Church History
Beginnings
The Grace Lutheran Church of Vestal, NY was founded in 1950 by six families who were employed by IBM in Endicott and wanted a Lutheran Church in the area. The first services were held in the American Legion Hall on Catherine St. In 1956, the church building was built in its present location of 709 Main St, Vestal.
Devastating Fire and Accepting God's Plan
The wooden structure church stood for 59 years, until the night of May 18, 2015 when a devastating fire struck. Days later, the church was declared a total loss; however, the congregation banded together. The following Sunday, members came together and held a worship service in the parking lot.
Several area churches extended a helping hand. Offers came from local churches to use their respective buildings and offered use of the property for fund raising activities. After much searching and consideration, the Grace Lutheran Church accepted the invitation from the Memorial Park Baptist Church to use their building as if it belonged to the members of the Grace Lutheran Church. Through the almost of 3 1/2 years of this stay, the two congregations formed a bond through several joint activities and development of personal friendships. Today, we continue this relationship and you will see posted on our website many joint activities such as Vacation Bible School, the Summer Carnival, Ladies Luncheon, and more.
Several area churches extended a helping hand. Offers came from local churches to use their respective buildings and offered use of the property for fund raising activities. After much searching and consideration, the Grace Lutheran Church accepted the invitation from the Memorial Park Baptist Church to use their building as if it belonged to the members of the Grace Lutheran Church. Through the almost of 3 1/2 years of this stay, the two congregations formed a bond through several joint activities and development of personal friendships. Today, we continue this relationship and you will see posted on our website many joint activities such as Vacation Bible School, the Summer Carnival, Ladies Luncheon, and more.
Renewal and Blessings
The 2015 fire only solidified the fact that the physical building is not the church; God’s people are the church, His church. God is our strength!
The new church facility was dedicated in 2018 and is a wonderful and blessed place to help us carry out the mission of loving God and sharing God’s gifts with our neighbors. A car is an effective tool to move people many miles. A phone is an effective tool to stay in touch with loved ones. Glasses are an effective tool to help us see to read. Our new church facility is an effective tool for loving God as we gather to worship and pray and sing in our beautiful, modern and in many ways better building.
We dedicate our new church facility to the glory of God and the good of the people in our neighborhood. Please feel free to come and meet us and explore the many blessings we want to share.
Read more in these local news sources:
The new church facility was dedicated in 2018 and is a wonderful and blessed place to help us carry out the mission of loving God and sharing God’s gifts with our neighbors. A car is an effective tool to move people many miles. A phone is an effective tool to stay in touch with loved ones. Glasses are an effective tool to help us see to read. Our new church facility is an effective tool for loving God as we gather to worship and pray and sing in our beautiful, modern and in many ways better building.
We dedicate our new church facility to the glory of God and the good of the people in our neighborhood. Please feel free to come and meet us and explore the many blessings we want to share.
Read more in these local news sources: