A Congregation Where God Has Called Us for 150-Plus Years
On a quarter-mile stretch of Marne Highway in Hainesport, New Jersey, St. Paul's Lutheran Church has stood as a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for more than a century and a half. The address is 910 Marne Highway, and the parking lot sits just before the church building when arriving from the Mount Holly Bypass. The congregation's mission statement hangs over everything it does: Celebrating God's Love Through Service.
St. Paul's frames its own identity in the words of the prophet Micah: "And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8), and from Paul's letter to the Romans: "Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." The five core values the congregation names are Lutheran, Welcoming, Family, Serving and Enduring. Members describe themselves as a community of peace and reconciliation that has been called to look outward, beyond the walls of the building, to share God's love with the surrounding community and the world.
Sunday Worship: Two Liturgical Services, One Livestreamed
Worship at St. Paul's follows the traditional Lutheran liturgy as found in the hymnal Evangelic Lutheran Worship. Two Sunday services are held each week:
- Sunday at 9:30 AM: This service alternates weekly between traditional hymns and contemporary Christian music. The 9:30 AM service is livestreamed each week.
- Sunday at 5:00 PM: A traditional service with hymns.
Communion is offered at every service, every week. St. Paul's practices an open communion table, welcoming anyone who believes that Jesus is present in the bread and wine. Visitors do not need to be Lutheran, members of the congregation, or even baptized to receive communion; a person who has not been baptized may come forward for a word of blessing instead. Grape juice and gluten-free wafers are available for those with dietary needs. The teaching at St. Paul's is that receiving either the bread or the wine is a full communion.
Baptism is understood as the entrance rite to church membership and the beginning of a lifelong commitment. The pastor meets with families and individuals after they have worshiped a few times to talk about the sacrament and to arrange the baptism.
The church year is marked with the full round of liturgical services. Ash Wednesday is observed with services at 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Holy Week brings Maundy Thursday worship at 7:00 PM, a children's Good Friday service at 10:00 AM and a Tenebrae service at 7:00 PM, and the Easter Vigil on Saturday at 5:00 PM. Easter Sunday adds an 11:00 AM service to the regular schedule. The week before Christmas, an early contemporary service called JazMat gives those traveling for the holiday a chance to worship at St. Paul's. Christmas Eve candlelight worship is held at 4:00, 7:00 and 10:00 PM. Advent and Lent are shaped by midweek gatherings, including a light lunch and study on the Wednesdays of both seasons.
Finding the Building: Driving In from Four Directions
St. Paul's is a quarter mile east of Mount Holly along Marne Highway (County Road 537), and detailed driving directions are provided for travelers coming from every direction. From the north, drivers leave I-295 or the New Jersey Turnpike at the Burlington-Mount Holly exit, follow Route 541 south past Woodlane Road, then turn right onto Marne Highway. From the south on Route 206, drivers head west on Route 530/Route 38 for four miles before turning onto Route 541 and then Marne Highway. From Moorestown, Route 295 north to Route 38 east leads to the same Mount Holly Bypass. From the west on County Road 626 out of Willingboro, drivers come up Route 541 south to Marne Highway. In every case the church sits on the left a quarter mile from the intersection, with the parking lot entrance just before the church building.
People, Staff and Calling
The Rev. Jessica Hahn has served as pastor of St. Paul's since January 2022. A graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary), Pastor Hahn previously served a congregation in Michigan for nearly nine years. She is available for meetings and visits with members of the church and community, and she can be reached through the church office at extension 21. Beginning in September 2026, Pastor Hahn also began serving as Vice Pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Burlington, an appointment made by the New Jersey Synod that does not affect her time and commitment to St. Paul's.
Edmund (Ed) Robertson is the Director of Music, choir director and organist. In his thirty-fifth year as a music educator, Ed also serves as the director of vocal music at Jackson Memorial High School in Jackson, New Jersey, and has previously led music at Maple Shade High School, Moorestown Friends School, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Mount Holly, and Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Burlington Township. He studied at Temple University and Rowan University, with graduate work at the University of the Arts and Westminster Choir College. He encourages anyone with musical gifts to use them in the church's music ministry.
Ken Hibbert, a long-time member of St. Paul's, serves as Business Manager. He has previously served on Council, as Treasurer and on the Finance Committee. He handles billing and financial contributions and advises the Finance Committee on fiscal matters, and can be reached at extension 27.
