By Kathy Miller - In July of this year, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Melle merged with Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Wentzville to form a single church with two campuses.
Most of this merger exists on paper and doesn’t cause many immediate changes. The two churches have been collaborating for the past five years, offering assistance whenever needed. For the past nine months, Immanuel Lutheran has shared pastors with St. Paul, as their pastor took another job out of state. Without this merger, it’s difficult to say what the future might hold for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.St. Paul’s - the New Melle Campus — remains an essential part of the community. The congregation participates in local events. This year, the church took first place in the New Melle Festival Parade. They volunteer at the Community Easter Egg Hunt and New Melle Country Christmas held at New Melle Sports and Recreation. St. Paul’s continues to host its annual Oktoberfest, serving authentic German food and providing fun for the whole family. Several groups within the church also support the community. Including hosting visitors from Melle, Germany, who came to New Melle last year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the sister cities' relationship, among others.
This merger aims to promote growth at the New Melle campus. Although there are no specific plans yet, their goal is to address any gaps in the New Melle community.
This merger is quite unique and rare, as such opportunities don’t come around often. So, why would Immanuel Lutheran want to pursue this? To answer that, we need to look back to 1874 when Reverend Fredreich W. G. Matuschka, the pastor from New Melle, founded Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wentzville. (Its original name was the German Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church of Wentzville.) In 1889, St. Paul’s became one of the original founding members of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and Immanuel Lutheran joined the LCMS in 1899. By joining, the churches were connected to a broader community, ensuring they were not isolated. It made it easier for members to support one another, hold each other accountable, and encourage and pray for one another.
In 2009, after being at the Wentzville location on Pearce Blvd for over 100 years, Immanuel Lutheran Church and School moved to its current location on Hwy N to support future growth.
I spoke with Reverend Jason Auringer, who explained that Immanuel Lutheran felt a responsibility to St. Paul’s because they owe their existence to them. Immanuel Lutheran believes this is the right thing to do, as St. Paul’s was not going to survive without outside support. Auringer likened it to a child leaving their parents and later returning to help when needed, not knowing what the future holds, but being there for them.Maintaining the historic significance of St. Paul’s is crucial to the church, which was constructed in 1858, and still features the original John G. Pfeffer organ, which was ordered in 1869 and is still played in worship services by organist Barb Auping. The office in New Melle was once a one-room schoolhouse, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church has been listed on the National Registry of Historic Places since 1982. It is incredible to think how many services have been held in this church, and that over all those years, the church has remained.
Although the two campuses look very different from the outside, their core beliefs remain the same. The pastor emphasized, “Our guiding principle, unchanged since 1874, remains the same: Jesus died for us and rose again. Jesus is the source of all goodness and joy. He embraces us in His love, equips us with His Holy Spirit, and calls us to engage with the world around us. We consider it a joy to contribute to sharing God’s love within our community and beyond. We would love for you to join us at 9:30 a.m. at the New Melle campus.”
There is one significant change at St. Paul’s. Sherry Brandes, the church’s Secretary since 2007, has retired. Sherry began her position at the church after retiring from the Warrenton School District as an English teacher. On June 29, the congregation held a party for Sherry’s retirement, and one of the highlights was the gift presented to Sherry. It was a beautiful clock with the inscription “Sherry Brandes: Teacher, Mentor, Disciple - St. Paul’s, 2025.” She was immensely honored by the gift. I spoke with Sherry, and since she retired a few weeks ago, she has been spending more time with her sister and her Mom and is very busy with other passions in her life.
Sherry plans to dedicate a significant amount of her time to her role as Regional Vice-President of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association for St. Charles, Pike, Lincoln, and Warren Counties. She is also active in the Warrenton VFW Auxiliary and enjoys baking and donating pies for the BBQ and Fish Fry held each month. Sherry is also the secretary for the St. Paul’s Ladies Aid group and is involved in other organizations. Sherry said, “I want everyone to know that I haven't left St. Paul’s; I’m just playing a different role. St. Paul’s is my second family. I was baptized and confirmed in the church, and I attended school from first through third grade, and after working in the office for 18 years, I am not going anywhere.” Everyone wishes Sherry the best of luck in her future endeavors, and thanks her for her continued support of the community.The recent merger marks an optimistic future, bringing the congregations together in faith and community. As they come together, their combined resources and talents will enhance spiritual growth and involvement for both congregations, allowing them to better serve their members and the surrounding community.
Come see the New Melle Campus on October 5 as St. Paul's celebrates its annual Oktoberfest from 12 to 5:30 p.m. Click here to learn more.
Sherry with her sister Shelly Running (left) and
their mother Marian Wildschuetz.