A Letter from the Pastor “I’M HUNGRY!” As the last day of school quickly approaches, it’s time for summer to begin. Pool parties, days at the beach, kids running and playing outside. It’s a joyous and much warmer time of the year. It’s a time for vacation and a break from the cold and snowy weather in order to enjoy some fun in the sun. This time of the year reminds me of the many vacations I went on with my family as a kid. For quite a few years, it was the same thing every summer. We’d make the long haul up to the U.P. to the very top of the peninsula at a town called Copper Harbor. It’s just south of Copper Harbor that my great-great-grandfather settled as a German immigrant, where he made a living as a stone mason. Walking through the pitch black copper mines, dipping our toes in the ice cold water of Lake Superior, and taking a paddle boat on Lake Fanny Hooe are just a few of the memories that I’ll treasure from those vacations. There are, however, other memories. Going to Copper Harbor in a van filled with three other kids felt like an eternity for most of the trip. From where we lived near Detroit, the journey was a good ten hour drive. It was so far away, that as a kid, I thought Copper Harbor was from another planet, some other universe that people only went to in order to get away. Needless to say, it was a major trip, and one that would be filled with a key phrase from the children in the backseats, “I’m hungry!” What else is there to do on a long car trip than complain? We four kids had become masters at the art of whining and begging until our bellies were filled with pasties from Tony’s in Laurium or ice cream from Jilbert’s in Marquette. Family vacations were special times accompanied with special treats, and soon after we uttered the words, “I’m hungry,” we’d follow it up with “I’m full.” This life that we live is very much like a trip to a faraway country, a universe unknown, or as St. John pictures it “a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1). Our destination is not a paycheck coming to us on Friday or WORDS of GRACE Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 1809 S. Main St. Fairgrove, MI 48733 Church office: (989) 693-6322 Rev. Joshua T. Haller Cell phone: (248) 794-3703 JUNE & JULY 2016
Transcript
A Letter from the Pastor
“I’M HUNGRY!”
As the last day of school quickly approaches, it’s time for summer to begin. Pool parties, days at the beach, kids
running and playing outside. It’s a joyous and much warmer time of the year. It’s a time for vacation and a
break from the cold and snowy weather in order to enjoy some fun in the sun.
This time of the year reminds me of the many vacations I went on with my family as a kid. For quite a few
years, it was the same thing every summer. We’d make the long haul up to the U.P. to the very top of the
peninsula at a town called Copper Harbor. It’s just south of Copper Harbor that my great-great-grandfather
settled as a German immigrant, where he made a living as a stone mason. Walking through the pitch black
copper mines, dipping our toes in the ice cold water of Lake Superior, and taking a paddle boat on Lake Fanny
Hooe are just a few of the memories that I’ll treasure from those vacations.
There are, however, other memories. Going to Copper Harbor in a van filled with three other kids felt like an
eternity for most of the trip. From where we lived near Detroit, the journey was a good ten hour drive. It was so
far away, that as a kid, I thought Copper Harbor was from another planet, some other universe that people only
went to in order to get away. Needless to say, it was a major trip, and one that would be filled with a key phrase
from the children in the backseats, “I’m hungry!”
What else is there to do on a long car trip than complain? We four kids had become masters at the art of
whining and begging until our bellies were filled with pasties from Tony’s in Laurium or ice cream from
Jilbert’s in Marquette. Family vacations were special times accompanied with special treats, and soon after we
uttered the words, “I’m hungry,” we’d follow it up with “I’m full.”
This life that we live is very much like a trip to a faraway country, a universe unknown, or as St. John pictures it
“a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1). Our destination is not a paycheck coming to us on Friday or
WORDS of GRACE Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
1809 S. Main St. Fairgrove, MI 48733
Church office: (989) 693-6322
Rev. Joshua T. Haller
Cell phone: (248) 794-3703
JUNE & JULY 2016
a retirement plan at the end of our careers. Our destination is heaven. Our home is to be with God. That’s our
Copper Harbor—our vacation and rescue from the harsh and cold winter of this life. When we’ve reached such
a destination, we’ll be delivered from all that is evil and experience the peace that has been won for us by Christ
on the cross.
But while we wait until that day, we’re on a journey and pilgrimage, very much like the children of Israel were
in their journey to the Promised Land, and on this journey and pilgrimage, we’re very want to whine and beg
like the Haller children in the backseats of a packed minivan. We complain about the struggles of life and seek
after anything and everything that might take away our stress and anxiety. The world has a smorgasbord for us
to choose from, whether it’s drugs, sexual pleasures, or addictions. You name it, the world will offer it.
