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About our Church Body

Christ Our Rock Lutheran Church is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).  This church body got its name because it was formed in Wisconsin in the 1850’s.  Our membership in this Synod unites us with Christians across our country and the world.  It allows us to pool our resources for mission work as well as for writing hymnals, Bible classes, and other materials.  But above all, we can be comforted by the fact that we know there are Christians throughout the world who share a common faith with us.

 

 

 

Our congregation and Synod are solidly based in the Bible.  We believe that Jesus is our Savior and the only way to heaven.  Through faith in Jesus we are united to Him and each other.

 

 

 

The name “Lutheran” comes from the great reformer Martin Luther.  In a period in history when the Church had lost sight of its Savior and the truth of His Word, Martin Luther boldly challenged these errors and preached Jesus Christ as Savior.  We are proud to remember his work in bringing to light the truth of God’s Word by using his name to identify ourselves.

What is a Lutheran?

In the sixteenth century a priest in Germany, Martin Luther, felt the church needed to be reformed.  The church had dismissed many of the teachings of the Bible and replaced them with man-made rules.  Luther felt that the departure from the Bible took glory away from the one and only way to eternal life - God’s grace in Christ Jesus.

 

 

 

Lutherans believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God and the only source of teaching.  This is what the WELS teaches and believes, contrary to many churches today which abandon the Bible in favor of popular opinion.

 

 

 

Two teachings are primary in the Lutheran Church:

·   That we are saved entirely by God’s free grace given to us in Christ Jesus, and

·   That we receive salvation simply by faith in Christ and not by anything we might do.  Lutherans know for sure that, when they die, they will be in heaven, because our salvation depends entirely on what Jesus did for us.

The Lutheran Church is a Christ-centered, gospel preaching church.  The good news of the forgiveness of our sins through the redeeming work of our Savior, Jesus Christ, permeates our worship, ministry and life.

Membership

Because we are people who take to heart the Bible’s words, “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” (2 Peter 3:18) we strongly encourage all our members to be regular in worship and Bible study.

 

 

 

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER:

Baptism: We offer the Sacrament of Baptism in the name of the Triune God to infants, children, youths and adults.

 

 

 

Transfer: If you are presently a member of a WELS congregation, we ask that you seek a letter of transfer from your former congregation.

 

 

 

Profession of Faith: If you are presently a member of a Lutheran Church of a different denomination (LCMS, ELCA, CLC etc.), Pastor Jeff will speak with you about the differences between those church bodies and the WELS.  If after that discussion you wish to join Christ Our Rock, you will be received by the fact that you profess the same faith which we profess.

 

 

 

Lutheran Confirmation: If you have no church background, or if you are a member of a denomination that is not Lutheran, we ask that you attend a 10 lesson Bible Information Class to become acquainted with the teachings of the Lutheran Church. At the conclusion of this class, if you wish to become a member, you will be received by the rite of confirmation.  All seventh and eight grade students attend a catechism class in Christian doctrine.  At the end of eighth grade, they are received as communicant members by the rite of confirmation.

Serving Your Personal & Family Needs

Baptism: We are eager to offer baptism to anyone who desires it.  If you have children who have not been baptized, please contact our pastor about arrangements.

 

 

 

Weddings: If you have no church home and would like to have a pastor perform your wedding, please contact our pastor about arrangements.  A premarital class (3-4 meetings) gives the future bride and groom the opportunity to talk over all the important aspects of marriage with the pastor.

 

 

 

Special Prayers: In each Sunday service, opportunity is given for special prayers for people who are in need of prayer.  Special prayer requests should be communicated to Pastor or one of the ushers before the service begins.

 

 

 

Counseling: We are interested in your life and your needs.  Our pastor is here to help counsel you with God’s comforting Word.  Please consider contacting him:

·                     before your marital relationship is in danger of being broken

·                     when you would like to talk or pray about something that is bothering you.

·                     when substance abuse is a problem for you or someone you love.

·                     when you have family problems

·                     when you have a spiritual problem or a question about a Bible teaching 
 

About the WELS

Christ Our Rock belongs to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).

 

 

 

In the year 1850 the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by a few pastors who had come to America to serve the many Lutherans who had immigrated to the United States from Germany.  Today, the church body still retains the place of its origin in its official name.

 

 

 

The headquarters of the WELS is still in Milwaukee, WI.  The president of the synod is Rev. Mark Schroeder.

 

 

 

The WELS is divided into 12 districts.  Christ Our Rock is one of the over 160 congregations making up the Minnesota district of the Synod.  The president of Minnesota District is Pastor Charles Degner of St. Peter Ev. Lutheran Church, St. Peter, MN.

 

 

 

The WELS is a Lutheran Church of just under half a million people with congregations throughout the United States.  As a Synod (Greek for “walking together”) we do ministry an individual congregation would find difficult to do by itself, namely, establish missions around the world and maintain high schools, a college, and a seminary to train future pastors and Christian teachers.

 

 

 

WELS is a church with a worldwide outreach ministry.  We have missionaries in the USA, Native America (Sioux & Apache), Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, India, Taiwan, Indonesia, Africa, Europe, Russia, Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America.