Lutheran worship is centered on Word (Scripture, sermon, and music) and Sacrament (Baptism and Communion). Theologically we avoid legalism with its many do’s and don’ts, believing instead that people embraced by God’s loving grace will respond with love out of hearts filled with gratitude and love. We believe that faith (which we understand to be simple trust in God more than knowledge about God) is the only thing needed for salvation.
Lutherans strive to obtain a balance between outward focus (worship, outreach, fellowship, and service) that makes a difference in the world and an inward focus (prayer, discipleship, generosity) that makes us different from the world. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) of which St. Paul is a part is very committed to serving society. Our congregation is involved in the following local outreach ministries: (omit the Racetrack Ministry at Churchill Downs) Shively Area Ministries and Shively Area Business Association Santa Party; we’ve donated labor and money to the building of six Habitat for Humanity homes in Louisville in 2006-2010. We participate in the annual Shively Festival and offer VBS, mid-week Advent and Lenten services and services of Healing and Wholeness for the community, as well as a community Thanksgiving, Blue Christmas and a Blessing of the Animals service. Regionally, we support the work of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod through the giving of our benevolence funds. On the national level, the ELCA Domestic Disaster Relief Fund is a recipient of our congregation’s outreach funds and internationally, we sponsor two children at the Village of Hope school in Haiti as well as give to Lutheran World Relief.