President Harrison on Hurricane Sandy

Here is an update from LCMS President Pastor Matthew Harrison on Hurricane Sandy.
Grace Lutheran webpage will keep you updated.

Fun Reformation Video

Check out this fun, yet informative Reformation video - Martin Luther ("Manic Monday" by the Bangles)

Today the Church Commemorates Reformation Day

On October 31, 1517, an Augustinian monk posted ninety-five statements for discussion on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.  Dr. Martin Luther hoped that posting his theses would bring about an academic debate regarding repentance, the sale of indulgences, and other matters of concern with in the Roman Catholic Church.  However, Rome eventually excommunicated Luther, judging him to be a heretic.  Luther’s refoms, centered on the teaching that a believer is justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, sparked religious reforms not only in the German states but also in many European countries.  In 1667, Elector John George of Saxony standardized the custom of observing Luther’s October 31 posting of the Ninety five Theses.

To listen to an interview of Dr. Rod Rosenbladt of “The White Horse Inn” on Martin Luther’s Rediscovery of the Gospel on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.

Baptism - Savannah Marie Schindler

Savannah Marie Schindler was baptized on October 28, 2012 at Grace Lutheran Church.  Here is a picture.

Today the Church Commemorates St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles

      In the lists of the twelve apostles (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16; acts 1:13), the tenth and eleventh places are occupied by Simon the Zealot ( or “Cananaean”) and by Jude (or “Judas,” not Iscariot but “of James”), who was apparently known also as Thaddaeus.  According to early Christian tradition, Simon and Jude journeyed together as missionaries to Persia, where they were martyred.  It is likely for this reason, at least in part, that these two apostles are commemorated on the same day.  Simon is not mentioned in the New Testament apart from the lists of the twelve apostles.  Thus he is remembered and honored for the sake of this office, and thereby stand before us-in eternity, as in his life and ministry on earth-in the name and stead of Christ Jesus, our Lord.  We give thanks to God for calling and sending Simon, along with Jude and all of the apostles, to preach and teach the Holy Gospel, to proclaim repentance and forgiveness, and to baptize in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (John 4:1-2; Matthew 10: 28:16-20; Luke 24:46-49).

      Jude appears in John’s Gospel (14:22) on the night of our Lord’s betrayal and the beginning of His Passion, asking Jesus how it is that He will manifest Himself to the disciples but not to the world.  The answer that Jesus gives to this question is a pertinent emphasis for this festival day: “If anyone love Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him”  (John 14:23).  Surely both Jude and Simon exemplified, in life and earth, their love for Jesus and their faith in His Word.  Not only are we thus strengthened in our Christian faith and life by their example, but, above all, we are encouraged by the faithfulness of the Lord in keeping His promise to them to bring them home to Himself in heaven.  There they live with Him forever, where we shall someday join them.


To listen to an interview of Dr. Peter Scaer of Concordia Theological Seminary-Ft. Wayne, IN on St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.

Today the Church Commemorates Philipp Nicolai, Johann Heermann, and Paul Gerhardt, Hymnwriters

Philipp Nicolai


Johann Heermann


Paul Gerhardt

To listen to an interview of Dr. Paul Grime of Concordia Theological Seminary-Ft. Wayne, IN on Philipp Nicolai, Johann Heermann, and Paul Gerhardt, Hymnwriters on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.

Today the Church Commemorates Dorcas (Tabitha), Lydia, and Phoebe, Faithful Women

These women were exemplary Christians who demonstrated their faith by their material support of the Church. Dorcas (also known as Tabitha) was well-known and much loved for her acts of charity in the city of Joppa, especially for her making clothes for the poor. When Dorcas died suddenly, the members of her congregation sent to the neighboring city of Lydda for the Apostle Peter, who came and raised her from the dead (Acts 9:3641). Lydia was a woman of Thyatira, who worked at Philippi selling a famous purple dye that was so much in demand in the ancient world. She was also a worshiper of God at the local synagogue. When the Apostle Paul encountered her in prayer among other proselyte women, his preaching of the Word brought Lydia to faith in Christ. She and her friends thus became the nucleus of the Christian community in Philippi (16:1315, 40). Phoebe was another faithful woman associated with the Apostle Paul. She was a deaconess from Cenchrae (the port of Corinth) whom Paul sent to the church in Rome with his Epistle to the Romans. In it he writes of her support for the work of the early Church (Rom 16:1).

To listen to an interview of Deaconess Pam Nielsen of Witness, Mercy, Life Together on Dorcas Mercy Worker on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.


To listen to an interview of Deaconess Pam Nielsen of Witness, Mercy, Life Together on Lydia on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.


To listen to an interview of Deaconess Cynthia Lumley of Concordia Theological Seminary-Ft. Wayne, IN on Phoebe on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.