Featured Article
|
Faith, Heritage and Hope
The roots of St. Paul extend back to the Volga River area of Russia to a settlement of Germans who immigrated as a result of the Second Manifesto of Catherine the Great. Provisions of the Manifesto Guaranteed free land, freedom of religion, self-government and other benefits. German villages were established along the Volga in 1767. For more than a century the inhabitants of these villages retained their ethnic culture, providing both Christian and academic education for their children. The local church was not only the center of their spiritual selves, but also of their social activities. Pictured is the Lutheran Church in the village of Kind, which was the home of some of the founders of St. Paul. |
|
In the latter half of the nineteenth century, freedoms for the German people in Russia began to erode and land became scarce. The promise of freedom and opportunity in America beckoned. A group of German settlers from Russia arrived in the Thumb area of Michigan about 1911. Apparently they were attracted to the area because of the sugar beet industry which was flourishing at the time. Since the settlers had grown sugar beets in their homeland, they found immediate employment. Entire families worked in the fields thinning, blocking and harvesting the beets.
Soon the promise of year-round employment brought them to Port Huron where they joined existing Lutheran congregations. But many of the American practices and customs were strange to them and they soon expressed a desire to organize their own congregation in order to worship God in their own way and preserve their traditions.
On April 1, 1917 (Palm Sunday), fifteen men met in the home of Carl Langolf of Francis Street to organize a congregation and build a church. Under the leadership of Reverend Gedeon F. Rausch (then pastor of St. Martin), a committee consisting of Gottlieb Langolf and Christ Falk drew up plans and secured a site for the new church building. Two lots on the corner of Fourteenth and Wells Streets were chosen as the site of the new church. This location is in what was known as the Volga Plat in the City of Port Huron. Established in 1914, this plat encompassed the area surrounded by Wells, Fourteenth, Miller and Thirteenth Streets. To undertake the building of a church was difficult since the new immigrants were poor and many had acquired debts to pay for passage to America. Money for materials was borrowed and construction of the church was done by members themselves after their regular working hours.
The church building was completed in less than three months. On June 14, 1917 it was dedicated. Paster Rausch served both St. Paul and St. Martin until 1920 when St. Paul called their first resident pastor. In 1919 the building of a parsonage was begun in anticipation of calling a pastor. Once again members of the congregation contributed much of the labor.
Soon the promise of year-round employment brought them to Port Huron where they joined existing Lutheran congregations. But many of the American practices and customs were strange to them and they soon expressed a desire to organize their own congregation in order to worship God in their own way and preserve their traditions.
On April 1, 1917 (Palm Sunday), fifteen men met in the home of Carl Langolf of Francis Street to organize a congregation and build a church. Under the leadership of Reverend Gedeon F. Rausch (then pastor of St. Martin), a committee consisting of Gottlieb Langolf and Christ Falk drew up plans and secured a site for the new church building. Two lots on the corner of Fourteenth and Wells Streets were chosen as the site of the new church. This location is in what was known as the Volga Plat in the City of Port Huron. Established in 1914, this plat encompassed the area surrounded by Wells, Fourteenth, Miller and Thirteenth Streets. To undertake the building of a church was difficult since the new immigrants were poor and many had acquired debts to pay for passage to America. Money for materials was borrowed and construction of the church was done by members themselves after their regular working hours.
The church building was completed in less than three months. On June 14, 1917 it was dedicated. Paster Rausch served both St. Paul and St. Martin until 1920 when St. Paul called their first resident pastor. In 1919 the building of a parsonage was begun in anticipation of calling a pastor. Once again members of the congregation contributed much of the labor.
