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Welcome to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon, Iowa!Located in historic Mount Vernon, St. Paul is a Christ-centered, nurturing church family that reaches out to the people of our community through fellowship with Christ Jesus and loving service to others. Please come and visit us. You are always welcome!
Our Staff
 Rev. Mark Gefaller, Pastor
Rev. Gefaller was installed as Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church June 10, 2001. A native of Cedar Rapids, IA, Mark is a graduate of Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Michigan, with majors in Religion and Sociology/Psychology. In 1985, he earned his MDiv. from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN, with a concentration in Systematic Theology. Ordained in June 1985, Pastor Gefaller has served congregations in Central Illinois, South Wisconsin, and Eastern Iowa. He has also served the Board for Mission Services - Ministry to the Armed Forces, in the US Navy Chaplain Corps as a combat chaplain with US Marines, aboard a guided missile cruiser, overseas with Naval Forces in the Republic of Panama, and in Washington, D.C. as Assistant Head of Professional Development and Religious Programs Branch for the US Navy Chief of Chaplains. His is the recipient of the prestigious US Armed Forces Chaplain of the Year Award, 1991. He is presently doing course work toward earning his PhD in Religious Studies.
Rev. Roland Hiscke, Assistant to the Pastor for Visitation and Outreach Rev. Roland Hiscke has served as Assistant to the Pastor since January 2007. He is a graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, receiving his Bachelor of Theology in 1963 and his Masters of Theology in 1988. He is a retired clergyman who has served a number of congregations and has a gift for outreach and evangelism which he is using for the Lord in Mount Vernon. Rev. Hischke and his wife live in Marion, IA.
 Robin Wagner, Music Director
Robin is a graduate of Concordia University Nebraska with a diploma in Lutheran Elementary Education. She has a major in English and a minor in music with an emphasis on organ. Robin began her career at Linn Lutheran School as a third and fourth grade teacher/choir director and organist for St. John's Lutheran Church in Linn, KS. From 1977-2006 she taught 3 and 5 grade at Trinity Lutheran School and coordinated music at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, IA. She joined St. Paul Lutheran Church in 2006. Robin is a member of the Lutheran Education Association, Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, and Iowa Choral Director.
Crysten Sanchez, Director of Family Life (Photo coming soon!)
Crysten is from Fargo, ND where she spent her entire childhood. A Concordia University, St. Paul graduate with a degree in Youth, Family and Congregational Studies, Crysten is serving her fist church work position at St. Paul's. She loves youth of all ages and loves seeing what happens when atypical pairings are made. For this reason, intergenerational ministry is something that she really has a passion for. Crysten has a history as a camp counselor, summer Youth and Family worker and lots of time studying under DCEs and other youth workers. Crysten was married to Daniel Sanchez at the beginning of 2008 and lives at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca in Solon, IA with him. They enjoy cooking, baking and watching football- especially when the Bears play the Vikings!
 Tracy Schmidt, Office Secretary
Tracy Schmidt is a native of Plainfield, Iowa, which is a small town north of Waverly. She is a graduate of Plainfield high school and the American Institute of Business in Des Moines. She and her husband, Jeff, have lived in Lisbon since 1993. Jeff is the golf course superintendent at Gardner Golf Course. Tracy and Jeff have a son, Caleb, and a daughter, Kendra. In her spare time Tracy enjoys reading and watching all sports, especially football!
 James Schmidt, Facilities Coordiantor
Jim is a lifelong member of the congregation. Marreid with grown children, Jim volunteers his time to oversee the use and quality of the congregation's facilities. Members or non-members desiring to utilize the kitchen, fellowship hall, or other portions of the building are asked to work through Jim. He may be reached through the church office.
Our Mission Statement
In grateful response to God's grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of St. Paul Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is to make share the love of Christ by word and deed within our church, our community, and our world. We are Christ's Love in Action!
Over Fifty Years of God's Grace
St Paul Evangelical Lutheran ChurchThe Lutheran Church Missouri SynodOrganized as a mission congregation in April 1955, St. Paul Lutheran Church has and continues to faithfully served the Mount Vernon and Lisbon communities. Located across the street from the Mount Vernon Public school campus, and just south of Cornell College, the congregation engages in ministries to all of our neighbors. Through programs such as our Cornell Lutheran Student Organization, Angel Food Ministries, Vacation Bible School, Forever Young Seniors Program, and other caring ministries the congregation is active in the community. In 2005, the congregation celebrated its 50th Anniversary! We invite you to view our Anniversary photos by clicking on the cake below! 
