A Message to Our Grace Lutheran Family

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Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

This message is for our friends at Grace Lutheran, and for the many who have worshiped with us in years past. Here is a brief update on where we stand.

Pastor Tim Johnson will retire at the end of September. Knowing this was coming, we began searching for a new pastor last fall. Like many congregations right now, we found pastoral openings far outnumber available pastors, and our search did not turn up a candidate.

At the same time, our sister congregation, Maple Park Church in Lynnwood, has been without a pastor for many months and searching as well. Conversations between our two congregations’ leadership began around our shared circumstances and grew into a conversation about joining together in ministry.

For months, we have prayed for God’s guidance in this process, watching for the doors that closed and the ones that opened.

At a congregational meeting on Sunday, August 16, the Elders brought a motion to join in ministry with Maple Park Church beginning October 4, 2026, with our final service at Grace on September 27. After thoughtful discussion, the congregation voted unanimously in favor. We are grateful for the wisdom, honesty, and love for one another that marked that conversation.

We know many questions are still being worked through, and we welcome them in the weeks ahead. One thought voiced by several members captured what this season means to us: of everything we treasure at Grace, the love we have for each other is what matters most — and that, we carry with us. We believe it will be a gift not only to us, but to our new friends at Maple Park.

What’s next:

  • No Sunday School, Rally Day, or picnic in September
  • Our focus will be celebrating Pastor Tim’s last Sunday, September 27, with a farewell dinner afterward
  • More details and announcements to come

In Christ’s service,

John Hendrix
Elder Board Chairman