From the Pastor’s Desk

I sense a bit of confusion about “what happens next,” since I have accepted the call to serve at St. Paul’s, Stevensville. Let me give you a summary of what will be coming up for you.

Every member or family is presently being asked to fill out a Congregational Status/Pastor Needs Survey. The deadline for completing the survey and turning it into the church/school office is Sunday, April 6. The Church Council will look over the surveys and distill the information into the top congregational and pastoral needs of St. John’s and pass that, along with other information on to our District President.

Pastor Snowden “Gene” Sims, the President of the Michigan District, will then set up a time with our congregational president to set up a “pre-call meeting.” At this meeting, he will go over with you the information we sent him to help him come up with a call list of pastors. Also, at this meeting, he will present to you names of area pastors who would be able to serve as your vacancy pastor. The Voters will then vote and extend a call to a pastor to serve during the vacancy. President Sims will also discuss with you the compensation for and responsibilities of a vacancy pastor.

When a pastor accepts the call to serve as your vacancy pastor, the leadership will work with him on worship times and other responsibilities, keeping in mind the priorities he has serving his own congregation.

After the pre-call meeting, the congregational leadership will set the time for the first call meeting. I pray that the Lord answers your prayers quickly, according to his will, for the right man at his right time.

On the theme of calls, Mr. David Wilson informed us on the weekend of March 22-23, that he has returned the call to serve as our principal/7th-8th grade teacher. Timewise, we have one more opportunity to extend another call before April 15th – when the window closes for calling teachers. Look forward to the resuming of the call meeting soon.

As I mention these things, I recognize that you have some big priorities before you. But as I continue to serve as your pastor, I urge you to not let these priorities overshadow the biggest priority before us in the month of April, and that is our celebration of Holy Week and Easter. The writer to the Hebrews encourages us, “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the author of our faith and the one who brings it to its goal. In view of the joy set before him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of God’s throne. Carefully consider him who endured such hostility against him from sinful people, so that you do not grow weary and lose heart” (12:2,3). Jesus died and rose! You are forgiven; you have peace and life with God! Jesus lives and rules eternally! He is still in control for your good! Celebrate Jesus’ sacrifice for your sins and resurrection for your life assurance. This, too, is your confidence as you move forward as a congregation and a school. May all of you have a blessed Holy Week and a happy Easter!

Serving you in Christ,
Pastor Paul Schaewe

Worship Update

This Month: During the first two weeks of April we will have our last two Lenten midweek services (Wednesdays, 3:15 & 6:00 pm), finishing up our series Lenten Symbols. On the first weekend of April, we will have our final Lenten look at Open Door Policies: God’s Surprising Strategies for Getting Sinners Back Home. Then comes Holy Week with the theme Dead and Buried. Following that we have Easter Sunday and the Easter season series Because He Lives. Remember, we have services only on Easter Sunday, not on Saturday evening. Yes, there is a lot coming up this month. Check the following table for the service details.

Greeters for this month:

Altar Committee for February
Gretchen Trumble

Congregational Acts
Entered Eternal Life
Robert (Rob) Lang, 3/7/25
Carole (Merkle) Schmidt, 3/10/25

Removed, 3/11/25
James Bourassa
LeRoy, & Crystal Fraiser and daughter, Journey

Transferred Out, 3/11/25
Pastor Jacob & Krystal Reich Reich, and son, Kolten, to Christ Lutheran, Oakley
Amy Belleman and children: Chase, Evelyn & Taylor, to St. Paul’s, Saginaw

Easter Flowers
If you would like to order flowers to help beautify our church for Easter Sunday, please see the sign-up sheet on the table outside the church office. The flowers may be dedicated in memory of someone or a special event. All dedications will be printed in the Easter Sunday Bulletin. Deadline for ordering flowers is April 4th.

Bible Classes
No Bible classes: We will not resume midweek Bible classes on Wednesday after Easter because we have just a few short weeks before Pastor Schaewe leaves and not enough time to start a new study.

Evangelism Commmittee - News & Notes

Your evangelism committee is again requesting donations for purchasing and distributing Ham dinners to individuals and institutions in need. If you know of anyone who could use a little help this Easter and would like a dinner, please submit their name to Pastor or the church office. The cost of a full meal is about $25.00. Institutions that will receive meals are: Bay City VA, Bay City Women’s Shelter, Wellspring, and Emmaus House in Saginaw. Donations will need to be made by Sunday, April 13th . Meals will be distributed on Holy Thursday, April 17th at 3:00 pm. Thank you for your support!

Event Group

Wednesday Lenten Dinners are served after the 3:15 pm services, 4:15 pm until 5:45 pm. (We are asking everyone attending for a free-will donation for their meal). We still need a few desserts and volunteers to help serve and/or clean-up. Please see the sign-up sheet on the hall table.

Scheduled dinners:

Easter Breakfast: We are canceling Easter Breakfast this year due to the lack of volunteers.

