A Lutheran Welcome on Dobie Road
Tucked along Dobie Road in Meridian Township, just east of the Michigan State University campus, Faith Lutheran Church of Okemos has gathered as a congregation for more than sixty-five years. The red-brick church sits in a quiet residential pocket of the Lansing region, and its people describe themselves as a community shaped by the conviction that "God acts out of love and grace." On any given Sunday morning you will find a chancel choir singing, a pastor preaching from the lectionary, and visitors welcomed into the same communion that members receive.
Faith Lutheran is a member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and has been recognized as a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation since 2017, fully including LGBTQ+ people in the life of the church. That public welcome, along with the congregation's hands-on outreach to neighbors, has made Faith Lutheran a steady presence in the Okemos community and well beyond it.
Sundays at 10:00 AM
Worship is held every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m., with Holy Communion celebrated every Sunday. The service follows the lectionary and is shaped by Lutheran liturgical tradition, anchored in scripture, prayer, sermon, and the Eucharist. Music is a particular strength: the chancel choir, special ensembles, and soloists contribute regularly, and the church publishes recordings of recent special music alongside its sermons.
The service is livestreamed on the congregation's YouTube channel each Sunday at 10:00 a.m., and the full video is posted afterward for those who missed it. Each week, a printable worship bulletin is also shared online, along with two children's bulletins, one for pre-readers and one for readers. Worship videos are available on demand and on the church's podcast feed.
Come as You Are
Faith Lutheran describes itself as a "come as you are" congregation. Visitors regularly see everything from shorts and a t-shirt to a suit and tie. Everyone is welcome at the communion table, regardless of church membership, denominational background, or where they are on their spiritual journey. The congregation's Welcome Statement is explicit and expansive: it names age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, marital status, neurodivergent status, faith background, political leanings, and mental, intellectual, or physical ability as places where no one will be turned away.
The congregation commits to pursuing gender and racial equity in all it does, and to supporting one another as chosen family, drawing on Mark 3:31-35. This is more than a written declaration. The RIC team at Faith works to provide education and outreach opportunities, including participation in community Pride events, so that the welcome is lived out and continually deepened.
What Faith Lutheran Believes
In the church's own words, the people of Faith Lutheran believe that God daily showers broken people with love and forgiveness, that ultimately love is what changes people, and that because God welcomes all, the community welcomes all. They believe the church is a community of faith in which everyone has a role to play, and that God invites the community into deeper relationship, feeds them, and sends them out to share grace and love in daily life.
As an ELCA congregation, Faith Lutheran is grounded in the Lutheran tradition of grace, the centrality of scripture, the creeds, and the sacraments. The congregation lives into its beliefs through three rhythms the staff names simply: they gather in faith for worship, prayer, study, and fellowship; they equip the people of God with a faith that works in real life; and they serve the world in the name of Jesus Christ.
Faith Formation and Sunday Learning
Christian education at Faith Lutheran is built around a once-a-month Wednesday evening program called Faith Formation, designed for all ages. From 5:45 to 7:15 p.m., the community gathers for a shared meal, then breaks into three groups. Children in pre-K through grade 5 spend the time on Bible exploration, arts and crafts, and games. Students in grades 6 to 8 work through a Confirmation curriculum covering the fundamentals of the faith. High schoolers and adults gather for a book discussion led by a church member.
Faith Formation nights take place roughly once each month from September through May, with a slightly earlier dinner during Lent so the group can also attend the Wednesday evening Lenten service. A free-will offering supports the cost of the meals. Beyond Faith Formation, the Christian Education Committee oversees Sunday School and assists the Confirmation and High School programs. Each year, the youth gather with peers from University Lutheran Church for a weekend retreat called Charge! at Great Wolf Lodge.
Bible Study, Book Club, and Lunch & Learns
Adults at Faith Lutheran have several weekly touchpoints for study and conversation. A Tuesday Bible Study meets at noon in the church library and on Zoom, discussing the readings appointed for the following Sunday. A Zoom link is circulated each Monday. On Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m., a book study gathers to work through a couple of chapters at a time.
On the first Sunday of each month, after worship, Lunch & Learns bring the congregation together at noon to hear from a church member or a guest about something they are passionate about. The goal is equal parts food, fellowship, and learning, and topics vary widely. High school youth (grades 8 to 12) also meet twice a month on Sunday evenings for their own time together, coordinated through the Ministry & Community Engagement Coordinator.
Two Micro-Pantries, Stocked Every Day
Perhaps the most visible sign of Faith Lutheran's commitment to its neighbors is its network of micro-pantries. Volunteers from the church stock two small free pantries every day with non-perishable food and personal care items. One pantry sits on the church's property; the second is located at the Okemos branch of the Capital Area District Library. Both are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to anyone in the community who needs them.
Most of the food and hygiene items are purchased by the church using donated funds, and as inflation has stretched the food budget, costs now run around one thousand dollars a month. Monetary contributions are used entirely for pantry supplies. An Amazon Wish List makes online giving easy, and donations of unopened, undamaged items can be dropped directly into the pantries. The Micro-Pantry Steering Committee organizes periodic fundraisers, including a Culver's Restaurant night that turns a percentage of sales into pantry support.
