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Spirit Of Grace Is Unifying Churches

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By CARL ORTH

Suncoast News

Published: October 1, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - The hardest part was coming up with a name.

Parishioners submitted more than 300 possible names for the new congregation that will consolidate five west Pasco County Lutheran churches this month.

Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church will unite All Saints, First Lutheran, Immanuel, Joyful Spirit and King of Glory churches.

"This is an exciting thing we're doing," said the Rev. Jerry Nordsiek.

The consolidation is the first of its kind among in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the nation's largest Lutheran denomination.

Another area congregation from that denomination, King of Kings Lutheran Church on U.S. 19, is not part of the merger.

The intent behind the merger is perhaps best expressed by a poster in the Joyful Spirit church office that says, "We Are One in the Spirit," quoting a popular 1960s Christian song.

Nordsiek, the Joyful Spirit Church pastor before the merger, will serve as one of two lead pastors for Spirit of Grace. The Rev. Sally Cook, Immanuel Lutheran's former pastor, will join him.

"God's spirit has led this," Cook said. "Let's be good stewards of the resources we have ... be more effective spreading the love of Jesus."

The efforts of the five former churches, which were bunched together between U.S. 19 and Little Road to the east, often overlapped.

Both pastors say Spirit of Grace will be able to provide a better food pantry, youth ministries and other services.

For example, the All Saints food pantry was by far the most effective, feeding more than 100 families each month, Nordsiek said. But the merged congregation will broaden that program, he said.

The changes will allow some pastors to specialize in older adult ministries. Respite care, transportation and other programs might be added, Cook said.

Spirit of Grace Church will maintain two sites. Its north campus will be the former All Saints Lutheran Church, 9525 Hudson Ave. The south campus will be the former Joyful Spirit Church, 8812 Old County Road 54, in the Seven Springs area.

The other three sites will be sold.

Years from now, Spirit of Grace might branch out, Nordsiek said. Long term, the church may open centers along the growing Suncoast Parkway corridor.

"The really neat thing," Nordsiek said, is that members of the five churches had been pushing for the merger, which is so new that signs for Spirit of Grace haven't gone up yet.

It's the "birth of something new," Nordsiek said.

As part of the transition, the church will hold a combined worship service Sunday at the King of Glory Lutheran Church, 4820 Floramar Terrace.

The regular Spirit of Grace worship schedule will begin Oct. 11 and 12 at the Hudson and Seven Springs locations.

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