Updates from congregations around the Church of the Lutheran Confession
As our Savior stood with the eleven, He was just about to ascend to the right hand of God the Father Almighty. However, before this monumental event took place, He first assured the apostles that all authority had been given to Him in heaven and on earth. The Savior, in whom their faith trusted, had all power and grace to guide the affairs of earth to work toward the good of His Church. Having said this, He commissioned them to make disciples of all nations, employing the saving means of grace given in Baptism and the enlightening Word of Truth which encompassed all things that He had taught them.
Thousands of years later, as we wait for our ascended Lord’s return, the way in which disciples of Christ are made remains the same: the Gospel in Word and Sacrament. Grace Lutheran Church still employs the same grace entrusted to her by the Savior. Though every change at Grace brings something new, God’s grace in Christ still remains His glory and our salvation.
On September 29, 2024, Pastor Zachary Sippert was installed as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church. This was a change. But the eternal promise of salvation, given to Grace congregation and to the whole world, remains the same as it has been given by Christ Jesus. Regardless of the new face, the Savior crucified and risen remains the same grace.
To add to our list of “What’s New,” changes have been made in connection with Grace’s Christian day school ministry, which will begin its tenth school year this coming fall. On July 17, 2022, our Principal, Nathan Wales, was installed at Grace Lutheran School. Mrs. Vanessa Wales and Mrs. Danielle Sippert were later installed as teachers on August 24, 2024. Just as the apostle Peter was instructed two millennia ago (John 21:15-18), and as Moses commanded Israel even longer ago (Deuteronomy 6:6-7), so Grace’s servants of the Lord have been instructed, to use the same means—the Gospel of Christ—to train up and feed the lambs of Grace.
Along with the new faces in her public ministry, Grace’s physical plant also received a “new face,” if you will. On January 29, 2023, Grace had a dedication service for its newly-built classroom addition, including two furnished classrooms and a copy room. The addition has proved to be a blessing from the Lord, providing a beneficial improvement to the educational environment. Currently, our enrollment is ten students. We pray the Lord of the harvest that He may fill these classrooms with hearts and minds, ready to be formed by the Word of God.
Over the years, Grace’s membership total has gone down. A membership above 200 a few decades ago now stands at 116 souls. Though this may tempt us to discouragement, we ought to be reminded that higher numbers should not be the be-all, end-all goal. Our aim is to preach the same grace that was entrusted to the apostles years ago. Our aim is to preach Christ and Him crucified. And so, despite the drop in membership, we rejoice in Christ’s saving grace for our brothers and sisters who have joined the Church Triumphant. Those whom the Lord called home this past year include a couple of Grace’s charter members, gifts from the Lord given to both Grace and the Church of the Lutheran Confession—Charles Romberg and Walter Romberg. Both victory services served as tremendous opportunities to not only reassure the membership of Grace of our Lord’s resurrection grace, but also to show the community of Sleepy Eye that we proclaim the grace of a Savior slain and risen.
Instructors and students of Grace Lutheran School
The Lord has blessed Grace with a few mission prospects here and there. Contacts have come about by interest in our Christian Day School, by a non-member spouse whose heart was worked on through continued encouragement and exposure to the Word, by response to a simple “come and see” invitation, or by neighbors from the apartment complex close by our property who come to see and hear. With these opportunities, we are encouraged to preach the same grace, for this grace is what will convince hearts and minds. Furthermore, despite a drop in overall membership, Grace has been blessed in recent years to have received a few new members into the congregation.
This year’s confirmands
As we strive to proclaim this Gospel truth to others in our community through all means available, Grace also offers Vacation Bible School, which was once held in early June, but has since changed to the last week of July.
There have been other changes in our congregation’s ministry. For over twenty years, Grace enjoyed the blessings of a joint parish call with Faith Lutheran Church in nearby New Ulm. This sharing has since come to an end, as Faith has now formed a new joint parish with our sister congregation, Salem of Eagle Lake. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless these congregations in their use of His holy Word. With this change, Grace has moved its Bible class and Sunday school time from 8:00 A.M. to 10:15 A.M., following the 9:00 A.M. Sunday service. Grace also takes opportunity for further spiritual nourishment with its seasonal services, enjoying an Advent and Lenten rotation with Immanuel of Mankato, Salem of Eagle Lake, and St. John’s of Okabena. Along with these changes, Grace has also made available a once-a-month Bible Study for its youth. Senior Youth Bible Study (SYBS) is made available for our high school-aged members. This includes a Bible Class and an entertainment activity.
Change or no change, if grace were no longer preached at Grace, we would surely be the most pitiable! But we praise God for the continued preaching and teaching of His Saving Word, and we pray that the same may continue.
Grace first inscribed my name in God's eternal book, and grace has brought me to the Lamb who all my sorrows took. Grace led my wandering feet to tread the heavenly road, and grace supplies each hour I meet while pressing on to God. (WS 778:2)
is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.