St. Paul's Lutheran Church and School - Concordia, MO

09/13/2026

St. Paul’s Annual Reunion Service is tomorrow, Sunday, September 13th at 10:30am.

Gather with your church family, guests, and visitors for worship with Holy Communion.

We will have our usual 9:30am service at the Good Shepherd Care Community, but there will be no 8:00am service and no education hour tomorrow morning.

09/11/2026

Family Footnotes:
When I am on a schedule, I’m a person who likes to get to where I’m going to get done what I need to accomplish. Many times this causes me to be impatient when plans do not go like I think they should or when my route has been rerouted. So when I pull up Google maps and see lots of squiggly lines and no straight path, you can usually hear a groan escape from my lips. I came across a quote the other day that said “...straight lines in life are rare.” Often, I want to navigate my own way in a straight line. Many times, God has different plans. If I am in a hurry, I want to bypass those winding back roads of life, but it is along these twists and turns that my God teaches me patience and strengthens my faith. Jesus calls us to follow him along unconventional paths. Jesus called Peter to step out of the boat and walk to Him on the water. Peter didn’t step out of the boat on a sandy shore where his feet could touch the bottom. He stepped out of the boat and began walking on the waves in the deep toward Jesus. It is by faith that we have the courage to follow where Jesus leads. Faith bridges the gap. God’s presence will meet us where we are. The same Jesus who heard Peter’s cry for help is here right beside us to lift us up. “‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘Take courage. I am here!’” (Matthew 14:27b-c, NLT). Releasing my routes and pressing into my Savior’s loving arms, allowing Him to lead me, is where I want to be. So next time you find yourself winding through the countryside, know that your Savior is guiding you along the paths of this life, teaching you His ways, and leading you where you can best serve Him. Pray for His guidance daily. (Quote and ideas taken from Proverbs 31 Ministries, “When Life Doesn’t Follow Your Plans” - August 30.)
~Gina Martens - Director of Family Life

09/10/2026

A DivorceCare support group for people walking through
separation or divorce is starting soon. Please join us beginning Monday, September 14, at 6:30 pm in the church office. Mem-bers of the community as well as members of St. Paul’s are wel-come. At a DivorceCare group, you’ll watch a weekly video with counsel and insights from respected divorce and recovery experts, as well as relatable personal stories—followed by a time of sharing and support. For more information, contact the church office at 660-463-2291 or visit divorcecare.org. Register direct-ly at find.divorcecare.org/groups/302088.

09/09/2026

After chapel, the whole school practiced for the service this Sunday. Our PS - 8th grade students will be singing during the offering on Sunday, September 13th. There is only one service this Sunday at 10:30am!

Summer Challenge prize winners were also drawn after chapel for who gets to silly string Mr. Mueller 👀 be on the lookout for those pictures after it happens!

09/09/2026

The High School Youth Group is in need of a few more adults and jr high/high school kids to help fill the open shifts in the funnel cake stand on Saturday. No experience necessary, on the job training will be provided. Please use the link below to sign up, Saturday's open shifts are 1-3:15pm, 5:30-8pm and 8-10pm.

Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

09/04/2026

Family Footnotes:
Pick me! Pick me! You might say that if you were being picked to be on a winning team. You might say that if you had entered a contest or raffle, but would you say that if you knew there was suffering involved? Because we live in a sinful world, we will experience suffering. I read a Facebook post a few weeks ago from someone who is in the middle of suffering. The words that were written rang in my head, “The only way to the end is through the middle.” Isn’t this the truth? But doggone that middle part can be mighty wicked. Maybe those words resonate in your mind as well because you have been through “the middle.” I vividly remember a time when I was going through the middle. I was scared, I felt detached from the world around me, I did not know how I was going to wake up the next morning and do it all over again, but one thing I did know is that Christ was, and continues to be, with me. Christ is with me everywhere I go, never to leave me, this I know… and that means even through the middle. And if I would not have gone through that “middle,” I would have missed seeing God’s mighty hand at work in ways that I could never have imagined. You see, there are blessings in the suffering. Quoting words from Pastor’s sermon last Sunday and reflecting upon his message, “Suffering comes before resurrection and life.” How many blessings do we pass up on because we are scared of what lies ahead and so we stay in our little bubble? How many blessings do we pass up on because we don’t want to do hard things, so we play it safe? God’s plan of salvation, the complete redemption of the world, was through one man’s suffering. That is the gospel truth. Jesus calls us to follow Him. He has been through it Himself, and He has claimed us with His name. We are His, bought with His blood. No amount of suffering can compare with the glory which will someday be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). Christ IS with me everywhere I go, never to leave me, this I know. Never to leave me, this I know!
(Christ is With Me- Hymn 276, One and All Rejoice)
~ Gina Martens- Director of Family Life

09/03/2026

Lunch Dude Mr. Mueller???

Thank you for being flexible with our schedule changes this week due to the funerals. We are grateful for all of our families and we appreciate your patience and flexibility!

Join us every week for fun announcements and updates! A lot happened over the summer to our building, find out about the cool things going on at St. Paul's next week!

09/02/2026

St. Paul’s has weekly chapel services where our students have the opportunity to worship together and continue learning more about God’s love.

Our 8th graders help serve during chapel by collecting the offering. Each month, the offering goes toward a different mission. In August, our offering went to The Missouri District LCMS, and this month we are collecting for Lutheran Bible Translators.

Our older students have the opportunity to be Chapel Buddies with some of our younger students. We love seeing these friendships grow as our older students help the younger students get to and from church.

At the last chapel of each month, we also celebrate Baptism Birthdays! Last week, we celebrated those who have Baptism Birthdays in July and August!

🎶 God’s own child I gladly say it, I am baptized into Christ. 🎶

09/01/2026

Big smiles for picture day! Many thanks to The KN Co. for taking pictures every year!
Even Thomas Comfort Dog got in for a picture!