Our Redeemer Lutheran Church stands at 4605 Cypress Avenue in Wichita Falls, between the two Hospice of Wichita Falls campuses near the corner of Raider Drive and Cypress Avenue. Its church life is centered on two Sunday worship services, education from nursery through high school, music, mission support and the comfort dog ministry of Elijah.
Two Sunday Mornings on Cypress Avenue
Sunday worship begins at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday School and adult Bible classes meet from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Nursery is available for children under two during all worship services and the Sunday School hour. Communion is celebrated on the second, fourth and fifth Sundays. Choirs, soloists and instrumentalists take part in worship, with special cantatas offered at Christmas and Easter.
Visitors are met by greeters made up of individuals, couples and youth. They offer directions to the sanctuary, restrooms and classrooms and help first-time guests. Ushers welcome people at the sanctuary entrance, assist those with special needs, distribute materials and gather offerings. Sunday School and Bible Class teachers provide age-appropriate religious instruction, while the Altar Guild tends the altar and chancel, caring for paraments, candles and seasonal decorations for Lent and Advent.
The church is reached through the west entrance. Those stationed at SAFB may request a ride to worship by calling 940-692-3690 by noon on Thursday.
From Trinity Lutheran to the Cypress Avenue Sanctuary
Our Redeemer was organized as a mission congregation in August 1948. Its first services were held temporarily at Trinity Lutheran on 14th and Bluff. In 1949, the congregation purchased property on Avenue H. In February 1959, it bought a 12.7-acre site on Johnson Road. The mansion now occupied by Hospice of Wichita Falls was renovated to include a chapel, Sunday School classrooms and a kitchen. Construction of the Cypress Avenue building began in 1965, and the sanctuary was dedicated in July 1966. The church added a large fellowship hall and kitchen in 1985 and an education wing in May 1997.
Bible Learning from Two Years Old Through High School
Sunday morning study
Sunday morning Bible study begins in the Fellowship Hall with announcements, birthday recognition, songs and prayer before classes meet. Ages two through high school are covered, with nursery available for children under two. Three adult classes offer distinct approaches to Scripture:
- Pastor's Class, led by Pastor Bamsch, offers topical studies in the Jerusalem classroom, room 204.
- Didactic Discussions, led by Doug Beck, studies the weekly readings from worship in the Nazareth classroom, room 201.
- Nextgen, led by Jessica Hobert, offers varied Bible study in the Bethlehem classroom, room 203.
Midweek classes and confirmation
On Wednesdays from September through April, adult and youth classes meet from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. A low-cost meal is served from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. before class, and classes pause during Advent and Lent. Children's classes for ages three through five use songs, games, Bible study and memory work. A gluten-free meal is available when requested with a reservation.
Confirmation follows a two-year course. In the first year, typically beginning in sixth grade, DCE Michaela Seeliger leads students through Law and Gospel and Luther's Small Catechism, particularly the Ten Commandments and the Apostles' Creed. The second year, taught by Pastor Jones, continues with the Lord's Prayer, the Office of the Keys and the sacraments. Students study God's Word, take part in family devotions and memorize portions of Luther's Small Catechism. Brian Morgette leads a post-confirmation class for students who have completed the two-year program.
Monday and Tuesday studies
Pastor Bamsch also leads a Monday morning Bible study at 9:00 a.m. in the Bethlehem classroom. The class studies the Bible book by book and meets year round except for holidays.
Tuesday groups include Theology on Tap, a men's topical study that begins at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday after a meal and refreshments. Women's Fruit of the Vine also meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday. Another women's group, Women's Refuel, meets at 10:00 a.m. Child care can be provided for Women's Refuel when requested in advance.
Youth Groups That Grow with Their Members
Kids in Christ, for first through fifth grade, meets monthly for service, fellowship and devotion activities. It includes an annual lock-in and opportunities to attend Camp Lone Star beginning in third grade. Junior Youth, for sixth through eighth graders, meets at least monthly for devotions, service projects and fellowship, with an annual lock-in and camp opportunities of its own.
Senior Youth serves ninth through twelfth graders and meets Sundays at 6:00 p.m. in the youth room. Its gatherings center on discussion, friendships and friendly competition. Members may also attend Camp Lone Star and the National Youth Gathering.
Choirs for Every Generation
The music ministry welcomes men, women and children. The adult vocal choir and Redeemer Ringers handbell choir practice on Wednesday evenings and are open to adults and high school youth. Auditions are not required, nor is the ability to read music. The adult choirs enrich services monthly and offer cantatas at Christmas and Easter.
The children's vocal choir rehearses during Midweek classes and performs monthly at the 10:30 worship service. Children's handbell choirs practice at 5:15 on Wednesday evenings, with participation beginning in kindergarten. The three handbell groups are Cherub Chimers for beginning hand chime players, Joyful Ringers and the youth Alleluia Ringers.
