Lutheran Church of the Savior sits on Davis Road in Bedford, Massachusetts, a Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod congregation that has been sharing the Good News in this corner of Middlesex County since 1957. Members gather for two Sunday morning services, meet through the week for Bible study, women's groups, and a men's prayer breakfast, and roll up their sleeves on Wednesday mornings for a long-running maintenance-and-devotion gathering called Tool Time. The church also operates Open Arms Christian Preschool, a Christian learning environment that has welcomed area families since 1996. Its motto - "A Community of Faith: Centered in Christ, Called to Serve" - captures the rhythm of a parish that takes both worship and hands-on service seriously.
A Bedford Congregation Since 1957
Lutheran Church of the Savior (often shortened to LCS) is a Christ-centered, Bible-based, growing community of faith, inspired and enabled by the Holy Spirit. The congregation traces its history back to 1957, when it began celebrating the Good News of Jesus Christ in Bedford. From that foundation, LCS has grown into a parish that explicitly embraces two commission-shaped convictions. The first, drawn from Matthew 28:18-20, calls the church to make disciples through worship, preaching, and teaching. The second, drawn from Luke 10:27, calls members to love God with heart, soul, strength, and mind and to love their neighbors as themselves.
The church describes itself as a "fully committed church, serving within our congregation and reaching out to our neighbors, local missions and beyond." Its vision is to keep growing "with passion, energy, and excitement about doing God's Work." Spiritual growth is measured in maturing believers fed through worship, preaching, Bible study, small groups, and relationships; physical growth in fuller use of the church facilities through worship attendance, Sunday School, small group activity, and community programs.
LCS is located at 426 Davis Rd., Bedford, MA 01730, and serves Bedford and its neighboring towns of Burlington, Lexington, Concord, Chelmsford, and Billerica.
Two Sunday Mornings, One Liturgy
Worship is at the heart of life at LCS, and the parish offers two Sunday morning services that share a single liturgical backbone.
The early service begins at 8:00 AM and is a traditional service each week, in-person only. The late service begins at 10:45 AM and is available both in-person and online through Facebook Live. In the late service, the music alternates: on some Sundays the service is traditional and organ-led, and on others it is blended, with the LCS worship team leading a less traditional musical style. Both services use the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod liturgy, and differ only in the style of music. Both include Bible-centered preaching that draws insight, challenge, and encouragement from God's Word, along with inspirational and uplifting music.
Holy Communion is celebrated at every Sunday service. Visitors who wish to receive the Lord's Supper are encouraged to speak with the pastor, preferably before the service.
Recordings of recent services are posted on the church's YouTube channel, so anyone who misses a Sunday can catch the sermon and liturgy later in the week. The church also maintains a streaming page that links to the week's bulletin and livestream.
Communion and the Lord's Supper
As a congregation of the LCMS, LCS teaches that the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is intended for those who have been baptized in the name of the Triune God, who have faith in Jesus Christ as God the Son and their personal Savior from sin, death, and the devil, who acknowledge their need for forgiveness and healing, who are committed to amending their sinful ways, and who believe that in, with, and under the bread and wine they receive the true body and blood of the risen Christ together with the forgiveness of all their sins. Visitors are warmly welcomed at the table after a conversation with the pastor.
The Christian Education Hour
Between the two Sunday services, from 9:30 to 10:30 AM, the congregation gathers for a Christian Education Hour billed as "from 2 to 102, there's a place for you." After a shared all-ages opening, the group splits out by age for the rest of the hour.
Children's Sunday School teaches the Bible in age-appropriate ways through stories, songs, crafts, and games, helping the youngest members of the church family meet God and learn how much He loves them. For older students and adults considering Confirmation, LCS offers a multi-module Confirmation course built around the Bible, the Catechism, and other Lutheran resources. Adults who think they have graduated from Sunday School are invited into Adult Christian Education offerings led by the pastor, elders, and other members, digging into Scripture, reading thoughtful books about the faith, or working through topical studies together.
The Ladies' Bible Study also meets on Tuesday mornings (see below), and a Ladies' Bible Study invitation is part of the wider rhythm of the Christian Education Hour.
Wednesday Mornings with a Toolbox and a Devotion
One of LCS's most distinctive weekly rhythms is Tool Time, held every Wednesday morning from 9:00 AM to noon at the LCS Facility. The gathering is open to anyone willing to lend a hand with small maintenance projects around the church. The morning begins with fellowship over coffee and pastries, followed by a short devotion led by the pastor or a member of the Tool Time team. After the devotion, the team tackles one or more projects that can be completed in an hour or two. Tool Time is a working expression of the parish's calling to serve, blending practical labor with Scripture and good company.
Men in Prayer, First Saturdays in Luther Hall
On the first Saturday of every month, the men of LCS gather in Luther Hall at 7:30 AM for a hearty breakfast, fellowship, and a focused time in prayer. The group meets year-round, and men of all ages are welcome. It is a chance to connect, share in the life of the congregation, and lift up one another and the church in prayer.
