A Corner of Brown Street in Tecumseh
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church sits at 108 Brown Street, on the corner of Brown and Evans in downtown Tecumseh, Michigan. The congregation draws members from across Lenawee County - the church itself notes that it is thirteen miles northeast of Adrian and twenty-eight miles southwest of Ann Arbor - and is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) within the Southeastern Michigan Synod. The mission it has set for itself is short and direct: to gather, empower, and send people into the world as disciples of the living Christ.
Inside, the congregation describes itself as a welcoming, caring community committed to meeting new friends "right where you are" and walking alongside them as they grow in faith. Week to week, that promise is kept through a single Sunday service and a remarkably full calendar of Bible studies, fellowship groups, music rehearsals, and hands-on service projects that reach well beyond the building's brick walls.
Sunday Worship: Traditional, Christ-Centered, and Open
Gloria Dei gathers every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM for a service the congregation describes as "a traditional style of worship that is joyous and Christ-centered." The liturgy follows the historic Lutheran pattern, with reverence, thanksgiving, and the singing of classic hymns. Holy Communion is a regular part of worship, and the invitation to receive it is intentionally wide: Communion is open to everyone, and worshipers are warmly invited to share in the sacrament and hear God's living Word.
For those who cannot be in the pews, the service is livestreamed on Facebook (the congregation's Facebook page hosts both the live broadcast and a video archive of past services). Scripture is read aloud, a sermon is preached, and prayers are offered for the church and the world.
The annual rhythm of the church year moves through the sanctuary as well. Lent begins with a morning of drive-through ashes from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and an evening service of ashes and communion at 7:00 PM; weeknight Lenten worship is held Wednesdays at 7:00 PM, preceded by a soup supper at 6:00 PM. The Blessing of the Wine takes place on a Sunday morning each February, with members placing bottles of wine at the altar before the service to be consecrated for use at communion. In December, a children's-led Christmas Program and a candlelit Christmas Eve service bookend the Advent season.
Pastor Ted Kerr and the Pastoral Voice of the Congregation
Pastor Ted Kerr joined Gloria Dei in 2022, bringing more than forty years of ordained ministry with him. He previously served congregations in North Dakota, Ohio, and Michigan. His preaching draws on a wide range of sources - rich in scripture and shaped by personal storytelling, dry humor, reflections from poetry he loves, and lessons learned through years of community work. Outside the parish, he has served as a bus driver, EMT, hospice volunteer, police chaplain, and mental health critical incident counselor. He and his wife, Diane, also sing in the Gloria Dei choir.
Pastoral office hours run Monday through Thursday from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM, and Pastor Ted is also the point of contact for those wishing to learn more about Stephen Ministry. The church office, where Parish Administrator Kim Kendrek serves as the first cheerful voice on the phone, is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
A Music Ministry Built Around Choir, Handbells, and Praise Band
Music sits at the heart of Gloria Dei's traditional worship. The Music and Choir Director, Kirk Maki, is an innovations engineer by profession who brings a broad musical background and a deep love of worship leading. He plays the piano and several other instruments and has experience directing choirs and shaping worship liturgies. He and his wife Lisa live in Tecumseh and have two grown children.
Jan Salsberry serves as the congregation's pianist, organist, and choir accompanist. Music has been part of her life since she was old enough to sing in a church or school choir, and she and her husband Bob have sung with octets, a 120-member choir in Tulsa, and started choirs in Florida and Indiana. Together, Kirk and Jan shape the weekly sound of worship and lead the congregation in everything from the liturgy on ordinary Sundays to special preludes on Christmas Eve.
Three musical groups invite participation:
- Choir. Open to high school youth and adults, the choir rehearses Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 PM and sings in worship from September through early June. New voices are always welcome.
- Handbell Choir. Open to youth in seventh grade through adults who have completed introductory training with the directors, the handbell choir meets for one Saturday-morning rehearsal each month and offers music in worship one Sunday each month - a fit for those who enjoy teamwork, rhythm, and creating worship music.
- Praise Band. The Praise Band leads worship on the third Sunday of each month. All ages, singers, and instrumentalists are welcome; one rehearsal is held on the Saturday before the service, making it easy to participate.
Growing in Faith: Youth, Sunday School, and Catechesis
Gloria Dei's Youth Ministry is dedicated to helping young people grow in their faith, build strong Christian values, and develop a lasting relationship with God. Programs span weekly learning, deeper catechetical study, and fellowship events.
Sunday School meets weekly during the school year. Classes are age-appropriate, interactive, and engaging, designed both to help youth understand Scripture and to apply it in daily life. The Sunday School year typically kicks off with Banana Split Sunday and Rally Day - an afternoon of corn hole, beach balls, sidewalk chalk, and ice cream - and runs through late spring.