Click the cake to see our Anniversary page!
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History of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church Some readers will recall that one Bruno Beckman taught for many years both at Cornell College and at the Mt. Vernon High School. Back in about 1950, the Beckman family's car broke down on their way to a Christmas program in Marion. It was then that Ella (Mrs. Beckman) decided to find other Lutherans in town who might be interested in having a Lutheran church here. She visited anyone who seemed to have a Lutheran connection.
Helen and Herman Schmidt of rural Lisbon helped them to begin the new congregation, even though services for students were already being held at Cornell. However, these were on third floor in Main Hall, not easy to access, and also were only held during the school terms. | | Chauffeured by Bruno, Ella Beckman canvassed the area, and in 1952 the first church service was held in the old American Legion Hall, next to City Hall on Main Street, Mt. Vernon, with 24 in attendance. On April 22, 1955 a group met at the Herman Schmidt home near Martelle and a congregation was organized as a mission of the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church. In August that year, the first minister was installed as pastor of two mission congregations, Mt. Vernon and Hiawatha. Soon thereafter plans were made for construction of the first Lutheran Church building in Mt. Vernon. Some Beckman stories: In 1954, when Helen Beckman was 15, she and her mother Ella went to New York City, where Helen won 2nd place in the Pillsbury Bakeoff contest with a cookie recipe. She won $2,000 and a stove. She gave $200 (a proper tithe) to the church and with that they bought the communion set, cross, candlesticks and collection plate for the church which was yet to be built. | | The rest of the prize money was enough for a down payment on the Beckman home on 2nd Ave. S., where the Evans family now lives. (Remember, that was nearly 50 years ago!) Prior to that, the Beckman’s had lived in a two-bedroom temporary housing, owned by Cornell, where the Cornell maintenance building is now. The point of including this story is the fact that, no matter how much they needed a larger home, the first amount spent was the tithe to the church her mother worked so hard to organize!
Helen Beckman later attended Valparaiso University and trained as a deaconess. She was consecrated here at St. Paul's. She now lives in Sisters, Oregon and is the author of fourteen books on various religious themes. Her husband Dave Haidle, and daughter, Elizabeth, illustrated her books.
The name chosen for the new Mount Vernon church was St. Paul Lutheran. Plans were made to build in Mount Vernon and four lots were donated by the Iowa District East Lutheran Women's Missionary League. They were purchased on 5th Avenue S., in the Lusted Addition, across from the new Washington Elementary School, for the total price of $6,000.
The first part of the church building was dedicated in May, 1957. The floor plan was one the district had previously used for three other churches in Iowa. The Mt. Vernon group made very few changes in those plans. A great debate took place over whether or not to have a basement. They have been satisfied with the decision not to have one. At the time, the District was in the habit of giving money to build, so new congregations would not have big debts hanging over their heads. St. Paul's gift was $32,000. Later, the district concluded that 'regular repayment' was better than 'unpaid gratitude', so they went back to making loans.
The pulpit, altar, lectern and baptismal fount were built by Emil Grams, with help from Lewis Berends, Charles Hoeft and Herman Schmidt. A Baldwin electronic organ was later purchased.
That year the first wedding, of Vicar Roland Krekeler and Pat Resewehr, a parishioner, was celebrated in July. Up until that day, folding chairs had been used but pews, a gift of the Newhall church, arrived in time to be enjoyed by the wedding guests, even though the pews were not yet fastened to the floor!
The Priscilla Guild was organized in 1957 and later became affiliated with the International Lutheran Women's Missionary League. They support many mission projects, maintain the church kitchen, hold Fall Festivals and serve receptions and banquets, providing funds for hymnals, the Christus Rex, other altar furnishings, etc.
Rapidly St. Paul's became self-supporting and was removed from mission status. The 10-room educational wing, which includes the library, was added in 1966. Also that year, the church and fellowship hall was renovated, insulation added, the ceiling of the hall lowered and paneling applied to the Sanctuary walls.
The first parsonage on 6th Avenue was purchased in 1961. In 1967, a newer parsonage was purchased on 2nd Avenue S., Mt. Vernon. The pastor serving the longest term to date was Rev. Harger, whom many readers today probably remember. He was here 15 years while raising his family, so acquired many friends outside the congregation, too.
