Grace Lutheran Fellowship sits on eight acres at the edge of Romeo, Michigan, where a single mission gathering in 1989 has grown into a congregation of more than 600 members. Pastors Eric Majeski and Mike Phillips lead this Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod parish, which has become known in the Romeo community for its three weekly worship services, its thriving preschool, and a steady stream of hands-on outreach that reaches beyond the church's own walls.
From Hamilton Parsons to Eight Acres on 32 Mile Road
Grace's story began in 1988, when area pastors proposed starting a Lutheran mission in the Romeo area. Under the direction of area Lutheran congregations, the Michigan District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod purchased eight acres on the edge of town, the same site where the church stands today. The first worship gathering took place in 1989 at Hamilton Parsons Elementary School, and under the early leadership of Pastor Lynn Witt the congregation grew steadily for the next twelve years before eventually moving onto its own property. What started with 56 members has, by God's grace, become a family of more than 600. Grace Preschool followed in September 2010, extending the church's ministry to the youngest members of the Romeo community.
Grace Alone, Faith Alone, God's Word Alone
Grace Lutheran Fellowship's motto is "Grace Alone, Faith Alone, God's Word Alone," and the congregation takes that summary seriously. Members confess the historic Christian creeds - the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed - as faithful summaries of what the Bible teaches. The church is specifically associated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and its teaching centers on salvation by God's grace alone, received through faith, grounded in Scripture.
Three practices sit at the heart of this Lutheran identity. Baptism, whether of an infant or an adult, is understood as Jesus taking the initiative to establish a relationship with a person before that person is able to love him back. The Lord's Supper, celebrated each time the congregation gathers, is received as a true gift in which the bread and wine are the body and blood of Christ, given for the forgiveness of sins and strength to persevere. Prayer, third in this trio of core practices, is described at Grace as "not empty empathy" but actual conversation with God, conversation made possible because, through Jesus, the congregation has become daughters and sons of God who are listened to and acted upon.
Three Services a Week in the Worship Center
Grace holds three distinct worship services each week. On Sunday mornings, the congregation gathers at 8:30 AM and again at 11:00 AM, with a 9:30 AM coffee hour and a 9:45 AM Sunday Bible Study hour between them. A Monday evening service at 7:00 PM offers a third option for those whose week doesn't easily allow a Sunday gathering. Each service includes the printed liturgy and prayers projected on screens at the front, hymns, Scripture readings, a sermon, and the celebration of Holy Communion.
Services are livestreamed on YouTube, with recordings available afterward. The music ministry is led by Music Leader Gary Felts, and both an adult choir (Tuesdays at 7:00 PM) and a handbell choir (Thursdays, 6:30 to 8:00 PM) support congregational singing. The handbell choir welcomes new ringers of middle school age and older; no previous musical experience is required.
Bible Study and Christian Education for Every Season
The 9:45 AM Sunday Bible Study hour runs from September through May, with two adult options: a Family Life Center study that follows the sermon text more deeply, and a Conference Room study called "Called," based on Ephesians and led by Kevin Hendricks. From June through August, the Family Life Center study shifts to 9:00 AM.
On Tuesday mornings at 9:30 AM, the LifeLight Bible Study gathers in the Conference Room. The group works sequentially through books of the Bible, currently the second half of Genesis, and is facilitated by Alicia Winglet. Free study books are available from the church office. A separate Tuesday morning women's study, "Legacy," looks at women in the Bible and how to live intentionally for what endures beyond a single lifetime.
For men, a Saturday morning Bible Study led by Pastor Mike Phillips begins at 7:30 AM in the Conference Room each October. A new Core Beliefs Class launches each fall on Sunday at 9:45 AM in the Conference Room, designed as an entry point for new members, transfers from other churches, or anyone wanting a refresher on the basics of Christian doctrine.
Confirmation, Students, and Young Adults
Confirmation at Grace is open to all 7th and 8th grade students. The two-year program combines large-group teaching, small-group time, service opportunities, retreats, and lock-ins, with the goal of helping each confirmand understand Lutheran doctrine and develop a personal relationship with Jesus. A primer program called "56ers" meets twice a month for 5th and 6th graders and their friends, offering food, games, and early friendships that prepare them for the confirmation years ahead.
