History
Every historian will be the first to admit that attempting to capture accurately events of the past is a very frustrating experience. While the attention of people tends to be focused on the larger-than-life moments in life, Scripture teaches us that often God works most powerfully in the small and quiet details of life.
When we look back at the history of St. Paul congregation, we can only capture fleeting shadows and we surely are unaware of the multitude of wonderful memories that individuals who have called this church home have experienced from the hand of our gracious God.
The message of the bells has been reflected in both the pulpit and pew through the years. We pray that others who will pause at points in the future to consider the history of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Slinger (Schleisingerville), Wisconsin, would discover that this wondrous blessing from God always remains.
Highlights
When we look back at the history of St. Paul congregation, we can only capture fleeting shadows and we surely are unaware of the multitude of wonderful memories that individuals who have called this church home have experienced from the hand of our gracious God.
The message of the bells has been reflected in both the pulpit and pew through the years. We pray that others who will pause at points in the future to consider the history of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Slinger (Schleisingerville), Wisconsin, would discover that this wondrous blessing from God always remains.
Highlights
- 1849 St. John's United Evangelical Lutheran Church organized under Pastor Beckel. Pastor Beckel worked under Pastor Muehlhaeuser, first president of the Wisconsin Lutheran Synod - the congregation tolerated false doctrine together with the truth
- 1850 Pastor Paul Meiss present at organization of the Wisconsin Lutheran Synod
- 1851 -1853 Pastor A. Fuchs, member of Wisconsin Lutheran Synod
- 1853 - 1854 Pastor Johannes E. Sauer, member of the Wisconsin Lutheran Synod
- 1854 - 1863 Pastor Fleischer, member of the Wisconsin Lutheran Synod
- 1863 - 1867 Pastor Albert Opitz, member of the Wisconsin Lutheran Synod
- 1867 - 1871 Pastor J. H. Keitel, farmer turned preacher, no synodical affiliation, Lutheran leanings.
- 1869 congregation adopts constitution with decidedly Reformed leanings
- 1872 - 1873 Pastor G. Hirtz, no synodical affiliation, Lutheran leanings
- May 17, 1873 Ten members leave to support the "Lutheran Evangelical Church" Pastor Opitz of Peace, Hartford, guides and serves the group
- January 31, 1875 Lutheran group abandons attempts to retain the church property. New congregation organized. Pastor Albert Opitz of Peace, Hartford, serves the group as a second congregation
- April 5, 1875 Group adopts the name, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church
- 1873 - 1880 Pastor Albert Opitz
- 1881 - 1909 Pastor C. Probst, pastor of Peace Hartford, serves St. Paul
- 1885 Decision made to build church
- 1886 Church built
- 1893 Two bells purchased, first rung for Easter services
- 1909 Pastor Opitz retires
- 1909 - 1910 Pastor L. Ave Lallemant, first resident pastor of St. Paul
- 1910 Parsonage built
- 1910 - 1916 Pastor C. Auerswald
- 1916 - 1922 Pastor Rudolph Bergfield
- 1920 - 1922 strained relations between congregation and pastor
- April 23, 1923 congregation dismisses Pastor Bergfield as its pastor
- 1922 - 1924 2 year vacancy. Congregation served by Pastor C. A. Otto of St. Paul, Brownsville
- 1924 - 1937 Pastor A. Lengling
- 1925 Pastor Lengling begins to serve St. Paul, Cedar Lake as a second charge
- 1937 - 1944 Pastor Erwin Scharf
- 1942 - 44 Leave of absence for Pastor Scharf to serve as a civilian chaplain. Pastor Norbert Reim
- 1944 - 1957 Pastor Frederick Gilbert
- 1945 organ purchased
- 1957 Hausfeldt property purchased for Sunday School room
- 1957 - 1961 Pastor John Ruege
- 1961 parsonage remodeled
- 1962 - 1971 Pastor Lester Groth
- April 24, 1966 - discussion of purchasing "Nehm" property as site for a new church
