At St. John's Lutheran Church on W. Mequon Road in Mequon, Wisconsin, Sunday begins with Bible Hour at 9:00 a.m. and worship at 10:00 a.m. The congregation traces its beginning to 1861 and is known for Bible-centered worship, generations of Lutheran pastoral service, and the stained-glass windows installed with its 1925-26 sanctuary. The church stands about seven minutes from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, and students have long supplied guest preachers and interns. Pastor Dean Biebert and the congregation frame St. John's mission as living faith daily, sharing the life-saving message of God's Word with the world, community, and neighbors, and welcoming people to worship, study, and service.
Sunday Bible Hour and Worship at Ten
People arriving for their first Sunday at St. John's can plan around two gatherings at 1616 W. Mequon Road. Bible Hour begins at 9:00 a.m., with study of the Word of God preceding the main service. Worship begins at 10:00 a.m. The congregation describes its Sunday worship as following a pattern used in Christian churches for almost 1,500 years, but expressed in contemporary language and a variety of styles.
The entire service is printed in an easy-to-use folder. Those attending hear Bible readings, join together in prayer, and sing hymns from the church's hymnal, which contains hundreds of hymns. The high point of the service is an explanation of a Bible passage and its meaning for everyday life. The Hammond organ purchased by the congregation in 1941 continues to accompany the singing.
Visitors do not need to determine what to wear before arriving. Casual dress is perfectly fine. Members support the church's work through offerings, but guests are never required to give. Restrooms are located in the lower level of the building.
Holy Communion is celebrated on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. St. John's teaches that Jesus sets the conditions for who receives Communion and that participation expresses agreement with others who share the same faith. The church's simple welcome remains consistent: everyone is welcome at its services.
Parking is available on the church property. Additional land acquired in 1920 became the drive and parking area, while a later purchase on the west side of the church improved parking and brought exterior lighting. The address for worship and Bible Hour is 1616 W. Mequon Road, Mequon, Wisconsin 53092. Members who wish to contribute can also use online giving.
From the Log Church to a Stone Church
St. John's had a humble beginning in 1861. Its real beginning came when Pastor J. Boehling of Freistadt preached the gospel of Christ every two to four weeks in a log church. He served from 1861 through 1867. Pastor F. Schumann of Freistadt followed from 1867 to 1872, caring for the congregation's spiritual needs during a period when services were still infrequent.
The church council then asked its sister congregation on the Cedarburg Plank road for permission to have Pastor M. Moll serve in Mequon. Moll accepted a call elsewhere after about a year. Pastor C. F. Keller followed, dividing his time between the two congregations and guiding each in worship. In May 1879, Pastor F. Ledebur was called and began serving every two weeks.
Under Ledebur's leadership, the congregation outgrew the log church. Sixteen members spent many days hauling material and helping erect a stone church measuring 28 feet by 42 feet. It cost $1,600 and was dedicated in 1881. Ledebur guided the flock in the Lord's ways for 28 years. His work and the growth of the congregation laid the foundation for the sanctuary that still serves St. John's.
Rebuilding the Sanctuary in 1925-26
In 1907, the congregations jointly extended a call to Pastor P. Burkholz Sr., beginning services every Sunday. Growth soon made the auditorium too small, and a balcony was added in 1920 at a cost of $600. A single-room school for instruction was erected in 1912 and remained in use until 1956.
Another enlargement came in 1923. The members planned a 20-foot addition, a basement, and modern heating, with the excavation and construction done by horse and human power. Rain damaged the structure so severely that the walls collapsed, although no one was injured. The congregation chose to replace the damaged building rather than repair it.
Pastor Burkholz laid the cornerstone on August 30, 1925, while Pastor H. Ebert preached the festival sermon in German. Worship moved temporarily to the public school house, and by Christmas the children's program and Christmas services could be held in the basement of the new structure. On January 17, 1926, the completed church was dedicated and consecrated. Pastor E. Dornfeld preached a morning service in German, and Pastor W. Keibel led the evening service in English. Music and hymns marked the festive occasion. Most of the congregation's 60 members had spent many weeks moving stones with horses and tractors and assisting the contractors. The building cost $20,000.
English, German, and a Self-Supporting Congregation
Pastor Burkholz began Sunday school in 1930 and English services in 1931. In 1932, the congregation decided to become self-supporting and call its own pastor. Candidate Kurt Lescow was ordained and installed by his father, Pastor C. Lescow, with Pastor Burkholz assisting. English services were then held on the first and third Sundays, and Sunday school instruction was conducted in English as well.
A parsonage was completed on April 2, 1933, and dedicated for the pastor's use. The house, well, and garage cost $6,035. During Lescow's nearly 25 years of service, the congregation continued to grow and change. A Hammond organ was purchased in 1941 for use in worship. In 1942, the members increased their emphasis on English by holding an English service every Sunday and a German service on the second Sunday of each month. They also replaced the furnace and insulated the ceiling to retain more heat through the winter.
