About Grace
Grace Events PDF Print E-mail
Written by Perry Lund   
Monday, 15 March 2010 19:55

There are many reoccurring events that take place at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church throughout the year. We follow the traditional Lutheran liturgical calendar year, which by calendar year begins with Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, Trinity, Reformation, Advent and Christmas.

 

The congregation hosts many events during the church year which include but are not limited to the following:

  • Lenten Spaghetti Supper
  • Fellowship Meal after mid-week Lenten Services
  • Youth-run Sunrise Easter Breakfast (Spring)
  • Movie evenings for Easter and Reformation (April / October)
  • Spring and Fall LWMS Rallies on Circuit Church rotation
  • Vacation Bible School (Aug.)
  • Sunday School Cookout Kick-off (Sept.)
  • Church Christmas Decorating and Potluck Soup Supper (Dec.)

 

Grace_Church_Year_Timeline
Last Updated on Monday, 15 March 2010 20:46
 
Grace Organization PDF Print E-mail
Written by Perry Lund   
Thursday, 24 September 2009 11:25

The people of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church are part of the invisible Christian Church on earth who believe and confess the Lutheran Confessions as informed by the innerrant Scriptures in the Holy Bible. Members of Grace Lutheran serve in a variety of roles including a synod called pastor, locally called workers and volunteers to help with worship, ministry, evangenlism and stewardship.

 

Grace Lutheran has called Pastor Neumann as their shepherd from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The voter's assembly, under the authority of church's constitution, has called people to serve in the positions of president, vice-president, 3 elders, 3 trustees, financial secretary and treasurer to serve the congregation. Volunteers for organists, Sunday School teachers, choir and musical leaders also serve the church. Volunteers also serve the congregation in unseen ways by preparing communion, making coffee, cleaning church, publishing the newsletter and performing many other services.

 

Grace Lutheran has a voter's assembly the includes all male confirmand members who have signed the church's constitution. Voter's assembly meets quarterly and to prepare a budget in early December. There are also groups serving the Lord at Grace that include the local Ladies Aid and LWMS (Lutheran Women's Missionary Society) meeting monthly. The high school Youth Group consists of the 9th - 12th grade students and friends who meet for activities once a month.
Last Updated on Monday, 15 March 2010 19:55
 
Getting to Grace PDF Print E-mail
Written by Perry Lund   
Wednesday, 23 September 2009 06:37

Grace is located on the southeastern quadrant of Oskaloosa along the west side of Highway 23. There is a Casey's General Store on the east side of Highway 23. The church driveway is the first driveway off 9th Avenue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Last Updated on Monday, 15 March 2010 19:53
 
Grace History PDF Print E-mail
Written by Perry Lund   
Tuesday, 22 September 2009 20:23

1945-locale1963-localeGrace Lutheran Church was organized in Oskaloosa, Iowa in a house north of downtown during 1945. The location was at the northeast corner of B Avenue West and North A Street. Soon, a better meeting location became available as Presbyterians had just built a new worship building and let the older church building open for rent.

 

From 1946 until 1963, Grace Lutheran Church held services in the old Presbyterian Church on 3rd Street south off Highway 92. With changes to the downtown area and Grace's congregation growing in numbers, a new location was searched for to build a new church facility.

 

In 1963, a new church was constructed on a site off then Highway 63 South and 9th Avenue. The new location provided space for the church building and parking for about 35 - 40 vehicles. This location continues to service today's Oskaloosa congregation. The highway numbering changed in the late 1990s and the current address is Highway 23 and 9th Avenue.

 

Eastern_CrossIn the early 1980s, the congregation at Grace decided that a parsonage for the pastor and his family could be build south of the church on property that had just come up for sale. The parsonage was built with the help of a Lutheran Association for Church Extension (LACE) loan.

 

In 1998, a new addition to the west side of the church was completed which added handicap access, a space for fellowship time and Bible study, and additional classroom space in the lower level. In 2009, the church completed a major rennovation to the roofing, adding 4" of insulation over the sanctuary and new Decra metal shingles over the entire roof span.

 

For a period of years from 1995 to 2007, a sister congregation named Our Savior held services in Pella, Iowa at the Pella Memorial Building on the west side of the downtown square. With as many as 7 families attending services during the duration of the congregation, God blessed the church.

 

Pastor Roger Neumann has served Grace Lutheran Church as pastor since 1980 to the present day.
Last Updated on Monday, 15 March 2010 19:47
 
Grace Leadership PDF Print E-mail
Written by Perry Lund   
Tuesday, 22 September 2009 20:18

Grace Lutheran is served by several individuals from in our congregation who are called and voted on by the Voter's Assembly. The President and Vice President have 2 year terms, Elders and Trustees have 3 year terms, and the Financial Secretary, Treasurer and Secretary all have 2 year terms.

 

 

Grace Lutheran is blessed with a musically talented congregation who are lead by organists and music directors who give of their time and talents endlessly to the service of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

Grace has many volunteers not listed specifically here. The names of other members can be found in the website's main menu under "People".
Last Updated on Monday, 15 March 2010 19:54
 
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