Pastor Tara Magoon started at Grace in the Fall of 2015.  She lives with her husband and son right here in Hockessin.  Her favorite thing about Grace is the people who treat each other like family.  In her spare time, you might find Pastor Tara out for a walk with family or friends, curled up with a good book, or working with yarn to make prayer shawls and afghans.  Pastor Tara is a graduate of the University of Delaware with an interdepartmental degree in Psychology and Philosophy (1995) and of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, class of 2000.

 

American Lutheran Church (ALC) mission congregation that was to become Grace Lutheran, Hockessin, was started with the arrival of Rev. David Wasgatt on September 1, 1970 to be the Mission Developer. Pastor Dave was able to gather a nucleus of interested families and, within six weeks, began worshiping regularly in the Odd Fellows building, downtown Hockessin October 13, 1970. Grace Lutheran Church was incorporated February 28, 1971. Soon after, that mission was combined with a struggling Lutheran Church in America (LCA) mission that had begun organizing near by. Grace graduated to become an ALC recognized congregation on March 11, 1972. Pr. Wasgatt passed away July 19, 2021.

 

Jordan Irazabal started his ministry at Grace Lutheran in 2016. He served as Director of Music at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Wilmington, and Director of Music at Hope Lutheran Church in New Castle before that. He also served as organist at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington from 2001-2006. Jordan has an extensive background in both traditional and contemporary music styles, as well as a charismatic leadership style. Jordan served as Executive Producer for ARIANNA Alliance, a Wilmington non-proflt whose mission was to deliver one world-class celebration of the arts each year, and also served as Executive Producer of the annual Italian Festival Gala Concert from 2009-2011.

 

Susan Wells Allen came to Grace after serving as Director of Christian Ed and YM at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Newark for 16 years and finishing a degree at UD in Sociology and Criminal Justice. When not working on the computer or spending time with family (children & grandchildren), Susan is working in her gardens, reading, quilting or painting.