Faith Episcopal Church will proudly mark its 30th anniversary with a community-wide Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in conjunction with the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce.
All are invited to the celebration on Thursday, June 6 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Faith Episcopal Church located at 27802 El Lazo in Laguna Niguel.
Festivities include ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m., refreshments, Faith Bell Choir performance, historical displays and opportunity to tour Faith Church and network among friends, civic leaders, and community members.
Please RSVP to Lorelei Auld at administrator@faithepiscopal.org no later than May 31.
Faith Episcopal Church is located at 27802 El Lazo in Laguna Niguel. For more information, call (949) 448-8114 or visit www.faithepiscopal.org.
About Faith Episcopal Church
Faith Episcopal Church began as a mission of St. Clements by the Sea, San Clemente in 1989. After meeting in homes and other various locations for many years, the small parish received a generous bequest and built their permanent home in Laguna Niguel in 2005.
The mission of Faith Church is to seek a deeper understanding of the mystery of God, offer the hospitality of the Gospel and strive for a just and compassionate community for all. Services are held every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. with choir, childcare and fellowship breakfast. Faith is also home to Hands of Grace, an interfaith community dinner held every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.
Faith Episcopal, Laguna Niguel began in the home of Kay and Frank Lindahl on Caravel Place in June 1989. A priest from St. Clements San Clemente offered his time to officiate services. Kay was passionate about interfaith and the late Frank Lindahl was an urban planner and envisioned the growth of Laguna Niguel.
Within a few months, the small group moved to donated space at the Republic Bank building which was located at Crown Valley Parkway and Niguel Road at the time. After one year and with a growing membership, the group met at the Design Center for several years then shared space at Shepherd of the Hills off Niguel Road (was recently developed into condos). In those early years, they were joined by St. Timothy’s, Laguna Niguel Presbyterian, Mission Lutheran and synagogue as a group of ‘Homeless Churches.’
They eventually hired a priest and ten years ago, longtime members (the Sutton family) left their entire inheritance to Faith allowing them to purchase and retrofit a space at 27802 El Lazo Road previously occupied by Calvary Chapel.
The bonds of friendship and spirituality that brought people together in 1989 to seek out a new church experience endures today as Faith Episcopal Church celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The hospitality of our origins in the home of Kay Lindahl and Frank Hotchkiss has characterized the church in each of its locations over the years. Launched by Rev. Jack Hennings as an offshoot of St. Clements-by-the-Sea, the church was officially recognized in 1989 as a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. We share our founding anniversary of December 1, 1989, with Laguna Niguel, which became Orange County’s 29th city when it was incorporated on that date.
In addition to private homes, the growing congregation held services over its first decade in community meeting rooms at Republic Bank and at the Design Center, and then in a sanctuary shared with Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.
Parishioners Nan and White Sutton made the dream of a permanent home possible through a gift from their estate. The office park space was purchased in 2002 and remodeled to include worship, fellowship, education, and administrative space. The first services in Faith’s permanent home were held in 2004.
Now under the leadership of our sixth Vicar, The Rev. Dawn Vukich, we continue as the Episcopal Church serving Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo and Mission Viejo. As an active participant in the interfaith community of south Orange County, we host the multi-church outreach program, “Hands of Grace,” that serves weekly meals for those in need as well as an annual interfaith Thanksgiving celebration. Community groups make frequent use of Faith’s fellowship space for recurring classes, meetings, and recovery groups. Our worship schedule includes weekday services, evening Bible studies, annual Beach services, and Saturday evening and Sunday morning mass.
Story and Pictures Contributed By:
Barbara Kimler
