You might just see a “Drive-Thru Prayer” sign or Pastor Eric Heinrich waving to drivers in front of St. Mark Lutheran Church at 248 Broadway in Norwich. Occasionally, he can be seen on his unicycle riding up and down the street or inside the church’s fellowship hall.

The Manchester resident also utilizes Facebook videos and “prayerful walking” with others to connect with people. Previously, he has gone out into the Norwich community and connected places to scripture with “Out & About” YouTube videos.

Heinrich, who was born at Backus Hospital, knows Norwich well even though he never lived in the Rose City, as his family has deep roots there. They include his parents, aunts, uncles and maternal grandparents (who emigrated from Germany).

Heinrich said that he “is passionate about bringing folks of all ages into a deeper relationship with God” and that he also “feels a strong call” to work with “marginalized” individuals.

He said he makes a point of walking around and talking to people on Norwich’s streets and at the harbor.

Occasionally, Heinrich, 55, also stops by St. Vincent de Paul Place on Cliff Street in Norwich, where a soup kitchen caters to the homeless and others in need.

“It's a way for me to connect with the folks that need those services and many of them come here for the Community Lunch as well. So that way I consider myself a familiar face,” for a spiritual connection.

Many times he directs people to the organization’s Executive Director Jillian Corbin.

“I can talk about questions they have about life and those kinds of things, but I don't necessarily have the financial resources or some of the training to connect them with everything that Jillian can,” he said.

His congregation is also very committed to St. Vincent, donating dried beans collected in January, soup for The Souper Bowl of Caring (a national movement across the U.S.) in February and cereal on an ongoing basis.

St. Mark has also been the location for Sunday Community Lunch from 1 to 2 p.m. for years with numerous faith-based and secular organizations taking turns serving. Meals are now packaged as “grab and go” since the pandemic began. However, since restrictions have relaxed, some people eat inside; during the warmer months they might sit at picnic tables outside.

Sometimes Heinrich is asked to open the clothing shed, which is owned by St. Pauly Textile Inc. Until the company picks up donations, the church has full access to it, he said.

“Some people arrive early and end up coming to coffee hour” after St. Mark’s Sunday worship service, where they can enjoy “goodies and fellowship.” Sometimes, they peruse members’ donated clothing laid out on tables.

Heinrich said he likes to think of the church as a “hub for the community.” Many groups use this building, including Norwich Bully Busters, multiple Alcoholic Anonymous groups and a 60-member homeschooling group. Cornerstone City Church also worships at this church – holding services after St. Mark’s.

As revealed on the front of the church with a rainbow heart, St. Mark is a “reconciling in Christ congregation,” he explained, adding he would gladly marry gay couples. “We’ve adopted an affirmation of welcome to persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities,” and are all-inclusive.

Additionally, everyone is invited to receive communion.

“I announce every Sunday that it's the Lord's Table. So it's not up to me to decide who's invited,” said Heinrich, a member of the Norwich Area Interfaith Association, formerly known as the Norwich Area Clergy Association.

Filled with light, this one-level, modern church with a high, tent-like ceiling, long windows and wide, curved doors and heated floors was dedicated in 1959 on Broadway – after First Lutheran (German group) and Salem Lutheran (Swedish group) churches of Norwich merged, acquired the property and built the new building, according to St. Mark member Sandy Neuendorf of Bozrah. The office, chapel and gathering room were added in 1988.

Led by Music Minister Ian Frenkel, music is a very important part of this church, which offers traditional and contemporary music, utilizing musicians playing piano, drums, guitar and sometimes an organ, Heinrich said.

Frenkel is an “active arranger, conductor, composer, educator and pianist in the New England area,” according to www.norwichlutherans.org. He is also director of the jazz band and wind ensemble shared by the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Connecticut College.

Finding his calling

Heinrich said his faith was always important to him. His calling came when he joined a lay preaching group in about 2004 at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Manchester and began studying scripture with the 10-member group, which took turns preaching once monthly.

However, going to seminary school did not become financially feasible until 2016 when he learned about a new program. While working as a full-time maintainer for the Glastonbury Parks and Recreation Department, the former third-grade teacher enrolled at the United Lutheran Seminary and took online and periodic in-person classes at its Philadelphia and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, campuses beginning in January 2017.

Heinrich began serving St. Mark as an intern (vicar) in August 2021, graduated with a Master of Divinity Degree in May 2022, was ordained on Aug. 28 of the same year and became the church’s new pastor on Sept. 1.

“I believe that God called me to ministry and God called the church to call me,” he said.

“Pastor Eric’s energy and creativity are infectious,” said Sandy Quarto, chairperson of the Call Committee, charged with searching for a new pastor. “We are very fortunate that the New England Synod supported us in calling him, as ordinarily interns move on to a new church.”

She said in an email that Heinrich is already well-loved, and members welcome and support his approach to outreach. “His ability to work with other pastors on combined events will bring us together as a community. Anyone looking for a church would find Pastor Eric, and our members, very friendly, welcoming and accepting.”

Quarto added, “St. Mark has been serving those in need for many years and wanted a like-minded pastor who would continue that work and introduce new ways for us to grow in that involvement.”

Additionally, she said Heinrich’s life experience meant they would have a mature individual. Plus, “his faith-based interests aligned with the kind of individual we were looking for.”

Referring to Heinrich’s outreach approach as “very innovative and modern,” St. Mark Congregation Council President James Quarto (Sandy’s husband) said he “is a very creative and energetic person who has a well-rounded background of life experiences,” and is “truly dedicated to promoting Christian ministry in the Norwich community.”

Like many churches today, James said St. Mark is “under a lot of pressure to expand their outreach and their services. Pastor Eric is trying to show that St. Mark can be a fun and useful space and welcome to all.”

Council Vice President Susan Underhill emphasized in an email that Heinrich’s “positive and unique efforts to integrate the Norwich community and church together” are accomplished without being “preachy.”

Pastor Eric Heinrich lives with his wife, Anne. They have two adult sons: Campfield, 22, and Paxton, 19.

St. Mark Lutheran Church at 248 Broadway in Norwich holds Sunday worship services at 9:30 a.m. (which can be viewed on Facebook: ThePlace.St.Mark), followed by fellowship afterwards. A casual Wednesday evening worship is held twice monthly on the second and fourth Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the chapel. Leashed dogs are allowed.

For more information, go to norwichlutherans.org, call 860-887-6826, or email Pastor Eric Heinrich at revonbroadway@gmail.com.

Jan Tormay, a longtime Norwich resident, now lives in Westerly.