St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church sits on North Fifth Street in the heart of Newark, Ohio, a congregation shaped by more than 140 years of music, education, and outreach in Licking County. Its members frame their work with a clear mission: to share, at all times and with all people, the Good News of God's grace through Christ Jesus.
A Founding Vision on North Fifth Street
The congregation traces its beginning to Sarah Weisgerber, who in the early 1880s saw a need for an English-speaking Lutheran church in the Newark area. Her persistence paid off when the congregation formally adopted its constitution on October 14, 1884, beginning with 22 charter members. By 1900 the church had grown to 177 members, with the Sunday School program and the Luther League doing much of the work. The Luther League's youth-led worship services at St. Paul's were a first in the Ohio Synod, and the congregation hosted the very first convention of youth held within that synod.
In August 1889, members purchased their first worship building, the former Trinity Episcopal Church that had been damaged by fire. The repaired building was rededicated on February 23, 1890. By the early 1900s, music and liturgy had become the congregation's trademark. The first junior choir was formed, the choir program grew into several age levels, and music became a regular feature of annual congregational meetings. St. Paul's also built close relationships with the wider Newark community through a Boys Brotherhood, a music club, a literary club, community youth groups, a community theater, operettas, and the local nurses' commencement. Those community ties continue today; the building still welcomes outside groups, including the Weathervane Theater, the Licking County Center for the Visually Impaired, the Goodwill Bazaar, Humane Society fund-raising dinners, and the Land of Legend Travel Club.
On Easter night, April 16, 1922, fire gutted the church building. The members chose to sell the burnt shell and buy the Fleek house on North Fifth Street, which was dedicated in July 1923 as a parish house and "temporary" place of worship. Financial strain, complicated by the Depression, kept the congregation in that house for 27 years. The current sanctuary was dedicated in November 1951, and an Education Building followed on June 19, 1965.
During the post-war revival of the mid-1940s through the mid-1960s, St. Paul's was one of the fastest-growing churches in the Ohio Synod. The congregation peaked in 1966 with 1,308 baptized members and 840 confirmed members. Following in Sarah Weisgerber's tradition, women have long played a strong leadership role at St. Paul's; Louise Adkins became the first woman to serve on the church council when she was elected a trustee in 1931.
The congregation has also reached well beyond Newark. After World War II, members sponsored five displaced families; a Vietnamese refugee came under the congregation's care in 1975-1976, a Cambodian family in 1980, and a young man from Bosnia more recently. In the late 1960s, members were involved in projects to improve racial equality, and oral history preserves the story of Rev. George Bohon Schmitt refusing to do a funeral when pall bearers appeared in the hoods and sheets of the Ku Klux Klan.
Saturday Evenings and Sunday Mornings in Worship
Worship at St. Paul's centers on two weekly services, both of which celebrate Holy Communion.
The Saturday service is held at 4:00 PM in the chapel. An abbreviated Eucharist of about 30 minutes, it carries the basic elements of worship: the proclamation of the Word and the celebration of Holy Communion.
The Sunday service is held at 10:00 AM in the sanctuary. This is the full traditional service of Word and Sacrament; the choirs normally sing, child care and other special ministries for children are provided, and a sermon based on the appointed Scriptures for the week is preached.
St. Paul's practices Open Communion. All baptized Christians, regardless of church background, are welcome to receive communion. Children under the age of 10 and non-communing adults may come forward for a blessing. At communion, the pastor hands each communicant a piece of the bread. For the wine, communicants have three options: drinking from the common chalice, taking an empty plastic cup at the head of the aisle to receive a small portion poured from the chalice, or taking a prefilled cup of grape juice. For those with mobility challenges, communion is brought to the pews; a raised hand is the signal.
The Sanctuary and Its Stained Glass
The sanctuary the congregation dedicated in 1951 holds one of central Ohio's notable collections of mid-century church art glass. The windows were designed, crafted, and installed by Russell Heizer, owner and operator of the Associated Art Glass of Columbus, Ohio. After Heizer's death the company dissolved, and the work he did at St. Paul's is the only record of his craft.
The stained glass is divided into a series of groupings: the Great Chancel Window, the Small Chancel Windows, the Life of Christ series, the South and North Transept Windows, the Narthex Windows, the Balcony Windows, the Rose Window, and the windows in the chapel. The collection was protected and re-dedicated on February 17, 1985, in a project funded largely through memorial gifts in honor of John W. Buser, a member who had served as chairperson of the Property Committee from 1976 until his sudden death on September 3, 1980. The $15,800 needed for storm windows and restoration was raised in record time, and the work was completed in December 1984 by the Franklin Art Glass Studio of Columbus.
