A Congregation of Lutherans in Prior Lake
St. Paul's Lutheran Church & School sits at 5634 Luther Road SE on the south side of Prior Lake, Minnesota, and is presently being served by Mission Pastor Thomas Trapp. As a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, St. Paul's reaches into the surrounding Prior Lake and Savage area through worship, Christian education, and a chain of community-serving ministries that grow outward from the church's stated mission: to respond to the Great Commission by equipping and empowering its members to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to their families, the community, and the world.
The motto carried across the church's materials says it simply: Growing in faith, serving one another for Christ. Members are described as growing people, growing in their love for the Lord Jesus Christ, and that growth shows up in the rhythm of Sunday mornings, in the Confirmation classrooms for sixth through eighth graders, in the Little Saints early childhood center that cares for children as young as six weeks old, and in the partnered Trinity Christian School that draws students from across the community.
Two Services, One Faith on Sundays
From Labor Day through Memorial Day, worship is offered in two distinct styles on Sunday mornings, both rooted in the historic Christian liturgy and both centered on the weekly celebration of the Lord's Supper, which St. Paul's observes every Sunday as a means of delivering Christ's forgiveness and strength to all who receive it.
Classical Worship at 8:00 AM follows the traditional settings of the historic church, with organ accompaniment, classic hymns, and the full liturgical readings. This service is also broadcast on local cable channel 83 (or 96.6 digital), where viewers across the area can watch the service live on Sundays at 8:00 AM or catch replays throughout the week. Celebration Worship at 10:30 AM uses the same liturgical elements in everyday language, accompanied by a live band, modern praise music, and frequent applause as the congregation gives voice to its praise. Screens in the sanctuary help worshipers follow along in either service.
During the summer, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the two services merge into one 9:00 AM gathering that alternates weekly between the modern and the classic format. Children's Sunday School and adult Bible study classes run between the two services during the school year, with coffee and donuts served as a connecting point.
What Visitors Will Notice
Worshipers at St. Paul's dress anywhere between formal and casual, and the room draws a diversity of ages and backgrounds. Children are welcome, and parents are encouraged to step out to the narthex or to the restrooms just to the right as you exit the sanctuary whenever a little one needs attention. As the church welcomes first-time guests, members are ready to greet newcomers and help them find their way around.
What St. Paul's Believes
St. Paul's holds to the historic Christian faith as confessed in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The congregation affirms that the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God through which the Lord enlightens His people and brings them to know Him. The church teaches that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Members confess belief in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, the Father's only Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, who suffered, died, rose again, and ascended to heaven as the complete sacrifice for our sins, and who will come again to judge the living and the dead. The Holy Spirit calls believers to faith, recreates them in holiness, and gifts every Christian to participate in the mission of His church. Salvation is a free gift received through faith and by grace alone in Christ: cleansed, forgiven, and set free to live in Him and for Him. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the means Christ has given to deliver His grace to His people.
Confirmation and Luther's Small Catechism
Confirmation at St. Paul's is a three-year program for students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades that uses Luther's Small Catechism to teach the heart of the Christian faith: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Baptism, Confession, and the Lord's Supper. Confirmation meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM during the school year, and it is where the church teaches its young members to pray using the ACTS pattern of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Students come away from Confirmation ready to confess Christ boldly in their daily lives.
Sunday School and Vacation Bible School
Sunday School meets from 9:15 AM to 10:15 AM on Sunday mornings during the school year, serving children from pre-kindergarten (must be potty trained) through fifth grade. As an LCMS congregation, St. Paul's teaches the Christian faith with a strong foundation in Scripture, grace, and the promises of Baptism, helping children see that they are dearly loved by God while giving families a meaningful way to nurture faith together each week.
Each summer the church hosts Vacation Bible School for children age 3 through fifth grade, filling the week with Bible stories, singing, games, and crafts that introduce children to the love of Jesus.
