Augustana Lutheran Church, Denver

Due to the anticipated snowstorm and the closure of Denver Public Schools, the Augustana Lutheran Church offices will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6.

Staff will respond to email as they are able while working remotely.

Please stay safe, stay warm, and take care of one another.

The staff celebrated Bill's birthday and second retirement with a tasty potluck and lots of laughter! He will be greatly missed on the Staff Ministry as he's welcomed fully back into the pews.

Reverend Ron Glusenkamp - 45 years!
Reverend Ron Swenson - 65 years!

We celebrated the big ordination anniversaries of two Augustana members at the Rocky Mountain Synod, ELCA, Synod Assembly.

Grateful for our Augustana voting members attending the Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly! Connecting, learning, worshipping, faithing, representing, voting, and more.

Enjoy this service--prayers, preaching, and music--as it was livestreamed! The Chancel Choir partnered with clergy for a unique worship service to deepen our Good Friday reflections. The J. S. Bach Cantata 106, Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit (God’s Time is the Very Best Time), also called Actus Tragicus, is an early Bach work intended for a funeral. This funeral music focuses on the mortality of humankind and, in his crucifixion, Jesus shared this most human experience.

The liturgy intersperses Biblical readings, prayers, and hymns appropriate for Good Friday with the Cantata movements, much as church services would have been conducted in Bach’s time. The text for the final segment to be sung in this Good Friday service is “Death has become my sleep,” reflecting that, in death, the body “sleeps” until transformed at its resurrection.

Written around 1708, Bach’s writing is a juxtaposition of biblical texts from the Old Testament and New Testament, combined with funeral hymns. Seven of the eight movements will be performed, omitting the eighth due to its celebratory tone antithetical to Good Friday’s somber reverence.

The service includes flute, chorus, vocal solos with viola and cello and continuo with cello and the portative organ on loan from the University of Denver--differing slightly from the original score that included two recorders and two viols da gamba–stringed instruments much like the modern cello but smaller and held between the legs without touching the floor.

We are grateful to University of Denver Lamont School of Music for the loan of their portative organ which will lend an historical sound and context to this music.

Good Friday - 04/02/26 - Augustana Lutheran Church Denver Good Friday - 04/02/26 - Augustana Lutheran Church DenverThank you for joining us!

Maundy Thursday services 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Livestreamed)
Holy Communion for all, yup, even you!
The 7 p.m. service includes the stripping of the altar and chancel--powerful imagery of letting go.
Jesus says: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another…Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” This is Jesus’ command, the mandate (Latin: mandatum) for which Maundy Thursday is named. The Maundy Thursday Service is one of endings and beginnings. What was begun on Ash Wednesday is brought to a close here tonight. What begins tonight does not end until the resurrection of Easter. It is the ancient Triduum, “The Three Sacred Days,” which lead us to Easter: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday with its Vigil of Easter.

Three more Augustana Homes' closings today! A few Augustana church folks who were instrumental in launching the affordable homes build joined Pastor Caitlin to celebrate with our new neighbors. Holy moments during Holy Week.

Augustana's Human Dignity Delegates represent with other ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod Lutherans including Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni at Together Colorado's 2026 Faith & Justice Lobby Day. Advocating for issues that promote human dignity -- housing, education, clean air, public safety, and more!

Peace.

Christian leaders join in appeal for "gift of peace" | Living Lutheran Leaders of four global Christian communions reaffirmed their commitment to peace and multilateralism in a joint statement.