A Church on the Corner of Park and Lincoln
Grace Lutheran Church stands at 3967 Park Boulevard, on the corner of Park and Lincoln in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood. Parishioners and visitors have been gathering there for more than a century: the congregation was established in 1912, and the current building was dedicated in 1930. Almost as long as there has been a place called Hillcrest, there has been a church called Grace Lutheran at this corner.
Over the years, the parish has evolved from a neighborhood church into a commuter church, drawing people from all over San Diego County. They come to hear the unchanging Word of God undiluted by a changing culture, and to worship in a landmark building noted for its historic architecture and magnificent organ. Free parking is available in the lot behind the church campus, and the building itself is a beautiful place to enter into the Lord's presence.
The Generations Campaign: Preparing for the 2030 Centennial
Because Grace has occupied its 1930 building for nearly a century, the congregation has launched a capital campaign called Generations: Preserving the Past, While Building for the Future. The campaign invites donors to help spruce up the historic, registered landmark in advance of the 2030 centennial celebration. Donations can be made through the online giving page or by mail to the church address. Special gifts, endowments, and contributions toward the restoration of the historic organ are also welcomed through the church office.
Worship Rooted in the Lutheran Confessions
Grace Lutheran is a member church of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, and the congregation takes its confessional identity seriously. The parish describes itself in four ways:
- A Biblical Church. As evangelical catholics, Grace Lutheran teaches that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the divinely inspired and authoritative Word of God.
- A Confessional Church. The congregation believes, teaches, and confesses the theology of the historic Lutheran confessions, especially the 1530 Augsburg Confession and the Book of Concord.
- A Sacramental Church. Grace Lutheran stands in continuity with the teaching of the Apostles and the ancient Church, extolling the benefits of Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, and Holy Communion whenever the congregation gathers in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- A Liturgical Church. The divine liturgy from the Lutheran Service Book is used because the congregation follows the theology of worship that God has given His Church, by which He saves, sanctifies, and is known in the world.
The liturgy, hymns, and preaching are drawn from the Lutheran Service Book, and the parish currently follows the three-year lectionary. The Sunday Divine Service begins at 9:00 a.m.
Sunday Mornings at Grace
The Sunday rhythm at Grace centers on two events. Worship comes first, with the Divine Service at 9:00 a.m. Sunday School for all ages follows, beginning at 10:30 a.m. (in the Fall 2026 schedule the children's Sunday School meets from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m.). The congregation's motto, drawn from St. Paul's letter to the Romans, sets the tone for the gathering: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Children's Sunday School is taught by skilled and caring teachers and is divided by age group:
- Toddlers and Pre-K learn Bible narratives and the faith by singing Bible songs and working together on arts and crafts. Classes meet in the Grace nursery.
- Kindergarten and 1st grade begin their study of the faith using My First Catechism, based on Luther's Small Catechism.
- 1st to 3rd grades study Luther's Small Catechism and the Liturgy of the Confessional Lutheran Church in the Den.
- 4th to 6th grades study Luther's Small Catechism and Christian theology in preparation for Confirmation and being received in the church as a member.
Special Services Through the Church Year
In addition to the weekly Divine Service, Grace Lutheran holds special services throughout the year for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. Each Wednesday during the seasons of Advent and Lent, the congregation gathers for Evening Prayer, which is preceded by a Soup Supper in the Fellowship Hall.
Adult Bible Study on Wednesdays
Martin Luther said, "The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid." Each Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., adults gather in St. Mark's Classroom for an hour-long Bible study led by Pastor Brian Thomas. Classes meet during the Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions and feature an in-depth exploration of Holy Scripture, church history, works by renowned Christian authors, and contemporary Christian issues. Recent topics have included Finding Christ in the Old Testament, C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, and Heresy. The format combines lectures, films, and lively discussion.
