1. family and parenting
2. children

michigan
MAY 2015
A publication of the Michigan District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Witness Michigan District, LCMS Supplement
IN TOUCH
GREAT COMMISSION
Southeast Michigan
Congregations Team up to
Broadcast the Gospel
by Rev. Dr. Kurt Taylor
T
he Monroe Circuit (#24) is up to something.
Part of it is probably that we pastors get along
pretty well. Part of it is probably that we have some
excellent scholars among us. But the major factor
is what all of us in the Michigan District, LCMS
share—we are People of Hope, vigorously making
known the Love of Christ.
Teamwork
In late 2014, Monroe Circuit Winkel pastors were
approached by a marketing and outreach representative from Crawford Broadcasting, which operates
michigan
IN TOUCH
Rev. Dr. David P. E. Maier, President
Debby Fall, Editorial Manager
Seth Hinz, Web/Media Director
Official Periodical of the Michigan District
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
May 2015, Volume 14, No. 5
ISSN: 1538-8115 (print)
ISSN: 2331-8619 (online)
Mike Beens, Art Director
Elisa Schulz, Staff Writer/Copy Editor
©2015 Michigan District, LCMS, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan In Touch is published
monthly by the Michigan District and inserted into The Lutheran Witness and distributed
to subscribers 11 times a year. It is also available online at www.michiganintouch.com.
Reproduction of articles is permissible with written permission of the Michigan District
Communications Department and should give credit to Michigan In Touch. References
to resources and websites for further information are included in Michigan In Touch for
the potential use by individuals and congregations. Resources not associated with or
published by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod or Concordia Publishing House® may
contain helpful programmatic information but may vary in doctrine from The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. Please use discretion or consult your pastor on doctrinal issues.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
Michigan District, LCMS
3773 Geddes Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
888.225.2111
[email protected]
michigandistrict.org
radio station WRDT-AM 560. The Lutheran Hour®
airs on that station at noon on Sundays, and the
representative suggested that we should make a true
Lutheran “hour” out of it—of course, for a fee.
As we considered this, we decided to work together
and get it done. Our idea was a half-hour Bible study
program each week, covering a book of the Bible,
chapter by chapter. Each pastor and one deaconess
would take turns recording a conversation about that
chapter with the host. Since I had done quite a bit of
radio in my life, I was drafted as the host. The idea
continued on page 2
Table of Contents
1
3
4
5, 10
6
8
11
13
15
15
16
16
Great Commission
Great Compassion
Healthy Congregations
Healthy Workers
Spring Appeal
Church Extension Fund
School News
Concordia University Ann Arbor
Lutheran Laymen’s League
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League
Calls and Roster Update
Calendar of Events
michiganintouch.com
1
GREAT COMMISSION
continued from page 1
turned into “The Gospel for You,” a radio program that
airs every Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. We record
four programs at a time, usually in a basement room of
Grace, Monroe, or in an office at St. John’s, New Boston.
Each of the 13 brothers (and sister) comes in prepared
for his chapter, determining what should be emphasized
and discussed, and also fields a question posed from a
student of one of our Lutheran day schools.
Quality Tech and Media
Our circuit tech-wizard, Rev. Jeffrey Wade, in his
rookie year as associate pastor at St. John’s, New Boston,
records the program on his laptop, employing some highquality microphones he purchased for the endeavor; then
he edits the show for time, adds our intro and outro, and
emails the programs to the radio station.
We also have created a website, thegospelforyou.org,
which features information about each of our congregations and an archive of past programs. Programs are also
available on iTunes. When we’ve completed our first
Bible study, the Gospel of John, we plan to put the series
2 May 2015
on a CD and perhaps accompany it with a Bible study
guide for small groups.
Providing Clear Channels for the Gospel
The program is funded by the contributions of each
congregation in our circuit, Lutheran High South, and
Thrivent Financial. The broadcast covers Monroe and
Wayne counties and reaches into Washtenaw and Oakland
counties as well. Anyone can listen at a time more convenient for them at thegospelforyou.org or iTunes. We are
hopeful that the program will grow and make a difference, especially reaching those who don’t know Christ.
Prayers for “The Gospel for You” are certainly welcome,
and we hope you can tune in and listen sometime.
Rev. Dr. Kurt Taylor has been Senior Pastor at
St. Johnʼs Lutheran Church and School in New Boston
(Waltz), Mich. since 2003. He is also a Chaplain, Lt.
Colonel in the US Air Force, currently serving the
Michigan Air National Guardʼs 217th Air Operations
Group in Battle Creek, Mich. He and his wife, Christine,
have two children.
