[Wednesday] Bethany - Places of the Passion - 1

Wednesday Lent Week 1 : 2021

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

The Rise and Fall of Martin Stephan

Taken from https://leben.us/rise-fall-martin-stephan/

The Lutheran religion did not get off to a fast start in America. None of the early explorers were Lutheran. Most of them were Roman Catholic or Anglican. None of the early settlers were Lutheran. In fact, Lutheranism did not come to America until Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden mentioned a planting of a Lutheran colony in 1624, about 125 years after the new land was discovered. His daughter Christina fulfilled this dream by sending over a colony of Lutheran Swedes to settle in Delaware in 1639. While this colony did not last, Lutherans by name have been in the country ever since.
Yet these so-called Lutherans were not always Lutheran. Calvinism, Piet-ism and Rationalism all had an effect on these people. Pastors were uneducated. They fell into trying to reform the rough life of the new land. They would preach both in Reformed and Lutheran pulpits. Even Muhlenburg, the father of Lutheranism in America, was not necessarily always a confessional pastor. This does not mean that there were not any confessional pastors in America. Men, like John Campanius, the Falckners, the Henkels and others stood firmly in their beliefs. On a whole, however, Lutheranism in America suffered.
Then in the early 1800s more and more confessional Lutherans began to come over to this country to escape Rationalism, especially from Germany. Most notably was a Saxon pastor, named Martin Stephan, who brought over a group of immigrants to St. Louis. This group would start what was the most confessional synod in America at that time, the Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod. This synod established confessional Lutheranism in America. Yet when the synod started, they were without their leader. Only a few months after Stephan led this confessional group to America, he was deposed and cast out of the colony for sinful actions. How could this happen? How could a confessional Lutheran pastor, who held so firmly to God’s Word, fall into such evil sins? How could he be disposed so quickly by a people who loved him and had just followed him to the new colony? Were they jealous of him? Were they looking for power? Or was Stephan deserving of this expulsion? These are the questions that we must examine if we are to understand the rise and fall of Martin Stephan.
Martin Stephan was born on August 13, 1777 in Stramberg, Moravia, which is now in the Czech Republic. His parents were originally Roman Catholic but had been converted to Protestantism before Mart-in was born. They raised Martin with a strict training in God’s Word and were teaching him the family trade, as a linen weaver. However Martin’s parents died when he was still young. His pastor, Johann Ephraim Scheibel saw promise in Stephan to be a pastor. So he gave him free access to the church’s library. This reading en-couraged him to become a pastor and gave him his conservative standpoint, which he held throughout his life.1 With the financial help of some Pietists, he was able to go to St. Elizabeth’s Gymnasium in Breslau before attending both the University of Halle and the University of Leipzig.
Stephan, however, did not graduate from either of these universities. Although he was gifted in many ways, Stephan seemed to have little interest in reading the classics, which were required for graduation from a university. Instead he spent much of the time reading the Pietists’s publications.2 He seemed only to be interested in religious affairs.
Upon leaving Leipzig, he served as a pastor in Bohemia for a year. Then in 1810, something happened to Stephan that would change his life forever. He was called to be a pastor at the unique congregation of St. John’s in Dresden.
St. John’s was formed by Bohemian refugees during the Thirty Years’ War. After the war ended, they were granted special rights by the government, even though they were considered part of the state church, because of their nationality. They could have irregular gatherings, which the state church normally prohibited, choose their own elders and pastors, and exercise their own church discipline. All of these privileges are important to understand when examining the rise of Martin Stephan.
Even though Stephan was not qualified to be called as a pastor in the state church because he had not graduated from a university, St. John’s could exercise its freedom and call the Bohemian to be their pastor. They did this at the recommendation of Court Preacher Doring. At first, Stephan did not stir up much interest. However, soon, Stephan’s fame would spread throughout all of Saxony.
Forster reports that in the first ten years that Stephan was there, membership increased six fold. At the end of 1819, St. John’s had over a thousand members.3 There are a couple of reasons for this increase. First, Stephan’s conservative approach to Scripture was in stark contrast to the rationalistic state church of Saxony. People came to see this man, who was preaching something different, and the Holy Spirit was at work through his preaching. Secondly, Stephan had a strong personality and great communication skills. This, humanly speaking, drew people to Stephan and to his church and soon he had many strong supporters.
Thus the fame and power of Stephan spread throughout all of Saxony. “More and more people looked to him for spiritual leadership. When people in trouble came to him for aid and found it, they went away not only, perhaps not even primarily, as converts to orthodoxy, but as personal champions of Stephan.”4 These champions would then in turn tell others about Stephan and soon people would come from all over Germany, from all walks of life to meet this man. He was famous.
One of the men who sought comfort from Stephan was a troubled student named C.F.W. Walther. Walther had sought help from a group of Pietists, but found no comfort. Instead “he was afflicted with serious doubt and suffered the most excruciating pains of spiritual diseases.”5 One of his friends suggested that he write to Pastor Stephan who had a reputation for helping those who could find an-swers to their troubles nowhere else. Walther took this advice and it changed his life.
When Pastor Stephan wrote a letter back to Walther, Walther was so scared that he fervently prayed to God that this letter would not be filled with what he deemed the false comfort of the Pietists.6 Fortunately it was not. Instead of pointing him to his own good works, Stephan pointed Walther to the atoning and universal work of Christ. He set him free from the burden of the law. Through this letter, and many others that were exchanged between these two men, Walther became a convinced Lutheran and an admired follower of Stephan because he had explained the gospel to him.
Despite his growing fame and power, Pastor Stephan’s Bohemian congregation was not completely happy with him. With all the new members that were coming in, they were feeling left out. They did not always welcome the new people that were from a different heritage than they. They liked their little Bohemian congregation with their special privileges and Stephan seemed to be ruining it. They did not think that he was fulfilling his pastoral duties to those who were actually his members.7 He was spending too much time counseling other people.
This led fellow pastors in the area to not be pleased with Stephan as well. It seems as if Stephan had no regard for the so-called “sheep stealing”, meaning taking members from other local congregations without their permission. To accommodate the growing crowds, Stephan had to hold six services every Sunday in both Bohemian (Czech) and German.8
The greatest opposition to Stephan came from his superiors in both the state church and the government. Stephan did not teach the rationalistic beliefs that his superiors in the state church taught. Instead, he held firmly to the truths confessed in the Lutheran confessions. The state church, however, could not depose Stephan because of the right, granted to the Bohemian congregation of St. John’s, that they could choose their own pastor. Instead of removing him, they attacked him in the press.
They attacked Stephan constantly, accusing him of running a sect. They said he was a separatist, who was causing criminal acts by his false, extreme teachings. They made these charges for many years and for the most part Stephan remained silent, letting his followers defend him. A few times, especially before 1823, he responded.
On one occasion in 1821, Stephan decided to defend himself. Writing back to those accusing him, he said, “I am not a member of any sect, old or new;…I am an evangelical Lutheran preacher and I preach the Word of God as recorded in the Bible…I preach the apostolic religion, which Luther preached in its purity with such courage.”9
Yet his accusers continued their attacks. Some would say that they had good reason to do so, not on the basis of what he taught, but on the basis of his actions. Stephan was known for his irregular meetings, especially late at night. These types of meetings were outlawed in Saxony for all people, even for churches, because they feared social riots. However, Stephan was allowed to do them because of the special rights given to his unique congregation. This made the legal authorities suspicious of Stephan.
Stephan claimed that these meetings were open forums, a question and answer session dealing with such things as the Formula of Concord.10 He claimed that he was doing nothing wrong at these meetings. Not everyone believed him. Many people thought that evil sins were being committed during these meetings. These suspicions rose higher and higher throughout the 1830s. No longer was Stephan just meeting with members of his church but he also began going on long walks, late at night with females.
