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 […]
Celebrating ReformationLIVES
By Sue Sprang LANSING – With 2017 being the 500th anniversary of the onset of the Reformation, Lutherans across the globe are planning celebrations and events in observance of this important date in church history. Some will involve thousands of people, travel, tight schedules, lots of ritual or formality or pageantry, and years of preplanning. […]
A new beginning for teen refugees
By Sue Sprang JACKSON – Faith in Action, a community outreach group in Jackson, has joined forces with Samaritas (formerly Lutheran Social Services of Michigan) to set up an Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) home in the county. Originally comprised of four congregations (St. James and Immanuel Lutheran Churches (ELCA*), Jackson; First Presbyterian Church, Jackson; and […]
Being church together
By Sue Sprang BATTLE CREEK/NILES – Shortly after Pastor Kjersten Priddy arrived at Trinity Lutheran Church, Battle Creek, the congregation received a check from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Niles. Puzzled, she set out to learn what it was all about. “I had to go ask our council president why this congregation was just randomly sending […]
Operation Turkey Sandwich
By Sue Sprang While most of us enjoy not working on holidays (especially Thanksgiving and Christmas), more and more workers are finding themselves at their jobs as stores, restaurants, cinemas, and other non-essential businesses open their doors on those special days. Kristen Wilson (Peace Lutheran Church, South Haven) was a member at St. James, Jackson, […]
Young boxers find self-worth
By Sue Sprang SAGINAW – Many churches across our synod have after-school or summer programs for children and youth, ranging from music, tutoring, recreation, and child care to art, learning, hands-on activities, crafts – and more. But one congregation is probably unique in offering boxing. Zion Lutheran Church, Saginaw, plays host to The Saginaw Boxing […]
The value of a penny
By Sue Sprang JACKSON – Water. For most Americans it’s a take-for-granted commodity. We drink it, cook with it, brew coffee and tea in it. We use it for bathing, recreation, brushing our teeth, irrigation, laundry, washing our dishes and our cars, running through sprinklers on hot summer days, dousing fires, ice cubes to cool […]
A Gift of Pie
By Sue Sprang SOUTH HAVEN – According to The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, one definition of “gift” is “the act, right, or power of giving”. It’s no surprise the “giving” is defined as an act. It may be a bit surprising that it’s referred to as a right. And it’s probably safe to venture that many of […]
Crossing Bridges, part 2
By Sue Sprang PLAINWELL – In part 1 of “Crossing Bridges”, the Mackinac Bridge was used as an example of what entails to build a bridge. Part 2 looks at Hope Lutheran Church, Plainwell, and its involvement in a community effort to build Bridges of Hope. Bridges of Hope Allegan County is a non-profit, faith-based […]
A twist on Lutheran DOGma – Part 2
By Sue Sprang PORTAGE – This continues a look at Pastor Joan Herbon of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Portage, her work with fostering assistance dogs, and how this relationship has shaped her ministry. To read part 1, go to http://mittensynod.server303.com/a-twist-on-lutheran-dogma-part-1/. An uplifting calm. That’s what happens when Pastor Joan Herbon and her dogs walk […]