Our Church Staff
Pastor Michael Anderson
Rev. Michael Anderson is an ELCA pastor of 16 years and has served congregations in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod and the Greater Milwaukee Synod. Most recently he served as interim pastor at The Lutheran Church of the Living Christ in Germantown, WI. A graduate of Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Art degree in Communication and Spanish, he earned a Master of Divinity degree from The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now, United Lutheran Seminary). A Wisconsin native, Pastor Michael has enjoyed opportunities to live and travel both domestically and internationally.
His professional interests include liturgy and preaching, faith formation, cultivating spiritual practices, congregational mission and leadership development, and writing. His personal hobbies include cheering on the Milwaukee Brewers, running, golf, motorcycle road trips, growing his vinyl record collection, and reading (especially the work of Jim Harrison, Christopher Moore, N.T. Wright, and Christian Wiman). He and his wife Rebecca live in Milwaukee, WI with their dog.
Pastor Joe Wilkinson
It is good to worship and work together in this place! God invites us daily to be a part of the transformative movement of the Holy Spirit working through the world. I am grateful for the opportunity to grow and learn at Christ Our Savior as we seek together to understand what God is up to in our community.
I live in Milwaukee with my wife, Katheryn, and our daughter, Lily. When not at church, you can usually find me playing games with friends. Whether card games, board games, video games, party games, ultimate frisbee, bowling, shooting pool, or learning new games, I continue to delight in the joy of play.
Amy Berken
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Every day I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve God and others by helping them live out their faith both in ministries within the church and in the community.
As the Director of Adult Discipleship and Outreach at Christ Our Savior, I have the privilege to get to know members and help them become involved in various ways using their God-given abilities. I enjoy seeing others connect with one another and build relationships with each other. And, nothing makes me smile more than when I see someone experience God’s love and share that love with others.
My husband Rob and I have three children: Sarah, Elizabeth, and Matthew. We live just outside of West Bend. I enjoy cheering on our kids at their sporting events, spending time together as a family, walking our English Springer Spaniel Oreo, attending Bible Study, swimming laps, and making crafts.
Danny Ellis
(Directors of Worship/Music Ministry)
Daniel Ellis has his Bachelor’s of Music in vocal performance from Iowa State University and his Master’s of Music in vocal performance from UW-Milwaukee. He owns and runs Ellis Music Studios in Menomonee Falls, where he teaches voice and piano lessons. He is also the drama director at Germantown High School. His love of music began at age four when he began singing in the churches his father ministered in. After graduating with his master’s degree, he sang professional opera with the Florentine Opera company as well as Milwaukee Opera Theater. He has served as a music minister/choir director for over ten years and is excited to join Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church. In his spare time, he is an avid golfer and enjoys watching anything Marvel and Star Wars related with his son, Benton, and his significant other, Heather.
Linda Brackmann
(Directors of Worship/Music Ministry)
I have been a member of COS since 1992 and became the Choir Director/Music in Ministry Director in 1999. It is truly a joy working with so many talented musicians in our band and choir; we are like extended family to each other. As a group, we love bringing a “joyful noise unto the Lord” to enhance an already great worship experience. I feel blessed to be a part of such a wonderful, warm and giving congregation which is very supportive of music ministry. My husband and I are the proud parent/step-parent of three wonderful young adults. Outside of church, I have a full-time job, belong to a Wild West Reenactment group with my husband, and enjoy spending time at my family’s lake cottage in Eagle River.