After 1830, Stephan became extremely secretive about what was going on. Often these walks or meetings would be very late at night, going until two or three in the morning and would involve married or unmarried women. Stephan claimed that he needed these long walks to fall asleep and the women were free to come as they chose.11 Coupled with the fact that Stephan and his wife did not have the best marriage and he seemed to give little attention to his eight children, rumors about these meetings arose.
Accusations of sexual misconduct arose, but no matter how hard they tried, the authorities could not prove anything. They had a lot of wild accusations against him but they could not find substantial proof. Newspapers ran stories and cartoons depicting Stephan as a man acting immorally. People began to develop strong feelings and to take sides. Because of this, the authorities tried to dispose him from office. They feared that some sort of a riot would happen.
In November of 1837, the authorities planned a raid on Stephan’s private lodge, where many of these late night meetings took place to try and catch him in the act, but when the police raided the lodge at midnight, they did not find him there. Instead they found only five of his companions deep in conversation. Stephan himself was on a walk with a female companion. When he returned, both he and his companion were questioned for a long time but they would admit to doing nothing wrong.
On the very next day, however, the state was able to gather enough accusations and enough support to suspend Stephan from office. Previously Stephan had been arrested but had always been cleared of accusations. This time, however, was different. This suspension caught both Stephan and his close followers by surprise. They were not prepared for it. They thought that Stephan’s popularity, connected with his unique position at the Bohemian congregation, would save him from suspension. They were wrong. Because of this suspension, Stephan hastened his plans of coming to America.
Already in 1830, Stephan had thrown around the idea of coming to America with some of his closest friends. He had good reason to do so. The state of religious affairs was not very good. There were very few confessional pastors in Saxony. When Stephan tried to unite these pastors around 1830 nothing happened. Plus, the Prussian Union was influencing all those around him. He thought that soon he would be either under their control or under something similar. This led Stephan to say, “Will it not soon come to this that we must leave Babylon and Egypt and emigrate? Where will we turn? In the German states we can find no refuge. Everywhere there is great hatred for the pure Lutheran doctrine…So my eyes are being directed to North America.”12
These plans for emigration really picked up speed after 1836, when more and more accusations were brought against Stephan. Yet this was not the main reason that Stephan gave for his plans. Stephan always blamed the false religions of his day, which were persecuting him. He claimed that these enemies were the ones who were bringing up these false accusations of sexual misconduct so that they could prevent people from flocking to Stephan. There probably was some truth to this. Stephan was being persecuted by his enemies for his sound beliefs. He would never back down from his firm stance on Holy Scripture. By blaming his enemies instead of the accusations, Stephan managed to turn the attention from his actions to his strong confessional stance.13
Stephan was well known throughout the community, and everyone had an opinion on him, either good or ill. All knew of the accusations and his plans to sail to America. Stephan could say, “When my emigration became known, a company of 700 people willingly joined me, even though I had asked no one.”14 This is probably embellished a little by Stephan because it is known that he did ask those close to him in his church to join him.
Those who were close to him, believed that Stephan was such a good man that he would admit it if he did anything wrong.15 They wholeheartedly believed that they were emigrating to America for religious reasons, not to escape allegations of criminal behavior. They believed their pastor when he said, “No hope remains for maintaining the Lutheran Church in our land.”16
It is clear that this is the way that those who went with him to America thought of him. They had no problem subjecting themselves to any of his demands, whether they agreed with them or not. One demand was that Stephan required all people to be confessional. He required that they subject themselves to God’s Word and to the Augsburg Confession.17 He wanted everyone in his colony to have the same beliefs. He also demanded that everyone pay 100 thalers as a fee for the journey to the new colony, no matter what their income. Although most of the notable people were professional, a good number of farmers came over on the trip, as well, who were not as rich. Of course, it was necessary that there be some sort of a fee to pay for the journey across the ocean but it hardly seems fair to charge everyone the same price. Plus, although he denied it,18 Stephan had access to the money and Forster claims that Stephan used this to his advantage by buying stuff to make his journey a little more comfortable,19 both before and during the trip. Later on, when he would be expelled from the colony, the colonists charged Stephan with falsely taking their property. But for now they trusted him and paid the money without question.
Finally in October of 1838, all the preparations had been made and Stephan and his group were ready to set sail for St. Louis in America. Stephan chose St. Louis over other Midwest cities because it was safer. The Native Americans were not as hostile there as they were in Wisconsin or the Dakotas. Plus, St. Louis was a developing town and they could buy land for the colony at a good price.
From November 3rd to November 18th, five ships set sail at different times to America carrying Stephan and his followers. Stephan was the unquestionable leader of this group. He was the one who came up with the idea of moving to America, promoted it and organized it. He decided who would go on what ship and who would be in charge of each ship. Of course, all the important people sailed with Stephan on the Olbers. Stephan probably put all these important people on his ship so that he could keep an eye on them just in case they would try and usurp control.
This seemed to have happened. Stephan became very domineering on the ship. His companions noticed that his attitude had changed once he had boarded the ship. No longer were all wholly devoted to him but some leaders were questioning his authority, most notably Marbach and Dr. Vehse, two lay leaders.20 This led Stephan to become stricter, hoping to squash these subtle attacks. On the ship, he was successful. Stephan was able to convince both Marbach and Dr. Vehse that these actions of theirs were sinful because he had been appointed the leader of this colony.
A few days later, after squashing these attacks, Stephan’s leadership was made official. On January 14th, a day after the first colonists reached St. Louis, as the Olbers was in the Gulf of Mexico, the men on Stephan’s ship elected him bishop of the colony, in charge of both the civil and religious affairs. The four prominent pastors, O.H. Walther, G.H. Lober, E.G.W. Keyl and C.F.W. Walther, signed a document which asked Stephan to accept this position of bishop. The document said,
Your reverence has, according to the gracious council of God, remained standing as the last, unshakable pillar on the ruins of the now devastated Lutheran Church in Germany…accordingly you have already for a long time occupied the position of a bishop and performed Episcopal functions among us…we have been instructed by you in many things in accordance with the Word of God…In consequence of all this, therefore we approach you with the reverent urgent plea: Accept Reverend Father the office of bishop among us bestowed on you by God and grant that we may now express our unqualified confidence in your fatherly love and pastoral faithfulness towards us.21
It is amazing to see the power that Stephan still had over these men. Even though they were now sensing that something could be wrong, he was still elected bishop and given complete control over all things in the new colony. In fact, a month later, as they were on the steamboat close to St. Louis, these men confirmed Stephan as bishop. They pledged their complete loyalty to him on February 16th22 saying,
We affirm and testify before the countenance of the omniscient God, in agreement with the truth, that we have complete and firm confidence in the wisdom and fatherly love of our Reverend Bishop; and we abhor all distrustful, suspicious statements and thoughts, in which he is accused of injustice, harshness, selfishness, carelessness in the administration of our temporal goods…Further we pledge ourselves to submit with Christian willingness and sincerity to the decrees and measures of His Reverence in respect to both ecclesiastical and community affairs.23
News about these documents spread rapidly to St. Louis, where the other members of Stephan’s party had already gathered. In fact, this news spread to all who were living in St. Louis so that many people were waiting for Stephan when his steamboat arrived on the shores of the Mississippi. However they were disappointed.
