There was a flurry of activity at the Life in Christ Lutheran Church in Grand Marais last weekend as volunteers from the Cross View Lutheran Church in Edina came to help with renovation of the buildings purchased in May. One of the most pressing issues was replacing the rickety deck and steps.
In May, the Life in Christ Lutheran Church took a leap of faith and purchased the former Pie Place restaurant property west of Grand Marais for its new home. The congregation, which had been meeting at the Cook County Community Center since the late 1990s, knew that its work was cut out for them. However, they also knew they had support from a network of churches. Once such body, Cross View Lutheran Church of Edina, Minnesota, came to Grand Marais last weekend to help Life in Christ with its mission to transform the property into a welcoming worship center.
Twenty-two members of Cross View Lutheran spent a day and a half working alongside the Grand Marais parishioners— scraping walls, painting, cleaning out a once-flooded basement, and building much-needed entryway steps. Life in Christ member Greg Gecas was delighted to have the help. “They got more done in a day and a half than we could do in months,” he said.
Lucinda Reed of Cross View Lutheran was one of the organizers. She is a friend to Life in Christ member Gan Mesenbring and during a visit about a year ago, Mesenbring shared the plan for the church to purchase the old restaurant property. When Mesenbring drove her past the building, Reed said she remembered thinking, “That’s great, it’s right on Highway 61. But it’s going to be a lot of work.”
Reed was moved to help. She noted that her church was well established and was looking for a mission project. Why not right in Minnesota, she asked? She was delighted that the idea became a reality and the two churches could work together.
“A church is not a building, but a group of people who love the Lord. It was very gratifying to see these two groups working together. It’s God’s church,” said Reed.
Reverend Dean Rudloff of Life in Christ was overwhelmed by the generosity of Cross View, which not only provided manual labor, but also handled its own lodging and food— and even supplied some of the materials needed! “We are so appreciative that they took us on as a mission project,” he said.
Reverend Rudloff added that the group also filled the church building on Sunday and shared an anthem for Life in Christ. “They shared not just their hands and gifts, but their voices as well,” said Rudloff. “I’m sure our neighbors heard us!”
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