GREAT COMPASSION
What is Compassion?
by Rev. A. Trevor Sutton
J
esus had compassion. Witnessing human suffering
filled Jesus with compassion and led him to perform
miraculous healings (Matthew 14:14). Seeing crowds of
people like a sheep without a shepherd stirred the warmth
of compassion within Him (Matthew 9:36). Crossing
paths with a widow burying her dead child filled Jesus
with compassion, and He raised the child from death to
life (Luke 7:13). Jesus had compassion.
Nevertheless, compassion is a difficult concept. We
struggle to understand what it means to have compassion: Is it empathy? Sympathy? Mercy? Kindness? We
love knowing that Jesus had compassion on so many
people, yet we have a hard time explaining how His
compassion impacts us. We want to show compassion to
others, yet we are not sure how to enact Christ’s compassion in our own lives.
The word ‘compassion’ is made up of two Latin words,
‘cum’ and ‘passio.’ Together, these words literally mean
‘to suffer with.’ To have compassion on someone is to
suffer with that person. Jesus had compassion on people
by suffering right alongside them. On the cross, Jesus
had compassion on sinners by suffering with sinners for
their salvation.
Embodying Compassion through a Coat Bank
Embodying Christ’s compassion means suffering
with others. We have compassion on people by needing, hurting, and hungering with them. The people of St.
Luke, Haslett have compassion on the people of Lansing
through a coat bank ministry. For the past six years, the
congregation has worked to provide coats to people in
need.
St. Luke’s coat bank ministry began through collaboration with another local congregation, which was
operating a food pantry and a coat bank. The demand was
too great for one congregation to run both services, and
it began looking for help. In 2009, St. Luke began housing and operating the coat bank ministry for the greater
Lansing area, and has done it continuously since.
The need for coats has steadily grown each year since
the coat bank’s inception. In 2010-2011, the St. Luke coat
bank gave away 634 coats. The next year, 2011-2012, the
coat bank was still gaining traction and only gave away
492 coats. The following year, 2012-2013, the coat bank
dispersed 850 coats through the winter season. In 20132014, the St. Luke coat bank distributed 1,197 coats to
people in need.
The coat bank operates inside of St. Luke’s building
in Haslett. Donations are accepted year-round, and these
donations provide coats for people in need. The ministry schedules ten dates to distribute coats on Thursday
evenings and Saturday mornings between October and
January. Volunteers greet people as they arrive and help
them fill out a form including the person’s name, address,
and how they heard about the coat bank. This information
is kept on file for future reference. Children are allowed
one coat per year and adults are allowed one every other
year. This policy aims to spread as many coats around the
community as possible.
Palm Sunday Compassion
Maintaining a sufficient inventory of coats is a
constant struggle for the coat bank. Plus sizes and children’s coats, for instance, are often depleted early in the
winter months. This year, the congregation came up with
a unique worship opportunity for Palm Sunday. As a way
to commemorate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus (Mark
11:1-11), the people of St. Luke brought coats with them
to the Palm Sunday service. During the opening hymn,
individuals brought their coats up and placed them in
front of the altar. This provided a visual of the people
spreading their cloaks on the road as Jesus came into
Jerusalem (Mark 11:8). This act of worship also provided
251 coats to help increase the inventory of the coat bank.
This past year, the St. Luke coat bank gave away 1,039
coats. The congregation also created an auxiliary location at Christ Lutheran Church (English District) in
continued on page 14
Palm branch © rodho/iStock
www.michiganintouch.com
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3
HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS
A Glimpse of Heaven at Charity, Detroit
©Pearl/Lightstock
by Rev. Steven J. Essenburg
T
he picture that accompanied this article was origi
nally posted to my Facebook page. I was
inspired to post it by two events. In October 2014, Acts
2 Enterprise (A2E) hosted an urban conference on
diversity, at which we openly wrestled with the issues
of diversity and inclusion. Shortly afterward, Charity
was blessed by the presence of Rev. Daniel Conrad to
share his work in Latin America. I am forever grateful
that Rev. Conrad took this picture. It truly reflects what
Charity has become. African-Americans, Latinos, and
Caucasians are represented in the picture, as are individuals born on three continents. The ethnic mix is very
close to the mix in our community.
It wasn’t always this way. When I came to Charity in
1999, it had an average worship attendance of 12. All
the members were Caucasian. The average age was 70.
I used to joke that our “youth” all had their AARP cards!
Although a Headstart operated throughout the week in
the church basement, the church itself was only active on
Sunday morning. Needless to say, the congregation had
not changed as the community changed. That the church
would close and the building sold seemed inevitable. But
that would change.
The Turning Point
I remember well the day I met with the voter’s assembly at Charity to discuss whether I should serve them on
4 May 2015
a regular basis. After some discussion I asked them to
decide if they wanted to sell the church or to open the
doors of the church to the community. I told them I didn’t
know anything about closing a church, but we could find
those needed to assist them, and if they wanted to reach
the community I would give them my best efforts. I then
left the room while they continued their discussion and
came to a decision. After only 10 minutes they called me
back in, told me they had decided to reach the community, wanted me to help them open the church back up,
and would support me in that effort.