When the ship arrived in the middle of February, Stephan stayed in his luxury cabin, complaining of a sickness rather than going out. Finally in the middle of the night, he made his way into the city, where a room was prepared for him. Stephan would spend most of his time in St. Louis in this room, distant from all his fellow colonists. He would not let anyone come in to visit him without an appointment, except for those who were really close to him and came out mostly to maintain control.24 Truly Stephan’s attitude had changed from the man who would counsel and talk with all who came to him in Dresden. He had become a different man. His fellow colonists would see this soon.
No one knows for sure what had caused this change in Stephan. He was no longer the man with the engaging personality, standing up for the true Word of God, counseling all who came to him. Instead he had become distant. Maybe the years of accusations had finally taken its toll on him. Maybe his ego had been built up by the constant years of praise that he thought of himself so highly. Maybe he was covering up some sins and his conscience was burdening him. Or maybe it was a combination of a couple of these. No one may ever know what caused this change in Stephan. It quickly became apparent in the new land.
On March 3rd, the first service of this new colony was held at Christ’s Church25 in St. Louis. Stephan, of course, was the preacher. There were a large number of people in attendance at this first service, waiting anxiously to hear Stephan. All, who had made the trip over to America, came. Plus many people from the city of St. Louis attended because the newspapers were constantly running stories, updating people on the actions of this famous Bohemian migrating to America. At this service, however, Stephan did not impress anyone. Apparently Stephan, who was preaching in a church for the first time in about a year because of the suspension and the long boat ride over, did not give an engaging sermon. Two days later, the newspaper stories of this service were kind to these new colonists, calling them intelligent and dignified but they made no mention of Stephan.26 Most of his own people, who had followed him to America, were disappointed in his efforts. Stephan, of course, blamed the people for their lack of faith and their doubting. It was not his fault that the people were not impressed with his sermon but theirs. While he had never been the most engaging preacher, his sermons were now lacking substance. From then on Stephan rarely preached.27
Part of the reason was that Stephan was bishop over both ecclesiastical and civil affairs. He had control over all things in the colony and this took up a lot of his time, especially in the beginning. Stephan had very specific ways in which he wanted his colony run. It took him a month to enforce these demands.28 Plus the colonists had purchased land in Perry County, about one hundred miles south of St. Louis, where they would establish their colony. Before they could move down there, many preparations had to be made. Stephan oversaw most of these preparations.
During this time, from February to April, Stephan was ruling with an iron fist. This once again caused his close followers to question his authority, especially Marbach.29 Marbach wanted a separation of a church and state. He thought that Stephan had too much power and later on this turned out to be true. Whenever these small uprisings would occur, he was able to put them down. As long as he was on the scene, the majority of the people would back their bishop.30 By May of 1839, Stephan thought that he had established enough control over his colonists that he could leave them in St. Louis and make preparations in their new land of Perry County. He went to Perry County with about 200 men, leaving 400 still in St. Louis.
Therefore Stephan was in Perry County on May 5th, trying to get things ready so that the colonists could move down there, when Pastor Lober preached a sermon to the colonists in St. Louis that would change Stephan’s life forever. Lober’s sermon was on the 6th Commandment. In it, he must have mentioned some piercing law that had an effect on a couple of women in the congregation. Two women, independently of each other, without each other’s knowledge, came to Lober that afternoon and confessed that Stephan had seduced them. This shocked Lober and he quickly told C.F.W. Walther. Within a few days, all the prominent clergy had been informed of this heinous crime.
This accusation was the straw that broke the camel’s back. These men, who had been shown the great comfort of the gospel by Stephan, who had defended him against all the accusations in Dresden, who had willingly followed him to a new colony in North America, who had a deep love and admiration for their leader, finally realized that Stephan had been living in open sin. They finally had the proof to make charges against Stephan and take away his power as bishop.
It is amazing the change that took place in these men. Only a year earlier, they had defended their beloved bishop against numerous attacks in Dresden, asserting that Stephan had to be innocent because if he was guilty, he would have confessed.31 Only three months earlier they had elected him bishop over ecclesiastical and civil affairs and affirmed their subjection to him. Now they were making plans to depose him from office. The clergy thought even if he was innocent of these charges, he should resign for the good of the colony.32 Truly these men had seen a change in Stephan.
The clergy set into motion a plan that would depose Stephan from his office of bishop. They concluded since they called him to that position on the boat, surely they had the power to remove him from office. Therefore they leaked out the information to the people. When they did, a few other women came forward with similar accusations of sexual misconduct.33 The clergy even decided to send Walther34 to Perry County to inform the people, who were working on this new place with Stephan, of the accusations.35
Since Walther had gone here without Stephan’s authority, he was not welcomed by Stephan. The people, however, readily accepted him and believed the accusations. They quickly turned against their leader. This shows that they too had seen a change in Stephan and were feeling oppressed by his new domineering personality. They even went into the woods to hear Walther preach on Pentecost instead of listening to Stephan’s sermon.36 The people had been turned against their bishop. Stephan’s fate was sealed. Brought before the Council, and refused the opportunity to defend himself, Stephan was quickly found guilty of adultery, misuse of property and false doctrine, and excommunicated.
They wished to forcefully remove him from his house and send him across the Mississippi River to Illinois as punishment. However there were many logs being floated down the river at this time, which made it impossible to cross. Therefore they put him up in a tent for the night, not allowing him the comfort of his own home. Stephan, recounting this miserable night says, “I was very thirsty and begged only for a glass of water but no one gave me anything nor did anyone care about my health.”37
On the next day, May 31st, before they sent him across the Mississippi, they forced Stephan to sign a document, in which he gave up his rights as bishop. The document says, “I, Martin Stephan…do certify by the discussions that took place on this day…to voluntarily cede and give up control of the above mentioned congregation to her trustees.”38 Then Stephan promises never again to come back to the colony. The document says, “I promise never to come back to the territory of the said company and to the state of Missouri.”39
Even though Stephan signed this document, it did not mean that he confessed to any of the accusations. In fact, he maintained his innocence until the day he died. When he boarded the ferry, which would take him across the River to Illinois, he was still protesting his expulsion but to no avail. When he left, they gave him “the necessary clothing, a cloak, linen, 2 beds, 2 chairs, 1 clock, 1 sofa cushion and its frame, books of meditation and 100 dollars in money.”40 Plus they gave him an axe and a spade so that he could do work.41 At 10:30 AM on May 31st, two days after they formally accused him, Stephan left the colony.
Reverend Stephan never admitted to doing anything wrong, yet the constant attacks on him during the latter years of his life, coupled with multiple women on separate occasions accusing him of adultery were enough to convince the colonists and most people. After the Saxons had disposed of Stephan, his maid, Louise Guenther, confessed to having an affair with him, as well.42 Before they could punish her, however, she fled the colony to join Stephan and lived with him until he died.
Reverend Stephan would be called to serve in several congregations, ending his career at Trinity Church in Horse Prairie, Illinois. He died quietly on February 26, 1845. He is buried in Trinity Cemetery. A picket fence surrounds his grave and a ten-foot cross serves as its marker. According to tradition, his casket was carried around the church three times before he was buried, showing the respect they had for this man.43
Even though Martin Stephan had many troubles in this life, and more than likely committed grievous sin, which caused his expulsion from the colony and the church, God nevertheless used him to achieve His purpose here on earth. Though estranged from C.F.W. Walther, Stephan’s influence on the man most associated with the founding of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was, in retrospect, almost entirely positive. For the broader church, the message is Paul’s message to the Corinthians, “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (I Cor. 2:5)

