The Reverend John Mark Sedwick was installed as the pastor of the Dual Parish of Immanuel/St. Paul's on August 13th 2023. Pastor Sedwick retired from the Army as a Chaplain (Lieutenant Colonel) after 29 years and 9 months of active federal service--including 17 years in the Army and 12 in the Coast Guard. Pastor Sedwick most recently served as the Command Chaplain for the US Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, IL. During the five years that Pastor Sedwick was stationed at Scott Air Force Base he provided pulpit supply to local LCMS churches in Hillsoborough, MO, Mascoutah, IL, Fairview Heights, IL, Mount Vernon, IL and also at the Dual Parish of Immanuel/St. Paul's. Pastor Sedwick has a passion for helping military Veterans and their families and will soon bring both parishes into an Operation Barnabas mission to provide pastoral care to Veterans and their families. Pastor Sedwick graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN in 2004, and his first call into the Office of the Holy Ministry was to serve as the Hispanic Missionary to the Fort Wayne, IN area. Pastor Sedwick intends to bring both parishes into Hispanic outreach in the Steeleville area to teach English as a Second Language.
Fellowship and service is an important aspect of congregational life at Immanuel and St. Paul's. In addition to the volunteers who help by being acolytes, ushers, greeters, elders, trustees, organists, altar guild workers, and leaders, many of our members participate in more formal activities and organizations. To learn more about God's word, Bible Study classes are offered throughout the year on Thursdays at 6:30 pm in St. Paul's Parish Hall.
Both Immanuel and St. Paul's have active Ladies Aid groups and Lutheran Women Missions League organizations. St. Paul's also has a Widows Fellowship group that meets once a month for Bible Study and other activities. For the men, a men's pinochle group meets once a month at meetings that rotate among different Lutheran churches in our area.
Activities are also available for our youth. During the school year (from September through May), Sunday School classes are held St. Paul's at 8:45 am. The Sunday School organizes and presents annual Christmas Eve service lead by the children. St. Paul's Sunday School children in particular frequently sing in church and initiate service projects, such as food drives and benefit lunches. Vacation Bible School is also offered for one day in the summer. For the youth, confirmation classes are available. St. Paul's also has a Youth Room in the basement under the church.