St. Paul Lutheran Church

St. Paul Lutheran Church Service Hours: 9:00 a.m. in June, July, and August
10:00 a.m. September thru May Worship Service in June, July, and August is at 9:00 a.m.

From September through May our Worship Service is at 10:00 a.m. From September through May we have WOW (Worship on Wednesdays). There is a meal at 5:45 that is open to everyone. Everyone is invited to stay after the meal to visit or read a book or whatever you wish. At 6:15 there is Confirmation class and Sunday School. From 7:15-7:30 we will close with a brief worship.

06/02/2026

A short devotion: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” --Psalms 119:105

As summer begins I thought of some of our recent graduates. I think most of the high school graduates have already determined a college to attend . Some may know their Major and some are unsure. Those who decided to join the military have to choose what area they wish to serve. Some are learning new jobs, making new friends, learning new skills and new routines. College graduates are looking for the job that suits their interests and provides for their needs. Each morning we have to figure out what we need to get done for the day. Each day is different. Each day’s journey may bring surprises which may be a pleasant surprise or a new challenge to face. As we begin new journeys, it is helpful to turn to the Word of our Lord. The Holy Spirit makes God’s word come alive to speak to your heart and guide your ways that keep you safe and brings about the most blessings for you and those you love. The Lord will never lead you astray. The Lord may lead you to people and places you didn’t anticipate, but you will discover blessings and grace there.

05/31/2026

A short devotion: “I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.” (Ecclesiastes 3:12)

When I graduated from high school, I spent a few days with some friends camping in the boundary water and then stayed at my parents for a week until I attended the wedding of one of my friends. Then I packed my bags and headed to my Grandparents’ farm near Northwood, Iowa where I had spent my last four summers. I thought I would get a job working here and there for the farmers before I went to Iowa State that fall. But when I arrived, it was already the second week in June. I checked and all the summer jobs in Albert Lea, Minnesota and Austin, Minnesota and Mason City and Northwood were all taken. The first cut of hay had already been bailed. So I decided I would help my Grandpa cultivate corn and beans. It was relaxing being in the fields, driving back and forth, being careful not to plow out any corn or beans. When the second crop of hay came, I helped bail hay. When the oats were ready, I helped my grandpa combine the oats and bail the straw. It was always good to start a job, work steady and see it completed. It gave a sense of joy of doing and getting a job well done. The Lord blesses us with joy, peace, love, family, friends, shelter, and much more. The Lord even blesses us in our daily work.

05/29/2026

A short devotion: “Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; the LORD upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.” (Psalm 146:5-9)

The Lord is the creator of the heavens and the earth. The Lord sustains all of life, keeping order throughout the whole universe. Yet, as we listen to the Psalmist, the Lord makes time, cares about and provides for those who in our society and others cast aside; like the widows and the orphans, those who are bowed down. The Lord is steadfast in his love towards them and towards us. Why does the Lord continually look out for us, continue to provide for us? Sometimes we are appreciative and sometimes we don’t seem to notice. Yet, the Lord is always steadfast in his love and faithful in his promises to us. You can always count on God’s love and mercy. You see, the Lord never thinks you are someone to cast aside, nor someone of no account. The Lord always seeks to bring you into a relationship with Him, a relationship in which you trust the Lord, a relationship in which you love the Lord in return. The Lord seeks a relationship in which you enjoy spending time in conversation, because the Lord is always interested in you. The Lord watches over you.

05/28/2026

A short devotion. “What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.” (John 1:3b-5)

Presently, we who are living in North America are still experiencing the days getting longer. The sun is still rising a few minutes earlier than the day before and setting a few minutes later in the day. The extra light lets us do more things after we get home from work. With the lighter mornings people can safely go on early morning runs, or walks, or bike rides because the light lets other people see them and they can see their surroundings. The longer nights give us a little extra energy. Maybe there is a youth ball game to attend or maybe you are part of a softball team who plays after supper. The light shines into the darkness and the darkness disperses so we can see. Even though the sun is up longer and allowing a long dusk, the world continues to turn, and the sunlight stops reaching us and the darkness of night once again appears. As long as the light shines, the darkness must disperse. But when the light ceases to shine or its light can no longer reach us, the darkness returns. John describes Jesus as the true light coming into the world. When Jesus shines the light of his love unto us, the darkness of guilt and sin must disperse. Jesus shines his light into every nook and cranny of your being and all the darkness must disperse. But here’s the thing, Jesus’ light never ceases to shine. His love always shines into the darkness and the darkness of sin and guilt must disperse.

