Q: What time is worship at Grace Lutheran Church?

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A: Worship is held each Sunday at 8:00 am and 10:30 am. Additional worship services are held on Wednesday evenings during the seasons of Advent and Lent at 7:00 pm. Christmas Eve worship is held at both 5:00 pm and 9:00 pm. Christmas Day worship is held at 10:30am. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday worship services are held at 7:00 pm on those days. We also hold an Easter Vigil service on the Saturday evening before Easter at 7:00 pm.

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Q: What is worship like at Grace Lutheran Church?

 

A: Worship at Grace is what many people would call “traditional,” with historic Christian liturgy, organ, piano, hymns, choirs, and handbells. As Lutherans, we understand that our worship is first about what God provides for us. We often call our worship “service,” and this means that God serves us with the good news of His Son Jesus Christ. Through God’s Word proclaimed and the sacraments instituted by Christ our Lord (Baptism and Holy Communion), God gives us the gift of Jesus and fills our need for redemption. God then calls us to serve Him in the world.

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Q: Are children welcome at Grace Lutheran Church?

 

A: Most definitely! Having children in worship is truly a gift and a sign that our congregation is growing. It is through participation in worship from an early age that children learn the language of our faith and develop the lifelong habit of worship attendance. If children get restless and need to leave worship for a time, a nursery is located in the back of the sanctuary where parents may listen to the service. But always feel free to bring children back into the sanctuary when you are ready.

 

Q: Does Grace Lutheran Church hold an educational time on Sunday morning?

 

A: Yes. Adventures in Faith/Sunday School (AIF) for children is held from 9:15 am to 10:15 am, in between the two worship services. The group meets in the Noah’s Club room, adjacent to the fellowship hall. Children gather for music at 9:15 am, with the lesson beginning around 9:30 am.

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Currently, an adult class meets in the St. John’s Hall room in the gathering space near the sanctuary. This group begins meeting at 9:15 am.

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Q: How often is Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper) offered at Grace Lutheran Church?

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A: Holy Communion is offered at Grace every Sunday worship service as well as on the festivals of Maundy Thursday, Easter Vigil, and Christmas Day.

 

Q: Who may receive Holy Communion at Grace Lutheran Church?

 

A: Holy Communion is one of the sacraments of the church, which are the means by which God gives us the gift of Jesus. It is a “participation” in the body and blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16 ESV). Jesus invites sinners to his table, as they know their need for his grace and mercy in their lives. This is good news! Our bulletin states:

 

“Lutherans teach that Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper) was instituted by Jesus Christ himself for us to eat and drink. As his words declare, with bread and wine, he imparts to us his body and blood, and with it the grace of God. This sacrament is God’s way of giving us the good news of Jesus in a concrete, physical way as we continue our pilgrimage on earth. We are rightly prepared to receive this great gift when we come before God with humility and faith. All are welcome to receive the Lord’s body and blood who are baptized and believe that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.”

 

Those who choose not to receive the Lord’s Supper may come forward for a brief prayer and blessing and may indicate that by crossing their arms over their chest.

 

Before children in the congregation are admitted to the Lord’s Supper for the first time, they complete a five-week first Communion course, usually offered in the spring of their fourth-grade year.

 

Q: I would like to become a member of Grace Lutheran Church. What must I do?

 

A: Contact the pastor to make arrangements. If coming from another Lutheran congregation, a simple transfer of membership is normally all that is required. Please be aware, however, that there are differences in practice among different Lutheran organizations. For your information, a brief summary of these Lutheran organizations in the United States written by Pastor Tom Jacobson can be found here. If coming from a different Christian tradition, the pastor will lead you in a six-week new member course about Lutheran teachings. If one is a new believer and desires to be baptized, the pastor will lead you in a new member course of a different type, devoted to learning basic Christian teachings.

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Q: Is Grace Lutheran Church a member of a larger organization?

 

A: Yes, Grace is a member of the North American Lutheran Church (NALC). You can find more information about the NALC at its website.

 

Q: Where can I read about the history of the North American Lutheran Church?

 

A: You can read a brief history of the NALC at this link.

 

Q: What are the guiding values of the North American Lutheran Church?

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A: In addition to its four core values of “Christ Centered,” “Mission Driven,” “Traditionally Grounded,” and “Congregationally Focused,” the NALC affirms a seven-point statement written in 2005 called the “Common Confession,” listed below:

          

     1. The Lord Jesus Christ

     We are people who believe and confess our faith in the Triune God—Father,

     Son, and Holy Spirit. We trust and believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and

     Lord.

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     2. The Gospel of Salvation

     We believe and confess that all human beings are sinners, and that sinners are

     redeemed by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God alone justifies

     human beings by faith in Christ — a faith that God creates through the message

     of the Gospel. As ambassadors for Christ, God uses us to speak His Word and

     build His kingdom.

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     3. The Authority of Scripture

     We believe and confess that the Bible is God's revealed Word to us, spoken in

     Law and Gospel. The Bible is the final authority for us in all matters of our faith

     and life.

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     4. A Common Confession of Faith

     We accept and uphold that the Lutheran Confessions reliably guide us as faithful

     interpretations of Scripture, and that we share a unity and fellowship in faith with

     others among whom the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached and the Sacraments

     are administered in accordance with the Gospel.

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     5. The Priesthood of All Believers

     We believe and confess that the Holy Spirit makes all who believe in Jesus Christ

     to be priests for service to others in Jesus' name, and that God desires to make

     use of the spiritual gifts he has given through the priesthood of all believers.

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     6. Marriage and Family

     We believe and confess that the marriage of male and female is an institution

     created and blessed by God. From marriage, God forms families to serve as the

     building blocks of all human civilization and community. We teach and practice

     that sexual activity belongs exclusively within the Biblical boundaries of a faithful

     marriage between one man and one woman.

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     7. The Mission and Ministry of the Congregation

     We believe and confess that the Church is the assembly of believers called and

     gathered by God around Word and Sacrament, and that the mission and ministry

     of the Church is carried out within the context of individual congregations, which

     are able to work together locally and globally.

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Q: Where can I read statements by the North American Lutheran Church on particular topics?

 

A: You can find NALC statements at this link. You can also learn more about the NALC by reading current and past editions of “NALC News,” its monthly newsletter.

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Q: Who may be married at Grace Lutheran Church?

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A: The pastor of Grace will officiate at weddings between one man and one woman. Guest pastors may serve in assisting roles in the wedding service with the approval of the pastor of Grace. Normally, one of the parties to be married must be a member of Grace or have an otherwise close connection with a member of Grace. A pre-marriage inventory led by the pastor is an option for couples before marriage as a way of preparing for the lifelong commitment of the marriage vows. Contact Pastor Tom Jacobson for more information before scheduling a date.

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Q: Who may have a funeral or memorial service at Grace Lutheran Church?

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A: The pastor of Grace will officiate at funeral or memorial services for the deceased who were members of Grace or perhaps have a close connection with a member of Grace. Guest pastors may serve in assisting roles in the funeral or memorial service with the approval of the pastor of Grace. Contact Pastor Tom Jacobson for more information.

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Q: Where can I find more information about getting involved at Grace Lutheran Church?

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A: The most recent version of our Ministry Directory contains information about congregational activities as well as contact information. You can access the Ministry Directory here.