Special points of April 2015 interest: Dying and Rising Please pray for Inside this issue:

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1 Good News Connecting People to Jesus Special points of interest: God equips us to do His work Camp Restore Get your items ready to donate for the youth garage sale Easter egg hunt Please pray for Christians around the world who are being persecuted For the Sharp family as they begin their mission work in Uruguay For parents to have patience with their kids as the school year finishes For the peace of faith in Christ to be shared during times of struggle Inside this issue: Sharing Our Faith 2 Church Council Update 3 Youth Activities 4 Library Recommendations 5 Love Knots 5 Calendar 7 Dying and Rising by Pastor Gaertner I love baptisms. I love the parents, godparents, and family gathering with expectation that God will do a marvelous work. I love the baptismal gowns that have been filled with the heritage of a family that has shared trust in Christ from one generation to the next. I love to witness the power of God at work through baptism. As the first hymn of the service concludes, the family gathers around the font. In the opening words of the Rite of Baptism I share the command of Christ to baptize all the nations and the promise that baptism now saves us. The Word of God reminds us that God is at work. I make the sign of the cross both upon the forehead and upon the heart to mark this one as a child of God, redeemed by Christ the crucified. We pray the Flood Prayer, written by Dr. Martin Luther. We recount the Scriptures where God has been at work in water to bring judgment and redemption. The sponsors are enrolled, and I give them their charge to be witnesses to the baptized of the promises of God. We join together in the Lord s Prayer. The words of the Apostles Creed place our trust in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I love the next part of the baptismal service when I hold the infant in my arms. I pour the water in a flood over the head of the child. The mess of the water all around the font reminds me that God is washing away the guilt of sin. The water and the Word deliver the liberating freedom of God s grace. At this wet moment I find both death and life at work. Through the power of God at work in the water and His Word we die to sin and we rise as a new creation in Christ. Throughout the baptismal service I find myself forced to look outside of myself towards the promises of God. There is no strength or majesty in myself that calls upon God to be present in this water. I do not deserve God s merciful presence in these waters. As the pastor I have not made God appear at this baptism nor has the person April 2015 being baptized earned this moment of deliverance. The grace of God is at work in this water. It is not just plain water, because it is water filled with the promises of God s Word. God delivers us from sin, death, and the devil into His kingdom. By faith I receive all these benefits. Baptism delivers the promises of God s undeserved love. During the season of Easter, I encourage you to remember your baptism. Easter is a great time to remember your baptism because in baptism we are joined to the dying and rising of Jesus. St. Paul told the Romans, Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His (Romans 6:3-5).

2 Page 2 Sharing Our Faith by Sheri Falzone Only God, not the community, can fulfill the yearning for righteousness -Sheri Falzone Many years ago, my husband was a general manager for a multi-store upscale grocery and wine company. The familyowned company sold out to a national natural food store that specialized in whole, organic foods and grocery items. My husband assumed his new role at the company enthusiastically. He attended corporate meetings in Colorado to learn how to live organically - a lifestyle that continues to gain attention and popularity across the country. Touting the company line, supporting his new company sales initiatives, and his newly found knowledge of eating healthier foods, he tried, in his words to change our taste profile, foodie lingo for, Eat it. It s good for you. He tried converting our 6 and 8 year old sons at the time, from eating Kraft macaroni and cheese to macaroni comprised of navy bean flour and soy cheese. Like Saul of Tarsus in Damascus after Saul s conversion, my husband s preaching a wholesome, healthier lifestyle was met not only by my wariness, but an outright revolt by our children. In those early days of listening to my sons whimper and sometimes wail as we passed the golden arches on our daily commute from school, I wondered how long we would be able to stand my husband s conversion attempts of changing the family s taste profile. In an attempt to assuage my anxiety, my sons pediatrician told me, Kids won t starve themselves. Are you sure? I asked weakly. The best way to help them learn how to make better eating choices is to model the behavior, he ad- vised. As a parent, my health and my children s health is paramount in caring for the bodies with which God has blessed us. It is no different than the caring and sharing with others our relationship with Christ. While people may not consciously starve their physical bodies, I see the spiritual starvation in others. I, too, once felt those same spiritual hunger pangs. Saved and fed by His grace, my desire has always been to share the good news of Christ with others. So how do I share my faith causing others to buy-in to change their spiritual profile? I know God did not choose me based on my natural talent or ability, or my willingness to live in Christ and share God s message of grace to others. God chose me purely out of His love for me. I cannot exactly match the kind of leader, Jesus Christ expressed when He walked on this earth, but I know I can look to Him as my model and example of perfect leadership, and rely on the Holy Spirit, as He did, to influence others. Set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 In other words, I know I don t have the power to convert a person to Christ just like my husband s many failed attempts to convert the boys from eating Cheetos to vegetable rice cakes, at least not without God s help. By hearing God s Word in church and through Bible study, I feed my heart and mind to do God s work in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. I influence others by sharing my faith in my service to my family and others. Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35 My prayer is trusting God will empower me to stand for Him with the Holy Spirit to influence others. He has shown this to be true in all of my roles as a parent, as a wife, as a neighbor, at work and in my community. It is this empowerment that God carries out through me, an average person, the confident ability to communicate Christ s neverchanging life-saving message by sharing these 25 words: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 In celebrating Easter, I hope you join me in sharing the good news of Christ and how He is at work in your life. If you would like help understanding how you can influence others to share Christ s message through the gifts God has given you, contact me at thewateringcanresource@gmail.com. The Watering Can is my personal service initiative at St. Paul and beyond. Helping All God s Creatures Thrive. This is the fourth in a series of articles on the topic of service. The Watering Can has a Facebook page and a blog! If you would like to follow me on Facebook, please Like The Watering Can.