|
|
Reverend Arthur Proehl became the first resident pastor of St. Paul on July 18, 1920 and served until 1922. In his reminiscences he recalls a humorous incident during his pastorate:
"Immediately upon my arrival (in Port Huron) my attention was called to some problems. The decision to call a pastor to devote his full time to the congregation, which also necessitated the building of a parsonage, had not been passed unanimously by the congregation. Some were fearful of the undertaking, since the church built three years previously had not yet been paid for. This difference in opinion had crystallized particularly in the Ladies Aid Society and had resulted in a split in that organization. As a result St. Paul for a brief time was blessed with two 'aids'. But whatever fears might have been entertained soon vanished by reason of the good judgment and the Christian spirit which prevailed among the women. The older ladies of the congregation will doubtless chuckle to themselves when they recall how the two factions were reunited. We often laughed about it afterwards. How amusing it must have looked to see the pastor leading the group of women who had assembled at one of the houses to the church where the other group was waiting. My brother, who happened to e visiting me at the time, entertained the group at the church while I went after the other. After we were all together he related a number of humorous incidents which put everyone in good spirits. I am sure that everyone present put heart and soul into the singing of 'Nun Danket Alle Got' (Now Thank We All Our God) at the close of the meeting."
A Sunday School was organized immediately after Pastor Proehl's arrival. Records indicate that 125 children were present on the first Sunday. In late 1920 "Saturday School" was begun in which the German language as well as religion was taught. Classes in citizenship were held weekly at the church for those members desiring to become U.S. citizens. The Luther League and a choir were also organized. Although there was rapid progress and growth in these early years, there were also difficult times. It is reported that almost the entire membership was laid off from work for an extended period of time and that wives and mothers worked extra hours taking in washing and cleaning homes and offices. These were also years of hardships for loved ones who had remained in Russia, and the congregation provided financial aid as they were able.
Reverend R. Kranz accepted the call to Port Huron and was installed on the first Sunday of Advent, 1922. Membership had increased to about fifty families, and it was becoming apparent that a larger building was needed. It is recorded that on Easter Sunday 1923 there was such a large crowd that two ladies fainted and had to be carried out of the church; this made such a disturbance and so many people had to leave the building for a short time that every member of the congregation saw clearly that more worship space was needed.
In May, 1923 the congregation approved construction of a new church building. the blueprints called for moving the former building to the back of the lot to provide Sunday School room behind the altar room of the new building. This moving back of the old building was done by church members. They worked several evenings, lifted the building up onto rollers and pushed and pulled until it was in the proper place. This portion of the church came to be referred to as the "schoolhouse". The cornerstone laying for the new building was on September 8, 1923; thirteen weeks later, on December 9, the building was dedicated.
"Immediately upon my arrival (in Port Huron) my attention was called to some problems. The decision to call a pastor to devote his full time to the congregation, which also necessitated the building of a parsonage, had not been passed unanimously by the congregation. Some were fearful of the undertaking, since the church built three years previously had not yet been paid for. This difference in opinion had crystallized particularly in the Ladies Aid Society and had resulted in a split in that organization. As a result St. Paul for a brief time was blessed with two 'aids'. But whatever fears might have been entertained soon vanished by reason of the good judgment and the Christian spirit which prevailed among the women. The older ladies of the congregation will doubtless chuckle to themselves when they recall how the two factions were reunited. We often laughed about it afterwards. How amusing it must have looked to see the pastor leading the group of women who had assembled at one of the houses to the church where the other group was waiting. My brother, who happened to e visiting me at the time, entertained the group at the church while I went after the other. After we were all together he related a number of humorous incidents which put everyone in good spirits. I am sure that everyone present put heart and soul into the singing of 'Nun Danket Alle Got' (Now Thank We All Our God) at the close of the meeting."
A Sunday School was organized immediately after Pastor Proehl's arrival. Records indicate that 125 children were present on the first Sunday. In late 1920 "Saturday School" was begun in which the German language as well as religion was taught. Classes in citizenship were held weekly at the church for those members desiring to become U.S. citizens. The Luther League and a choir were also organized. Although there was rapid progress and growth in these early years, there were also difficult times. It is reported that almost the entire membership was laid off from work for an extended period of time and that wives and mothers worked extra hours taking in washing and cleaning homes and offices. These were also years of hardships for loved ones who had remained in Russia, and the congregation provided financial aid as they were able.
Reverend R. Kranz accepted the call to Port Huron and was installed on the first Sunday of Advent, 1922. Membership had increased to about fifty families, and it was becoming apparent that a larger building was needed. It is recorded that on Easter Sunday 1923 there was such a large crowd that two ladies fainted and had to be carried out of the church; this made such a disturbance and so many people had to leave the building for a short time that every member of the congregation saw clearly that more worship space was needed.