Making Connections
So it began. The process hasn’t been without its stumbles and fumbles, but it has always been blessed. Charity
began to connect with the community’s neighborhood
associations. We began to open the church to the community for public forums. During the ensuing years, Charity
has hosted every mayor since Archer, and we have hosted
numerous City Council forums. Charity conducted memorial services for police officers killed in the line of duty. The
church has connected the community to U.S. Senators and
Congressmen, to County Commissioners, and countless
public safety events. In addition to the Headstart program,
which continues to operate at Charity, we, for a short
continued on page 14
HEALTHY WORKERS
Finding The One
Thing Needful
When Your Day
is Full of Interruptions
finding a replacement to cover you and make sure everything is taken care of before you leave. When you return,
you’ll have to work harder to catch up. However, the time
I’ve been away to grow and learn has proven invaluable.
Through classes or conferences I’ve attended, I always
learned something new and came back refreshed, ready
to face the hectic pace of the school office.
O
ne of my daughters frequently tells me,“Mom, I
don’t know how you stand your job, it’s one big
interruption!” And then we both laugh, because it’s true.
Anyone who has ever worked in a school office knows
exactly what that means. Phones ringing, students who
are ill, copies to be made, a newsletter to write, parents
with questions … the list goes on and on.
Managing Workloads in Hectic Environments
© sturti/iStock
I’ve always loved the work I do. The advantage I have
now is 18 years of experience, during which I’ve learned
some things about how to stay on top of all the tasks
that fall under my responsibility. Sure, I still get behind,
forget things, and occasionally lose paperwork. Then
there are those days when I think I have everything
under control, only to realize one of my plates
has dropped, and I need to discover a better
way to manage my responsibilities.
Over the years, I’ve learned when to ask
for help when I’m bogged down, when
to say no, and also to take time to attend
seminars and classes that I know will help
me better manage the office. The last lesson
seems counter-intuitive because it takes
even more work to be absent—such as
The practical ideas I’ve shared are
important. But the most vital thing I do
for myself is to take time out to be with the Lord. I do
that by keeping a couple of daily devotionals in my desk
drawer and make it a priority to read at least one of them
every day. Especially on the busiest days, when I just
need to take a deep breath, I stop what I’m doing, take out
one of those devotionals, and refocus on why I am here.
Then I pray. If I believe that God wants me here, working
in His ministry, I also have to trust He will give me what
I need each day.
I can truly tell you that He will, and He does; every
day He gives me the strength and joy I need to serve and
embrace all the interruptions.
Beth Yoskovich has served in the school office at St. Paul
Lutheran School, Ann Arbor for 18 years. Currently
the Administrative Assistant, she enjoys working
with students and staff in a vibrant office setting.
Beth was a presenter at the 2015 Michigan
District Office Personnel Conference, sharing
practical tips on how to keep organized in
a busy school office setting. She and her
husband Joe reside in Milan, Mich. and are
the proud parents of four adult daughters
and one wonderful son-in-law.
© Shaun Menary/Lightstock
by Beth Yoskovich
One Needful Thing
michiganintouch.com
5
OP
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
HE IS RISEN INDEED!
Because of
His sin-bearing, sin-conquering death, we can now be assured that our sins are forgiven. Risen from
the dead, the champion of our faith has removed the fear of death for those who, by grace through
faith, are His own. He is also risen to live in and through us, and now we are compelled to share the
eternal, life-giving message of the Gospel that comes only from our Savior, the risen Christ. I pray that
this Easter message lives outwardly in you and me today and in all of us every day … as we are lights,
voices, and models of Christ in our family, church, and community.
I pray sharing the love of Christ and the Good News of the Gospel is something we all take seriously,
because that is our Great Commission responsibility (Matthew 28:16-20). I realize that we are all not
trained evangelists, and may not always know what to do or what to say, but God can still use us to
make a significant impact as we shine the Gospel light in our lives. Let me tell you how you can make
a very tangible, real, and significant difference for the Kingdom, regardless of your ability to be an
evangelist.
Get Ready … The Game is Coming
A2E Sports Camps/VBS
Again this summer, our Acts 2 Enterprise (A2E) urban ministry,
based in Detroit, is presenting our Sports Camp/VBS programs in
the city. Each year they are presented under a theme that helps
the children focus on the Gospel during the week they are at
camp. This year’s theme is Get Ready … The Game is Coming.
