About Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages Mission Statement: In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament, Rock of Ages exists to build up one another in the Christian faith and to make known the love of Christ within our church, community, and the world, for Jesus is the Rock and Light of our salvation.

Our Beliefs: The Scriptures Teach-We Confess

THE TRINITY – The one and only God is the Triune God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit– as revealed through the Holy Spirit in the Bible. 3 Persons yet one God as confessed in the scriptures and found in the Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds. Mt. 28:20, Gen. 1-2; Ps.146:5-6

GOD THE FATHER – He sustains all things in heaven and on earth and so loved the world that He sent His Son to redeem it. Gen, 1-2; John 3:16

GOD THE SON – Jesus Christ is the true God, eternally begotten of the Father, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary. Scriptures teaches that through His perfect life, sacrificial death, bodily resurrection, and reign at God’s right hand He is the only Savior from sin and the only Mediator between God and humanity. Jn.1:1-3, 14; John 14:1-6; 1Tim 2:5, 1 Jn. 5:20: Acts 4:12

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT – The Holy Spirit works through the word of God to create and sustain faith. He also works through Holy Baptism and Lord’s Supper by creating and sustaining faith. He points us to the work of Jesus for Salvation. Gen 1-2; John 3:1-17

HUMANITY – Every human being is conceived and born dead to God and lacks true fear, love, or trust in God, but rather innately hostile to God. Eph. 2:1-10: Ps. 51:5

SALVATION BY FAITH ALONE – We are justified and declared not guilty, in the sight of God and rescued from sin death and damnation not by our works but solely by God’s underserved kindness given through Jesus Christ. We are regenerated, created new and live out a repentant life of faith. Rom. 3:21-28: Eph. 2:8-9, John 1:29: Titus 3:5

Good works, prayer, and holy living are the fruit of faith in Christ, not the cause of salvation or faith. Genuine good works, pleasing to God, flow from what God commands in His Word. For faith alone can justify; works serve our neighbors and supply proof that faith is living. Jn. 15:5; Heb. 11:16; Eph. 2:8-10

The Christian life is one of continual repentance and faith, from which flow good works as the fruit of faith. It is lived in faith toward God and in fervent love toward the neighbor in our God-given, daily vocations. Mt.12:33; Lk. 24:47

MEANS OF THE GOSPEL – The blessings and benefits of Jesus’ saving death and resurrection–the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation–are delivered and applied to us by means of the Gospel in its forms: the preached and written Word, baptism, Absolution, Lord’s Supper. Through these means the Holy Spirit works faith in Christ. Jn. 6:33: 16:12-15; Lk.24:47; Mt. 28:19; Jn20: 21-23; 1Cor. 11: 23-26

SACRAMENTS – The Holy Church is present whenever believers are gathered around Jesus Christ in His Gospel purely preached and taught and the Sacraments of Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, Holy Communion. Mt. 18:20; Acts 2:42; Mt. 13:47-48

*Holy Baptism is water applied in the Name of the Triune God according to Jesus’ mandate and promise, and works rebirth and renewal, delivers, and applies the forgiveness of sins and very life of Jesus. The Scriptures teach that Baptism is God’s work and not our confession therefore we baptize infants. Baptism is not repeatable since it is God’s work and as we are born only once, flesh is born of the flesh and spirit is born of the spirit. Mt. 28;19-20; Jn. 3;1-16; Titus 3:5; Rom. 6:4; 1 Peter 3:21

*Holy Absolution is the forgiveness of sins spoken by pastor to a penitent sinner in Jesus’ name and actually delivers and applies the forgiveness of sins to the repentant person with the full authority of the crucified, risen, and reigning Christ. Mt. 16-19; 18:18; Jn. 20:21-23

*Holy Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ given under bread and wine, instituted by Jesus Christ Himself, for Christians to eat and drink for the forgiveness of their sins. Closed Communion–We celebrate the Lord’s Supper every Sunday here at Rock of Ages during our Divine Service. As a congregation of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, we follow the historic Christian practice of closed communion. According to the words of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11, only those who share the same outward confession of faith join us at the altar. Members of other LCMS congregations are welcome to partake of the Lord’s Supper, but we ask that you please see the Pastor before communing. 1 Cor. 10,11; Mt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11: 23-2

SCRIPTURE – Holy Scripture, or the Holy Bible, is the written Word of God, the very, “breath of God,” and is inerrant. It is the only rule, source, and norm of life meaning that is the final authority, and judge of all teaching, practice, and life. Holy Scripture preaches the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God’s word teaches us that Christ came to seek and save the lost, to save sinners.

The word of God is a two-fold word–the Law, which reveals our sin and seeks and kills the sinner, and the Gospel, which announces, delivers, and applies the forgiveness of sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, creates faith in Him, and gives new life and identity to the believer in Christ. Rom. 1:16; 3:21-22; Gal. 2:19-20

CONNECTIONS – Rock of Ages Lutheran Church is a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). Synod means walking together. That means we walk together with our LCMS churches in faith and confession. Please take a look at www.LCMS.org for any questions regarding a deeper understanding of what we believe, teach, and confess.

Rock of Ages History: The formation of Rock of Ages Lutheran Church dates back to October 1979. A group of people had their first worship service at St. Mathias Episcopal Church in Minocqua on Reformation Sunday after having met together at the home of Rev. Harold Winter, our first pastor.

In 1980, the congregation purchased land on Highway 70 West, at its current location, and construction began shortly thereafter. The dedication of the original section took place on Sunday, April 4th, which happened to be Palm Sunday. The original building served as a worship center, classroom, fellowship hall, and offices. Today, the old wing is used for Sunday School and the new Rock of Ages nursery.

As the congregation grew, they decided to build a new sanctuary, fellowship hall, classrooms, lounge area (fireside room), and offices. The new addition was dedicated in October of 1996 under the leadership of Rev. Walter Geist.

 

 

The pastors that have served Rock of Ages since 1980 are:
Rev. Harold Winter          1980 – 1985
Rev. Scott Jans                 1985 – 1986
Rev. Walter Geist             1986 – 2003
Rev. Kenneth Albers        2004 – 2014
Rev. Paul Devantier         2015 – 2016 (interim)
Rev. Phillip Beukema      2016 – 2019    
Rev. Kevin Hoogland      2019 – 2021 (interim)
Rev. Brian Liermann       2021 – Present