From the Cradle to Confirmation
St. Paul's welcomes people into the Christian life through Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation.
The Sacrament of Holy Baptism is, in the congregation's words, "the basis of membership in the Christian faith, and a common bond across the various Christian denominations." Rather than baptizing "Lutherans," St. Paul's baptizes people into Christianity, and its form is recognized as valid by Roman Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians and other Calvinist heritage churches, and the Eastern Orthodox. Baptism is normally administered by pouring water on the person's head, although immersion can be arranged on request. Baptisms are scheduled with the pastor through the church office at (740) 345-6115 and are encouraged during a regular weekend service. The baptismal rite includes a baptismal hymn, scripture, prayer over the water, the congregation's affirmation of the Apostles' Creed, the parents' or godparents' vow, the pouring of water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, anointing with olive oil, the placing of a white baptismal garment and a candle, prayer, and a final hymn.
First Communion training is for children who are 8 years old and in the second grade, taught on four Sunday mornings during the Sunday School hour.
Confirmation class is for young people 13 and older. The class meets once a week over a one-year period, with the day and time set by the pastor and the prospective confirmand.
Music That Fills the Sanctuary
Music has been a hallmark of St. Paul's since the early 1900s. The adult choir, the Covenant Choir, rehearses each Wednesday during the school year from 7:30 to 8:30 PM. The Jubilate Ringers, the handbell choir, rehearses on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Both are directed by Dustin Hill, a 2007 graduate of Newark High School who went on to earn a Bachelor's of Vocal Performance at Bowling Green State University in 2011 and a Master's in Choral Conducting there in 2013. Hill has served as principal tenor for the Toledo Opera, sang as a soloist with the Columbus Symphony, and performs with the ProArte ensemble of central Ohio and the Columbus Symphony Chorus.
The Children's Choir, directed by Juli Rauch, meets on the first and third Sundays after church in the chapel. All children are welcome.
Sunday School for Every Age
Education at St. Paul's happens on Sunday mornings between the service and the noon hour.
The Faith Builders Adult Sunday School class meets from 11:00 AM to noon in Weisgerber Lounge. A Bible-based class using materials from Augsburg Fortress, the publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Faith Builders participate in the OWLS program (Older, Wiser Lutherans that mentor the youth) and are looking for new members.
The Other Adult Class meets at 11:00 AM in Danford Hall. It opens up a wide variety of topics and their relevance to life as Christians, and welcomes discussion of all kinds.
Sunday School for children in grades 1 through 3 is held in the nursery at 11:00 AM on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, led by Sally Finck and Thelma Trainor.
Women of the ELCA at St. Paul's
The congregation's WELCA chapter, the women's organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, carries on a long Lutheran tradition of women in service and leadership. The group has no joining requirements; instead, the whole congregational chapter is a "member" of the church-wide Women of the ELCA, and all women of St. Paul's are welcome to take part.
The Ruth Circle, named after the missionary Dr. Ruth Myers, meets the second Wednesday of the month at 10:00 AM in Danford Hall, with receptions in March, June, September, and December. The chapter's officers are President Kerrill Foster, Vice-President Debbie Stamper, Secretary Shirley Campbell, and Treasurer Debbie Anctil. WELCA at St. Paul's also oversees the church's Prayer Chain, the Card Ministry, the Kitchen Committee, the Crafts and Sewing Group, and the Usher Coordinators.
Faith After 55 and the Small Group Network
St. Paul's keeps a broad network of small groups in motion through the week.
Faith and Fellowship, also called Faith After 55, is a fellowship and service group for people 55 and over, meeting at noon on the third Wednesday of February, April, June, August, October, and December. Coordinators Paul and Connie Baker gather the group around a noon meal.
The Heart and Soul Sunday School Class meets every Wednesday at 7:30 PM. The Friday Fellowship Bible Study meets at 10:00 AM each Friday morning in Weisgerber Lounge. St. Paul's Book Club gathers on the third Monday evening of each month at 7:00 PM in Weisgerber Lounge. Friday Night Game Night meets on the first and third Fridays of the month at 7:00 PM in Weisgerber Lounge. The Crafts and Sewing Group meets on the first Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM in Danford Hall. The Grief Group meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 1:30 PM in Danford Hall, with coordinators Jean Hovland and Thelma Trainor. The Land of Legend Fly Fishermen, a group for those who love the sport, meets on the second, third, and fourth Mondays of each month at 7:00 PM in Danford Hall.
