BLACKSBURG – Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, a Reconciling in Christ
congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will celebrate its 140th anniversary of ministry to Blacksburg and the New River Valley on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Founded in 1883 to minister to Cadets at what was formerly Virginia Agricultural & Mechanical College, now Virginia Tech, Luther Memorial completed construction of a church and parsonage on Turner Street in Blacksburg in 1886. Over the next 90 years, the congregation grew until the original property was sold and land was purchased on the corner of Tom’s Creek & Prices Fork roads in Blacksburg. A new sanctuary, fellowship hall, and education wing were constructed and dedicated in 1974.
For its centennial celebration in 1986, Luther Memorial installed a custom pipe
organ; the congregation hosts free recitals and musical programs for the Blacksburg and NRV communities.
“Lutherans enjoy a rich history of choral and liturgical excellence; our worship music is vibrant thanks to Organist Dr. Jay Crone, a Professor of Music at Virginia
Tech and Principal Trombonist with the Roanoke Symphony; and our choir, led by Director Amy Cowan, a Voice Instructor at Virginia Tech.
Lead Pastor Rev. Monica Weber attributes the congregation’s legacy of worship,
fellowship and service to the community to its close relationships with Virginia Tech students, faculty and staff.
“Many of our members are now or have been affiliated with Virginia Tech in some capacity, and Luther Memorial enjoys the reputation of being a ‘good
neighbor’ to the university and to Blacksburg. Virginia Tech’s graduate family preschool, The Little Hokie Hangout, uses our building and playground. Each week, we host university and civic organization meetings, plus activities including a Tai Chi class and a martial arts class. Our site serves as a Montgomery County election polling place and a Red Cross Disaster Preparedness Drill location. During the tragic 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech, our sanctuary provided a safe space for students, faculty, staff and the public to gather and pray for victims and their families. Scout Troop #704 and Cub Pack #704 meet on our campus, and we frequently welcome visitors to worship who are in town for university or
community functions. We are very blessed as a faith body, and it is a privilege to serve Blacksburg and the NRV,” said Weber.
Both the Luther Memorial congregation and The Well Lutheran Campus Ministry are affiliates of the ELCA’s Reconciling in Christ organization, which seeks to welcome and affirm LGBTQIA+ persons and allies, as well as Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC).
“We proclaim God’s unconditional love and forgiveness to all. Everyone is embraced at Luther Memorial, just as they are, because we believe and rejoice that all people are created in the divine image. We advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion by speaking for the voiceless, mindful that we represent the love of Jesus to our community and to the world,” Weber said.
Luther Memorial’s founding ministry to college students led to the construction of a Campus Center in the early 1990s. The Well Lutheran Campus Ministry is led by Rev. Dr. Bryan Katz, a Virginia Tech alumnus and Professor of Practice in Civil Engineering. Rev. Dr. Katz was ordained by the ELCA in 2021 to serve New Mount Zion Lutheran Church, prior to being called as pastor to The Well.
“It gives me great joy to teach young minds and prepare them for an engineering career. It’s a privilege to accompany college students from Virginia Tech, Radford University, and New River Community College in The Well. Our campus ministry not only offers students a place to worship, enjoy meals, study, and socialize
together, but also provides encouragement and service opportunities to these young
adults. College is stressful, and our goal is to ease some of the anxieties that students face, as well as provide them with a faith foundation to stand on after graduation. It’s amazing to watch our Well students grow, serve and even find their life partner as a result of their participation in this campus ministry.”
Katz also serves as the Virginia Synod’s liaison to the ELCA Churchwide Campus Ministry body, LuMin.
Guest preacher at Luther Memorial’s 140th Anniversary Worship Celebration will be Rev. Dr. Phyllis Blair Milton, Bishop of the ELCA Virginia Synod, headquartered in Salem on the campus of Roanoke College, an ELCA institution. The church’s former clergy and members have been invited to attend the anniversary worship celebration, honoring their participation in Luther Memorial’s faith life and advocacy for social justice.
In recognition of its 140th anniversary, Luther Memorial plans to donate special
monetary gifts to the congregation’s four primary mission outreach charities: The
Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry; Micah’s Closet; To Our House; and the Valley Interfaith Child Care Center.
“We wish to honor these valuable ministry partners for the services they
provide to our community; these gifts are made possible thanks to the generosity of our members and donors, who recognize that the work these organizations perform is a necessary and important contribution to improving the quality of life for residents of Blacksburg,” Weber said.
Luther Memorial offers weekly worship services, Christian faith formation,
fellowship and service opportunities, and all are welcome. More information on the
congregation and The Well Lutheran Campus Ministry may be found at the church’s website, www.lmlc.org, or by contacting the church office, (540) 951-1000.
Luther Memorial Lutheran Church
