Holy Cross Lutheran

Description

Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church, with ninety-three charter members, was officially organized and named on the 25th of April 1948. It all began the previous September at the urging of Lake Ronkonkoma residents Elfrieda and Arthur Engert. Mr. Engert asked The Board of American Missions to survey the Lake Ronkonkoma area as to the need for a Lutheran Church.. and so began our history. After some initial doubt and hesitancy, the Board agreed. Mr. Engert and the Reverend E. C. Kreider of the Mission Committee organized the first Worship Service, which was held on November 9th, 1947 at the Liberty Hall on Ocean Avenue, Lake Ronkonkoma. There were 58 people in attendance. Mr. Engert constructed the first altar and pulpit and Mrs. Engert sewed the altar cloths and a dossal used for that first service. Charles Goetz, a seminary student at Mount Airy Seminary in Philadelphia, was engaged to conduct services. At the Synodical Convention in May of 1948, Holy Cross was received as a member congregation of the United Lutheran Synod of New York and New England. The Church's Service of Organization was held on June 20, 1948 and Charles Goetz was installed as the first Pastor of Holy Cross. Also that June, land was purchased at the corner of Hawkins Avenue and Lakewood Avenue, and in October 1948 groundbreaking for the building of the First Unit was done during a special service. A house and property adjacent to Holy Cross was purchased in 1949 enabling us to have a convenient...

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