Bibliography
Bekenntis der Louis Guenther. June 3, 1839. Manuscript from Concordia Historical Institute.
Forster, Walter O., Zion on the Mississippi, Concordia Publishing House. St. Louis, MO. 1953.
Pastor Stephan Stephan, Manuscript from Trinity Lutheran Church in Horse Prairie, IL.
Pledge of Subjection to Stephan Feb. 16, 1839. Manuscript from Concordia Historical Institute
Rast, Lawrence R. Jr., Demagoguery or Democracy? The Saxon Emigration and American Culture. Concordia Theological Quarterly 63.4 (1999), 247-268. Available from http://www.ctsfw.edu/library/files/pb/1767
Sentence of Disposition Pronounced Upon Stephan. May 30, 1839. Manuscript from Concordia Historical Institute
Spitz, Lewis The Life of Dr. C.F.W. Walther. Concordia Publishing House. St. Louis, MO. 1961.
Stephan’s Investiture, January 14, 1839. Manuscript from Concordia Historical Institute
Stephan to Flugal. Oct. 12, 1841. Manuscript from Concordia Historical Institute
Stephan’s Renunciation of the Claims on the Gesellschaft. May 31, 1839. Manuscript from Concordia Historical Institute

ENDNOTES
1 Forster, Walter Zion on the Mississippi. Concordia Publishing House. St. Louis MO 1953. p. 27
2 Ibid., 28
3 Forster, 33
4 Forster, 61
5 Spitz, Lewis. The Life of C.F.W. Walther. Concordia Publishing House. St. Louis MO. 1961. p. 17
6 Ibid., 21
7 Ibid., 32
8 Ibid., 33
9 This is a letter to the paper that is quoted in Forster p. 35
10 Forster, 69
11 Forster, 73
12 Stephan to Kurtz in March of 1833. Quoted by Forster, 87
13 Forster, 107-112
14 Stephan to Flugal. Oct 12, 1841 CHI MSS
15 A quote from Keyl quoted by Forster, 70
16 Protocol of the emigration, May 18, 1838. Quoted by Forester, 137
17 Forster states this on both p. 90 and p. 151
18 Stephan to Flugel 1841. Stephan says, “I had nothing to do with this cash. I did not know, even today, the cash flow or their gifts.”
19 Forster, 167
20 Forster, 282
21 Stephan’s Investiture. January 14, 1839. CHI
22 This is only three months before they would expel him from the colony.
23 Pledge of Subjection to Stephan Feb. 16, 1839. CHI
24 Forster, 325, 353
25 Christ’s Church was an Episcopal Church, which served as the colonist’s church for the first three and a half years they were in the new land, until they could afford to build a place of their own. The colonists would worship either on Sat afternoon or most of the time on Sunday afternoons.
26 Daily Evening Gazette ran an article on March 5th two days after this sermon expressing this. This article is found in Forster, 322-323
27 Forster, 323. Forster references a couple of first hand accounts in support of these statements. He references Winter to Guericke on April 28, 1841 and Hohne to his brother on Sept. 26, 1840.
28 Ibid., 355
29 Stephan to Flugal, 1841
30 Forster, 390
31 Keyl said this quoted by Forster, 70 (see footnote 17)
32 Forster, 394-395
33 Forster, 395-398
34 This was really the first time that Walther is seen as a leader of the colonists. By stepping up during this controversy, Walther was now perceived by the people as the leader.
35 Forster, 403-405
36 Ibid., 409
37 Stephan to Flugal, 1841
38 Stephan’s Renunciation of the Claims on the Gesellschaft CHI MSS Also in Forester, 421
39 Ibid.
40 Ibid.
41 Ephan to Flugal, 1841
42 Bekenntnis der Louise Guenther. MS CHI
43 Pastor Stephan Stephan. MSS from Trinity Lutheran Church in Horse Prairie, IL

