The final chapter in the story of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Willow City is about to be written.

Sunday will be the final time hymns will rise from the congregation and the Good Word will be proclaimed from its pulpit.

St. Paul's has one last service before its doors close for good.

Perry Olson takes us there...

Anna Diberdorf's most memorable moments have taken place right here...

(Anna Diberdorf - Longtime Church Member) "I was confirmed here. I was married here. Our two children were baptized here...and confirmed here..."


It is a story you could hear from almost any of St. Paul's members...who, by the way, once were very numerous...

(Anna Diberdorf - Longtime Church Member) "It was all full...in fact we had over 75 children. Now it is down to nothing." (Marylyn Diebold - Longtime Church Member) "All the other churches that are closing, you think it can't happen to you, but it is."


Those once impressive numbers have dwindled to about 15 to 20 parishioners for each service...Marylyn Diebold is usually one of them. She has called St. Paul's home for 43 years. She talked of a recent sermon that taught the church is not a building...but people...people like...

(Marylyn Diebold - Longtime Church Member) "Leo...one of our older members has trouble with the benches...so he brings his cushion. That is his place. We are a family here and if you want to bring a cushion to sit on you can do that!"


But even though it is the people like Leo who make up the church...that doesn't make it easy to see the building go...

(Marylyn Diebold - Longtime Church Member) "It is hard to look at this building though and just think of it as a building! It is our church!"


Sunday's final service will be sad...but...

(Anna Diberdorf - Longtime Church Member) "We still have to rejoice..."


Celebrating the good St. Paul's has delivered to the area...

(Anna Diberdorf - Longtime Church Member) "What has happened...what has gone by...we go on from there..."


The final Sunday service is this weekend, November 1st. Perry Olson, KX News.

Most members of St. Paul's Lutheran will now attend its sister congregation in Rugby while others will attend another church just west of Willow City. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list