New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church sits on Lutheran Road in Gilbertsville, Montgomery County, where the same congregation has worshipped for over three centuries. Now preparing for its 325th anniversary, the parish blends the rhythms of a small-town Lutheran church (hymns from Augsburg Fortress, a cemetery on the grounds, a story that runs through the Revolutionary War) with one of the busiest weekly food ministries in the area and a learning center serving young children and their families.
Sunday Mornings at Nine
Worship is held in the sanctuary every Sunday at 9:00 a.m. The service is blended. The liturgical framework comes from Sundays and Seasons (Augsburg Fortress) and the New Revised Standard Version Bible, while the Grace Band and choirs lead contemporary songs alongside classic hymns such as "Be Thou My Vision," "Thankful Hearts and Voices Raise," and "My Life Flows On in Endless Song." A children's message is offered each week, usually by the vicar, and services are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook for those who cannot attend in person.
Right after worship, the building keeps moving. The Kids for Christ Band rehearses in the sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. while Loaves & Fishes volunteers begin loading cars for food pick-up. At 10:15, children gather for "Jesus and Me" Sunday School, and adults head to Room 14 for Coffee with Council and the Adult Forum, which runs Bible study and conversation on faith and current events.
Loaves & Fishes Food Ministry
The most visible outreach on a Sunday morning is the food ministry that shares its name with the church's mission. Each week volunteers drop off bags of groceries at 9:00 a.m. and families drive through for pick-up at 10:00 a.m. The ministry has been profiled by the Boyertown Area Expression for the way it has continued to grow, and it operates with a rotating team of drivers and packers coordinated through the church office. A separate New Hanover Meal Delivery program extends the same idea to homebound neighbors.
Music for a Blended Congregation
Music is one of the ways New Hanover bridges its historic roots with its present congregation. Patricia Nyce directs the music ministry, Lindsey Waltermyer leads the Grace Band, and the choral program supports the liturgical life of the parish. Worship assistants, acolytes and crucifers, lectors, ushers, and the welcome desk are all scheduled through volunteer sign-ups posted each month, so members can serve in the way that fits their gifts.
Faith Formation from Toddlers to Adults
Children and youth programs are central to the church's identity. Sunday mornings include "Jesus and Me" for younger children and a youth Sunday School for older students. Catechism classes prepare youth for confirmation. Camp Falckner, the congregation's own summer camp program, has run for several years and includes an annual Galilean Service held outdoors and shared on video. A separate Kids' Camp (the congregation's Vacation Bible School) runs during the summer, with its own registration and volunteer sign-ups.
Adults have several ongoing options. The Adult Forum gathers after worship for Bible study and topical conversation. A video Bible study is available online, and a "Parent Pause" resource supports families. Faith Formation Moments videos and worship devotionals are posted regularly for those who want to keep learning between Sundays.
Sunshine Learning Center and the Family Learning Center Project
On the same campus, the Sunshine Learning Center operates a licensed early-childhood program. The church is currently raising funds for and constructing a Family Learning Center Project that will expand space for early-childhood education, parenting support, and community programming. Construction updates are posted in the church's photo gallery.
A Welcoming Congregation
New Hanover is recognized as a Reconciling in Christ congregation, a designation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that publicly welcomes LGBTQ+ members and neighbors. The church also runs Rejoicing Spirits, a ministry of adapted worship for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. A Peer Support Recovery Ministry offers space and accompaniment for those walking through addiction, and the Garden of Hope provides a place for quiet prayer and remembrance on the grounds.
Scouting, Fellowship, and Service
Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and other scouting units meet at the church as part of its long-standing community programming. The annual Chicken Dinner and regular fellowship meals bring the congregation together for food and fundraising. Volunteer sign-ups cover everything from worship assisting to food ministry drivers to Kids' Camp helpers. A "Flutter" group is one of the youth ministry offerings for older students.
325 Years of History on Lutheran Road
The congregation traces its roots to the early 1700s, and the church has organized its story into three centuries: 1700 to 1799, 1800 to 1899, and 1900 to the present. A 325th Anniversary Booklet collects the high points. Notable threads include a Revolutionary War Encampment painting kept by the parish, a presentation by Dr. Timothy Wengert on Martin Luther, and a talk by Dr. Karl Kreuger on German Lutheran Patriots. The NHELC Cemetery on the grounds continues to serve as a place of burial and remembrance. A "History of Our Pastors" list is maintained as a record of the ministers who have served the parish across the centuries.
Joining In
Visitors are welcome at Sunday worship, online through YouTube and Facebook livestreams, and through any of the church's many service and learning opportunities. Online giving is available through Tithe.ly and Simply Giving. Weekly announcements, the current newsletter, the worship bulletin, and an archive of annual reports and budgets are all posted for those who want to follow along from home.