The First Lutheran Church in Shamokin was formed around 1850 and was named Trinity Lutheran Church.  Many members wanted to change the service from a German speaking service to an English speaking service.  A large group wanted to keep the German speaking service tradition alive and started meeting at Seiler’s Hall in Shamokin on West Spruce Street.  It was here that the congregation was officially organized as Grace Lutheran Church on October 31, 1885. In February 20, 1955, the church was destroyed by an arson fire. The loss of the church and property was valued at $125,000. The church was rebuilt purchasing some properties near the church and the new church was dedicated on October 20, 1956, just 20 months after the devastating fire. The first pastor was Rev. Henry Weicksel who serve from 1884-1887. Subsequent pastors were:

• Rev. William Weicksel, 1887 – 1891
• Rev. Jacob F. Wampole, 1891 – 1907
• Rev. Carl J. Streich, 1907 – 1917
• Rev. Elias H. Gerhart, 1918 – 1937
• Rev. Marlin M. Enders, 1937 – 1943
• Rev. Rollin Shaffer, 1937 – 1948
• Rev. John W. Harkins, 1949 – 1954
• Rev. Robert M. Arentz, 1954 – 1959
• Rev. Charles A. Souders, 1960 – 1986
• Rev. Garhard H. W. Roggenkamp, 1986 – 1990
• Rev. Everett R. Arnold, 1990 – 1999
• Rev. Ronald Shellhamer, 1999 – 2007
• Rev. David M. Byerly, 2008 – 2017

Our 15th and current pastor is Rev. Sarah V. Hershberger who began serving in 2017. We are a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We strive together to do God’s work with our hands.