A Century on Lewis Avenue
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church has served the Temperance area since its founding in 1914, and the church describes its character in terms of steadiness rather than novelty. "We believe in the timeless relevance of our faith's traditions and the value of being dependable when so little around us is," the congregation says, adding that it believes "in the importance of having deep roots in both our faith and our community." Some things have changed over more than a century, the church says, but its love for God and humanity has not wavered, and it states plainly, "We are NOT a passing trend."
Sharing a Living in God's Grace
St. Paul's calls itself "the church that shares a living in God's grace," liberated by faith and marked by a wide embrace: "We embrace you as a whole person - questions, complexities and all." Its work is "in Christ's name for the life of the world."
Beliefs are kept simple and direct. Jesus Christ is the church's Lord and Savior. All people are members of God's family, and everyone is welcome to share life together in love and unity. God's purpose for St. Paul's is threefold: to welcome all people, to share God's love and His Word, and to help those in need. The congregation carries out that calling through open Sunday services, prayer and study of God's Word, and by supporting one another with fellowship, prayer and outreach. It aims to work as "God's agents of love, peace and restoration both here in Temperance and throughout the world."
Sunday Worship at 9:30 a.m., Live and Online
Sunday worship begins at 9:30 a.m. and is open to all who come. The congregation also shares its services through its YouTube channel, with separate Sunday and Wednesday streams and past services available to watch there as well.
The church office answers at 734-847-3400 for anyone who needs immediate assistance. Office hours are Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and the office email is stpaulselca.temperance@gmail.com. The sanctuary stands at 9144 Lewis Avenue in Temperance, Michigan, and correspondence goes to P.O. Box 296, Temperance, MI 48182.
Beyond the Sunday and midweek gatherings, prayer and the study of God's Word are regular practices, and a monthly gathering takes place at Red Star Diner at 9:00 a.m. on every second Wednesday of the month.
Discover Our World Too: A Preschool Within the Church
Inside St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Discover Our World Too offers a public traditional preschool and the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) on an academic-year schedule for children three through five years old. The program runs Monday through Thursday from 6:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 6:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tours are arranged by calling (734) 847-7282.
The preschool's approach starts with the idea that each child is an individual who develops physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially at their own pace. The environment is built to encourage growth through play, with daily quiet and active activities, individual, small and large groups, large and small muscle work, developmentally appropriate literacy and language, early math, and technology and science.
Its formal curriculum is The Creative Curriculum, and teachers use the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, a short survey completed with parents that gives a snapshot of a child's development in communication, physical ability, social skills, problem solving, and social and emotional competence. The research-based TS GOLD system tracks progress across 38 objectives in social-emotional competence, physical, language, cognition, literacy, and mathematics and English language acquisition. Teachers complete an assessment at least three times each school year and share progress with parents at family conferences.
GSRP is a state-funded free preschool for qualifying four-year-olds, with a full day at no or low cost for children who are four by December 1 of the current academic year. The class meets Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., meals are included, and latchkey care is available for a nominal fee.
Care for Caregivers and Neighbors
St. Paul's makes room for people who are caring for someone else. Presented by the Alzheimer's Association, a caregiver support group meets on the second Monday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Aspen Grove. A caregiver and grief support group is also part of the church's support ministries, and the Vi LaGrange Food Closet stands among the community connections the congregation lists.
The church's prayer ministry is offered with an assurance rather than a formula: "God promises us in His Word that He hears every word that we pray to Him. Like a good parent, He is waiting, ready, and willing to listen to our worries, concerns, and needs." Whether someone is seeking forgiveness, strength or healing, prayer is described as the channel for communicating with God and receiving strength and power. Requests can be submitted through the church's prayer form.
Remembering the People of St. Paul's
When someone the congregation has known dies, St. Paul's gives that person a special place in the church and shares an account of the life lived, the family loved, and the service given to others. The memorials reflect a community that values teachers, artists, volunteers, and foster parents, and they give thanks for lives that made a difference well after those lives have ended.
Music, Leadership and an Open Council
Music carries a large part of St. Paul's worship. The congregation's Music Director, Mariana Steffan, came to the role with extensive teaching experience: a bachelor's degree in music education and piano performance from Kostroma Pedagogical Institute in Russia, and a master's degree in music education and organ performance from Bowling Green State University. She teaches music to students in kindergarten through eighth grade at Cardinal Stritch Catholic High School and Academy in Oregon, Ohio, and at St. Joseph Catholic School in Sylvania, Ohio. She also keeps a private piano studio, accompanies Solo & Ensemble competitions and musical productions for schools and community theaters in the area, and is a certified music teacher in the state of Ohio. Pastor Lisa Hayes serves as interim pastor and leads worship on Sunday mornings.
Governance at St. Paul's is marked by a commitment to openness. The Church Council's role is described as assessing and shaping long-term strategic direction, protecting church unity, evaluating church doctrine, and overseeing administrative functions, and council meeting reports are shared so members can see how those responsibilities are carried out.
Weddings in a Christian Setting
St. Paul's provides a Christian setting for marriage ceremonies, asking God to bless the union of husband and wife, and a wedding coordinator is provided for each wedding. The coordinator attends the rehearsal, stays with the bridal party through the day, handles practical details such as lighting and temperature, seats honored guests and parents, extinguishes candles and secures the building afterward. A library next to the church serves as a dressing room for the female bridal party, and a separate room is available for men, with both rooms open three hours before the ceremony. A white podium in the narthex holds the guestbook.
The church keeps clear guidelines. Alcohol and tobacco are not permitted on the property before, during or after a rehearsal or wedding ceremony, with no exceptions, and no seeds or rice are used for the send-off. All pre-ceremony photographs must be completed 45 minutes before the start of the ceremony, and pictures may be taken up to one hour after the service, which takes place within the context of worship. Guests are asked to be respectful about the range of shots and the use of flashes. Anyone wishing to play the organ must receive clearance from the present official organist and arrange a meeting with that person, which can take place between Sunday worship services at no additional cost.
Renting the Hall, Tables and Chairs
The congregation also opens its space to the wider community. It rents its hall for events and rents tables and chairs on their own, with requests handled through the church's contact form and the church following up to help reserve the event or the items.
More Than a Century of Welcome
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church has kept its word to Temperance since 1914, and the same priorities still shape an ordinary week: an open Sunday gathering at 9:30 a.m., a phone answered during office hours, a classroom for three-year-olds inside the church, a monthly meeting for caregivers, a hall made available for neighborhood events, and a place of remembrance for those who have died. It remains, in its own words, a congregation that shares a living in God's grace and works in Christ's name for the life of the world.