A WELS Congregation on Highland Road
Morning Star Lutheran Church sits on Highland Road on the east edge of Jackson, Wisconsin, in a single campus that also houses Morning Star Lutheran School and the Morning Star Early Childhood Center. The congregation is part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, and its name comes from a title for Jesus. Morning Star is another name for Jesus, and the ministry is about the victory that Jesus, the Lamb of God, came to win.
The church's motto is Growing In Jesus, Sharing His Love, and it frames the life of the congregation, school, and early childhood center. The same phrase is repeated in the school's own mission statement, which makes Morning Star one of those places where the same families can be in worship on Saturday evening, in Sunday School between services, in classrooms during the week, and in the infant rooms of the Early Childhood Center, all without leaving the property.
Weekend Worship
Worship is offered three times each weekend. A Saturday evening service begins at 5:00 PM, and two Sunday services follow at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM. Services are also livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel for anyone who wants to follow along from home.
The worship style reflects the WELS tradition, centered on the proclamation of the Word and the celebration of the sacraments. Ushers are on hand to answer questions, and printed teaching notes are placed in the program so visitors can follow the message easily. There is no expectation of an offering from guests; Morning Star is supported by its regular attenders and members, and the service itself is the church's gift to visitors.
What a First Visit Looks Like
Ushers welcome people as they arrive. A welcome table in the lobby offers a free welcome tote, and a NEXT STEP card, with a Coffeeville gift card mailed to anyone who fills one out, is one of the church's gentle ways of staying in touch after a visit.
Children are a visible part of the weekend. Kids are welcome in worship, and a cry room lets parents hear and watch the service if a child is fussy. Sunday School meets between the two Sunday services, so families attending the 8:00 and 10:30 services can drop children off for the hour in between. The cry room and Sunday School are designed so that children can hear about God's Word on their level without parents missing the sermon.
Visitors are invited to RSVP through the Plan My Visit page so someone can meet them at the front door and show them around, but stopping by any service without notice is welcomed.
What Morning Star Believes
Morning Star teaches that the Bible is God's inspired and errorless Word and that people are saved by God's grace alone through faith alone, which is created by Scripture alone. The belief statement walks through the historic Christian doctrines in plain language: one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), creation, the fall into sin, salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the church as all who trust in Christ, and the promised resurrection of the body when Jesus returns to make all things new.
The congregation holds that the true Christian Church is not a building but the community of all who trust in Jesus, and that the local gathering exists to admit spiritual struggles honestly, share the unfailing love of God, and encourage one another to worship and serve.
Mission and Values
The mission of Morning Star is to make disciples and strengthen disciples. The love of Christ compels the congregation to grow stronger in the knowledge of Jesus as Savior and to commit their lives to glorify God, and the same love compels them to share the Good News with others.
Seven values give shape to that mission. Morning Star prioritizes Scripture by seeking Christ in every passage. Members are encouraged to contribute the gifts God has given them. Community is cultivated by shedding anonymity and investing in real relationships. Giving is generous and cheerful because everything belongs to God. The congregation approaches its neighborhood with the mentality of missionaries, seeking to make disciples among those God has placed around them. The faith is passed to the next generation through the prayerful effort of the whole community. And everything depends on God's provision, sought earnestly in prayer.
Bible Studies and Small Groups
A robust Bible study calendar runs September through May. A Sunday morning study meets in the church sanctuary from 9:20 to 10:15 AM between the two services, with childcare available in the gym for toddlers through fifth grade (drop-off by 9:15 AM).
Other ongoing groups gather in the Fireside Chapel and Gathering Space. LAMBS (Ladies At Morning Bible Study) and RAMBS (Redeemed At Men's Bible Study) meet on the first and third Wednesdays at 9:00 AM. A Women's Devotions Group meets on the second and fourth Thursdays at 9:00 AM. A Saturday Evening Bible Study meets on the second Saturday of the month at 6:00 PM, and a Men's Bible Study on Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs gathers on the second Saturday at 8:00 AM and is open to all men ages 13 and up.
Places to Serve
Serving is built into the life of the church. Project Shine is a workshop that helps members discover the gifts and abilities God has given them and find a place to use them.
Concrete service areas include Guest Experience (greeting, seating, and helping visitors feel at home), Facilities and Campus (grounds, cleaning, painting, trade skills), Hospitality (welcome center, after-service coffee, snacks), Kids Ministry (Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, event coordination), Tech (audio and video for worship and events), and Music (choirs, instruments, and praise band).
Morning Star Lutheran School (Pre-K 3 through 8th Grade)
The school is part of the same ministry and shares the campus on Highland Road. The school day runs from 8:00 AM to 3:15 PM, with extended care available, and the school serves Pre-K 3 through eighth grade. Classrooms average a 12-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, and the school is accredited by WELSSA with the highest possible ranking of Exemplary; ninety-five percent of students test at or above grade level.
Every classroom is equipped one-to-one with devices and Newline Interactive displays. Beyond the core curriculum, students can join theater, forensics, chimes, and choir, take private piano or band lessons on campus, and play on teams in basketball, volleyball, soccer, cross country, and softball. Junior Chargers select sports through Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School offer additional competition.
The school participates in the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program. For families who qualify, the WPCP voucher covers the full cost of educating a student from 4K through eighth grade at Morning Star and continues through twelfth grade at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School. The school office is the point of contact for the program at 262-677-9196 or ms.choice@morningstarwels.org.
Principal Adam Harvey leads the school.
Early Childhood Center (6 Weeks to 3 Years)
The Morning Star Early Childhood Center, directed by Courtney Sellinger, serves infants and children from six weeks old through three years old in age-specific rooms with highly qualified teachers. The program is play-based and Christ-centered, designed to teach young children God's love in Christ and to build the skills needed to be life-long learners.
Infant and toddler rooms offer individualized care built around each child's schedule, with activities that build large and fine motor skills, language, and social skills. The 3K program is offered as either part-day or full-day care and includes spiritual, social, academic, emotional, and physical growth.
Pastors and Leadership
Morning Star is served by two pastors. Pastor Charles Raasch grew up in Milwaukee, attended Northwestern College and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, and went on to complete a Masters of Sacred Theology at the same seminary in 1999. He enjoys family time with his children, sports (hockey is his latest venture), and planting the perfect garden.
Pastor Jonathan Learman grew up in Friendswood, Texas, the sixth of seven children, and attended Luther Preparatory School, Martin Luther College, and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. He met his wife, Jamie, during his vicar year in Largo, Maryland, and they were married in 2009. Before joining Morning Star he served St. Peter's and Zion Lutheran Churches in Theresa, Wisconsin, from 2009 to 2023. The Learmans have three daughters, Mikaela, Kathryn, and Lydia, and a chocolate lab named Bailey.
A Church Coordinating Council, working under the theme Christ's Mission, Christ's Ministry, Christ's Servants, helps direct the work of the congregation.
Generosity and Giving
Giving is available online through Realm and through the church's secure giving platform. What the congregation does with what God has given shows the world where their hearts are, and generous giving helps proclaim the gospel in Jackson and beyond.
Plan a Visit
Anyone considering a visit is welcome to stop by a service at any time. Services are held Saturday at 5:00 PM and Sunday at 8:00 and 10:30 AM at N171W20131 Highland Road in Jackson, with services also available online through the church's YouTube channel. Tours of the Early Childhood Center can be scheduled by contacting the ECC director, and tours of the school can be arranged through the school office. The church office is open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and can be reached at 262-677-9357 or church@morningstarwels.org.