Elijah: A Comfort Dog with a Wide Ministry
Elijah became part of Our Redeemer on August 26, 2017. Born March 26, 2016, he was trained by Lutheran Church Charities and completed more than 2,500 hours of training before joining the church. His team includes 13 handlers and ministry helpers trained by Lutheran Church Charities in Northbrook, Illinois. His handlers include a military veteran and a police veteran, and he is trained for police, military and regular ministry.
Elijah visits churches, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, events and disaster response situations. His calm presence is intended to help people open up and receive help with what is affecting them. He has responded to Hurricane Harvey and to Sutherland Springs, Santa Fe High School, El Paso, and Midland-Odessa after mass shootings, visiting victims, families and first responders. He has also visited a local high school after a student suicide, a local elementary school after a student's parent died and Sheppard Air Force Base suicide prevention programs.
His regular local rounds include Hospice of Wichita Falls, The Gables, The Rock at Sheppard Air Force Base, United Regional Hospital, senior homes, rehabilitation hospitals and kidney dialysis facilities in Wichita Falls, Burkburnett and Vernon. Elijah also visits the Wichita Falls Police Department and is the only dog allowed in Wichita Falls ISD schools.
Mission Support Close to Home and Around the World
Our Redeemer supports missionaries through the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, including Rev. Shauen and Krista Trump in Africa and Rev. Arthur and Deaconess Eva Rickman in Latin America. The congregation also gives financial support to Interfaith Ministries and Faith Mission. The Comfort Dog Team supports local organizations, youth undertake service projects, and Sunday School and Vacation Bible School collections support ministries around the world.
Mission teams have also served by restoring a church building in Panama, preparing a ministry center in Kingston, Jamaica, leading a Vacation Bible School gathering for missionary families in the Dominican Republic and operating vision clinics in Lima, Peru. Financial gifts can be made through secure online giving.
Fellowship Groups Turn Participation into Service
The Lutheran Women's Missionary League equips women for mission and ministry through inspiration, service and education. It meets at 9:00 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month during the school year for fellowship, Bible study and business.
The Holy Smokers grill team cooks for the congregation and serves smoked meat and meals in the community. The Texas Ramp Project builds and installs wheelchair ramps at individual homes to make them more accessible. Pairs and Spares welcomes couples and singles of all ages for monthly restaurant trips, Bunco and seasonal gatherings. Primetimers serves people age 60 and older with monthly meals, games and trips. Anna's Legacy provides fellowship for women whose spouses now reside in Heaven.
Through Jefferson Elementary and WFISD's Partners in Education Program, volunteers stock and organize a clothes closet and join projects. The Highway Cleanup team cares for a two-mile stretch of Highway 79. Sassy Sewing Notions meets monthly for weekend sewing and shares extra machines with all skill levels. The Midweek Kitchen Crew cooks, serves and cleans up the Wednesday meal, while the Fellowship Committee plans church-wide gatherings including the picnic and Winter Blast.
Artwork That Teaches the Gospel
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod uses artwork to teach and enrich worship, and the furnishings of Our Redeemer's altar, chancel, font, pulpit and cross carry visual references to Scripture. Richard Caemmerer designed the stained glass using Dalle de Verre and sheet glass produced by the Blenko Glass Company. The design draws on Te Deum Laudamus and its praise of the Trinity.
The east window near the font is titled The Water and depicts Baptism. The five central panels show the church being sent into the world as a flame and a city on a hill. The altar panels show Christ in wine and wafer, the Greek Cross and the Christ monogram IHS, Latin for Jesus the Savior of Man. The Word window depicts an Old Testament scroll and an open New Testament Bible. The faceted arch portrays the church gathered about Christ's throne of judgment, and each east and west window contains three crosses.
In the narthex, three panels present the Apostles' Creed through text and icons. Six large canvas prints teach the Six Chief Parts of Christian Doctrine as presented in Luther's Small Catechism: the Ten Commandments, Apostles' Creed, Lord's Prayer, Holy Baptism, Confession and Communion.
What Our Redeemer Holds Central
Our Redeemer is a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, whose roots reach back to the Reformation of the 16th century. It holds that people are saved by God's grace alone through faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It confesses one triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is both true God and true man and the only way to eternal life. The Bible is God's inspired Word without error and the only true source of what God has done. The church gathers believers into local congregations to receive forgiveness and life, strengthen faith and share love through word and deed.
A Church Centered on Word, Worship and Service
Our Redeemer's life is woven from worship and teaching, music and mission support, fellowship and service. Elijah's comfort dog ministry carries that service into hospitals, schools, homes and places affected by crisis, connecting the congregation's life to its wider community.