Trinity Lutheran Church -- On the Sunrise Side of Michigan 2018 A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR AZZAM

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1 as published in stpetersumc.com Trinity Lutheran Church -- On the Sunrise Side of Michigan 2018 A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR AZZAM Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ. God tells us that his ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9), that his wisdom is beyond our tracing out (Romans 11:23). We do not know what he will do or what he has in store for us. The most difficult of all decisions is choosing when there are two paths that are clearly from him. Which path does one choose, when both are of God? Such is the case when a pastor receives a call from a congregation to serve there when he is currently serving a divine call. On March 4 the voters of St. John Lutheran Church in Pickerel, Wisconsin met for the sole purpose of choosing who they would call to serve as their pastor. Shortly after, I received notification that they had chosen me as well as a digital copy of their documentation, at this writing I am still expecting to receive by mail the official documents indicating the same. Now I have two calls, one to Trinity and one to St. John. Both are legitimate, both are divine. God will continue to bless either decision as both are equally important to him. The question for me to answer is where I believe God wants me now. The only way I can begin to discover this will be through prayer, listening to my heart, my wife and family, my brothers in the ministry and listening to you. Now it is your opportunity to let me know what you think to pray about it to listen to the Lord as He speaks through His word and through others and communicate that with me. I will be visiting St. Johns, likely, the week following Easter to learn a little more about this new call and then I will begin praying about coming to this important decision. Please pray for Kathy and me, for the St. John family, and for the Trinity family that God would make his will be done. Again, I look forward to hearing what you have to say why I should continue here or whether you believe I should move on. In Christ, Clip art from cliparting.com Pastor Timothy Azzam as published in REMINDER: We ve resumed our regular service times with worship at 8:00 am & 10:30 am and Bible Class / Sunday School hour beginning at 9:15 am. Maundy Thursday (Mar. 29): Worship / Holy Communion and Stripping of the Altar at 7:00 PM Good Friday (Mar. 30): Worship will be at 3 PM Easter Sunday (Apr. 1): Worship at 8:00 AM and at 10:30 AM with Holy Communion 1

2 Sundays 8 & 10:30 am--worship Service 9:15 am--sunday School (Sept. - May) 9:15 am--adult Bible Class 1-3 pm--bells of Glory Practice Mondays 10 am--open Bells for All Tuesdays 8 am--men's Bible Class 9:30 am--ladies Bible Class 10-Noon--Parish Nurse Office Hours 10:30am-2pm--Crafts & Quilts 7 pm--adult Bible Class Thursdays 10 am--bible Class Stephen and Karen Lipsey Received by Transfer from First Lutheran, Charlotte, MI Adam and Samantha Travis Received by Adult Baptism, March 25, 2018 Chris Exnowski Received by Adult Baptism, March 25, 2018 A Daily Devotional for all Since 1937, Portals of Prayer has been a favorite of readers who appreciate to-the-point devotions. Pocket-sized for easy carrying, Portals of Prayer is a timeless favorite source of strength and comfort. Each devotion features a Bible reading, meditation, and prayer in an easy-to-read format. Portals of Prayer is great for personal devotions, and can be used to open meetings or launch Bible studies. It is published in the convenient and popular pocket size, a large-print edition, and a New digest size edition. The April-June 2018 Portals of Prayer are available. Large Prints and pocket size are on the table at the main entrance door. WALKATHON Saturday, April 14 is the date for the Harbor Lights Pregnancy and Information Center Walkathon. Are you a walker? Pick up a Sponsor Sheet in the Fellowship Hall. Ask friends and family to sponsor you for the walk by contributing or pledging any amount. You re not a walker, but you are a supporter of Life? Find someone who is planning to walk and add your name and contribution amount to their Sponsor Sheet. Either way (walkers with sponsors or sponsors for walkers), the Pregnancy Center will receive funds to help support its mission to save babies and to supply parents with information and supplies for successful parenting. The WALKATHON starts from 310 Newman Street in East Tawas. Registration is at 10:00 AM and the Walk begins at 10:30 AM. More information and sponsorship forms are available on-line: hlpregcenter.org. Miriam Kuhlmann 2

