Grace Lutheran Church

This past Sunday, Grace Lutheran Church had the joy of welcoming more than 150 people for a truly special afternoon with San Antonio native, Emmy Award–winning actor, and author Jeff Hiller. Jeff was in town for a San Antonio author event and graciously made time to join us at Grace. Known to many as Joel from HBO’s Somebody Somewhere, he brought with him not only stories from his career, but also a deeply personal and relatable perspective on life, faith, and growing up in the church. During the event, Jeff read a chapter from his memoir Actress of a Certain Age, sharing reflections on his early experiences in church. His storytelling struck a beautiful balance of humor and honesty—having the entire room laughing while also recognizing pieces of their own journeys in his words. Following the program, Jeff spent generous time connecting with attendees. More than 150 people had the opportunity to meet him, take photos, have books signed, and share in conversation. The energy in the room was warm, welcoming, and full of genuine connection. The event also served as a fundraiser, with proceeds from book sales, handcrafted metal art created by Ronda Wenzel, and additional donations benefiting PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)—an organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ individuals, their families, and allies. Thanks to the generosity of those who attended, initial contributions totaled over $1,350. Most meaningful of all was the sense of community that filled the space. We were honored to welcome many new faces—some of whom shared that they are currently without a church home or are searching for a deeper sense of connection and faith. Moments like these remind us why creating spaces of openness, belonging, and honest conversation matters so deeply. While we may never fully know the ripple effects of this gathering, we trust that something meaningful was sparked—not only within our congregation, but among all who attended and those who will hear about it in the days to come. Grace Lutheran stands ready, with open hearts and God’s blessing, to welcome all who are seeking connection, belonging, and hope. Join Us We’d love to see you—join us this Sunday at 10:30 AM and experience the Grace community for yourself. With Gratitude We extend our sincere thanks to the many people who made this event possible. We are especially grateful for the leadership and vision of Ronda Wenzel, Leah Clark, Martha Goodson-Noblett, Pastor Bethany, and Pastor Ann Helmke. Thank you as well to our day-of event support team, Mo, Karen, Donna, Leslie, Soren, Jen, and Deb, to our Security Specialists Team, to all of our dedicated volunteers, and to our talented photographer, Susan Castillo, for capturing the spirit of the day so beautifully. We are deeply thankful for each person who helped bring this meaningful gathering to life. 💛 [Jeff Hiller Selfie](//images.ctfassets.net/29rcs1d1r6x8/7H2qSNvPHHca8GG9pcINej/c20e6926fcd0be78524def53ce42e054/DSC_0068.JPG) 

Join us for an Ash Wednesday service in the Sanctuary at 7pm on Feb 18th.