Our History
In March
Saving Grace celebrated its second anniversary of it’s charter when it
officially became a member of the Lutheran Church. The congregation's
first service was held on March 4, 2001. In October 2000, several
families from five Lutheran churches around the southeast valley were
commissioned to lay the groundwork for this new mission congregation.
The mission is supported by several AZ churches as well as funds from
the Pacific Southwest District (LCMS). "This method of seeding a
congregation with several families from local churches and securing
financial support primarily from local congregations represents a new
approach to mission development for our church body," says Pastor Augie
Iadicicco.
Pastor Augie came to the congregation in July, 2001, following his
ordination at Christ's Greenfield Lutheran Church in Gilbert, AZ. Augie
was a member at Christ's Greenfield and working for Motorola in Tempe
when he decided to enter the seminary to become a pastor. "In this last
year, God has worked wonders right in front of our eyes!" continues
Pastor Augie. "We have had several adults and children be baptized and
confirmed and have begun a number of in-home
bible studies; We are bringing families together!"
On August 1, 2004, after worshipping for over 3 years
at Canyon State Academy, we moved our worship location to the Queen
Creek Middle School at the southeast corner of Queen Creek and Ellsworth
Roads in Queen Creek. Our core
values are: worship, outreach, discipleship, stewardship, service
and community. Saving Grace has served our community in a variety of
ways, including providing balloons at the town Christmas tree lighting
and parade in December, hosting a concert, organizing a collection day
for donations to Autumn House women's shelter, free pancake breakfast on
Easter, periodic Blood Drives, regular puppet shows at the Town Fourth
of July Celebration, monthly collections for Lutheran Social Services,
and assistance to the Pan de Vida organization!
We expanded our staff in June
of 2004 when
Candace Jacoby
joined us. Candy serves as our Children's
Ministry Coordinator.
Brent Schian also joined us in June of 2004
as Deacon of Outreach and Worship. Most recently
(September, 2006) we have been blessed to add
Elizabeth Reynolds as music director.
You can learn more about our staff by visiting
our staff web-page.
