New to St. Paul

Where do you meet?

We are located just to the south of the intersection of The Grove Road and South State Highway 36, about 18 miles east of Gatesville and 18 miles west of Temple. Our address is 220 The Grove Road, Gatesville, Texas (even though we are located in The Grove.)

When do you meet?

On Sundays we gather for worship at 10:15am. Our Sunday morning service would be considered traditional. Musically we are led by the organ and most of the time our liturgies are taken from the Lutheran Service Book Hymnal.

How long is the service?

Our services usually last about 75 minutes, give or take a few minutes.

What should I wear?

You will notice that people dress in a variety of ways according to what is comfortable to them. It can be anything from “coat and tie”, to “business casual”, to jeans and casual shoes.

Do you receive an offering?

We do receive an offering at each service. We believe that the offering is a chance for people to give back to God a portion of that with which He has blessed them. It is an act of worship for members and friends of St. Paul who are moved to support this ministry. Guests should not feel obligated to participate. We want you to feel welcomed and comfortable as you visit.

Do I have to sing?

We believe one of the best ways to express our love, gratitude and commitment to God is through music. At the same time, we understand that many who worship with us come from different traditions. It’s up to you: feel free to sing along or simply observe.

What else will happen in the service?

Our service follows a format that typically takes us through a variety of spoken parts including a Confession of Sins and the receiving of God’s forgiveness, readings from Scripture, a profession of our faith in the words of one of the Creeds of the Christian Church, and prayers. Our pastor delivers relevant biblically based messages.

Should I take Communion when it is offered?

We celebrate Holy Communion together on the first and third Sundays of the month. At St. Paul Lutheran Church, we believe that our Lord gives us not only bread and wine, but His very body and blood to eat and to drink, for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with Him and with one another. Our Lord invites to His table those who have faith in His words, are repentant of all sins, and who have set aside all refusal to forgive and love. We follow God’s example, just as He forgives and loves each of us. Those who eat and drink our Lord’s body and blood unworthily, do so to their great harm. (see 1 Corinthians 11:27-28)

If you desire to receive the Lord's Supper with us, but are not formally instructed or are in doubt about our confession of faith, we ask that you first speak with a pastor or an elder. Those not receiving Holy Communion, including small children, are encouraged to come forward to receive a blessing. Simply cross your arms over your chest to indicate to us that you desire a blessing.