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/ Sundays 9:30 a.m. Office s: 9am 1pm, Monday-Friday Office sjc915@sbcglobal.net stjohnlutheranelcasaginaw.weebly.com SPIRIT NEWSLETTER April 2018 Issue 118, Volume 4 Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In order to get to Easter, we have to go through Good Friday. When we left on Friday worship we heard It is finished. However, as Paul Harvey would say Now, the rest of the story. On Easter Sunday we found the tomb was empty and could share the wonderful news hopeful news He is Risen. He is risen indeed. This changed the history of the world and offered hope to the hopeless and the light replaced the darkness. The worship service was attended by more people and the children bring a delightful noise and perspective to our celebration. I am always in great joy during Easter day even though a bit exhausted because of the business beforehand. Besides the surprise of the tomb being empty Mary and I had the surprise of 7 of 9 grandchildren being with us and loving the people and the church, but especially because our youngest, a 7-month-old boy made a surprise appearance for Denver, Co. Even more surprising was all the other grandchildren knew he was coming and kept the surprise. The feeling of joy we felt in seeing him reinforced that the abundance promised in our life is our relationships with others. This joy was accentuated because this year folks decorated the church, participated in worship, prepared an amazing breakfast and put together an egg hunt that was over the top. Thanks to all who do things behind the scene week in and week out. Jesus indeed kept his promise that Jesus will rise from the dead so we are able to believe Jesus keeps all of Jesus s promises. When Jesus says Truly I tell you or Listen this is not idle talk We can trust our Lord and Savior. The resurrection made it clear that the Messiah was not just some idea, a questionable hope or a crazy dream. Jesus indeed is the ruler of the world. This resurrection gives us the assurance that when at baptism we die in Christ, we will also be resurrected. God s power, through the Spirit that brought Christ s body back from the dead means we to will bring our morally and dead selves back to life so, as disciples we can change and grow. The substance of the church s witness to the world is based on the resurrection. This Good News means stories about Jesus is not a fantasy, Jesus is not just a teacher or healer, but is a reality that gives all people hope. And the assurance when we pass on we will be okay---eternally. A professor at Seminary would liberally sprinkle water quite a distance from the baptism font and as folks ducked he would say What you are afraid of, the tomb was found empty? So today, as we honor the past we boldly envision the future with the inevitable change and a new creation. And because of not what we have done but God s love in the cross of Christ tells us we do not have to earn salvation because of what God did we are good enough and God accepts us as who we are. Let s accept and tell others about this Good News. We are looking forward to St. John s future. Blessings to all, Pastor Carl and Mary.

2 Memorial Gifts Given in memory of John Balderas to the general fund: Wayne & Marcy Andersen Max Foster Carl & Betty Quackenbush, Ross, Linda & Karen Beers Bruce & Lori Albosta, Charles & Ginger Reed Bob & Alice Morgan, Marie Wells, Memorial Gift in memory of John Balderas Larry & Lorelei Roenicke Breakfast for the Hungry Pray for Our In-Home & Care Facility Members St. John Lutheran Numbers March 2018 Date:3/4 33 Attending $ Date: 3/11 33 Attending $ Date: 3/18 35 Attending $ Date: 3/25 32 Attending $ Date: 3/29 19 Attending $ Date: 3/30 27 Attending $ Memorials/Gifts Received January 1, 2018 March 31, 2018 Altar Flowers: $ Holidays: $ Congregational Life: Mission: $ General Fund: Music & Worship: Outreach Breakfast for Hungry: Year-to-Date Income January 1, 2018 March 31, 2018 Offering: $13, Rental: $ Thrivent Choice Dollars Thrivent Financial no longer sends reminder communications for distribution of your Choice Dollars. If your funds are not directed by March 31, Thrivent will redistribute the funding, which may be directed into the marketing of this program. Please visit thrivent.com/thriventchoice, to find and designate your Choice Dollars to St. John Lutheran. You may also call the Member Connection Center at It s time to start thinking about summer vacation! Camp Lu-Wix-E on Wixom Lake still has some availability in the summer. Member rates in the summer start at $147 daily for weekdays, Sunday Thursday nights and $184 for Friday and Saturday nights. Many family reunions have been enjoyed during the years of us owning the camp, as well as spiritual retreats. An informational sheet is provided in this newsletter. Please consider Camp Lu-Wix-E for your next vacation or family function. You are welcome to share the information with non-members.