3 Page 3 Teamwork at St. Paul Lutheran Church By Elise Marra Did you attend Advent by Candlelight? Have you helped pack and distribute food baskets over the holidays? Have you witnessed a baby being baptized or a class of young adults get confirmed? Do you enjoy listening to the praise band during the 11 a.m. worship service? Without the ministry teams established at St. Paul you could not experience these events and more. The ministry teams at St. Paul play a critical role in who we are as a congregation and how we impact those in our community. The Church Council has chosen to review the objectives of each of our teams in order to determine how they can be better served. St. Paul Lutheran Church has nine defined ministry teams that assist the called workers, elected leaders, and our congregation in carrying out its mission. These nine teams are: Spiritual Oversight led by Pastor Gaertner, Worship and Music led by Bob Vedder, Christian Education and Youth led by Mike Hausch, Fellowship, Outreach, Compassionate Care, and the Volunteer Ministry led by Martha Wohlfeil. Currently there are openings for leadership positions for the Fellowship and Outreach teams. Our council began its review with the Compassionate Care team. We look forward to sharing updates of our reviews with the congregation in the coming months. You can become involved with any of St. Paul s ministries by contacting the ministry leader, Martha Wohlfeil, or Pastor Gaertner. Do you have an idea on how a ministry could do something better? Do you think there should be another ministry? Since we value flexibility and creativity in our congregation, ideas and suggestions about our ministries are greatly appreciated. Family Science Night by Christi Gaertner Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran School in Brighton invites you to their free Family Science Night on Friday, April 17 from 6pm to 8pm. The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum delivers 15 interactive science and math activities geared towards the whole family. Create a parachute, launch a balloon rocket, make a movie with an ipad, build a circuit, and more! Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran School provides an accredited, Christian education. Preschool is available for two, three, or five days a week. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade attend Spanish, music, art, and PE. Grades 1 through 8 also have a class in technology. Middle school students may choose to play in concert band and/or play interscholastic sports. Extended care is available before and after school. Call (810) or visit sotlschool.com for more information.

