The Grace and Glory Story
Psalm 84:11 - For Jehovah God is our Light and our Protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from those who walk along his paths.
In the Beginning - 2000 to 2004
The community of Lake Monticello, Virginia is situated in Fluvanna County and located about 15 miles southeast of Charlottesville, Virginia. Early in 2000 a movement began to initiate a congregation in Fluvanna County. This initiative was the result of conversations taking place among members of the three different Lutheran congregations that were located in Charlottesville: Peace, St. Mark, and Emmanuel Lutheran Churches. The pastors of the three churches were also a part of the discussions of these plans. The motivation was to bring a worshipping community to this second fastest growing county in Virginia and to spread the Good News of God's Grace, sowing the seeds that would ultimately grow a grassroots church.
Ultimately, the group solicited the assistance of the Rev. Hank Boschen, Mission Director for Virginia and North Carolina, ELCA Division of Outreach. A sizeable group of interested persons responded to an invitation to gather for informational meetings. Following several such gatherings to nurture this new group, a vote was taken to organize. Pastor Boschen then recruited the recently retired Rev. Bill Stewart to ask him to serve as part-time pastor for this newly developing congregation. Rev. Stewart had served as pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Charlottesville, Virginia and had come to them as a redevelopment pastor for their then mission congregation back in 1988. From the onset, those that had this vision saw a church, not as a congregation for the convenience of the Lutherans living there, but rather one focused both on outreach to the community as well as a strong sense of meaningful financial support for the church at large.
Initially, there was explored a concept of a truly ecumenical congregation that could perhaps be labeled the LEAP (Lutheran, Episcopalian, Anglican and Presbyterian) of Faith. After some discussions by various parties of this initiative, it became apparent that there would be certain difficulties encountered in developing a purely ecumenical system of worship, rather than having the different denominational services conducted at varied times. Therefore, a request was then made of the Virginia Synod, and the Synod Council to approve Grace and Glory as a Synodical Authorized Worshipping Community. Such action also recognized that once such a congregation would garner 100 adult members, it would be approved as a fully functioning Mission Congregation of the ELCA.
With a start-up grant from the Synod Missions Committee and a monthly allowance from the ELCA Division for Outreach a decision was made to move forward with worship services. Early decisions were that this effort would be guided by a Leadership Team made up of volunteers from the congregation. A keyboard was loaned by Peace Lutheran Church to help with the music program, and start-up funds were used to purchase a computer and overhead projector and screen to display the order of service to be easily read by the members of the congregation.
The first service of Grace and Glory Lutheran Church was held on February 11, 2001. There were some 53 individuals in attendance at this service, which was held in the aerobics room of the Armstrong Fitness Center. Since most such exercise rooms have at least one fully mirrored wall, it was an appropriate meeting place, in that it allowed the size of the congregation to double, simply by having it facing that wall. The following Easter service in April of 2001 there were 45 individuals who were accepted as members of the Grace and Glory congregation. Stated supply pastors of the synod assisted throughout the summer, and in the fall, Pastor Bud Koiner, retired, of Lynchburg, Virginia committed to assist and serve the congregation with Pastor Stewart.
Outreach and Benevolence
The above-mentioned Leadership Team made an early decision about the importance of benevolence. The developed mission statement of Grace and Glory indicates that: "as a caring Christian community, we proclaim God's Grace and joyfully commit ourselves to share our faith with others in word and service." The focus has always been about providing that service to both the local and synodical community as well as the world as a whole. Therefore, an initial commitment of 15% in benevolence was made to the Virginia Synod, as well as the pledge to increase such benevolence by 1% annually until it reaches 25%. At present Grace and Glory gives 18% of its offering to benevolence regularly.
As to the mission of outreach, this congregation has developed a reputation as a welcoming community of faith. Within the county we have participated with the local food bank and have designated the 3rd Sunday of each month as a day of collection for food products to be contributed to the food bank. A group of our ladies, "the travelin' singers", regularly sings at a local nursing home to offer songs of praise and 
hope. Another group has participated in the ministry and assistance to the chaplain of a local women's prison as well as assisting as volunteers in the prison's library. Special offerings are also received for Lutheran World Relief and ELCA Hunger Appeal. Many members visit and/or prepare meals for the sick and shut-ins as well as providing transportation. In an effort to reach the non-churched in this community, information is sent to new move-ins and information packets are circulated at community events.
After exploring concepts discussed in the ELCA publication, The Great Permission, the focus for this congregation became one of an assets-based style. Rather than looking at the traditional view of examining the needs of the congregation, the question is asked, "What are the assets that the members of this congregation bring, and how can they best be utilized to serve the mission of this congregation?"