As Rev. Christopher Bodley, who plans and organizes the summer
camps as our Missionary-at-Large for A2E, explains it: “Get ready
is another way of saying … prepare. Preparation is to be a process
for every believer’s life. In 1 Peter 3:15 the apostle Peter states,
‘Always be prepared to give … the reason for the hope that is in
you.’ This year’s summer Sports Camps/VBS will focus on how the
Gospel changes our lives, and the lives of children, so that
we can be prepared to change the game in life.”
Surrounding the 400 or more children attending our summer camps will be willing, able, caring, and
eager individuals who are trained to share the Gospel message with children in a way they can
comprehend, and then make these teachings part of their lives. Helping Pastor Bodley will be upwards
of 100 volunteers, many of whom come back year after year from LCMS congregations throughout the
Michigan District, to mentor and teach young lives about Christ, and what having Christ in their lives
means to them.
Remember, these are children who may not have had a previous opportunity to hear the Gospel up
close and personal until experiencing one of our camps. You can help make this possible—this is your
opportunity to be an evangelist through others. Permit me to share with you how.
6 May 2015
E
PEO
OF H
Michigan District
May, 2015
Dear Friends in Christ,
PLE
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you infor
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who
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thank
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May God
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Serving
needtogether,
our care together,
Serving those
whothose
needwho
our care
Rev. P.E.
Dr. David
Maier, President
Rev. Dr. David
Maier,P.E.
President
MichiganLCMS
District, LCMS
Michigan District,
Michigan District
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Send your tax-deductible donation to:
The Michigan District, LCMS
ATTN: Development Department/Camps
3773 Geddes Rd
Ann Arbor MI 48105
Donate by phone: 888.225.2111
Secure online donation: michigandistrict.org/donate
Faith&
10th Edition
Finance
A Dialogue on Faith-Based Investing with CEF
Faith and Finance is a series of discussions about the role CEF investments
can play in the lives of Lutheran parishioners and congregations. In each
installment, the CEF team addresses common questions about CEF and our
financial products. If you would like to submit a question for consideration,
e-mail us at [email protected].
Q:
A:
How does the Church Extension Fund fund its loan services?
The Church Extension Fund provides loans to LCMS churches and organizations by
allocating the money of those who are willing to invest in the fund. This program is
open to LCMS members to invest in, either as individuals or LCMS corporate entities.
Q:
A:
8 May 2015
How is the Church Extension Fund different
from a bank or credit union?
When it comes to making a decision as to
which financial institution an individual should
choose to entrust with his or her money, the
benefits provided through the Michigan
Church Extension Fund should be kept in
mind. The Extension Fund is building on
sound stewardship principles as it assists
churches in accomplishing their God-given
goals.
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
Does the Church Extension Fund offer retirement investments?
Yes. We offer both traditional and Roth Individual
Retirement Accounts (IRAs) for individuals. Call Kris
for rates and terms.
What is the process to invest with the Michigan Church Extension Fund?
There is an application to fill out that asks for personal information. All information is
confidential. Applications are available by going to www.mi-cef.org or you may request
an application by calling 800.242.3944.
We currently offer 3-month through 60-month investments, however, our rates are
always subject to change.
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
How is interest earned paid to the investor?
We have the flexibility to pay investors their interest monthly or quarterly. The investor
can also choose to reinvest any earned interest until the investment matures.
Do CEF investors receive statements?
Yes. The investor will receive a biannual statement to show any interest earned, the
principal amount invested and the total earned up to date.
For up-to-date account information, investors can also view every account and each
account balance all together on one page using CEF Direct. The account summary
information will display the total amount of your Church Extension Fund investments.
Click on any of your accounts and you will find detailed information regarding that
specific account. In addition the Account History link is helpful in obtaining specific
transaction information.
WHY CEF?
PROVEN investment products, measurable results
DEDICATED Christian financial management since 1901
FOCUSED on funding the needs of Michigan District congregations
Contact CEF today to learn
Church Extension Fund • Michigan District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
how CEF can help with your
3773 Geddes Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105-3098 • www.mi-cef.org
retirement investments.
Offices: 800-242-3944 • Interest rates anytime: 800-232-7313
This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy CEF securities. The offering of CEF securities is made solely by our Offering Circular. CEF will offer and sell securities only in states where
authorized. Investments in CEF are not insured by the FDIC, SIPC or any other governmental agency—securities are subject to certain risk factors as described in our Offering Circular.
michiganintouch.com
9
HEALTHY WORKERS
Equipping the
Called
by Karna Doyle
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’
declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you
and not harm you, plans to give you hope
and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).
I
t was the senior year of high school for Madison
Arendt of Howell, Mich. Her parents were very
worried. Could it be that their daughter would be the first
in generations in their family NOT to graduate from high
school? Madison had been a figure skater for 15 years
until vertigo issues closed that opportunity, leaving her
unmotivated and adrift. The social aspect of school was
appealing, but not the academics. She squeaked through
graduation with a minimal Grade Point Average (GPA),
glad to be putting school behind her.
