CHURCH CELEBRATES 75 GLORIOUS YEARS.

Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Connecting generations through the ``praiseworthy deeds of the Lord'' aptly sums up the past, present and future spiritual work of the congregation at St. Paul's First Lutheran Church, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary Sunday.

``We've had strong leaders. Lifelong friendships were made and they stayed members,'' said Mary Helen Haar, who joined the North Hollywood church at age 9.

``If I didn't go to St. Paul's, my life would be empty,'' said Haar, also chairwoman for the anniversary event. ``I have a wonderful husband, children and grandchildren. Our whole life has been surrounded by friendships and examples of Christian living at St. Paul's.''

In what might remind many of a bygone era, the Revs. Lynn Wiedmann and Gary Pufahl are visiting each parishioner at home. Wiedmann and Pufahl, both new to the church since last summer, see this undertaking as a way to discover the needs and spiritual offerings of each member.

``We live in a time when nobody can make time for anything,'' said Wiedmann. ``We've heard that the visits are a little bit unusual and it is a major time commitment for us. But we believe that every person is special and important. The message we want them to have is that you are important to God.''

Wiedmann said 100 visits have been made over the past three months with more to follow. The two pastors have had a chance to get acquainted with each other as they enjoy informal conversations and compile fresh and candid perspectives on church ministries during the visits.

``They made us feel very special. To make the time sacrifice to accomplish the visits is really a special thing,'' Haar said. ``I think it will make our St. Paul's family closer.''

Guy Langvardt was impressed by the red brick, Gothic-style church building situated across the street from the Amelia Earhart Regional Library. But it was St. Paul's First Lutheran School that first caught his attention. Langvardt's two children were enrolled in the K-8 grade school before he and his wife became church members almost a year ago.

``I think it has to be the values that the congregation shares,'' speculated Langvardt on why the church has endured. ``They have had a set of core family values, like how God plays a role in our lives every day.''

Langvardt's first Sunday service visit at St. Paul's was ``an incredible experience'' and not just because his son was singing in the school choir that morning.

``We received a warm welcome from the pastor, the vicar and the principal,'' said Langvardt, who joined the choir and sits on the board of elders. ``The strong music program appealed to me. The church has a very fine musical director, Kurt Cereske. It was an overwhelmingly pleasant experience.''

St. Paul's First Lutheran School has been a source of pride and a mission opportunity for the congregation since 1947. Haar taught first, second and fifth grades at the school. She was the school's principal from 1986 to 1995 when she retired.

``It's still our objective today to educate our children in the knowledge of their savior and bring their families into our church,'' Haar said. ``We're looking forward to the continued growth of the school and the church through the multicultural community in the area. I certainly pray that our church can continue its mission work by bringing in souls to learn and do God's work and continue to be a stalwart congregation.''

David Salinas, a senior at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Milwaukee and a graduate of St. Paul's First Lutheran School, will deliver the message at the 75th anniversary 10 a.m. service Sunday at 5244 Tujunga Ave., North Hollywood. Call [phone]. l=8Holly Andres, [phone]

holly.andres(at)dailynews.com

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From left, the Rev. Gary Pufahl, the Rev. Lynn Wiedmann, Guy Langvardt and Mary Helen Haar stand before the altar built in 1933 at St. Paul's First Lutheran Church in North Hollywood.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News