Rev. Lester Spies, 414-352-1160, ext 202
Deacon Dennis Schultz
Nicolle Grassl, Office Manager memoriallutheran@sbcglobal.net, 414-352-1160, ext 201
Fred Bach, Organist
Jasmin Radisevic, Custodian
Meet Rev. Lester Spies!
Thank you for taking time to visit our website to learn more about Memorial Lutheran Church and its mission in our community and beyond.
I have been blessed to serve at Memorial on a full-time basis since February 2019. Prior to that, I served part-time during a period of transition during 2017-2018. Prior to my ministry in Wisconsin, I served parishes in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and my home state of Texas.
I am married to Dr. Barbara Spies who teaches at Cardinal Stritch University in the Communication Arts department. We have four children – Ryan (who has a Masters degree in Nuclear Physics from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada), Anna (who has a Masters degree in Mathematical Modeling and Scientific Computing from University College Cork in Cork, Ireland), Kristen (who has a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin), and Michelle (who will be attending Unity College – America’s Environmental College – in Unity, Maine). My wife and I live and work in the world of social sciences. Our kids have found fulfillment in math and the natural sciences. It makes for interesting conversations and stimulates constant questions and learning.
Memorial Lutheran Church has a rich history. However, one of the reasons why I love serving at Memorial so much is because the congregation is constantly striving to focus on the future. If you are looking for a church with all of the answers and deeply established patterns, we may not be the right fit for you. But, if you are looking for a place that is asking a lot of great questions and open to moving wherever the Spirit of God is leading in this time and this place, Memorial Lutheran Church might be a great fit for you. We would love to hear your questions and work with you so that together might find faithful and helpful responses to those questions.
Currently, we worship each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. Special services during Lent and for festival celebrations like Christmas are also offered as appropriate during the year. We are looking to add an additional service at some point during the week (other than Sunday morning) beginning in the fall of 2019. So, if the Sunday morning time and format does not work for you, please keep checking in with us regarding updates as more detailed plans start to come together.
Memorial Lutheran Church has many wonderful ongoing ministries including crafting groups, fellowship opportunities, Bible study and book study groups, and the like. However, one of the things that I think Memorial does best is its social ministry with the greater community. Members of the church help to serve meals regularly for the hungry, collect food for families in need, give to local missions and ministries on a quarterly basis, and respond to various community concerns as the needs are made known – just to name a few.
Memorial Lutheran Church is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (www.elca.org) and a part of the Greater Milwaukee Synod (www.milwaukeesynod.org). Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday (with rare exception due to pastoral vacation). All baptized Christians are invited to participate in this life-giving and forgiving meal. You do not have to be a Lutheran or a member of Memorial Lutheran Church to participate. Holy Communion is the Lord’s Supper, and Jesus invites you to join the table of fellowship through the waters of your baptism. Children and youth who have not been instructed or who have not received First Communion in their current congregations are invited to come forward for a blessing.
If you are interested in any of these opportunities and would like to learn more about them, I invite you to email me at lspies@wi.rr.com, or you could call or text me at (262) 424-8177.
In Christ,
Pastor Lester Spies