Rosanne Scassero is the Office Manager. She joined the staff in July 2016 and is the first point of contact for activities at St. Paul's, scheduling a room or event, baptisms, new member classes, and most general questions. Office hours are generally 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
Beverly (Bev) Grazioli directs the Sunday School and Confirmation programs, teaches youth, and coordinates the high schoolers' preparation for the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis. Youth leaders Jenn Russell and Mike Jacob joined the team to lead Youth Group alongside Pastor Hahn, and Andy Opperman serves as Council President.
Music and Drama: Three Choirs and a Worship Band
Music is one of St. Paul's most distinctive offerings. Three vocal and handbell ensembles serve the congregation year-round:
- Tutti Voce Choir: The adult choir, whose name means "all voices," is open to high school students and adults of any age. The choir is known for the way mature voices blend with younger singers.
- Handbell Choir: The handbell ensemble rings several times a year, adding a distinctive sound to services.
- Grace Notes: The youth ensemble, open to first-graders through high schoolers, sings and plays a variety of instruments including handbells, choir chimes, percussion, and members' own instruments. Grace Notes plays in worship about once a month from September through May.
The Same Spirit Band, an ensemble of experienced musicians, leads worship every other Sunday morning at the 9:30 service. The group rehearses every other Tuesday night at 7:00 PM. Other ensembles, including a JazMat Team, occasionally come together to lead worship.
Children and Youth: From Sunday School to the ELCA Youth Gathering
Children's and youth ministry is woven into the rhythm of Sunday at St. Paul's. Sunday School meets in the Parish Hall at 10:45 AM most weeks from September through May, with spirited singing, sharing and learning before children split into classrooms. Two parallel classes run each Sunday: Sunday School for ages preschool through grade 5, and Sunday School 2.0 for middle and high schoolers. The theme for the current year is GOD, NATURE: God, Now, Always Transforming Us, Redeeming Everyone! The lessons are designed to run parallel to the lessons used in worship.
Vacation Bible Camp is a one-week, high-energy summer program. The 2026 camp, "Rainforest Falls: Exploring the True Nature of God," runs July 27 through July 31. Registration forms are available for campers, volunteers, and health forms.
First Communion is offered once a year or by request through classes that bring children and their families together to learn about the meal of Holy Communion and its roots in scripture. The class traditionally welcomes baptized children in second grade, though Pastor Hahn meets with families to discuss readiness earlier when that is appropriate.
Confirmation is a two-year program for students around grade seven, meeting twice a month on a schedule set each year. The program concludes with the Affirmation of Baptism (Confirmation) in worship, at which point the young people become full members of the congregation.
Youth Group meets twice a month on Sunday evenings for seventh through twelfth graders. The group gathers for Bible study, service projects, worship, retreats with other Lutheran congregations, and other activities designed to deepen faith and friendships. The youth of St. Paul's have been active in the ELCA Youth Gathering in past years, including a 2024 trip to New Orleans, and are currently raising funds for the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis.
Adult Ministries and Bible Study
Several ongoing groups meet during the academic year for adults of all ages:
- Tuesday Bible Study meets at 6:00 PM in the Conference Room. The current study is Genesis to Revelation: A Bible Overview.
- Thursday Bible Study meets at 10:00 AM in the Heritage Room and is currently working through the book of Romans.
- Men's Prayer Breakfast meets Thursdays at 7:30 AM. All men are welcome to pray, discuss current events and support one another.
- Needle and Thread Group meets Wednesdays at 9:00 AM to sew and assemble quilts donated to veterans and community organizations. Beginners and experienced sewers are welcome.
- Ladies Senior Fitness Class meets Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:00 AM, with a focus on functional fitness, including cardio, strength and balance work. The class is open to women of AARP age and up, with a $5 fee per class.
Each year the Tuesday and Thursday Bible studies, the Men's Prayer Breakfast, the Needle and Thread Group, and the fitness class pause for the summer and resume in September.
Social Ministries: The Collecting Church of Burlington County
The congregation's outreach work has earned it the nickname Pastor Hahn likes to use: "the collecting church." Social Ministry runs an ongoing food pantry collection for Extended Hand Ministries in Mount Holly, along with a steady rotation of seasonal drives: a diaper drive, a socks and underwear collection for Lumberton Cares (run in conjunction with Vacation Bible Camp), a school supply drive for Oaks Integrated Care in Mt. Holly, a Thanksgiving basket collection for needy families, a coat/scarf/mitten drive, and a Christmas Giving Tree.
