Short History
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church has a rich 165 year history of innovative worship and outreach that has adapted to meet the changing needs of its congregation and surrounding community. Many landmark events, including the formation of the American Lutheran Church (1930), took place in its sanctuary that still boasts seating for 600 and one of the largest pipe organs in Northwest Ohio. The building remains an exquisite example of Gothic architecture in the heart of Toledo, with stunning stained glass windows lining each side of the sanctuary.
Throughout its history, St. Paul’s has remained involved and committed to the downtown Toledo community. For almost thirty years, its pastors organized large community Christmas Eve and Easter services at the local Paramount theatre where the stage was transformed into a massive choir loft for church choirs and musicians. In the 1940s, Sunday evening services were started to accommodate the schedules of downtown “war workers”. In the 1950s St. Paul’s purchased and operated Camp Hemlock in Michigan, so city youth of Toledo could have a rural, camp environment for summer learning and fun. Shortly after that, St. Paul’s started one of the first housing units for over 200 seniors living in the downtown area.
By 1967, much of the Toledo residential population had moved to the suburbs. Proposals were put before the congregation numerous times to follow trends and relocate, but with each vote, the group held to their decision to remain downtown. The commitment to serve this area has remained steadfast, even as economic changes have impacted the city.
Our location near the Courthouse and Government Building has given us the opportunity to hold Prayer Vigils, assist with Susan G Komen Run and other downtown events, offer continental breakfast on Sunday mornings to those in need, as well as a frozen dinner food bank. The creation of HeART Gallery in 2017, opened our doors to monthly Art Loop events, including our very popular Nativity Festival in the month of December.
Who We Are
Purpose Statement
St Paul’s, the church with a heart in the heart of downtown Toledo – is a welcoming family.
We welcome long-time Lutherans, Christians from every tradition, and people new to faith. We welcome all those who have no church home, those who want to follow Christ, those who have doubts and those who do not believe. St Paul’s welcomes new visitors and old friends. People of every age and size, color and culture, every sexual orientation and gender identity, socioeconomic status, marital status, ability and challenge are welcome at St Paul’s. We welcome believers, questioners and questioning believers. St Paul’s is a place where you are welcome to celebrate and sorrow, rejoice and recover. St Paul’s is a place where lives are made new.
Mission Statement
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we gather, grow and serve.
We have been adopted by God through Jesus Christ and in response St Paul’s is to be an adoptive community. Growing as the children of God means adopting, and being adopted, by the downtown community. This adoption into family is evidenced in our core values and guiding principles which are; 1. Worship: Jesus is at the heart of who we are and what we do. 2. Welcoming: ALL people experience Jesus love at St Paul’s. 3. Caring for each other: We are all family members caring for each other. 4. Learning to live the Christian life: Living abundantly is a life-long learning journey. 5. The community needs us and we need the community: We are blessed to be a blessing.
Vision Statement
St Paul’s will be the Christ centered hub of abundant life in downtown Toledo.
Goals
There are five goals which help St Paul’s to grow into the family God has called us to be; Engagement, Visibility, Relevant Worship, Financial Sustainability, Faith Formation.
More information about the details and plan of action for these goals may be obtained by contacting Pastor Pete.
ELCA: What Is A Lutheran
What is a Lutheran?
Lutherans, along with Christians who worship in many other traditions, are part of the one, holy, catholic (meaning “universal”) church. We believe in God who is revealed to us in three persons: as our Creator who made the heavens and earth and all things in the earth; as Jesus Christ, God’s son, who came to us as both divine and as a human being to share our experience, suffer with us and for us on the cross, died, and rose from the dead; and as the Holy Spirit who continues to lead, guide, and inspire us in our daily lives. We baptize in the name of the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Bible is central to our faith. It provides us with the history that ties Christianity to its roots in the early Jewish tradition, gives us the prophecy that foretold the coming of Jesus as our Savior, includes the law that guides us in knowing how to live in a way that is pleasing to God and respectful of each other and God’s creation, and brings us the good news (gospel) that our frail and failing human condition finds its help and strength through Jesus.
We acknowledge that we are all sinners and fall short of God’s expectations for us…but also know that we are forgiven by God. It is not by any act of our own that we earn this forgiveness, but it is a gift to us from God who loves us and comes to us in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Through Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross, the price of our sin was paid. Our faith in Jesus Christ assures that we will share in the promise of eternal life.
Jesus said, “Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” – John 11:25-26
The concept of being set right with God through faith in Jesus Christ is called “justification by grace through faith.”
Our faith can be summed up as: We are saved by the grace of God alone — not by anything we do; Our salvation is through faith alone — we only need to believe that our sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake, who died to redeem us; The Bible is the only norm of doctrine and life — the only true standard by which teachings and doctrines are to be judged.
More information on this topic is available at the ELCA website.
We join with 212 other Lutheran Parishes in northwest OH, as the Northwest Ohio Synod, under the leadership of Bishop Daniel Beaudoin. To learn more about the resources and activities within the NWOS, go to https://nwos-elca.church
