WHO WE ARE

Meet Our Pastor

Pastor Preston Heuer would love the opportunity to simply converse with you over a cup of coffee. In conversation, you can learn more about him as he gets to know you. He also invites you to bring any questions you might have about Christianity and Abiding Savior.

• Being a pastor in today’s world means more than being a church administrator or public speaker, but the word “pastor” means shepherd. The Biblical model is for a shepherd to know and care for the individual souls in his congregation.

• At Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, we won’t see you as just a number or just another body in a seat, but as a precious soul which God has created for a relationship with Himself.

• Our pastor works tirelessly to guide, direct, and encourage you through all walks of life, according to God’s Word.

banner inside church - Abiding Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church of Elk River, MN

Pastor Preston Heuer - Abiding Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church of Elk River, MN

What We Believe

Abiding Savior Lutheran Church hangs all of its beliefs and teachings on these three biblical foundations:
We are saved by God’s grace alone. (Galatians 4:4-5; Romans 3:23-24; Romans 11:6; 1 John 1:7, 2:2)
We are saved through faith alone. (John 3:16-18, 3:36; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:28)
What we believe is from Scripture alone. (John 8:31; 2 Timothy 3:16)

Everything else that we believe and teach in our church follows from these three foundations.

To read more about what we believe, visit the in-depth explanations of the teachings in our Bible-based faith here.

For more questions about the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Church (WELS), check out their “Questions and Answers” section here.

PASTORAL SERVICES SERVICE VIDEOS

What Is Worship Like?

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
(Psalm 122:1)

Our worship services focus on readings from God’s Word, the Bible. There we hear God talk to us. Music and singing are also important parts of our worship, and all our praises are music to the Lord.

Our worship services use traditional forms, with modern language and application. This ‘blended’ style of worship brings out the best of both worlds. The traditional unites us with God’s Church throughout the ages, while the ‘modern’ brings God’s promises and His will into our daily lives. Throughout different parts of our service, we praise God with psalms and hymns from the entire history of God’s Church.

Our worship services usually include the following parts in a variety of forms:
The Invocation – We call on the name of our Lord as we praise him.
Admitting Sins and Receiving Forgiveness – We acknowledge that we have not been or done what God asks. Then we are assured of forgiveness through Jesus.
Bible Readings – We read selections from God’s Word, including the words of ancient prophets, Jesus’ apostles, and Jesus himself.
Sermon – The pastor offers instruction and encouragement in a Bible-based message for all ages. You can expect to hear of God’s grace and the promise of eternal life through our only Savior, Jesus, as well as God’s guidance for dealing with life’s problems.
Response to the Word – We respond to God’s goodness with offerings and prayers, thanking him for the things he has promised to us, and asking for the strength to do what he has asked.
Parting Blessing – Before we return home for the week, we hear one last assurance of the Lord’s gracious care.

table with flowers, candles, cross and bible - Abiding Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church of Elk River, MN

Christ-Centered

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Jesus is the only way to heaven. His Gospel message is the only truth about salvation. Through his innocent death on the cross, he forgives us our sins and gives us eternal life.

All of Scripture points to Jesus. He is the focus of our salvation and our teaching. Come and hear about a loving Savior who offers you a peace that can’t be found anywhere else. (John 14:27)

pastor speaking in front of church - Abiding Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church of Elk River, MN

Reaching Out

The Great Commission of Matthew 28:19 encourages us to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. We have good news to tell of a Savior who came to earth to die on a cross for you. He came to forgive your sins and give you the gift of eternal life. At Abiding Savior we strive to go with this message into the community and share this good news with others.

The mission to share the Word doesn’t end in Elk River, MN. With our offerings and prayers we support the ministry of the Gospel all over the United States and around the globe!

members sitting in church reading pamphlets - Abiding Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church of Elk River, MN

Growing

We are encouraged in 2 Peter 3:18, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Abiding Savior exists to do just that. When you come to worship, you will see that our entire service is focused on God’s Word.

The only place where we can find the truth of our salvation is in the written Word of God. As we read and study God’s Word, we know that the Holy Spirit works in us to create and strengthen our faith. We invite you to come and grow with us too!

Close Communion

Close(d) Communion is the historical and biblical practice of the Christian Church. The practice has the purposes of ensuring that, as far as humanly possible, those receiving the Sacrament do so to their benefit and not their harm (1 Corinthians 11:27-30), and that the oneness that is expressed in receiving the Sacrament is genuine and not contrived (1 Corinthians 10:17).

Holy Communion is not only a Means of Grace, assuring us of the forgiveness of our sins and of our fellowship with God, but is also a testimony to our fellowship with one another.

All are invited who know how to examine themselves; recognize the Real Presence of Christ’s Body and Blood together with the bread and wine; and are close to us, that is, one with us in doctrine, teaching, and belief.

What is Communion? “Our Lord Jesus Christ… gave it to His disciples, saying, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ ” (Matthew 26:26) So it is the Lord’s Supper, not ours. He gave His body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine to His disciples – to His believers.

God’s Word Says: “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). For this reason, believers must know God’s Law and use it as a mirror in order to recognize their sinful condition before God.

God’s Word Says: “For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord…” (1 Corinthians 11:29). For this reason, believers must know the Gospel and believe that the body and blood of Christ are truly present in the sacrament.

God’s Word Says: “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of that one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:17). This verse shows that in Holy Communion we are expressing our unity in faith. We want this unity to be real and genuine, not just a superficial agreement. We work to achieve this unity by studying the Bible together so that the Holy Spirit may direct our hearts and bind us together.