Our Partner: The Lutheran Church of the Reformation - Milwaukee, WI
History:
The relationship between RLC and Reformation began with an Advent gathering over 25 years ago to bring Christsmas trees and gifts to members of Reformation; an offering was also gathered the following Sunday at Resurrection to help purchase bus passes for those in the Reformation community who needed them in the upcoming year.
Soon, Reformation became a major focus in the Resurrection outreach efforts with a yearly festival held to raise funds to help support the ministry of Reformation. Over the years, this festival came to include participation with the members of Reformation with building relationships as well as raising money as the focus.
As the partnership has developed, this has been key: building honest, caring, mutual relationships between members of both congregations.
Current:
Today, we hold a joint monthly women's group that meets at Reformation. Our congregations hold joint confirmation classes, meeting at each other's churches every other week. We have many members who participated in a twice-monthly tutoring program with other partners and the children of Reformation. During the summer months, Resurrection and Reformation have held a Wednesday evening program, Digging and Dining, that meets at Resurection for a joint gardening program, a dinner and fellowship hour, followed by an informal worship service.
Members of Resurrection also go to Reformation to work together in the summer youth work ministy program. The advent gathering continues today, entitled Miracle on 124th Street and includes a wonderful fellowship event at Reformation in December. The annual outreach festival, now called HarvestFaire, continues each October and our Seeds of Love outreach program includes a number of other fellowship and education opportunities between Reformation and Resurrection. Once each year, Reformation closes it's doors and worships at the Resurrection church and conversly, once each year, Resurrection closes it's doors to worship at Reformation for the annual Blessing Sunday.
Several of our members are in mentoring relationships with families and youth from Reformation. Resurrection helped to found a partner's council that works collectively with Reformation's other partner congregations with the intent to explore ways to more greatly provide support to Reformation as a larger group.
Resurrection's pastor leads a weekly Bible study at Reformation. And we hold each other's members and congregations up in prayer during worship each week - we have come to know each other by name!
Future:
The key to the future is to keep the our partnership relationship-based rather than program-based.
What is most helpful to current members at this particular time and in this particular place?
If such a question is kept central, then programs can change without there being a sense of defeat. A relationship is a living thing and so, by definition, will change. Partnership, likewise needs to be viewed as a living thing. Creativity and responsiveness to one another's needs are crucial and a firm belief that we are all different parts of the one living body of Christ, striving to figure out how best to work together for the good of the beloved world.
About The Lutheran Church of the Reformation:
Reformation is affiliated with The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and is located at 2201 North 35th Steet (the corner of Garfield and 35th Street) in Milwaukee. Reformation is lead by Pastor Steve Wohlfeil. Reformation has a robust ministry and is a beacon of hope in it's neighborhood. Besides worship, outreach and community ministry, Reformation also features a food pantry and a neighborhood store, where clothing and home goods are available.
Reformation can be reached at 414.444.0440
The relationship between RLC and Reformation began with an Advent gathering over 25 years ago to bring Christsmas trees and gifts to members of Reformation; an offering was also gathered the following Sunday at Resurrection to help purchase bus passes for those in the Reformation community who needed them in the upcoming year.
Soon, Reformation became a major focus in the Resurrection outreach efforts with a yearly festival held to raise funds to help support the ministry of Reformation. Over the years, this festival came to include participation with the members of Reformation with building relationships as well as raising money as the focus.
As the partnership has developed, this has been key: building honest, caring, mutual relationships between members of both congregations.
Current:
Today, we hold a joint monthly women's group that meets at Reformation. Our congregations hold joint confirmation classes, meeting at each other's churches every other week. We have many members who participated in a twice-monthly tutoring program with other partners and the children of Reformation. During the summer months, Resurrection and Reformation have held a Wednesday evening program, Digging and Dining, that meets at Resurection for a joint gardening program, a dinner and fellowship hour, followed by an informal worship service.
Members of Resurrection also go to Reformation to work together in the summer youth work ministy program. The advent gathering continues today, entitled Miracle on 124th Street and includes a wonderful fellowship event at Reformation in December. The annual outreach festival, now called HarvestFaire, continues each October and our Seeds of Love outreach program includes a number of other fellowship and education opportunities between Reformation and Resurrection. Once each year, Reformation closes it's doors and worships at the Resurrection church and conversly, once each year, Resurrection closes it's doors to worship at Reformation for the annual Blessing Sunday.
Several of our members are in mentoring relationships with families and youth from Reformation. Resurrection helped to found a partner's council that works collectively with Reformation's other partner congregations with the intent to explore ways to more greatly provide support to Reformation as a larger group.
Resurrection's pastor leads a weekly Bible study at Reformation. And we hold each other's members and congregations up in prayer during worship each week - we have come to know each other by name!
Future:
The key to the future is to keep the our partnership relationship-based rather than program-based.
What is most helpful to current members at this particular time and in this particular place?
If such a question is kept central, then programs can change without there being a sense of defeat. A relationship is a living thing and so, by definition, will change. Partnership, likewise needs to be viewed as a living thing. Creativity and responsiveness to one another's needs are crucial and a firm belief that we are all different parts of the one living body of Christ, striving to figure out how best to work together for the good of the beloved world.
About The Lutheran Church of the Reformation:
Reformation is affiliated with The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and is located at 2201 North 35th Steet (the corner of Garfield and 35th Street) in Milwaukee. Reformation is lead by Pastor Steve Wohlfeil. Reformation has a robust ministry and is a beacon of hope in it's neighborhood. Besides worship, outreach and community ministry, Reformation also features a food pantry and a neighborhood store, where clothing and home goods are available.
Reformation can be reached at 414.444.0440
Reformation Self-Worth Creed (Used by our partners in Milwaukee)
I believe God has made me a special person. I am unique, unrepeatable, irreplaceable, and of infinite worth and dignity. I am loved and precious. I am called and sent by God. I am chosen, blessed, broken and given. God abides in me. I am one of a kind. I am gifted for the benefit of others. I am a beloved child of God.
Reformation Photo Gallery
Resurrection Lutheran Church - 12400 West Coldspring Road, New Berlin, WI 53151 -262.786.8880 rlcnewberlin@sbcglobal.net
This site is copyright 2013 - Resurrection Lutheran Church, New Berlin, WI
This site is copyright 2013 - Resurrection Lutheran Church, New Berlin, WI