Little Saints Early Childhood Center
Little Saints Early Childhood Center, a ministry of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, offers full- and part-time childcare for children ages 6 weeks through pre-kindergarten in a licensed, Christian learning environment. The center, named a Southwest Newspapers Readers' Faves & Raves Favorite Child Care Center, is open to the public and welcomes families from Prior Lake, Savage, and the surrounding communities with no religious affiliation requirement.
Each classroom runs on the One in Christ faith-based curriculum developed by Concordia Publishing House, paired with state-licensed programming that addresses the development of new and ongoing skills. Infants from 6 weeks to 16 months experience sensory stimulation, story time, Jesus Time, music, and outdoor play. Toddlers from 16 months to 33 months work on language development, gross and fine motor skills, and personal and social growth. Preschoolers from 33 months to 4 years old build letter, number, color, and shape recognition, while Pre-Kindergartners prepare for kindergarten with more focused literacy, math readiness, science exploration, art, and STEM activities.
Little Saints operates Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM, with a secure entrance keyed by parent passcode, a hot lunch program, and flexible scheduling. Tuition is paid weekly by cash, check, or credit card, and the center accepts county childcare assistance. The teaching team is led by Director Lily Carls, with lead teachers in the Infant, Toddler, Preschool, and Pre-K classrooms.
Trinity Christian School of Prior Lake
St. Paul's is one of three congregations united around Trinity Christian School of Prior Lake, a Christ-centered partnership school whose mission is helping children know Christ, pursue excellence, and discover their God-given purpose. Trinity offers a K-8 education to families across the south metro area, drawing students from St. Paul's and its partner churches.
Bible Study Throughout the Week
Adult education at St. Paul's reaches into nearly every day of the week. On Sunday mornings at 9:15 AM, an Adult Bible Study meets between the two worship services during the school year. On Wednesday mornings at 9:30 AM, the church hosts a Brunch & Bible Study. On Thursday mornings at 7:00 AM, the Men's Bible Study gathers at Ze's Diner in Prior Lake, 16731 Highway 13. On Tuesday afternoons from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, the Quilters' Club meets for fellowship and to stitch quilts for mission ministries.
Serving the Community and Beyond
Outreach at St. Paul's takes many forms. Each month the congregation runs a collection for local food shelves on a rotating theme: paper products in January, canned soup in February, laundry soap in March, canned dinners or tuna in April, canned fruit in May, juice in June, pancake mix in July, peanut butter and jelly in August, cereal in September, spaghetti sauce in October, canned vegetables in November, and macaroni and cheese in December.
Through its partnership with Faith Comes by Hearing, the congregation has donated more than 228 Biblesticks to deployed military members. The Quilters' Club sends hand-stitched quilts out into mission ministries. Vacation Bible School reaches out to neighborhood children each summer. On Friday evenings from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, the church hosts a Narcotics Anonymous meeting in its facility, opening its doors to those on a path of recovery.
Leadership and Governance
The pastoral role at St. Paul's is presently open, with the congregation being served by Mission Pastor Thomas Trapp in the meantime. The church's music ministry is led by Director of Music Ministry Kris Stauffer, with Tom Hanna serving as Organist. Brook Brockhoff serves as the Youth & Families Program Assistant. The Board of Directors, led by President Sarah Ritter and Vice President Gary Hart, oversees the various ministry directors of the church. The Board of Elders, led by Tom Hanson, provides spiritual care for the congregation. A separate Board of Cemetery oversees the St. Paul's cemetery. The St. Paul's Foundation, founded in 1997, holds an endowment of more than $92,000 whose interest supports the church's ongoing ministries.
Getting Connected and Giving
Anyone curious about becoming part of St. Paul's is invited to attend a New Member Class, or, for those transferring from another LCMS church, a single two-hour Transferring Member class. Both are scheduled periodically through the church office.
Giving is offered through PushPay online, by texting GIVE2SPLC to 77977, or by mailing a check to the church. The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and can be reached at 952-447-2117 or email@splc-pl.org. Little Saints Early Childhood Center can be reached at 952-226-2525 or littlesaints@spls-pl.org.
The Classical service is broadcast on cable channel 83 (or 96.6 digital), and past sermons are available for download online. St. Paul's also maintains an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.