About St. Paul Lutheran Church

Core Values

Equipping Every Generation to Live Rooted in Jesus

BIBLICAL TEACHING

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

TRANSFORMATIONAL FAITH

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:12-14)

AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:15-16) 

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

GENEROUS LIVING

Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (Luke 12:48b)

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (James 5:16)

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:16)

COMPASSIONATE WITNESS

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

Rev. Luke Anderson Bio

Who am I?  

A forgiven sinner, blessed to be called a child of God. I am also blessed by my wife, Sarah, and my four children who fill my life with joy, hope, and a lot of energy (and dishes!). Finally, I am blessed to serve among the body of Christ at St. Paul, having had that privilege since August, 2016.

What is your degree and continuing education?

Graduated Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 2013; Concordia University Wisconsin in 2009. Currently working on a Doctor of Ministry degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, with an emphasis on homiletics (preaching).

Favorite Bible Verse?

Psalm 27:14- “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.”

Favorite Hobbies?

Playing “house” with the girls, wrestling and playing video games with the boys, going on dates with my wife, running, basketball, board games, and being continually let down by my Minnesota sports teams.

Word of Encouragement to Others?

Jesus is all you need. He is more than you need. He is everything. He loves you, hurts and all, brokenness and all, exhaustion and all. We love you, too. Come as you are and be filled by His amazing love.

Rev. Dr. Timothy Maschke Bio

Timothy H. Maschke, DMin, PhD

Reverend Timothy Maschke is Associate Pastor of Care Ministry here at St. Paul, Grafton. From 1982 until 2018, he was Professor of Theology at Concordia University Wisconsin. Prior to coming to Concordia, he served Lutheran parishes in Itasca (The Lutheran Church of St Luke) and Elgin (St. John’s), Illinois.

Prof. Maschke graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1974 with a Masters of Divinity degree and earned his Master’s in Sacred Theology from that school in 1981. He received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1984 and in 1993 earned his PhD in Historical Theology at Marquette University under the late Luther scholar, Dr. Kenneth Hagen.

Dr. Maschke taught courses in biblical, doctrinal, historical, and practical theology, with special interests in biblical doctrine, Luther and Lutheran worship. A second (updated and expanded) edition of his book, Gathered Guests: A Guide to Worship in the Lutheran Church, was published in 2009 by Concordia Publishing House. His introduction to the history of Christianity, Called to Be Holy in the World, is available from Wipf and Stock (2016). He has authored several articles in encyclopedias and dictionaries related to his academic interests. He is also a popular preacher and presents at a variety of conferences and workshops throughout the United States. Most recently he has given numerous presentations on the life and thought of Martin Luther.

Maschke is a member of several professional organizations, including the Sixteenth Century Society and Conference and the American Society of Church History, and is the corporate representative for Lutheran Quarterly. He contributes book reviews and articles for several professional journals. He is book review editor for Concordia Theological Journal, a publication of Concordia University.

He and his wife, Sharon, live in Grafton. They have three grown sons and five grandchildren. His hobbies include beer making and gardening, as well as reading and writing.

His responsibilities at St Paul are chiefly in the area of visiting shut-ins and homebound members. He leads a GriefShare program with several volunteers. He also preaches, serves as liturgist, and teaches Bible studies. His favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”

Rev. Jacob Schultz Bio

Pastor Schultz comes to St. Paul Lutheran Church from Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, Missouri where he has served for the last five years. He received his Bachelor of Arts with a degree in Elementary Education from Concordia Chicago, his Master of Education from Fontbonne University, and his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary.

He and his wife Rebecca met while attending Concordia Chicago. They began dating their freshman year and were married in June following their graduation. While attending Concordia Seminary in Saint Louis, they welcomed Isaiah into their family while on Vicarage in Boca Raton, Florida. While serving at Concordia Lutheran Church, they welcomed Gloria and Ezra into their family. Their oldest two children both attend St. Paul Lutheran School. Isaiah (6) is in first grade and Gloria (4) is in Preschool. Ezra (1), their youngest, stays at home with mom.

