On Sunday, April 16, 1967 the congregation had its first worship service in the new building with 76 persons attending. After a fellowship dinner on Saturday, May 27, 1967 the official organization meeting was held and the congregation adopted its constitution, confirmed the call to Pastor Rosenow, elected the Church Council and applied for membership in the Eastern District of the American Lutheran Church. The Service of Organization, held the next day, established Grace’s “birthday” as May 28.  

Grace quickly took its place in the community when the pastor organized a vacation bible school with six other congregations in Mendham InterChurch. The Church Library was formed and the Women’s group met for the first time. Dedication of the Church building was November 19, 1967.

  Pastor Rosenow accepted another call, Pastor Al Iverson served as an interim pastor for a year and in 1971, and Pastor Bob Rigg was called.

  During the ‘70’s, Grace Lutheran continued to grow as it found many ways to reach out in the community, sending food and medicine to a hurricane ravaged North Carolina, helping relocate a Vietnamese family of ten and a Chilean family of three and donating more than 800 hours helping people in Wilkes Barre, Pa. after terrible flooding. Closer to home, Hexagon Players was formed and Feast & Fellowship attracted more than 75% of Grace’s members. 

Grace hosted the first CROP for Mendham InterChurch in the late 70’s and pastor and congregation took a leading role in organizing and supporting the establishment of the Mendham Area Senior Housing (MASH).
 

In the 80’s Grace began regularly helping at the Soup Kitchen in Dover and providing Bingo Nights at Holly Manor Nursing Home. The Quilters formed and began making quilts to be sent to Lutheran World Relief. Pastor Ken Martin, who left after three years to establish a new church in Virginia, replaced Pastor Rigg.

  Pastor Dan Wilfred became the fourth pastor at Grace in 1986. The congregation grew and a building program was undertaken. 1986 saw continuing growth in Social Ministries with participation in Meals on Wheels, the Dover Summer Program, Morris Shelter for the Homeless, Morris View Nursing Home teas and the Morris County Food Pantry joining already well established outreach programs. In 1987, ‘real chairs’ replaced the original slippery metal chairs in the Sanctuary.  


Continued