A church over a century old and steeped in tradition will conduct its last worship service in Lehighton later this month.

Grace Lutheran Church, which has been a landmark at Fourth and Mahoning streets since the early 1900s, will permanently close.

Emma Weaver, who has served as the SALM at the church for over 17 years, said the place of worship will close due to low membership.

Weaver said the church has recently only had between four to six people attending Masses, and only has about 60 people on the rolls.

“We were having a decent amount pre-pandemic,” Weaver said. “Once you get away from worshipping on a regular basis, it’s hard to get back into the groove.”

Weaver, of Summit Hill, said the decision to close was first broached in the spring.

“In May, I said we probably have to look at closing soon,” she said. “Our membership was down, our attendance was down, our donations were down.”

Weaver said she presented a resolution to the congregation on June 27, and they voted to officially close the church.

That, Weaver said, left the sparse members of the congregation floored.

“They were very upset; I can’t blame them,” she said. “They were discouraged it has come to that.”

For Weaver, the decision was equally upsetting.

“It’s almost like a death in the family,” she said. “Some aren’t sure what they want to do as far as congregations.”

Weaver noted that the closure doesn’t only affect Grace Lutheran Church, but also Zion Lutheran Church in Packerton.

The two churches had gone together to have one person - Weaver - leading their worships.

As a result, Weaver will only serve as the SALM for Zion Lutheran Church. The church holds its worship services at 8:30 a.m. Sundays.

Weaver said the final service at Grace Lutheran Church will be held at 3 p.m. Sept. 26, at which time she will give Holy Communion, and the Rev. Carl Shankweiler will give closing ceremony for the closing of the congregation. There will be light refreshments.

“There are so many people who think the building is the church, but the people are the church,” she said. “The building is the place where we worship.”

Weaver noted that the first service at the church was held Nov. 29, 1903, on First Street in Lehighton. The current church building was dedicated on April 2, 1905, by the Rev. Charles Boyer.

“We were a congregation long before the church was built,” she said. “They were a congregation already in 1903 before the church was even dedicated.”

Weaver said it’s been her pleasure to serve her congregation, and noted that its oldest member, Shirley Jones, recently turned 101.

“I was just happy when this opportunity came to serve in this capacity,” she said. “I had a lot of support from the surrounding pastors because if I had a problem, I contacted them.”

Weaver said she’s grateful to all those who supported her at Grace Lutheran Church over the years.

“I appreciate all the support and dedication of the congregation serving their Lord,” she said. ‘I’d just like to say thank you to them; I wish them the best in the path they choose in their faith journey as we go into the future.”