A Liturgical Lutheran Congregation on Sandy Lake Road
Rejoice Lutheran Church sits on the north side of East Sandy Lake Road, a main thoroughfare in Coppell, Texas, the Dallas suburb that shares borders with Irving, Lewisville, Carrollton, and DFW International Airport. The stone-fronted building with its green roof is hard to miss, and in October the churchyard is transformed into a Pumpkin Patch that draws families from Coppell, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Irving, Highland Village, and Carrollton. Inside, the sanctuary holds more than fifteen empty crosses and is anchored by a 25-foot cross at the main entrance. A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Rejoice is a liturgical congregation that runs two Sunday services, an active Sunday school program for every age, a music ministry staffed by a Doctor of Musical Arts accompanist, and a roster of small groups that meets in homes, on Zoom, and around the church's own tables.
Two Liturgical Services Every Sunday Morning
Sunday at Rejoice begins at 9:00 a.m. with the Ascend Worship Service, the congregation's contemporary liturgy. Ascend features scripture readings, newer songs, and a sermon, with worship led by a praise team of singers, guitars, and keyboards. At the same hour, in the choir room, the Children's Music Hour gathers young singers for an early-morning rehearsal of hymns and songs.
From 10:00 to 10:45 a.m., Sunday school meets across the building. Elementary children gather in the church office area, junior and senior high students meet in the Conference Room, and adults settle into the Fellowship Hall, where classes are also offered digitally via Zoom.
At 11:00 a.m., the Traditional Worship Service fills the sanctuary with the spoken and sung Lutheran liturgy, hymns, scripture, a sermon, and special music from the Rejoice Chancel Choir. Holy Communion is celebrated at every Sunday service, both Ascend and Traditional, and all believers are invited to partake. Both services are livestreamed on the Rejoice Lutheran YouTube channel, and past broadcasts remain available for viewing. The congregation offers a nursery for children under five during worship and during the Sunday school hour.
From a Door-to-Door Pastor to a Stone Sanctuary
Rejoice traces its roots to 1989, when Pastor Ken Hovland arrived in Coppell. He introduced himself by walking door to door and inviting neighbors to worship. The first service was held at Lee Elementary School on April 22, 1990. Within two years, the young congregation had grown enough that Bishop Mark Herbener formally received Rejoice into the ELCA and installed Pastor Hovland. In 1996, the church moved into its present home at 532 E. Sandy Lake Road, a building designed under the direction of Rejoice member Tom Lund and constructed of natural materials.
Pastor Hovland was followed by Pastors Phil Geleske and Ernie Hinojosa. Today the congregation is in a season of transition under Interim Pastor Rev. Dr. Nathan Swenson-Reinhold, who came to Coppell from a seven-year call as lead pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Fairfax and Clifton, Virginia. His pastoral appointment runs through the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod Council, and he works alongside the council and staff as the congregation discerns its next settled pastor.
The Empty Cross, the Glass Behind the Altar
The architecture of the sanctuary preaches a theology of its own. The most striking feature is the altar backdrop: a panoramic glass window that opens the worship space to the outside world, symbolizing the congregation's call to share God's word and God's love beyond the walls of the building. Inside, Christ's victory over sin and death is marked by more than fifteen empty crosses that adorn the sanctuary, with a 25-foot cross standing at the main entrance. The empty cross, central to Lutheran belief in the risen Christ, is the visual signature of the church.
Up, In, and Out: The Shape of Discipleship
Rejoice frames its life together around three dimensions that it calls Up, In, and Out. Up describes worship and prayer, the way believers lift their hearts to God. In describes the care and keeping of the closest community - small groups, life groups, and the church family. Out describes service to the wider world, from feeding the homeless in Irving to sponsoring children in Juárez. The congregation offers an online Spiritual Gifts survey as a starting point for newcomers who want to find their place in this rhythm.
Children, Youth, and the Sunday School Hour
Education runs from cradle through high school and beyond. Katrina Colwick serves as Director of Children's Ministries, leading the Sunday school programs and the Children's Choir. Vicar Aaron Colwick serves as Director of Youth Ministries and A/V Ministries and leads confirmation work each week through Zoom for students in grades six through twelve.
The youth group itself meets for devotion, fellowship, and a busy calendar of lock-ins, mission trips, synod gatherings, Top Golf outings, arcades, game nights, and scavenger hunts. Vacation Bible School, held each summer for a week in early July for children from Pre-K through fifth grade, has become a regular touchpoint with families across the area.
Music Across Both Services
Music is woven into both services. The Rejoice Chancel Choir, under Choir Director Jordan Jones, leads the congregation in the Traditional Service and provides special music throughout the program year. Jones grew up in the small North Texas town of Leonard and brings a lifetime of congregational singing, including a background in the Churches of Christ, to the role.
The Ascend Contemporary Worship Team provides the music for the 9:00 a.m. service, drawing together vocalists, guitarists, and keyboard players. Both groups recruit new members on a rolling basis; the chancel choir asks no audition, and Ascend welcomes experienced musicians who do not need to serve every week.
At the piano is Katya Chernaya-Oh, who has been the church's accompanist since April 2009. A Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of North Texas, she has taught at UNT, the University of Wyoming, and the Saratov State Conservatory in Russia, and brings international competition experience to every Sunday morning.