Matthew's Kitchen, the Food Pantry, and the Coalition of Care
St. Paul's keeps a steady outward focus through food and fellowship.
Matthew's Kitchen, the meal ministry, prepares and delivers meals and baked goods to people in the congregation and beyond. The group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM in Danford Hall; coordinators Tammi Trites and Juli Rauch welcome cooks and bakers as well as anyone who knows of someone who would appreciate a meal.
The Food Pantry collection barrel stands across from the church office and accepts any shelf-stable items; no clothing, please. The congregation reports a sharp increase in need, with peanut butter, powdered milk, juice boxes, cereal, soups, crackers, instant mashed potatoes, pastas, spaghetti sauces, bread, and toilet paper especially welcome. Monetary donations can be designated to the Food Pantry on offering envelopes.
Each month, St. Paul's and the neighboring First United Methodist Church join together for a community meal. To help defray the cost, both churches sell gift cards; a portion of each card sold is refunded by the business to offset the cost of the meal. The gift card display is in the lobby between the church and education building, and cards are sold on the first Sunday of each month.
The congregation also supports the Licking County Coalition of Care, a faith-based emergency-assistance organization that helps individuals and families in crisis with food, shelter, clothing, and immediate financial assistance for housing, utilities, transportation, repairs, childcare, medical or dental needs, and job, home, or school-related supplies.
Recovery and Healing in Danford Hall
Danford Hall, the congregation's large gathering room, opens its doors to two twelve-step groups each week. Alcoholics Anonymous meets there every Saturday morning at 11:00 AM, and on Tuesdays and Fridays at noon. Narcotics Anonymous meets every Friday evening at 7:00 PM. These meetings are open to anyone in the wider community who is looking for a place to gather.
For those who have lost a loved one, the Grief Group meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 1:30 PM in Danford Hall.
Three Church Farm on Flint Ridge
A short drive outside Newark, high atop the Flint Ridge, sits Three Church Farm, a 17-acre hilltop retreat shared by St. Paul's, St. John's, Trinity, and Christ Lutheran Churches. The land was donated to the four congregations by the late Judge Virginia Weiss.
Today the farm offers a shelter house, a picnic area, restroom facilities, water, and sporting equipment. St. Paul's members help maintain the property throughout the year with mowing, cleanup, and overall maintenance.
The Virginia Weiss Worship Center, located at the farm on Ballou Road in Franklin Township, seats about 100 people on permanent seating. Set in a professionally landscaped, wooded area, it is used for less formal weddings in the warmer months.
A Sister Church in Mecklenburg
Through the Southern Ohio Synod, St. Paul's has been paired with St. Bartholomew Lutheran Church in Wittenburg, Mecklenburg, in what was formerly East Germany. Members of the two congregations have visited each other many times over the years; the bell choir and chancel choir have performed in St. Bartholomew's 800-year-old sanctuary. The partnership grew out of the years after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, when Wittenburg's congregation was finally free to connect with Lutherans in other countries.
Planning a Wedding at St. Paul's
Couples preparing for a wedding at St. Paul's find that the congregation treats the ceremony as an act of ministry rather than a service to be booked. Pre-marital counseling with the pastor is required, and the ceremony itself is framed as an act of Christian worship.
Three spaces are available. The Sanctuary seats up to 300 to 350 guests and is used for larger weddings. The Chapel, located in the parish building, seats 30 to 40 guests and is used for smaller weddings. The Virginia Weiss Worship Center at Three Church Farm on Ballou Road seats about 100 in its permanent seating in a professionally landscaped, wooded setting.
The Rev. Martin Gehring, the congregation's pastor, presides at weddings. A student vicar, when one is in residence, may also take part. Music is provided by an organist from the parish; the church holds a pipe organ, and other instruments such as piano, flute, and strings can be used in addition. The dress code for the wedding party is the couple's choice, and the building is air-conditioned in the warmer months.
The church parking lot is located on Locust Street, west of the church and behind the school building, with blue directional signs along Locust Street.
Supporting the Congregation
Online giving is available through the church's My Offering page, where contributions between $10 and $500 can be made by credit card. In-person offerings can also be made during services or mailed to the church office at 67 North Fifth Street, Newark, OH 43055. The monthly newsletter, The Forward, keeps members informed of upcoming events, ministry needs, and congregational news throughout the year.