1. • All Are Welcome

Who is welcome at First Lutheran Church?

Everyone is welcome to join us here at First Lutheran for worship, Bible study, friendship, and community building.

Jesus invited everyone He could find to come listen to Him. Whether young or old, rich or poor, established or down on their luck - He asked people to come to Him.

Jesus is still asking everyone to come listen to Him, to feel His presence, and to experience His Love and Grace.

First Encounters - Once a quarter we offer this new members information class. Whether you have questions about what a Lutheran believes or you have been a life long Lutheran. This class will give you the basics and introduce to you some of the exciting things happening at First Lutheran. (Recommended for all who are new to this congregation)

If there is anything that we can do to ease your visit to First Lutheran, please let us know by emailing us or calling us at 352 376 2062!

Overview

With the universal Christian Church, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.

Being "Lutheran," our congregations accept and teach Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three short phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.

Lutherans believe like most any Christian believes. We believe in a Triune (three-in-one), completely Holy God who loved us so much that He came to live with us as Jesus Christ.

Jesus knew that we were corrupted from the very beginnings with sin, and that the only way to cleanse that sin was for Him - the completely Holy and Innocent One - to die in our stead. That is what He did for us on the cross.

When He rose from the tomb on Easter morning, He proved to the world that He had overcome death and sin. Now when we are Baptized, we share in His conquering of sin and death.

Are Lutherans Christians?

Yes, absolutely. Lutherans hold to the faith that Jesus died for our sins and because of that, we will one day be with Him in heaven.

What "kind" of Lutheran is First Lutheran?

First Lutheran Church is a part of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. For more information go to www.lcms.org

Grace alone

God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.

Faith alone

By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.

Scripture alone

The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.

Who is Jesus?
For more than 2,000 years people have asked the question, "Who is Jesus?". We were not present when Jesus lived on this earth, but in the Bible we have the record of his birth, life, death on the cross, and resurrection. Study of the Bible, God's Word, will enable you to seek out the answer to this age-old question.

1. •      Church History

First Lutheran Church began in 1931 with two Lutheran brothers and their families who had moved to Gainesville and worshipped together in their homes. A traveling Lutheran pastor came once a month to conduct the services for them. As more Lutheran families and students moved to the area, their number grew too large for their homes, so they held worship services in a former office and storeroom at a local mill where the brothers worked. In 1938, a pastor of their own was sent to Gainesville to what was by this time St. Matthews Lutheran Church. He soon found a better place for them to meet in the recreation hall of a tourist court. When the tourist court needed to turn that into more tourist accommodations a few years later, services were moved to the Florida Union Chapel on the university campus. It was supposed to be a temporary arrangement, but it lasted for eight years. They bought a house for a parsonage and held worship services there for a few months, then rented a church that had been converted into an upholstery shop and turned it back into a church again. Before long, it had to be moved so they searched for yet another place to worship. A funeral home chapel turned out to be the nicest place theyd had yet! That was in 1952, and plans were underway for a church building of their own. After twenty-one years of worshipping in various places, a happy congregation dedicated its chapel and student center on the current church property in December of 1952. It was a good time for a new beginning with a new name, and St. Matthews became First Lutheran Church of Gainesville.

Almost fourteen years passed before a larger place of worship was built. The current sanctuary was dedicated in May of 1966. The chapel was eventually replaced by a large educational/fellowship/office complex, and other adjoining properties were purchased.

PASTORS THROUGH THE YEARS:
Rev.Edward Fischer (1931- 1938)
Rev. Edgar Brammer (1938 1941)
Rev. Erhardt Weber (1942 1945)
Rev. Eugene Helms (1945 1949)
Rev. William Knoke (1950)
Rev. A. F. Gerbhardt (1951 1957)
Rev. Roland Frerking (1958 1961)
Rev. Robert Besalski (1962 1996)
Rev. Steven Hess (1983 1994)
Rev. Ed Visscher (1994 1995)
Rev. Timothy Hinz (1995 2001)
Rev. Kenneth Babin (1997-2008)
Rev. John Roth (Since 2002)
Rev. Daniel Prugh (Since 2008)

1. •    Pastors & Staff

A number of pastors have served the congregation over the years. Campus ministry has always been a large part of its ministry, and beginning in 1966, a vicar has been assigned to First Lutheran each year to work with the students. The current staff consists of two pastors, a vicar, a minister of music, a director of Christian education, and a director of praise ministry. The Lord has richly blessed this congregation through its early years and into the present. We go into the future with Him as our guide. To God Be the Glory!