[Sunday] Blessed Curse - All Nations

Questions for the Week

1. Describe a time when you saw God’s love for someone different than you.

2. Read Galatians 3:7-14.   What do you think the works of the law are today that we hold onto, looking for our own righteousness?

3. According to Galatians 3, what does Jesus do for us in those times when we seem to be self-righteous?

4. How can experiencing God’s grace in a time when you messed up, help you love others?

Service [above] Sermon releases at 10pm [under]

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---- THIS WEEK AT GRACE - Today February 21. 2021

Worship Service 8:30 AM

Second Worship Service and

  video service www.gracelutheranpsl.com 10:15 AM

Zoom into Fellowship 12:00 PM - Noon

Korean Church Worship 1:00 PM

AA 7:30 PM

Rest of the week February 22 - 27, 2021

Olivet School Tuesday, 8 AM - 1 PM

Individual - Small Group Communion Wednesday, 11AM - Noon

Fellowship Brown Bag Meal Wednesday, 5:30 - 6:30 PM

Lenton Service (In-person & Livestreamed) Wednesday, 6:30 PM

Bible Study Thursday, 11 AM

          also on  Zoom  

Korean Church Prayer Gathering Saturday, 6 AM

For complete calendar information, go to www.gracelutheranpsl.com/calendar

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK  Bradley Hoffman - 2/21,  

                                                                    Claren Kerstner - 2/25

THE FLOWERS ADORNING THE ALTAR are given in memory of Frances & Bill Horton by Jay Horton.

 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION THIS WEEK: Robert & Marlys Pellin 2/22/2002 (19 yrs), 

FELLOWSHIP BROWN BAG MEAL: Come and join your Grace friends this Wednesday between 5:30 and 6:30 PM for some socially distanced fellowship time.   Bring a meal for yourself and join us.  You don’t need to be right on time at 5:30; however, the service will start at 6:30.

PLEASE CALL PEOPLE:  The COVID quarantines began in March 2020 and many of our members have health conditions which have kept them isolated at home for 9 months.   So that we all don’t descend into madness, let’s call and talk to each other regularly as well as sending cards or notes through the mail.  Phone and address directories are available for your convenience on the counter by the office door. 

WINN DIXIE SUPPORT For the month of February Winn Dixie on Bayshore and PSL Boulevard will donate $1 for each reusable bag you purchase for $2.49 to Grace Lutheran for the Alzheimer's Community Care center.   Grace received $40 last year from this effort. 

COMMUNION ON WEDNESDAY: If you, or someone you know, would like to celebrate Holy Communion but prefer a small group or unable to attend Sunday service, Pastor Cris has set aside Wednesday’s to celebrate the meal in small/family groups.   Please come by on Wednesday at: 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 or 12:00 (noon) and partake of this wonderful meal.   

BIBLE STUDY FOR ALL!  Pastor Cris is conducting a Bible Study on Thursday’s at 11 AM and you are welcome to attend in person!  Seating is with social distancing along with wearing a mask.   The Bible Study is also “live streamed” through ZOOM as well for you to participate from home.  (www.GracelutheranPSL.com) Also, recorded for your future viewing if you would like.

SEE YOUR GRACE FAMILY ON ZOOM:  Coli, along with Pastor, will be hosting  Zoom to Coffee at NOON, TODAY, for those who would like to join in fellowship “virtually” to see and chat with Grace members and friends.  All are welcome!  www.GraceLutheranPSL.com
GIVING: We are here to provide “Grace and Peace in this Chaotic and Lonely Time” to those in our church and community. Thank you for your past and continual prayers and financial support to Grace and your community. We have added Paypal for online donations. If you would like to give through Paypal, please go to: www.GraceLutheranPSL.com and click the “GIVE” button on the upper right side of the page.

What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Bible Study] Mark Chapter10 - Zoom to Scripture

[Ash Wednesday] 2021 Live Stream

Press Ash Wednesday above to play service.

What Had happened at Grace this week. 

What Has He Done With My Church?

Missionary to America Trinidad Castaneda

It was clear to everyone. After more than a century, the church in Arvin, California, had to close.  “New” people had moved in. The majority spoke Spanish, and because of barriers of culture and language, the twenty five people left in the old church were not able to share their love with these new residents. But, instead of selling out and allowing their building to be turned into an apartment or restaurant, they searched for a larger church nearby, one that would honor the soul of the building, one that would use the building as a tool to reach the newcomers. They found that church in St. John Lutheran Church, in nearby Bakersfield.

And St. John, Bakersfield found Missionary to America Trinidad Castaneda. The church did change, and some people wondered, “What has he done with my church?”

“Trini,” as he is known to his friends, came to Chicago when he was five years old.  Born in Durango, Mexico, like many, he and his family followed his father to the US,  searching for a better life.  They settled in Chicago; the commuter train behind the house kept them awake sometimes. Trini had no idea he would grow up to be a missionary to America. However, he found meaning in working with Rev. Julio Loza, pastor of St. Matthew, on 21st street in Chicago.