Members also donate desserts to Mt. Nebo and provide hands for Red Cross blood drives hosted at the church. The Need and Thread quilting ministry sews quilts that go to veterans and community organizations. AA and NA hold weekly recovery meetings in the building year-round, and the local Embroidery Guild holds its board meetings and monthly gatherings in the Parish Hall.
St. Paul's also serves as a mission partner with Bridge of Peace Community Church in Camden and annually shares worship opportunities with the Episcopal Church through the Rancocas Valley Clergy Association. The congregation supports ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Response efforts, and its youth have joined Lutheran youth gatherings in New Orleans and are preparing for the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis.
Becoming a Member, Getting Married, Using the Building
Becoming a member begins with a meeting with the pastor. In that conversation the pastor and prospective member get to know one another, learn about the Lutheran Church and St. Paul's ministries, and ask questions. A date is then set to welcome the new member during worship, and fellowship opportunities are offered to help new members get to know the rest of the congregation.
Weddings at St. Paul's are understood as one of the worship services of the congregation. Because of that, the church does not host "off the street" weddings, but offers the wedding service to those who have demonstrated a commitment to the ministry of the church. The wedding conversation begins with a call to the church office at (609) 267-0740.
Members of the congregation may use the Parish Hall free of charge once it has been scheduled on the church calendar, though they are responsible for cleanup and for providing their own paper products and food. The softball field is also available through the church office, with proof of adequate insurance required before use. Funeral services are held for members and the broader community as part of the congregation's pastoral care.
The St. Paul's Cemetery and the Project 160 Fundraiser
St. Paul's maintains an active Memorial Garden and an historic church cemetery. The Legacy Committee has identified more than 160 gravestones in the cemetery that need major cleaning, resetting or repair, and has launched an Adopt-A-Gravestone giving campaign called Project 160 to fund the preservation work. The cemetery includes both historic stones and more recent memorials, and gifts given through the campaign directly fund the cleaning and preservation of each adopted stone. A memorial plaque mounted on the cemetery wall honors loved ones whose ashes are interred in the Memorial Garden, and a new manager is being sought to maintain records and prepare the garden for interments.
What Lutheran Means at St. Paul's
The congregation teaches that Lutherans celebrate the gift of God's saving grace through Jesus Christ. Worship is Bible-based and Christ-centered, with a liturgical structure rooted in scripture and church history. Scripture is honored as the inspired Word of God and as a living Word, applicable in new ways today. St. Paul's recognizes two sacraments, Baptism and Holy Communion, teaches that the Spirit of Jesus is present in, with, through and under the bread and wine while the bread remains bread and the wine remains wine, and believes in the priesthood of all believers, allowing lay people certain sacred responsibilities (such as baptism in an emergency, absolution and preaching) normally reserved for ordained clergy. Confession of sins can be made within the corporate body of the congregation, and decisions are made by an elected Congregation Council. Pastors are allowed to be married, and women are ordained to pastoral ministry. The congregation does not subscribe to the divine authority of the Pope.
The ELCA itself is a church-wide expression of nearly 10,000 congregations, divided into 65 synods. St. Paul's is one of more than 140 congregations in the New Jersey Synod. The ELCA is a member of the Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches.
Wider Conversations: Welcoming, Generosity and Looking Outward
The congregation's recent years have included significant changes and ongoing conversations. In 2025, after Pastor Hahn's parental leave, the Worship and Music Committee and Council moved the congregation from a three-service weekend to the current two Sunday services. The Evangelism Committee was revitalized in November 2025 to focus on outreach and the church's presence in Hainesport, learning together, planning events and reaching out to former members.
Through it all, the Pastoral letters returned again and again to themes of radical welcome, generosity, and Christian discipleship expressed in service. Members are encouraged to embody the virtues of peace, joy, generosity and good will toward others throughout the year, to give of their time, talents and possessions both inside and outside the church's walls, and to look beyond their own routines to find places where God's love can be shared with the surrounding community.
Joining, Giving and Staying Connected
Online giving is available, and a Constant Contact sign-up offers weekly news by email. Two Facebook pages keep the congregation connected: St. Paul's on Facebook and the original St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church page. The Chimes newsletter and the weekly FYI bulletin keep members posted on the latest announcements, programs and seasonal activities. Anyone interested in worship, learning, service, or simply stopping by is warmly welcomed.