The Origin of the Lutheran Church in America

Lutherans arrived in North America during the 1600’s among the Dutch and Swedes as a religious minority. German Lutherans were organized by Henry Muhlenburg in the mid 1700’s. Lutherans became prominent during the massive immigrations of the 1800’s. Lutherans formed associations called synods (walking together) based on shared language and/or common confessions. Newly formed synods funded schools, universities, seminaries, missions, and mercy-care.

Generally, synods were tied to one of two theological poles: either the historic Lutheran Confessions or interpreting the Confessions by the norm of culture. The “German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States” was formed in 1847.

Today the major Lutheran synods in the USA are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA - 3.6 million), the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS - 2.1 million), and the Wisconsin Synod
(WELS, 360,000).

A History of St. Paul Lutheran Church

Saint Paul German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation organized in Pleasant Ridge, Ohio on July 16, 1865 and reorganized on February 16, 1868 as the German Evangelical Saint Paul Church. The congregation’s first building project began March 15, 1868. That year, women of the congregation organized the Ladies’ Aid. In 1889, the church changed its name to The Evangelical Lutheran Saint Paul Church and adopted a Lutheran constitution. The congregation joined the Missouri Synod in 1895. English services were began in 1903. On August 26, 1906, the church school opened with 68 students. Since 1912, St Paul has engaged in multiple church planting projects in the Cincinnati area. In February of 1951 the former church building was replaced with multiple additions since.

Over the years the congregation has been involved in radio ministry, establishing the St Paul Lutheran Village retirement home, local and foreign missions, and mercy-care initiatives.

By the grace of God, St. Paul Lutheran Church has been sharing the Word and faithfully serving the community for 150 years. We prayerfully await what blessings and opportunities the Lord will provide in years to come.

“Our Lord speaks and we listen. His Word bestows what it says. Faith that is born from what is heard acknowledges the gifts, received with eager thankfulness and praise. Music is drawn in to this thankfulness and praise, enlarging and elevating the adoration of our gracious given God.

“Saying back to him what he has said to us, we repeat what is most true and sure. Most true and sure is his name which he put upon us with the water of our Baptism. We are his. This we acknowledge at the beginning of the Divine Service. Where his name is, there is he. Before him we acknowledge that we are sinners, and we plead for forgiveness. His forgiveness is given us, and we, freed and forgiven, acclaim him as our great and gracious God as we apply to ourselves the words he has used to make himself
known to us.

“The rhythm of our worship is from him to us, and then from us back to him. He gives the gifts, and together we receive and extol them. We build one another up as we speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Our Lord gives us his body to eat and his blood to drink. Finally his blessing moves us out into our calling, where his gifts have their fruition. How best to do this we may learn from his Word and from the way his Word has prompted his worship through the centuries. We are heirs of an astonishingly rich tradition. Each generation receives from those who went before and, in making that tradition of the Divine Service its own, adds what best may serve in its own day – the living heritage and something new” (Norman Nagel, Lutheran Worship, p6, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1987).

St Paul Lutheran Church embraces the liturgical traditions grounded in the Old and New Testaments. We hear God’s Word, we pray the Scriptures, and we receive His gifts in Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

This pattern was given by our Lord. We value what Christians have practiced for centuries and throughout the world. Our lives are shaped by a calendar of worship that teaches the whole Christian faith and life. For half a year our readings follow the life of Jesus (Advent until Ascension). The rest of the year our readings provide the Church with all that our Lord taught. In worship, this proclamation comes rich with music and visual imagery.

Why am I a Lutheran, and a stick in the mud kind at that? There is real freedom in admitting to God just who I really am, deep down. I’m a sinner. I’ve failed to do what pleases God, but especially I’ve failed to be what pleases God. That’s not only about dos and don’ts. It’s about being willing to receive the love of God, and then to share His mercy, grace, and peace with others. In short, I am not a whole person. I admit, I can’t change anything about me deep down, about what really matters. I can put on nice clothes and be nice to puppies and friends after a cup of coffee takes the edge off. But I’m inclined to lie about who I really am. So as a Lutheran, I’m glad God’s law smacks me in the face so that I see things for what they really are. God really is God, and I’m not.

