Welcome
Weekly Schedule
Sunday, 9:30 am - Sung Eucharist
Sunday, 11:00 am - Christian Education for Children and Adults (Labor Day through Memorial Day)
Wednesday, 7:00 pm - Spoken Eucharist
Thursday, 1:00 pm - King's Apartments Bible Study
Thursday, 5:30 pm - Book Study
See the weekly service leaflet or the calendar for any changes to this week's schedule. To watch weekly Sunday services live, click here: Online Service
About Us
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Christ the King is a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, located in the village of Pawling, New York since 1963. We are a Christian congregation in the Lutheran tradition, centered on the Holy Scriptures and the Sacraments. The members of our congregation come from a variety of religious backgrounds. About half are lifelong Lutherans from various denominations, but another half have come to us from such varied backgrounds as Judaism, Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism, Evangelicalism, and many more. No matter their backgrounds, all have found a home in the Lutheran Church, and here at Christ the King.
The center of our congregational life is the weekly Eucharist on Sundays at 9:30 am, in which we hear the words of God and receive the Holy Eucharist. Having been forgiven and renewed, we then go through our lives seeking to bring that same forgiveness and peace to those around us, as we look forward to the final coming of Christ in glory to bring His people home.
You can read about the history of our congregation here.
About the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Christ the King is a parish of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. With the universal Christian Church, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God:
the Father, creator of all that exists;
Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and
the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God’s Word and Sacraments.
The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.
Our congregation accepts and preaches the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers are sometimes summarized in three phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.
If you would like to read more about foundational Lutheran beliefs, take a look at the Creeds, Luther's Small Catechism, or the Book of Concord. You can also watch these interviews, which give a lively and engaging look at the beliefs and practices of the Lutheran Church.
Staff
Pastor Stefan M. Gramenz
The Reverend Stefan M. Gramenz grew up on a farm in Southern Illinois, and has been serving Christ the King since his ordination and installation on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, 24 June 2018. Prior to arriving in Pawling, he earned a BA in English Literature at Concordia University Wisconsin in 2014, and received his M.Div from Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, IN) in 2018. He has been involved with the Lutheran Missal Project since its inception, serving as an assisting editor since 2019. When not at Christ the King, he can be found out and about in the village, making a valiant effort at gardening, or hiking with his dog, Niles.
Kantor Stephen R. Johnson
Mr. Stephen R. Johnson serves as Kantor at Christ the King. He is also choral director and teaches both music and theology at St. Catharine Academy, a high school for girls, in the Bronx.
Stephen is published with Concordia Publishing House, GIA, and Northwestern Publishing House. Five of his hymns are published in the Lutheran Service Book (2006), the current hymnal of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Over the years, he has produced choral concerts, conducting works of Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Vaughan Williams, Rutter, and many others. His current choir at the high school, ¡Cantad! has sung several times for Masses for high school seniors hosted by Timothy Cardinal Dolan at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Stephen has served as music director at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Norwalk, CT and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Danbury, CT. He has been Kantor for Doxology: The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel and for various pastoral conferences in the New England District of the LCMS. He has been asked to present papers for various symposia including the Good Shepherd Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, IN), the Concordia Catechetical Academy Symposium (Sussex, WI), and the Higher Things Regional Youth Conference (Sheboygan, WI).
Stephen holds a graduate degree from the Manhattan School of Music in piano performance. He has studied composition with Alice Parker and is a Melodious Accord Fellow. Previously, as a pianist, he has been a prizewinner in prominent international and national piano competitions and has played recitals throughout the United States and Europe.
He resides in Mahopac, NY with his wife, Mary and his college-aged daughters, Mary Vera and Margaret. The whole family participates in the music of the parish at Christ the King as everyone sings and plays instruments.
Stephen is available as a presenter or Kantor for conferences and symposia.