Advent Lutheran Church

Have you ever heard of a church built on an asparagus field? The Advent Lutheran Church is a true Minnesota treasure. Located in Roseville, this church is the product of a unique moment in time, a story of immigrant faith, architectural influences, and a community that grew alongside its walls. Standing before you, the building whispers of simpler times, of a community united by its faith. The origins of Advent go back to the early 1950s, when residents of the suburbs requested a new church from the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The Synod, a congregation of hard-working immigrants, rose to the occasion. The church’s first pastor, Rev. Thomas Basich, was a young graduate of Augustana Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Lavergne, arrived in the Twin Cities, and on September 12, 1953, Advent Lutheran Church was born. The church’s modern architecture, though not designed by famed architect Eliel Saarinen, seems to have borrowed from his work. The building boasts a sleek, free-standing bell tower, elegant colored windows, and a soaring sanctuary, reminiscent of Saarinen’s other church masterpiece in Minneapolis, Christ Lutheran. The interior is just as impressive. Light floods the rooms through large windows, casting warm hues on the simple altar adorned with a striking Scandinavian blue cross. If you look closely, you’ll notice the beautifully intricate beams high above, reflecting the same color, a subtle nod to the church’s Scandinavian heritage. Advent’s story is one of continuous growth and expansion. Just a few months after its humble beginnings in a temporary space at Lake Johanna Elementary School, they began construction on the Hamline Avenue site. The church had a Christmas Eve candlelight service in December 1954, just four months after they broke ground, a testament to the community’s dedication and spirit. By 1961, the congregation had outgrown the initial space and a larger sanctuary, education wing, and east parking lot were added. This expansion is a testament to the church’s enduring spirit, its ability to adapt and thrive in a changing world. Today, Advent Lutheran Church continues to be a vibrant center of the community, hosting everything from AA meetings to a school for the mentally challenged. It serves as a constant reminder of a community that has grown and evolved alongside its faith, echoing the same traditions and values that were so important to those early immigrants. And as you stand here, perhaps you can hear whispers of those early founders, their faith, their hopes, and their dreams embedded in the very stones of the church.