Women's Bible Study and Women's Ministry
Ladies come together on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 AM for Women's Bible Study. The group studies Scripture, discusses how it applies to daily life, prays together, and welcomes any woman who wants to join. Recent studies have included an eight-lesson DVD series called "Where Love Abides" by Donna Snow and a series called "Promises: God is for Us," led at times by former Pastor Manor.
Women's Ministry adds a wider social and educational dimension: dinners out, museum tours, brunches, book studies, and other events through the year. The first weekend of October brings an annual Women's Ministry Retreat, and the first Wednesday of Advent is marked by Advent by Candlelight, an evening of fellowship that prepares hearts for the coming of the Savior.
Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML) - a national Lutheran women's missionary organization - also has a presence at LCS, encouraging all women to develop and maintain a greater missionary consciousness and to support mission work.
Friends in Faith for Grades 6 to 12
Youth in grades 6 through 12 gather once a month with "Friends in Faith," a fellowship that combines Bible study, service events, shared meals, and outings such as laser tag, scavenger hunts, and trips to nearby Kimballs. LCS partners with youth from other LCMS congregations in the area so that new friendships form across parish lines. The group's calendar is updated frequently, and families are encouraged to check it for the latest activities.
Christian Fine Arts
The Christian Fine Arts Ministry exists to glorify and proclaim Christ through various art forms and to celebrate the gifts God has given to the congregation. Throughout the year there are opportunities for members to share their talents - visual, musical, or otherwise - with the wider church family.
Missions and Outreach
Missional living is described as "at the heart of who we are as Christians." LCS offers a variety of mission opportunities and is always looking for new ways to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Members serve both within the congregation and beyond, and the parish supports local missions and ministry partners in the surrounding communities. LCS also partners with the Central Food Ministry, and members can take part in the annual Harvest of Blessings Celebration.
Open Arms Christian Preschool
Open Arms Christian Preschool (OACP) is a Christian learning environment that has served the community since 1996. The preschool is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and provides a curriculum designed to promote development across all aspects of a child's life. The school is led by Director Donna Wilson, a former lead teacher with fourteen years in the classroom before stepping into leadership in 2015. She holds Lead Teacher and Director 1 & 2 certifications and an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Middlesex Community College. The teaching staff includes Called Teacher Jennifer Gierke, who has a bachelor's degree in education from Concordia University, Nebraska, more than thirty years of early childhood experience, and MA EEC Lead Teacher certification. OACP welcomes families from Bedford and the surrounding towns.
What We Believe
As a congregation of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, LCS believes and teaches the love of the Triune God:
- The Father, creator of all that exists.
- The Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan.
- The Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments.
The church points visitors to the LCMS's Belief and Practice page for a fuller account of Lutheran teaching, and the Catechism is part of the Confirmation curriculum. LCS holds that the new life Christ gives cannot sit still: the church is called to share the Gospel, love one another, and serve those around it, and that feeding, supporting, and loving people is one of the ways it shows the love God has shown to it.
Leadership at LCS
The parish is served by Pastor Rev. Nils Niemeier, who was installed at Lutheran Church of the Savior on March 2, 2025. Before coming to LCS, Pastor Niemeier was ordained and installed at Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church in East Setauket, New York. He is a 2020 graduate of the Master of Divinity program at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He grew up in Northern Virginia and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Greek, Latin, and Classical Studies as an Oldham Scholar at the University of Richmond, then completed a Master of Arts in Classics at Cornell University in 2015 with a concentration in Roman Archaeology. His interests include liturgics, ancient, medieval, and American history, ancient languages, model-making, bluegrass and old time music, Sacred Harp singing, woodworking, and dogs.
Open Arms Christian Preschool is led by Director Donna Wilson and Called Teacher Jennifer Gierke, with additional teaching and substitute staff. The church is supported in its ministry by a team of elders and members who lead Bible studies and other ministries throughout the year.
Giving and Getting in Touch
Members and visitors who want to support the ministry of LCS financially can do so in several ways: giving during a worship service, mailing a check to the church, or using LCS's electronic giving partner, Vanco Payments. Electronic giving is available online through Vanco's secure site, by text message to 844-906-2261, or through the Vanco Give+ app for Apple and Android devices. Questions about giving can be directed to the LCS treasurer at treasurer@lcsavior.org.
Anyone wanting to reach the church office can call (781) 275-6013 or email church@lcsavior.org. Those interested in meeting with the pastor can email pastor@lcsavior.org to set up an appointment. The church also maintains a mailing list; those who want to stay informed about events and studies can sign up through the contact page.
A Parish Shaped by Word, Sacrament, and Service
From its founding in 1957 to its preschool in 2026, Lutheran Church of the Savior has built a steady rhythm around the means of grace: Word, Sacrament, and prayer, lived out in a community that values both tradition and hands-on service. Whether gathering for the 8:00 AM liturgy or the livestreamed 10:45 AM service, teaching children in Sunday School, sharing a men's prayer breakfast, studying Scripture on a Tuesday morning, or grabbing a paintbrush and a wrench for Tool Time on a Wednesday, members of LCS find the same center - Christ crucified and risen - calling them to love and to serve.