with Holy Communion


Nursery available in Parish Hall during all services. Doodle Bags are available in the back of the church to keep little hands busy: they include coloring books, crayons, books, and stickers!
 

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St. John's Lutheran Church, Charleston, SC