- 1971 - 1979 Pastor Theodore Horneber
- June 28, 1972 Nehm property (28 acres) purchased - present church site
- February 29, 1976 decision reached to build a new facility
- May 26, 1976 decision reached to set aside the design adopted in February and adopt a new design - present church
- 1978 Parsonage at 509 Highview Drive purchased to gain water and sewer access to church property - old parsonage sold
- 1978 Construction begins
- 1980 - 1995 Pastor George Enderle (Pr. Enderle was called home to heaven on Aug. 13, 2020)
- 1981 Education Fund established
- 1983 Garage constructed
- 1985 St. Paul's Little Learner Smile Center established
- 1990 Bell Tower addition construction begun
- Easter 1991 Bells again used to call the faithful to worship
- 1994 Decision reached that St. Paul of Slinger and St. Paul of Cedar Lake each should have their own pastor
- August 13, 1995 Pastor Enderle's farewell; he continues serving St. Paul of Cedar Lake as first full time pastor
- 1995 - Pastor David Cooper
- August 20, 1995 Pastor Cooper installed
- 1996 Purchased computerized synthesizer to augment service and choir music
- 1996 Children's choir organized
- 1997 Joined Kettle Moraine Lutheran Federation
- 1997 Elementary school research committee formed
- 1998 Building committee organized
- 1998 Congregation celebrates 125 years of God's Grace
- 2000 Pastor Coopers suffers a severe stroke; returned to preaching 1 year later
- 2001 Pastor James Castillo is called
- 2002 Kindergarten opens
- 2003 Christian Family Center (CFC) was built
- 2004 Contemporary Worship services were added
- 2011 Pastor David Cooper leaves / Pastor David Hein is called
- February 6, 2014 the Lord called home our servant Pastor David Hein
- July 2014 Pastor Robert Fleischmann was called as a vacancy pastor
- June 28, 2015 Pastor Robert Fleischmann was installed as Lead Pastor on ¾ time basis due to his time being shared with his duties as the National Director of Christian Life Resources.
- March 16, 2016 the Daycare was licensed for 80 children
- May 24, 2016 due to necessity the daycare was re-license to handle 96 children
- July 2017 Pastor Fleischmann reduced his call hours to half time due to his time being shared with his duties as the National Director of Christian Life Resources
- July 1, 2018 Pastor Ben Golisch was installed
- May 26, 2019 St. Paul congregation dedicated a Civil War Memorial installed in our St. Paul Cemetery on Hwy 175.
- July 1, 2019 Pastor Fleischmann resigns as pastor at St. Paul to return to Christian Life Resources full time
- March 17, 2020 all St. Paul events are cancelled till further notice. Gatherings to be limited to 10 people due to the Coronavirus pandemic - COVID 19. Preschool shut down and church services are pre-recorded and offered through our weekly email blast. Small group communion offered each Sunday to keep contact with membership. Daycare remained open as one of the businesses exempt from these restrictions. Daycare numbers dropped from 100+ to 10, but they received special requests to take in the children of first responders and medical professionals so they could keep working. We had special services pre-recorded to celebrate Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter on their appropriate days.
- May 31, 2020 We were allowed to have services in the church again but limited to 25% of our capacity. We limited each service to 65 people and requested they preregister for which service they would attend by calling the church or signing up on SIGNUP GENIUS. We blocked off every other pew. We continue to offer pre-recorded services for those who (for health reasons) don't feel comfortable gathering in larger groups yet.
- Confirmation was postponed until June 14, 2020
- August 30, 2020 Sr. Vicar Lucas Callies was installed.
- September 13, 2020 Broadcast our first live stream Bible Class and Sunday School has an option of virtual learning (pre-recorded lessons provided by NPH) due to the Coronavirus pandemic - COVID 19.
I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. ~ John 11:25