Dear fellow child of God,
As you already know, these are extraordinary times in which we are now living. Please take a few minutes to read this letter. It explains some difficult decisions that have been made, decisions made out of love for one another, for our church family and for our community at large.
The most important family of which you’re a member is God’s family. Your heavenly Father loves you, cares for you and promises you blessings for this life and for the life to come. Trust him in every situation. Cling to him when times are good and when times are challenging. Approach him boldly and confidently. He’s at your side and will never nor forsake you. His promise to Joshua is your promise: “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).
Your pastoral, school and congregational leadership team is prayerfully monitoring government recommendations and mandates, along with recommendations from our WELS leaders, in making decisions on behalf of our church family. We seek your patience and understanding.
Cancellations and Postponements
One of the difficult decision areas deals with cancellations and postponements. Please note the following cancellations until further notice. We hope and pray these will be able to resume soon! Also note that access to the facility is limited.
- Sunday School and Teen class
- Monday Hearts to Hands evening gatherings
- Tuesday morning senior and Tuesday evening Bible classes
- Wednesday afternoon confirmation class
- Friday Mom’s Circle
- Saturday Men’s Bible breakfast
School
Our school and others nationwide are not having classes on campus at the direction of government officials who are following guidance from CDC and local public health departments. Our school staff is working hard to facilitate remote learning. Our school will not have classes on campus indefinitely. The recommendations and mandates are changing frequently.
Worship and Classes
Our governor ordered a statewide moratorium on mass gatherings of 10 people or more. Worship and religious gatherings are included in this Emergency Order. After reviewing Biblical principles, and after considering recommendations from our synod president and synod conference of presidents, and agreeing that the government is not trying to deny our freedom of religion, we will strive to comply with such government regulations and find alternate means to enable God’s people to be spiritually fed.
Online Ministry
Though we will not meet here in person together, we still have a number of ways we will serve you with God’s Word. We urge you to please check this website or our Facebook page, or call the church office (262.377.6363) to monitor future changes to our worship plans and to learn when we will again gather in our church building.
- Thursday, March 19, Lenten worship – listen to a podcast prepared and presented by one of our planned preachers (https://oursaviorgrafton.org/category/podcast/). It should be uploaded and available by early evening.
- Sunday, March 22, 9:30 am worship (PLEASE NOTE SINGLE WORSHIP TIME) – We are working offer a Sunday morning service via live-streaming for those who have online access. This means that you will hear and see our pastor in our church sharing God’s Word. On Friday we will share a YouTube link with you for access.
Television
For those who do not have online access, we encourage you to consider watching the 30-minute Time of Grace Sunday worship television broadcast. Note the following Sunday morning channels and times in the greater Milwaukee area: 7 am WBME (MeTV41 and 58.2); 10:30 am WDJT (CBS 58); Saturday 12 am midnight WTMJ (NBC 4).
Online Resources
There are also many other good online resources available at wels.net and TimeofGrace.org. You can find a variety of devotional materials, daily e-mail devotions and Bible reading plans, daily video devotions and comforting topics and topical prayers for many situations. Watch for additional information from us in the near future with links to such spiritual growth resources.
We have the ability to efficiently send out large group emails and to reach out via texting. That is one of the best ways for us to keep you informed in a timely manner about calendar changes, worship plans, service opportunities and other spiritual encouragements. We urge you to provide us with your up-to-date contact information. Please call (262.377.6363) or email Sarah in the church office. Thank you!
Prayer
Often, when someone asks a friend or family member how they can help during challenging times or in various situations, the response is, “Pray for me!” May we never underestimate the power of prayer. In our prayers, let us give God glory, acknowledge our failings, give him thanks for his goodness and mercy, ask for the needs of others and ask for your own personal needs. Trust that God will hear your prayers and answer them according to his gracious will. And finally, if you would like to offer a prayer request to our pastoral staff or to have a prayer included in our public Prayer Circle, please contact Pastor Wagner ([email protected], 262.488.1899), Mr. Hering ([email protected], 414.491.3515, or Sarah in the church office (262.377.6363).
Offerings
To be straight forward and unapologetic, your continuing and regular offerings are as vital as ever. God’s work at Our Savior continues. Prayerfully consider how you might respond to God’s blessings in your life through your gifts of gratitude. You may mail your offering envelopes or drop them off in person to the church office (they will be immediately placed in the safe) or use direct checks from your bank that are mailed to our church. In addition, you may engage Vanco, an online giving service, through our church website to offer your gifts to the Lord’s work. Please make Grulke Medical Relief Fund checks out to Our Savior Lutheran Church.
Serving Others
Let us seek to serve one another, especially those in our church family that might be more isolated or in need of assistance. Perhaps you know someone for whom you can run an errand or help in some other way. Or let us know in the church office if you are willing to assist in serving others so we might contact you when we become aware of such needs. If you are older or have a compromised immune system, both of which make this virus especially dangerous, please let us know how we might serve you!
May God bless our family of faith as we join to carry out our mission: to KNOW Jesus Christ as Savior, to GROW in loving service to God and others, and to GO into our community and the world with the good news of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus our Savior.
Thank You!
Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your understanding and patience. Thank you for your support. And thank the Lord for his gracious promises to never leave us, to always provide for us, and to meet our needs according to his gracious will.
God be with you and bless you, dear members of God’s family at Our Savior!
In Christ’s service,
Pastor Wagner
Steve Wolf
Congregational President
Robert Klug
Chairman, Board of Elders