Tree of Life Lutheran Church 1492 Linglestown Rd. Harrisburg, PA 17110 (717) 238-8733
Office: M-Th, 8:30am-1:00pm
Worship: Saturday, 5:00pm
Sunday, 8:30 and 11:00am
Pastors Richard Geib and Catharine Senft Geib
About Us
Brief History
Tree of Life Church began in May of 1987, when Pastor Richard B. Geib was called as a pastor-developer of a new Lutheran congregation. Supported by the local Lutheran synod, now called the Lower Susquehanna Synod (ELCA), Pastor Geib began extensive door-to-door calling on various neighborhoods in Susquehanna and Lower Paxton Townships. With sufficient interest, a first service of worship was held in the gym of Herbert Hoover Elementary School on January 24, 1988. By November of the same year, membership in the congregation had reached 144 and the congregation was chartered and accepted into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Upon completion of her theological studies, Pastor Catharine Senft Geib was also called to serve the congregation. Both continue to serve as the congregation's pastors today.
This church confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This church confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe... - Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through whom everything was made and through whose life, death, and resurrection God fashions a new creation. - The proclamation of God's message to us as both Law and Gospel is the Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy through word and deed, beginning with the Word in creation, continuing in the history of Israel, and centering in all its fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ. - The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God. Inspired by God's Spirit speaking through their authors, they record and announce God's revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through them God's Spirit speaks to us to create and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the world.
This church accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life.
This church accepts the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds as true declarations of the faith of this church.
This church accepts the Unaltered Augsburg Confession as a true witness to the Gospel, acknowledging as one with it In faith and doctrine all churches that likewise accept the teachings of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.
This church accepts the other confessional writings in the Book of Concord, namely, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise, the Small Catechism, the Large Catechism, and the Formula of Concord, as further valid interpretations of the faith of the Church.
This church confesses the Gospel, recorded in the Holy Scriptures and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain the Church for God's mission in the world.
Welcome in love to Tree of Life Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America! We affirm that we are a community called and empowered by God through Word and Sacrament.
We Believe that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, sends us into the world to share God's love through our words and actions. Though we are a community shaped by diverse traditions, we affirm one Lord, who is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and one Faith, that brings all peoples together.
We commit ourselves to a life of worship, service, fellowship, education, and witness in this place, in the world, and to each other. To this purpose we pledge our time, talent, and treasure, and invite all persons to share in the growth of the Christian ministry of Tree of Life Lutheran Church.
What can I expect?
While those who visit with us will gain their own impression, our congregation seeks to be a welcoming, inclusive community. We are child friendly, welcome children in worship, and support a wide range of opportunities for fellowship and Christian Education.
We practice open table fellowship, meaning all who are baptized, regardless of denomination or age, are invited to receive Holy Communion with us. We are active in mission, seek to be good neighbors, contribute to the well being of our community, and open our building for a variety of groups not formally associated with our congregation.
Our Services
We offer three weekend services, Saturday (5 pm), Sunday (8:30 and 11 am). The Saturday service is about fifty minutes in length, less “busy”, and less musically intensive. Relative to our Sunday services it might be described as contemplative, offering a few minutes of quiet reflection. Our Sunday morning services include a wide variety of choral music and congregational song ranging from traditional to contemporary. All three services include a sermon and Holy Communion. There is no dress code for any of our services.
Driving directions
Tree of Life Church is located at 1492 Linglestown Rd. in Harrisburg, PA (at the intersection of Linglestown and Fargreen). Door-to-door driving directions and a map can be found by clicking here.