Calvary Lutheran Church stands on the east side of North Dobson Road in Chandler, Arizona, about a mile east of the Loop 101 between Ray Road and Warner Road. Its front doors face the parking lot under a broad patio, and the brick sanctuary, classrooms, and grounds sit in a quiet neighborhood that is easy to reach from anywhere in the East Valley. The congregation belongs to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), a confessional Lutheran body of roughly 1,400 congregations in the United States and 17 countries. Calvary's life together is shaped by the three Reformation principles printed across its home page: Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone.
Worship on Saturday Evening and Sunday Morning
Calvary holds two regular worship services each weekend. The Saturday service begins at 6:00 PM, and the Sunday service begins at 9:00 AM. Both are open to anyone who wants to attend, and both are also streamed online for members and visitors who cannot be present. Services run a little over an hour and center on the preaching of Law and Gospel, with Christ-centered preaching that connects Scripture to daily life. Calvary describes its services as filled with heartfelt music, Scripture readings, prayer, and a roughly fifteen to twenty minute sermon.
Music is a strong part of every service. The congregation sings using organ, piano, trumpet, and violin, with an ensemble that supports the hymns. A choral choir, rehearsing under the direction of Music Director Sandy, sings anthems at the 9:00 AM service and presents special music at Christmas, Easter, and other seasons. The repertoire stretches from classic Lutheran hymnody to Bach cantatas. Calvary invites visitors to stay after the service for refreshments and conversation.
The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. The church says plainly that there is no dress code, and worshipers can be expected in anything from jeans and a polo to Sunday best. Children are warmly welcomed in the service, and a nursing room is located just outside the sanctuary for parents who need a private space.
Family Bible Hour, Sunday School, and the Children's Choir
Sunday mornings after worship are organized around the Family Bible Hour, which runs from 10:30 to 11:30 AM during the school year, August through May. Families begin together in the sanctuary for a short devotion and hymn with the pastor, then children move into age-appropriate classrooms for Sunday School. The program uses a multi-year curriculum that walks children from preschool through eighth grade through the full Biblical narrative, with music time, Bible story lessons, and crafts.
The current Sunday School theme is "Words of Wonder." Every month the children's choir shares a hymn in worship as a special expression of praise. On Christmas Eve the children lead the evening service through Scripture and song, a cherished tradition at Calvary. While children are in class, parents are encouraged to attend the Adult Bible Class, which meets at the same time in the Family Bible Hour.
Sunday School is open to all children, from infants through age thirteen. Take-home materials and lesson summaries help families continue the conversation throughout the week, because Calvary views Sunday School as a partnership with parents rather than a replacement for faith at home.
Confirmation: A Two-Year Walk Through Luther's Small Catechism
For seventh and eighth graders, Calvary offers a two-year Confirmation program that meets on Sunday mornings at 11:30 AM, right after Bible Study and Sunday School. Confirmation students work through Luther's Small Catechism, studying the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Holy Baptism, and Holy Communion. Over two years they grow in their understanding of Lutheran doctrine, what it means to be a disciple, and how to live out their baptismal faith.
The rite of Confirmation at Calvary is treated as a significant milestone. Each confirmand is publicly presented before the congregation, a moment that honors both the student's personal commitment and the community that helped form that faith. Parents are invited to participate in key milestones along the way.
Christeens: High School Youth Equipped to Serve
High schoolers at Calvary belong to Christeens, the congregation's youth group for students in eighth through twelfth grade. The current Christeens theme is "Equipped to Serve," reflecting the conviction that teenagers are called and prepared to live out the Gospel in everyday life. Christeens meets during the Family Bible Hour on Sunday mornings from August through May and adds fellowship events, retreats, mission trips, game nights, and service days throughout the year.
The group organizes itself around five purposes: Grow (strengthening young Christians through study of the Word), Glorify (using God-given gifts in worship), Go (sharing the Gospel with confidence and love), Fellowship (building Christ-centered friendships), and Service (reflecting God's love through outreach). Christeens welcomes friends from outside the congregation, and visitors are invited to bring a friend and come grow with the group.