But as you know, none of that will do. None of that will fill you up and take away your hunger. For you see,
there’s more that we face in this life than the daily struggles. There is sin. Your sin that goes unnoticed, which
you sweep under the rug and pretend like it’s not even there or that you’ve got bigger things to worry about.
Yeah, that sin. That sin which will keep you out of the new heaven and earth but instead will lead you to an
eternity in the harsh and cold winter of hell. It’s this sin that will separate you from the Father and drive you on
a never ending journey to nowhere.
When we look at our lives and the sin that burdens us, we must cry out like children, “I’m hungry! I’m hungry
for that which will really fill me up, that which will take away my sin, ease my heavy load, and lead me to the
feast of heaven which has no end! I’m hungry!” And with such a cry, your Lord Jesus, who is found in the
church he promised to be, will say to you, “Come and eat. Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest.” He will feed you with his word that forgives and his body and blood that offers life—true
life. He will take away your sin, your worry, and all your pain, and place it on his shoulders. And feeding you,
he will lead you back on the journey, reminding you that the end is near, you’re almost there, and very soon,
he’ll come back to take you home, to the new heaven and earth, to an eternal vacation and rest from this life.
Dear Christians, the Lord wants to feed you. He wants to forgive you, speak to you, and give you all that he has.
You waste time with the petty struggles of this life, when there is only one thing you need—the Lord Jesus. We
hunger for all the wrong things—popularity, success, happiness, etc. Those things come and go, and in the end,
they mean nothing. Quit ignoring the real problem in your life—your sin—and come be fed. Hunger and thirst
for God’s righteousness, and he will feed you. He’ll fill you up.
In Christ,
Pastor Haller
KNOWN JUNE BIRTHDAYS
1 - Amie Evans 3 - Madison Hodgkinson 7 - Buddy Campbell 13 - Irene Stange Shelby Bean 21 - John Aulbert 22 - Charles Mossner Lisa Hodgkinson 23 - James Tetil 24 - Bryan Hadeway 25 - Sandra Goodrich Shirley Mayberry 29 - Holly Winter 30 - Lindsey Swoffer
KNOWN JUNE ANNIVERSARIES
11 - Louis & Cheryl Trisch 17 - Dave & Kristi Weber 23 - Jason & Sarah Hall 29 - Buddy & Linda Campbell
KNOWN JULY BIRTHDAYS
2 - Tristan Pierce Elise Hadaway 3 - Lenora Steinley 4 - Dave Hills 6 - Linda Campbell 10 - Susan Pfund 12 - Cheryl Trisch 13 - Ty Farver 14 - Claira Swoffer 17 - Noah Hadaway 19 - Pam Spyker 25 - Rachel Farver 26 - Sue Voss 31 - Braelyn Sigmund KNOWN JULY ANNIVERSARIES
1 - Bill & Nancy Keyes 11 - Tom & Sarah Reid 20 - Brian & Lenora Steinley 22 - Dan & Tracey Reinbold
PRIVATE CONFESSION
Private Confession and Absolution is available by appointment. You can call Pastor Haller at the church office or on
his cell phone: (248) 794-3703.
THURSDAY NIGHT BIBLE CLASS
Join us on Thursday nights at 6 pm, as we explore the Revelation of St. John. In this vision given to us by the apostle John, we see into heaven. We see God sitting on his throne and next to him is the Lamb of God. This glimpse into heaven is also envisioned every Sunday as we gather around God’s Word and Sacraments. Just as he is worshipped in heaven, we give him all glory and praise here on earth.
Come and join us!
**PLEASE DONATE**
LUTHERAN WORLD
RELIEF
BABY CARE KITS
Clean baby clothes
(6 to 24 month sizes)
Sleepers (preferably without
feet)
Sweaters
Zip sweatshirts and jackets
HIGENE KITS
Bars of soap
Wide-tooth combs
Fingernail clippers
THUMB AREA CRISIS
CENTER
Disposable diapers
June Divine Services
Sunday, June 5th, 2016 Third Sunday after Pentecost
Divine Service Setting 3 Luke 7:11-17
Sunday, June 12th, 2016
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Divine Service Setting 1
Luke 7:36-8:3
Sunday, June 19th, 2016 Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Divine Service Setting 3 Luke 8:26-39
Sunday, June 26th, 2016
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Divine Service Setting 3
Luke 9:51-62
July Divine Services
Sunday, July 3rd, 2016
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost Divine Service Setting 3
Luke 10:1-20
Sunday, July 10th, 2016 Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Divine Service Setting 1 Luke 10:25-37
Sunday, July 17th, 2016
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost Divine Service Setting 3
Luke 10:38-42
Sunday, July 24th, 2016 Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Divine Service Setting 3 Luke 11:1-13
Sunday, July 31st, 2016 Eleventh Sunday after
Pentecost Divine Service Setting 1
Luke 12:13-21
June 13th
Join us for pie
in the fellowship hall
after the Divine Service.
