Strike A Chord

Mary Plymire grew up surrounded by the rhythms of church life and the harmony of the close-knit bond of her sisters. That early foundation of faith stayed with her through the years, even as life took her in new directions.

In the late 1970s, Mary and her husband were raising their young family in Springfield and attending another local church. But on Christmas Eve in 1978, practicality led them to Grace Lutheran Church. Their home church was holding a midnight service—too late for a toddler—so they decided to try Grace instead. That night, Pastor Paul Flesner’s message struck a chord. “We just loved it,” Mary recalls. “And the rest is history.” That Christmas service became a turning point. In 1979, the Plymires officially joined Grace, and Mary found more than a church - she found a spiritual home. “Grace is like my family,” she says. “People have supported me through all kinds of things.”

Over the years, Mary has been deeply involved in the life and friendships within the church, including the choir, “Many anthems move me emotionally and spiritually. And we laugh a lot too—like when JB breaks into a British or German accent or plays ‘Happy Birthday’ at just the right moment.”

“As Christians, we need to be fed,” Mary says. “Getting on with others feeds our souls, guides us, and gives us hope.”

One of her most powerful memories is the day the church steeple was restored after a lightning strike. The congregation gathered downtown, singing “Lift High the Cross” as a crane lifted the cross back into place. “It was unbelievable,” Mary says. “A moment of resurrection and hope.”

“God is with us, and we must celebrate that,” says Mary. “Jesus is risen, and we are his.”

Mary’s story is one of faith, friendship, and joyful service—a testament to the enduring spirit of Grace Lutheran Church. And she believes that spirit will endure. “A joke is going around that if a storm hits downtown, it will hit Grace’s steeple,” she says with a smile. “And the steeple—and the congregation—will rise above and survive.”