Two members of this parish, Harold Scheer and David Hinman, are ordained ministers. A long-time member, Vivian Stromer, volunteered as a secretary, doing 'whatever needed to be done', for about 25 years.
A preschool/playschool was organized and served the community for 11 years. The location across the street from Washington Elementary School was ideal! Susan Schmidt was the primary teacher for this venture.
The older youth of the congregation belong to "Youth On A Mission". They enjoy fellowship and worship at their meetings and provide help for the adults when meals are served.
An Adult Fellowship Club supported projects for improvement of church property, such as carpet, chairs, parking lot surfacing, etc. One large
group activity is a food stand at "Sauerkraut Days" in Lisbon.
Beginning in 1993 St. Paul's has sponsored a Living Nativity in December. This has been well received in the community. Since l996 the audience has been invited into the Fellowship Hall after each performance. Soup, stew and goodies are enjoyed by all. The last few years the Living Nativity has been presented at the City Park Gazebo one night and at the church a second night. Each summer, the vacation bible school is open to the children of the
community.
After three years of planning by the "Building by Faith" teams, in the year 2000 St. Paul's broke ground for a new, much larger building to house the main worship space. It is connected to the old worship space by a large gathering area, giving it a very spacious look when one enters. Gracing this area are two large crocheted pictures of The Last Supper and the Lord's Prayer. These were made and given by Kay Hertzler.
On the side of the gathering area opposite the worship space are two offices and a new, large kitchen, the planning of which has primarily been the project of a kitchen committee made up of Evelyn Berends, Elva Wolrab, Kim Spiess and Deb Wieditz. The old worship space, which also opens off this gathering area, provides an ample seating area for meals, meetings and even basketball for the youth when the tables are taken down.
All of the exterior of the original church, educational area, etc. has been newly sided to match the newest addition, making this a very impressive structure! New heating and cooling was installed throughout the whole building.
The chancel area features two new large side crosses flanking the center Christus Rex (the Risen Christ) cross. The Christus Rex is mounted on stained glass which was given in memory of Barbara Ohlfest. The two side crosses, plus the mantle and the hymnal holders, were made by Chuck Ohlfest. All the rest of the altar furnishings, formerly built by the four men listed above, were moved over from the original worship space.
The windows, which are plain for now, were installed with the future in mind. When economically feasible, the present ones can easily be removed and replaced with stained glass of whatever kind the parish desires.
Adjacent to the worship area is a small room which provides respite for mothers with little ones. The babies' cry room is decorated with very
colorful pictures of biblical themes, a work of Mickey Woods, a local artist. A second room, off the previous worship center, is furnished as a
play area for preschoolers.
Under the direction of building project director Gene Freiberger, this facility was built primarily by Laborers for Christ, a Lutheran organization which sends retired couples to a project which has been approved for the use
of their services. Many of these retired men are electricians, contractors, etc. by trade. They work for minimum wage and come with the condition they will be provided a facility for parking their travel trailers, a place for showering and washing clothing and picnic tables at which to gather. Gene and Laurena Freiburger converted their corn crib for such a facility. When a local lady (not of the* faith) purchased a new washer and dryer, she said to give the old ones to whomever could use them', so the Laborers were the beneficiaries. What better recipients.
Not all Laborers for Christ work together each year. They sign up in the St. Louis office, are chosen for the jobs according to their talents and
assigned by that committee. Each year the Laborers may be in a different state, so they enjoy adventure and see our country, tool They also meet new friends with the same common goals - that of helping their fellow Lutherans. What better way to enjoy retirement ! The Laborers for Christ received the unusual volunteer support of 10,000 hours of labor by 50 members of the congregation, truly a beautiful sharing of a labor of love.
Founding members of St. Paul's who are still in the congregation are Evelyn Berends, Darlene Blythe, Gloria Krob, Carla Wieben, Glenn & Betty Kurth, Irene Mounce, Jim Schmidt, Walter & Vivian Stromer, and Elva Wolrab.
St. Paul's new facility was dedicated Sunday, April 29, 2001. |
The above history is the original draft of a column that appeared in the May 3, 2001, edition of the Mt. Vernon Sun titled, “History of Mt. Vernon Churches, part 6: St. Paul’s“, by Mrs. Dolores Suchomel.
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