In May, 1923 the congregation approved construction of a new church building. the blueprints called for moving the former building to the back of the lot to provide Sunday School room behind the altar room of the new building. This moving back of the old building was done by church members. They worked several evenings, lifted the building up onto rollers and pushed and pulled until it was in the proper place. This portion of the church came to be referred to as the "schoolhouse". The cornerstone laying for the new building was on September 8, 1923; thirteen weeks later, on December 9, the building was dedicated.
|
At the time the new building was begun, the congregation ordered two new church bells. Pastor Kranz recalled the following event upon arrival of the bells: "One afternoon when the new church tower was firmly built, the new bells arrived. Like a prairie fire the news traveled from one member to another and in fifteen minutes nearly all the members of the congregation were present to lift up the bells and hang them in the tower. Then the board of trustees tried the bells to find out if they would harmonize. This was all right, but the ringing of the bells did not stop. Half an hour later the pastor went over to stop the bell ringing lest it disturb the English neighborhood. But when he came to the tower he found a whole row of people who all longed to ring too. When the pastor talked to the people so that they might cease the ringing, he was disarmed with the answer. This ringing reminded them too much of the old home village in Russia where the ringing sounded the same. So all talking was in vain. One after the other, forced by his homesickness, rang till he was tired and dreamed of the days of his youth. The ringing stopped late in the evening when the English neighbors threatened in earnest to call the police."
|
|
In August 1924 Reverend Jacob Appel accepted the call to St. Paul and served until his retirement twelve years later. Pastor Appel was remembered for his preaching ability and his thoroughness in instruction. During his pastorate the difficult problem concerning language arose. Since the children were speaking English in public school, it was decided in 1932 to use English in both Sunday School and confirmation instruction. Soon that necessitated the use of some English in worship. However, a complete transition to the English language did not occur until nearly thirty years later.
The Depression years of the 1930's brought hardships. Most of the members were without work and the congregation was deeply in debt. With God's guidance the parish survived. Records of late 1936 state: "The old church debt is largely paid and we look forward to the day when we shall be debt free. To the Almighty God who has so wonderfully led this congregation in the past be all thanks and may He guide it in the future according to His good pleasure."
The Depression years of the 1930's brought hardships. Most of the members were without work and the congregation was deeply in debt. With God's guidance the parish survived. Records of late 1936 state: "The old church debt is largely paid and we look forward to the day when we shall be debt free. To the Almighty God who has so wonderfully led this congregation in the past be all thanks and may He guide it in the future according to His good pleasure."
|
Pastor Fred Schnaible served St. Paul from 1936 until 1948. There were years of steady growth and involvement within the parish. The 25th anniversary of the congregation was celebrated in 1942. At that time the Sunday School had an enrollment of ninety-five; the Junior Choir reported twenty members and the Senior Choir had twenty-five members. In addition to repairs made to the church and parsonage, a new pipe organ and choir loft were dedicated in 1944. Some of the outreach projects during this era were a missionary project in New Guinea and a mission institute in Detroit. As WWII ended, attendance at Sunday Worship continued to increase and in 1948 it was decided that more space was needed and a building fund was established.
|
Between 1948 and 1964 St. Paul was served by five pastors. During this time, some remodeling work was done and additional classrooms were added in the basement of the church building.
The fortieth anniversary of the congregation was celebrated in 1957 during the pastorate Reverend Daniel Mathes. Church records for much of this time period were lost, so little else is known of activities during these years.
The fortieth anniversary of the congregation was celebrated in 1957 during the pastorate Reverend Daniel Mathes. Church records for much of this time period were lost, so little else is known of activities during these years.
|
Pastor Martin Ehlen was installed as pastor in 1964. Under his leadership new committees were added to Church Council--Evangelism & Social Ministry, Stewardship, Parish Education, Worship & Music, Property & Management. In January, 1967 the congregation voted to purchase land at 3790 West Water Street where our new church building would be located. A building fund program was begun in connection with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the congregation. pastor Ehlen left St. Paul in 1968 and Pastor David Genter served from 1969 until 1973.
|
|
The years between 1950 and 1974 were arduous for the congregation. many changes were occurring in the world as well as in Port Huron. Following WWII, folks became more mobile and many parishioners no longer lived within the "old neighborhood" surrounding the church. Some of the younger folks no longer felt bound by the old ethnic traditions. The social upheavals prevalent during the 1960's also affected Port Huron and the congregation. Over the years members dwindled, the Sunday School ceased to operate and divisions arose among some of the membership.