4 Page 4 Good News St. Paul Youth Happenings by Mike Hausch IMAC. and LAC. (5th 8th graders) Are you ready to have a great time? In April the fifth through eighth graders are headed to Sky Zone in Canton. Sky Zone is an indoor trampoline park. Youth will enjoy dunking basketballs, playing dodgeball, flipping into foam pits, and just plain jumping! We will head to Sky Zone on Sunday, April 19. We will eat lunch together after church, hang out a bit, and then travel to Canton. We will enjoy one hour of jumping, from 2:00pm to 3:00pm and then return to church for pick up by 3:45pm. To reserve your spot and the group pricing at Sky Zone, please turn in $13, check or cash, with your name to Mike Hausch by Monday April 13. Youth who want to come but aren t signed up by Monday will need to bring $15 with them to participate. All participants need to have a waiver on file with Sky Zone. Fill it out here: cantonstore.skyzone.com/ waiver/. Or get a paper copy from Mike. Feel free to invite your friends! Just be sure to reserve their spot by Monday, April 13 and to have their parents fill out the waiver. SENIOR HIGH YOUTH An exceptional service opportunity awaits you! The Michigan District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is coordinating a work week at Camp Restore in New Orleans. This trip is open to high school and college students (13 years old and up) and adults. Participants will work with homeowners who are still trying to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina in Camp Restore also sends volunteers to approximately 80 different community partners (Headstart, Rescue Ranch, nursing homes, churches, boys and girls clubs, etc.). So whatever your talent may be, they can find a way to use it to restore HOPE to the city of New Orleans. Camp Restore has been reserved for the Michigan District June 21-27, (The event including travel days will be June ) We will be driving down using our church van because on site transportation is needed. We are planning right now for 8 high school/college students to participate and we need one male and one female adult chaperone to attend. An application registration form is available from Mike. The registration cost is $ Additional costs will be supported through our Annual Garage Sale, June 5-7. An informational/organizational meeting is planned for Sunday, April 12 right after the 11:00 am worship service. ANNUAL GARAGE SALE The sale will be June 5-7. Set up will be on June 4th from 1pm-4pm. You may begin to drop off items at the Activity Center on April 12. St. Paul s Annual Easter Egg Hunt by Mike Hausch St. Paul s Annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place on Saturday, April 4, beginning at 10:00 a.m. This event is hosted by the first year confirmation students. Who: Toddlers thru 6th graders and their friends are welcome. What: Games start at 10:00 a.m. followed by the hunt. Where: St. Paul Lutheran, Hamburg When: Saturday, April 4, 10:00 a.m. We will have games, prizes, arts and crafts, and of course, an Easter Egg Hunt with lots of eggs. For the hunt, children will be divided into 3 different age groupings. This is a community event, so please invite your friends and neighbors. When you invite your friends and neighbors remember to also invite them join us as we live in hope with the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. and Easter Festival Services at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.

5 Page 5 Librarian s Recommendations by Jean Schneider Apostle Peter and the Last Supper (DVD) Set in Rome A.D. 67, two jailers at the ancient Mamertine Prison take custody of a famous criminal. He is Simon Peter of Galilee - apostle, disciple and personal friend of Jesus, also called the Christ. Condemned to death, the elderly Peter (Robert Loggia) recounts his life as a simple fisherman who became one of the boldest figures in all of Christianity. As Peter prepares to depart this earthly life, he will make an unforgettable impression on his jailers through the saving power of the Gospel. Dove approved (12+). Widescreen. Closed captions. Approx. 88 minutes Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard Hibbard issues a creative call for Christian families to celebrate Easter that includes devotions and activities which center on Christ's resurrection. Features Easter/Lent countdown calendar, patterns, recipes, and more. Time Changer (DVD) The year is 1890 and Bible professor Russell Carlisle (D. David Morin) has written a new manuscript "The Changing Times." His book is about to receive a unanimous endorsement from the board members of the Grace Bible Seminary until his colleague Dr. Norris Anderson (Gavin MacLeod) raises an objection. Dr. Anderson believes that what Carlisle has written could greatly affect the future of coming generations. Using a secret time machine, Anderson sends Carlisle over 100 years into the future, offering him a glimpse of where his beliefs will lead. Rated PG Closed-captioned. Approx. 90 minutes. Uphill Battle (DVD) Three years after a painful divorce due to her husband's addiction to pornography and subsequent infidelity, Erica Stratton (Shelby Smith) works as an accountant to provide for her two children. Though she appears independent and strong, she struggles to free herself from the devastating memories of her broken marriage. Firm in her resolve to never trust again, she meets Michael, and begins to question her decision. Torn between her broken past and an unknown future, will Erica find a way to heal? Dove approved (12+). Approx. 92 minutes Love Knots by Mary Brandau Love Knots, St. Paul s knitting and crocheting group, donated one hundred fifty-three squares and 13 crocheted afghans to Loved-Squared, an organization that crochets the 8 x 8 squares into blankets. All the blankets are distributed to homeless children mainly in the Jackson and Toledo area. The 2015 goal is to collect 3,000 squares by May 1 st, and create blankets to distribute at Toledo s Tent City, sponsored by 1Matters.org. Interested in helping? Knit or crochet 8 x 8 squares and leave them for Love Knots by the mailboxes or contact Mary Brandau, marybrandau@gmail.com for more details.

