HISTORY OF HOSANNA LUTHERAN CHURCH

Hosanna is the result of a series of congregational mergers in West Edmonton over the last 60 years. This process began in 1949 with the establishment of Faith Lutheran Church (originally known as Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jasper Place). It first worshiped in the Pentecostal Chapel at 100th Avenue and 148th Street, later moving to its own church building at 103rd Avenue and 147th Street. Faith was a congregation of what eventually became the Lutheran Church in America ("LCA"). Another element came with the establishment in 1960 of Holy Cross Lutheran Church (initially known as the "Mayfield Mission"), which worshiped at Youngstown School at 103rd Avenue and 163rd Street. Holy Cross was also an LCA congregation. In 1962 the Faith and Holy Cross congregations merged, and continued as Faith Lutheran Church.

Two other LCA congregations were also formed in the West Edmonton area during this time. Christ Lutheran Church was started in 1956. It first held services in the Parkview School, located at 92nd Avenue and 143rd Street. It moved in 1957 to its own church building at 91st Avenue and 146th Street. The other was Peace Lutheran Church in 1961, located at 92nd Avenue and 163rd Street.

A congregation of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod ("LCMS") was also established in West Edmonton during the post-war years, being Jasper Place Lutheran Church in 1958. Its first services were held in the Glendale School, at 98th Avenue and 161st Street. The name was changed to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in 1959, and it moved into its own church facility in 1960 at 96th Avenue and 156th Street.

In the mid-1960s these four congregations - Faith, Christ, Peace and Gloria Dei - initiated discussions concerning a possible merger as one unified congregation. After a while Gloria Dei decided that it was not ready to enter into a union with its LCA counterparts, leaving the Faith, Christ and Peace congregations to complete their own union in 1969. It took the form initially of a 3 point parish, and was known as The West Edmonton Lutheran Parish. After operating in this form for a couple of years, the three congregations decided in 1971 to become one. The parish was renamed St. Luke Lutheran Church, and was located at the Peace Lutheran site at 92nd Avenue and 163rd Street.

Discussions between Gloria Dei and the new St. Luke began in 1973. The talks resulted in a decision not to merge, but to build a new shared church facility, at 9009 - 163rd Street, which would include the original Peace building. Articles of Federation between the two congregations were signed in 1975, and construction of the new church began the same year. The cost was $472,574.00. The new facility, known as "Luther Place", was dedicated on June 5th, 1977. St. Luke Lutheran Church and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, as they were each formally known, carried on as separate congregations of their respective church bodies, but they began to share a variety of functions and committees, including property care, educational and youth ministry.

During this same time, preliminary discussions began between the three Lutheran bodies then operating in Canada - the LCA, the LCMS and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada ("ELCC") - about a possible merger. In the late 1970's the LCMS decided to withdraw from the talks, leaving the LCA and the ELCC to continue. Those talks culminated in a merger between the two bodies, with the new church known as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada ("ELCIC"). It came into being on January 1st, 1986, with St. Luke as a member.

During the early 1980s the sharing of the Luther Place facility, and the combining of various ministry functions brought the St. Luke and Gloria Dei congregations ever closer together. In 1986 Gloria Dei decided to become a member of the ELCIC. This prompted discussions in early 1987 on a merger of the two congregations, which were now both part of the ELCIC. The talks progressed quickly, and both congregations voted in April, 1987 to join together. The formal union took place on June 7, 1987, with the merged congregation known as Hosanna Lutheran Church at Luther Place, as a member of the ELCIC.

Hosanna celebrated its 20th anniversary in June, 2007. We look forward to a future of active  ministry in the years ahead, drawing inspiration from our heritage of 60 years of service in West Edmonton.