Immanuel Lutheran Church of Alameda will install a new pastor, Reverend Crystal Larsen Stewart, on July 2 at a special church service of Holy Communion with Reverend Dave Miller presiding and Immanuel Church Council President Andrew Thomas assisting. The service begins at 10 a.m., with a reception and coffee hour afterward. All are welcome to attend both.
Pastor Crystal succeeds the Reverend Dot Lundgren who retired in 2020. A native of Texas, Pastor Crystal grew up in Oregon, and has worked in youth and family ministry. Following graduation from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in 2017, she completed a chaplain residency program, and has worked as a hospice chaplain. She also served as associate pastor for United in Grace Lutheran Church in Vallejo. She now serves as a staff chaplain at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley and as lead pastor at Immanuel Lutheran in Alameda.
“It’s a blessing and pleasure to begin as lead pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alameda,” Pastor Crystal said. “As I start this journey with the folks of Immanuel, I see us in a place where we are learning who we are again together as a body of believers. Part of this process looks like re-envisioning our mission, especially for how we are to be of service to and in relationship with our neighbors.”
The new pastor also noted that the church is in the midst of building improvement projects. “We are hoping to restore more beauty and structure to the historical building, over 130 years of presence in this beautiful city.”
Immanuel Lutheran Church, located at 1420 Lafayette St., holds worship services both online and in person on Sundays at 10 a.m. The link to the online service is on the church website.
Among the ministries of Immanuel Lutheran Church’s team of volunteers is Dine & Connect, a meal provided to unsheltered and food-insecure people in Alameda, in conjunction with the Alameda All Faiths Coalition, Alameda Food Bank, Building Futures, Operation Dignity, and the City of Alameda.