Madison always felt she would like to work with
kids, but it wasn’t until she discovered the profession
of Child Life that she knew in what capacity. She found
that Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA) offered
a Child Life Specialist minor through the Family Life
Education Program. Madison’s passion and motivation
soared, and the family advocated on her behalf for CUAA
to allow her a provisional admittance, given her abysmal
high school GPA. By her second semester, Madison was
on the Dean’s List with a 3.5 GPA, and she earned that
honor every semester thereafter! During her time preparing for Child Life she was chosen as Volunteer of the
Year at Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. She was
Student of the Month in October 2014 and was hired as
the Sibling Program Coordinator at C.S. Mott Children’s
Hospital. She did her practicum fieldwork in pediatrics at
Sparrow Hospital in Lansing and Just Us Club for adults
living with developmental delays in Ann Arbor. She
currently is serving in her internship at Florida Hospital
for Children’s Walt Disney Pavilion in Orlando, Fla. and
will graduate with high honors in May, 2015.
Madison laughs, saying she originally didn’t want
to come to CUAA because it was small. She thought
a large, state school would better meet her vision for
a social life—“the only reason to go to school.” She
firmly feels God sent her to CUAA. “CUAA saved my
life in many ways,” she says. She was churched growing
up, but sports took her away. She sees how He removed a
“party” college from her own plans. She feels it is a blessing that she came to CUAA and was cared for by faculty
10 May 2015
Child Life Specialist Madison Arendt
and staff. There were too many coincidences for this
not to be the work of the Holy Spirit. God loved her and
directed her to CUAA even before she knew Him well.
When she goes into a public hospital, she can’t talk about
her faith, but she can demonstrate it. She can walk into a
room and allow the Holy Spirit to work through her. She
is firm in her faith, knowing that God is in control both of
her experience and the people she serves.
When she first met the Family Life staff and saw
the program that was offered, she was intrigued. The
community at CUAA motivates students to follow
God’s plan for their lives and to serve others. She was
impressed with how teachers are with students—they
know them and serve them; students can see the faculty’s
faith in action beaming through them.
As Madison researched this profession, she liked that it
was working with children in hospitals but not as a nurse
or doctor. “When I think or talk about Child Life,” she
says, “I find myself smiling.”
Madison comments, “I’m always excited to be doing
Child Life homework. I can see how much I’ve learned; I
feel very confident interviewing and working as a Child
Life Specialist. I want to offer compassionate support
and be a genuine person whose company other people
enjoy.”
Madison found her passion as a Child Life Specialist
and her relationship with her Heavenly Father. Ultimately,
she says, “I will walk by faith and God will place me in
the position where I am meant to serve.”
Professor Karna Doyle is the Manager of Child Life and
Community Services at Concordia University Ann Arbor.
School News
4th Graders Make Origami Cranes for Japanese
War Memorial
In March, Mr. Gary Nelson’s 4th grade class at St. John,
Rochester made 1,000 origami cranes to send to a war
memorial in Hiroshima, Japan.
Every year just before Christmas, Nelson teaches his
fourth grade class the Japanese art of origami, an intricate
form of paper folding. In addition, he reads to the class
the book “Sadako and the 1,000 Paper Cranes” as part
of an introduction to the origami lesson. The book is the
real-life story of a young Japanese girl who is exposed
to atomic radiation at Hiroshima and is dying of leukemia. She hopes to be healed by folding 1,000 cranes
and making a wish. Sadly, she dies before her task is
completed but her school classmates finish the job as a
memorial to her. Today, there is a permanent memorial in
Hiroshima dedicated to Sadako and to the hope of peace
in the world. Children all over the world fold 1,000 cranes
and send them to be displayed at the memorial.
Thirteen years ago, three girls in Mr. Nelson’s class
created 1,000 cranes and, with his help, the cranes were
sent to Japan. This year, the 4th grade class wanted to
do the same thing. On their own time, with their own
paper, the students folded, collected, strung together and
displayed their 1,000 paper cranes.
Mindy (Rink) Brandenburg, a graduate student at
Saginaw Valley State University, is one of the three
students from Nelson’s class thirteen years ago who
made the 1,000 cranes. She visited the 4th grade class
recently and taught them the art of modular origami. She
also volunteered to personally deliver the 1,000 cranes
the students made to the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima
during a leadership conference she is attending this
spring. Later in May, Mindy will return to the classroom
to share stories and photos of her time in Asia.
We are proud of our students for their desire to reach
out to others by contributing to the origami memorial. At
St. John Lutheran Church and School, we are “in Jesus,
becoming one … reaching many.”