Small Groups and Life Groups
Rejoice's fellowship menu runs long, with most groups open to newcomers. Life Groups are informal, faith-based gatherings that meet weekly in member homes, typically ninety minutes of shared meal, check-in, Bible reading, reflection, fellowship, and prayer. Small Groups meet around more specific interests.
Primetimers, the congregation's senior citizens' group, meets on the second Friday of each month at noon in the Fellowship Hall for a ninety-minute lunch, fellowship, and program. Sew n Sews gathers on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. for sewing lessons and projects that include pillowcase dresses and quilts blessed on Palm Sunday for distribution through Lutheran World Relief. The Wednesday morning Women's Bible Study meets at 11:00 a.m. on Zoom, with members from Colorado, Ohio, Mississippi, Arkansas, Indiana, and Oklahoma. LitWits, a book club of about thirteen readers, meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Card Ministry meets on the second Monday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to noon, handcrafting greeting cards for those on the church's prayer list. The Care Team visits the hospitalized, brings communion to those who cannot get out, organizes a meal ministry during times of need, and offers prayer and check-in calls. The Holy Smokers, the church's barbecue team, run quarterly fundraisers and serve the Pet Blessing, Briarwood Cooking for Christ, and Oktoberfest. Bunco nights and Sip 'n Paint classes fill in the social calendar.
The Pumpkin Patch: Thirty-Two Years of Fall Tradition
In 1994, Rejoice joined the Pumpkin Patch Family, a partnership that began more than forty years ago when a North Carolina farmer named Richard Hamby struck a handshake deal with a minister to sell pumpkins and share the proceeds. Today the Pumpkin Patch Family stretches across forty-eight states and over 1,300 locations, but the bonds remain based on trust.
During October, the lot behind the church becomes a pumpkin, corn, gourd, scarecrow, and hay bale display, lit at night and patrolled with lanterns. Three mornings each week are reserved for Storytime, when over 600 children from community day care centers and early childhood programs visit for nature, stories, and games. The Pumpkin Patch is open Monday through Friday from 3:00 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 8:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit Rejoice and community organizations across Coppell and the surrounding area.
Reaching Beyond the Walls
Outreach at Rejoice takes several long-running forms. The Homeless Ministry began when a pastor's sermon challenged the congregation to do something visible, and members began collecting blankets, toiletries, clothing, shoes, and coats. Today Rejoice partners with Many Helping Hands, an Irving-based organization serving the homeless in Irving and Dallas. Members donate funds to cater hot meals at $4 a plate and take scheduled turns serving at Good Shepherd Lutheran.
Through the Arrow Outreach/Starfish Scholarship Program, Rejoice sponsors children in Juárez, Mexico, to receive a better education. Through Upbring, formerly Lutheran Social Services, the church adopts angels from a Christmas tree in the narthex each Advent, purchasing the wish-list gifts of children in foster care and providing Easter baskets in the spring. Rejoice also supports Metrocrest Services, an agency that provides emergency financial assistance, financial coaching, a food pantry, employment coaching, senior services, and seasonal children's programs.
Standing Together in Lutheran Belief
Rejoice Lutheran Church confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and affirms that God's Son, Jesus Christ, transforms lives through his death on the cross and his new life. The congregation is part of God's unfolding plan, gathering for worship and study as members of the body of Christ across time and place.
Its beliefs are anchored in the three ecumenical creeds that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America accepts as true declarations of the faith: the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. The Confession of Faith of the ELCA is part of Rejoice's founding constitution. Guiding principles shared by the congregation include the conviction that Jesus is Lord and Savior, that the Spirit of God leads, that God graces through Word and Sacrament, that weekly worship and daily prayer nourish the believer, and that everyone is welcome.
Office, App, and Ways to Give
The church office is open on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and on Sunday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Office Administrator Josalyn Penner can be reached at josalyn@rejoicelutheran.org.
Rejoice offers its own mobile app for iOS and Android with sermon recordings, announcements, and event updates. Giving is available through Zelle (preferred), Venmo (@rejoicelutheran), PayPal, an online Vanco donation portal, recurring Simply Giving transfers, and by mail to the P.O. Box. Funds accepted include General Operating, Mortgage, and Permanent Maintenance.
Annual Rhythms on the Calendar
Beyond the weekly Sunday schedule, the congregation keeps a year-round rhythm of gathering. Oktoberfest, hosted in the Pumpkin Patch and Fellowship Hall in late October, pairs German music and games with brats grilled by the Holy Smokers. The Ladies Christmas Tea brings women of the church and community together in December. Each Advent the Angel Tree goes up in the narthex. The Christmas Pageant, presented during a worship service, gives every age group a part. Sip 'n Paint evenings and Ladies Murder Mystery Dinners round out the social calendar. The ladies' group has already staged Killing for the Crown, Happy Ever After, Death by Chocolate, and Lights, Camera, Murder. Vacation Bible School returns each July, and the Pet Blessing draws four-legged congregants to the churchyard for a once-a-year outdoor service of Holy Communion, music from the Ascend band, and a blessing of each animal.
Whether someone comes through the front doors on Sandy Lake Road or signs on through the YouTube livestream from another state, the invitation is the same. Rejoice Lutheran Church, in the words of its members, exists to love God, love one another, and love the world.