The basement was remodeled in 1944, and a further schedule change in 1946 moved the remaining German service to the first Sunday of the month. In 1947, the congregation reached a goal of long importance by burning the mortgage. Another major project followed in 1954: the basement was enlarged to its present size, and the entire roof was replaced for more than $20,000. Land on the west side of the church was purchased for better parking, and an outside lighting system was installed for $1,142. A dedicatory service and open house marked the rededication in August 1955.
In July 1956, Pastor Lescow accepted a full-time teaching position at Milwaukee Lutheran High School. The congregation called Pastor F. C. Knueppel of Manitowoc, who was installed on the first Sunday in Advent by Prof. Hoenecke, who served as vacancy pastor during the transition. Looking ahead to the congregation's 100th anniversary in 1961, the members approved an interior renovation in February 1960. New lighting fixtures, a fresh coat of paint, and gold leaf gave the church a changed appearance at a cost of $6,200.
Knowing, Showing, and Growing
St. John's expresses its mission through three words. The members have gathered to praise God and proclaim his love to the world and community. Their mission is carried out by knowing Jesus Christ, showing faith and love, and growing through study of the Word.
Knowing the one true God
The church worships Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as the one and only God. It confesses that faith to know and believe in God comes purely through his grace and love. This knowledge is more than a statement of doctrine for the congregation. It is the foundation for daily life, worship, study, and service.
Showing love for God and others
St. John's teaches that God has shown unsurpassable love by forgiving humanity and winning salvation through Jesus. Members respond by showing that love to others. Their mission calls them to demonstrate faith in Jesus through worship and witness, carrying the good news of his forgiving love beyond the congregation.
Growing in knowledge of God
Growth comes through constant study and focus on the Word of God. As the congregation studies Scripture, it seeks a deeper appreciation of the depths of God's love. It also shares what it learns, so that more people may come to know Jesus and the truth of his forgiving love. This growing knowledge is reflected in Bible Hour and in the explanation of a Bible passage during each Sunday service.
The Faith St. John's Teaches
The church believes and teaches that every word of the Bible is God's Word and that it is the only authority for the facts of life. It teaches that there is one God, the Father, Son, and Spirit, and that the Bible reveals this God. These convictions shape the way St. John's reads Scripture, worships, shares the gospel, and understands the work of the church in the world.
St. John's teaches that all people inherit from their parents instincts and urges that are contrary to what God says, and that people cannot correct this condition on their own. Jesus, God the Son, came to free all people from sin and to give them what they are not entitled to receive. In the church's teaching, Jesus entered humanity as the substitute who lived his whole life without sin, suffered the penalty for all sin on the cross, and reversed the sentence owed to all people.
Because of Jesus' perfect obedience and innocent death, God forgives the sins of all people. The resurrection on Easter morning guaranteed that forgiveness. The church also teaches that people cannot get on God's good side by anything they do. Instead, believers share the gospel so more people may come to know the truth. Jesus will return at the end of time to bring all dead bodies to life and give a new universe and earth.
These teachings are connected directly to the congregation's life. The offer of salvation by grace leads members to live lives of love, and their study of Scripture leads them to share the gospel. Holy Communion, celebrated on the second and fourth Sundays each month, also expresses shared faith within the church.
Pastor Dean Biebert's Ministry
Pastor Dean Biebert grew up in Franklin, Wisconsin. Before serving at St. John's, he worked with congregations in Livingston, Montana, the Black Hills of South Dakota, and Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, where he served for 27 years. His ministry also included work as an adjunct professor for Asian seminary students in the Twin Cities.
Pastor Biebert traveled to Thailand, Laos, and China on multiple trips to help train new Christians. Since retiring, he has served near Marine Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and spent four months in Owosso, Michigan. After settling in Cedarburg, he also worked with the congregation at Risen Savior near Northridge. At St. John's, he continues a pattern established throughout his ministry of teaching the Word, caring for the congregation's spiritual needs, and helping the church carry out its mission among neighbors and the wider community.
The Seminary Next Door and Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School
St. John's is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The congregation contributes to the synod's mission work with its gifts and offerings. WELS carries out mission work across North America and around the world, and St. John's shares in that wider work through its membership and support.
The church's close relationship with Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary is part of its identity. The seminary is only about seven minutes away, and St. John's has long welcomed students and their families to worship. Seminary students have served as guest preachers and interns, bringing additional voices to the pulpit while learning in the congregation.
St. John's has also supported Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School for many years. The WELS-affiliated school is located on Division Road in Jackson and serves families in Ozaukee and Washington Counties. These relationships connect the local congregation with a seminary, a high school, and a Lutheran church body extending well beyond Mequon.