Mornings with Mommy: A Free Playdate for Caregivers and Little Ones
For parents and caregivers of infants through age seven, Calvary hosts Mornings with Mommy on the second Tuesday of each month from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. The program, established in May 2019 and directed by Bridget Spaude, fills the morning with arts and crafts, story time, music, educational toys, and sensory, fine motor, and gross motor activities, all wrapped in a Christian, faith-friendly atmosphere. Mornings with Mommy is free and open to caregivers from any church background, including dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and nannies. Space is limited and registration is required for each session. A dedicated Facebook page, Mornings with Mommy - Calvary Chandler, keeps families connected between sessions.
Vacation Bible School
Each summer Calvary hosts Vacation Bible School, a free week-long program for children ages three (and potty-trained) through sixth grade, typically held the third week of June from Monday through Friday. Each day is built around age-appropriate Bible lessons, upbeat worship songs, creative crafts, outdoor games, and themed snacks. The theme changes each year, but the message is always the same: Jesus loves you and you are part of His family. Families come from across the East Valley, including Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, and Mesa. The program is staffed by trained, background-checked volunteer leaders.
Adult Bible Instruction and the Path to Membership
Anyone curious about what Lutherans believe, or considering joining Calvary, is invited to the Adult Bible Instruction Class. Led by Pastor Martin Spaude, this class walks through the core teachings of the Bible and the Lutheran faith, including grace, Baptism, Holy Communion, prayer, and the Christian life. Sessions are offered in a group setting or one-on-one, at the pace of the participant, and there are no tests. Materials are provided.
Adult Bible Instruction is also the formal path to membership at Calvary. Members enjoy the full fellowship of the congregation, including partaking in Holy Communion, serving in ministries, and receiving the full pastoral care of the pastors. There is no obligation to join, and people are welcome to take the class simply to grow in their understanding of Scripture.
Wednesday and Sunday Bible Classes for Adults
Beyond the Adult Instruction Class, Calvary offers ongoing Bible study for adults throughout the week. Sunday Bible Study meets during the Family Bible Hour at 10:30 AM, and Wednesday Bible Class meets at 7:00 PM in the evening. Both are available online as well as in person. Recent and current study series include Creation vs. Evolution, My Life for the Kingdom (a study of Joseph), Revelation, Colossians, Just Jesus, Lamentations: Good Grief, Defenders and Defamers, The Anti-Fragile Christian, and The Dissolution of the Synodical Conference, a study of an important chapter in American Lutheran history. Each series has downloadable lessons for personal study or group discussion, and recordings of past sessions are kept on the Sermons and Media page.
What Calvary Believes
Calvary Lutheran Church is a confessional Lutheran congregation. Everything it teaches is grounded in the Bible as the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God, and the congregation subscribes to the Lutheran Confessions as a faithful summary of what Scripture teaches, including the three Ecumenical Creeds, the Augsburg Confession, Luther's Small and Large Catechisms, and the Formula of Concord.
Central to Calvary's preaching and teaching is the distinction between Law and Gospel. The Law reveals sin and the human need for a Savior. The Gospel announces that Jesus Christ has lived, died, and risen for sinners, offering forgiveness, life, and salvation by grace alone through faith alone. That message is proclaimed every Sunday in worship and woven through every ministry of the church.
Calvary recognizes two sacraments: Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. In Baptism, God creates or strengthens saving faith. In the Lord's Supper, Jesus gives His true body and blood with the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins. Visitors who are not yet members are warmly welcomed to worship and are encouraged to learn more about the congregation's beliefs before communing.
The congregation is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Calvary summarizes its Lutheran identity in three Reformation watchwords: Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura, salvation by grace alone, received through faith alone, as revealed in Scripture alone.
Pastoral Leadership
Calvary is served by two pastors, both graduates of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin. Pastor Martin Spaude is the primary pastor of the congregation. Born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and raised mostly in Watertown, Wisconsin, he graduated from Northwestern College and then from the seminary in 1986. After teaching at West Lutheran High School in Plymouth, Minnesota, and serving St. Paul Lutheran Church in Appleton, Wisconsin, he received the call to Calvary, where he continues to serve. He and his wife Debbie have four grown children and seven grandchildren.
