A Confessional Lutheran Parish on South Webster Avenue
Faith Lutheran Church sits on South Webster Avenue on Green Bay's south side, a confessional congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod within the North Wisconsin District. The parish gathers three times a week around Word and Sacrament, raises up the next generation through catechesis, and reaches outward through Lutheran World Relief, Red Cross blood drives, and a long list of local collections. At the center of everything is the conviction that the Divine Service is not about what people do for God but what God does for them.
The Divine Service Three Times a Week
Faith celebrates the Divine Service on Sundays at 8:00 am and 10:30 am, with a Monday evening service at 6:30 pm. The 8:00 am Sunday service is livestreamed on Vimeo so members who are traveling, sick, or away from Green Bay can join the parish in real time. The full liturgy is printed in the bulletin found in the pew, and a Lutheran Service Book hymnal provides the music.
Children are welcomed into the service and are invited forward for a Children's Lesson during the liturgy. When younger children need a break, a Wiggle Room in the narthex offers a changing station, a small bathroom, books, and a few toys. Children's bulletins are available by the main sanctuary doors.
Closed Communion and the Lutheran Confessions
In keeping with the historic practice of the LCMS, Faith practices closed communion. Members of the parish and members of sister LCMS congregations are welcome at the altar. Visitors are warmly invited to speak with the pastor before communing, or to come forward for a blessing by folding their arms across their chest during the distribution.
The parish confesses that in, with, and under the bread and wine of the Lord's Supper, Christ's body and blood are given for the forgiveness of sins. The study of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions is treated as a high priority. The congregation's mission statement puts it simply: "We proclaim the Gospel, we witness for Christ, and we provide for the Spiritual Growth of our members, our community, and beyond."
A First-Time Visit
Two parking lots serve the building. The main lot is right off Webster Avenue by the main entrance; the second lot is in the back near the preschool, accessible from Allouez Avenue. If both are full, street parking is allowed on Woodrow Way behind the building.
The main entrance is a zero-grade entry into the sanctuary, and an elevator is available for those who need it. Hearing devices and a large print hymnal are kept in the back of the narthex; ushers are happy to provide them. Worshippers are invited to sit anywhere; families spread themselves throughout the sanctuary on Sunday mornings.
Christian Growth Hour and Sunday School
At 9:15 am between the two Sunday services, Christian Growth Hour gathers every age for education. Sunday School classes serve children from 3K through 8th grade, with a Me2! option for children three and under whose parents attend with them. The adult class goes deeper on the same lesson the children study, encouraging families to talk about the faith at home during the week. High schoolers are invited into the adult Bible study.
A second adult class meets at the same time: "The Luther You Never Knew," led by Rev. Dr. Ed Maniscalco. The class reads and discusses Luther's lesser-known positions on Infant Baptism, Holy Communion, Predestination, and more, and runs through the liturgical year.
Catechism and Confirmation
Catechism classes meet on Wednesday evenings at 5:30 pm and serve students in grades 6 through 8. The instruction centers on the Bible and Luther's Small Catechism, preparing students to confess and confirm the faith spoken at their baptism. Director of Christian Education Alex Wright oversees the program.
Catechism students serve as acolytes twelve times a year. An annual Catechism Camp is held each August at Camp Luther in Three Lakes, Wisconsin. Confirmation Sunday is a high point of the parish year, when students publicly confirm the vows made at their baptism.
Junior and Senior High Youth
Two youth groups meet on Wednesday evenings. Junior High youth meets from 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm, immediately after Catechism. High School youth meets from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Parents of catechism students are asked to volunteer at least once during the program year.
Vacation Bible School fills a week each summer with singing, Bible lessons, and crafts. Volunteers from the parish and the wider community make it possible, and children go home with a deeper sense of how music and song proclaim the greatness of God.
Bible Studies Throughout the Week
Faith runs one of the most extensive adult education programs in the area. A men's Bible study meets Tuesday mornings at 6:00 am in the church lounge, ending at 7:00 am, with coffee and a light breakfast. At 9:00 am on Tuesday mornings, the Order of Matins is prayed in the sanctuary. A discussion-led Bible study follows at 9:30 am in the lounge.
