Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church sits along North Riverland Road in Mequon, a community just north of Milwaukee in Ozaukee County. The congregation has been anchored in the Mequon-Thiensville area since 1957, proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through weekly worship, strong teaching of Scripture, and ministries that touch every stage of life. Members describe themselves as a family of believers anchored on the timeless truth of the Word of God, with a warmth that makes first-time visitors feel welcome the moment they walk in.

A Missouri Synod Congregation Rooted in Mequon

Beautiful Savior is affiliated with The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, a fellowship that takes its theological cues from the Lutheran Confessions and the Small Catechism of Martin Luther. The congregation places the Bible at the center of everything it does, preaching Christ crucified, buried, and risen for the forgiveness of sins. A verse from Ephesians 2 captures the spirit of the place: "You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone."

The parish has been shaped by a long line of pastors. Its longest-tenured shepherd was the Rev. Dr. William Otto, Pastor Emeritus, who served Beautiful Savior for thirty years before his retirement and celebrated sixty years of ordained ministry in 2021. He remains connected to the congregation and continues to help as needed, and he has served on the Board of Regents at Concordia University Wisconsin. Today the parish is led by Pastor Mike Stein, who began shepherding Beautiful Savior in January 2025 after earlier ministry in rural northern Illinois.

Saturday Evenings and Sunday Mornings in the Sanctuary

Beautiful Savior gathers twice each weekend in its sanctuary. On Saturday at 5:00 p.m. the community meets for a more casual, blended service that draws worshipers who appreciate a relaxed pace. On Sunday at 9:00 a.m. the congregation gathers for a traditional service marked by historic liturgy and hymnody. Both services include the celebration of Holy Communion, and the Sunday service is also livestreamed on the congregation's YouTube channel for those who cannot be present in person.

At each service the goal is to deepen the relationship between the worshiper and God: confessing sin and receiving grace, hearing the Scriptures read and proclaimed, singing praise, and growing together in community. Preaching is Bible-based, with sermons that draw out the meaning of the text and apply it to daily life. The central confession is that grace comes through Jesus Christ, "the only way to eternal life," as the congregation puts it.

The church has prepared short explainers about Baptism and Communion, each available as a downloadable PDF.

Pastor Mike Stein and the People Who Lead

Pastor Mike Stein seeks to connect with people from all walks of life and to provide Christian spiritual care, guidance, prayer, and support. Born and raised in the Midwest, he has always felt a strong connection to his community and a desire to serve others. He enjoys ministering to his neighbors in the congregation and community with love and compassion, and he is devoted to his wife and family. Visitors and members alike can reach him through the church office at (262) 242-6650 or at pastor@bslcmequon.com.

The pastoral leadership is supported by a director of music who has given decades to the choir loft. Gloria Hansen has joyfully conducted the Beautiful Savior choir since 2005. She holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in vocal performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she served as Senior Lecturer and Assistant Director of Choirs until 2017. She has sung with the Milwaukee Chamber Choir, the Milwaukee Choral Artists, the Collegium Ladyes, and the Master Singers of Milwaukee, and brings a deep love of sacred music to the congregation.

Bible Studies for Every Stage of Life

The teaching of Scripture is a daily rhythm at Beautiful Savior, and three regular settings make room for every schedule.

• Sunday morning Bible study. After the 9:00 a.m. worship service, the congregation gathers in the fellowship hall for coffee and snacks, then moves into the sanctuary at about 10:30 a.m. for a study that runs until 11:15 a.m. The group typically dives deeper into one of the Bible readings of the day or explores a different relevant topic.
• Lunch and Learn. On select Wednesdays at noon, participants bring a lunch to the church and join Pastor Stein for fellowship and study.
• Upper Room small groups. These monthly groups meet either in homes or at the church to share a potluck meal, enjoy fellowship, and study the Bible together. They are designed to build and strengthen relationships within the congregation and with God.

A longer arc of study is also part of the congregation's heritage. The "5 x 5 x 5" program, five minutes of Bible reading, five minutes of reflection from Pastor Hillenbrand (a former pastor), and five days per week, walked the parish through the entire New Testament from October 2022 to October 2023. The fifty-two weeks of readings remain available for anyone who wants to revisit the journey.

