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Nanuet Lutheran Brethren
Church History:
As an outgrowth
of a small Bible study, The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran
Free Church of Rockland County was established in 1963 to
minister to the Norwegian Community. At first they organized
as a mission group. The first meeting place was upstairs in
the Nanuet Ambulance Hall. Following several moves, the
people found property with an adjoining home at our present
location. Christmas day, 1964 was the first service in the
new building. The church was known as the "Norwegian
Church".
During the time of
construction, a well-known Norwegian artist, Kalla Skrovseth
from Surnadalen, Norway was visiting. She offered her time
in creating the mosaic behind the pulpit. On dedication
Sunday the church was filled to capacity. The Sunday School
which had started at 15 grew to 200.
Following the Mission
Society, a string band, a young people's group and a ladies
aid were organized. At this point, the church was still a
mission society and they recognized the need to become an
official congregation and call a pastor and elect boards.
In 1967, several among
the immigrant community were recognizing their need for God.
A Norwegian preacher, Rev. Martin Omdahl, came and the
church was packed night after night. Many were converted at
this time.
At this same time,
services were held in both Norwegian and English. Easter
Sunday, 1970 services were in English only. Later, the elder
board recommended to the congregation that they become an
English-language church. It was ratified by the congregation
and the church was given its present name and made it
official in 1973. Later on quite a few of the Norwegian
community, including some elders, went back to Norway.
Leif Dyvik was ordained
elder in 1964. Gunvald Eidet, now on leave of absence, was
ordained in 1969. Greg Gran was ordained in 1992, Robert
Burden in 1999 and Randy Ostman in 2004. Pastors serving the
congregation were:
1962 M.E. Sletta - serving the Mission Society
1959 and 1964 T. B. Tergesen
1967 Arthur Berge, now serving in Calgary, Alberta
1971 Richard Vettrus, now serving in West Union, Iowa
1974 Robert M. Sletta, retired
1978 Kenneth Narvesen, now serving in De Witt, Iowa
1985 Hal Christensen, retired
2000 Tom Seaver, now serving in Clearbrook, MN.
2006 Dirk McIvor
Originally, churches of
the Lutheran Brethren gathered together regularly at
district meetings. This has tapered off a great deal. A new
Laymen's Education has been instituted and should bring more
interest in district activities.
In 1986, a young man from
Brooklyn, Per Rune Larsen, brother of Wenche Dyvik, church
caretaker and musician, was our youth director. That year he
was diagnosed with cancer and died in 1987. A fund was
established for the Per Rune Memorial Building. His life had
been a clear testimony in spite of the ending.
In the past years, there
have been a group for alcoholics, a servant team in the late
'80's, various youth directors, a Director of Music and two
concerts per year. A children's choir was formed and
traveled two years to Brooklyn to the 66th Street church.
Potlucks, New Year's Eve fellowships, and various groups
such as Walter Hoving Home, Peniel Home, Calvary Quartet and
others have been part of our outreach. In July, 1999, we had
another Servant Team.
What We Believe:
About God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. There is one
God eternally existent in three distinct persons in one
divine essence: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three are
co-equal and are one God..
Genesis 1:1,25,27;3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter
1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son, is the image of the invisible
God. He is co-equal with the Father. To accomplish our
redemption, He took upon himself the form of man, being
conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. By
His perfect obedience and substitutionary death on the
cross, He has purchased our redemption. He arose from the
dead after three days "for our justification" in the body in
which He was crucified and demonstrated His power over sin
and death. He ascended into Heaven, where He is now seated
at the right hand of God the Father, as our interceding High
Priest. He will come a second time personally, bodily, and
visibly to gather the believers unto Himself, and to
establish His kingdom. Finally, He will judge the living and
the dead and make an eternal separation between believers
and unbelievers.
Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews
4:14,15 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1
Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13; John 14:1,7
About The Holy Sprit
The Holy Spirit is a divine person eternally one and
co-equal with the Father and with the Son. His ministry is
to call, to regenerate repentant sinners, to sanctify
believers, and to preserve them in the one true faith. He
guides and comforts the children of God, and provides them
with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and
guidance in doing what is right. He directs and empowers the
Church in fulfillment of the Great Commission, and "convicts
the world of sin and of righteousness and judgment". He
gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved.
As Christians we seek to live under His control daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1
Corinthians 2:12,3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians
5:25;Ephesians 5:18
About The Bible
The Bible, including both the Old and New Testaments as
originally given, is God's Word to us. It is verbally and
plenary inspired and free from error in the whole and in the
part, and is therefore the final and authoritative guide for
Christian faith and conduct. Since God's Word is the only
completely reliable and truthful authority, we accept the
Bible as our manual for living. Our first question when
faced with a decision is "What does the Bible say?". We
practice daily Bible reading, Bible study, and Bible
memorization. The Bible is the basis for all we believe.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalms
12:6; 119:105,160 Proverbs 30:5
About Human Beings
People were originally created in the image and after the
likeness of God to live in His fellowship. They fell into
sin through the temptation of Satan and thereby lost
fellowship with God, became totally depraved, and are under
the wrath of God.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-5; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah
59:1,2
About Salvation
Salvation is God's free gift to us but we must accept it. We
can never make up for our sin by self-improvements or good
works. The knowledge and benefit of Christ's redemption from
sin is brought to us through the means of grace, namely the
Bible and the sacraments. Through the Word, both the law and
the Gospel, God convicts of sin and bestows His grace in
Christ unto the forgiveness of sin to all who repent and
believe. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of
forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. When we
turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we
are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus
Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6,1:12; Titus 3:5;
Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
About Eternity
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist
eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God
through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated
from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is
eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal
existence.
John 3;16; 2:25; 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15;
Matthew 1:8; 2:44,46
Our Aims And Practices
We believe that
the Bible is God's Word and is the only source and guide for
faith, doctrine, and life.
We accept the Lutheran Church's confession of Faith as being
in conformity with God's Word.
We believe that a congregation is an assembly of believing
Christians where the Word of God is preached in truth and
purity and where the sacraments are administered in
accordance with the Lord's institution.
We recognize the clear distinction made in the Scriptures
between the children of God and the children of the world.
We believe in a personal experience of salvation in Christ.
We conduct our services using a simple order of worship
where the sermon, based on the Word of God, occupies the
most prominent place in the service.
We encourage the use of lay persons in spreading the gospel
and furthering the work of the kingdom of God.
We seek through Sunday School, Confirmation Instruction,
Bible Camp, Lutheran Brethren Youth Fellowship and Lutheran
Brethren Youth Ministries to teach our youth to be followers
of Jesus Christ.
We believe in a strong evangelistic emphasis and with other
congregations support mission work in Canada, The United
State, Cameroon, Chad, Japan, and Taiwan.
We are aware of the value Christian education and with other
congregations sponsor Lutheran Brethren Seminary, Lutheran
Center for Christian Learning and Hillcrest Lutheran Academy
in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
We are actively interested in giving persons of all ages an
opportunity to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus
Christ.
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