3 Sunday School The children have been learning about Jesus in the New Testament and all the miracles he performed. We are studying the Life and Resurrection of Jesus the first few weeks of April. Check out our monthly bulletin boards which go along with what we are learning. We have a lesson, craft and snack which go along with our weekly lesson, sometimes we have a hands on project also. Ask the children what they learned today when you see them. Sunday School will end in May the weekend before Memorial Day. Easter Basket project Thank you to all who donated to this project, along with Thrivent who sponsored this event. We made 45 children in North Eastern Michigan smile. The baskets went to Wellspring for foster children. Thanks to all the women who helped put the 45 baskets together. Thank you Carol for delivering them. Henrie Fortney-chairperson of Easter Basket Project Vacation Bible school will be the last week of June. We hope to see all of you there and bring your friends. Thanks to Joanne for teaching while I am out of town for the birth of our grandson. FOCUS ON LIFE ANNUAL BENEFIT DINNER Save the date! April 26 is the date of the Focus on Life dinner at the Knights of Columbus Hall in East Tawas. This is the annual dinner sponsored by the Iosco County Right to Life. It benefits our Iosco County and Michigan Right to Life. Speakers will be Cindy and Tim Donovan. Please watch for more information in your Sunday bulletin. Thanks, Miriam Kuhlmann as published in cliparts.com THANK YOU to all who donated to the Easter basket project and helped put the baskets together. THANK YOU to all who shoveled snow during the month for Bible studies, Lenten services and worship service. THANK YOU to all who made our potlucks during Lent a huge success. THANK YOU to all who purchased flowers to beautify our church during Holy week. THANK YOU to Dave Wagner for the Easter books for the children. LWML April 1, 2018 Your mite box donations will help the Bethesda Lutheran Communities. This is a National LWML grant proposal goal to raise $100,000 to help this organization enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with services that share the good news of Jesus Christ. Over 1,900 people at 300 program sites in 13 states are served. WON'T YOU PLEASE HELP? ~ Ruth Golm 3

4 We need to clean our church. The kitchen will be cleaned by the women in April, windows on the inside has been completed. The pews need to be cleaned along with bathroom stalls. The display cases in the Fellowship Hall need to be dusted. If you can help with any of these projects please let the office know and you can do them on your own time, what is convenient for you. Thank you for keeping the Lord's house fresh and clean. We will contact you and make sure you have the correct cleaning supplies. Henrie & Wayne Fortney PLEASE REMEMBER when using the church for Bible Studies, Meetings etc. to put everything away as you found it (tables, chairs, etc). If everyone puts items back in their proper places, they will be in order for the next group to use. Thank You. Mark your calendars! Tell your friends!! Just 2 months away!!! JUNE 25-28, 2018 Vacation Bible Trinity Lutheran Church, Oscoda SONTREASURE ISLAND THEME Where Kids Will Discover That God s Love is for EVERYONE! John 4: 1-42 NIV 4 Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 11:30 am Any questions, call Ruth at

5 STEWARDSHIP Making Contacts for Jesus Do your neighbors and co-workers know you are Christian? How about the person who sells you your coffee or the person who delivers your mail? Are you attempting to develop a relationship with these people so you can share the Good News of the Gospel with them? We can give no greater service to Jesus than to be part of rescuing lost souls by sharing the life-saving Gospel. Jesus commissions us to Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). God wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). We are to be Jesus hands, feet, and mouth. Jesus tells us The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:2). We are the laborers whom Jesus is seeking. God s plan for His people has always been that we take responsibility for sharing the Good News. Peter wrote, Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15). God blesses us with minds to learn and mouths to speak. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God will give us the words and the courage to use them. Along with most people, we are eager to talk about the weather, sports, economy, or politics, but, as Christians, we have been given the treasure of the Gospel message something vastly more important to talk about. Our attitude should be like that of Peter and John, who, when commanded to stop speaking of Christ, said, We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard (Acts 4:20). For many, sharing the Gospel is uncomfortable, but do people need Jesus more than we need to be comfortable. God has placed us among many people who do not know Jesus. With God s help, we can become very intentional with our witnessing. He can open our eyes to opportunities and give us the words to speak. We may want to consider developing a list of people who do not have a relationship with Jesus. The people could be in your inner circle of family and friends as well as in your outer circle of relationships. We can be empowered to witness because the Holy Spirit will guide and direct us. ~ Bill Davis STEWARDSHIP Mission Support April "Mission of the Month" is Wellsprings Lutheran Services (formerly Lutheran Child and Family Services). as published in 1.bp.blogspot.com You can use a mission envelope that can be found in your envelope packet or pick one up from the ushers stand at the back of the sanctuary. ~ Bill Davis 5

