A short history of St Paul's Lutheran Church
A church adapting to the local environment
St Paul's Lutheran Church commenced in a former guest house in Box Hill named Shadmani in 1948. Pastor Ev Leske was the first minister serving from 1948 to 1962.
Over time the congregation grew and the first church building was built at 711 Station St Box Hill, with significant labour offered by members, and opened in 1954. St Paul's was blessed with several talented musicians and the next committment was the funding of an organ to enhance worship. Worship music has always been a significant value for the congregation and we are blessed with a large choir, many musicians and several bands supporting contemporary worship.
Over time the church community grew and planted other congregations in the Eastern suburbs. In 1987 a new Community Centre was dedicated offering space for ministry and activities.
In 2024 our congregation engaged in a time of prayer, study and discernment in a process we termed ‘Called to Listen – Called to Be’. These seven values are a distillaton of the feedback across the gender and generations.
Worship and spiritual purpose: Ensure that worship (word and sacrament) and prayer remain central, accessible, and meaningful to all members. Emphasis on intergenerational faith-sharing and deeper scriptural engagement.
Welcoming and belonging: Aspiration to be a welcoming and safe space for all people, particularly marginalised groups and those who feel distant from traditional church settings.
Authentic, joyful service: Desire for serving others to move beyond a sense of duty to a genuine expression of love, compassion, and hospitality inspired by Christ’s example of humility.
Outreach and engagement: Particularly around engaging more deeply with the needs of the local area, actively going out of the church instead of expecting people to come in.
Diversity and inclusion: Emphasis on women’s ordination, gender equality more broadly, and cultural diversity.
Unity and community: Working side by side in service and being united in Christ's love as a family despite our differences.
Trust and hope: Strong sense of needing to trust God through uncertainty, particularly in discerning the direction for the church or in times of division.
Intergenerational ministry takes place when people from at least two generations intentionally gather for the same activity in the name of Christ, interacting with one another in ways that reflect mutual respect and appreciation.
As we participate in these areas together across the ages, we learn from each other what it is to be Christian, nurturing the faith life of all ages and equipping people to live out their Christian faith at home, in their community and the world.
Being intentionally intergenerational supports St Paul’s values. Our vision is for every member of St Paul’s to be connected, valued and growing in discipleship with one another across all ages. This is not a new program, it is a way of being, with the ultimate goal of growing people into spiritual maturity.
Mentoring Relationships
Mentoring is an intentional relationship between a young person and someone who is older and has more life experience, to help them grow in their relationship with Jesus. These relationships come in all shapes and sizes, but it is always about growth. Mentors do not take the place of parents and parents do not take the place of mentors. Each mentor has a unique job that can enhance a young person's life as they are discovering who they are and what life means to them. Paul’s relationship with the Thessalonians provides a wonderful example for Christian mentoring. Just like Paul’s mentoring to the Thessalonians, mentoring a young person during their Confirmation is a time to help them grow in their faith and relationship with God.