For young members preparing to receive the Eucharist for the first time, the church offers structured Holy Communion Preparation classes. These walk students through the foundations of the Christian faith, the meaning of the sacrament, and how to participate with reverence and understanding. Catechism classes provide deeper instruction in Christian doctrine, the church's teachings, and the spiritual disciplines that sustain a committed life in the church.
Beyond the classroom, youth of all ages gather for quarterly social events. A Youth Group Game Day is held on Sunday afternoons with pizza, drinks, and shared board games; Trunk or Treat fills the church parking lot each October; and seasonal fellowship builds friendships that connect Sunday mornings to the rest of the week.
Caring for One Another Through Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry is one of Gloria Dei's quiet strengths. The program, rooted in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, pairs trained lay Stephen Ministers with individuals going through difficult life transitions - grief, divorce, illness, job loss, or other life-changing events. The relationship is confidential, sustained through regular one-to-one meetings, and centered on listening, prayer, and steady Christian care. Anyone interested in receiving a Stephen Minister, or in being trained to serve as one, can speak with Pastor Ted or the church office.
A Fellowship Calendar That Fills the Week
While Sunday is the church's anchor, the building stays busy almost every day of the week. The list of small groups, arts gatherings, and shared meals reflects the congregation's "family atmosphere" and the value it places on time spent together.
- Theology on Tap. On the fourth Monday of each month, adults gather for dinner, drinks, and conversation about matters of faith.
- Yoga. Monday evenings at 6:00 PM in Luther Hall. All are welcome; the cost is $4 per person or $5 per couple.
- Wood Carvers. Mondays in Luther Hall from noon to 3:00 PM.
- Tuesday Craft Night. The crafting group meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Hobbyists of every kind are invited to create, chat, and unwind.
- Quirky Quilters. Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Members bring their machines and sewing projects; the group has made quilts for graduates, new members, and donations to a local shelter.
- Men's Breakfast. A regular Thursday morning gathering at Big Boy in Tecumseh around 7:00 AM for food, fellowship, and faith.
- Lutheran Ladies Lunch. Thursdays at noon at Tecumseh Big Boy.
Euchre parties, Lenten soup suppers, coffee hours after Sunday worship, and seasonal potlucks add to the rhythm, ensuring that newcomers have many low-pressure ways to step into congregational life.
Serving Tecumseh and Lenawee County
The Social Outreach Ministry works to share Christ's love through practical action across the wider community. Gloria Dei's outreach calendar includes both ongoing drives and one-off service events, all organized with local partners.
The Diaper Drive, run in partnership with the Lenawee Great Start Collaborative, collects diapers of all sizes for infants and toddlers in Lenawee County. Diapers are not covered by WIC or most other assistance programs, and the church notes that more than 500 babies were born in the county last year alone to households living below the poverty line. Donations are gathered in a Pack and Play in the Narthex.
Share the Harvest collects food items to fill holiday food boxes each season - one recent drive gathered 491 items. God's Work. Our Hands., the ELCA's annual day of service, has brought sixty-two volunteers (ages six to ninety) together to package 15,000 meals for shipment to people facing hunger. Undie Sunday and the School Supply Collection stock local students with the basics they need for the school year; March Madness and March Reading Month has placed 174 new and gently used books in the hands of preschool and elementary children in the Tecumseh School System. Trunk or Treat, a family Trunk or Treat event each October, opens the parking lot to neighbors across the community.
Through all of these efforts, Gloria Dei's stated goal is to be a faithful presence of hope and encouragement - "extending the love of Christ to friends, neighbors, and newcomers," whatever their story.
Getting Connected, Worshiping, and Giving
Visitors can join in person any Sunday morning at 9:30 AM at 108 Brown Street, or watch the livestream on Facebook. The Welcome Center and church office staff are happy to answer questions during weekday hours, and a monthly newsletter - archived on the church's website - keeps members in touch with current ministries, sermons, and stories from the congregation.
Online giving is available through Vanco, an ELCA-preferred vendor that provides secure online, mobile, and text giving. Donations support the same ministries and general operations as offerings given in the sanctuary during worship. The Social Outreach Ministry, Tech and Photo Team, Facilities Team, Music Ministry, Worship and Music Committee, and Coffee Hour hosting all welcome volunteers - and a long list of open invitations in the Get Involved section of the church's site makes it easy to find a place to serve.
Gloria Dei's welcome extends as much to the curious as to the committed. As the congregation puts it: whether someone is seeking a church home or simply exploring, "we would love to welcome you."