Advent Lutheran Church sits on Loch Rane Boulevard in Orange Park, Florida, where it has served Clay County since 1965. The congregation belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and is known for its blend of a long-standing liturgical tradition with a lively contemporary service, a respected Christian preschool, and a steady flow of pastoral care and outreach that has shaped the surrounding neighborhood for six decades.
From the Municipal Building to Loch Rane
Advent was founded in 1965 under the leadership of Pastor Mark Tonneson. In its earliest days the small congregation met in the local Municipal Building before moving into its first church building on Kingsley Avenue, on the present site of a Lowe's home improvement store. That structure quickly proved too small, and when the Loch Rane community was under construction the developer, eager to maintain an attractive gateway into the new neighborhood, donated the land on which Advent now stands. The congregation has been rooted at 2156 Loch Rane Boulevard ever since.
Two Services on Sunday Morning
Advent gathers twice each Sunday morning. At 8:00 a.m. a Traditional Service takes place in the sanctuary, led by Worship Musician Joanna Corbett, who brings a lifetime of experience as a pianist, organist, and handbell teacher to the liturgy. At 10:30 a.m. a Contemporary Service called Awaken is led by Peter Reideler and the Awaken Worship Band, drawing on more than twenty years of praise-band leadership.
Both services are livestreamed on the congregation's Facebook page, and a small team of Audiovisual volunteers runs the slides and the live stream each week. The two services share a common rhythm of Word, Sacrament, and Music, and the same worship assistants fill essential roles: lectors read the First and Second Lessons and lead the Psalm; acolytes, often young people from the congregation, light and extinguish the candles; assistant ministers lead the Prayers of the People; communion assistants help distribute the wine; ushers greet and seat worshipers; and the music team provides special music.
The Worship Committee, co-directed by Mary Huntley and Susan Eichhorn, organizes and supervises all that is necessary for worship within ELCA guidelines. Its mission statement summarizes the heart of the work: "Through Word, Sacrament, and Music, we joyfully lead the congregation in worship and praise by giving thanks, growing in faith, and being sent forth to love and serve God's kingdom."
A Preschool Recognized Across Clay County
Advent Lutheran Preschool operates on the church campus and has been named a "Best of Clay" winner. The preschool follows the Clay County Public School Calendar and runs Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) day running 8:50 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Families can add morning extended care from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. and after care Monday through Thursday from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Director Martha Morrow, who joined in November 2019, leads a teaching team with deep experience. Assistant Director Traci Green teaches the Tigers VPK class. The full staff includes Mildred Davison in morning care and substitute teaching, Amanda Dodds with the Llama VPK class, Resource Teacher Melissa Elsberry, Holly Walden with the Giraffe (Early 2s) class, Dawn Fulbright with the Koala VPK class, Kim Lee with the Monkey (3s) class, Ella Howard with the Sharks (older 2s) class, and Irene Winter, who has been teaching cooking at Advent Preschool for 33 years.
The school's philosophy holds that early childhood should be a time of exploring and discovery in a fun and safe environment. Classrooms keep low student-to-teacher ratios so that each child can grow socially, emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually under the guidance of committed teachers in a Christian atmosphere, anchored in the truth that "all children are fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:14).
Faith Formation for Every Age
Faith formation at Advent is described as "a lifelong journey of learning, serving, and living out God's love." Each Sunday morning between the two worship services the church opens its classrooms for Bible study and Christian education.
Children in PreK through third grade gather at 9:15 a.m. in the Art Room, and fourth through sixth graders meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 110. Both groups use the Whirl curriculum, which walks students through engaging Bible stories, activities, and discussion. Teen Bible Study for grades 7 through 12 meets at 9:30 a.m. in the Parlor, and Confirmation classes for grades 7 and 8 are held at 11:30 a.m. in the Parlor, preparing students for the Affirmation of Baptism by exploring the foundations of the Christian faith, Scripture, prayer, the sacraments, and life in the Church.
Adults gather at 9:15 a.m. for two Bible study classes. The Older Kids Group offers thoughtful discussion and practical application for everyday Christian living, while the Harmony Group focuses on growing together in God's Word through Scripture study and conversation. A Thursday Morning Bible Study extends the formation schedule beyond Sunday. The Christian Education Board, directed by Lindsey Kriekel, prayerfully selects age-appropriate, biblically based curriculum and coordinates milestones including Holy Baptism preparation, Confirmation, and acolyte training.
