A Word and Sacrament Congregation on South Superior Street
Hope Lutheran Church sits on South Superior Street in De Pere, a city just south of Green Bay along the Fox River. The congregation describes its vision simply: "a growing, vibrant, praying, caring congregation - boldly reaching out with Jesus Christ in word and deed." Its motto, repeated across the church's home page, is "Anchored in Jesus | Living with Joy | Reflecting His Love."
Hope is a member congregation of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, and the people of Hope describe their life together as a "Word and Sacrament ministry." That means reading and preaching from the Bible sits at the heart of every service, with Jesus and His saving work front and center. The message of God's love in Christ also comes in concrete, tangible ways through the sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Three Weekly Services, One Communion Table
Hope offers three weekly worship services so that families and individuals can find a rhythm that fits their week.
- Wednesday at 6:30 PM - a traditional service with a more structured liturgy and the historic hymns of the church.
- Sunday at 8:00 AM - a traditional service with the same structured liturgy and historic hymns.
- Sunday at 10:27 AM - a more modern, contemporary service with contemporary worship songs. During the summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends) this service shifts to 9:30 AM.
The Lord's Supper is celebrated at every service. Members of LCMS congregations or of churches in fellowship with The LCMS are welcome at the table. Visitors from another Christian tradition are asked to speak with the pastor or one of the elders before communing for the first time. Those new to the Christian faith are invited to talk with the pastor to learn more about the hope offered in Jesus.
Worship uses settings from the Lutheran Service Book (Divine Service Setting 3 is named specifically), along with historic and contemporary music. All music in the contemporary service is performed under Hope's CCLI Copyright License and CCLI Streaming Plus License. Each week's service is also livestreamed and added to a YouTube archive, so anyone can catch up on a missed service from home.
Sunday Morning Education Hour
On Sunday mornings from September through May, an Education Hour runs from 9:15 to 10:15 AM, filling the gap between the early traditional service and the later contemporary service. Sunday School is offered for children from age three through high school. A Bible study for adults meets in the main meeting room during the same hour, and there is a separate gathering for parents of infants and toddlers who are not yet old enough for Sunday School.
What Hope Believes
Hope confesses faith in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in harmony with the historic Creeds of the Christian Church. The short version of the church's teaching is that Jesus Christ is Lord - the King and Savior the world so desperately needs. Through His perfect life, sacrificial death on the cross, and bodily resurrection on the third day, He has forgiven sin, defeated death, and won salvation for all people. These gifts are freely offered and received by faith, by trust in Jesus and what He has done.
Hope teaches that God the Father is the maker and sustainer of everything that exists. The eternal Son of God took on human flesh through His conception by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary in order to be the rescuing Lord of all. He has redeemed us from sin, evil, death, and the devil through His perfectly faithful life, death, and resurrection. He is exalted at the Father's side and will return as King and Judge of all.
God the Holy Spirit has been sent into the world to bring the human race to new life through faith in Jesus. The Spirit breathes this new life into the church through the good news of what God has done in Jesus, good news that comes through the Word of God and the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper. Ultimately, the Spirit will complete His work when He raises the dead, freed from all sin and weakness, to be like Christ. On the day of Christ's return, the heavens and the earth will be remade as the place where God and His people will live together in joy and love forever.
Pastor and Staff
Rev. Matthew (Matt) Baye has served as Hope's pastor since 2016. A native of Green Bay, he earned a BA from Concordia University Wisconsin in 2006 and an M.Div. from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 2010. He and his wife Megan have five children. Kaitlyn Gregory serves as Hope's Director of Christian Education. Originally from Anoka, Minnesota, she received her DCE certificate at Concordia University, St. Paul, and has previously served in British Columbia and Ohio. She and her husband John enjoy time at the local dog park with their two pups, Jem and Zeus.
Gail Thiel leads Angels of Hope Preschool as Teacher/Director. A graduate of Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, she holds a BA in Elementary Education and Early Childhood, is licensed by the state of Wisconsin, and brings more than twenty years of experience in teaching and in creating and implementing preschool programs. Kim Thompson serves as the Angels of Hope Assistant, drawing on a BA in Business Administration and more than twenty years of experience leading Vacation Bible School, coordinating Sunday School, and directing youth programs.
Angels of Hope Preschool
Sharing the campus with the church is Angels of Hope Preschool, a Monday through Friday program for three- to five-year-olds with a play-based, Christ-centered curriculum. The preschool keeps class sizes small: 3K caps at 15 students and 4K at 18, creating a one-to-nine teacher-to-student ratio that is even smaller than the state requirement.
- 3K (3- and 4-year-olds): Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 to 11:30 AM (children must be three by September 1).
- 4K (4- and 5-year-olds): Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8:45 to 11:45 AM (children must be four by November 1).
Children must be potty trained before entering the program. Angels of Hope is state-licensed and recognized for kindergarten readiness, and the preschool follows the calendar of the Unified School District of De Pere for days off (the preschool is in session on late-start and early-dismissal days). The building's preschool wing is locked while school is in session, and security cameras operate throughout the facility.
Children, Youth, and Confirmation
Beyond the preschool, Hope has a full slate of programs for the next generations. Sunday School is offered for ages three through high school from September through May, with classes supervised by the Director of Christian Education and taught by volunteer teachers. Vacation Bible School is a summer tradition, typically one week in July or early August for ages three through fifth grade, with energetic Bible stories, songs, games, and crafts.
Confirmation is a 7th and 8th grade ministry with its own annual schedule of classes, beginning with a Fall Orientation. Students complete three requirements over the year: serving in worship eight times, completing sixteen sermon studies, and participating in three service projects that bless others. Forms for each of these are available online.