In August, 1972 the Church Council and Board of Trustees brought a resolution to the congregation providing for the orderly closing of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church effective December 1, 1972. On September 17 the proposal was put to a vote. results of the ballots were 31 yes; 72 no. At this point, members of the Church Council resigned their positions. This was, perhaps, the darkest day in the history of the congregation. With the decline in membership and divisions among the remaining members, financial support had diminished and bills could not be paid. But a group of dedicated members believed that, with God's help and guidance, the parish would survive. The Building Fund and other established funds were dissolved in order to pay past-due bills. For many months in 1973-1974 the congregation was without a pastor and was served by Pastor Joel Jorgenson (then pastor of St. Martin, Port Huron). With faith in God, parishioners moved forward to call a permanent pastor and plan for a new building.
In August, 1972 the Church Council and Board of Trustees brought a resolution to the congregation providing for the orderly closing of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church effective December 1, 1972. On September 17 the proposal was put to a vote. results of the ballots were 31 yes; 72 no. At this point, members of the Church Council resigned their positions. This was, perhaps, the darkest day in the history of the congregation. With the decline in membership and divisions among the remaining members, financial support had diminished and bills could not be paid. But a group of dedicated members believed that, with God's help and guidance, the parish would survive. The Building Fund and other established funds were dissolved in order to pay past-due bills. For many months in 1973-1974 the congregation was without a pastor and was served by Pastor Joel Jorgenson (then pastor of St. Martin, Port Huron). With faith in God, parishioners moved forward to call a permanent pastor and plan for a new building.
|
The revival of the congregation began on July 28, 1974 with a service of installation of Pastor Bill Eisenmann and re-dedication of the members. Under the theme "Partners in the Gospel," a spiritual awakening took place and the revitalized congregation planned for the future. Groundbreaking for the new Ministry Center was on May 18, 1975; the congregation moved to the new Center on December 28, with dedication taking place on February 22, 1976. Rapid membership growth ensued, and it was soon evident that additional space was needed. Ground was broken for an addition in June, 1977 and the Fellowship Hall was dedicated in February, 1978. most of the construction was done by volunteers from the congregation. Soon after the addition was dedicated, the seating capacity in the sanctuary was increased by removal of partitions which had surrounded former office rooms.
|
|
During these years many outreach ministries were begun: sponsorship of a refugee family, monthly services at a local nursing home, partial sponsorship of a missionary, youth activities, including choirs and puppeteers, leadership education, food donations for the local Rice Bowl, yearly financial support for World Hunger and other programs of the American Lutheran Church. The parish also served as an internship site for seminary students for five years.
|
|
The congregation, under the leadership of Pastor Gerald Clark, continued ministry both within the congregation and within the world. Congregational activities included: ministry to and with youth through Sunday School, Vacation Church School, Puppeteers, and a youth coordinator staff for Junior and Senior Youth Groups; Bible study and adult discussion groups; and a staff member who coordinates lay involvement in congregational committees. Local outreach ministries included: Mid-City Nutrition Center; Rice Bowl; Habitat for Humanity, and other local needs as they arise. World outreach included: Lutheran Social Services of Michigan; partial sponsorship of a missionary through benevolence giving; sponsorship of Bible distribution through the Gideons. St. Paul Women's Group continued to make quilts for Lutheran World Relief; purchase school equipment for a Navajo Lutheran School; and various local projects.
|
We look to the future confident in God's continued presence and guidance. Population growth int he area has provided steady membership growth in the congregation. On November 10, 1991 the congregation approved the recommendation of the Building Planning Committee to build a new sanctuary and remodel the existing building.
1992 - 75th Anniversary of St. Paul Lutheran Church On this anniversary we give thanks to God for those who have proclaimed the Gospel throughout history, and for those who have given of their time and talents in this congregation during the past 75 years. Let us continue to serve our Lord with joy and thanksgiving! ~Compiled by Barbara J. Gottschalk |
|
|
|
|