If you are visiting for the first time, we will not embarrass you, have you stand up, or ask you to give money. We know that many people want to check out the church and “be anonymous” for a while—and that’s fine with us! Come in and see if this is the church for you. We do have a guest registry if you want to sign. You will be met with friendly smiles and even an informal welcome by one of our members.
You probably have questions – we’ll answer them right here, so you know what to expect when you visit us on Sunday morning.
Where do I go when I arrive?
The main entrance is in the center of our parking lot. When you come through our doors, you'll be in our gathering area. People like to visit before entering the sanctuary for worship. There are restrooms to the left down the hallway.
Where do I sit?
Feel free to sit wherever you'd like, whether the front or the back. If you need any assistance, an usher is ready to help.
What do I wear?
Some people come in jeans. Some come dressed up. Come however you're most comfortable. We're most happy simply to rejoice in God's promises with you.
What will worship be like?
Services typically last about an hour. Jesus is the center of our worship, so there will be songs, hymns, and readings from the Bible that point to Jesus and the blessings we have in him. We talk about sin and troubles, and we rejoice in forgiveness in Jesus and the hope of heaven. In our sermons, we always aim to apply God's timeless Word to our ever-changing and challenging life.
What message will I hear?
During the worship service, the pastor will deliver a 15-20 minute sermon. His message will be biblical – based on God’s Word. It will contain law and gospel from the Bible. Since the Bible is all about our problem of sin and God’s solution in Jesus, you can expect to hear about both in the sermon. He’ll apply those timeless truths in a timely, practical way, showing how Jesus impacts your everyday life.
Will I be asked for money?
We gather an offering in the service as part of our worship of God. That offering helps us do the work God has given us to do. But we don’t expect guests to feel obligated to support our ministry. Feel free to let the offering plate pass you by. But if you want to take part, your check or cash will be used to help spread the good news of Jesus.
How long is the service?
Our worship services begin at 10 am and generally last about an hour. We invite you to try our Sunday morning Bible class which begins at 9 am. Currently we are discussing: What will you find in other Christian denominations?
Do you offer Holy Communion?
On the first and third Sundays of each month we celebrate Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper. Because this sacrament assumes that participants are united in faith and confession, we ask that only confirmed members of our church body, the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) or our sister church, the ELS (Evangelical Lutheran Synod) come forward to commune. Don’t feel awkward about simply sitting and meditating during that part of the service; many do that. If you’d like to talk more about this and explore if we are united with you and your beliefs, our pastor would be glad to speak with you.
What is worst can happen?
Attending a church for the first time can be intimidating. Here are some common worries:
“I would just die if they made me stand up and say something.” We can assure you that we won’t embarrass you in this or any other way. We want you to feel as comfortable as possible and at home with us. Time at church should be an enjoyable and uplifting experience. We promise to do all we can so you can learn about your Savior in a comfortable and non-threatening way.
“I know my child is going to be too noisy.” Our congregation is much like a family with infants and kids and teens and adults and elderly. We enjoy hearing the voices and sounds of children and infants. If, however, at any time you feel the need, you may bring your child to the rear into our Fellowship Hall.
“I’m afraid I’ll say or do something wrong.” You are not alone! All of us, at some time, have felt this way in a new situation. We hope you’ll see that the people of Living Water are ordinary people like yourself. We want to accept you as you are and help you become what Christ wants you to be.
“I know I will feel out of place.” We hope this visitor’s guide has helped to ease your mind, but if you have a question, please ask someone for help. Don’t hesitate to say, “I’m new here. Can you help me?” We can assure you our members are more than willing to help!
“I just want to watch at first, but I know they’ll try to get me involved or sign me up for something.” It’s unpleasant to be pressured or singled out in a public way. We are just happy that you can join us and praise God along with us. Church membership is a voluntary matter, but one which people eventually inquire about. The most important thing of all is to hear, know and trust in our Savior Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation. This takes time. People need time to evaluate and decide if they wish further involvement in a congregation. We believe we should respect that need.
“I don’t know that much about the Bible.” Worship and Bible Study are opportunities to grow in our knowledge of the Bible and faith in Jesus. You won’t have to answer any questions you don’t want to answer. Don’t forget…sometimes the wisest words to say are, “I don’t know.”