St. Paul Lutheran Church celebrates 100th anniversary

St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 449 Stewart Avenue in Bethpage, is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the church’s March 1923 founding. To commemorate this momentous event, St. Paul will be hosting a celebratory worship service on Sunday, March 12, at 10:30 a.m.

It all began on March 5, 1923, when a meeting of Lutherans from Central Park (later to be named Bethpage) was held in the Theodore Roosevelt Republican Hall. Pastor William Rusch of Hicksville offered to conduct services on Sunday afternoons at the firehouse on Stewart Avenue (across from the present site of St. Paul). The first worship service was held on March 11, 1923 with 75 in attendance.

The name of St. Paul was chosen and the first officers were: Henry Schaaf, chairman; Theodore Damm, secretary; and Edward Sengstacken, treasurer and superintendent of Sunday school, positions which he held for many years.

The present property was purchased and in November 1923, work was started on the church building. On November 25, 1923, the cornerstone was laid. The church building is unique in that the members gathered from nearby areas, all the large stones that comprise the outside walls of the church. In a few months, services were held even though there was no heat except for a wood-burning stove. The church was dedicated on September 28, 1924.

Throughout the years, numerous people served at St. Paul and grew the church. St. Paul has been an element of Bethpage history which has made an impact on many people over the years.

In September 1999, Little Gospel Lights Preschool opened its doors in the basement of St. Paul Lutheran Church with a beginning enrollment of 42 students.

On June 26, 2002, at just after 6:00 p.m., lightning struck St. Paul

Evangelical Lutheran Church. No one was in the building when the fire broke out, however, the church building sustained quite a bit of interior damage. The organ pipe room, chancel and parish hall were destroyed. In addition to the fire damage, there was additional damage due to smoke and water in our basement. An aggressive building project was begun, and the congregation under the leadership of Pastor Mario Ancira, with assistance from the community of Bethpage, banded together to see the church re-built.

In August, 2004, the congregation re-entered the newly re-built St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church which is now capable of supporting multiple classes and meetings.

Today, Rev. Victor Rapp is the current Pastor at St. Paul. Little Gospel Lights (LGL) Preschool has an enrollment of 70 students under the leadership of Cheryl Hydo, the preschool’s current director.

The theme for the 100th anniversary is based on Jeremiah 31:3: “I have loved you with an Everlasting Love.” “God’s love, our strength in the past and hope for the future.”

The church invites everyone to come and hear the Good News of God’s everlasting love for us on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. The church is located at 449 Stewart Ave. in Bethpage, NY (two blocks south of the railroad tracks). If you would like more information, please call the church office at 516-931-8262 or email office@stpaulbethpage.com. You can follow the church on Facebook at ‘StPaulsBethpage’ and watch services.

Taken from various publications and church records. Submitted by Janice Kennedy, 100th Anniversary Committee chairperson, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bethpage.