Get Away: We are planning a 3-day, 2-niight trip to Mackinac Island and the Soo Locks on October 1st – 3rd. There will be a sign-up sheet and flyers with all the information on the hall table in March. Invite your friends and family to join us for a fun quick trip “up north”. For more information contact Becky Behrmann.

Easter Breakfast: This year we are having a potluck of breakfast items. The Event Group will provide beverages and scrambled eggs. A sign-up sheet will be put out as it gets closer to Easter.

Get Away: We are planning a 3-day, 2-niight trip to Mackinac Island and the Soo Locks on October 1st – 3rd. There will be a sign-up sheet and flyers with all the information on the hall table in March. Invite your friends and family to join us for a fun quick trip “up north”. For more information contact Becky Behrmann.

Easter for Kids

Our Easter for Kids event will be Saturday, April 12th, 9:00 am – 11:30 am. Held in our school, this event is forchildren ages 3 (no diapers, please) through 6th grade (both members and non-members). We will share the true Easter message with them through a morning of crafts, music, snacks, activities, and an Easter egg hunt. (Children under the age of 3 are invited to the Easter egg hunt at 11:15 am.) Please pre-register! Informational flyers and registration forms are on the hall table and in the school office.

Adult Volunteers needed to fill eggs. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, April 8th, at 11:30 am.

Helpers will be needed the day of the event (8:30 am - 12:00 pm). A sign-up sheet is on the hall table outside the church office. High school students: this is a great time to earn ‘volunteer hours’ for school.

Egg Hunt donations needed! We are asking for donations of bagged "wrapped" candy (please, no chocolate) for our egg hunt. Monetary donations may be made using the envelopes marked “Candy Donation” on the hall table outside the church office. Candy may be brought to the church or school office. Donations are needed by April 6th. Thank you!

Other Announcements

Survey: As we prepare to call a new pastor, our District President has asked our members to fill out a Congregational Status/Pastor Needs survey which was handed out recently. If you did not get one, please get one from the ushers, or from the church office. Please fill it out and return it to the church office no later than Sunday, April 6th. Thank you!

Farewell Dinner: Pastor Schaewe’s last weekend to preach is May 31st / June 1st. Our Event Group is holding a farewell potluck dinner for Pastor & Kelley on June 1st, at 1:00 pm. We are asking everyone to bring a dish to pass; meat and beverages will be furnished. We will have a table for gifts and cards. Sign-up sheets will be put out next month.

Staff Appreciation 2025 will be held May 5th through May 9th and we need your help! Plans are under way to thank our dedicated teachers, pastor, and staff with individual gifts as well as some special meals during that week in May. We are now accepting donations to support a fun-filled week! A box is located on the table near the church office to place your contribution or you can donate online via the St. John’s website, using the drop-down menu and selecting “Staff Appreciation”; please consider donating what you can so that we can make this a very special week! To assist in planning purposes, please submit our donations by April 27th. Any questions can be directed via text or phone call to Amy Krager. Thank you in advance!

School News

Easter Break: Preschool-8th Grade will have no school April 21st – 25th. Classes will resume on Monday, April 28th.

Call Returned: Mr. David Wilson, who was called to serve as our principal and 7th/8th grade teacher beginning with our 2025-2056 school year, has returned the call. The next call meeting will be announced soon.

Re-enrollment paperwork for the 2025-26 school year was sent home with students last month. Please complete all the registration steps as soon as possible, and contact the school office by phone or email with any questions.

Financial Aid applications for the 2025-26 school year are due back by May 1st. Copies are available in both the school and church offices.

Preschool packets for the 2025/2026 school year available in the church and school offices.

MLS News

MLS Homecoming Concert: The Michigan Lutheran Seminary Concert Choir will present their Homecoming Concert on Sunday, March 30th at 6:30 pm in the MLS Chapel. The choir has just returned from their spring tour where they spread the Word of God in song to 11 churches and schools in Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virgina. Please consider attending this concert to show your support and welcome the choir back. It promises to be a spiritually edifying and wonderfully inspiring concert.

MLS Spring Concert Band: Please join the MLS Band on Sunday, April 6th for their spring concert. This year's concert is a potpourri of styles that includes rock songs and folk music from around the world. The Wildcat Band from St. Paul's Lutheran School in Saginaw will join the MLS Band for one song. The concert begins at 6:30 pm in the MLS gym. Doors open at 6:15 pm.

MLS Lock-In: All 6th – 8th graders at your church are invited to the annual MLS Lock-In! Come and enjoy plenty of fun and food with your friends and future Cardinal classmates. The Lock-In will run from 7:00 pm on Friday, April 25th until 7:00 am on Saturday, April 26th. Attending is free! Organize a group at your church or combine with churches in your area to make a group. Groups should provide one adult chaperone for every six students attending. For moreinformation and to register your child online, visit mlsem.org. Registration closes on April 18th. If you have questions, feel free to contact us at (989) 793-1010, ext 294, or admissions@mlsem.org.

