Lord of Life Lutheran Church will be celebrating a quarter century of worship at its current location, which is unique because it is a former horse stable.
The special anniversary service will be held beginning at 9:45 am. on Aug. 11 at its location at 276 Roscoe Blvd. N. in Ponte Vedra Beach.
The church purchased the six acres of land and the stable and moved its services to it in 1999 after previously having held them in a manufactured home on Solana Road.
However, according to Shelia Kolesaire, the church’s council president, as the church’s congregation grew it was quickly realized that they needed more space to hold their worship services.
Although a horse stable may at first seem not like a traditional place to hold services, the potential of the spot was quickly realized by the church’s leaders, and it has become a beloved home for its members over the years.
“We remind ourselves that Jesus was born in a stable,” Kolesaire said. “We love this unique and unpretentious space that frees us to focus on the preaching by Pastor Karen Biggerstaff each Sunday. This is a welcoming church that supports its members through all of life’s ups and downs, and we value outreach to the community too.”
The wooden posts running down the length of the building help visitors imagine the horse stalls that were once there.
Over the years, improvements have been made thanks to the contributions and efforts of local businesses, congregants, and Scouts working on Eagle Scout projects.
Some of these projects have included a walkway, prayer garden, tables, and a Little Free Lending Library for the community to enjoy.
According to Kolesaire, Lord of Life is one of four Lutheran churches in St. Johns County and feels proud that it has remained strong and together throughout the years.
“We have an electric mix of congregants from active 90-year-olds to families with college age children,” said Biggerstaff, who joined Lord of Life during the spring. “We have a number of recent widows, and I’ve seen that this church has been a good place for active seniors to make friends.”
One of the great things about the site is the six acres that make it up, which allows Lord of Life to host its annual pumpkin patch on the front lawn, offering hundreds of pumpkins through October.
The pumpkin patch has been going on since the property was purchased so it will be the 25th year for that event as well, and plans are underway for how to celebrate that milestone too.
