What’s New With YOU? Updates from congregations around the Church of the Lutheran Confession
Located just outside the bustling beltline of our nation’s capital, our Lord has placed Gift of God Lutheran Church—not only as a place for local members to worship and enjoy the fellowship of one faith—but also to be a blessing (a “Gift of God”) to CLC members temporarily stationed in the Washington D.C. metro area for work or military service.
The Lord in Action
As reported in a December 2019 Spokesman article, a small group of confessional Lutherans living in the metro Washington D.C. area started worshiping together in 1982, and organized in 1983 with the name Gift of God Lutheran Church. Having moved to the area from California, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, this group had two things in common—they all had previously been members of CLC congregations, and they were frustrated by the lack of confessional Lutheranism in the Washington D.C. area.
In September 2023, Gift of God celebrated its fortieth anniversary. Former pastor Michael Wilke delivered the message from God’s Word, and the congregation enjoyed reminiscing with him and his wife Gloria over a potluck meal.
Although the love of God and desire to remain faithful to His pure Word has remained constant over the past forty-plus years, much else has changed. The size of the congregation grew and ebbed as people moved into and out of the area. The children of the founding members have started their own families, the majority of them moving away from the area. Current attendance now averages eight people.
Because of the restrictions imposed during the COVID pandemic, we were not able to meet in our regular rented facility and started meeting in member homes. This worked out very well and continues to this day, with the occasional special service held in a rented facility. Pastor Glenn Oster continues serving our group the majority of the year on a monthly basis either in person or via online “Zoom” calls.
Planning a Visit?
We welcome visitors! If you are planning to visit the Northern Virginia/metro D.C. area, we encourage you to contact Pastor Oster (803-361-2739) for service time and location. We may even be able to schedule our service times during your visit! It is always an uplifting experience for us to share the news of God’s mercy and grace with others through God’s Word and song.
serves Gift of God Lutheran Church in Fairfax, Virginia. He is also the CLC Webmaster. His home is in West Columbia, South Carolina.
