St. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, ERNAKULAM              

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Ernakulam is located at the heart of Ernakulam in Kochi City known as the “queen of Arabian Sea” of Kerala, South India.

         

A Brief History 

Rev. Harris Smith followed by Rev.Dr.J.C.Gamaliel started the work at Ernakulam in 1952. Dr. Clarence Ritmann purchased the present building with 19 ½ Cents of land on 27th December 1963. Pastors namely Rev. P.K.George, Rev. M.S Poomani Raj, Rev. Dr. Victor Raj, Rev. K.K.Joseph catechist namely messieurs P.D. Gabriel, D.Solomon, P.B.Bright and then probationer Mr. Stephanse worked here.

          After the death of then pastor Rev. K. K Joseph in March 1982 the service was not been conducted for a long period of  five years. All the members had left. The present  pastor, Rev. Herbert Marshall was appointed on 01st June 1984. The service was restarted in the residence of  Mr R Satyarajan. Few members joined the service. By the grace of god and help from the members a church was planted on  December 22, 1987. The name of the church was sustained  as St. Pauls’ Lutheran church, Ernakulam. The southern portion of the building was used as the church and the northern portion of the building was used as the parsonage in the original land. Still it continues. The Golden Jubilee of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church was celebrated on 22nd August 1999 Sunday.       

Members and Worshippers

Christians who reach Ernakulam from different parts of the country for job, become the floating members of the church and get scattered due to transfers. Some are reluctant to come to church due to lack of proper church building and cemetery. Seeing the name board, people who come to Ernakulam for different purpose also attend the worship services.  

Day	Venue	Medium	Time
Sunday	Vathuruthy	Tamil	06:30 AM
Sunday	Ravipuram	Tamil	08:00 AM
Sunday	Ravipuram	Malayalam	09:30 AM
Sunday	Ravipuram	English( kept in abeyance)	05:00 PM
First Sunday	Ravipuram	Combined Service (Tamil & Malayalam)	08:45 AM
Sunday School	Ravipuram	Tamil	09:30 AM
Sunday School	Ravipuram	Malayalam	10:30 AM
Bible Classes on Sunday	Ravipuram	Tamil	09:30 AM
Bible Classes on Sunday	Ravipuram	Malayalam	10:30 AM
Bible Classes on Saturday	Ravipuram	English	03:00 PM

We were conducting a full day fasting prayer on one of the Sundays, preferably first Sunday of every month.

- Full day intercession prayer were conducted on every Tuesday merging with ladies prayer meeting.

- Sick people and their relatives and mentally depressed people were invited to this prayer.

We send Christmas greetings by mail to the selected individuals and groups. 

Life Light programmes to study Bible privately in family devotions and in small groups are arranged.

Informal morning worships at 05.00 A.M. with sharing and praying in three member groups were arranged. Children were also grouped separately. This helps family to conduct devotions in houses at 05.00 A.M.

Since all members go home for Christmas, carol services are conducted adjacent Sunday of December 20th. Each family is given chance for  presenting a song.

Sunday school and Bible Classes are conducted immediately after the worship services.

Witness Week

The witness week was celebrated with Witness workshop, Hospital visit, Witness Clinic, witness Convention.

Month end services are conducted on every last day of every month.

Whole Night Prayer

Whole night prater was conducted on the previous day of public holiday with singing, praising, sharing needs, problems and experience in Christ, Bible study and intercession.

Carol Rounds

Carol rounds were conducted reaching to each family in a hired van. A full day fasting prayer on one of the Sundays, preferably first Sunday of every month.

The members of the St.Paul’s Lutheran Church, Ernakulam extended the out reach programme in a slum called Vathuruthy ( as mentioned in Slum Ministry )and planted a church there. With the financial support from the members of the Lutheran church Missouri Synod through Dr. Luther W. Meinzein, the India Evangelical Lutheran Church Trust Association purchased a house with 08 cents of land at Vathuruthy slum for the New Life Lutheran Church and the Lutheran New Life Centre at Vathuruthy.        

     The New Life Lutheran Church at Vathuruthy was established in1997 and dedicated on 22nd August 1999. Mr. Muhammad Yasin, the then city Police Commissioner, Ernakulam, inaugurated the Lutheran New Life Centre in the same day. The center includes Office room, Library, Counselling/Clinical Centre, crèche and day care center, Recreation room Reading room and facilities for cooking class, Nursery Class, Primary Class, Tailoring class.

The members of the St.Paul’s Lutheran Church, Ernakulam are also extending the out reach programme in an island called Thanthoni Thurutthu ( as shown in Island Ministry ) to plant a church there. 

For more details regarding this ministry please contact : missiondirector@lkmission.org

Sunday	Worship service	Tamil	06:30 AM
Monday	Bible Class	Tamil	07:00 PM
Wednesday	Mid Week Service	Tamil	07:00 AM
Saturday	Bible Class	Tamil	07:00 AM