Amazing Grace lutheran church

Founded in 1996, Amazing Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church is a consolidation of three historic churches in East Baltimore—Bethany, Martin Luther and Trinity. Amazing Grace is a congregation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is an active congregation of the Delaware-Maryland Synod. As an intentional multi-cultural congregation, from the beginning, Amazing Grace has sought to be present in McElderry Park to live out the gifts of God's grace in Jesus Christ for all people. In the first year after its beginning, Amazing Grace was led by co-pastors, the Rev. Karen Brau and the Rev. Mary Zurell. In 1997, Pastor Mary took a call to serve at New Hope Lutheran Church in Columbia MD. Pastor Karen was pastor at Amazing Grace until 2008 when she took a call to serve as the Senior Pastor at Luther Place Memorial church in Washington DC. In 2001, Deaconess Kati Kluckman-Ault came to Amazing Grace for an internship year to implement the health ministry at Amazing Grace. She remains to this day and is currently rostered as a Diaconal Minister in the ELCA. At present, Amazing Grace is engaged in a vigorous call process seeking its next pastor.

Since 1996, Amazing Grace has worked to implement several programs that reflect their commitment to the healing power of God in Jesus Christ. The mission statement of this congregation is: connecting people with the life changing power of Jesus Christ. The Amazing Port Street project located behind the church is a testimony to that statement. Originally an area of abandoned and dilapidated houses, it now boasts a perennial garden, a labyrinth and a mural visible from a long distance. In addition, Amazing Grace is in the process of transforming its unused parsonage next door into a wellness center known as the Center for Grace-Full Living. Currently housing a food pantry and an afterschool program, the Center dreams of programs for grandmothers raising grandchildren, complimentary medicine therapies available to all, exercise programs for women and girls as well as dreams that are still to come.

In all of this amazing history and work, it is clear that God has been indeed present and active in this congregation—and it remains committed to being a partner in the future works of God in McElderry Park.