Youth Ministry from Elementary Through High School
Director Kimberly Flint leads Advent's Youth Ministry, organized into three age groups: Elementary for kindergarten through fourth grade, Junior for fifth through eighth grade, and Senior for ninth through twelfth grade. The ministry focuses on the continuing spiritual growth of young people through Bible study, prayer, and Christian service, working in conjunction with other ministries. It also welcomes newly confirmed youth into the appropriate group each year, plans social and recreational fellowship, coordinates with other ELCA youth groups in the region, and encourages attendance at leadership training events, conferences, and workshops for young people.
Stephen Ministry: One-to-One Care in Difficult Seasons
Stephen Ministry at Advent is directed by Ruth Johansen and offers trained Stephen Ministers who provide high-quality, one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people in the congregation and the community who are going through difficult seasons of life. Stephen Leaders, drawn from church staff, lay leaders, and the pastor, are equipped through Stephen Ministry Training Courses, and Stephen Ministers are congregation members who complete that training to offer care to those who are hurting. The ministry multiplies blessings throughout the church and community, carrying out Christ's commandment to "Love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12).
Free Tutoring for Clay County Students
Director Helen Howard oversees Advent's free tutoring program, open to any student in Clay County who needs extra help. Tutoring takes place on Wednesday afternoons from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and is provided by trained volunteers. Students must register in advance by calling the church office, and adult volunteers must complete a background check before being activated to work with children.
Community Care and Outreach
The Community Care Ministry coordinates the congregation's response to the needs of members and neighbors, informs the congregation of national and global issues of concern, and organizes special appeals for food, clothing, and other supplies through local social agencies, programs, projects, and advocacy groups. It also maintains the congregation's account with the local Blood Bank, keeping members aware of opportunities to give blood, and nurtures contact with other ELCA congregations and Christian churches in the area while promoting congregational interest in world missions.
Other behind-the-scenes ministries keep the life of the church running. The Fellowship Ministry, for example, organizes coffee and refreshments after each Sunday service, supports wedding and funeral receptions held on the premises, and maintains the kitchen inventory. The Quilters craft together in service of the wider church. The Property Board, under Director DeWayne Brown, cares for the campus buildings and grounds, manages safety and compliance, and keeps records of inventory, deeds, warranties, and blueprints. The Stewardship Ministry, directed by David Heggood, leads the annual pledge campaign and maintains a Time and Talent file of members' gifts. Every Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. a Head Teller and two tellers gather to count and document the prior week's offerings. Trunk or Treat each fall fills the campus with decorated trunks, bounce houses, games, free food and drinks, and a visit from the Kona Ice truck.
Daily Morning Prayer Online
For those who cannot be on campus during the week, the church posts short Daily Morning Prayer videos to its YouTube channel, offering a few moments of Scripture, prayer, and reflection each morning. Members and visitors alike are invited to follow along online.
What Advent Believes
As Lutheran Christians at Advent, the congregation confesses that it is saved by the grace of God and not by what its members say or do, resting on the words of Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Words and actions are understood as a response to God's love. The community sees itself as the hands and feet of Christ in the world, loving, serving, and caring for others in Jesus' name. And because everyone is made in the image of God, every person is valued and welcome at Advent.
Pastor Larry and the Staff
Rev. Larry A. Grunden leads Advent as pastor. He believes that "discipleship" is a verb, that to believe in Christ is to be in motion in churches, communities, and the world. In addition to the Sacraments, he counts prayer among the most powerful activities in which Christians can participate, and he believes that through their hands believers experience Jesus Christ as they help others in need. Sarah Carroll joined as Ministry Assistant in July 2025, bringing more than a decade of experience in youth, children, and adult ministry in the Jacksonville area.
The 2026-2027 Church Council guides the life of the congregation: Marty Smith as President, Tim Willadsen as Vice President, Sadko Long as Treasurer, and Diana Gilpin as Secretary, alongside directors for each ministry area. Together with the pastor and the preschool team, they shepherd a congregation that has been bold in serving God's kingdom with love, joy, and grace for more than sixty years from the heart of Orange Park.