Grace Student Ministries (GSM) gathers high school students and young adults every Wednesday night at 6:30 PM, focusing on reaching, connecting, growing, discovering gifts, and honoring God with their lives. A separate Young Adult Ministry meets every other Sunday at 2:00 PM for conversation and community. Preteens in 5th and 6th grade have their own gathering on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 PM.
Grace Lutheran Preschool
In operation since September 2010, Grace Lutheran Preschool provides a Christ-centered environment where young children grow spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Daily routines include devotions, Bible stories, prayers, songs, and the Lord's Prayer, with a monthly chapel time. Children also work on shape, number, and alphabet recognition, fine motor skills, language development, and group social skills through play-based activities. The Family Life Center gymnasium and a dedicated playground serve as extended learning spaces for gross motor and outdoor learning.
Three programs are offered. The 3-year-old class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 to 11:30 AM. The 4-year-old / Young 5's program offers two scheduling options: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, or a longer Monday/Friday and extended-Wednesday combination that runs from 9:00 AM to 12:00 or 2:00 PM. Director Rachel Eichhorst oversees a staff of qualified teachers and paraprofessionals. Inquiries can be sent to preschool@graceromeo.com.
Stephen Ministry and One-to-One Care
Grace is a Stephen Ministry congregation, meaning trained lay members provide one-to-one Christian care to people walking through grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, relocation, or other difficult seasons. The program equips and empowers laypeople from all walks of life to bring Christ's love to those in need. Stephen Ministry Leader Renee Sproat coordinates care for anyone who asks to be paired with a Stephen Minister.
Outreach in the Romeo Community
Grace reaches into the surrounding community in several steady ways. A monthly Gleaners mobile food pantry operates in the church parking lot, with volunteers loading food directly into trunks so recipients do not have to leave their vehicles. His Table, a community dinner ministry, sees Grace members cook and serve a meal at partner congregations on designated evenings. The congregation also supports the Compassion Pregnancy Center, partners with Wellbridge, and serves at Samaritan House.
Each November, Operation Christmas Child mobilizes the congregation around a shoebox gift drive. In a single recent year, 872 boxes were packed and sent to children around the world who have not yet heard the gospel. Vacation Bible School welcomes children from the broader community each summer. The Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) Evergreen Zone gathers women for service projects such as assembling string backpack health kits for homeless neighbors. KIDS HOPE USA pairs church members with at-risk students for mentoring relationships. A Safety Team oversees the church's safety procedures and a written Church Weapons Policy.
A Prayer Ministry receives requests by email or phone, and a Parish Nurse / Health Ministry offers practical health support under the direction of the parish nurses.
Vision, Mission, and Values
Grace's vision is to bring God's grace to life by serving others and sharing the hope of Jesus. The mission flows from that vision: to know grace in worship, grow faith through God's Word and Sacraments, show love in caring for others, and share life by telling about Jesus. The values that shape the congregation are Christ-centered, joy-filled, authentic, and compassionate.
In June 2020, after racist words were painted on a landmark rock in the Romeo community, Pastor Eric Majeski published a statement that named racism as contrary to the Christian faith confessed at Grace. The statement grounded the church's response in Micah 6:8 - "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" - and called the congregation to self-reflection, repentance, and a deeper love for neighbors.
Visiting Grace
Visitors entering the main doors find themselves in a Gathering Room described as "like a big living room." The Worship Center lies through the double doors to the left, and greeters are glad to point out the restrooms for anyone who needs them. Worship folders contain the entire service, with prayers, readings, and songs printed on screens at the front. Dress runs the full range, from shorts and sandals to business casual. Visitors are not singled out or asked to give; the offering plate is available but optional. Children of all ages worship with their families, and a Nursery and Cry Room are available for anyone who wants to step out while still seeing and hearing the service.
The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM year-round, with extended hours on Fridays during the school year. Giving can be placed in the offering plate on Sunday mornings, given online through the MyVanco secure system, or set up as a recurring gift through the Vanco Mobile Faith Engagement app. Grace Lutheran Fellowship continues to find its identity in three simple words - Grace Alone, Faith Alone, God's Word Alone - and in the steady work of bringing those truths to life in Romeo.