A church home for God's people.
Grace is undeserved mercy.
Hello, and Welcome
As you can see from exploring this web site, we are providing information to the Grace Lutheran community as well as a welcome and introduction of our church to other Christians who may be seeking a church home. We are mindful that people are at various places in their faith walk. Second, we would be helpful in providing support and guidance.
GRACE ON PURPOSE — Part 3
From Article II of the Constitution of Grace Lutheran Church, Tacoma, WA
PURPOSE
The purpose of this congregation shall be to honor and glorify God,
to carry out his will, to manifest the unity of our faith in Jesus Christ as God and Savior...
Continuing a Year 2008 series of newsletter reflections on the constitutionally stated purposes of Grace congregation the third dimension of purpose is that of bold affirmation of the corporate identity.
The MANIFEST of a ship or plane includes the listing by name of who is aboard. This congregation of Grace maintains such a manifest - a listing of those who have made public profession of faith in Jesus Christ as God and Savior and freely commit themselves:
to live among Gods faithful people
to hear his Word and share in his supper,
to proclaim the good news of God Christ through word and deed
to serve all people, following the example of our Lord Jesus, and
to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
From that member manifest the unity of faith in Christ Jesus is made manifest as the respective members of Grace act upon the same baptismal faith that they hold in common with each other. Both in the number of members in the local congregation of Grace as well as in the billion or more members in the church catholic on earth, there is wide diversity of backgrounds, languages, experiences, and expectations. how then shall we be observably one, publicly united? Certainly not so on our own shall we secure our identity of unity. Our unity, oneness, solidarity emerges not from the differences of each one of us, but from the Christ Jesus who alone as God and Savior establishes the bonds of unity which we proudly and boldly manifest to others. Our faith therefore is not in ourselves, in the history of the congregation of Grace or in any other human contrivance. the unity we manifest to others rests in Jesus alone through whom alone we are ever united as sisters and brothers in the family of faith. or to state the matter otherwise, outside of the incarnate and present Lord Christ there is no unity to bring and keep us together and no unity to manifest to the world about us. That fact of UNITY always in CHRIST remains, therefore, the impetus for the members of Grace regularly to immerse themselves in the language of faith contained in Scripture, regularly to join others in the unity of faith at the Holy Table of communion with Jesus, regularly to put each other in memory of our common baptismal identity in Christ, regularly to enlarge the Body that is Christs holy church on earth.
Jesus' great high priestly prayer as recorded in John 17 confirms our unity when effectively he prayer: Holy Father...sanctify them in the truth... that they may all be one. (vv.11, 17, 21). Jesus prayer is our assurance as the Apostle Paul so comprehensively states: There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, on baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
(Ephesians 4:4-6)
If you would like additional information, we’d enjoy talking with you either by phone at
253-472-7105, or you can e-mail us at: info@gracelutherantacoma.org.
We hope to hear from you!
May God bless you this day and every day!
Pastor Richard H. Tietjen
r_tietjen@gracelutherantacoma.org