St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, ELCA 915 Federal Avenue Downtown Saginaw - Saginaw, MI 48607

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1 St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, ELCA 915 Federal Avenue Downtown Saginaw - Saginaw, MI Pastor: The Rev. Carl E. Ballard Pastor cballard123@msn.com Office: (989) Pastor: (517) Worship w/communion Sundays 9:30 a.m. Office Hours: 9am 1pm, Monday-Friday Office sjc915@sbcglobal.net stjohnlutheranelcasaginaw.weebly.com SPIRIT NEWSLETTER September 2018 Issue 118, Volume 9 Fellow Ministers and Servants in Christ, August was a busy month for the people of St John as we celebrated through Quackenbush s pig roast, Family camp at Camp Lu-Wix-E, Saginaw Metro Ministries picnic and ending the second session of Kid s Camp with a talent show. Also, there was an excellent job of donating and pulling together school supply packets which exceeded expectations. Also, we celebrated Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Austin s street re-naming and birthday. I thought it was important to learn about the man since the street in front of our building is named after him. He served in ministry on the Eastside for 42 years at Zion Missionary Baptist. Zion is two blocks North of our building on Roosevelt Austin Ave. They have been our neighbors for a long time but we both discovered we have not done much together and we agreed we will look for mutual opportunities together. Any ideas? Eight of us went to the 4-hour dinner Friday that included many testimonies honoring him from successful people all over the United States. They returned out of gratitude to tell us how he helped them and they in turn have helped others. We were able to place an ad in the commemorative booklet that was distributed at the dinner. It was an honor to meet and talk with Pr. Austin. The next morning, we celebrated Rev. Austin s 92 nd birthday and decorated in front of the church with balloons and a banner and plants and decorated our convertible with flowers, balloons and signs thanking Rev. Austin for his faithful service., drove in the parade to Huntington Park where there was uplifting music until 8PM. That day we also allowed Zion Missionary Baptist to use our overflow parking lot for overflow for parade and celebration. We were then fortunate enough to go to Camp-Lu-Wix-E for good food and fellowship. On Sunday we joined in the Zion Baptist s picnic after worship. We met and talked with several inviting, gracious, nice people and look forward to seeing them again. We were lucky enough to attend the SMM picnic in Thomas Township. It was joyful and energizing to be with God s people as we celebrated. Also, it was good to get out of the building as the united body of Christ and develop relationships. That is important since we will also face challenging times as we go together into the future. Someone pointed out to me you can t see the present or the future if you are looking backward. To prove the point, look backward while you are driving. Good luck. It is challenging and exciting to be the church today. When I say church, I am not talking about a building but rather the children of God united as one and with other people of faith. I am sure most are aware of the challenges that lay ahead. Thankful we have members and leaders who will be led by the Spirit to use our diverse multiple gifts as we navigate today s choppy waters. We can do this!

2 One thing that will help us is Alexander our new Music Director. It is exciting to see his gifts and his ideas that will facilitate worshiping together in truth and Spirit as St John said: 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:24 (NRSV) United together as one we rely on the Spirit through Christ to guide us along the way. Uncertain of the future we put our trust in God to enjoy the depth of God s love, which will make us aware through the Spirit guiding us along the way. One thing is certain --because the tomb was found empty we should have no fear our future is secure. The prayer that Paul shared with the people of God the people of Ephesus was, 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [c] 15 from whom every family [d] in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:12-21 NRSV Spiritual strength is stronger than physical strength and can dwell in our hearts. Physical strength wanes as we age. Spiritual strength allows us to be strengthened through the power of the Spirit of Christ and will dwell in our hearts Because of this love of Christ through faith we know the depth of the love of Christ. This love through grace surpasses knowledge to be filled with God s fullness and love. We are saved through faith alone, not our good works. But the many good actions we do through faith witnesses to others. This faith in turn has us to respond by following the example of Jesus and compels us to help others. Justification is God s act of forgiving our sins, a one-time act of God while sanctification is the Spirit working in you to turn away from sinful desires (I was a sinner in my mother s womb) and produces good fruit. We can produce this good fruit without worry. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross says: It is not the end of the physical body that should worry us. Rather, our concern must be to live while we're alive - to release our inner selves from the spiritual death that comes with living behind a facade designed to conform to external definitions of who and what we are. God has set us apart. And we have nothing to worry about since we know our future is secure. We are bonded together in love with one another as we use our unique gifts for the Glory of God. Remember to love one another. Blessings and joy and love for each of you and our future together with Christ through the Spirit. Pr. Carl Pastor: Rev. Carl Ballard Pastor s office hours: 3:30PM-4:30PM Saturdays or by appointment (517) or cballard123@msn.com