As he grew into a young man, he helped out at St. Matthew, becoming a youth worker.

He began taking classes in a special program at the Hispanic Institute to prepare Spanish speaking pastors. The courses used an adult, “action-reflection” model. It was “just in time” learning. The courses made more sense to the students because what they taught was needed by the missionary at the time – they gave Trini what he needed to minister to young people. During those days he worked odd jobs; like St. Paul, he was bi vocational. Called to Oklahoma City, he stayed nineteen years, beginning a mission among immigrants from Latin America. That is when the call came to Arvin.

The first thing he did after arriving was to scope out needs of the Arvin community. There was an old service building, where food and clothing was shared with the poor, and where children could come after school for tutoring. The building was in terrible shape.  The new missionary organized a team from the old core group to paint and make repairs on the run down building. Spanish speaking people who used the facility were impressed with the changes, and were more impressed with the concern of this older Anglo church. Missionary Castaneda began worship in Spanish. That was three years ago. Today seventy people worship the Lord there, fifty of them at the Spanish service. And then the missionary did what all good missionaries do.

Trinidad Castaneda began a training course for adults. Seven graduated from that home grown training – and are being challenged to begin study through the Hispanic Institute. Some of them will become missionaries. This is what St. Paul and the other apostles did. This is what missionaries do.

“What has He done with my church?” He has brought a new spirit.  He, the Holy Spirit, has taken hold of that hundred year old church in Arvin – and given it His missionary spirit. Praise the Lord for what He’s done.

Taken From https://missionnationpublishing.com/uncategorized/what-has-he-done-with-my-church/

All Nations

New Sermon Series for Lent.

All throughout the Gospels people’s nationalities are mentioned. Why are the gospel writers spending precious ink telling us where some of these people are from? Perhaps, their nationality is part of the story and shows us another part of God’s love for all people.

All Nations - The Diversity of the Gospel

All throughout the Gospels, people’s nationalities are mentioned. Why are the gospel writers spending precious ink telling us where some of these people are from? Perhaps, their nationality is part of the story and shows us another part of God’s love for all nations.

Sermon Playlist

Watch Full Servies & See Bulletins

[Video] Grace Building Dedication Feb 14th

Join us Sunday February 14th at 9:45 For a dedication of our new building

Grace Lutheran Church Members and Friends have been contributing toward growth and outreach since its first gathering on December 6, 1990. From early on members and friends have made contributions toward the future growth of Grace Lutheran through their special gifts and contributions. Listed below are the names of many of the members of whom memorial gifts have been given in honor of to help make this new facility that we share with Alzheimer's Community Care a reality

• Earl and Jenny Butler

• Richard and Doris Young

• Walter and Deloris Donn

• Fred Richey

• Norm and Jean Kee

• Tom Coffman Bill Nolte

• Bridget Raymond

• Rose Wytiaz

• Anna Ide Joan Schulein

• Richard Tunning

• Arlene Garbers

• Richard Brendlinger

• Ron Scheer

• Barbara Young

• Tom Roksvold

• Barbara Bock

We remember the Saints listed above through their families and friends that have contributed financial memorials to help make this building possible. Thank You!

Check Back here later for more.

• A write up about the building project

• Pictures of building

• Video of Service (we will not be able to live stream) Sunday evening the video will go up.

• Pictures of the Service

[Sunday] Breaking Dysfunction - Faith and Family Dysfunction

Questions for the Week

1. Describe something or someone you have had to forgive?

2. Read Genesis 50:15-21.  What causes Joesph’s brothers to doubt his forgiveness?

3. When someone has forgiven you, what causes you to doubt that forgiveness?

4. Read Romans 8:26-30.  How can you have confidence in the forgiveness Jesus has given to you?

5. What actions can you take to show others that you’ve truly forgiven them?

Service [above] Sermon releases at 10pm [under]

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---- THIS WEEK AT GRACE - Today February 14. 2021

Valentine's Day All Day

Worship Service 8:30 AM

Blessing of the New Building 9:45 AM

Second Worship Service and

  video service www.gracelutheranpsl.com 10:15 AM

Zoom into Fellowship 12:00 PM - Noon

Korean Church Worship 1:00 PM

AA 7:30 PM

Rest of the week February 15 - 20, 2021

Olivet School Tuesday, 8 AM - 1 PM

Ash Wednesday- With Communion Wednesday, 11 AM and 7 PM

Bible Study Thursday, 11 AM

          also on  Zoom  

Korean Church Prayer Gathering Saturday, 6 AM

For complete calendar information, go to www.gracelutheranpsl.com/calendar

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK  Sebastian Sherwood & Jack Gebhardt - 2/14, 

McKenna Lynch - 2/15, Midge Watts, Susan Schill & Lon Smith - 2/18, 

Sherry Self - 2/19, Kevin Mattox - 2/20

THE FLOWERS ADORNING THE ALTAR are given by Claude & Pat Hessee in celebration of Karen & Matthew’s birthdays  and Linda & Joe Gannon in memory of Linda’s mom, Elsa Weingartner.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK: Thomas & Marilyn Piotrowicz - 2/17/1988 (33Years)

PLEASE CALL PEOPLE:  The COVID quarantines began in March 2020 and many of our members have health conditions which have kept them isolated at home for 9 months.   So that we all don’t descend into madness, let’s call and talk to each other regularly as well as sending cards or notes through the mail.  Phone and address directories are available for your convenience on the counter by the office door. 

WINN DIXIE SUPPORT For the month of February Winn Dixie on Bayshore and PSL Boulevard will donate $1 for each reusable bag you purchase to Grace Lutheran for the Alzheimer's Community Care center.   Grace received $40 last year from this effort. 

COMMUNION ON WEDNESDAY: If you, or someone you know, would like to celebrate Holy Communion but prefer a small group or unable to attend Sunday service, Pastor Cris has set aside Wednesday’s to celebrate the meal in small/family groups.   Please come by on Wednesday at: 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 or 12:00 (noon) and partake of this wonderful meal.   

BIBLE STUDY FOR ALL!  Pastor Cris is conducting a Bible Study on Thursday’s at 11 AM and you are welcome to attend in person!  Seating is with social distancing along with wearing a mask.   The Bible Study is also “live streamed” through ZOOM as well for you to participate from home.  (www.GracelutheranPSL.com) Also, recorded for your future viewing if you would like.