05/27/2026

Sunday, May 24, 2026
Pastor Randy Baldwin

05/27/2026

A short devotion: “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will sn**ch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)

Yesterday was Memorial Day. It is a day we set aside from our busy schedules to remember the men and women who answered the call to defend our freedoms and many lost their lives in answering that call. I have never served in the military and so I do not know the horror of war personally. I can’t even imagine a brave young man or young woman standing by you leading a charge to hold off an enemy and suddenly they are struck by a bullet or shrapnel and are killed instantly. One second they are alive and the next death has sn**ched their life away from them. As we remember those brave young men and women, many of us also take the opportunity to decorate the graves of loved ones, who we also miss. The brokenness of the world can sn**ch loved ones away from us in a moment. Sometimes there can be an accident, sometimes cancer slowly or quickly sn**ches away the person we knew and love. Sometimes Alzheimer’s Disease can slowly take away someone we love. Jesus addresses these powers to create suffering and brokenness. Jesus declares he knows you and loves you. Jesus declares as your Good Shepherd, he gives you eternal life and no one can sn**ch you out of his hands. No one, no power, not a bullet from an enemy’s gun, not a car accident, not cancer, not Alzheimer’s has the authority or the power to take you out of Jesus’ hands. Jesus holds you in his hands.

05/26/2026

Monday's short devotion: “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

Today is Memorial Day, a day of remembrance of our military members who gallantly served our nation, by fighting for our freedoms. As the song says, “All gave some, some gave all.” I have lived in many small towns in Minnesota and Iowa. Memorial Day has always been a special day. Ordinary men and women from our small towns grew up knowing and understanding our many freedoms. We have the freedom of speech and to gather together. We have freedom to worship God in the manner we choose. We have freedom to pursue our dreams and our vocations, where we want to live and much more. Growing up in the small towns, young men and women know those who had chosen to serve before them. Understanding their stories and sacrifice for freedom, they left their small towns, their families and friends and served as soldiers and sailors and airmen. They took their bravery and their love of freedoms we enjoy in our country and they answered the call to defend freedom. Freedom is not free. It comes at a great sacrifice. Our Lord Jesus knew you and in his love for you, refused to let you remain in the grip of sin’s and death’s power to create suffering and brokenness in your life. Jesus left his throne as the Son of God and chose to suffer and die, breaking the power of sin and death as he rose victorious. Jesus sets you free. Our young men and women have sacrificed for you to be free. Let us cherish our freedoms

05/24/2026

A short devotion: “… in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?” (Acts 2:11b-12)

Can you imagine what it was like for those pilgrims coming into Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost, the festival of giving thanks for the harvest of wheat. It was one of the big festivals suggested for a pilgrimage. Jews were expected to make at least one trip to Jerusalem to worship in the Temple during one of the festivals in their life time. Trips took years to save for and months of planning. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they saw people from all over the Roman Empire dressed in their finest robes, each speaking their own language from their region. Many times they would see cousins they had not seen in years and they would shout greetings to one another. Added to the pilgrims were the herding in of sheep and oxen for the sacrifices that would be offered in the Temple. Lots of chaos happening. Then suddenly a mighty wind blowing adds to the chaos. The pilgrims hear the wind, but they don’t feel the wind. While they are trying to figure out what is happening, men from Galilee came out of a house and they each heard them talking about God’s mighty deeds done through Jesus. They are amazed they can hear the message in their own language, which was a multitude. They wonder, “What does this mean?” Jesus has entered into our chaos to bear witness to God’s love that lifts you out of the chaos into the peace of his arms. Jesus wants everyone, including you to know God’s reign of love and grace.

05/23/2026

Sunday, May 24, is Pentecost Sunday. Red paraments will be used on the lectern, altar, and pulpit symbolizing the tongues of flame (and by extension, the Holy Spirit) that appeared above those who were assembled on the original Pentecost. We invite you to wear red next Sunday to remind us of the fire of the Spirit.

05/23/2026

A short devotion: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7)

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, the day we celebrate the Father sending the Holy Spirit to the disciples and to us. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit blew through the streets of Jerusalem up to the Upper Room where the disciples were staying. The Holy Spirit blew open the window and swirled around the room leaving a tongue of fire resting above each of the disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus told them he was going to ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to the disciples. As they waited in the Upper Room as Jesus instructed them, the disciples were anxious, unsure of what they were to do, what they were to say to people, where would Jesus send them to go and make disciples of all nations. Then the Holy Spirit came upon them and they knew exactly what to do. They went out into the streets of Jerusalem and proclaimed the good news of God’s love and forgiveness found in the authority of Jesus, God’s risen crucified Son. That same Holy Spirit has been given to you and me. You and I didn’t have tongues of fire resting over our heads, but you were gifted the Holy Spirit in your baptism. The Holy Spirit creates faith, fills your heart with love and peace, teaches you how to pray and equips you with gifts to bring God’s love into the lives of others. Each of you has been given a gift for the common good. The greatest gift is love, to know you are loved and to love the other with God’s love.

Address

160 6th Street N
Maynard, IA
50655

Telephone

(563) 637-2265

Website

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