Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I thank God for all that He has done to form, build and maintain His church in the Bay Area. His grace has sustained the ministry of the saints in both Santa Clara and Sunnyvale. He has seen His church through years of plenty, years of struggle, years of discernment, and years of change. He is our sustainer, creator, and restorer and there is always hope for those who belong to Him.
This past week (May 7th, 2023) our church family gathered to adopt a new name for our ministry in the South Bay. It was by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit that our church family voted to confirm that new name. This has been a long process, but we finally agreed on a name that I believe embodies who we are, and what we also desire members of our community to experience through us.
The Apostles Paul says it the best as he recalls the work of God in his life, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” [2 Corinthians 12:9] We believe, teach, and confess that our lives are sustained, recreated, reformed, and resurrected by the grace of God alone. His Grace has made us who we are. His Grace has brought us into a right relationship with Him. His Grace - His undeserved favor and love - is what gives us eternal hope for the future. And it’s His Grace that unites us across time and space, language and culture. So, how fitting it to have a name that proclaims that source of hope, comfort, identity, and security.
Our name sums up what we proclaim and what unites us as one body, the REDEEMING GRACE of God.
Our new church name will be:
Redeeming Grace Lutheran Church
Over the next few weeks you will hear of and see slight changes as we slowly merge our communication, websites, and signage under this one name. Much of the legal steps that need to take place are dependent on this simple but important step. We will continue to keep you up to date on all the steps in the process in our post worship leadership updates.
This new name does not erase the history of either congregation or the legacy of faithful saints who are now at rest in the glorious arms of our God. This renewed journey in ministry has been built on God’s gracious work through them. We praise and thank God for all that He has done through those who have faithfully served in the ministries of St. Mark and Resurrection, and we look forward - in hope - to all that He will do through us in the years to come.
The memories and legacies of Resurrection and St. Mark are God's stories. He has been the creator, sustainer, and restorer of these communities, and He will be those things for our community of Redeeming Grace Lutheran Church.
We look to Him, we rely on His Redeeming Grace, and we trust that - by the power of the Holy Spirit - He will continue to be faithful to us and to the world He desires to save and restore.
In the Name of Jesus,
Pastor Steve Roma &
The Join Leadership Team of Redeeming Grace Lutheran Church