Pastor Roger Sprain serves Calvary part-time in retirement. Born, baptized, and confirmed at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin, he graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1961. Much of his ministry used the Spanish language, with nearly ten years in Puerto Rico and nearly seven in Colombia, South America, followed by five years of teaching Cuban congregational leaders. He later served congregations in Denver and Madison, taught at Northwestern College and Martin Luther College for nine years, and has continued to serve in various part-time capacities since his retirement from full-time ministry in 2001.
Both pastors are available for counseling, hospital visits, home visits, weddings, baptisms, memorial services, and the columbarium ministry. They welcome visitors' questions about Calvary, its beliefs, and how to get involved.
The Choir: Music at the Heart of Lutheran Worship
Calvary's adult choir carries on the Lutheran tradition of strong congregational and choral music. The choir rehearses weekly under Music Director Sandy and leads worship at the 9:00 AM Sunday service, presenting anthems that range from classic Lutheran hymnody to more substantial choral works. Special music is prepared for Christmas, Easter, and other seasons. No audition is required; singers of all experience levels are welcome, including those who only sing in the shower. The children's choir, drawn from the Sunday School, sings a hymn each month in worship and leads the Christmas Eve service.
The Columbarium: A Sacred Resting Place on Church Grounds
Behind the sanctuary, Calvary maintains a columbarium that provides a permanent resting place for the cremated remains of members and their immediate families. Single niches hold one cinerary urn, and double niches hold two. Each niche purchase includes a brass urn and a granite face plate engraved with the name of the deceased. The grounds are maintained year-round, and families can visit during church hours in a setting that is part of the same property where their loved ones worshiped. Pre-planning is welcomed, and the pastoral team walks families through each step with care and compassion. Funeral arrangement packets and columbarium order forms are available in the church entryway.
Light in the Valley: Supporting Students at ASU
Calvary Lutheran Church supports Light in the Valley (LITV), the WELS campus ministry that serves students at Arizona State University. The ministry is supported by WELS congregations across the East Valley and gives college students a way to stay rooted in faith through Bible study, worship, fellowship, and pastoral care during one of the most spiritually formative seasons of life. WELS also serves students at Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona, and Grand Canyon University, and Calvary is happy to help families and students find the nearest WELS campus ministry.
Online Worship, Sermons, and Bulletins
Calvary streams its services and Bible classes online so that members and friends who are traveling, homebound, or otherwise unable to attend in person can still participate. Sermon notes, the weekly worship bulletin, and the monthly Courier newsletter are all available as free downloads from the Sermons and Media page. Recent sermon series have walked through the Sundays after Pentecost and current Bible study series on Revelation and Creation vs. Evolution.
Plan Your Visit
Calvary's front doors face the parking lot rather than the street. Visitors are encouraged to park and head for the main church doors under the big patio. There is no dress code; come as you are. Services generally run a little over an hour, with a fifteen to twenty minute sermon, Scripture readings, prayer, congregational singing, and a time of fellowship and refreshments afterward. Children are welcome in the service. A nursing room is located just outside the sanctuary, and the Family Bible Hour offers age-appropriate classes for children birth through eighth grade during the 10:30 AM Sunday hour.
Visitors who would like a head start can fill out a short form online so the church staff can prepare for their arrival and answer any questions ahead of time. Newcomers will find a congregation that is glad to meet them wherever they are on their faith journey.
Giving and Church Office
Online giving is available through a secure giving page. The church office is open Monday through Friday, and the office email is office@calvarychandler.net. For pastoral matters, Pastor Spaude can be reached at pastor@calvarychandler.net or through the main church number. For Mornings with Mommy questions, the dedicated email is morningswmommy@calvarychandler.net.
A Congregation in the Lutheran Tradition
Calvary Lutheran Church in Chandler belongs to one of the most theologically faithful Lutheran church bodies in North America, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Across two weekend services, a Sunday Bible Hour, a Wednesday evening study, a Confirmation program, a high school youth group, a free Vacation Bible School, Mornings with Mommy, a choir, a columbarium, and a campus ministry partnership with ASU, the congregation holds to a single center: the grace of God in Jesus Christ, received through faith, and grounded in the Word of God. Whether someone is exploring Christianity for the first time, raising young children, sending a teenager off to college, or planning a final resting place for a loved one, there is a place for them at Calvary.