St. Paul Lutheran Church of Bulverde, Texas - The History
The young man’s name was Johann Traugott. He was 29 years of age when he died on October 3, 1900. A cotton gin operator, Johann’s sleeve was caught by gin machinery. Visiting Lutheran Pastor H. Schmidt came from San Antonio to officiate at the funeral.
What is it that makes this story unique from hundreds of tragedies that happened to pioneer families that first settled in 1850 in Bulverde, a stopping point between New Braunfels and Fredericksburg? Two things. First, Pastor Schmidt’s sermon that day included the message that the people at the funeral needed a church of their own. Second is Johann’s German name itself, “Traugott", which means in English, “Trust God.”
These Bulverde pioneer families took God’s message to heart and offered land for the church on the Cibolo Creek north bank. Pastor Schmidt appointed a committee to supervise construction, and the foundation of local clay and stone was begun on February 22, 1901 and completed in less than two weeks. The building was substantially finished before Easter Sunday, and St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church was dedicated on June 2, 1901.
In 1906 Christian Serold donated land for the St. Paul Cemetery, south of Cibolo Creek on Obst Road, across from the church building site.
From 1901 through 1933 church services were conducted in German. After 18 English song books were purchased in 1932, the services gradually changed to English. However, it took until 1939 to replace the German pulpit Bible with an English one. That same year, the St. Paul constitution was also translated into English.
Various visiting pastors from San Antonio served St. Paul Lutheran until William N. Durkop became pastor from 1931 to 1946. Pastor R.C. Albert was hired in 1947 to serve three Lutheran parishes: Bulverde, Blanco, and Marble Falls. Under his guidance, it was decided to move St. Paul Lutheran Church to the initial Highway 281 site. Three acres of land were accepted on April 11, 1948. A general contractor and church volunteers, using timber from the Cibolo Creek building, completed and dedicated the new worship center on Sunday, August 26, 1951. The original design called for a red roof, but additional funds had to be raised to complete the painting. Since then, St. Paul Lutheran Church of Bulverde has also been called “The Red Roof Church.”
In 1959 it was decided that St. Paul needed a full time pastor who would not be shared with other local towns. A parsonage was built, and Pastor C. N. Roth served until 1967. Pastor Theo Sager faithfully served from 1967 to 1976, and Pastor Ray Kraemer’s eleven years from 1977-1988 saw many new ministries such as Mother’s Day Out, home study groups, personal Bible studies, outreach programs and The Living Christmas. Pastor Marvin Koenig, very active in the community, led the growing congregation from 1989 to 2000.
In 2000, Bobby Legett was called as pastor, and he stayed until 2007. During his tenure the Christian Faith Center was dedicated, the Christian Day School began, and the congregation voted to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) and to affiliate with Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC). Pastor Don Ofsdahl ably served two terms as Interim Pastor in 2007-2010, and during 2009 Pastor Andy Taylor led the congregation for several eventful months. Lee Harder, one of the initial group of LCMC clergy nationwide, came from Minnesota to St. Paul from May 2010 to June 2020. Following his departure, Dr. Marcus J. Carlson from Indiana was called as Interim Pastor. In November of 2021, Luke Allison was called as Lead Pastor from the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. A new era for St Paul as a faithful and thriving "neighborhood church" had begun!
For 120 years disciples of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Bulverde have proudly served their God, nation, state and community. These people of faith continue to proclaim the Word of God as their foundation of faith, and they invite YOU to join in their exciting ministry to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20.
What is it that makes this story unique from hundreds of tragedies that happened to pioneer families that first settled in 1850 in Bulverde, a stopping point between New Braunfels and Fredericksburg? Two things. First, Pastor Schmidt’s sermon that day included the message that the people at the funeral needed a church of their own. Second is Johann’s German name itself, “Traugott", which means in English, “Trust God.”
These Bulverde pioneer families took God’s message to heart and offered land for the church on the Cibolo Creek north bank. Pastor Schmidt appointed a committee to supervise construction, and the foundation of local clay and stone was begun on February 22, 1901 and completed in less than two weeks. The building was substantially finished before Easter Sunday, and St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church was dedicated on June 2, 1901.
In 1906 Christian Serold donated land for the St. Paul Cemetery, south of Cibolo Creek on Obst Road, across from the church building site.
From 1901 through 1933 church services were conducted in German. After 18 English song books were purchased in 1932, the services gradually changed to English. However, it took until 1939 to replace the German pulpit Bible with an English one. That same year, the St. Paul constitution was also translated into English.
Various visiting pastors from San Antonio served St. Paul Lutheran until William N. Durkop became pastor from 1931 to 1946. Pastor R.C. Albert was hired in 1947 to serve three Lutheran parishes: Bulverde, Blanco, and Marble Falls. Under his guidance, it was decided to move St. Paul Lutheran Church to the initial Highway 281 site. Three acres of land were accepted on April 11, 1948. A general contractor and church volunteers, using timber from the Cibolo Creek building, completed and dedicated the new worship center on Sunday, August 26, 1951. The original design called for a red roof, but additional funds had to be raised to complete the painting. Since then, St. Paul Lutheran Church of Bulverde has also been called “The Red Roof Church.”
In 1959 it was decided that St. Paul needed a full time pastor who would not be shared with other local towns. A parsonage was built, and Pastor C. N. Roth served until 1967. Pastor Theo Sager faithfully served from 1967 to 1976, and Pastor Ray Kraemer’s eleven years from 1977-1988 saw many new ministries such as Mother’s Day Out, home study groups, personal Bible studies, outreach programs and The Living Christmas. Pastor Marvin Koenig, very active in the community, led the growing congregation from 1989 to 2000.
In 2000, Bobby Legett was called as pastor, and he stayed until 2007. During his tenure the Christian Faith Center was dedicated, the Christian Day School began, and the congregation voted to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) and to affiliate with Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC). Pastor Don Ofsdahl ably served two terms as Interim Pastor in 2007-2010, and during 2009 Pastor Andy Taylor led the congregation for several eventful months. Lee Harder, one of the initial group of LCMC clergy nationwide, came from Minnesota to St. Paul from May 2010 to June 2020. Following his departure, Dr. Marcus J. Carlson from Indiana was called as Interim Pastor. In November of 2021, Luke Allison was called as Lead Pastor from the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. A new era for St Paul as a faithful and thriving "neighborhood church" had begun!
For 120 years disciples of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Bulverde have proudly served their God, nation, state and community. These people of faith continue to proclaim the Word of God as their foundation of faith, and they invite YOU to join in their exciting ministry to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20.
Faithfully Rooted Since 1901,
St. Paul, the Red Roof Church
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