SEE YOUR GRACE FAMILY ON ZOOM:  Coli, along with Pastor, will be hosting  Zoom to Coffee at NOON, TODAY, for those who would like to join in fellowship “virtually” to see and chat with Grace members and friends.  All are welcome!  www.GraceLutheranPSL.com

GIVING: We are here to provide “Grace and Peace in this Chaotic and Lonely Time” to those in our church and community. Thank you for your past and continual prayers and financial support to Grace and your community. We have added Paypal for online donations. If you would like to give through Paypal, please go to: www.GraceLutheranPSL.com and click the “GIVE” button on the upper right side of the page.

What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Bible Study] Mark Chapter 9+10 - Zoom to Scripture

The Gospel is Not Self-Care: Overcoming Burnout

Read the article at https://mbird.com/2021/02/the-gospel-is-not-self-care-overcoming-burnout/

Talk of burnout usually unfolds in statistics. There are percentages and fractions. A high percentage of people in a given profession feel “emotionally unequipped” for their job. One in five members of another profession report a major health problem attributed to their work. A low but statistically significant percentage of people in the same profession reported extreme stresses on their families. A lower but terrifyingly high number report something worse. We hear these statistics in seminars we attend for our employers or central church offices. Maybe we read them in some clickbait that floated onto our social media page. But wherever they land, these stories are meant to warn us. Care for yourself or else.

Read the article at https://mbird.com/2021/02/the-gospel-is-not-self-care-overcoming-burnout/

Florida Covid Vaccine & St Lucie Co Vaccine Info

Port St Luice’s Vaccine page is particularly good. Lots of useful info.

Vaccinee Update! 2/9/21

Walmart and Sam's Club pharmacies will begin administering COVID-19 vaccines through the U.S. Federal Retail Pharmacy Program on Feb. 12.

More than 1,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies in 22 states are receiving federal vaccine allocations this week, with an emphasis on locations that reach customers in underserved communities with limited access to health care.

All three Walmart locations and one Sam's Club location in Port St. Lucie will receive vaccines:

• Walmart, 10855 S. U.S. 1

• Walmart, 1850 S.W. Gatlin Blvd.

• Walmart, 902 S.W. St. Lucie West Blvd.

• Sam's Club, 1750 S.W. Gatlin Blvd.

For more information, visit www.cityofpsl.com/vaccine and click "How to Get a Shot."

Here is the Florida Covid Vaccine Page

Here is the St Lucie Co Covid page.

Sign up for the St Luice co alert system for the fastest covid information.

Here is the Publix Vaccine Page

St. Lucie County COVID 19-Update, Jan. 8, 2021

[Sunday] Self Differentiation- Faith and Family Dysfunction

Questions for the Week

1. When is a time you gave into peer pressure and lacked self-differentiation in a relationship in your life?  What was the result?

2. Read Genesis 37:12-36.   How do Joseph's brothers fail to self-differentiate? What result does that have?

3. Share a time when you know that Jesus was able to stop and self-differentiate?  What does that mean for you?

4. There are many powerful voices that guide us from places like the TV, radio, print, and other social organizations. How can you make sure you think things through for yourself and like how Christ would have you do in those situations?

Service [above] Sermon releases at 10pm [under]

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---- THIS WEEK AT GRACE - Today February 7. 2021

Worship Service 8:30 AM

Second Worship Service and

  video service www.gracelutheranpsl.com 10:15 AM

Zoom into Fellowship 12:00 PM - Noon

Korean Church Worship 1:00 PM

AA 7:30 PM

Rest of the week February 8 - 13, 2021

Adopt-A-Mile Tuesday, 8:30 AM

Olivet School Tuesday, 8 AM - 1 PM 

Individual/Family Communion Wednesday, 11 AM - Noon

Bible Study Thursday, 11 AM

          also on  Zoom  

Korean Church Prayer Gathering Saturday, 6 AM

For complete calendar information, go to www.gracelutheranpsl.com/calendar

UPCOMING EVENTS:  

Valentine's Day - Next Sunday!

Ash Wednesday - February 17th - 11 AM and 7 PM - With Communion

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK  John Behrens - 2/7, Joyce Strickler - 2/8, Jenny Brendlinger - 2/10, Barbara Sutterfield - 2/11

THE FLOWERS ADORNING THE ALTAR are given to the glory of God by Mary Anne Roksvold in memory of loved ones.

ADOPT-A-MILE will be THIS Tuesday, February 9th at 8:30 AM!   Our meeting place will be on the corner of Torino and Conus.  For more information contact: Judy Fredrich (561) 315-9555  retslvnlg@outlook.com

PLEASE CALL PEOPLE:  The COVID quarantines began in March 2020 and many of our members have health conditions which have kept them isolated at home for 9 months.   So that we all don’t descend into madness, let’s call and talk to each other regularly as well as sending cards or notes through the mail.  Phone and address directories are available for your convenience on the counter by the office door. 

WINN DIXIE SUPPORT For the month of February Winn Dixie on Bayshore and PSL Boulevard will donate $1 for each reusable bag you purchase to Grace Lutheran for the Alzheimer's Community Care center.   Grace received $40 last year from this effort. 

COMMUNION ON WEDNESDAY: If you, or someone you know, would like to celebrate Holy Communion but prefer a small group or unable to attend Sunday service, Pastor Cris has set aside Wednesday’s to celebrate the meal in small/family groups.   Please come by on Wednesday at: 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 or 12:00 (noon) and partake of this wonderful meal.   

BIBLE STUDY FOR ALL!  Pastor Cris is conducting a Bible Study on Thursday’s at 11 AM and you are welcome to attend in person!  Seating is with social distancing along with wearing a mask.   The Bible Study is also “live streamed” through ZOOM as well for you to participate from home.  (www.GracelutheranPSL.com) Also, recorded for your future viewing if you would like.