CLOTHING GIVEAWAY
August 13, 2016
We’ve begun to collect clothes for our next clothing giveaway
this summer. If you have items to donate, you can drop them
off at three different locations:
1. Grace Lutheran Church (Sunday mornings)
2. Trinity Lutheran School in Reese (school office)
3. Martin Funeral Home in Fairgrove (back door) VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
June 20th to 24th
9 am to 11:30 am
BARNYARD ROUNDUP:
Jesus Gathers Us Together
Financial help needed
Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, is
concerned about the increased educational debt among
seminary students. They have an anonymous donor who has
agreed to match financial gifts up to $50,000 given to the
seminary before November 30, 2016. If you are interested in
making a donation, the information is on the bulletin board in
the fellowship hall.
NOMINATION COMMITTEE
A committee to gather nominees for our
church’s boards for the October Voters
Meeting needs to be put together. If you are
interested in helping our congregation find
future leaders and servants, please speak
with Pastor Haller.
IN MEMORY OF MARILYN VOSS
KITCHEN REMODELING FUND
YOUTH FUND QUILTERS FUND
T T T
Public Relations is seeking volunteers to ride on
and/or walk with our parade float for these dates:
JULY 31, 2016: MUNGER POTATO FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER 5, 2016: LABOR DAY BEAN FESTIVAL
Please contact Diane Spencer if you’re interested.
The Congregation of
St. John Lutheran Church 6600 Ruth Rd. N. – Palms, MI 48465
invites you to join us for our
Centennial Celebration 1916-2016
Sunday, June 26, 2016 1:00 p.m. Service Dinner to follow
Please RSVP for Dinner by June 1, 2016 Marleen Nezworski – (810) 376-4406
Elders for June Harold Burnison and Steve Reinbold
Ladies Aid for June Joanne Bigham and Joanne Reinbold Sunday, June 5th Greeters: Larry & Diane Spencer Ushers: Vic Trisch, Brian Voss, Dave Weber, Earl Voss Refreshments: Kristi Weber, Holly Winter, Joanne Bigham, Cindy Burnison Sunday, June 12th Greeters: Vic & Jean Trisch Ushers: Lee Voss, Bryan Hadeway, Wayne Dinsmoore, Jason Hall Refreshments: Carolyn Carpenter, Melissa Couture, Joyce Dickson, Lynn Dinsmoore Sunday, June 19th Greeters: Brian & Cheryl Voss Ushers: David Hills, Johann Beneman, Gordon Bigham, Joseph Bublitz Refreshments: Ann Emery, Sharon Hadaway, Sarah Hall, Joanne Hills Sunday, June 26th Greeters: Dave & Kristi Weber Ushers: Harold Burnison, Dane Couture, Alex Imker, Ralph Knapp Refreshments: Ruth Ann Kaijala, Mary Masker, Karen Mendyk, Susan Pfund **If you are unable to provide refreshments when scheduled, please switch with someone on the list. **If your name is not on the Greeter and/or Refreshment list and you would like to serve, please contact the church office.
Serving our Lord in the Month of July
Elders for July Tom Reid and Dan Reinbold
Ladies Aid for July Diane Spencer and Joanne Bigham Sunday, July 3rd Greeters: Daryl & Holly Winter Ushers: Markel Lokinski, Ed McAlpine, Justin Fritz, Zachary Voss Refreshments: Sarah Reid, Joanne Reinbold, Georgia Siler, Diane Spencer Sunday, July 10th Greeters: Harold & Cindy Burnison Ushers: Matthew Schoenow, Larry Spencer, Brian Steinley, Daniel Bublitz Refreshments: Irene Stange, Pat Starkey, Beth Hoppe, Bev Voss Sunday, July 17th Greeters: Joyce Dickson & family Ushers: Vic Trisch, Brian Voss, Dave Weber, Earl Voss Refreshments: Cheryl Voss, Helene Weber, Kristi Weber, Holly Winter Sunday, July 24th Greeters: Rich & Sharon Hadaway Ushers: Lee Voss, Bryan Hadeway, Wayne Dinsmoore, Jason Hall Refreshments: Joanne Bigham, Cindy Burnison, Carolyn Carpenter, Melissa Couture Sunday, July 31st Greeters: Dave & Joanne Hills Ushers: David Hills, Johann Beneman, Gordon Bigham, Joseph Bublitz Refreshments: Joyce Dickson, Lynn Dinsmoore, Ann Emery, Sharon Hadaway
