On Our Anniversary Page:

• Fifty Years of God's Grace
• 50th Anniversary Photo Gallery
• In the New Millenium
• Anniversary Mission Project
• Palanga, Lithuania - Mission Updates

Click on the Cake to return to the last page!

Photos are available for viewing, and for purchase on-line, through Rubicon Photo of Mount Vernon, IA. 

The large picture of the membership above, and the collage below, are available for $20.00 each.  For each sale the congregation will receive a $2.00 gift from Rubicon Photo.

Our thanks to Jeff Schmatt of Rubicon who has provided us with this opportunity!

Visit Rubicon Photo at www.rubicon-photo.com

Some members will recall Bruno Beckman who taught for many years both at Cornell College and at the Mt. Vernon High School.  In 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 locate other Lutherans in the Mount Vernon area who were interested in having a Lutheran church in town.

Chauffeured by Bruno, Ella Beckman canvassed the area.  She visited anyone with a Lutheran connection.  As it turned out, there were others.  Helen and Herman Schmidt of rural Lisbon helped the Beckman’s begin the new congregation. Although Lutheran services for college students were already being held at Cornell, these were not easy to access and were only held during the school terms.

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.  The promising attendance and the growth that followed encouraged the worshippers.  On April 22, 1955 the group meet at the Herman Schmidt home near Martelle to form a Lutheran congregation.  The new congregation was organized as a mission of the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church.

In August 1955, the members of St. Paul Lutheran Church installed their first minister.  He served a dual parish 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 which was dedicated in 1957.

A congregation’s anniversary is an ideal time to look back and celebrate the congregation’s founding, its history, its ministry to people, and its mission outreach to the community. An anniversary provides a time for serious reflection and spiritual growth. It prompts members to reflect on the past while looking forward to the future with renewed vision, hope, confidence, and commitment.  

Since the beginning of the new Millenium, St. Paul Lutheran Church has taken several steps exciting steps forward in its mission and ministry in Mount Vernon!

     The members of St. Paul Lutheran Church dedicated their new Sanctuary and narthex on Sunday, April 29, 2001.   The new facillity is bright, airy, and handicap accessible.  Since this time stained glass windows have been added through individual gifts of love.  

     With the construction of its new chapel, the congregation has enjoyed modest growth.  The raised awareness of its presence and ministry in the community and its appeal to young families has blessed St. Paul with the ability to offer new and exciting programs.

     To assist in addressing these growing opportunities and to chart a direction into the future, a Vision Committee was formed to identify, among other goals, the need for an enhanced music program.  In 2003, a professional Music Director joined the ministry staff.

     As we look beyond 2005, religious education space, increasing worship attendance, developing youth ministries, and community involvement are among the wonderful challenges that lie ahead!

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 share the love of Christ by word and deed within our church, our community, and our world.

Christ’s Love In Action!

History:  In 2002, Rev. Matthew Harrison, Executive Director of LCMS Human Care approached Iowa District East about the possibility of partnering with them to build a Church and Diaconal Center in Palanga, Lithuania.  Two pastors of our District traveled to Lithuania to take a look at the project.  They reported to the District Board of Directors.  And the 2003 District Convention voted to raise a minimum of $100,000 for this project.  The total cost was projected to be around $500,000.

LCMS Human Care has agreed to provide matching funds.  In September of 2004, we met our goal.  To date we have raised over $147,000 which brings the total to nearly $300,000.  The generosity of God's people is evident.  The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania hopes to begin this project yet in 2005.  We will continue to help raise funds so that the project will be complete.

This mission project is helping to build relationships between our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus of the Lithuanian Lutheran Church body and with our individual congregations.  St. Paul wrote: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me."  Gal. 2:20.  By God's grace and the generosity of His people, we will be able to rejoice when this project is brought to completion!

Click here for information and updates on our:

 Mission in Palanga, Lithuania!

Pictures from Palanga!

Pictures of the Petkunas Family!

General Information

The tricolor flag of Lithunaia was adopted on August 1, 1922.  It was long suppressed under Soviet rule until its reestablishment on March 20, 1989.  The yellow color suggests ripening wheat and freedom from want.  Green is for hope and the forests of the nation, while red stands for love of country, sovereignty, and valor in defense of liberty.