Grace Lutheran Church 1815 East 9800 South Sandy UT 84092
801-572-6375 church@GraceSandy.org www.GraceSandy.org
Mission Statement: Not forthcoming
Synod Type: Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
Current Membership Numbers: 744 Confirmed, 1053 Baptized
Date of official Charter: June 10, 1982
Names of Charter Members: Information not forthcoming
Pastors Served:
John Fiene 3/82-7/88
Jon A. Bjorgaard 12/88-1/97
D. Timothy Brandl 1/97-?
Mark Below 1/93-Current
Interim 12/2/01-11/10/02
Dana A. Brooks 11/10/02-current
History:
The birth of our church known as Grace Lutheran was conceived mainly at the Christ Lutheran Church in Murray, Utah. From there, we became the Sandy Lutheran Mission with a handful of members from Christ Lutheran along with others from the Lutheran church in the Salt Lake valley. The first place of worship was at Bergs Memorial Chapel. The first service was held December 6, 1981. It was led by Missionary-at-Large from Christ Lutheran Church, Pastor John Fiene. After a time, the congregation changed its place of worship to Mountain Shadows Reception Center.
It was March 21, 1982 that we established our name as Grace Lutheran Church from a list of ten suggestions. We signed the constitution of our church, adopted the Articles of Incorporation, laid plans for the selection of congregational officers and board members, and placed a formal call to Pastor John Fiene to serve. Also, those families who had requested transfer to this new congregation became the charter membership of 103, which included seventy-one confirmed members. It was June 10, 1982 that Grace Lutheran Church was approved by the Colorado District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Pastor Fiene accepted a call to Norwalk, Connecticut in July 1988. Grace Lutheran Church was blessed when Pastor Jon A. Bjorgaard accepted our call in November 1988. Pastor Bjorgaard was installed December 18, 1988. Pastor Mark Below was added to the pastoral staff January 1993 to the present. Pastor Bjorgaard accepted a call to Christ Lutheran in Phoenix, Arizona January 1997. Pastor D. Timothy Brandt was then added to our staff to replace Pastor Bjorgaard.
After acquiring the five acres of land at 1835 East 9800 South, the plans for developing the church were set in motion. Ground was broken September 18, 1983 for the original church building and dedicated Palm Sunday, April 15, 1984.
Along with the growth of the school, the church has branched out tremendously. The choir, which was started in 1984, has blossomed. Sunday School is for children ages through high school. The adult classes have grown and there are now six classes taught on Sunday and throughout the week. Grace has grown from its original membership to approximately 702 baptized members.
School: Grades Preschool-8th grades
Principal: Dennis Fangmann 1966-Retired 2005
Principal: Mr. William Busacker was installed as principal 8/21/05 to the present
September 14, 1986 another groundbreaking ceremony occurred for the addition of an educational facility. The dedication for this expansion was celebrated June 28, 1987. Again, on May 20, 1990, Grace Lutheran Church and School broke ground to add three more classrooms and a multi-purpose facility. This was built by the Laborers for Christ with help from members of Grace.
The capacity of Grace’s school. includes two classes of Little Lambs Preschool with a total of twenty-nine students which began in the fall of 1984. Kindergarten was started in the fall of 1987. There is also grades first through eighth with a grand total of 200 children. Our first principal, Mr. James Schumacher, was added to our teaching staff in the fall of 1990. In 1996, Mr. Dennis Fangmann was installed as our current principal. Now, the total staff count is eleven dedicated teachers.
Grace Lutheran Church & School
Groundbreaking 9/15/86
Expansion 6/28/87, 5/20/90
Utah Lutheran History 