Children, Youth, and Confirmation

Families are at the heart of Beautiful Savior, and three ongoing ministries shape the faith of the next generation.

Sunday School welcomes children from age three onward. Following the 9:00 a.m. service, the children gather in the basement for a snack, music, and Bible stories. Every class, no matter the age group, is solidly based in the Bible and aims to foster a stronger faith.

The Beautiful Savior Service Club invites children from age two through eighth grade, along with their families, to cultivate servant hearts from an early age. The club organizes various service opportunities during the year that contribute meaningfully to the church and to local communities.

Confirmation Class gathers sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students regularly to delve deeper into God's Word and to learn how it forms the basis for the Lutheran faith. Students study Martin Luther's Small Catechism and discuss the biblical perspective on the issues they encounter in daily life. When they complete the class, they are confirmed in their faith at a special worship service and begin receiving Holy Communion.

The congregation also partners with Trail Life USA, a character-and-leadership program for boys and their fathers, with regular meetings and outdoor activities. Other youth-friendly events have included gatherings around the campfire with s'mores, music, and games.

Music that Carries the Word

Beautiful Savior treasures a rich variety of musical praise. Instrumental soloists, vocalists, and other musicians are encouraged to share their talents during services, and the music ministry offers several ongoing ensembles.

• Choir. Under Gloria Hansen, the choir adds its voices to Sunday worship and to festival services such as the annual Lessons and Carols service in December. Rehearsals are Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
• Handbell Choir. The handbells bring a classic and resonant element to worship. Those interested in ringing may contact the congregation office.

The congregation also points worshipers to the Lutheran Hour, the long-running radio ministry of the LCMS, as a way to keep the proclamation of Christ in their ears throughout the week.

Reaching Out into the Mequon Community

Faith lived out is just as important as faith talked about at Beautiful Savior. The congregation stays involved in local outreach and volunteer events in Mequon and beyond, and members are regularly invited to take part. Recent gatherings have included a free Conversations Evangelism class presented by Gideon's International, a Bible Journaling Workshop hosted in partnership with Visual Faith Ministries, and a community Life Walk in support of A Place of Refuge, a local organization serving women and families.

The Service Club extends that outreach to children, weaving service into the rhythm of the year so that young people experience what it means to bless their neighbors. The church also partners with Gideon's International in equipping believers to share their faith in everyday settings.

Many Ways to Give

Beautiful Savior offers a wide range of giving options, recognizing that members and friends have different ways of supporting the ministry.

• E-giving through Vanco. One-time or recurring gifts can be drawn from a checking account, savings account, credit card, or debit card.
• Offering plate. Cash or checks may be placed in the plate before or during worship services.
• Gift planning. The LCMS Foundation helps individuals with bequests, charitable remainder trusts, personal endowments, gifts of real estate, and gift annuities.
• Qualified Charitable Distributions. Members over 70 and a half can give directly from a traditional IRA.
• Donor-Advised Funds and Gifts of Securities. Stock, mutual funds, ETFs, and bonds may be donated directly to the congregation's brokerage account at Charles Schwab.
• Bill Pay. One-time or recurring payments can be set up through a personal bank, often free of charge.

Donations in kind can also be submitted to the financial secretary for tax credit. Together these pathways make it simple for anyone who wishes to support the work of the Gospel at Beautiful Savior to do so in the way that fits their life.

A Place to Belong in Mequon

Beautiful Savior is a congregation that takes its Lutheran identity seriously and its call to community personally. Worship is anchored in the historic liturgy and centered on the cross and the empty tomb. Bible study is available at several points during the week. Children are welcomed from toddlerhood through confirmation. Music fills the sanctuary on Sunday mornings and during the great festivals of the church year. Outreach carries the love of Christ into Mequon and beyond. At 11313 N Riverland Road, behind the phone number (262) 242-6650 and the inbox office@bslcmequon.com, a steady stream of ministries is ready to welcome anyone who walks through the doors.