St. Paul neighborhood rallies around church

Ask the Rev. Walt Wietzke to talk about the fire, and words fail him. The emotions of seeing the church he has served for nearly 33 years consumed by smoke and flames are still too raw, even two weeks later.

But ask him where this church, this community, this fellowship of neighbors and congregants will be months from now, years from now, and his eyes light up and his voice gains power.

"We're making lemonade," he said, standing in the sanctuary at St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church on W. 7th Street in St. Paul. "Nothing stops us. The ministry continues."

Nearly two weeks ago, a 27-year-old man whom the church sometimes fed, sometimes counseled, allegedly set fire to the building, damaging the sanctuary, destroying the Sunday school wing and church offices and putting worshipers out in the cold at one of the holiest times of the year. But as work crews assess the damage and begin repairs, the tiny church and its members are finding ways to stay together and continue making a difference in their community.

The past few Sunday services were held in the Wulff Godbout Funeral Home across the street; the Christmas Eve service was held at a neighboring Catholic church, St. Stanislaus. Christmas Day services will be there, too.

Meanwhile, St. Mark is using office space at the nearby St. Peter's Lutheran Church and holding board meetings at local restaurants. Choir events and Sunday school and Loaves and Fishes and all the things that have made St. Mark a fixture in St. Paul's West End since 1959 continue, with a lot of help from the broader community, said Candy Petersen, church president.

"We're going to be stronger," she said. "It's going to make us just better, I think."

When asked about that, Wietzke smiled. It's going to be something about Mary and Joseph looking for a warm place to spend the night and bring their baby into the world.

"Out of a crisis like this, good things are happening," he said. "We're in the city for good. We're not going anywhere."

Crisis for this little 100-family church has illuminated just how beloved — and important — it and its pastor are to the surrounding community.

Over the years, Wietzke has organized projects for the area Boy's and Girl's Club and forged relationships with longtime West End families and businesses. He even helps coach wrestling at Cretin-Derham Hall. Now, people are stepping forward with money and help for St. Mark, Wietzke said.

When St. Mark burned, it took only minutes for the Rev. John Clay at St. Stanislaus to offer his church as a place for St. Mark's congregation to worship for the holiday. The two churches for years have provided shared Thanksgiving services. When Clay was hospitalized for cancer surgery several months ago, Wietzke was in the waiting room, praying for his friend, said Pat Heroff, St. Stanislaus' sacristant and volunteer coordinator.

St. Mark was not the only congregation left homeless by the fire.

Free at Last Church of God in Christ, which had moved only a few months ago to share space with St. Mark, also is looking for a new home. In the meantime, it also is holding services at St. Stanislaus.

Petersen said it will be months, at least, before St. Mark is home again. While the sanctuary suffered mostly damage from smoke and soot, the pews, windows, ceiling and pipe organ all must be meticulously cleaned. Wietzke's office also was destroyed, along with Bibles, sermons, files and artifacts from trips around the world.

"Just his whole life," Petersen said of the destruction of Wietzke's office.

Some accounts of the fire have estimated damage at $100,000, but both the pastor and church president say it could easily be more than twice that. A fund has been established for the church. Contributions may be sent to the St. Mark Fire Fund, BankCherokee, 607 Smith Av. S., St. Paul, Minn., 55107. A benefit for the church is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 17.

James Walsh • 651-925-5041