A Teaching Pulpit and a Sermon Library
For those who cannot attend in person, Grace Lutheran maintains an extensive online library of recorded sermons by Pastor Thomas. The sermons are Biblically textual, distinguish between Law and Gospel, and declare the unconditional promise that God justifies sinners for the sake of Jesus Christ. As the parish puts it, you will not hear about good advice, but Good News. Sermon titles are tied directly to the lectionary, with recent series working through the Pentecost, Easter, Lent, Advent, and Epiphany readings.
In addition, Pastor Thomas has recorded a four-part study series called Under the Sun: Searching for Meaning, an exploration of Ecclesiastes, available through the Bible Study Lectures page. The recordings are also available for those who cannot make Sunday School in person.
The Pastoral Staff
Grace Lutheran is served by a small, dedicated pastoral team.
Rev. Brian W. Thomas, the pastor, received his divinity training from Christ College and Concordia Seminary. He is a Thinking Fellow for 1517.org and has written books for New Reformation Publications and Creative Communications for the Parish, including By Water and the Word: God's Gift of Baptism for You, Clothed with Christ: A Biblical Styleguide for Sinners, and Wittenberg vs. Geneva. As a former naval officer, he particularly values serving the active duty and retired veterans in San Diego. He can be contacted through the office to schedule private confession, baptism, catechesis, confirmation, and pre-marital counseling.
Deaconess Doris Snashall is a graduate of Concordia University, Irvine, where she holds an MBA and a Master of Arts in Theology. She earned her Deaconess Certification from Concordia University, Chicago, and was consecrated and installed at Grace Lutheran in September 2007. She loves teaching children and adults and takes delight in visiting seniors in the congregation.
Music Ministry and the Historic Organ
The music program at Grace is led by Dale Sorenson, the Music Director and Organist. Dale began organ lessons in grade school and went on to receive a music degree at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, while serving an apprenticeship in pipe organ building. He has worked with L.W. Blackinton & Associates, pipe organ builders, since 1984 and has served as Curator of the Spreckels organ in Balboa Park since 2015. He also sits on the Executive Board of the American Guild of Organists, San Diego Chapter. Before coming to Grace, he served as organist and choirmaster at Pilgrim (now Victory) and Trinity Lutheran churches. The parish's own historic pipe organ is currently being restored as part of the Generations Campaign.
Welcoming All to the Communion Rail
Grace Lutheran openly welcomes families, singles, military, and visitors to its services. Because of the church's proximity to San Diego's many military installations, the congregation has a particular heart for those who serve and have served in the armed forces. Office Manager Elsy Lehman joined the staff in September 2025 and welcomes every member and visitor with a friendly smile; she herself discovered the Lutheran faith as an adult and found her home at Grace during the COVID pandemic.
Giving and Stewardship
The congregation approaches giving as stewardship of resources entrusted by God. Members and supporters can give in several ways:
- Online Bank Check through their own bank's bill-pay system, using the church's 3967 Park Blvd. 92103 address as the receiver.
- Direct Pay Online by credit card or bank account through the church's online giving page, where donors can set up one-time or recurring gifts and have the option to cover processing fees.
- Mobile Giving by texting a dollar amount (for example, $50) to 84321, or by scanning the QR code with any smartphone camera.
For those who wish to underwrite a project or create an endowment, the office can be contacted directly. The work of the parish, as the congregation's stewardship page reminds donors, comes from 1 Peter 4:10: As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's grace.
Visiting Grace Lutheran
Sunday worship begins at 9:00 a.m., with Sunday School for all ages beginning at 10:30 a.m. The church sits at the corner of Park and Lincoln in Hillcrest, with free parking in the lot behind the church campus. The service follows the historic Lutheran liturgy from the Lutheran Service Book, includes hymn-singing, and gathers around Word and Sacrament. Visitors seeking private confession, baptism, catechesis, confirmation, or pre-marital counseling can arrange these through the church office.
The church office is open Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and can be reached at 619.299.2890 or elsyglc@gmail.com. The parish's newsletter, Wittenberg Way, is published seasonally and made available for download, as are weekly bulletins and an extensive archive of recorded sermons and Bible study lectures.