Hope Lutheran Church hosted its Centennial Celebration Sunday morning, commemorating 100 years in Cranberry Township and new community outreach facilities as well as the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

CRANBERRY TWP —Local Lutherans congregated at Hope Lutheran Church Sunday for a celebration of the church's storied past and bright future in the Cranberry area and in the world.

Hope Lutheran hosted its Centennial Celebration, commemorating 100 years in Cranberry and new community outreach facilities as well as the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, when Martin Luther first wrote his 95 theses and set in motion a series of events that would lead to a schism in the Catholic Church and the start of Protestantism.

“Yesterday we celebrated 100 years as a congregation,” Pastor Ron Brown said. “We also celebrated our new Christian education wing and community wing.”

Hope Lutheran started in 1917, and moved to its current location at 8070 Rowan Road in 1971.

Members first began planning the most recent expansion in the 1990s.

“This has been 20 years in the making,” Brown said. “We're growing, like many churches in Cranberry. For a traditional church, we're very blessed.”

After reaching 100 years in the community, Brown said the church is excited to see what the future will bring.

“Hopefully another 100 years,” he said. “Also a lot more community outreach.”

Brown is hoping the new relationships as well as the new facilities will help continue to bring new members.

“We're excited,” he said.

The event was attended by numerous community and church members as well as by Bishop Emeritus Donald McCoid of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod and current Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod Bishop Kurt Kusserow.

McCoid has been helping with talks between the Lutheran and the Catholic churches in Western Pennsylvania about improving their relationship and possibly working together in the future, Brown said.

“We're excited about the dialogue with the Roman Catholics,” he said. “We're looking at ways to do ministry together.”

The Catholics and Lutherans have been developing this dialogue throughout the year with events in the spring that looked to step closer to reconciliation.

Progress has been slow but steady, said Brown.

Those committed to the start and continuing of these talks have started a Facebook group called “Lutherans & Catholics on the Way in Southwestern Pennsylvania!”

There, members of both sides can post about upcoming events, religious news and engage in conversation.

On Oct. 28, Saint Vincent College in Latrobe is hosting a joint Lutheran and Catholic Commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation titled “From Conflict to Communion: Hope for the Future.

More information can be found on the Facebook page and registration information can be found at www.eventbrite.com/e/lutheran-catholic-commemoration-of-hope-registration-36829704638.