By Sue Sprang GLADWIN – Once it became clear that the current COVID-19 epidemic was going to be a situation with critical ramifications, the Gladwin-Beaverton County Food Distribution group took immediate action to ensure that one of those ramifications – an increase in the need for food – was met head on. The group was […]
The Communication-Mission Connection
By Sue Sprang SYNOD – In today’s world, it is imperative that congregations use the web/social media to their advantage. With paper communication giving way to more electronic and technical sources at a sometimes head-spinning pace, and with each new generation of American relying more on the latter than its previous generation, the church – […]
Every Bit Helps
By Sue Sprang FREELAND – Thanks to the Bertha H. Wilson Fund Endowment, which provides grants to Saginaw-area churches, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Freeland has been able to build on its commitment to community involvement and outreach. The congregation supports several endeavors, but three have been boosted by the generosity of the Wilson Fund. Like […]
Trapp Grants Assist Northern Congregatio...
By Sue Sprang SYNOD – Nine congregations recently benefited from grants received from the North/West Lower Michigan Synod’s Trapp Endowment Fund. The Trapp family gifted the synod with the funds about 20 years ago, stipulating they be directed to the northern portion of the synod. Here is how some of the grants are being used: […]
10,000 books…and counting
By Sue Sprang JACKSON – One of Lutheranism’s strengths is the value placed on meeting human need – not just spiritual fulfillment, but physical needs, education, mental and emotional health, and whatever else it takes to make a person whole. These emphases are set into examples for us in the Gospels: Jesus preaches, teaches, casts […]
It’s Katrina’s Fault
MIDLAND – It’s Katrina’s fault. It began twelve years ago with members of Trinity Lutheran Church, Midland, joining other folks to help make sense of the wide path of destruction left by the hurricane. Since 2005, Trinity members have become part of the Trinity Adult Response Mission Team that travels to areas of the country […]
A Day Camp Story
By Sue Sprang NEW ERA – The pastor and members of Trinity Lutheran Church, New Era, didn’t allow the demise of their Vacation Bible School program keep them from reaching out to the area’s children. Until last year, Trinity had worked alongside to congregations in nearby Shelby (about seven miles) to bring VBS to the […]
One dinosaur and a food truck
By Sue Sprang GLADWIN – Cold January morning. Check. Food truck. Check. Volunteers. Check. Dinosaur. Check. Wait! What? There’s a dinosaur? Yep! You’ve got to admit, it’s not every day you see a dinosaur at a food distribution – if ever – but that’s exactly what happened at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Gladwin. […]
It is what it is
By Sue Sprang It is what it is… or is it? It seems a currently common phrase is: “It is what it is”. And sometimes that’s the way it has to be. Sometimes whatever the “it” is cannot be changed. Whether or not we like the “it” doesn’t matter. That’s the way things are and […]
Pack locally, impact globally
By Sue Sprang ACME – “The church is now leaving the building… and the United States… via a shoebox,” said a post by Feast of Victory Lutheran Church member Abby Tongue on Facebook. Tongue was reminding her fellow members that Operation Christmas Child was underway and it was time to gather at the church to […]