For more information, visit stjohnrochester.org.
Knowledge Fair Raises Funds with Recycled
Products
Each year, the students of Peace Lutheran School,
Shelby Township participate in a Knowledge Fair. Over
the past six-plus years of this tradition, the focus has been
on social studies, science, and reading. Last June, the
faculty decided on an economic theme for this year’s fair.
After learning more about the Hearts for Jesus mission
for the year, it was realized that the Knowledge Fair
and Hearts for Jesus’ A BAN (A Ban Against Neglect, a
Wheat Ridge Ministries initiative) could go hand-in-hand
quite easily.
Students were challenged to create a product out
of mostly recycled items that could be sold at our
Knowledge Fair. The products were created and the
students learned firsthand the basic ideas of economics.
To help keep costs down, families were asked for items
they had around the house that could be recycled into
new products. Old jeans, old T-shirts, milk jugs, water
bottles, grocery bags, and even dryer lint were collected!
The students were so motivated and excited to make their
products! They were very proud to put them on sale for
their families and friends to purchase. Products included
items like a grocery bag jump rope, denim purses, T-shirt
bags, pet toys, garden decorations, pencil holders, guitar
picks, piggy banks, and pet clouds.
The night of the Knowledge Fair, Peace’s Mission
Mall was open for business with items priced in Mission
Dollars, equivalent to 25 cents up to a dollar. The Mall
was bustling with business and, in about 45 minutes, most
of our stores were sold out of goods so some students took
orders for their products.
At closing time, $1,100 had been collected to support
the Hearts for Jesus - A BAN mission. It was amazing to
see how families and friends came to support not only
our students, but greater yet the mission of helping our
brothers and sisters in Christ in Ghana, half-way across
the world!
michiganintouch.com
11
School News
The youth of St. Paul, Ann Arbor held a lock-in and joined other church
volunteers the following morning to pack meals for Kids Against Hunger.
During the event, volunteers raise their hands and say, “These are the
hands God is using to bless others.”
Other News
In December, four St. Paul, Millington students were chosen to go to
the capitol building in Lansing and demonstrate various technologies
used at St. Paul. They were then chosen by the governor’s reps
to showcase to the Governor himself and were introduced at the
Representatives’ session meeting. They also met Senator Mike Green
at his office while we looked at the artwork on display from St. Paul’s. It
was a very memorable day for all. Pictured are students with Governor
Synder and Amy Baldwin, St. Paul’s art and computer teacher.
Thrivent Matching Grant
The Concordia Center for the Family, located on the
campus of Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA),
received $25,000 from Thrivent Financial.
Concordia Center for the Family promotes and encourages healthy, Christ-centered family relationships by
raising the capacity of churches, organizations and agencies to help families thrive through family-centered
education, research, partnerships, and resources. The
Center also uplifts and supports students in the Family
Life program at CUAA. For more information, visit
cuaa.org.
Pictured from left to right are Curt Gielow, Vice President of
Administration & Chief Campus Executive of Concordia University
Ann Arbor (CUAA); Ben Freudenburg, Professor and Director of the
Concordia Center for the Family; and Laura Thomas, Director of Donor
Relations at CUAA.
12 May 2015
Big Ticket Festival Announces Partnership With
Wellspring Lutheran Services
The Big Ticket Festival announces Wellspring Lutheran
Services as the Signature Non-Profit Sponsor for the
10-year anniversary festival in Gaylord, Mich. on June
25–27.
The non-profit will be joining this extraordinary celebration featuring headlining musical acts: Chris Tomlin,
TobyMac, and Newsboys, plus 60 other bands and speakers, extreme inflatables, kids’ activities, a 5K family
run, and much more. The Big Ticket Festival hosts over
10,000 people a day over the three-day festival.
You can purchase discount passes when you purchase
online at bitly.com/bigticketwellspring. Plus, 10% of
your purchase price will be donated back to Wellspring.
For more information on Wellspring Lutheran Services
and the Big Ticket Festival, and for group sales, call
989.731.2808.
2015 Lutheran Layman of the Year
Special Recognition
Rev. Carl F. DeMeritt (left) was installed by Rev. Charles R. Schulz
(right) as vacancy pastor at St. Thomas, Ann Arbor on March 15, 2015.
Walter F. Heinz, a member of St. Peter’s, Richmond,
has been selected as the 2015 Lutheran Layman of the
Year by the Lutheran Luncheon Club of Metro Detroit.
Heinz is the Director of U.S. Operations for Lutheran
Association of Missionaries and Pilots Ministry, Inc.
(LAMP) which is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada. He is an active member of the Lutheran Luncheon
Club, has been a member of the Lutheran Choralaires for
43 years, worked as a District Representative for Lutheran
Brotherhood/Thrivent for 20 years, and currently serves
on the advisory board of Historic Trinity, Detroit.