6 Page 6 Sharp Family Begins Mission in Uruguay The Rev. James and Angela Sharp are missionaries in Uruguay. You can support this family through prayer and financial support. Find out more information at lcms.org/sharp or at Facebook.com/sharpmission. Praise God! They cleared customs with 30 bags. The Sharp family found a great home for the next couple of years. Angela waits in line to buy the kids uniforms for school. The kids first day went well! Two of the four were a little worried, but all four came home happy. Prayers Please pray for the Sharps as they serve the Lord in Uruguay. Pray God gives them strength and peace as they all transition to life in Uruguay, learning the culture and the language so they may effectively communicate the Gospel. Please pray specifically for the Sharp children. Elias, Ambrose, Callida, and Magdalyn have left behind their friends and school and are meeting new friends and adapting to life on the mission field. Ask the Lord to support Pastor Sharp as he plants new churches and works to support mercy outreach projects around the country. Seek the Lord s presence to encourage Angela as she focuses on bilingual education and teaches English classes to people of all ages.

7 Page 7 APRIL St. Paul s Special Events and Scripture Readings Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Exodus 10: :10; Hebrews 4: Exodus 12:1-28; Hebrews 5:1-14 9am Hymn Selection 6pm Girl Scouts 7pm Maunday Thursday Worship 3 Exodus 12:29-32; 13:1-16; Hebrews 6: pm Good Friday Worship 7pm Good Friday Worship 4 Exodus 13:17--14:9; Hebrews 7:1-22 9am Easter instrumental practice 10am Easter egg hunt 7pm Easter Vigil 5 Exodus 14:10-31; Hebrews 7:23-8:13 8am Easter Festival Worship 9:30am Easter Festival Worship 11am Easter Festival Worship 6 Exodus 15:1-18; Hebrews 9: Exodus 15: :12; Hebrews 10: Exodus 16:13-35; Hebrews 10: Exodus 17:1-16; Hebrews 11: Exodus 18:5-27; Hebrews 12: Exodus 19:1-25; Hebrews 13: Exodus 20:1-24; Luke 4: :15pm Sr. High Camp Restore info meeting 6:30pm Confirmation Class 13 Exodus 22: :13; Luke 4: am Altar Guild meeting 14 Exodus 23:14-33; Luke4: pm Church Council meeting 15 Exodus 24:1-18; Luke 5:1-16 6pm Brownies 16 Exodus 25:1-22; Luke 5: pm Girl Scouts 17 Exodus 31:1-18; Luke 6:1-19 *6pm Family science night 18 Exodus 32:1-14; Luke 6: Exodus 32:15-35; Luke 6: :15pm IMAC/ LAC Sky Zone 6:30pm Confirmation Class 20 Exodus 33:1-23; Luke 7: :30pm Love Knots 21 Exodus 34:1-28; Luke 7: Exodus 34:29-35:21; Luke 7:36-50 NEWSLETTER ARTICLES DUE 23 Exodus 38:21-39; Luke 8: Exodus 39: :16; Luke 8: Exodus 40:40-56; Luke 8: Leviticus 8:1-13, 30-36; Luke 9:1-17 6:30pm Confirmation Class 27 Leviticus 9:1-24; Luke 9: Leviticus 10:1-20; Luke9: Leviticus 16:1-24; Luke 10:1-22 6pm Brownies 30 Leviticus 17:1-16; Luke 10:23-42 Weekly Schedule Sunday 7:30 a.m. Fresh Brew Bible Study 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:45 a.m. Education Hour 11 a.m. Worship & Kids Connection 12:30 p.m. Boot Camp Class Monday 9 a.m. Quilters 11 a.m. Women s Bible Study Wednesday 8:30 a.m. Classical Conversations Saturday 8:30 a.m. Men s Bible Study 9 a.m. Altar Preparation 10:30 a.m. AA/Alanon Tuesday 9 a.m. OldTimers 6 p.m. Scouts *indicates off-site events

8 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID Hamburg, MI Permit No. 53 St. Paul Lutheran Church P.O. Box E M-36 Hamburg, MI RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Worship Times Sunday 8:30 am Traditional Divine Service 9:45 am Christian Education Hour for all ages 10:45 am Fellowship Time 11:00 am Blended Divine Service 11:00 am Kids Connection for preschool 2nd grade after the Children s Message Holy Week Evan Gaertner, Pastor TheRevEv@gmail.com Michael Hausch, DCE mike@stpaulhamburg.com Phone: Fax: stpaul@stpaulhamburg.com Facebook.com/stpaulhamburg April 2 Maundy Thursday at 7pm April 3 Good Friday at Noon & 7pm April 4 Easter Vigil at 7pm April 5 Easter Sunday at 8am, 9:30 am, & 11am