Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

09/06/2026

Watch our Sept 6, 2026 10am ET service:

09/04/2026

On Sunday, September 20, Join Grace Lutheran Church Waynesboro on our CROP Walk team. The walk will begin at 2:00 pm at North Park in Waynesboro and continue along the Greenway. Our team goal this year is $1,800 and our area goal for all teams is $20,000. Twenty-five percent of all local donations will be given to three local hunger agencies. The remainder will be used by Church World Service for their work around the globe. Link to Donation Page in the comments.

09/03/2026

Hello Friends,

Today has been a very difficult day in Waynesboro. And for so many, tomorrow and the many days ahead will be hard, too. I want to extend my deepest gratitude for the prayers, support, and care for the Westwood community that have been truly amazing.

In light of the events at Westwood Hills Elementary School today, Westminster Presbyterian Church will host a Service of Peace and Comfort in our sanctuary on Thursday, September 3, from 7:00–7:45 p.m. Child care is provided for children from birth through 4 years old. A prayground is offered in the back of our sanctuary with small chairs, tables, and coloring sheets. The service will also be livestreamed for those in our community who wish to remain at home.

Area clergy will be present to help lead the service, along with Westminster staff and members. Additional clergy will be available after the service in the chapel and social hall for a time of prayer and support for staff and families, as needed.

Thank you for being the good in such a broken world. I am sending my love out to you all.

Serve and Love Well,
Rev. April H. Cranford

Livestream Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/h-a9LtMCusE?si=Hq459vmKkiQUM2MX

09/02/2026

Dear Family of Grace,

Our hearts are troubled and our senses shaken as the all-too-familiar news of gun violence has affected our community of Waynesboro. We give God thanks for the safety of all the students at Westwood Hills Elementary School after an active shooter situation unfolded this morning, but we know that the fear that comes with such a lockdown, the panic that rushes to fill the void of information, and the trauma that clings to such acts of violence has a lasting effect on our children, our educators, and our whole community.

I ask that you take time today to check on one another. Reach out to neighbors, extend a hand of love and care, and make space for the feelings that arise in the wake of such violence. Be gentle with yourself in the midst of whatever you may be feeling as well. Tonight, Grace will continue our weekly practice of gathering at the table for a Community Meal at 6pm. While it’s easy in the midst of fear and shock to isolate, I encourage you to embrace the gift of community, and gather with one another at the table. Additionally, the Sanctuary will be open tonight until 7pm if you would like to stop by for a time of prayer and meditation, and I will be present in the church until that time if you would like some time for prayer and conversation.

The Psalmist cries out in Psalm 121, “I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” And the Psalmist returns to the promise held deep within their heart, “The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.” In the same spirit, I invite us to lift our hearts in prayer with both lament and trust:

Holy God, you watch over our going out and our coming in,
and your Spirit upholds us in every circumstance.
Your Son, Jesus Christ, is our Alpha and our Omega,
and our hope and trust is in him. In our despair we turn to you.
We wait for you, Lord,
and in your word we hope.

Lord, in our waiting, we pray for Westwood Hills Elementary School—the students, faculty, staff, and families—and for all the students of Waynesboro and Augusta County who were shaken by today’s violence. We wait for you, Lord,
And in your word we hope.

Our help comes from you, O Lord, you who made heaven and earth. In the midst of grief, you are our comfort. In the face of uncertainty, you are our rock. In the wake of tragedy, you are our hope. So even as we weep, we praise you, and place our trust in you. We pray in the name of the one who suffered and died and was raised for us, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Let us care for one another today and always, with the love that renews our weary world.

In Christ,
Pastor Alex

08/30/2026

Watch our
August 30, 2026 10am ET service at :

08/28/2026

Jesus said, “I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Unfortunately, that is still wise advice today, as multiple members have reported being targeted by a text message-based scam today pretending to be Pastor Alex in need of assistance. This is unfortunately a very vulnerable time for our community members to fall prey to these scams, as Pastor Alex is new to the community and you may not have his number saved. These messages appear to be sent from a Gmail account, which is not how Pastor Alex sends texts.
Often scams like this will try very hard to keep victims from making a phone call where a different voice would give them away. Requests are usually made for gift cards or money transfers. Pastor Alex will NEVER make requests like this by text message or email.
If you ever have a concern or suspicion about a message, please call Pastor Alex or the church office directly to make sure.

08/27/2026

The “Lutheran Coalition” was hard at work today with our community partners Renewing Homes of Greater Augusta to repair rotted stairs and a deck for our neighbors in Waynesboro. Members of Grace and Zion Lutheran Church love to come together to renew our community. We’ll be back out to complete the project tomorrow! Many thanks to all who gave their time, energy, and sweat to this good work.

08/27/2026

Tonight, members of Grace were honored to join our dear friends across the street at Saint John's Episcopal Church to celebrate “The Renewal of Ministry with the Welcoming of a New Rector” as Bishop Karin MacPhail installed The Rev. Thomas DuMontier as the Fifteenth Rector of Saint John’s! Father Tom and the saints of Saint John’s are wonderful partners in ministry, and we give God thanks for bringing them together in ministry.

08/25/2026

We love to hear the sounds of musical students learning and growing as it echos through our halls! 🎶❤️ Stop by this weekend to learn more about the opportunities that are made possible by our Valley Music Academy friends!

08/23/2026

Watch our Aug 23, 2026 10am ET service at :

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