A celebratory banquet to honor Heinz was held on April
26, 2015 at Historic
Trinity. The evening
program was devoted to
the recognition of Heinz
service to his home
congregation, LAMP,
and to the Lutheran
community-at-large.
Rev. Donald P. Nemec (center) was installed as pastor of Drummond
Island Lutheran Church on February 22, 2015. Pictured with him are
Deacon Charles Krahnke (left) and Rev. Charles B. Burhop (right).
THEY ARE THE STRENGTH
THE WORLD NEEDS.
Family Life degree program.
Wisdom and strong values are precious gifts. Your student
can find a career using them to serve others with a Family
Life degree from Concordia University Ann Arbor. Family Life
graduates develop programs to support healthy marriages and
families through careers in churches, schools, hospitals and
social service agencies. To learn more, please contact us.
734.995.7505 | cuaa.edu/FamLife
michiganintouch.com
13
HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS
while, also provided facilities
for a “last chance” alternative
high school. Currently, we
are partnering with Lutheran
Special Education Ministries
in its iCan tutoring program.
In fact, Charity takes particular
pride in being the first model for
the iCan program.
By partnering with Southeast Michigan
Community Resource Corporation, a 501(c)(3)
non-profit we helped organize, Charity
became active in the process of establishing
affordable housing in our community. Currently,
this organization owns three of the nine houses
on the street behind Charity. Families occupy two of the
houses and one house awaits the funds for rehabilitation.
Throughout this process, Charity has never lost sight
of its primary mission as a church, and never lost sight of
the fact that the most vital treasure we have to offer the
community is Word and Sacrament ministry. Many times
I have been invited to offer prayer at City Council meetings, County Commission meetings, and various civic
functions in our area. Each time, I have advised those
that invited me that I was a minister of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ and would only pray in His name and could
not offer a generic prayer. I told them I would understand
if they withdrew the invitation. They never did.
Scripture informs us that the division that separates
us was the result of sin and the direct action of God.
“Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the
LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from
there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the
earth” (Genesis 11:9).
A Glimpse Of Glory
Scripture also informs us a glimpse of glory: “After this
I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could
number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples
and languages, standing before the throne and before
the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in
their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation
belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the
Lamb!’” (Revelation 7:9-10).
Revelation 9 continues in verses 13 and 14 to inform
us that the only path from Babel to glory goes through
the cross: “Then one of the elders addressed me, saying,
‘Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where
have they come?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he
said to me, ‘These are the ones coming out of the great
14 May 2015
tribulation. They have washed their robes and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb.’” Only through
the cross can we bridge the world’s chasms that divide
us; only through the cross can we tear down the walls
that separate us. Unity in diversity is not something to
be achieved, it is something that has been achieved by
the work of Jesus Christ, and that work, in the words of
Jesus, is finished.
The change that occurred at Charity didn’t only come
from being a facility open to the community; it came
from being the church, the people of God, open to the
community. It came from taking seriously God’s Word,
“Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s
people; once you had not received mercy, but now you
have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:10).
Over the years, the community came to the events
held at Charity and found a church, some found a church
home. Over the years, the diversity of the congregation
has changed, but our unity in Christ has not changed. To
God be the glory!
Rev. Steven J. Essenburg is the permanent vacancy
pastor of Charity, Detroit and serves the District as
Missionary-at-Large in Detroit, Mich.
GREAT COMPASSION
continued from page 3
Downtown Lansing. This second coat bank offers an
additional resource for Christ Lutheran’s soup kitchen,
and helps to put the coats closer to many people in need.
St. Luke members strive to know the peace and the
power of the cross. We are witnesses to Christ’s compassion for us on the cross. We are witnesses to His power
through the empty tomb. We share that peace and power
by having compassion on our neighbors. The coat bank
is a way for us to follow in the great compassion of Jesus.
Rev. A. Trevor Sutton serves as Assistant Pastor at St.
Luke, Haslett. He is in the Writing & Rhetoric graduate
program at Michigan State University. He and his
wife, Elizabeth, live in Haslett and have a one-year-old
daughter named Grace.
© rodho/iStock
continued from page 4
LLL
Bringing Christ to Your Neighborhood Seminar
The Michigan District Lutheran Laymen’s League
invites all LCMS congregation members to attend
a free outreach seminar, “Bringing Christ to Your
Neighborhood,” on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at
Our Savior Lutheran Church (7910 East St Joe Hwy;
Lansing, MI, 48917).
The emphasis of the two-hour seminar will be
reaching out to the unchurched in your local area.
Bruce Sutherland, Constituent Relations Manager for
Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM), will be the guest
presenter. He will show attendees how to use materials
and other resources to bring the Good News of Salvation
to all people, especially those in their neighborhoods.
