St. Paul Lutheran Church in Cassopolis invites the Michiana community to share in the arrival celebration for its new pastor, Paul Doellinger, and his wife, Melissa.

Doellinger is a May 2010 graduate from the Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind. His wife has a degree in elementary education.

Ordination and installation ceremonies will both take place on Sunday at 4 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran, 305 State St., Cassopolis. An outdoor picnic celebration will take place on church grounds after the worship ceremony.

The public is strongly encouraged to attend.

Chief Elder Roger Sassaman said, “We at St. Paul Cassopolis are thrilled that God has blessed us with an energetic young man. He is enthused to come to southwest Michigan and preach the gospel of Christ. We are also excited to welcome his talented young wife and partner Melissa.”

Pastoral Candidate Doellinger has expressed particular passion for Bible studies as well as youth and shut-in ministries.

The Doellinger’s celebrated their second wedding anniversary earlier this month.

The two were married on July 12, 2008. Paul was born and raised in Baltimore, Md. Melissa was born in Trenton, Mich. and is a long-term Michigan native. They met while attending Concordia Lutheran University, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Paul graduated from Concordia in 2006 with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. Melissa graduated in 2005 with a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education and a Lutheran Teacher’s Diploma.

She taught at St. John Lutheran School in Fraser, Mich. until she married Paul. He attended Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind. from 2006 to 2010.

Paul and Melissa enjoy traveling, golfing, sports and spending time with family and friends. They are very excited about their move to Cassopolis and look forward to being involved in the community.

Congregational President Victor Fitz advises that “Due to our close proximity to Fort Wayne, we expect a number of senior Lutheran Church officials to attend this exciting and memorable service.”

Attendees will include one of Doellinger’s seminary professors, John Pless. He will preach at the Sunday Ordination and Installation Service.

Pless is an engaging minister who routinely lectures throughout the United States and overseas.  His theological writings have been published on repeated occasions.

The Doellingers recently purchased a home in the Cassopolis vicinity.  Prior to establishing this residence, the couple visited the area on several occasions to meet members of the St. Paul congregation.

The vacancy at St. Paul Lutheran occurred in the spring of 2010.

At that time, Pastor David Weiss accepted a divine call to St. Timothy Lutheran in Otisville, Mich. He had faithfully sheparded the Cassopolis flock for 13 years. He also served for a number of years as a Cassopolis School Board offical. Weiss officiated over his final service in Cassopolis on Easter Sunday 2010.

Prior to their departure, Weiss, wife Sherry and their children were given a warm farewell celebration by the St. Paul congregation.

St. Paul Lutheran is located on the north end of Stone Lake in Cassopolis, approximately one block west of Cass County’s Historic Courthouse.