Typical items include cereal and breakfast bars, peanut butter and protein, canned or microwavable meals, boxed pasta or rice sides, paper products, menstrual care products, shampoo, dish soap, toothpaste, and bar soap. In the winter months, the church asks that canned and glass-jar items not be donated because of freezing risk; in the summer, only items that hold up in the heat. Hunger-resource brochures are available at the pantries so visitors can also be connected to other local assistance.
Michigan Refugee Hope
Faith Lutheran's heart for newcomers runs deeper than its pantries. In 2017, when the social service agency Samaritas faced an unprecedented crisis, eighteen refugee youth were about to age out of care without the federal documentation they needed to remain safely housed. Without it, they risked homelessness, incarceration, deportation, or worse if returned to their countries of origin. With no government assistance available, Samaritas turned to local faith leaders.
Faith Lutheran Church took a leadership role in housing these young people. People from multiple faith traditions came together to form a collaborative support network and ultimately created an organization called Michigan Refugee Hope. Faith Lutheran continues to be a backbone congregation for that work, walking alongside newly arrived youth and families as they find footing in Michigan.
The Green Team and Care for Creation
Environmental justice is woven into the life of Faith Lutheran, not set apart as a separate project. The Green Team works on waste reduction, recycling, and energy efficiency both at the church and in members' homes, and the team meets on the fourth Monday of each month. Current efforts include a partnership with Michigan Interfaith Power and Light on climate action, exploring a solar energy system for the church's buildings, encouraging recycling throughout the congregation, maintaining a pollinator garden on the property, and cooperating with Meridian Township Parks and Recreation on local habitat restoration.
Creation care at Faith Lutheran is rooted in theology as much as in practice. The congregation observes the Feast of Creation in Christ on the first Sunday after September 1, joining Orthodox, Lutheran, Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, and Reformed Christians around the world in giving thanks for the Creator and praying for the protection of creation. The annual Earth Sunday in the spring extends the same theme.
Music that Travels Beyond the Sanctuary
Music is central to worship at Faith Lutheran, and the program is led by Director of Music Debra Borton-McDonough, who taught vocal and choral music in the Okemos Public Schools from 1989 to 2014 and has served as Faith's Director of Music Ministry for more than thirty-five years across two stints. Organist Bruce Williams, a graduate of the University of Delaware and Michigan State University, joined the staff in April 2011 after more than forty years of work as a church organist, recital accompanist, and piano teacher in the Lansing area.
Special music has included choral anthems such as "10,000 Reasons," piano solos like C.P.E. Bach's Solfeggietto, hymn arrangements such as "Shall We Gather at the River," and contemporary pieces including "Blessed Be Your Name." Selections are recorded and posted on the church's podcast feed, with new recordings shared regularly. The Music Director position was reposted in late September 2026, signaling continued investment in the program.
Getting Connected: Committees, Care, and Fellowship
Faith Lutheran's ministry is carried in large part by its committees, which offer many on-ramps for involvement. The Caring Committee supports members and community members in need, works with Meridian Township to provide food support to identified families, and maintains connection with elderly and shut-in members. Once a year the committee collects clothing, diapers, and baby supplies for Shared Pregnancy. The Visitation Team welcomes newcomers, organizes an annual picnic each August on the Saturday before school resumes, and reaches out into the wider community. The Fun & Fellowship Committee plans a steady stream of social events throughout the year.
Behind the scenes, the Property Committee maintains the building, parish house, and grounds and arranges for outside contractors as needed. The Media and Technology Committee oversees the livestream, the church's digital presence, and equipment maintenance. The Worship Committee partners with the pastor on the design of services and coordinates ushers, greeters, and altar care. Mutual Ministry meets quarterly to support the pastor's well-being, and the Personnel/Hiring Committee oversees evaluations, job descriptions, and staffing transitions. The Finance Committee performs annual audits and encourages stewardship.
Church governance is vested in a Church Council led by President Matt Schnizlein, Vice-President Jamie Spellicy Royalty, Secretary Kathy Richardson, Treasurer Gwynne Kadrofske, Financial Secretary Shawn Paige, and members at large Keith Belonga, Janet Boyer, and Peggy Falk, with President Emeritus Kathy Mace. The work of all these groups is supported by Office Manager Matt Schnizlein and Custodian Kelly Nickols.
A Building that Serves the Community
Faith Lutheran's facilities are shared generously. Members of the congregation and people from the surrounding community can rent space for their own events, with certain restrictions and fees that are spelled out in a published Facilities Usage Policy. An online application makes it simple to request a date, and all applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Over the years, the building has hosted meetings, parties, fundraisers, vaccine clinics, and a wide variety of community gatherings in addition to the congregation's own programming.
Staying in Touch
The church office at 4515 Dobie Road is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The phone number is 517-349-0620, and messages can be sent through the contact form on the church's online home page. Giving is available online through a dedicated giving page, and members can also access additional events and private bookings through the church's Breeze member portal.
Worship videos and recordings of special music are published on the church's YouTube channel and distributed as a podcast on Apple Podcasts and other platforms. The church maintains an active presence on Facebook and Instagram, posts a weekly e-letter, and circulates a Google calendar of upcoming events.
For more than sixty-five years, Faith Lutheran Church has tried to be a place where neighbors are fed, strangers are welcomed, creation is cared for, and the good news of Jesus Christ is proclaimed in word and deed. The doors on Dobie Road remain open, and the welcome remains wide.