6 as published in the icmccarvajal.wordpress.com See Donna David or Susie Manning if you would like to join the Bells of Glory. We would like to thank all of you who donated Easter flowers for the altar Given By: Gerald & Karen Abee... in memory of... Connie Stutzman & Jerry Abee Joan Abney... in memory of... James Abney, Mabel & Harold Engel Jim & Annette Dennis... in memory of... Our Fathers who have passed, Harry Langden & Gaylord Dennis Wayne & Henrietta Fortney... in memory of... Marsha Robinson Ed & Connie Heinrich... in memory of... Our Parents & Sister Nancy Kreuzwieser... in memory of... Adam & Lena Kreuzwieser / Karen Johnson Lou & Miriam Kuhlmann... in honor of... Christ s Resurrection Yvonne Novak... in memory of... Ed Novak Randy & Kathie Orr... in memory of... Our Fathers, Robert Orr & Norman Kretchman Greg & Joann Pancost... in honor of... Christ Jesus Carole Pavlak, Children & Great Grandchildren Clara & Evan... in memory of Robert Pavlak Ed & Sue Pisarski... in memory of... Our Parents Carol Urquhart... in memory of... Our Parents, Thornton & Claire Urquhart James & Marie Read David Wagner... in memory of... Ralph & Jean Wagner Marianne Wheeler... in memory of... Richard Wheeler, James & Nellie Walker William & Joyce Davis Bill & Claudia Francis Steve & Karen Lipsey 6

7 Easter Offerings During the Easter season, it is encouraging to see both new and familiar faces at our worship services. Throughout the year, many of you already support the congregation with your time, talent and financial contributions, but greater participation is always welcome. We encourage you to look into our electronic giving program. It takes just a few minutes to set up a recurring giving plan. Contact the church office for more details. ~Kathie Orr as published in thumbs.dreamstime.com Flowers for April 1st Given by Rodger & Carol Wenzel. 22nd Given by Donna David in memory of Bob David. 22nd Given by Carole Pavlak in memory of Robert Pavlak. 7

8 Jonalee Engstrom 4/1 Adel Astala 4/4 Caroline Barrett 4/5 Beverley Cornel 4/6 Michael Dettmer 4/6 Judy Audritsh 4/8 Birgit Faught 4/8 Kathy Boschma 4/9 Tyler Tudor 4/11 Bea Scheffler 4/12 Bradd Chisholm 4/14 Bruce Welther 4/15 Lily Bilbey 4/17 David Stewart 4/17 Nancy Marshall 4/20 Nancy Perry 4/21 Irene Walentovic 4/21 Carmen Kramer 4/22 Shirley Webber 4/22 Helen Ohlinger 4/25 Fred Ohlinger 4/26 Madison Schimmer 4/26 Susan Cooper 4/28 Anna Loyer 4/28 Pat Wright 4/28 Melina Ludeña 4/30 Lila Wetenhall 4/30 Joe & Linda Hock 4/20 Mitchell & Margaret Davis, Sr. 4/21 as published in 2.bp.blogspot.com Greeters 8 am 10:30 am 1st Ted & Karen White Wayne & Henrie Fortney 8th Kathie & Randy Orr Carol Wenzel 15th Bea Scheffler Pat Nester 22nd Elma Mertz Jack & Annette Inman 29th Miriam Kuhlmann Homebound Barb Dewald Richard & Phyllis Fitzgerald Steve Valentine Ushers 8 am 10:30 am 1st Ted & Karen White Wayne & Henrie Fortney 8th Lou & Miriam Kuhlmann Mike Hohf & Bill Davis 15th Dave & Ruth Golm Fred Rogel & Greg Pancost 22nd Ted & Karen White Ann & Lee Dawley 29th Bradd Chisholm & Roger Tack Wayne & Henrie Fortney Elders 1st Mitch Davis Communion 8th Charlie Rainey 15th Rodger Wenzel Communion 22nd Ron Weidenfeller (Worship Asst.) Communion 29th Roger Tack as published in 8 Know the Elders The Board of Elders concerns itself with the well being and spiritual life of our congregation and pastor. Pastor Azzam and your Elders are happy and eager to hear from you! They may be reached at: Pastor Azzam Mitch Davis, Jr Charlie Rainey Roger Tack Rodger Wenzel