About Us
St. Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church is a member of Southeastern
Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
We have been an active Lutheran congregation since 1859.
What We Believe
As Lutherans, we adhere to the doctrinal teaching of
Martin Luther. These
doctrines are derived from three principles:
1. The Bible is the only source and norm for Christian teachings (sola
Scriptura).
2. Man is justified to God by faith in Jesus Christ alone and not by works (sola
fide).
3. That faith which justifies is not of ourselves nor the result of any
merit of our own, but is imparted to man by the grace of God (sola gratia)
While we don't believe that we are saved because of the good we do (works),
we do believe that, because we are saved, we must do good. Jesus said, "Each
tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers... A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and
a bad tree cannot bear good fruit." (Matt 6:16,18) So also we, as
Christians, should act in a manner that honors, glorifies and bears witness
to Christ. Our good works do not save us, but salvation by faith enables us
to do good works.
We also embrace the "priesthood of all believers" wherein all are
responsible and capable of understanding God's word and receiving salvation
without the help of human intermediaries. "For there is one God and one
mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim 2:5) This also
implies that each member is responsible for the life and support of the
church and our congregation.
How We Worship
Our worship service uses the form of the Lutheran liturgy. The service is
printed in the bulletin and is easy to follow. We vary the music in
reflection of the church season. On the first Sunday of the month we use
contemporary Christian music.
Holy Communion is celebrated weekly and on feast days throughout the year
using wine or grape juice and bread. We practice "open" communion, wherein
all who profess their faith in Christ are welcome to partake, regardless of
their church affiliation.
Our History
Our congregation was formed around 1859 when Lutheran pastors Reverend
Ferdinand Berkemeyer and Reverend Frederick Walz and German Reformed pastor
Reverend Peter S. Fisher began leading services in an old schoolhouse on
Walnut Street in Sellersville. The arrival of the
North
Pennsylvania Railroad in 1865 spurred the growth of the towns adjacent
to the tracks, including Sellersville. Desiring a larger, more formal and permanent
facility, in 1868 the two congregations purchased three acres of land from
William Schlichter. The land was divided into two sections. One acre would
be for a new Union Church building and the remaining two, where there was
already a family cemetery, would be a cemetery (Sellersville
Cemetery) whose lots could be sold to
raise money for the building.
A committee consisting of an equal number of members from each congregation
was established as the board of trustees. It was chartered and incorporated
in 1869 as the Sellersville Church and Cemetery Corporation. The Lutheran
congregation was granted a charter in 1869. The building cornerstone was
laid in 1870 and the first story of the building was completed and dedicated
in 1874. This remains as the main Sunday School and office structure.
In the summer of 1900 the Lutheran and Reformed congregations voted to
separate. An auction was held to divide the resources, including the
building. The Lutheran congregation outbid the Reformed congregation for the
church property. As a result, the building became St. Michael’s Lutheran
Church. The Reformed congregation constructed a new facility about 2 blocks
away. This is the existing St. Paul's United Church of Christ.
Ownership of Sellersville
Cemetery was retained by the two congregations. The
Sellersville Church and Cemetery Corporation was retained to govern and
manage the cemetery, which it does to this day. The three original pastors, Berkemeyer, Walz and Fisher, as well as Mr. Schlichter, are buried in the
cemetery.
The church building was enlarged with a new sanctuary on the second floor,
which was dedicated in 1904. The new sanctuary featured a pipe organ donated
by Andrew Carnegie and stained glass windows and
altar artwork by renowned artist
Nicola D’Ascenzo. In addition, a clock was installed in the steeple and electric
lights were installed.
Since then the building has been enlarged further and modernized with a
chapel and enlarged Sunday School are (1926) and a fellowship hall and
kitchen (1956). The sanctuary being on the second floor, a chair lift was
added in 1982 to make us handicap accessible.
Sanctuary Front & Back, 2010
Links:
St. Michael’s History (1952) by Walter Baum
Excerpt from book “Sellersville Borough” (1975)
Excerpt from St. Michael’s 125th Anniversary bulletin (1994) with “A Brief
History of St. Michael’s” by Hildegard Stephans
Martin Luther (ELCA)
Martin Luther (independent)
Lutherans Through Time
Lutheran Roots in America (ELCA)
Lutheranism (independent)
Sellersville Cemetery
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