A Welcoming Congregation on Van Dyke Road
All Saints Lutheran Church sits along Van Dyke Road in Lutz, Florida, just north of Tampa. The congregation describes itself as an inviting community of faith called by God to share the gospel and make disciples for Christ, and its welcome statement is unusually plain-spoken for a Lutheran church: "Just as Jesus loves and draws all people to himself, we welcome and serve all without exception." All Saints has committed itself publicly to inclusion and equity, and that commitment shapes the work of its ministry teams.
As a member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Florida-Bahamas Synod, All Saints draws on Lutheran teaching and sacramental practice while keeping a strong local focus. The church is known in the Lutz area for its accompaniment model of ministry, a way of partnering with other nonprofits and neighbors that turns the congregation's energy outward into the community.
Sunday Worship at 9:45
Sunday morning worship begins at 9:45 a.m., both in person in the sanctuary and live on YouTube. The service includes Holy Communion every week, and the table is open to all. Gluten-free bread and non-alcoholic wine are offered for worshipers who need them. Children are encouraged to take part in the service rather than being separated from it, reflecting the congregation's belief that families belong together in worship.
The congregation uses a variety of musical settings, with hymns, traditional numbers, contemporary songs, Taizé chants, and spirituals all in the mix. The Music and Choir Director, Marcia Greensfelder, leads a small but enthusiastic choir that rehearses on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary and sings during the weekly service.
Services can be joined on the All Saints Tampa YouTube channel, which also hosts an archive of past services for anyone who wants to catch up or share a service with someone who cannot attend in person.
What to Expect on a First Visit
The sanctuary doors open for the 9:45 a.m. service, with parking available on site. Worshipers who would like to participate in the online service through the Zoom Events link can request a password from the church office. The welcome statement makes clear that newcomers of every background are expected guests rather than visitors, and the community is committed to walking with them rather than sizing them up.
Faith Formation for Every Age
Faith formation at All Saints runs from the hour after the Sunday service, beginning at 11 a.m., and is organized into small groups by life stage. Elementary-age children, Confirmation students, and High School and Adult learners each have a track of their own. The congregation calls this intergenerational approach "a place for you here," and the structure is built so that families with children of different ages can study at the same time on the same morning.
Beyond Sunday morning, the congregation offers other formation opportunities during the year. Past topics in the Christian Continuing Education classes have ranged from the church's teachings about ghosts to Christian-Muslim relations. The class is guided by the interests of the participants, and new topics are announced in advance.
Wednesday Nights Around the Table
On Wednesday evenings, All Saints gathers around a potluck supper at 6 p.m., following the example of the early church. The meal leads into a detailed study and conversation about Holy Scripture, and the night wraps up with a shared celebration of Holy Communion. The format blends food, learning, and the sacrament in a single evening that has become a touchstone for many in the congregation. Volunteers bring a dish to share and join the conversation; new faces are always welcome at the table.
The Wednesday meal and study are intentionally intergenerational, drawing members who might otherwise only meet on Sunday morning. For those who cannot attend in person, the weekly Bible Study on Thursday afternoons at 1 p.m. is offered over Zoom, with classes announced in advance.
A Choir with Room to Grow
The All Saints choir is small in number but wide in repertoire. Rehearsals are held Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary, and the choir sings during the weekly worship service. The musical range includes traditional hymns, contemporary songs, Taizé music, and spirituals, with the Music and Choir Director shaping each week's selections.
Anyone who enjoys singing is invited to join. The choir is a fellowship as much as a musical ensemble, and rehearsals often extend into social time among members.
The Accompaniment Model of Ministry
All Saints describes its outreach work as the Accompaniment Model of Ministry. Rather than simply writing checks or sending volunteers, the congregation commits to building meaningful, long-term relationships with its ministry partners. The list of those partners shows how broadly the congregation has cast its net.
Christian Social Services is one of the closest partners. All Saints is a co-founder of this ministry, which addresses hunger in the community and operates a thrift store filled with reasonably priced, gently used items. All proceeds from the thrift store support the food ministry. On the church's own property, the Free Little Pantry stands as a small outdoor cupboard where anyone, at any time, can come and find something to eat. Hygiene products are welcome donations, and worshipers who bring food to church on Sunday help keep the pantry stocked.
Lake Myrtle Turtles and Weekend Meals
The Lake Myrtle Turtles program provides weekend meals for students from low-income families so that they do not go hungry between Friday lunch and Monday breakfast. Each student takes home a meal for the weekend. The congregation supports the program through organizers, food purchasers, packers, and deliverers, and is always looking for new ways to expand the work.
On the Sundays when the Brown Bag Pack takes place after worship, volunteers gather at 11 a.m. for about half an hour to fill school lunches for the ministry. It is one of the most hands-on roles in the congregation, and one that takes only a few minutes after the benediction.
Quilting Bees and Lutheran World Relief
The All Saints Quilting Bees is a small group of members with a large mission. They gather weekly at the home of two members to assemble hand-made quilts for Lutheran World Relief, which distributes thousands of these blankets and other life-saving aid across the globe. The group includes a quilt graphic designer, a barista who provides coffee during the social time, and a feline mascot who certifies that the quilts are of the highest quality.
Through Lutheran World Relief, All Saints has also packed school supply backpacks and supported entire farm purchases for needy communities overseas. Lutheran World Relief is one of the highest-rated charities in the world, and the quilts made in Lutz end up warming people on the other side of the planet.
Bella's Butterflies and the Autism Community
Bella's Butterflies is All Saints' autism ministry. Every year the congregation hosts an autism walk on site, and the ministry works continually to reach the autism community and include it in the life of the church. Accommodations have been made, and can be made, so that everyone can share in worship, education, and fellowship, including those on the autism spectrum. The ministry has deepened the congregation's awareness of how a church can be welcoming in practice, not only in word.