3 Summer Day Camp June 18 August 10 the building will be bustling with activity between 8:30am and 3:00pm in grades 1 8. How can you help us do God's Work? We will begin accepting staff applications mid-february age 18+. We will interview for the staff in early March. We could use your help in that area. Do you have a life-skill you would like to lead: Sewing up a tear in a seam, sewing on a button, hem up their pants? be a craft you could teach? Work with the kids practicing for the talent show? Or show them basic fishing: I could envision recreation some day with weighted practice lures aiming for hula hoop targets in the grass. A big storage container with water to show them what the lures do in the water, etc. Then fishing at Haithco Park perhaps? Could you open or close the day with a simple bible story or prayer? We plan to have Michigan State Extension teach some things about food and a little cooking. We have someone who has offered to teach a safety class which will include gun safety, drugs and a couple of other areas. We will then be accepting registrations for the campers who will attend beginning in early-april. Staff training will be Thursday and Friday, June 14 and 15. be you could put together a simple lunch for them those days. We attended an event at SVSU recently and spoke with students. 10 of them gave us their contact info because they were interested in either working or volunteering. One of them attended the camp as a camper herself. We are applying for grants now, 3 of which we have already been assured acceptance. The opportunities are endless. Ask God to guide you now Bible Study Opportunities Wednesdays 1 pm St. John Meeting Room Sundays 11:00 am The Book of Revelation St. John Sanctuary The Book of Please note: The men s bible study on the second Saturday of the Month at Fuzzy s is off the books for now. St. John would like to thank Mark Oswald for his years of dedication to this prayer breakfast. Saginaw Metro Ministries Food Pantry Fund Drive Food Bank of Michigan (FBEM) March Against Hunger March 1 st April 30 th Your contribution to Saginaw Metro Ministries Food Pantry (SMM) during the FBEM March to Fight Hunger campaign is a great way to maximize your gift. What you can do: Sponsor an event during the two-month march or ask a business, group or individual to donate or mail a check to SMM. This can be accepted at St. John or mailed it SMM, P.O. Box 6472, Saginaw, MI Once the program is over, FBEM will tally the money raised by SMM Food Pantry and the FBEM will credit and addition 10% of that amount to our account. Checks should be made payable to Saginaw Metro Ministries, writing Matching Funds Program p-981 in the memo line and dated in March or April. Our collective donation must be received at the FBEM by April 30, An easy fund drive! Thank you for your support. Scholarship Opportunity: The Saginaw Lutheran Scholarship Bowling League Scholarship Fund Committee is offering scholarships to those individuals who are preparing for full time church work in the preaching or teaching ministry at one of synodical schools. These scholarships are available to those who are members of a Lutheran church within Saginaw County. Critera: 1) Interest in serving the Lord. 2) Scholastic standing in class. 3) Financial need. These are open scholarships for any year of schooling after 12 th grade. Applications are available in the church lobby.

4 St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church 915 Federal Ave., Saginaw, MI April 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Office Closed 6:00 p.m. NA 9 6 p.m. NA a.m. NA 1 p.m. Bible Study a.m. NA 1:00 p.m. Bible Study 6:00 p.m. NA 5 5 p.m. Kinder Kare 12 8 a.m. Food Pantry 5:30 p.m. Free Community Dinner a.m. NA a.m. NA 15 12:00 p.m. Council retreat 16 6:00 p.m. NA 17 6:30 p.m. Church Council 18 10:00 a.m. NA 1:00 p.m. Bible Study 6:00 p.m. NA 19 5:00 p.m. Kinder Kare :00 a.m. NA :30 p.m. Kinder Kare 6:00 p.m. NA :00 a.m. NA 1:00 p.m. Bible Study 6:00 p.m. NA 26 8:00 a.m. Food Pantry 4:30 p.m. Café Training :00 a.m. Breakfast for Hungry 10:00 a.m. NA :00 p.m. NA

5 DATE April 22 April 29 ASSISTING MINISTER Carl Quackenbush Marty Wiegand St. John Lutheran Church Servant Schedule COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Janet Goodeman Connie Oswald Kurt Aven Marty Wiegand ACOLYTE SOUND BOARD ALTAR GUILD 4 1 USHERS D A 6 Marty Wiegand Kurt Aven & Marty Wiegand 1 A Ruth Sharper Mark Oswald Shirley Bell Carl Quackenbush Madeline Blohm Betty Quackenbush Brandy Blohm 2 3 B C 27 Carl Quackenbush Janet Goodeman Connie Oswald 4 D

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, 2017 Officers to Serve One Year July 1, 2017 June 30, 2018 President... Robert Morgan Vice-President... Mark Oswald Treasurer... Carl Quackenbush Secretary... Ruth Sharper Boards to Serve Two Years July 1, 2017 June 30, 2019 Stewardship & Finance... Carl Quackenbush Building & Yard / Camp Ministry... Michael Basner Worship & Music... Janet Goodeman Congregational Life... Marcy Andersen Parish Education... Madeline Blohm FOOD PANTRY SCHEDULE Thursday, April 12 th & 26 th 8:00 a.m. FREE COMMUNITY DINNER Thursday, April 12 th 5:30 p.m. BREAKFAST FOR THE HUNGRY Saturday, April 28 th 9:00 a.m. If you are interested in serving the church, please see Pastor Ballard.