Updates from congregations around the Church of the Lutheran Confession
Much has happened for Morning Star congregation since the “Slice of Life” article appeared in the Lutheran Spokesman ten years ago. A new pastor, Chad Seybt, was installed in 2020 as Morning Star united with Peace with God (Onalaska, Wisconsin) and Trinity (Millston, Wisconsin) to form a tri-parish. In 2021, the tri-parish welcomed a brand new CLC congregation, St. Paul’s of Melrose, Wisconsin, to form a quad parish. Since 2023, a voter/council member of Morning Star attends a quad parish meeting at St. Paul’s in Melrose each year.
Recently, there have been some important updates and improvements made to the church building. In the sanctuary, new flooring and carpeting were laid down, and a fresh coat of paint applied to the walls, including an accent wall where large banners are hung. Many of these banners were hand-me-down gifts from Messiah Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. In addition, several Morning Star members have purchased and donated smaller banners to further beautify the sanctuary during appropriate seasons of the church year.
Other recent church building updates include new carpeting in the Sunday school room, an upgrade from electric heater to natural gas, a new-to-us organ (a gift from Carol Sandeen, member of Messiah in Eau Claire), an electric keyboard/piano, and new audio/visual equipment for Bible class/Sunday school use. As for future improvements, there are plans to update both bathrooms, and there also has been talk of paving the church parking lot. A few years ago, there was even discussion at one point of a building expansion for school classrooms, but that had to be placed on hold due to various reasons, including financial constraints.
New organ and electric keyboard
Many of these church building updates were completed in time for a special anniversary service held on June 22, 2025. This service commemorated the formal establishing of Morning Star as an organized congregation in the year 2000. Former Pastor Richard Kanzenbach returned to serve as guest preacher for the occasion, preaching on the Aaronic blessing recorded in Numbers 6:22-27. There were sixty-three in attendance, and a time of fellowship and a meal were enjoyed by all after the service.
New audio-visual equipment
New opportunities for fellowship and spiritual growth in the faith have arisen at Morning Star as well. In 2024, the Immanuel Lutheran College Tour Choir came to Morning Star for the first time, presenting a few hymns of praise during the Bible class hour. Since 2023, the congregation has enjoyed a time of fellowship after the Easter service with an Easter breakfast potluck. Once a month, a group of mothers in the congregation gather at a member’s house to let the little ones play while the moms enjoy a time of fellowship together.
Beginning in 2024, every fifth Sunday of a month has a Bible reading service. For these services, instead of a typical sermon, a whole book of the Bible (or portion thereof for longer books) is introduced and then read through, interspersed with appropriate hymn verses. The books covered in this manner so far have been 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Galatians, 1 Corinthians, and Colossians. At the request of a few members, a midweek Bible class was started in the fall of 2024. Although the first year saw only a few in attendance (three to five members per class), the midweek Bible class on marriage in the fall of 2025 saw a dramatic increase (eight to fourteen members per class).
Of course, Morning Star’s “old” ways of growing in the faith remain too. The summer vacation Bible school program has been running strong with the past few years seeing attendance in the teens, often with nonmember visitors. There has been a steady stream of youth confirmation students, as well as an average of one new adult instruction confirmand per year. The Sunday school, now composed of grades pre-K to 3rd, has several young souls in attendance each Sunday, while older students in grades 4-8 attend Bible class with the adults. Whereas midweek Bible classes have been topical in nature, the Sunday Bible class has been slowly working through the Gospel of Mark, chapter by chapter and verse by verse.
In the fall of 2025, Morning Star began having lay services again when Pastor Seybt is absent. This was made necessary when, in the spring of 2024, the Lord called home His faithful servant David Lau who, along with his wife Susan, was a longtime member of Morning Star and served the congregation faithfully in various capacities. David served Morning Star in many pastoral functions prior to it being an established congregation. Afterwards, David was the go-to preacher when the called pastor had to be absent. He also served as full time organist for many years. Since his call to heavenly glory, Carrie Seybt now serves as organist.
“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19 NKJV) The members of Morning Star Lutheran Church give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for all that He has done for us as a congregation over the years, but especially that the pure proclamation of His Gospel is still in our midst after these twenty-five years as an organized congregation. We praise Him that His Word brings forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation to our hearts Sunday after Sunday. When you’re in the area, join us for worship on Sundays at 8:30 A.M.
is pastor of a quad parish that includes four western Wisconsin congregations: Morning Star Lutheran Church in Fairchild, Trinity Lutheran Church in Millston, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Melrose, and Peace with God Evangelical Lutheran Church in Onalaska.