Grace Lutheran's newly installed minister is ready to serve

On Sunday, Sept. 20, Grace Lutheran Church, 493 Forest Avenue in downtown Glen Ellyn, celebrates the installation of their new pastor, the Rev. Melody Beckman Eastman.

"This has been an almost overwhelming experience of the movement of the Holy Spirit for me," said Pastor Eastman. "The people of Grace are so eager for the mission God is calling us to, and an amazing set of gifts is coming together from so many directions. To say I am excited about our new mission together is an understatement."

Prior to the call to Grace, Pastor Eastman served as senior pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wheaton for almost 17 years. Before that, she served as associate pastor at Edison Park Lutheran on Chicago's northwest side, Trinity Lutheran in Evanston and Ebenezer Lutheran in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago.

Pastor Eastman sits on the board of directors of Lutheran Services in America (the 20th largest charitable organization in the U.S.), and she is the chair of the board for the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. In 2009 she received a Distinguished Alumna award from LSTC for Excellence in Parish Ministry. She is a regular contributor to Christ in Our Home and The Word in Season, both daily devotionals published by Augsburg Fortress, as well as other worship planning publications.

The new pastor at Grace has been married to husband Marty for 36 years; they have two adult children. The couple enjoys biking, hiking, and live acoustic music.

Sunday worship at Grace is at 8 and 10 a.m. with a Christian education hour between services. Call (630) 469-1555 for information, or visit the church's website at www.graceglenellyn.org.