Rev. Alan Loose, LSS Director of Church Relations, will present the award. The Servant of Christ Award honors congregations that are leaders in social service outreach, or have come forward with extraordinary service to address special needs in their community. Each year, the award is extended to a congregation in each of the six Minnesota synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Grace Lutheran Church is part of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod.
Grace is a leader in community outreach and financial support of social service initiatives.
Loose said that among its many acts of community service, members of Grace Lutheran made outstanding contributions as volunteers during flood and tornado disasters that hit several Minnesota communities over the past few years. Grace Lutheran also initiated crisis support through a series of grief groups for community residents traumatized by the tragic death of Cally Jo Larson two years ago. Loose added that Grace Lutheran ranks high among congregations in the synod who have extended generous and long-term financial support to the broad array of outreach services of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. The non-profit organization, headquartered in St. Paul, serves over 100,000 Minnesotans yearly with operations in 200 Minnesota communities, and employs over 2000 people. LSS serves all people regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, handicap or age.