Somers Point church plans events all year
SOMERS POINT — Grace Lutheran Church is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a series of events lasting throughout the year, starting with a kickoff luncheon.
The church’s 100th Anniversary Committee is hosting the complimentary luncheon starting with a service at 10:15 a.m. Feb. 25. The event is open to the public but the committee requests those who plan to attend to RSVP by Feb. 11.
Bishop Tracie Bartholomew, a Somers Point native who oversees the New Jersey Synod, will preside.
Bartholomew, who works out of the Trenton area, “grew up in this church,” pastor Althea Albright said. “She’s a great colleague and a friend.”
Albright and Jim Foreman or co-chairs of the 100th Anniversary Committee
“We’re having several large events this year,” Albright said, noting a Spring Fling is scheduled for May or June, a fall concert Sept. 21 and Octoberfest. The biggest event is a gala in December at Atlantic City County Club. All events are open to the public.
“We want to bring in some families to these events,” Foreman said.
“We are always open to visitors and friends, friends and neighbors,” Albright added.
Part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Grace Lutheran was formed in 1924 and built the original church on Shore Road in 1928. The building, which has been expanded multiple times over the past century, occupies the block between Dawes and Meyran avenues.
“The building has been pieced together throughout the year,” Albright said.
According to a written history of the church, the first Lutheran service in Somers Point was held May 27, 1923, in Eagle Hall. Worship continued under various visiting seminarians in other locations while members raised money to build a church.
During a meeting of the Philadelphia conference of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, it was decided that Grace Church of Somers Point and Epiphany Church of Pleasantville would constitute one parish and a congregation was incorporated in 1925. The following year, the congregation purchased the lot on Shore Road and built the original church for $16,000. It was dedicated May 13, 1928.
In 1932, the two congregations split and Grace formed a union with St. John’s of Ocean City under the guidance of the Rev. Gunnar Knudsen. During his tenure from 1939-45, the congregation purchased a parsonage and renovated the interior of the church.
On Feb. 27, 1945, the Rev. Robert Z. Wuchter became the fourth pastor and first full-time shepherd of the congregation.
In 1950, Grace Lutheran became part of the ELCA’s New Jersey Synod. Later that year, the Rev. Charles F. Rinck Jr. became the fifth pastor and oversaw another period of growth, both in the congregation and the city of Somers Point.
In 1951, the church purchased two more lots, extending its holdings for the entire width of the block and allowed for expansion.
An ambitious building program started Easter Sunday in 1954 that consisted of a new altar and chancel, sacristy room, choir and supply room, a remodeled entrance, additional pews and windows and a new two-story parish hall with rooms for Sunday school, kitchens, restrooms, meetings rooms and offices.
In 1966, additional land was purchased for parking and a new building program was started. An addition to the front of the nave, a new narthex, a bell tower and cross were erected at a cost of $75,000, while a 23 rank pipe organ was installed.
In 1978, plans were developed for another addition to boost convenience, accessibility and extended utility to a heavily used edifice. The addition consisted of more offices, a lounge and service area, Sunday school rooms and a special purpose room.
While the church building and its membership have evolved over the decades, one part remains from more than two centuries ago — the Steelman Burying Ground.
According to a document produced by the Somers Point Heritage Tourism Committee, in 1695 James Steelman purchased 200 acres along Patcong Creek in what is now Somers Point. His descendants were buried on the church grounds, starting long before the house of worship was founded and continuing for another 30 years afterward.
John Steelman, who died in 1818, was the first to be buried there and Lillie Braddock Steelman the last in 1949, according to the document.
Today, the church has about 200 members and generally draws between 60 and 70 worshippers each week for services.
Officers for 2023 were Steve Gring, president; Mary Goodman, vice president; Kevin Thomas, secretary; and Heidi Toth, treasurer.
An informal spoken service is held at 8 a.m. in the small chapel, an Adult Forum is from 8:45 to 9:40 a.m. and a traditional worship service with music is at 10:15 a.m. in the sanctuary Sundays. The traditional service is live-streamed and past services can be accessed on YouTube.
The music program at Grace Lutheran, led by music director Scott Breiner, is a rich, vibrant and integral part of the worship experience, according to the church website (gracelutheranspnj.org).
The church has an adult choir that on special occasions is accompanied by instrumentalists or merges with other church choirs and chorales to present major musical works. Worship services and special musical events are supported by the church’s three-keyboard Rodgers Digital Organ.
Grace Lutheran’s ministries include its ecumenical food pantry, open 9 to 11:30 a.m. Monday to Thursday except for the first full week of each month.
One of its major undertakings is Grace Place, its ecumenical food pantry. It’s open from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Monday to Thursday except for the first full week of each month. The pantry, which serves more than 500 adults and children in Somers Point, Linwood and Northfield, is supplied by donations from individuals and other churches in the three communities.
“A lot of our neighbor churches contribute to that,” Albright said.
There also is a women’s group, support groups for addiction and grief and other social issues, as well as Confirmation and adult education classes. Visit gracelutheranspnj.org for more information.
Albright said the ministries are part of what drew her to the church.
“I liked that we always had open doors and allow our building to be used Monday to Friday and not just on a Sunday and a weekend. It has been part of us,” Albright said. “We try to be warm and friendly and help people at their point of need.”
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
