History

Grace Alive at 45!

Grace Lutheran Church Celebrates Anniversary

Forty-five years ago on November 1st, a group of 32 hardy souls met for the first time at Thomas Dale High School for a worship service. Led by Rev. Peter Steinke, a young mission developer from the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the worshippers formed Grace Lutheran Church. This Sunday, Nov. 1, a special worship service, dinner, and program will be held to commemorate the occasion and celebrate God’s many blessings to Grace.

Grace has grown, not just in membership to the present 450, but in its physical environment as well. In 1968 a permanent structure on Harrowgate Road was dedicated and included the sanctuary and old fellowship hall of the present building. Through the years several building projects have enlarged the building and improved the property, most notably the new fellowship hall and educational wing built in the early 90’s. Most recent is the addition of a memorial garden which fits into Grace’s plan of eventual expansion into a new sanctuary.

Current pastor Rev. Rich Finck has been at Grace since 2001 and is the congregation’s sixth full-time pastor. Additional staff includes church secretary Mette Shultz, music director Sue Gamber, and youth directors Lisa Neal and Jill LaPrad. Emeritus Pastor Rev. Herb Dorn continues to serve Grace as a member and support pastor. Grace has three Sunday worship services and offers several Bible study groups as well as youth groups for elementary, middle, and high school students. Within the last two years the congregation has purchased bells to enhance the worship and has formed a bell choir. Several small groups are an important part of Grace’s makeup and include a “Dinner for Eight” group and church softball and volleyball teams.

In 1995 Grace adopted a mission statement which states the church’s mission “to enthusiastically serve God by believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing it with the community through our daily lives and service.” Many members believe that one of Grace’s strengths is the willingness of its members to serve others. Grace has supported and manned Gulf Coast rebuilding teams, medical mission trips to Honduras, youth and adult participation in Tri-Cities Work Camp in Petersburg, and ramp building and installation for Elder Homes. Members knit hats for Southside Regional Medical Center Newborn Nursery, collect food for the local food pantry, support C-CHASM’s Thanksgiving basket collection, cook meals for CARITAS, prepare hygiene kits for CARITAS and shelters, support community ministry prayer partners, and volunteer in local schools, the Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, hospice, Shepherd Center, and other local organizations. Ed Ward, an 85-plus year old member, received the prestigious Frist Humanitarian Award for 2009 from Chippenham Hospital for his outstanding volunteer work. Grace member Carolyn Thompson served as the 2008-09 Chesterfield Christmas Mother. Several members are active in local service organizations such as Rotary and Kiwanis and also in public service. Even the church building serves as host for YMCA Bridge Club, Girl Scouts, tai chi classes, and Village Woman’s Club and Shepherd Center meetings.

The anniversary theme “Grace Alive at 45!” seems to be very fitting indeed!

40th Anniversary

40 Years by the Grace of God By L. Fausz

Rev. Dr. Peter Steinke received his first call to serve from the St. Louis seminary he attended in 1964. The pastor (missionary at large) was to come to Chester to begin a church for the Lutherans under the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Richmond. Grace Lutheran Church began as a tiny family with 32 charter members on November 1, 1964, meeting at Thomas Dale High School. With a current membership of around 530, Rev. Dr. Steinke will return on Sunday, November 7, as the anniversary speaker helping to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Purchased in the spring of 1966, their nine acres was home to their first service after construction church building in 1967. Their grand new sanctuary was dedicated on March 3, 1968.

Joe Mannetta, chairman of the 40th anniversary committee, announced the theme the committee had concluded on “40 and Still Growing Gracefully.” The committee invited their previous pastors and four of the six ministers that have been and are with Grace Lutheran over the 40 years will be participating in the celebration.

Rev. Richard Finck, their pastor for the last 3½ years is happy that Rev. Dr Steinke will be joining them as their anniversary speaker. They are brothers-in-law on his wife, Bonnie’s, side of the family. Rev. Paul Prange, who served from 1969 until 1978 will also be in attendance and still active in the church, Rev. Hilbert Dorn, who retired in 2000, served as pastor from 1086 until his retirement will be participating. Rev. Henry Abram, 1978-1980 and Rev. Charles Werth, 1981-1986, were unable to attend. Rev. Finck has stated that each minister over the years has contributed to the growth of their church by using their special talents and enthusiasm.

In 1986, the church membership completed an addition to their church building, which included an office and rest rooms on the first floor in 1986. Another addition, comprising the enlarged narthex (porch), office suite, library, classrooms, nursery, Fellowship Hall and kitchen was dedicated on January 16, 1994. Presently they are planning for a memorial garden, a new gathering area and at some point in the future, a new sanctuary.

“This is a fun very lively congregation, very friendly,” he said. “Among themselves and to visitors.”

Pastor Finck said visitors are always welcome. “That is why we are here. We are a congregation that sees itself as being here to bring Christ to the community. To welcome people to join us,” he said. Grace Lutheran has two part-time youth directors that serve three youth groups. “They are so dedicated,” said Pastor Finck speaking of their youth directors. They serve the elementary grades with Faithweaver Friends, their middle school grades with SMILES and the high school grades with HSYG. They are involved with various service projects throughout the greater Richmond area. Grace Lutheran also has a Wednesday morning Bible Study for adults, a men’s breakfast Bible study that meets the first and third Friday, three women’s Bible study groups and a senior group that meets the fourth Monday of each month for lunch. Pastor Finck also conducts an Adult Inquirer’s Class, a 13-week program on Christian doctrine, which is open to all who are interested in finding out more about Christ and the Lutheran Church.

Grace Lutheran also has Sunday School classes for three year olds and up. Pastor Finck said “It is a wonderful and dedicated staff.” And referring to their church community he quotes from scripture that St. Paul said in First Corinthians 2:2, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

Their anniversary service is scheduled for 10:45am on Sunday, November 7. They will celebrate with Holy Communion, their three choirs will be singing as well as music by the Commonwealth Brass (formerly the Chester Brass) and soloist Rosalind Blankenship. There will also be a baptism. Lunch will follow for all who made reservations, catered by Jeffrey Manning from Easy Street in Richmond. Videotapes of memories and history of the church will be shown during lunch as well as a pictorial display.

Pastor Finck said this is a happy place for him to work. “We have a wonderful and dedicated staff and even though I am the only ordained one I see their work in the ministry.” Pastor Finck stated that their history reveals that they are a creative congregation, open to new ideas and willing to accommodate the needs of their members and the community. “We are blessed with our present and past members, who have built Grace with their love and dedication,” quoting from their history for their 40th anniversary celebration. “Our future will soon be a part of our history. We will continue to grow in each other and in God’s love. We will continue to GROW GRACEFULLY.”