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The Rev. Jeff May, pastor of Grace Place, delivers the message. He and his wife, Karla, the youth minister, hope the informal worship style will draw more people Heather Slater participates in a skit about sin during the Grace Place Church service last Saturday night at Crystal Reflections in Massaponax. The new church hopes to attract those who can't make it to worship on Sunday mornings. |
For the Slater family, Sunday mornings are sacred--they sleep.
Life during the week is hectic for the Fredericksburg family--parents John and Patricia Slater work and their three children have after-school activities.
By the time the weekend rolls around, all they want to do is relax, Patricia Slater said.
That's one reason why Grace Place Church was an answer to their prayers.
"Saturday-night services work out better with our schedules," she said.
The fledgling Massaponax church caters to busy families by offering 5 p.m. Saturday evening services in a upbeat and casual atmosphere. It's unusual for churches to start by only offering evening worship.
Grace Place, a mission church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, began services last month and aims to connect people to God and each other through creative techniques.
"It's a good opportunity to reach new folks who don't have a church home," said the Rev. Jeff May, pastor of Grace Place.
The congregation, numbering now about 20 and hoping to grow, worships at the Crystal Reflections Wedding and Conference Center.
Services include skits, contemporary Christian music, and snacks.
"It's an alternative option for kids, families and for those who don't feel comfortable in a traditional setting," Slater said.
Before establishing Grace Place, May served as pastor at a parish in Winchester for four years.
The denomination contacted him last year in hopes of planting a mission in the fast-growing Massaponax area.
May wanted to try something different from the traditional services and thought about offering Saturday-night services.
"But I wanted to test the waters first," he said.
He immediately contacted the the Revs. Jim and Carol Kniseley of Resurrection Lutheran Church, who were interested in offering evening services.
In a joint effort, May and his wife, Karla, worked with the Spotsylvania County church from September to November to offer Saturday-night services.
"So many people can't worship Sunday mornings because of their work schedules or they might be out of town, so this provides an alternative," Kniseley said.
Saturday evening Masses are common within the Catholic religion, but Lutheran churches rarely start out with only Saturday-night services, he said.
Once May felt that the services were a success, he separated from Resurrection and opened up Grace Place.
Resurrection doesn't have Saturday-night services now, but St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Stafford County does.
Lifelong Lutheran Dave Fronk followed the Mays to Grace Place.
"It's consistent with the Lutheran church, but a little less structured," he said. The Massaponax resident attends church with his wife and two daughters.
A typical service at Grace Place includes a sermon or message that is emphasized through handouts, skits acted out by children, singing and visual images from a projector.
May doesn't wear a robe and he relies on the participation of his congregation.
"We try to be multisensory," he said.
For example, at tonight's service, May plans to show a video clip from the movie, "Forrest Gump."
The theme of his message is, "Why is there suffering?" and the scene is where Forrest (Tom Hanks) wonders if life is like a box of chocolates or if everything is planned out, including suffering.
May will then give his sermon and will read from Romans 8:18-24, preaching that God doesn't cause suffering, but his grace is present when suffering occurs.
Afterward, members will receive pieces of chocolate.
As at other Lutheran churches, baptism is at the center of its faith and there is a Holy Communion every week.
Grace Place is located at 4828 Southpoint Parkway, in Massaponax. Services are held Saturday evenings from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, call 540/891-8800 or visit graceplace church.com.
