St. Paul’s Lutheran Church congregation gains members
CARMICHAELS – A wonderful thing is happening at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church: The congregation is growing both physically and spiritually. Attendance at the church has risen from an average in the teens and 20s to 58 last year, “but we’ve been a solid 60 since Dec. 5,’ said the church’s pastor, the Rev. Todd Kornahrens
The minister credits the members with making those figures grow.
“I think this congregation has come to understand in the last two or three years that ministry is about people and being able to build relationships with people, helping people in different situations, and making the congregation about loving and caring,’ he said. “Jesus told us his reign was about love, and in the last two or three years that’s what this congregation has sown and it’s an attractive quality.’
But others credit Kornahrens, including Clarksville resident Brenda Devecka, a former member who was married at St. Paul’s and recently came back to the church with her husband, David, and daughter, Andrea.
“I like the pastor. The congregation makes you feel welcome. They’re very nice. I just feel welcome here,’ she said.
Kornahrens, a native of Charleston, S.C., graduated in May 2003 from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, S.C. The church then placed him in southwestern Pennsylvania, where he became pastor of St. Paul’s and Jacob’s Lutheran in German Township, Fayette County. In fact, both churches have grown in membership.
St. Paul’s, located on South Market Street, was built in 1947 after the congregation met for a year or so in the school across the street. It is the only Lutheran church in Greene County.
In the past few years, St. Paul’s has expanded its ministries both within the congregation and the community. The church has revamped its Christian education program with an adult Sunday school and two Bible studies.
“They’ve helped bring us back to focus on the word of God, and that’s vital for a congregation,” Kornahrens said.
The church also added a Vacation Bible School with Jacob’s Lutheran for youths during the summer and offers “Children’s Church” during worship to help children better understand the week’s lesson.
St. Paul’s also has several opportunities for fellowship, including a walking circle that gets together two Saturdays a month at Wana B. Park, although it does not meet during cold weather.
The church’s Ladies Sewing Circle, which meets the second and last Monday of the month, makes teddy bears for shut-ins and sews bags that can hold school supplies, which are being sent to a sister church in Madagascar.
In October, the congregation collected 400 coats during a coat drive and distributed them Nov. 29 to the community, including a family who moved to Greene County from Florida.
In December, the congregation bought gifts for the Greene County Salvation Army to distribute and rang bells for its kettle drive.
The church also has collected funds for the victims of the tsunami disaster that struck Southeast Asia in December. It will continue its outreach and mission work, which Kornahrens called a “fundamental teaching of Christ.’
St. Paul’s is also sponsoring a Relay for Life team to raise funds for the American Cancer Society for the second year.
“Last year, we had about 10 people on the team. Now we have about 20,’ said Kornahrens, explaining the Greene County Relay for Life will take place May 7-8 at the Greene County Fairgrounds, in Waynesburg.
Kornahrens said the success of these programs and ministries comes from the people.
“I think the people around here are willing to help, pitch in and do what’s needed,’ he said.
All these ministries are attracting people. As attendance at weekly worship climbs, so has membership.
“We’ve had 13 people join the church since November 2003, including two baptisms,’ said Kornahrens.
Greensboro resident Irene Krupinsky, who has been a member of St. Paul’s since 1950, said, “It’s just a blessing to me. You feel so good. You don’t want to miss church.’
St. Paul’s offers worship Sundays at 11 a.m. and is offering Wednesday services during Lent that include a soup-and-sandwich dinner at 6 p.m. and worship at 7 p.m. The choir meets Mondays at 6:30 p.m.
Kornahrens believes the key to St. Paul’s growth is that the congregation has not turned inward but become focused outward.
“People see your faith and want to be a part of your community,” he said.
For more information on St. Paul’s Lutheran, call the office at 724-966-7177 or visit the Web site at www.lutheranonline.com/carmichaels.