Here we are some 3 1/2 years later feeling even more strongly that God has continued to give us His grace and glory, as Psalm 84 tells us. In February of 2004 Bishop Mauney conducted a service to welcome Grace and Glory as a mission congregation in the Virginia Synod, ELCA. At the annual Synod Assembly in June of 2004 Grace and Glory was officially recognized as a mission congregation. Also, at the assembly a benevolence gift of over $1000 was given to the Synod. Our current membership is approximately 150. As to our ecumenical nature, the third anniversary service was conducted at the local Roman Catholic Church, as had been the case for two previous anniversary services. Also, a musical presentation was given by the choir of a local Baptist congregation. Pastor Stewart is now assisted by the Rev. Bill Lyon, a retired Episcopal priest, as well as Virginia Martin, a Presbyterian minister. Additionally, Mrs. Julie Martell, a diaconal minister from the Metro NY Synod, assists the ministry of the congregation with an emphasis on the children and youth.
The Grace and Glory Story (Continued)
And just what has occurred during these three years since the original Grace & Glory Story was written in 2004? This is a question that one might ask who hasn't been around to witness a congregation's growth in faith, mission and ministry.
In 2005 the Leadership Team of Grace & Glory put forth an initiative proposal that the congregation in 2006 should be about the important business of hiring its first full time pastor. A covered dish dinner was held in June of 2005, and Bishop James Mauney was the guest of honor to give a presentation explaining the important business of the call process. His insights were extremely helpful regarding his knowledge of the process as well as of the history of Grace & Glory and where we were headed.
A Call Committee was appointed and began its work of conducting meetings, reviewing mobility papers and conducting interviews with prospective candidates. Those serving on the Call Committee felt divinely inspired and moved by the process, as well as an important responsibility to choose a pastor that would provide the desired leadership for a congregation on the move. During his presentation to the congregation, Bishop Mauney stated that it was important for us to find a "cracker jack" in a call candidate who would maintain our vision and equip us for our ministries. And that is exactly what happened when Pastor Ken Albright was selected for the call at Grace and Glory. Pastor Albright had served most recently near Atlanta, Georgia for an established congregation and was called upon to merge with a struggling mission congregation for the formation of a larger mission congregation. He also had served as an associate pastor for a large congregation in Knoxville, Tennessee for his first call with a total of 12 years service. Pastor Albright began his service with us on 8-1-06.
Another important change that has taken place since the arrival of Pastor Albright has been the enhancement of Christian Education in the Grace & Glory community. For our first three years just a handful of young children would go off with a teacher after a children's message and during the homily. We now have approximately 30 young people participating regularly in Sunday School. 
Also, in this summer of 2007 we will have nine youth going off to church camp for the first time. While we had had a Sunday School session for children concurrent with the worship service for as many years as we had been a congregation, a decision was made to initiate an education hour prior to worship for all ages. Mrs. Susan Seehaver, a newer member of the Grace & Glory congregation, with degrees in Christian Education, served as a catalyst along with Pastor Albright to grow the ministry of Christian Education by adding a confirmation class for older youth, as well as an adult education group. An added benefit was to welcome children into participation with the worship experience.
We have also seen our numbers continue to grow as it regards the membership of Grace & Glory. The year end figures of 2005 and 2006 were 162 and 180 respectively, and here in the summer of 2007 our membership stands at 191. Finally, we now face the important task of funding the construction of our first house of worship. In 2006 the mortgage for our property was paid in full. At a congregational meeting in April of 2007 the congregation voted to initiate a Capital Appeal. The Grace & Glory congregation continues to move forward in faith to grow its mission and meet the challenges at hand.
Where are we now?
So, where does all this thinking, talking, deciding, doing, figuring, laboring, and most importantly praying take us today? We don't have the mirrors of the aerobics room any more, but the congregation has grown in such a fashion that we don't need them as much as we did three years ago. We now meet in the cafetorium of the local middle school, and it is much more "sanctuary-like". Our overhead projection screen is bigger, and the choir has grown also. In 2003 the congregation approved the purchase of 10 acres of land, and a sign has been erected to let people know that a building will be here someday in the not too distant future. As Pastor Stewart said at our consecration service, "Today weĠre building a church. WeĠ'l be putting up a building later." When asked of his thoughts on the forward progress and advancement of the Grace and Glory congregation, Pastor Boschen commented, "This was a group of people with a clear picture of what they wanted their ministry to be. They were open to new ideas on how to be effective as a Christian congregation. They have brought great life experiences to the life of this church and have been generous in the giving of their time, talents and treasures."