Yes! Of America United and the Becki Forsell Scholarship
All Saints partners with Yes! Of America United, an organization that affirms that every person is made in the image of God and gifted for a purpose. The congregation supports the Becki Forsell YES! I Can Scholarship, named after the founder of YES!, which is awarded twice each year to students with disabilities attending Hillsborough College. The scholarship helps recipients pursue an education and meaningful work, allowing their service to others.
Luther Springs Camp
For those who want to get outdoors, Luther Springs Camp is the congregation's retreat destination. The camp is only a couple of hours away, and the All Saints community heads out once or twice a year to serve and enjoy God's creation. Members are always welcomed at these trips. Luther Springs is also open for anyone who wants a personal spiritual retreat, and the congregation encourages members to use it.
Fellowship for Men and Women
Fellowship at All Saints runs through several regular gatherings. The men's group meets at Glory Days in Lutz for a monthly luncheon, with lunch and laughter on the menu. The women's group, called the Sisterhood of Saints, gathers at Brunchies for its own monthly luncheons. Book Club meets every few months at members' homes, with the host preparing a main dish and everyone else bringing sides; genres have ranged from narrative and nonfiction to drama and satire over the years.
Second Sunday Meals are another fellowship tradition. Once a month, members of the congregation host a meal to gather donation funds and share information about the non-profit ministries that are most important to them. Anyone who wants to introduce a new ministry to the congregation is invited to host.
Youth and Family Activities
The youth of the congregation organize Game Nights for members, friends, and guests of all ages, with games provided and pizza and snacks available for purchase. The youth also earn funds through community events like the Car Wash and Ministry Meal to support their participation in the ELCA Youth Gathering.
At the start of each school year, Pastor Brett offers a Blessing of the Backpacks. Children, students, and anyone heading back to school bring their backpacks, laptop bags, and other gear to be blessed for the year ahead, a small ritual that carries God's love into the new school year.
During the summer, volunteers pick up thirty brown bags each week and deliver them to the children at St Rita Academy of Hope. Once school is back in session, volunteers stay after delivering the bags to read two books to the preschoolers, an easy way to spend a Wednesday lunchtime in service.
Blood Drives and Other Outreach
Several times a year the OneBlood mobile unit parks in the All Saints parking lot for a community blood drive. Childcare during a donor's appointment is arranged on the spot by calling ahead. The drive is one of the more visible ways the congregation supports medical need in the broader Tampa Bay area.
Stewardship and Giving
The All Saints Stewardship Ministry frames giving as a personal commitment to be generous to the Lord with time, talents, knowledge, and resources in order to sustain and grow the congregation. The annual stewardship emphasis, drawn from Galatians 6:9-10, is titled "Because of God's Great Mercy." Members are invited to consider stepping forward and increasing their giving by at least one-half of one percent of household income as a small step in the direction of tithing.
Gifts can be made online through a secure giving page, set up as one-time or recurring gifts, or placed in the offering plate during Sunday worship. Recurring giving envelopes are available from the Financial Secretary. As part of the ELCA Synod, All Saints also gives on a worldwide basis to many causes, including Lutheran Disaster Response.
The Ministry Teams Behind the Congregation
Much of the work at All Saints happens through ministry teams. The Mission Team serves as the congregation council and oversees the life and activities of the church, including financial and property matters. Advocacy and Outreach seeks to change the policies that cause injustice and to oversee social ministry programs. Fellowship Ministry brings together members and friends of all ages for community-building. Mutual Ministry encourages all people of God to discover ways to be involved in the congregation's life. Property and Maintenance cares for the building, grounds, gardens, alarms, and security systems. Stewardship challenges members to reimagine how they invest the resources God has given them. Technology integrates advances in technology into the worship, administration, and outreach of the congregation, maintaining social media platforms and online communications. Inviting and Welcoming guides the congregation in extending invitation to those in the community. Worship ensures that services are conducted regularly and in accordance with Lutheran tradition and teaching.
Pastoral and Music Leadership
Pastor Brett Hill leads the congregation. He can be reached at pastorbretthill@gmail.com. Marcia Greensfelder serves as Music and Choir Director and can be reached at mgreens@tampabay.rr.com. Office administration can be reached at 813-963-0969 or office@allsaintstampa.org. Office hours run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Communication and Connection
The congregation publishes a newsletter called The Grapevine, with archived issues going back to 2022. The church calendar can be exported as an .ics file for Google Calendar or Outlook, or subscribed to directly. A photo gallery captures the major events of recent years, from Synod Assembly gatherings to Palm Sunday processions and quilt blessings.
An online church directory is available through Instant Church Directory, with apps for both iOS and Android. Members can update their own information or request a printed PDF copy from the church office.
A Congregation Walking Alongside Its Community
All Saints Lutheran Church has built its identity around accompaniment. The congregation does not see itself as a one-way benefactor to its partners. Instead, it walks alongside Christian Social Services, Lutheran World Relief, the Lake Myrtle Turtles program, the Free Little Pantry on its own property, the Becki Forsell YES! I Can Scholarship, Bella's Butterflies, and Luther Springs Camp, sharing in their work and learning from it.
At the center of that work is a simple Sunday morning gathering at 9:45, an open table, and a community that takes the words "all are welcome" literally. Whether members arrive through the sanctuary doors or through the YouTube stream, they find a congregation practicing what its welcome statement proclaims: that every person is made in God's image and that the love of Jesus Christ is for everyone without exception.