A Whitewater Main Street Church will be opening its building for Fourth of July attendees and providing free cold water, iced tea, and frozen treats along with available parking.
First English Lutheran Church (FELC) at 401 W. Main Street will provide restroom facilities from 9:30 until the end of the parade on Tuesday, July 4th. Main Street doors will be open with volunteer church members guiding guests through the historic structure that dates back to the late 1800s.
In addition, FELC will have a drawing to give away two tickets (including transportation) to the Sunday, July 9th Milwaukee Brewer game against the Cincinnati Reds. Winners of the drawing will join over 30 FELC members as they depart from the church parking lot after services on the Sunday following the 4th of July celebration. Carpools with pre-purchased preferred parking privileges are targeted to leave between 10:30 and 11 on July 9. Church attendance is not mandatory.
FELC offers services downtown each Sunday at 9:30 and monthly oil lamp services at a historic one room church on Chapel Drive on Whitewater Lake. The historic Whitewater Lake Heart Prairie church was built in 1858. Oil lamp services are held because it has never had electricity. The “English” in the First English Lutheran name refers to the fact the Norwegian founders of the original church proudly offered services in English in addition to traditional Norwegian.
FELC welcomes all individuals and offers open communion. Weekly online services are also available at www.FirstEnglishLutheranChurch.360unite.com. Page down to the video screen and hit the forward (>) symbol. The congregation also operates a “Thrift Shop” featuring second items at bargain prices on nearby Church Street. Thrift Shop is open various late morning and afternoon hours every day except Sundays and Mondays. The proceeds go toward church operation costs.
