Rev. Emil Gretarsson (center) receives congratulations from his family. From Left, his mother and father, Virginia and Yngvi Gretarsson, Rev. Emil, son Elijah and wife, Heather Gretarsson; and Heather’s mother and father, Linda and Lloyd Wardley, of Garden City. With much joy and congratulations, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection celebrated the ordination of Rev. Emil Gretarsson recently. Surrounded by his friends and family, Rev. Gretarsson recited the responsibilities of the Holy Ministry and was officially ordained into the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He will accept the call to be Pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Having been a member of Resurrection for several years before he entered the seminary, Rev. Gretarsson had met and married Heather Wardley, of Garden City, who was also a member of Resurrection. Among the hundreds of people in attendance at the ordination service were his wife Heather and son Elijah. During the service, as a customary sign of ordination, Heather placed a red stole around her husband’s shoulders.

Participating in Rev. Gretarsson’s ordination service are (from left) Rev. Justin Vetrano, Rev. Bill Harmon, Rev. Emil Gretarsson, Rev. Jeff Browning, and Pastor Emeritus Rev. Bill Meyer. Lutheran Church of the Resurrection is a multi-site Christian community of faith, with its main campus located at 420 Stewart Ave., near Clinton Rd., in Garden City. All are invited to worship at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday mornings, with Christian Education at 9:45 a.m. The second campus, THE LIFE Church, is located at One Old Westbury Rd., on Jericho Tpke., in Old Westbury. All are welcome Thursdays at THE LIFE, beginning with a Free Family Style Dinner at 6 p.m., followed by Worship and Holy Communion at 7 p.m. For more information, please visit resgc.org or thelifeny.org.