What to Expect at St. Paul

Current Worship Schedule

See Church Home page for current worship schedule.

Check out our Facebook page “stpaultomah” or the church calendar for worship service updates and special holiday service times.

WE KNOW…

Meeting someone for the first time can be intimidating and going to a new church for the first time can make even the bravest person nervous. We want to help make your first experience at St. Paul a great one.

THE LOGISTICS

Regular Service Times: Thursday, 7:00 pm; Sundays 8:00 and 10:30 am

Advent and Lent, Wednesdays, 3:30 pm and 7:00 pm

Address: 525 N Superior Ave. Tomah, WI 54660

Parking Lot Radio Broadcast

Tune your FM radio to 100.5 and hear the service that is currently taking place inside the church building.

Regular 7:00 Thursday night, 8:00 and 10:30 Sunday morning services are broadcast to the parking lot.

The 3:30 and 7:00 p.m. Wednesday Lent services (the weeks prior to Easter) are also broadcast to the parking lot.

There are also Wednesday Advent services broadcast at 3:30 and 7:00 pm the three weeks PRIOR to Christmas week.

FINDING YOUR WAY

There are many places to park around St. Paul. The simplest is to pull into our parking lot through the alley off of Brownell St. The parking lot is situated between the church and school buildings. From there, the main church doors are the large brown ones that face the parking lot. Just go in the doors, take a right up the stairs and you’ll be at our worship space. In this parking lot, there are spaces reserved for handicapped parking right alongside the building. You can also feel free to park along Brownell St. or Superior Ave.

Our church building has 6 different entrances. If it is your first time, the doors nearest Superior Ave (the east end of the building) are the most guest-friendly.

Facing the Parking Lot. There are two sets of doors that face the church parking lot, both of which are handicap accessible. If using the doors on ground-level, the right door is powered for accessibility. There is also a wheelchair lift through this door. To access the other doors, there are a ramp and steps. The left door at the top of the ramp and steps is powered for accessibility. NOTE: Using the doors at the top of the ramp and steps will put you into the front of the worship space.
Facing Brownell St. There are double glass doors at the end of the building near the alley. Just go in the doors and up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, you’ll find a wall-mounted tray with the week’s worship folders. Pass through the double wooden doors and you’ll be in the worship space. NOTE: Using this entrance will put you in the front of the worship space.
Facing Superior Ave. There are three entrances that face Superior Ave. The two street-level entrances are on the sides, while there are several doors up some steps in the center of the building. If you enter at street level, just go in the doors and take an immediate turn up the stairs and you’ll be at the worship space.

WHAT TO EXPECT

In total, a St. Paul service is about 60 minutes in length. Our service begins with one of the pastors welcoming everyone and giving some explanation about how parts of the gathering will work. Generally, the opening part of our worship is songs and speaking interspersed with one another. The words are printed out in a booklet and also projected on a screen so you can participate and follow along however it works best for you. For longer songs, we usually use our hymn books. For the day’s message, one of the pastors takes a section of the Bible and explains what it means, and then teaches how that same section speaks to us today. It is an encouraging and hope-filled message about Jesus.

WHAT ABOUT MY KIDS?

We believe that kids and parents should enjoy coming to church - while learning from the Bible. Many of our services begin with a children’s lesson.

Because we feel that faith formation happens best as a family unit, we practice whole family worship, where parents and children sit and worship together throughout the service.

If a child needs some room to wiggle, there is a nursery room available off of the main entryway to church.

What is worship like?

WHAT IS IT LIKE?

Our worship is intentionally focused on the saving work of Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. We strive for a balance between formal and casual, between rituals and relevance. We want an atmosphere that conveys both God’s holiness and his love for us.

Everyone wants to know about music.

We do music a bit differently than many churches. We aim for music that proclaims the saving work of Jesus and with that, expresses truths that are taught in the Scriptures. Music is, after all, a great way for God to get the teachings of his Word into our hearts. We use songs that are theologically rich and that focus on declaring the work of God in Jesus Christ.

What is the worship style like?

Every church has its own style of worship. We think you’ll enjoy the services at St. Paul, but as in any church, it may take a couple of Sundays to become accustomed to our way of praising God and proclaiming what he has done.