But that’s less than ½ the reason I’m a Lutheran. The real reason I feel so good about confessing who I really am is that God is righteous, holy and good. He’s so good that the Son of God became man in order to bear the weight of my sin, its penalty, cost, destructiveness, blindness, and selfishness. He took that inside of Him and carried it to death, to His death on a cross. He died for me, for you, for the entire world. Although God knows what is in us, He so loves us as to pay the price of our treason, pardon our running away from life, and restore us to fellowship we Him. He comes to us so that we begin to experience the freedom of faith and the fruit of love. Through the forgiveness of our sins He brings us into His life, restoring us to what really matters. We are not only sinners, we are also saints. In a few words, that is why I am a Lutheran. The summary of it all is Christ crucified for sinners.

A History of the Lutheran Church

Historically, Lutherans prefer to be called the Evangelical Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession; but that’s too many words. How did “Lutherans” come about? The Augustinian friar named Martin Luther questioned unbiblical teachings and practices that had crept into the Church. Among them was earning God’s favor as agents of our salvation. Luther returned to God’s word as the font of the faith. He affirmed that the heart of Christianity as, “In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting (their) trespasses against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

In order to debate his faith-questions, Brother Martin posted 95 thesis on a cathedral door in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517. His document ignited a fire storm. Luther’s reliance on Scripture and Christ catalyzed religious and social upheaval. In 1523 Charles the Fifth, emperor over much of Europe, called the German princes to explain their beliefs. They made their confession in Augsburg, summarizing the Christian faith. They hoped for reform. Instead, the immediate 50 years after were tumultuous. As a
mark of unity, Lutherans wrote confessions of faith. In 1580 these documents were assembled as the Book of Concord. Lutherans have historically been a confessing church, embracing the authority of
Scripture and the centrality of Christ. They have also held that the Book of Concord is an accurate explanation of Scripture.

The challenges to remain faithful to what the Church has always confessed continue in each generation. Each succeeding generation is tempted to re-invent God according to the values of the day. Pietism,
Rationalism, Romanticism, Pragmatism, Existentialism, Nihilism and Post Modernism offer candy and a car-trip to sweet-toothed babes. However, Luther’s famous “Here I Stand” remains true. We are “the Evangelical Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.” Scripture is a faithful witness that reveals the God who is and who we are before God. For a succinct summary of this faith read Luther’s Small Catechism. You may also Go to http://www.lcms.org/lutheranconfessions.

What is the Lord’s Supper?

(Also called Holy Communion, the Eucharist, and the Fellowship of the Altar)

Luther’s Small Catechism explains, “What is the Sacrament of the Altar? It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and to drink, instituted by Christ Himself. Where is this written? The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul [the Apostle] write:

‘Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also He took the cup when He had supped, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, Drink you all of it; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the remission of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’”

Do you want to commune?

Not everyone communes to their spiritual benefit, therefore, the congregations of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod practice closed communion.

Visitors are asked to speak with the local pastor. He’ll ask why you wish to commune, what communion is, and what it means as a public confession. People who are not yet admitted to altar-fellowship may be asked to take a preparatory class of the church’s teaching.

If you want to know why the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod practices closed communion, go to: http://www.tdaviddemarest.com/2015/08/03/communion-is-inherently-closed-and-its-a-good-thing-too/

What is Holy Baptism?

Luther’s Small Catechism explains, “How can water do such great things? It is not the water indeed that does them, but the word of God which is in and with the water, and faith, which trusts such word of God in the water. For without the word of God the water is simple water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Ghost, as St Paul says, Titus, chapter third:

"For we ourselves were once senseless, disobedient, being deceived, slaves to various lusts and pleasures, living in evil and envy, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, not by works we did in righteousness, but according to his mercy he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, which he shed on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, in order that being justified by the grace of that one, we might become heirs of eternal life. This word is faithful." - Titus 3:3-8.

Not baptized?

This gift is for you. The pastor would love to talk to you about Christian baptism. Call our office to set a time to talk.