Something for everyone — from children to seniors, from worship to outreach. Find your place at St. Paul.
St. Paul’s Youth and Family Ministry program offers programs for young people in Carlisle: Ages 3 through 6th grade. Our groups focus on developing the whole person — physically, mentally, emotionally, academically, and spiritually.
📅 Sunday School
Meets every Sunday from 9:30–10:30 AM during the school year (early September through end of May). All children ages 3 through 6th grade are welcome.
Through stories, music, crafts, games, and other hands-on activities, children learn about and experience the love and Word of God. All children meet together, then split by age into two groups for more in-depth activities and lessons.
This year we begin with lessons about God’s great love and promises from the Old Testament, then move into New Testament stories about Jesus — His miracles, His love, the lessons He taught, and His great promise of everlasting life.
Jim McPherson leads the children’s choir, practicing with children during the first 10 minutes of each Sunday School hour. Children share their praises during one Sunday service per month, alternating between early and late services.
We gladly welcome additional volunteers! Leadership rotates each week so you would not need to commit to every Sunday.
Contact Katie Adams:
📞 717-816-1010
✉ katie.adams18@aol.com
St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carlisle offers a wide variety of groups, ministries, programs, and classes for people of all ages. Here are some of the adult and senior ministry opportunities:
Open to anyone High School age or older who enjoys singing and would like to help lead the congregation in worship. The group sings weekly at the 8:00 AM service between Labor Day and Pentecost. Weekly anthems are selected to paraphrase or reinforce the appointed lessons for the day.
Rehearsals: Wednesday evenings 6:15–7:30 PM (Thursdays during Lent)
Contact Jim McPherson: 📞 717-961-6595 · ✉ 2mcphersons@comcast.net
Open to anyone High School age or older who enjoys singing or playing instruments. The environment is relaxed and supportive. The group practices 9:30 AM every Sunday morning throughout the year before worship.
Contact Jungwha Kim: 📞 570-560-3627 · ✉ jkim8019@gmail.com
A group of St. Paul disciples who meet the 3rd Tuesday of every other month to offer prayers and review names of those they hold in prayer daily. This list consists of concerns brought forth by congregation members — through the church office or a member of the group.
Contact: Miriam Kelly 📞 717-243-2635 · Pat Boyne 📞 717-486-3832
Members knit or crochet shawls while saying special prayers for the future recipients. The shawls are then blessed by the pastors and shared with those in our congregation and community who need a tangible sign of God’s unlimited love. We also create baby and wedding shawls as well as caps for cancer patients.
Every Monday morning 8:00 AM–12:00 PM, 10–12 willing workers gather to make tied mission quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Over 30 years of service and 5,000+ quilts sent around the world as warm bedding, tents, or floor coverings.
Contact: Pat Auckerman 📞 717-602-4323 · Anna McPherson 📞 717-440-2065
Provides opportunities to get involved in the community and serve. Our biggest ministry: Wednesday evening meals served in Stock Hall, open to anyone in the community. Currently serving 75–90 meals weekly and growing.
Meetings: 2nd Thursday of the month at 5:00 PM, Luther’s Parlor. All welcome!
The Visiting and Caring Committee meets on the first Wednesday of every other month starting in January of each year (six times a year). Members visit homebound members and those residing in nursing homes, bringing the love and light of Christ to those who cannot join us in worship.
🌹
Birthday Roses
A rose is delivered to all members who are 80 years and older on their birthdays.
🌷
Easter Tulips
After Easter Sunday, tulips from the altar are delivered to those being visited by the committee that month.
🌺
Christmas Poinsettias
After Christmas services, poinsettias are delivered to those being visited by committee members that month.
🎄
Angel Tree
The “Angel Tree” is set up in the Welcome Center in November with tags for members to purchase gifts for needy children (newborn to 12 years). Tags are provided by The Salvation Army and gifts distributed by them.
There are currently ten members on the committee and we would welcome anyone who would like to share a kind, uplifting, friendly visit to our mostly senior members.
We always hope our visits are a blessing to them — but often times we find they are an inspiration and blessing to us!
We Care is a diverse group of engaged citizens who desire to better understand and work to alleviate the struggles faced by immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. This group welcomes community members of all faiths, nationalities, and walks of life. The members firmly believe it is important to treat neighbours as we would like to be treated, regardless of political affiliation, race or ethnicity.
We Care was brought to life after a service at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carlisle. Sermon, scriptures, music and prayers that Sunday morning in June moved a large number of attendees to gather and ask: “What can we do to help the refugees and immigrant families on the borders today?”
LIRS Partnership
We proudly advocate for Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS) initiatives and services, which have been in existence since World War II.
Compass Immigration Services
We help financially (it costs $1,100 just in form fees per asylum application!), assist with forms, and provide household goods for families in need.
Contact: Holly Hoffman through the church office at 717-243-2319
In fall 2020, a We Care member noticed a homeless man sleeping in our church courtyard. The Holy Spirit led the team — through meetings with Pastor Clarke — to partner with the Apartment Ministry to form RESURRECT, a volunteer and fundraising group to rehabilitate St. Paul’s 14 church-owned apartments used as low-income housing.
RESURRECT members secured grants through the Partnership for Better Health and a Community Development Block Grant, and organised dozens of volunteers. Hundreds of hours of volunteer renovation work have included scraping and painting exteriors, repairing woodwork, cleaning basements, and restoring common areas. One building (221 W. Louther) has been completely renovated. Volunteer labour and funds are always welcome.
Items for persons facing homelessness distributed on 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 4–6 PM during Community Meals. No registration, ID or address required.
Donations Needed:
Sample-size toiletries, can openers, nail clippers, snack items, socks, hats, gloves, rain ponchos, hair & dental care items, sunscreen, insect repellant
Household items for low-income housed persons distributed on 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 4–6 PM. Recipients must show proof of address. Up to 3 items per household per session.
Donations Needed:
Full-size toilet paper, laundry & dish detergent, all-purpose cleaner, paper towels, bar soap, shampoo, trash bags, hand sanitiser, baby wipes, feminine hygiene supplies
Donate Items or Volunteer
Items can be left in the church office · 201 W. Louther St., Carlisle PA