Imagine a church where every stained glass window tells a story. That’s Advent Lutheran Church in New York City. This church isn’t just a building. It’s a testament to faith, art, and community.
Advent Lutheran Church is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It stands as a beacon of Gothic Revival architecture. William Appleton Potter designed this beautiful structure. Construction finished in 1900 at a cost of $70,000.
Step inside Advent Lutheran Church. Notice the double-height brick and stone structure. Above you is a pitched slate roof. But the real treasures are the stained glass windows. Louis Comfort Tiffany designed them all. Tiffany Studios brought his visions to life. The windows depict St. Paul preaching at Athens. They also show Christ returning in glory. Angels break swords beneath him ushering in peace.
Tiffany’s artistry extends beyond the windows at Advent Lutheran Church. He also designed the ceramic mosaic behind the altar. Tiffany created the sanctuary lamps and even the pews. Look closely at the painted decorative organ frontal pipes too.
Over time, the Tiffany windows needed restoration. A campaign began in 2007. It was called Shining God’s Light – the Tiffany Windows Project. The goal was to raise one million dollars for a complete restoration.
Advent Lutheran Church is more than just a pretty place. It actively serves the community. The church runs two large food assistance programs. A monthly food pantry occurs on the first Saturday. A monthly Community Lunch program takes place on the fourth Saturday. Both are free and open to anyone in need.
Advent Lutheran Church is a multicultural congregation. It welcomes all people. The church strives to be inclusive. Like Jesus, Advent welcomes everyone. They offer children’s and youth programs. Adult education and faith development opportunities exist.
The mission of Advent Lutheran Church is clear. Their doors are open to all. They are a lively Christian community. They share their faith through worship, outreach, and service. Advent celebrates diversity in God’s creation.
Advent Lutheran Church uses the Lutheran tradition in its worship. They welcome diverse forms of liturgical expression. They also maintain the historic beauty of the Lutheran liturgy and hymnody. The church empowers people to live out God’s love. They want others to experience God’s love too.
Advent Lutheran Church invites you to experience God’s love. They wish to build authentic community. It is a place where all voices matter. There are no outsiders in God’s kingdom.
The vision of Advent Lutheran Church is transformation. They want to be a church where the Holy Spirit transforms lives. They want the community and the world to change too. The church hopes to transform people to be more loving and more just.
Advent Lutheran Church stands as a testament to art, faith and community. Its history is rich. Its mission is clear. Its doors are open to all.