Bishop Duane Pederson of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) announced a new ELCA worshipping community in Ladysmith today – Walking in Grace ELCA. “We are blessed to utilize our ecumenical relationships with the United Church of Christ. Pastor Leslie Schenk of Congregational Church UCC is providing pastoral assistance to Walking in Grace,” Bishop Pederson said.
Walking in Grace ELCA meets for worship at 6:00 p.m. Sundays at the Congregational Church, 109 Lake Avenue East in Ladysmith. A potluck dinner and hymn sing will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 22. All are welcome.
Synodically Authorized Worshiping Communities (SAWCs) are created by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for small gatherings of Lutherans, often when starting ethnic specific ministries, potential new church starts, or fellowships resulting from church conflicts. These worshiping communities are deeply grounded in Word and Sacrament and quickly identify and pursue mission opportunities in the name of Jesus.
“As bishop, it is my hope and prayer that Walking in Grace will flourish as a community of faith where the core values of trust in Jesus as Savior, hospitality to all, and witness and service locally and beyond are deeply held. Walking in Grace ELCA is unencumbered by church facilities and costly overhead and is able to focus on worship and mission. It is exciting to watch a new community of faith being born by the Spirit of God,” Bishop Pederson said.
Nathaniel Lutheran Church in Bruce is Walking in Grace ELCA’s congregation of record, a requirement of the establishment of a SAWC. The ELCA currently has over 60 SAWCs, two of which are in the territory of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin. The establishment of SAWCs are in addition to over 40 new church starts across the United States during 2010 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Membership in a SAWC can be held concurrently with membership in a Lutheran Church. Members unite around a central purpose and collaboratively design the way their worship community will function. Worshiping Communities are subject to an annual review and some dissolve when their initial purpose has been achieved; others go on to become new churches when their membership becomes large enough to do so.
Walking in Grace ELCA participants currently meet for worship and communion, Bible study, and fellowship. They hope to find ways to serve others here in the area and in other places through mission work, which may include mission trips and/or local work projects, even neighborhood dinners. They welcome all opportunities to share God’s love with others. The group welcomes all who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, regardless of race, creed, gender, or sexuality.
The intention for the group, at this point, is to remain property-less. The idea of a worshiping community without a building allows the group more flexibility in their service to the community here and in the world. They are proud to be a part of a Christian organization (ELCA) that has made such a positive contribution to the world, through its missional arms, which includes Lutheran World Relief. They are thankful to the Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) for allowing them to meet in their building and look forward to future ecumenical collaborations with the UCC church and other denominations in the area.