Hope's youth ministry gathers high schoolers (grades 9 through 12) in a group called Embers of Hope for devotion, activities, and service events. The Youth Ministry has its own treasury, with funds raised so youth can take part in Christian activities, including Camp Luther, a Wisconsin camp offering outdoor and Christian programs for youth and families, and the National Lutheran Youth Gathering, held every three years.
Music Ministry
Music is central to worship at Hope. The Hope Choir provides anthems at select traditional and special worship services from September through May, welcoming both seasoned vocalists and beginners. The choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 5:30 PM.
The Praise Team brings a different energy to the contemporary service, blending singers with piano, guitars, percussion, and other instruments. Praise Team rehearsals are held on Mondays at 6:30 PM year-round. A current rehearsal schedule is kept on the church's online calendar.
Bible Study for Every Season
Hope offers Bible study opportunities throughout the week.
- Sundays at 9:30 AM (September through May): an adult Bible study open to all, held during the Education Hour.
- Sundays at 9:30 AM (September through May): a gathering for parents and infants or toddlers not yet old enough for Sunday School.
- Tuesdays at 7:30 AM (year-round): a Men's Bible Study at Oak Street Café, 926 Oak Street, De Pere.
- Tuesdays at 9:30 AM and 7:30 PM (September through May): a Women's Bible Study.
The church also offers a season of Daily Devotions posted online, with reflections that flow from the Sunday sermon. Recent devotions have walked through Philippians 1, Colossians 3, and Romans 8, exploring themes like the ultimate hope of resurrection, the call to live a life worthy of the Gospel, and the freedom of belonging to Christ.
Men's, Women's, and Family Groups
Men of Hope and the Strengthen the Way group provide opportunities for men to grow in their walk with God, with their wives and families, and with one another through retreats, fellowship events, and service events. Women of Hope gathers women for retreats, fellowship, service events, and the popular bake sales that show up at the annual ABC Festival. Moms of Hope meets at the parsonage, typically on the first Monday of the month, for growth in God's Word, fellowship, and encouragement. The Foundations Ministry connects families to Christ and the church and equips parents to lay the foundations of faith with their children, with trained Foundation Mentors reaching out to parents of newly baptized children.
Reaching Out in De Pere and Beyond
Hope's Community Engagement Ministry works to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the surrounding community. Past events have included Foxview Random Acts of Kindness gifts, helping with a local group called Laundry Love, providing meals for veterans, and serving meals at homeless shelters. Parish Nurses are part of this ministry.
Hope is one of eight congregations that partner to operate De Pere Christian Outreach, an organization that includes a thrift store, a food pantry ministry, and a Christmas Store for families in need. The food pantry is an emergency food assistance program for De Pere residents, and Hope keeps a collection bin for non-perishable items in the coat room, with a special food collection on the last Wednesday and Sunday of each month. Profits from the De Pere Christian Outreach Thrift Store, located in West De Pere, provide emergency rent, gas, and utility assistance for individuals in the 54115 area code, as well as monetary support to charitable organizations in Brown County.
Hope also partners with two Lutheran schools. It is an association congregation of Green Bay Trinity Lutheran School, a K-8 school on Green Bay's east side, and of Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Lutheran High School, also on Green Bay's east side.
Stephen Ministry and Pastoral Care
Stephen Ministry is part of the care structure at Hope. Stephen Ministers are congregation members who have received special training to provide care and a listening ear for individuals going through a difficult time. Anyone interested in talking with a Stephen Minister or learning more about becoming one is invited to contact Pastor Baye.
Daily Devotions and Resources
The Daily Devotions series walks through a passage of Scripture each weekday, with a brief reflection, prayer, and an application question for daily life. A monthly newsletter, the Anchor Line, and a weekly announcements sheet keep members informed of upcoming events. A RightNow Media account is available for members who want a library of Bible studies, videos, and family resources.
Membership, Giving, and Serving
Those interested in making Hope their church home are invited to a New Member Class, which covers key teachings of the Christian faith and connects newcomers with ministries that fit their gifts. Online giving is available through Hope's giving portal, allowing gifts by ACH bank transfer and giving history. The Scrip program offers another way to support Hope's work through dollars already being spent at favorite stores and restaurants, with friendly volunteers available between services to help fill orders.
There are many ways to serve in the life of the congregation. The Altar Guild prepares the altar and communion ware. Ushers greet and assist at each service, with training provided. The Sound System and Worship Screens ministry runs the audio and slides for each service. Elders are a group of men who serve alongside the pastor to oversee and support the weekly worship life and overall spiritual welfare of the congregation. Trustees care for the physical property. The Church Council, with most positions chosen by lot, is the governing board and includes Elders, Trustees, and chairpersons of the Education, Youth and Family, Community Engagement, Stewardship, and Safety and Security ministries.
The church's Safety and Security Ministry works to provide a safe, secure environment for members, Angels of Hope students and families, guests, and staff, developing protocols and procedures in partnership with outside safety providers.
Worship, Sacraments, and Family Milestones
Hope offers preparation for the two sacraments celebrated in the church. For baptism, families or individuals are invited to learn more about what God does in baptism - joining the believer to Christ in His death and resurrection - and to fill out a request form. For Holy Communion, the church offers the Lord's Supper at every service and welcomes those who have spoken with the pastor or an elder to commune for the first time. Sunday morning coffee and treats are served from 9:15 to 10:15 AM, often hosted by a different ministry each week with a free-will offering supporting that ministry's work.
Hope Lutheran Church and Angels of Hope Preschool can be reached at 700 South Superior Street, De Pere, Wisconsin 54115, by phone at (920) 336-9843, and through the online contact form. Worship, fellowship, education, and a deep commitment to sharing the love of Jesus in word and deed are at the center of life at Hope.