Women's Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in the lounge, with no meeting on the first Wednesday of the month. The Feast Bible Study, led by Alex Wright, brings together the parish's young adults on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:45 pm in the lounge, with Bible study, fellowship, and food. A Book Group gathers on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm from September through June.
Music, Choir, and Banners
Music is woven into the life of the parish. Handbells rehearse Tuesday evenings at 5:45 pm and the choir at 6:45 pm, both led by Music Director Paul Heiser. The Banner Group, part of the LWML, designs and stitches the colorful cloth banners that hang in the chancel area of the sanctuary, meeting Tuesday mornings at 10:30 am.
College Students and Young Adults
Faith hosts an LCMS U chapter, a campus-ministry initiative of the LCMS that supports Lutheran students heading off to college. Deaconess Deirdre Batiansila oversees the local chapter and helps students connect to nearby Bible studies, congregations, and fellowship opportunities. The Lutheran Young Adults League (LYAL) provides fellowship for adults ages 21 to 35, and Higher Things Beyond conferences offer additional Bible study, worship, and fellowship for young adults ages 18 to 30.
Women in Mission, Prayer Shawls, and Altar Guild
The Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML) chapter meets Tuesday mornings and supports a long list of hands-on ministries, led by Janice Luhrs. The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets on the first Thursday of each month at noon, led by Cheryl Roohr, knitting and crocheting wraps for those in need of comfort. The Altar Guild prepares the sanctuary for worship, and the Funeral Committee organizes meals for bereaved families.
Reaching Out in Green Bay
Faith's mission is to bring God's Word and grace into the wider Green Bay community and to reflect Christ's love to those they meet. The congregation partners with Lutheran World Relief year-round, supporting food, water, and health supplies for communities in crisis.
The parish building hosts Red Cross Blood Drives every other month on the second Tuesday of the month. Throughout the year, members collect for causes that include a Help for the Homeless Drive, a Diaper Drive for low-income families, and a Healthy Snack Drive for Webster Elementary. Funds, clothing, and food are regularly given to St. John's Homeless Shelter and Freedom House. Each fall and Christmas, the parish gathers Thanksgiving Baskets and fills a Giving Tree to support families in need.
Youth take part in a yearly Rake and Run, lending a hand to neighbors. The Meal Storks and Meal Ministry prepare meals for families who have just welcomed a new baby or who are recovering from surgery, a job loss, or the death of a family member. Angela Stiles coordinates the Meal Ministry.
Weddings, Facility Rentals, and Life Events
Faith hosts weddings. A wedding informational packet, a request form, a bulletin sample, and a payment portal guide couples through planning. The parish building can also be rented for other events through the Facility Use Policy and Request Form.
Devotional Life at Home
The parish takes seriously Martin Luther's counsel to keep the Word on the heart, hand, and doorpost of every household. A Daily Devotions and Prayers PDF is published each week for members and friends, and the parish offers to send Director of Christian Education Alex Wright to homes to lead devotions and equip parents to teach the faith.
Recommended at-home resources include the Lutheran Study Bible, Luther's Small Catechism, the Lutheran Service Book, the Treasury of Daily Prayer, and the Lutheran Prayer Companion, all available through Concordia Publishing House. Lambs at Pasture and Around the Word provide daily devotionals based on the one-year lectionary.
Giving and Scrip
Members may give electronically through the parish's online giving portal or by sending a gift to the church office. The Financial Office can be reached at donate@flcgb.com.
Scrip fundraising lets the parish earn money back from everyday purchases at no extra cost to the buyer. Gift cards are sold in person between Sunday services, by phone through the church office, by email, or through the RaiseRight app. Orders placed by Friday at noon are typically ready that Sunday.
Leadership and Staff
Rev. Joshua Errer serves as pastor and can be reached at pastor@flcgb.com or through the church office at (920) 435-5524. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to noon and closed Friday through Sunday.