Tropical Sunday, an annual tradition at Grace Lutheran Church West Springfield, will be celebrated Sunday, February 19th at the 9:30 a.m. service.

The sanctuary will be decorated with tropical plants and flowers, parishioners are encouraged to wear cruisewear fashions and the music, provided by Grace’s Back Row Band, will have a Latin beat. Everyone will be given a lei to wear when they enter the sanctuary. Coffee hour, which follows the service, will feature baked goods with pineapple, coconut and other tropical flavors.

If you want a break from winter and you’re not able to head to warmer places, come and join the celebration of Tropical Sunday. Everyone is welcome! For more information, contact the church at 413-734-9268.

Bishop Margaret Payne

Members of Grace Lutheran Church West Springfield and all Western Massachusetts ELCA churches are invited to attend the special New England Synod conference meeting to discuss the election of a new bishop. Bishop Margaret Payne will retire Aug. 31, 2012, after serving 12 years as bishop of the New England Synod.

The meeting will take place Saturday, Feb. 4, 2011, at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Springfield, starting at 9:00 a.m.  This is one of several regional meetings taking place in January and February as the second step in the process of electing of a new bishop for the New England Synod. Continue reading →

Rev. Alice Kerr Laird

Grace Lutheran Church West Springfield is pleased to welcome the Rev. Alice Kerr Laird this Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, as a special guest. Laird will conduct the Sunday morning worship service, which begins at 9:30 a.m.

As an Associate to the Bishop of the New England Synod of the ELCA, Pastor Laird specializes in congregational care efforts for Central, Southeast and Western Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Her other duties include serving as executive for administration synod stewardship specialist,  Synod Assembly committee, Healing the Wounds, and liaison to interim pastors.

In the video below (or click “continue reading”), watch Pastor Laird’s sermon during the Feb. 5, 2011, ordination ceremony for the Rev. Steven Wilco, which took place at Grace Lutheran Church West Springfield. Continue reading →