3 Thank you from Bob and Alice We wish to thank all of you again for the gifts and reception that you honored us with for our many years of service to St. John at the service on Sunday, July 29. The inscribed desk clock (Bob) and musical globe (Alice) that we were presented with will always hold a special place in our hearts and home. We have been privileged to be part of such a special group of Christian people who actually live their stated vision to be an inviting, welcoming faith community making a difference. Our love and blessings to you all. -The Morgans Thank you to Betty & Carl Quackenbush for hosting our Annual Pig Roast, August 12 th. Thank you to Pam & Kurt Aven and everyone who helped organize the fun events and prepared food for our weekend at Camp Lu-Wix-E. September Birthdays September 5 Arline Gillam, Lola Lemmer September 7 Jacob Hoffman September 9 Elizabeth Frisch September 10 Larry Roenicke September 11 Lori Albosta September 13 Donald Keaner September 14 Delores Noble September 22 Kellie Crane, Marie Wells September 26 Emily Schulz September 27 Janice DeMasellis September 16 Ross & Linda Beers September 20 Kurt & Pam Aven Thank you every one who donated time, talents and money to the Back to School Supplies given to the kids who attended the Breakfast on August 25 th. Not only did you help kids at the breakfast, but supplies were given to the Underground Railroad school age children, Resurrection church who gave to Chester Miller Elementary and also kids at Weiss Elementary. We packaged 88 kits. Due to the generosity of all involved, we surpassed our goal and helped many school age children in the Saginaw community start their year with school supplies. Thank you to Eugene Miller, Marie Wells and everyone who has given Memorial contributions.

4 Love of the Father Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. (NLT) -1 John 2:15-16 The world can be a very attractive place. As Christians we need to avoid the three things John mentions that are of this world. Why? Because loving the world produces bad fruit: pride, greed, entitlement, discontentment and so forth. What things that exist in your life prevent you from having the love of the Father in you? Source SAGINAW METRO MINISTRIES SUMMER OUT DOOR FOOD GIVEAWAYS September 6, 2018 at Parking lot across from St. John Lutheran 915 Federal Avenue. September 26 th at Parking lot across from St. John Lutheran 915 Federal Avenue. All sign up for giveaways will be at 6:30am. Truck from FBEM will arrive at 8:30am Food handing out by 9:00am. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Dewey Burke, Co. Director SMMFP at Donate Winter Clothes for the Clothes Giveaway At St. John Lutheran Church Food Pantry, Breakfast for the Hungry and Community Dinner. Please place donated clothes on the designated table in Knauer Hall. Introducing our new Music Director Alexander Cbxtn Fig de Verdoni-Mauch was raised in the vineyards of California's Sonoma County, riding buses and counting cows. Although he began playing piano at the age of 12, the focus of his studies was primarily in music theory and composition. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in music composition from the University of California in 2011 he moved to Mexico City and studied mechanical music-makers, indigenous languages, and woodcarving. In México, Alexander organized street performances, absurdist cabarets, and improvised piano for the Museo Nacional de Arte's silent cinema events. While living in New York City from , he was music director, organist, and liturgical consultant for the Park Church Cooperative. In his free time, he and his friends sang Gregorian chant on the subway platforms. Intimately exploring the depth of his Christian faith, he left NYC and traveled across the United States for a year and a half. Hiking parts of the Appalachian trail, visiting hippy communes and Buddhist sanctuaries, and working on farms were all part of his personal pilgrimage before landing in Saginaw, Michigan. Grandparents are Ricardo and Connie Verdoni of Saginaw. St. John Lutheran Numbers Date Attending Regular Offering 7/29/18 35 $ /5/18 33 $ /12/18 40 $ /19/18 30 $ /26/18 38 $ Year-to-Date Income January 1, 2018 August 26, 2018 Offering: $36, Rental: $19, PRAY FOR OUR IN-HOME & CARE FACILITY MEMBERS

5 September 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Labor Day Office Closed am Outdoor Food Giveaway Patriot Day 12 1 pm Bible Study 13 8:00 am Food Pantry 5:30 pm Community Dinner Noisy Offering :30 pm Council Meeting 19 1 pm Bible Study Fall begins 9:00 am Breakfast for the Hungry am Outdoor Food Giveaway 1 pm Bible Study 27 8:00 am Food Pantry DATE ASSISTING MINISTER ALTAR GUILD USHERS ACOLYTE September 2 Lin Bentley Group 1 Group A September 9 Ruth Sharper Group 2 Group B Brandy Blohm September 16 Mark Oswald Group 3 Group C September 23 Carl Quackenbush Group 4 Group D September 30 Brandy Blohm Group 2 Group B

6 St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church 915 Federal Avenue Saginaw, MI Worship with us at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays Serving the Saginaw Community Since 1857 God s Work. Our Hands. Council Members as of July 1, 2018 Officers to Serve One Year July 1, 2018 June 30, 2019 President... Mark Oswald Vice-President... Lin Bentley Treasurer... Carl Quackenbush Secretary... Ruth Sharper Boards to Serve Two Years July 1, 2018 June 30, 2020 Stewardship & Finance... Carl Quackenbush Property Maintenance / Camp Ministry... Kurt Aven Worship & Music... Marie Wells Evangelism Marie Wells Congregational Life... Eveline Gatzsche Parish Education... Madeline Blohm FOOD PANTRY SCHEDULE Thursday, September 13 th, 27 th 8:00 a.m. FREE COMMUNITY DINNER Thursday, Sept. 13 th 5:30 7:00 p.m. BREAKFAST FOR THE HUNGRY Saturday, September 22 nd 9:00 a.m. If you are interested in serving the church, please see Pastor Ballard.