MAY 2024 NEWS
We are a church that believes God seeks to connect with us: WE CALL THAT GRACE.
We are a church seeking to connect with God: WE CALL THAT WORSHIP.
We are a church seeking to connect with each other: WE CALL THAT COMMUNITY.
We are a church seeking to connect with the world: WE CALL THAT MISSION.
As we seek to make connections, be church for the world with us.
worship
In person: 10 a.m. sundays
Livestream or watch previous services at:
http://www.faithlutheransaginaw.net/virtual-church
*******
pastor’s ponderings
Spring is in the air and, with that, comes excitement about new beginnings popping up all around us. There is hope in every flower that blooms and every afternoon ray of sunshine. And, the spring rains can remind us that this is a great time to remember our baptisms and the newness of life that our baptisms bring us. Not just every season, but every day.
Romans 6:3-4 tells us: “ Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.”
Newness of life. Daily dying to our sins and rising with Christ. This is the promise that each day we are renewed. Not only personally renewed, but communally renewed. Our baptisms join us to Christ, but also join us to one another as the body of Christ. (Picture the cross—the vertical beam is our joining to Christ and the horizontal beam is our joining to one another.)
So, each spring day, as you look to see what the weather will be (as we Michiganders KNOW this can vary wildly), take a moment to thank the Lord for the daily gift of renewal and new beginnings we have through Jesus Christ.
Yours in Christ, Pastor Christina Schultz
*******
church & community activities & opportunities
******
PENTECOST SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Wear RED for Pentecost on this Sunday!
Geraniums for Pentecost: If you wish to help with beautifying the Church and flower garden with Red Geraniums for Pentecost (Sunday, May 19, 2024), please call the church office, 989-799-0162, Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM, except Wednesday, when the hours are 1 - 3 PM. Cost is $8.50.
******
ONLINE CALNEDAR ACCESS
Access our dynamic online calendar on our website at: http://www.faithlutheransaginaw.net/calendar. If you have additions or corrections to the calendar, please call the church office or email Terra at: office@faithlutheransaginaw.net
*******
ALL ELCA WOMEN OF SAGINAW COUNTY
You are invited to a Welcome Tea given by the ELCA Women of Saginaw County (formerly the Women of OZ). We invite all women of our ELCA Churches for a get-acquainted tea. We are hopting you will join us in our now Saginaw county-wide organization. Let us meet, socialize, and see what we are all about.
What: Welcome Tea
When: Monday, May 20th, 2024
Time: 1:00 pm
Where: Zion Lutheran Church, 545 South 7th ST, Freeland, Michigan
Organize a car pool and come out to Zion on May 20th. We are looking forward to meeting you. Please join us!
*******
ARE YOU A THRIVENT MEMBER?
You could have up to $500 in grant money that is going UNUSED– EVERY YEAR! To apply for a Thrivent Action Team Grant, go to https://www.thrivent.com/about-us/membership/thriventaction-teams Grants must be designated to a certain cause or event, but we can help you determine where funds are needed. One group in need of designated funds is for the ELCA Visioning Group, for an upcoming event they are planning. If you wish to help by donating grant money to this group, please see President Paul Hudson or Pastor Christina.
*******
THE KEY TO OUR CHURCH (Check your key ring!)
The key to our Church is Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. But I would also like to talk about the literal keys to our Church. Since our new building was built in 2006 we have passed out many keys to the facility. If you have a key to the Church, that is great! The facility belongs to everyone. However, If you have a key you no long use or need we are asking that you turn it back into the office. We recently did an inventory of our keys and might need to get more made.
They have an “N” and a number on them. An example might be N1. They also say DO NOT DUPLICATE on the back side. Please drop them by the church office at your earliest convenience, or I can come by your house to pick them up. Feel free to call or email me to arrange pickup.
Thanks!
Paul Hudson / President 989-860-3237
phudson597@gmail.com
*******
TEAM UP TO CLEAN UP
When: Saturday, May 11 and Friday, May 17
Time: 9:00 AM to 1 PM
Where on Saturday: Key Locations
Where on Friday: Downtown Area
With thousands of hockey fans visiting the area in late May due to the CHL Memorial Cup Tournament, Saginaw will be in the spotlight! Let’s TEAM UP and show everyone the beauty and ommunity spirit Saginaw has to offer with a good clean-up! Lunch will be provided for volunteers.
MEET UP IN FRONT OF CITY HALL
1315 South Washington Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48601
Sign up by May 6th. Visit the website: www.SAGINAW.MICHIGAN.COM/CLEANUP
*******
2024 MEMORIAL CUP
MAY 24 - JUNE 2, 2024
For schedule of events or volunteer opportunities, visit the official Memorial Cup Website at: https://chl.ca/ memorialcup/
*******
ASCENSION’S GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
Ascension’s Grief Support Group completed the recent 13 week GriefShare sessions on April 29th. Watch for a new session to begin in the fall.
Anyone who would like to meet informally during the summer is welcome. Informal sessions will be at 10:30am at Ascension Lutheran Church on the following Mondays: May 6th, 13th, 20th June 3rd, 17th July 8th, 22nd Aug 12th.
There is no timeline on grief. A grief group surrounds you with other people going through the same thing you are. No Requirements No Pressure Relaxed & Informal Come and just listen or you may share Everyone is Welcome! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Linda Lentner at 989-274-7418 or linda.lentner@gmail.com.
*******
BECOME A PART OF FORGET-ME-NOT MINISTRY
The Forget-Me-Not ministry is in need of 1 or 2 willing participants to help visit our homebound members and give them communion. The process is EASY. We will show you how!
Contact Pastor if interested.
*******
PARTNERSHIP CENTER OF SAGINAW
Help those experiencing housing insecurity by donating your gently used household items to the Partnership Center of Saginaw! The process is simple! They can even come pick up larger pieces of furniture. Go to: https://saginawpartnershipcenter.org/ donate-household-items OR Call 989-401-7239
*******
75th ANNIVERSAY CELEBRATION
Next year is the 75th Anniversary of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church! If you would like to serve on a committee to help make the celebration the best it can be, please speak with committee chair Betty Nagel-Cribbins (cottagebetty@gmail.
*******
MUTUAL MINISTRY COMMITTEE
The following people make up the Mutual Ministry Committee. The purpose is to accompany Pastor and help guide her and give her feedback. The secondary purpose is to help Pastor with ministry goals for the congregation.
If you have any issues you would like the Mutual Ministry team to address, you can speak with Pastor or with the following people:
Paul Hudson
Pat Bloom
Diane Tolles
Cindi Galonska
Vinicio Verdoni
Betty Nagel-Cribbins
*******
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 14, 2 - 4 pm
*******
Faith Lutheran Events Calendar can be viewed on the Events Calendar page.
*******
Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church
4432 Mackinaw Road, Saginaw, MI 48603
Phone: 989-799-0162