St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church

06/08/2026

Reminder this Saturday is the WELCA garage sale. Please bring your items to the church this week. We will need help setting up tables on Thursday night starting at 5 p.m. and then on Friday we will work on setting up the things on tables and pricing items. Help is needed for the garage sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and clean up after so the church is ready for worship on Sunday.

05/16/2026

Bishop Amy Current has been re-elected to serve a second six-year term as Bishop of the Southeastern Iowa Synod.

Congratulations to Bishop Amy Current. We give thanks for all those who were willing to discern a call to bishop.

05/16/2026

The prayer shawls and quilts at synod assembly-this is just a portion- more than 150 more donated during check in

05/04/2026

Wednesday, May 6th is Senior Fellowship Lunch at 11:30 a.m. We will be playing white elephant bingo, please bring a white elephant item for the prizes.

St. Paul's women will be having a garage & bake sale on Saturday, June 13th. While you are looking for the white elephant for Wednesday, maybe put a few more items aside to bring to the garage sale. 😀

Home visits will be Wednesday, May 13th. If you know of anyone who would appreciate a home visit please let Lea at the office or Carol or Margie know.

There is a sign up sheet for mowing & trimming volunteers, thank you to all who have stepped up and kept the outside of the church looking nice.

04/24/2026

St. Paul's friend, Gail Clouse has passed away. We extend our love and prayers to her sons, Chuck and Phil and their families. May you find strength in the Lord's embrace and comfort in His unending love. Gail's memory will forever be a blessing to all who knew her. She filled our lives with happiness and her love of the Lord that we will carry in our hearts forever.

Gail Evonne Clouse, age 82, of Albia, IA, passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Oakwood Specialty Care in Albia.

Gail was born on May 26, 1943, at Copley Hospital in Aurora, IL, to Lyle Charles and Alice Elaine (Johnson) Parker. She grew up attending school in Aurora and graduated from West Aurora High School. On June 23, 1962, she was united in marriage to Edwin C. Clouse Jr. at the Grace Lutheran Church in Aurora and to this union, 2 sons were born: Chuck and Phillip. Gail and Ed shared 48 years of marriage prior to Ed’s passing on October 30, 2010.

Gail was an active and devoted member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Albia. She had a beautiful singing voice and sang with a barbershop group, The Aloes, for 18 years. When her children were young, she devoted time to being a scout leader. She also volunteered with hospice, where she was honored with the Volunteer of the Year award for her compassion and service. She enjoyed being outdoors and traveling, especially the canoeing trips she and Ed took to Canada. She was an extremely talented painter and woodworker. She was a lifetime member of the Iowa Trapper’s Association as well as the National Trapper’s Association. In 2010, she and Ed were inducted into the Iowa Trapper’s Association Hall of Fame. Gail began painting sawblades to donate to the Iowa Trapper’s Association auctions in 1992, a tradition she continued each year.

Gail is survived by 2 sons, Chuck (Sheela) Clouse and Phillip (Laura) Clouse; 8 grandchildren, Latisha (Brad) Guthrie, Tyler (Erin) Clouse, Wesley Clouse, Louie (Cara) Clouse, Craig (Amber Lynn) Sherman, Drew (Riley) Sherman, and Alyssa (Zach McSparen) Sherman, and Gunner (Aaliyah) Maupin; 22 great grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild. Gail is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Ed Clouse; her parents, Lyle and Alice Parker; and 2 great granddaughters, Bekah and Sage; and 2 brothers, Lynn and Jay.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Gail’s family present from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.to greet family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Albia with Pastor Bob Elgin officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date.

A memorial has been established to the Welcome Home Soldier Monument in Albia.

Condolences to the family may be left online at www.tharpfh.com.

04/21/2026

This week at St. Paul's:

Church council on Wed April 22nd at 6 p.m.

WELCA (Women's group) Thursday April 234d at 6:30 p.m.

04/05/2026

Alleluia!

On this holy day, we proclaim the Good News of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the empty tomb, we find promise. In the risen Christ, we are given a life that carries us forward, sending us to bear witness to the love that overcomes death and the grace that makes all things new.

04/03/2026

Today is Good Friday.

With solemn hearts, we remember the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross. "When Jesus had received the wine, he said, 'It is finished!' Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit" (John 19:30).

04/03/2026

Maundy Thursday and the Pope goes to a prison and washes the feet of the inmates. Paul says that Jesus took on the form of a slave, and John says that he washed the feet of his disciples. This is what it means to love one another. Relational, intimate, equals, folks in need, giving and receiving the love of Christ. "Love one another, as I have loved you." May we be so inspired. Join us this evening, 7pm.

03/30/2026

St. Paul's will not be having Holy Week services this year. The following Holy Week Services will be held at area Lutheran Churches:

Maundy Thursday Service (Apr. 2) at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Knoxville, IA at 7 p.m.

Services at Peace Lutheran-Pella:
Maundy Thursday (Apr 2) 7 p.m.
Good Friday (Apr 3) 7 p.m.

First Christian Church in Albia will have: Maundy Thursday Service at 7 p.m. and Good Friday Service at 7 p.m.