By Sue Sprang SYNOD – At this year’s synod assembly, The North/West Lower Michigan Synod bids a fond farewell to long-time synod office support staff member Margie Bauer. Bauer served under Bishops Emeriti Gary Hansen and John Schleicher and current Bishop Craig Satterlee. After moving to the Lansing area in May 1997, Bauer and her […]
One of Our Own
By Sue Sprang SYNOD – The following letter was recently received from Pastor Chris Laughlin – also known as Chaplain or Major Christopher Laughlin. A member of the U.S. Army Reserves, Laughlin is currently serving at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and will complete his one-year tour of duty this spring. He previously served Grace Lutheran […]
Spirit and Fire, Time to Retire…or Not
By Sue Sprang SYNOD – Sister Nancy Brousseau, O.P. knew as a child that she was headed for serving God and the church. Now, as she steps away from her role as Facilitator of Living Fire Ministries (a ministry of the North/West Lower Michigan Synod), she feels at peace and looks forward to her continued […]
‘A twist on Lutheran DOGma’ – Part 1
By Sue Sprang PORTAGE – Pastor Joan Herbon brings new meaning to the words “Lutheran DOGma”. Herbon, who serves Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Portage, has been a “foster ma” to 42 dogs – and she has no doubt that God has used this foster mom/dog relationship to lead her to where she is today. […]
Abounding faith, part 3
By Sue Sprang WYOMING, MI – The “Abounding faith” series focuses on our synod’s Sudanese congregation at Christ, Wyoming. Part 1 shared my experience of worshiping with the congregation. Part 2 gave background on the “Lost Boys of Sudan.” In this final installment, we meet one of the congregation’s lay leaders, Paul Mawut, a Lost […]
Music in a ‘Lutheran sort-of-way’
By Sue Sprang MICHIGAN – Jonathan Rundman is a full-fledged “Yooper” – a Lutheran Finnish-American (six of his great-grandparent came from Finland, two from England) raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I sat down with him for a chat at our recent synod assembly, where he was our musician, and found him to be passionate about […]
Queen on a mission
By Sue Sprang MOUNT PLEASANT – Amy Henderson was raised in Shepherd, MI, and was the community’s 2012 Maple Syrup Festival queen. But for those who think small town royalty are sappy, this young woman undoes the beauty queen stereotype. Okay, yes, she is beautiful. She is also smart, aware, community-minded, and non-self-absorbed. Henderson […]
Bringing it on home
By Sue Sprang RHODES – He’s been a school bus driver, police and seafarers’ chaplain, parole officer, and bartender – for starters. He is a biker, a musician who has played Dixieland and conducted Bach’s “St. Matthew’s Passion”, has experience in radio and television, and a gatherer of intriguing artifacts. He’s shared the stage with, […]
Heeding the tug
By Sue Sprang AU GRES – First call pastor Rheanna Goodrich considers herself “a denominational mutt”. Born in Havre, Montana, Goodrich was baptized in her mother’s faith tradition, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The family moved to Washington [state], then to New Hampshire, where the family attended a Baptist church, then eventually fell away from the […]
A path well-trodden
By Sue Sprang HOLLAND – Pastor Justin Walker is in his third year, and first call, at Peace Lutheran Church, Holland – but not before his journey took him across the U.S. and the Atlantic Ocean. At the age of five, Walker was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mt. Pleasant. His early years […]