Each week the service is printed in the worship folder.

All the Scripture readings, responses, and prayers are printed there for you. You are certainly welcome to bring along your own Bible and follow along if you choose. Our Worship services have one major theme. The sermon, hymns, prayers and music all revolve around the Scripture readings for that week.

What should I wear?

Any kind of attire is welcome. You’ll find some men in shirt and tie, others in khakis, and still more in jeans. Some women wear skirts or dresses. Others wear jeans. In general, people dress “nice” but not overly “fancy”. No one is judged on the basis of their clothing.

How long will the service last?

You can expect the service to last about an hour.

The services also usually include the following parts:

Admitting sins and finding forgiveness – We acknowledge that we have not always done what God asks. Then we are assured of forgiveness because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.
Bible Readings – We hear selections from God’s Old Testament prophets, Jesus’ apostles, and from Jesus himself in the Gospels. The pastor also gives a brief explanation of each reading.
Sermon – Our pastor offers instruction and encouragement in a Bible-based sermon. We hear a message of sin and grace, along with God’s guidance and direction for dealing with life’s problems.
Response to the Word – We respond with offerings, hymns, and prayers for the things God has promised to us and for strength to do what he has asked.
Parting blessing – We hear one last assurance of God’s care.

Mixed throughout these different parts of our service are hymns and short songs to praise God. We strive to use the best of both traditional and modern song.

Children in Church?

HAVE CHILDREN?

Simply put, children are welcome at St Paul!

In the Lutheran tradition, it is common for parents and children to sit together for the entire worship service. The belief behind this practice was that children learn to be in church by being present in the worship service.

We know that this can be a challenge to children and parents who aren’t used to it, so there are “busy bags” available in the church library and a nursery room with some room to wiggle. This nursery room has a window and sound from the worship space so that parents who are in the room can still follow along with the service while in there.

Some Common Questions

MAYBE YOU’RE ASKING…

WHO IS JESUS AND WHY SHOULD I KNOW HIM?

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God who was sent to restore life, joy, and peace forever. Jesus did this by living the life that we should have lived, dying the death that we should have died, and rising again from the grave. In Jesus, and only in him, I know that I am loved and accepted by God.

DO I HAVE TO BELIEVE IN JESUS IN ORDER TO VISIT St. Paul?

Not at all. In fact, that’s why St. Paul is here — to help people who don’t know Jesus as their Lord and Savior to meet him and grow in relationship with him.

WHAT IF I’M SKEPTICAL THAT THE BIBLE IS TRUE?

That’s not a reason to stay away. Do you want to believe the Bible? Do you want to know it? Believing that it is true will come with time as you see how the whole book fits together so amazingly. “Come and see,” is our invitation to you.

IS IT OKAY TO ASK QUESTIONS?

Yes! Pastor is happy to sit down with you and talk about whatever questions you might have about the Bible, about faith, or practice. We also regularly offer a our Bible Basics classes which are a great setting for those questions.

WHERE DOES THE NAME St. Paul COME FROM?

St. Paul is the name of a Christian missionary and teacher in the 1st Century. He wrote about half of the New Testament and planted Christian churches all over Europe.

WHAT IS A LUTHERAN?

Lutherans look to only the Bible as their source of teaching — and the Bible has final say, even when our emotions, society, and logic might object.

In short, Lutherans are Christians. The Lutheran church’s roots go back to the 1500’s, when a man named Martin Luther taught in Wittenberg, Germany. A hallmark teaching of Luther was that we are saved by Grace alone, through faith alone, as taught in Scripture alone. We don’t view Martin Luther as a prophet or anything more than just a faithful Bible teacher. We do, however, teach the Bible in the same way that Luther did.

ARE ALL LUTHERAN CHURCHES THE SAME?

No. There are vast differences in how churches handle the Bible and how they conduct their worship service. Some are more traditional. Some are more modern. Some are in-between. The best way to get to know a church is to go for a few Sundays, listen to the message, and get to know some of the people. You’ll find out very quickly what that church is all about.

IS St. Paul AFFILIATED WITH A LARGER DENOMINATION?

Yes. We are part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)

Find out more at wels.net