Grace Lutheran Church strives to be the "presence of Christ"

CASTALIA — A small church looks to serve as many people as it can in its small community. About 120 area residents gather at Grace Lutheran Church — located at 203 S. Washington St., by the BP station — in Castalia each Sunday during its 9 a.m. worship service. Sunday school occurs afterward at 10:15 a.m. Pastor Katie Suggitt, originally from Michigan, has lead the church for 12 years.For more than 100 years, people have worshiped at Grace Lutheran, a daughter congregation of Zion Lutheran Church in Sandusky. The church started in 1901 in an old public school by the Rev. Theodore J. C. Stellhorn of Zion Lutheran in Sandusky, the church's website states. A new church would soon be constructed. "A building fund for a new church was started in 1905 with the cornerstone being laid on Oct. 2, 1910," according to the website. "The church was dedicated on Aug. 27, 1911."More additions to the building were constructed over the years, with the more recent addition, a large lobby located near the back parking lot, built in 2012. Congregants often gather there after Sunday's worship service to chat and have coffee.Close by, a prayer chapel is available to community members 24 hours a day, seven days a week."We get more people here (with the prayer chapel) than we realize," Suggitt said.When visiting the church, guests may be able to notice a "spirit of energy" at the church."Pastors who have filled in for me in the past said that always makes them smile," Suggitt said.Suggitt allows children to stay during the worship service, which often brings its own energy. For instance, children can participate in collecting the money offering from congregants using small buckets and a wagon during the worship service. Suggitt allows children to be "junior deacons" at the church, too."Any job they're physically capable of doing and want to do, they can do it," she said. "Adults are becoming more comfortable with children in church."With the church's strong history, generations of area families are represented in the church's congregation. In fact, about three families have four generations of church members who attend. "There's something beautiful about that," Suggitt said.Giving back to the communityGrace Lutheran reaches out to serve local residents whenever it can. It has sent quilts to Lutheran Relief Services for people around the world, money for clean water to Flint, Michigan, among other initiatives.Locally, members serve breakfast to students during the week and a community meal once a month. Members are also involved in the church's food pantry."Any resource we have, we try to be the presence of Christ here," Suggitt said.In recent years, the church's young adults have approached Suggitt with ideas of how the church can better serve the community, like the food pantry and community meal."They take ownership of those ministries," she said. "I love that they're looking around to see the needs in the community."Depending on what the need is, the church will help."It's what we do individually and together to do outreach that can make an impact," she said. "We must have a passion for Jesus and ask ourselves why we're serving."Suggitt said she supports children who attend Grace Lutheran by attending their events at Margaretta Schools."Outreach is being present when you can," she said. "When push comes to shove, I love this church and its people. I love being here."Get to know Grace Lutheran ChurchAddress: 203 S. Washington St., CastaliaPhone number: 419-684-5059Website: gracecastalia.comFacebook page: Grace Lutheran Church, CastaliaReach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodPastor Katie Suggitt smiles for a photo at Grace Lutheran Church in Castalia Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018. Grace Lutheran Church at 203 S. Washington St., CastaliaOld photographs of Grace Lutheran Church in the FLIP THIS PHOTOThe sanctuary of Grace Lutheran Church in Castalia. The gathering area of Grace Lutheran Church in Castalia.The prayer chapel at Grace Lutheran Church in Castalia.