Windows That Teach Law, Gospel, and Hope
The stained glass in St. John's is not merely decoration. Its scenes and symbols present biblical teachings in visual form, making the sanctuary a place where the congregation and its visitors can read the Christian story. The windows were purchased and installed with the 1925-26 building. Six nave windows and the window over the entrance were made from simple colored-glass designs joined with strips of lead, with a painted image in the central circle. Two additional nave windows use more distinctive cut pieces and involved painting. The narthex, tower, and balcony contain stained glass without symbols.
The entrance window and the message of Christ's righteousness
The entrance window carries a text about the perfect righteousness of Christ. It explains that Christ demonstrated that righteousness by suffering and dying in humanity's place, covering sins and enabling believers to receive the crown of heaven. The inscription quotes the words of 2 Timothy 4:8: “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
Law and gospel in the north windows
The north nave windows present the two chief teachings of Scripture, law and gospel. God's moral law, represented by the tables of stone given to Moses on Mount Sinai, shows sin and condemns it. Latin numerals refer to the Ten Commandments, although a covering preserves a clear view of the projection screen. The gospel is represented by an open Bible because God's Word proclaims forgiveness through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ.
The church, Christ, and the Good Shepherd
The north central windows symbolize the Church as the body of believers. A sheaf of wheat represents true Christians gathered close to Christ but surrounded by weeds, including unbelievers and hypocrites. Hanging grapes illustrate Jesus' words about himself as the vine and his followers as the branches who bear fruit when they remain in him.
In the south central window, Jesus stands at the door of the heart and enters through faith, drawing on Revelation 3:20. The neighboring image portrays Jesus as the Good Shepherd. It draws together his words about laying down his life for the sheep, his followers hearing his voice and following him, and his promise of eternal life.
Hope and certainty
The two south nave windows carry symbols of hope and certainty. The anchor represents Christ holding his people fast during the storms of life. The dove with an olive branch recalls Noah and assures worshippers that the Lord protects and cares for his people. Together, these images continue the visual teaching begun in the law, gospel, church, and shepherd windows.
The four Evangelists on the balcony
The balcony railing centers on the four Evangelists, all represented as angels because they are messengers of God's good news in Christ. Matthew appears as a man because his Gospel focuses on the human nature of Jesus. Mark is the lion, representing the supernatural and kingly power of Christ. Luke is the ox, pointing readers toward the cross and Jesus' life of service. John is the eagle, associated with accounts that include Jesus as the Bread of Life and the Good Shepherd. Other balcony symbols include the fire of Pentecost, representing the Holy Spirit and light, and incense, representing prayer.
Symbols of the twelve Apostles
The balcony also carries traditional symbols of the twelve Apostles. Their identities connect Christian history with visible reminders of the gospel.
- Matthew is represented by three money bags, recalling his former work as a tax collector.
- Thomas is represented by a carpenter's square and spear, recalling his missionary preaching in India and his martyrdom according to tradition.
- Jude is represented by a ship, reflecting missionary journeys made with Simon the Zealot.
- Simon is represented by a fish resting on a book, reflecting his description as a fisher of people through the power of the gospel.
- James the Less is represented by a vertical saw, recalling the tradition of his death by sawing.
- Judas Iscariot is represented by a money bag and noose, identifying his betrayal and death.
- Peter is represented by crossed keys, recalling Jesus' promise of the keys of the kingdom of heaven to those with Peter's faith.
- James is represented by three shells, symbols of travel and pilgrimage.
- John is represented by a snake rising from a cup, recalling the traditional story of poison being removed from his cup.
- Philip is represented by a Tau cross above a basket, joining the cross of prophecy with his association with the feeding of the 5,000.
- Andrew is represented by an X-shaped cross, recalling his martyrdom in Greece according to tradition.
- Bartholomew is represented by three knives, recalling the tradition of his flaying and crucifixion.
Together, the windows form a visual account of law, grace, the church, Christ, hope, and the people whose stories surround the Gospel. Their installation in 1925-26 makes them part of the same building project in which the congregation moved from the damaged structure into its present sanctuary.
Cemetery Stewardship and an Open Door
St. John's Lutheran Cemetery is part of the congregation's continuing care for families and generations. The church office handles inquiries about purchasing lots, arranging burials, installing headstones, and historical or genealogy matters. The cemetery also has clear guidelines for floral remembrances. Those who place flowers or plants are asked to care for them. Annuals and perennials may be planted within twelve inches of the front of a headstone, while cut flowers may be placed in front of a marker. Living plants are watered by cemetery staff when needed, and weeds are removed when possible. Artificial flowers are discouraged but allowed and are removed once they become worn.
St. John's continues to gather at 9:00 a.m. for Bible Hour and 10:00 a.m. for worship, carrying forward a ministry that began with sixteen members in a log church in 1861. Its identity is found in the Word, historic worship, the work of faithful members, and stained glass that teaches the story of salvation. That is St. John's Lutheran Church in Mequon: a welcoming Lutheran congregation whose sanctuary holds nearly a century and a half of worship, work, and teaching.