Aurora Advent Christian Church will hold its final worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 2, after 169 years of ministry.
The Reverend Matt Mull, senior pastor, made the announcement in a March 18 E-mail.
Advent and Redeemer Community Church, formerly of Oswego and co-located at Advent since August 2020, are planning to combine Easter Sunday, April 9.
A hospitality period at 9:15 a.m. will feature refreshments donated by congregants. Easter worship will be at 10 a.m.
Rev. Mull said, “This day marks the beginning of our combined congregations celebrating the risen Christ and worshipping together regularly.”
A legacy celebration, “Celebrating the Past: Building the Future,” is set for 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 6.
Congregants are invited to share.
Pauline Easley of Aurora (1937-2023), former church archivist, compiled “Aurora Advent Christian Church History 1860-2010.”
She wrote that Aurora Advent Christians began worshipping in local homes in October 1854 after a two-week series of services by a traveling evangelist in September 1854.
After moving from Plank Junior High School in Oswego, the Redeemer congregation began outdoor services at Advent in a tent on a back lawn on August 2, 2020.
Later, Redeemer was allowed to hold an indoor service on afternoons at Advent.
At 905 N. Edgelawn Drive in Aurora, Advent holds Sunday services at 10 a.m. and Redeemer holds services at 4 p.m.
—Al Benson