SEE YOUR GRACE FAMILY ON ZOOM:  Coli, along with Pastor, will be hosting  Zoom to Coffee at NOON, TODAY, for those who would like to join in fellowship “virtually” to see and chat with Grace members and friends.  All are welcome!  www.GraceLutheranPSL.com
GIVING: We are here to provide “Grace and Peace in this Chaotic and Lonely Time” to those in our church and community. Thank you for your past and continual prayers and financial support to Grace and your community. We have added Paypal for online donations. If you would like to give through Paypal, please go to: www.GraceLutheranPSL.com and click the “GIVE” button on the upper right side of the page.

What Had happened at Grace this week. 

Finding Quiet After the Marathon

Read the Whole Article Here https://mbird.com/2021/01/finding-quiet-after-the-marathon/

trong strides, swinging arms, tired-yet-powerful legs propelling myself forward — this is how I imagined myself finishing my first marathon. Imagining how my marathon would go was a strategy I’d used in races before, along with repeating phrases like “I am strong!” when experiencing pain. Coupled together, these strategies are meant to help runners cope with the mentally grueling aspect of racing. But as most marathoners can attest, the actual race didn’t go as I’d hoped. I hit “The Wall.” Cramps crept up at mile 18 and caused my fantastic finish to be more of a horrific hobble. My marathon ended with me crying into the arms of a finish line volunteer. She put a gold medal around my neck. I kissed it. And then I vomited. 

After my marathon, my typical reply when people aske………………………………..

Read the Whole Article Here https://mbird.com/2021/01/finding-quiet-after-the-marathon/

[Sunday] Bitterness - Faith and Family Dysfunction

Service [above] Sermon releases at 10pm [under]

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

Wrestling with Scripture (and God)

Read the article here https://mbird.com/2021/01/wrestling-with-scripture-and-god/

The story of Jacob wrestling with an unnamed man at the ford of Jabbok might be one of the stranger episodes of the Old Testament. After sending his family across the stream, Jacob suddenly finds himself alone and wrestling with a stranger. The reader is never given any indication as to the motive for the struggle, or who initiated it. All we know is that they wrestle through the night, and the stranger, apparently frustrated at Jacob’s perseverance, knocks Jacob’s hip out of joint. But Jacob refuses to let his opponent go unless he first receives a blessing from him. The stranger grants Jacob a new name, “Israel,” for he had “‘striven with God and with humans, and … prevailed.'” Jacob demands to know the stranger’s name, but the stranger just asks Jacob why he wants to know, and proceeds to bless him. Jacob then renames the place “Peniel,” for he had “‘seen God face to face'” and still lived, suggesting that the stranger was in fact God incarnate………………….

Read the article here https://mbird.com/2021/01/wrestling-with-scripture-and-god/

[Bible Study] Mark Chapter 8-9 - Zoom to Scripture

Sorry if you are looking for Feb 11th Lesson, I posted this link by mistake.
here is the real lesson

Feb 11 Mark Chapter 9+10 Lesson

[Sunday] Triangles - Faith and Family Dysfunction

Service [above] Sermon releases at 10pm [under]

Questions for the Week

1. Describe a time when you were hurt by someone triangulating or gossiping about you.

2. Read Genesis 27.  How does Rebecca triangulate to get her way?  What effect does this have on the relationships in her family?

3. Read Matthew 18:15-20.  What does Jesus call us to do when we have a problem with someone?  What promise does he make to us?

4. Who do you need to go to directly this week to be reconciled? 

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---- THIS WEEK AT GRACE - Today January 24. 2021

Worship Service 8:30 AM

Second Worship Service and

  video service www.gracelutheranpsl.com 10:15 AM

Zoom into Fellowship 12:00 PM - Noon

Korean Church Worship 1:00 PM

AA 7:30 PM

Rest of the week January 25 - 30, 2021

Olivet School Tuesday, 8 AM - 1 PM 

Individual/Family Communion Wednesday, 11 AM - Noon

Bible Study Thursday, 11 AM

          also on  Zoom  

Foster Grandparents Friday, 9 AM

Korean Church Prayer Gathering Saturday, 6 AM

For complete calendar information, go to www.gracelutheranpsl.com/calendar

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK   Gloria Solack - 1/28

THE FLOWERS ADORNING THE ALTAR are given to the glory of God by Cheryl Nolte in memory of her husband Bill.

LWML LADIES Our next meeting will be Monday, February 1st.   Please pick up a copy of the upcoming Bible Study for the meeting. It is on the table by the exit door.  

PLEASE CALL PEOPLE:  The COVID quarantines began in March of 2020 and many of our members have health conditions which have kept them isolated at home for 9 months.   So that we all don’t descend into madness, let’s call and talk to each other regularly as well as sending cards or notes through the mail.  Phone and address directories are available for your convenience on the counter by the office door. 

WINN DIXIE SUPPORT For the month of February Winn Dixie on Bayshore and PSL Boulevard will donate $1 for each reusable bag you purchase to Grace Lutheran for the Alzheimer's Community Care Center.   Grace received $40 last year from this effort. 

COMMUNION ON WEDNESDAY: If you, or someone you know, would like to celebrate Holy Communion but prefer a small group or unable to attend Sunday service, Pastor Cris has set aside Wednesday’s to celebrate the meal in small/family groups.   Please come by on Wednesday at: 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 or 12:00 (noon) and partake of this wonderful meal.   

BIBLE STUDY FOR ALL!  Pastor Cris is conducting a Bible Study on Thursday’s at 11 AM and you are welcome to attend in person!  Seating is with social distancing along with wearing a mask.   The Bible Study is also “live streamed” through ZOOM as well for you to participate from home.  (www.GracelutheranPSL.com) Also, recorded for your future viewing if you would like.

SEE YOUR GRACE FAMILY ON ZOOM:  Coli, along with Pastor, will be hosting  Zoom to Coffee at NOON, TODAY, for those who would like to join in fellowship “virtually” to see and chat with Grace members and friends.  All are welcome!  www.GraceLutheranPSL.com

GIVING: We are here to provide “Grace and Peace in this Chaotic and Lonely Time” to those in our church and community.  Thank you for your past and continual prayers and financial support to Grace and your community.    We have added Paypal for online donations. If you would like to give through Paypal, please go to: www.GraceLutheranPSL.com and click the “GIVE” button on the upper right side of the page.
THANK YOU! Thank you for your card and gift last Sunday. It is a pleasure serving the Lord and you here at Grace Lutheran. Peace and Joy, Kevin

What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Bible Study] Mark Chapter 7 + 8 - Zoom to Scripture