WELCOME The Ascension Sanctuary HISTORY
THIS IS MY STORY
(Ascension History)
by
Helen Kneten
Jerusalem Garden Tomb - 1965
A replica of the
Jerusalem Garden Tomb was built into the hillside below the church in 1965. This
was done by Pastor Sieberg and the Brotherhood (church organization for men). At
that time Ascension's address was 6300 Balcones Drive and the driveway curved up
from Balcones Drive to the front of our present parish hall. Maybe you remember
it as the asphalt drive that had to be removed from the playground area.
The size of the tomb was smaller than the Garden Tomb but the
arrangement of the rooms and burial spaces were the same.
An Easter Sunrise Service was held on the front lawn above the tomb on
April 18, 1965 at 6: 15 a.m. This was the beginning of a tradition of Easter Sunrise
services at Ascension. .
It was about 1964 when the city proposed an exchange of property (the
area where Hart Lane
is in exchange for a like amount on the south side of our property). This
brought Ascension's property line to Allen Park. After Hart Lane was cut, our
address became 6420 Hart Lane.
Early in 1971, Pastor Sieberg announced his resignation and Pastor
Henry Engeling was installed as the new pastor on August 8, 1971.
In 1972 we began the tradition of 'Flowering the Cross' on Easter
Sunday.
A Building Committee was chosen in 1973 to begin planning for a new
worship area and in 1976 the congregation hired Jim Faulk to design a new
sanctuary.