MLS Summer Camps: Registration is now open for MLS Summer Camps! These camps provide a fun, faith-filled environment where young athletes and artists can develop their skills, build teamwork, and grow in confidence. With excellent facilities and a dedicated staff, each camp offers a rewarding experience for every participant. Camp options include Fine Arts, Basketball, Football (including a Father/Son Camp), and Volleyball for various age groups. Spots are limited, so early registration is encouraged! Families registering multiple campers from the same household can receive a 15% discount using the code FAMILY at checkout. The registration deadline is June 1st, - don’t miss out on this exciting summer opportunity! Visit www.mlsem.org to secure your child’s spot today.

Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year is underway at Michigan Lutheran Seminary. If your family plans to send a new student in the Fall, now is the time to apply! Visit www.mlsem.org for information and the application form. If you would like to know more about the school or the admissions process, please reach out to MLS Admissions Director, Pastor Jared Natsis, at jared.w.natsis@mlsem.org.

MLS is hiring: MLS is seeking qualified candidates for the following open positions:

Food Service Manager - MLS is currently seeking a Food Service Manager to serve in the MLS Dining Hall. This full-time position is responsible for managing all MLS food service operations, including dining hall, vending, and special events, ensuring that our program follows policies and procedures, and meets governmental guidelines and requirements.

Business Manager - MLS is currently seeking a Business Manager. The Business Manager administers the business affairs of MLS, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, and provides support for financial planning and analysis. He/She serves as a key member of the MLS administration, reports to the MLS President, and is a key member of the Synod's advisory team for financial planning and analysis.

Interested individuals can see a full position description and fill out an application by visiting our website, www.mlsem.org.

Around the WELS

Greetings from Martin Luther College! The Foolishness of the Cross is the newest digital devotion book we’ve created for you. It contains a devotion for each day of Holy Week, April 13-20, written by MLC faculty.

The cross of Christ is the setting for the greatest reversal in history—an altar of humiliation transformed into the ultimate stage and revelation of the King of kings.

These devotions will help us see how the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Once again, we will not be offering any printed booklets for Holy Week. Instead, your congregation members can access these devotions easily and conveniently using digital formats, beginning April 7. They can . . .

• Request that we send the eight devotions to their personal email on a daily basis, Palm Sunday to Easter, April 13-20. In the email, they will receive the written devotion and the link to an audio recording by the author.

• Read them in our online flipbook. Use the link within each devotion to listen to the author's audio recording.

Visit: https://mlc-wels.edu/publications/seasonal-devotions/

Church Council Notes:
From the meeting on March 11, 2025

Start of the Meeting

• Phil Lane called the meeting to order.

• Pastor Schaewe opened with devotion.

• The Minutes of the January and February meetings were read and approved.

Elder’s Report

• Changes in Membership: Transfer out – Amy Belleman and children to St. Paul’s, Saginaw; Pastor Jacob, Krystal, and Kolton Reich to Christ, Oakley; Removed – James Bourassa; LeRoy, Crystal, and Journey Frasier.

• Spiritual Concerns: Attendance in February was a little lower than last year; Pastor and Elders will be sending out Encouragement Letters to inactive members before Holy Week.

• Worship Items: Elders reviewed coverage for the midweek Lenten services; Council approved a motion to subscribe to the downloadable version of the WELS Connection.

• Other Items: Elders discussed things to plan for when Pastor Schaewe leaves.

• Council approved a motion to accept the Elders’ Report.

BALM Report

• No report: will meet on June 8

Board of Education Report

• The Board approved purchasing study books on the Life of Martin Luther for the class Pastor Steinke is teaching to the 7th-8th graders.

• Council passed the Board’s recommendation to purchase new Chromebooks for next school year.

• Council passed the Board’s recommendation to set the tuition rate for students of other WELS churches at $2,000 a year.

• Council approved a motion to accept the Board’s Report.

Evanelism Committee Report

• No report: will meet on March 26.

Trustees’ Report

• Lights were changed in the altar area.

• The Trustees are getting bids from two companies for the roof repair project.

• Council is considering a bid of $3,200 to take down the oak tree in front of 206 Mountain.

• Trustees will do a walk through of 214 Mountain on March 8 and of 206 Mountain when the Schaewe’s leave.

• Council approved a motion to accept the Trustees’ Report.

Treasurer’s Report

• Council approved a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report.

Old Business

• None

New Business

• Council tabled a discussion on Dependable’s $3,700 bid to fix the sewer problem at 214 Mountain until more information is gathered.

• Council tabled a discussion to purchase appliances from the Schaewe’s to remain at 206 Mountain until we know for sure which appliances.

• The Council is allowing the Trustees to look into trimming the flowering pear trees on the Mountain St. side of the church.

• A question was raised about a possible merger with Mt. Olive; investigation needs to be done.

• Council approved a motion to have Pastor Schaewe’s last Sunday on June 1.

  Meeting was adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer.