This is the website of the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Nagano Church (Protestant), located in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Latest Worship Video
Sermon manuscript (in Japanese) is available here.
A list of past sermons can be found here
Worship Schedule
| Date & Time (Please arrive 10 minutes early) |
Worship Format / Pastor Akihisa's Availability |
|---|---|
| Sunday, July 20, 2025 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
Lay-led worship (Pastor Jun Akihisa is not at Nagano Church on this day; Pastor is at the Matsumoto Church) |
| Sunday, July 27, 2025 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
Pastor Akihisa will be present at Nagano Church |
| Sunday, August 03, 2025 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
Lay-led worship (Pastor Jun Akihisa is not at Nagano Church on this day; Pastor is at the Matsumoto Church) |
| Sunday, August 10, 2025 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
Pastor Akihisa will be present at Nagano Church |
| Sunday, August 17, 2025 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
Lay-led worship (Pastor Jun Akihisa is not at Nagano Church on this day; Pastor is at the Matsumoto Church) |
* Pastor Akihisa also serves at the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Matsumoto Church. On "lay-led worship" days, Pastor is at the Matsumoto Church instead. Worship will still be held at Nagano Church on all listed dates.
Anyone is welcome to attend, regardless of faith background.
During the service, there is a time for offering. Offerings are voluntary and have no set amount. They are gratefully received and used for church ministry and maintenance.
Access
From JR Nagano Station: Take Alpico Bus to "Yuya Minami"（湯屋南） stop. 2-minute walk. Parking available.
History
We are a congregation of the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church, part of the Protestant tradition stemming from 16th-century reformer Martin Luther. Christianity is broadly divided into Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant branches. The Lutheran Church belongs to the Protestant tradition, and the name “Lutheran” comes from Martin Luther.
The history of our Japan Evangelical Lutheran Nagano Church began in 1961 with the first worship held at a women's center. It was initiated through the pioneering mission efforts of Pastor Hisashi Shiobara and Missionary E. Berg, who desired to plant a Lutheran church in the northern Nagano region. Invitations were mailed to students of the Lutheran Hour (Radio program in Japan) course in the Nagano area, and the first worship was preached by Missionary Kalliokoski. In the following year, the National Assembly officially approved the establishment of a mission station, which began in a rented house in Kurita, Nagano City. In 1967, the meeting place was moved to Hakoshimizu, and in 1979, the current church building was dedicated at its present location.
