The Rev. Paul H. Weihl was called to the parish in
February 1937 and began
his ministry April 1, 1937. There were 118 communicant members at that time.
The charge in 1937 consisted of St. Mark’s in Osborn and the Brandt Lutheran
Church in Clark County. Pastor Weihl conducted services in Osborn three Sundays
a month, and on the fourth Sunday he was in Brandt. In 1941 the St. Mark’s congregation
requested services be held in Osborn every Sunday morning. Accordingly, a different
schedule of services was made for the two congregations. In 1942 the Home Mission
Board of the Synod of Ohio assigned a supply pastor to Brandt so pastor Weihl
could give his full time to the church in Osborn.
During World War II Pastor Weihl was appointed
contact pastor for the area by the Service Commission of the National Lutheran
Council. With the great buildup of military personnel at Wright and Patterson
fields, Pastor Weihl counseled them and provided for their spiritual needs in
addition to the regular parish service. Thousands of men and women moved into
the region as industries mobilized for the war effort, and St. mark’s assisted
these people in every way possible.
On Jan. 31, 1943, the congregation celebrated
the burning of a $5,000 mortgage left from the building of the church and loans
taken out in 1923. A redecoration of the church was completed by December
1943.
Pastor Weihl resigned effective
August 1949 after serving St. Mark’s for 12
years. Among his accomplishments at St. Mark’s was the start of the monthly
“Messenger.”
