Grace Lutheran Church

A couple years ago Grace became a charter member of the Midtown Raleigh Alliance, an organization of businesses, civic groups, and churches within a corridor between Wake Forest Road and Glenwood Road from the Beltline and north almost to I540. Primarily, the focus of conversations has been the tremendous growth around North Hills and north along Six Forks Road and the implications of that growth for the present and into the future. At least three other churches besides Grace have been involved in the discussions and growth studies that have occurred over the past couple years.

Plans are being formulated for the widening of Six Forks Road, possibly adding biking trails, parks, rezoning of some areas to accommodate the growing need for services and residences, innovations in better public transportation, etc. A lot of people moving into Raleigh want to live and work in this Midtown area. Should we not also provide opportunities for them to worship and volunteer here, as well?

As a congregation which has been an integral part of this community for fifty years, and which has had an impact especially through social ministry and community outreach, it is vitally important that we focus upon what ministry will look like in the years to come. What are now, and what will be, the social and spiritual needs of this community? How will these changes impact our ability to welcome and minister to those who are seeking a church home? How do we work with other churches and outreach ministry organizations to meet the transitional needs that are already happening? Do we have an adequate plan for welcoming newcomers into our church family? These are questions that our Council and Mission Teams are already beginning to wrestle with. We want to develop a vision for our future that will encompass these and other issues.

In the meantime, as St. Paul so aptly stated in Ephesians 6:23: Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Your Servant in Christ,

Pastor Michael Frye