Since moving to the Bay Area, we have moved around a lot and had some job transitions. But the one constant has been Grace Lutheran Church. You could say that we moved to this area for Grace. Ryan’s first post-college job was there. But even after he decided to move on to a career in the tech world, we knew we could never leave Grace. This was our home.

I think the thing I love most about Grace is that it’s a warm, welcoming intergenerational community. I can have great conversations with members of all ages and backgrounds. On any given Sunday, I find myself having great conversations with people ranging in age from 80 to 3. I look forward to going to church every week so I can catch up with and see some of my favorite people.

It’s a community that is extremely accepting. When we first had Nolan, I was so concerned any time he made the slightest noise during church. And like his father, he has a loud voice that carries. But everyone at Grace was full of love, acceptance and incredibly accommodating. We were repeatedly told by our fellow parishioners that they liked to hear the sounds of kids in church. They weren’t bothered at all. That’s very comforting for new parents to hear. And now that he’s older, people pass the peace with him, shake his hand, and engage him in conversation too. It’s great!

What makes Grace my dream church is that on top of what I’ve already mentioned, the staff and worship elements are top notch. I’m never disappointed by Pastor Matt or Pastor Tuhina’s sermons. The music that Tim Getz leads is incredible. Elizabeth Hood runs amazing children, youth & family programs. And Gretchen Rauch creates beautiful materials to keep us informed & help us follow along.

How lucky are we that we found our dream church on the first try, before we even lived up here? Maybe we have that Cal Lutheran connection to thank 😉