In his free time, Pastor Schultz enjoys spending time with his family, working outside, and watching the Green Bay Packers. Above all and in every vocation, he seeks to be faithful remembering his confirmation verse:

“I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16

Our History

St. Paul Lutheran Church and School has a long and rich history in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Village of Grafton.  Established in 1851, the first constitution of the church which was signed by nine men on July 28 of that year.  One of these men, Mr. Karl Ziege, is credited for contacting his former pastor from the historical Trinity Lutheran Church in downtown Milwaukee to travel to Grafton to conduct services.  In 1853, the congregation officially joined the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

 At this time, the congregation worshipped in a variety of temporary locations including the stone-block building which is located at the corner of 12th Avenue and Bridge St. in Grafton.  In 1857, a combination church and school building was constructed which later burned down.  In 1871 a new church was built and dedicated.  The church building which was located just west of the railroad tracks on Highway 60 served the members of the congregation until it was razed in 1971.  The Providence Place Senior Living facility is located on the east side of the St. Paul property where thus church once stood.

 The current church building was dedicated in December of 1967.  When constructing the church building located on the corner of Washington St. and 6th Ave, many of the artifacts from the old church were incorporated into the plan of the new church building including the figure of Christ and the Last Supper, the east and west stained glass windows, the baptismal font and the pipe organ.  Ringing at the start of each service, the tower bells were purchased in 1892.  In March of 2005, new stained glass windows were installed.  The music ministry was enhanced with a new Allen digital organ in 2008.  By the summer of 2019, fundraising had been completed to make this organ a combination digital/pipe organ.  In 2012, the church sanctuary underwent an extensive remodeling and updating under the Extending the Kingdom program.

Pastors who were called to serve the congregation include:

  • Johann Georg Boehm                         August 22, 1852 to 1853
  • Martin Guenther                                   March 1, 1853 to 1857
  • Friedrich A. Ahner                                December 6, 1857 to January 1863
  • Johann Heinrich Werfelmann       September 6, 1863 to November 1870
  • Ferdinand Buechele                             June 23, 1870 to 1873
  • Wilhelm Kraus                                         1873 to 1874
  • Friedrich Wesemann                            November 1, 1874 to July 26, 1903
  • John D. Schroeder                                  October 18, 1903 to June 20, 1948
  • Arthur J. Beversdorf                             June 27, 1948 to June 6, 1955
  • Edwin H. Burfeind                                   June 5, 1955 to July 1973
  • Melvin R. Boehlke                                   July 22, 1962 to March 22, 1967
  • John G. Suelflow                                      June 18, 1967 to June 30, 2017
  • Richard W. Pingel                                   March 10, 1974 to January 8, 1978
  • Roger R. Kilponen                                  July 9, 1978 to March 16, 1980
  • Richard L. Lindeman                             September 14, 1980 to April 15, 1983
  • William T. Yates                                       August 15, 1983 to July 15, 1987
  • Larry J. Prahl                                              March 1, 1988 to …
  • Marvin J. Moss                                          August 1998 to 2002
  • Kenton Wendorf                                     September 2003 to … October 8, 2016 
  • Christopher Navurskis                       October 1, 2007 to June 15, 2012
  • Scott Kruse                                                February 10, 2013 to July 31, 2021
  • Luke Anderson                                         August 28, 2016 …
  • Timothy H. Maschke                             March 3, 2018 …
  • Jacob Schultz                                            August 28, 2022 …

From the beginning, the St. Paul congregation operated and supported a Christian Day School. During the first several decades, the pastors served also as teachers in the one-room school setting. Current enrollment in the Christian Day School is in the mid-300’s taught by 26 teachers under the leadership of Principal Michael Yurk.

Currently serving the congregation are Pastor Luke Anderson, Pastor Jacob Schultz, Pastor Timothy Maschke and Pastor Larry Prahl.