There is no charge to attend and no charge to partake
in the noon lunch, but participants are required to RSVP
in advance. Check-in time is 9:30 –10 a.m. Following
the opening and devotions, the Bringing Christ to Your
Neighborhood presentation will be made. Closing is
scheduled for 11:45 a.m., followed by lunch.
The registration for the seminar will take place
August 15 through October 4, 2015. All expenses of the
seminar, including lunch, are covered by LHM. Watch
for registration information early this summer. For
more information, contact John Raffel at 616.894.2936.
LLL Michigan District Board members, from left, Gregg Kremkow of
Dearborn, Rich Kern of Kilmanaugh and Bob Loesel of Frankenmuth
discuss the Oct. 10th “Bringing Christ to Your Neighborhood” seminar
in Lansing.
LWML
Heavenly Father, please shower Your blessings upon us and grant —
Traveling mercies for all who travel to and from the
convention and protection for the families that stay
behind;
Patience and fortitude for all those who labor, guide,
direct and serve before, during and after the
convention;
Legions of Angelic protection to surround the
convention center and resting places to keep at bay evil
intentions that may wish to cause mischief, harm or
bodily injury;
Spiritual guidance for all the voting delegates as they
determine the next biennium mission grants, elect new
officers and conduct the business of the LWML;
A renewal of spirit to Your call for workers in the
harvest fields may we joyfully respond: “Here am I,
send me!”
All this we ask in and for the love of our Savior Jesus.
Amen
Please mail Mites to: Glory Drum; PO Box 305; Warren, MI 48090
National LWML website: www.lwml.org Michigan District website: www.lwmlmichigan.org
www.michiganintouch.com
15
Calls and Roster Update Calendar of Events
ORDAINED
Calls Accepted
DeMeritt, Carl F. (Ypsilanti) to IIP, St. Thomas, Ann Arbor
Hamilton, George O. (Zeeland) to IIP, Christ Our Savior, Holland
Peck, Adam J. (Ida Grove, IA) to Associate, Holy Cross, Jenison
Robinson, Richard E. (Westland) to IIP, Open Arms, Belleville
Stolarczyk, Steven M. (Unionville) to St. Paul, Unionville
Swen, Jeremy M. (Regina, SK) to Principal, Our Savior, Grand Rapids
Weidmayer, Robert C. (Grandville) to St. John, Farmington, N.Y.
Status Change
Schleicher, John C. (Holland) to Emeritus
Stier, Lewis W. (St. Clair Shores) to Emeritus
Congregation Closed
Holy Cross, Detroit
COMMISSIONED
Calls Accepted
Bolt, Jonathan (Living Word, Rochester) to Central, New Haven, IN
Burgess, Robert (St. Mark, Houston, TX) to St. Paul, Ann Arbor
Martinal, Rebecca (Concordia, Saint Paul) to Hope, Adrian
Transferred Out of District
Maske, Andrea (Candidate) to Northern Illinois District
Transferred Into District
Volkert, Bruce (Northern Illinois District) to Trinity, Utica
Called Home
Roedel, Martin
A complete up-to-date listing of Calls and Vacancies can be found at
michigandistrict.org, click on About.
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4–6
North & East Pastorsʼ Conference
Frankenmuth, Michigan
6–7
Circuit Visitor Conference
Frankenmuth, Michigan
9
District Convention Floor Committee Mtgs.
Ann Arbor, Michigan
12–13 South & East Pastorsʼ Conference
Frankenmuth, Michigan
14Webinar: Compassion in the Community—
Come and See
27–28 Intentional Interim Ministry Conference
Hillsdale, Michigan
JUNE
5–7
15–19
21–27
28–30
Jr. High School Youth Gathering
Frankenmuth, Michigan
A2E Sports Camp/VBS
Detroit, Michigan
Camp Restore—High School Youth Event
New Orleans, Louisiana
Michigan District, LCMS Convention
Ann Arbor, Michigan
101st Convention of the Michigan District, LCMS
June 28–30, 2015
Opening Worship Service
Sunday, June 28, 7 p.m.
LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, Preacher
Monday, June 29, 8:15 a.m.
Opening Devotions ▪ Rev. Joshua C. Ketelsen – Holy Cross, Onaway
Tuesday, June 30, 8:15 a.m.
Memorial Service ▪ Rev. Robert M. Zagore – Trinity, Traverse City
Tuesday, June 30, 5:45 p.m.
Service of Sending and Installation ▪ Rev. Dr. David P. E. Maier, Michigan District President
Delegate Orientation
Sunday, June 28 5–5:30 p.m. ▪ Monday, June 29 7:30–8 a.m.
Watch Worship Services and Convention proceedings at michigandistrict.org/convention
16 May 2015