SCENIC HILLS LUTHERAN PARISH
St. Paul Lutheran Church
50th Anniversary Celebration 1993
Remembering
by Mrs. Henry Grishkowsky
The years were those of World War II
Building materials were scarce in '43
But the people on the committees
Didn't succumb to adversity.
Hanover was just a little town
Beautiful with the river running through,
Early residents settled the land
With homes and businesses Hanover grew.
The churches were established
With congregations large and small,
But until a few had mission visions
There was no Lutheran Church at all.
So possibilities were explored
And a complete area survey was made,
Reports were sent to District Headquarters
With local recommendations conveyed.
The construction wasn't easy
Rain and wartime restrictions very real,
But that didn't extinguish the workers' joy
They encouraged one another with zeal.
Then came the day when the church was ready
On July 11th the dedication would fall,
Seeing the results of their labors
was a great inspiration for all.
And so 50 years ago on July 11th
Today's very same date
A little band of faithful people
Pledged what they would undertake.
It was agreed that St. Paul Lutheran Church
Should become the name of the congregation,
Being a part of this Christian fellowship
was an exciting spiritual sensation.
The faithful carried on
With memberships often small,
And whenever we felt discouraged
God provided and blessed us all.
We've gathered today to thank our Lord
To sing His praises and hear His Word,
We pray that through our love for Him
Other hearts will be inspired and stirred.
May our work be ever extended
May God's blessing forever be given,
May we walk our earthly path with Him
That path which leads to Heaven.
When I sit in the pew I remember
We came in 1955; that was the year
Everything was so new to us
All that now has become very dear.
There was always lots of work to do
But together we'd get things done,
Once we washed walls with someone's sweater
We always had a lot of fun.
We had annual ice cream socials
Worrying way ahead about the rain,
We'd cook and bake; the men would serve
Nothing ever seemed to be much strain.
The Sundy School was active
The children like to learn of God
Seasons came and seasons went
As along the Lord's way we trod.
So, as we gather here we remember
all the baptisms, weddings and such,
Even the partings with our loved ones
Those funerals that hurt us so much.
But each day God was with us
So as we look back, we look forward too,
Asking God to sustain us and help us grow
Blessing all that we try to do.
Written for St. Paul's 50th Anniversary—1993
by Mrs. Henry Grishkowsky