Grace Lutheran’s History

Grace Lutheran Church was originally affiliated with the Orthodox Lutheran Conference. In August of 1962 it became a member of the Church of the Lutheran Confession. Grace Lutheran Church was born by the grace of God out of concern for the preservation of God’s truth, in the service of proclaiming the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Ephesians 2:6-7 He has raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus

60th Anniversary Video:

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Major Events in Early Years:

• DECEMBER 1954 — Under the impetus provided by the pastors of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of North Minneapolis, worship and Sunday School were first held at Hayes Elementary School. These services were conducted by Otto Abrams, a student at the Orthodox Lutheran Seminary of Minneapolis, who after his graduation was called and ordained as the group’s first resident pastor.
• JULY 1955 — The organizational meeting was held at the Roger Weibye home. Ephesians 2:8 was chosen as our motto: “For by GRACE you have been saved through faith.”
• FEBRUARY 18, 1957 — The Articles of Incorporation were adopted.
• MARCH 24, 1957 — Authorization to purchase an acre of ground for a building site at a sum of $2,500.
• MAY 1957 — Construction of original church and parsonage with completion in November 1958.
• AUGUST 1962 — Voted to be received into membership of the Church of the Lutheran Confession.
• SEPTEMBER 7, 1976 — Opening of the Christian Day School.
• JULY 1983 — Ground breaking for construction of a new fellowship wing and Church sanctuary also expanding its Christian Day School and Parsonage.
• JUNE 1, 1986 — Dedication of the new sanctuary.
• 1997 — Grace installed a new organ and began planning the erection of a Bell Tower.
• NOVEMBER 17, 2004 — Dedication of stained glass windows.
• NOVEMBER 2005 — Fellowship Hall/Kitchen remodel
• OCTOBER 20, 2013 — Our first worship service with a permanently mounted projector and screen
• NOVEMBER 2015 — Due to contacts in Liberia, an initial mission visit is made to Monrovia and Bopolu.
• JUNE & JULY 2017 — Church and parsonage roofs are replaced due to hail damage.
• JUNE 14, 2018 — The parking lot is repaved.
• June 9, 2022 – Grace School students, parents, and supporters (31 total) walk in the Spring Lake Park Tower Days Parade to promote our Christian Day School and VBS.
• July 16, 2023 – The Voters pass a motion to proceed with the carpet, crown molding, window molding project screen molding and wall painting as presented by the Sanctuary Improvement Project.
• Jan. 7, 2024 – Given that Pastor Hein was asked to preach for Grace Evangelistic Lutheran Church’s (GELC) new building now being ready for worship, he and Pastor Joseph Kwiwalazu arrange a special worship service which is interactive via video between our church in the USA and their church (GELC) in Liberia. This service is archived at: clcgracelutheranchurch.org/20240107/.
• Mar. 23, 2025 – The Immanuel Lutheran Tour Choir held a concert at Grace during the 10 am Sunday morning service. The children of the congregation joined the choir on one hymn.