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Our History
The following abbreviated version of our history is
extracted from the 50th anniversary booklet, Celebrating
Fifty Years of Grace, October 22, 2006, compiled by Joyce
Petznik and Pastor Earl Lewis.
In the Beginning: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (LCC)
In reviewing Lutheranism on the North Shore we think of two
synods – The American Lutheran Church (ALC) and the Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). These synods are known today
as Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and
Lutheran Church Canada (LCC)
The Reverend Fred T. Gabert, historian, notes “that a
canvass in the spring of 1934 resulted with the first
service being held on June, 1934, by Rev. O.A. Schedler,
Pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Vancouver, BC in the
K.P. Hall on 4th Street and Chesterfield Avenue, North
Vancouver, with 26 in attendance.
Temporary services were conducted at Eastview School, North
Vancouver. While St. Mark’s was searching for suitable
property to relocate, Mount Olivet invited them to conduct
their worship at the latter’s new premise. This was accepted
and on January 1, 1970, St. Mark’s moved to Mount Olivet.
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church (ELC)
In the 1940’s the American Lutheran Church’s (ALC) presence
on the North Shore began with North Shore Lutheran Church at
167 East 6th Street, North Vancouver, BC. The first pastor,
Rev. Arne A. Berstad, was installed February 24, 1952 and
served until October 9, 1955. After a two-year hiatus, a new
mission congregation of the (then) American Lutheran Church
was formed. In 1955 the Home Mission Board of the ELC
(Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Canadian arm of ALC) made
a decision to relocated to the growing subdivision being
developed in Westlynn Park. Mount Olivet was established at
its present sight on Mountain Highway. On February 12, 1956,
Rev. L. Tom Nilson held the first worship service.
Federated Parish of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church
From 1970 to 1974, two services were offered in which the
ELCIC and the LCC liturgies were used interchangeably.
Pastor Jim Voigt of St. Mark’s and Pastor Ron Soine of Mount
Olivet conducted services together. In January 1, 1972,
Pastor Earl Lewis replaced Pastor Soine when he accepted a
call to the United States. Pastor Eifert becomes the second
pastor, serving from October 9, 1986 to October 31, 1994.
Pastor Randy Faro served as third pastor of the Federated
Parish of Mount Olivet beginning May 14, 1995. Pastor Randy
served until September 28, 2002.
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church (ELCIC)
During Pastor Randy’s tenure it became apparent that the
congregation functioned, for all intents and purposes, as a
single congregation. Even though both St. Mark’s and Mount
Olivet had their own church Councils, all aspects of worship
and common life had become seamless. Responding to this
reality, the two congregations voted overwhelmingly to
dissolve the Federation Agreement and become the ELCIC
parish of Mount Olivet Lutheran effective September 29,
2002.
Since 2002
While waiting for the pastor vacancy to be filled, Rev. Ken
Harris and Eva came into our midst at Mount Olivet from
October 2002 until February 2003.
Pastor Steve Boros, Lorraine and their children Caitlin age
13 and Andrea age 7, came to Mount Olivet where Pastor Steve
was installed February 23, 2003 and served until July 28,
2005. Once again Pastor Ken Harris and Eva came to Mount
Olivet, serving from August 7, 2005 until August 31, 2006.
Pastor Alan Lai and his wife Fanly and their children,
Pauline, Matthew and Gloria come to serve at Mount Olivet as
of September, 2006. Pastor Alan was Assistant Professor of
Religious Education at Vancouver School of Theology before
coming to Mount Olivet.
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