The ABIDE ministry is rooted in the belief that the diversity of God’s people is a gift to be celebrated. Grounded in our faith, we offer an intentionally inclusive and joyfully expansive welcome to all—honoring differences in race, background, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, political outlook, and lived experience. ABIDE works to cultivate a faith home at St. Paul’s where every person can find belonging and thrive.  

ABIDE was formed in 2020 to explore and present to the congregation the apology by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to people of African descent for its “historical complicity in slavery and its enduring legacy of racism in the United States and globally.” Through that exploration, the ministry actively examined and challenged the dynamics of privilege and power that create barriers to full participation, advocating for equity in the church’s policies, practices, and communal life. 

The ministry’s work includes educational, relational, and community-building initiatives that help St. Paul’s live more fully into its call to hospitality and social justice through ongoing efforts such as:

The diverse Lending Library

The Kid’s Corner

Community events

Sponsorship of "Undesign The Red LIne"

 Accessibility grant award to partially fund the Chancel lift

Participation in days of recognition to deepen our congregation’s understanding and engagement

ABIDE seeks to create ongoing opportunities for members and the congregation to grow, serve, and witness to Christ’s inclusive love. 

Kindly, email joyb@stpaulslutherandc.com if you wish to learn more or participate.

The Education Ministry of St. Paul’s Church focuses on all aspects of Christian education through Sunday school, Bible studies, discussion groups for all ages, and unique opportunities for young adults to talk about faith issues.

St. Paul’s Sunday School goes by the name of the Rise and Shine Kids Club and is offered to children ages Pre-k through 6th grade. The 2025 - 2026 program year has begun and will run weekly until Pentecost 2026. The program features units centered on Bible stories that culminate in fun kid-oriented service projects. The Rise and Shine Kids Club meets at 9:15 am each Sunday morning during the program year.

To learn more about Rise and Shine Kids' Club, visit riseandshinekidsclub.substack.com. While there, subscribe to the club's Substack newsletter to have scheduling and activity updates sent directly to your inbox. 

Confirmation: Grades 7-8

Join us as we journey toward the Affirmation of Baptism.  Confirmation is a time for thinking about our Baptism, examining what the Bible says about our faith, understanding what we believe as Lutherans and why, and --most important of all--to ask questions about our faith!

Preparing for Confirmation is a 2 year commitment. From September through Pentecost. Confirmation meets Sunday mornings at 9:15-10:15 am and Thursday afternoons 5:00-6:00 pm.

If you have questions about the class, please contact Pastor Andrea Walker

Adult Sunday School and Bible Study

Coffee and Conversation is held periodically throughout the program year during Sunday school hour. The fall session beginning on September 14th will focus on America's religious landscape.

Bible Study meets every Thursday at noon in Schafer Hall of the Education Building.

Contact the office for more information on any of these programs.

We hope you'll join us! 

Here at St. Paul’s, Evangelism is sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with the world through our actions in the community and among all people.

Fellowship Events are integral to our life together as a congregation. Click here to see a calendar of Events for 2026.

The Property Ministry oversees the ongoing maintenance of the interior and exterior of the church building, education wing, and the parsonage; develops and manages long-term capital improvement projects; and directly handles all aspects of grounds maintenance.

If you are interested in joining or learning more about this ministry, please contact Steven Cooper.

The Support/Personnel Ministry's primary purpose is to offer recommendations to the Budget Committee and Church Council regarding the compensation packages for employees of the church for the coming year. They also review other personnel issues and make recommendations to the Council regarding personnel matters such as hiring of additional staff.

If you are interested in learning more about the ministry or in joining it, or if you have any questions, please contact Joan Janshego.

The Worship Committee cultivates a thriving group of St. Paul’s congregants who volunteer to make worship meaningful at St. Paul’s. Worship Assistant roles include Audio/Visual Assistant, Altar Guild, Lay Reader, Coffee Hour, Communion Assistant, Acolyte, Greeter/Usher, and Kids' Corner. Descriptions of roles are listed here. Congregants have the choice of either directly signing up to serve on a particular Sunday or communicating their availability to the worship volunteer coordinator who assigns roles on a monthly basis. Training and coaching is regularly provided for new volunteers.