Author: Jack Busche

June 2025 Devotional

Romans 8:14-17
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if we in fact suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Happy Pentecost! Although we have enjoyed the long Easter season, on the fiftieth day after the good news of the Resurrection, we celebrate this new festival of the Holy Spirit, in which God the Spirit came among the believers to enlighten their hearts and open their mouths to proclaim the good news. Today, nearly 2000 years since that first Pentecost, this day is still one of excitement and sound and high spirits – it is the Spirit among us again, erasing the boundaries between us and binding us together as the family of God. If Pentecost is anything, it is our big family reunion, when we meet strangers as the family we didn’t know we had.
This was in St. Paul’s mind when he wrote his letter to the Romans, in which he tells complete strangers that they are his fellow siblings in God’s family. This letter was Paul’s introduction to the Roman church; at the time it was written, Paul had never been to Rome before, but was intending to travel there soon (or, as is a distinct possibility, would soon be taken there under guard to face his trial before the Roman emperor). Because this church did not know him yet, in this letter Paul laid out his full theology, the complete picture of his understanding of the gospel and especially the grace and love of God. There is a reason that this book is the longest letter of Paul’s in the New Testament! And yet, just in these few verses from chapter 8, we get a beautiful summation of how exactly we become God’s children, and how we know that we will remain God’s children.

June

Newsletter

56

Grace Lutheran Church

June 2025 Devotional

As Paul writes, if we are led by the Spirit of God, then we are God’s children, full stop. And how do we know we are being led by the Spirit? If we simply cry out to God with faith that we will be heard. There is no special prayer, or ritual, or even sacrament that guarantees we are saved, only faith that is willing to accept God’s love. The cry Paul describes, “Abba! Father!” is the cry of the desperate and broken person, brought low by suffering and sin – it is the cry of every person who looks at their life and their heart, and feels deeply their own need. Like a child crying for their parents, all we have the power to do is lift up our hands and our voice, and God will swoop down to us with comfort and assurance that we are and will be okay. That is grace, when God’s love meets our deeply felt need. There is no test we must pass, no other barrier to entry, and no danger that God will ever abandon us. That is what a “spirit of adoption” means – the adopted child cannot be ‘unadopted,’ and so is not afraid that they will lose their place in the family. Through this Pentecost season, remember that you too are an adopted child, deeply loved by God your Parent, and God will never ever let you go. In other words – see you at the family reunion!

June

Newsletter

56

Grace Lutheran Church

News at Grace Lutheran

Weekly Bible Study – Mondays at 11 AM
On Mondays at 11 AM, Pastor Jack hosts the weekly Bible study based on the lectionary texts for the next Sunday until Pastor Jack returns from his leave. All are welcome to attend, which will be held in our Gathering Room adjacent to the sanctuary. If you have some time on a Monday morning, we hope you can join us for this discussion-based study, as we go deeper into the texts we read every Sunday.

Community Bible Study
Join us at 8:45 AM on Sunday mornings for the Community Bible Study in the Gathering Room (2nd level) – all are welcome for our in-depth studies!

Although our faith is that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of David, our current Community Bible study focuses instead on David himself, as he is portrayed in I Samuel, II Samuel, and the very beginning of I Kings. These books are fascinating narratives that portray not only the struggles, epic successes and moral failures of David and his family, but also the chaotic period of transition in Israel from the charismatic leadership of the judges to the centralized power of kings. This is a story of terrible wars, competing factions, betrayals and rebellions – it is also a story of touching friendship, surprising mercy, and unshakeable faith in the God of Israel. Please join us on Sunday mornings at 8:45 AM in our Gathering Room, as we delve into the story of David, the Anointed One of God.

Jun. 1: David and Goliath, Part II (I Sam. 17:26-58)
Jun. 8: Jonathan’s Covenant with David (I Sam. 18)
Jun. 15: David Escapes Saul (I Sam. 19)
Jun. 22: NO BIBLE STUDY
Jun. 29: David and Jonathan (I Sam. 20)
Jul. 6: David in Hiding (I Sam. 21-22:5)
Jul 13: Saul and the Priests of Nob (I Sam. 22:6-19)
Jul. 20: David and Abiathar (I Sam. 22:20-23:14)
Jul. 27: David Eludes Saul (I Sam. 23:15-29

News at Grace Lutheran

Upcoming Feeding America Dates
June 5th
July 9th
August 7th

Feeding America-West Michigan at Grace is still hosting our Mobile Pantries in 2025! Our next one will be on June 5th , with distribution starting at 4 PM.
If you are interested in volunteering (either for the whole event or part of it), please sign up in the Narthex, or let Pastor Jack know (715-660-8956, pastorjack@graceingwinn.org). Volunteers are asked to be there by 3:30 PM to help set up before distribution begins. Thank you!

NOTICE:
Pastor Jack will be gone on Sunday, June 22nd. There will be no Bible study and Pastor Chrys Hendrick will be presiding and leading worship.

Fortune Lake Staff Installation:
On Sunday June 8th, we will be hosting this years Fortune Lake staff installation here at Grace during worship. Following worship will be a potluck meal.
Youth Library Days:
Our Youth Library Days will be on June 26th and August 14th from 11 AM to 2 PM. We will start our day here at Grace, Have lunch and then head to the Forsyth Public Library in Gwinn. If you are interested in volunteering or have children who would like to join us please call our office at 906-346-3156, or message Pastor Jack at pastorjack@graceingwinn.org

News at Grace Lutheran

Special Worship Services
Sunday July 6th, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Worship in Peter Nordeen Park with Gwinn United Methodist.
Sunday August 3rd, 2025 at 10:30AM
Worship in Peter Nordeen Park with Gwinn United Methodist.

Grace Vacation Bible School – July 8-10, 11-2 PM
Vacation Bible School is coming back this summer to Grace, July 8-10, 11-2 PM each day. Youth of all ages are invited to sign up – sign-ups are available in our church office, and can be found on our church website, graceingwinn.com.
This year, Grace will be hosting Vacation Bible School on our site. We will once again be welcoming volunteers from Faith Lutheran in Troy, to help with both VBS and with the Feeding America distribution on July 9.
If you are interested in volunteering, please let Pastor Jack know (715-660-8956; pastorjack@graceingwinn.org), leave a message with our church office (906-346-3156; office@graceingwinn.org), or sign up on the clipboard on the narthex counter. We will need volunteers for small group leaders, meal support, set-up and clean-up, and helping lead activities.

News at Grace Lutheran

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
The members of Community Outreach want to thank the church for their support of our mission. Our greatest mission are our Meal Kits given to needy families in our area. During the first year of COVID we began with 12 families and now 52 families (177 people) receive a Meal Kit to make a full meal for the family. We are thankful for all the good wishes and support we receive from you. UPCOMING CALENDER OF OUTREACH EVENTS:
JUNE 21st - Fun Daze this year is June 21st. Grace Lutheran will have a Pie Sale booth again this year. Bakers, slicers, cleaners, sellers all needed. There is a job for everyone. Watch for further information and sign-ups.
This year for Fun Daze we will also have an information table to provide the community with informational flyers about our church and the groups and committees that we have and what they do.
Thank you to our community and church for all the support!

News at Grace Lutheran

Kid’s Café
On May 19th, 2025, our Kid’s Café group came to a close for the summer. For our last day, the kids got to have some fun in our church garden, planting seeds and learning new things about gardening. We hosted a family meal where the kids were excited to show their families some of the things they have learned and been working on like the Lord’s Prayer, Apostle’s Creed, and crafts. The kids were also surprised with a birthday cake for everyone as a treat to celebrate all of their birthdays that have passed and those to come during our off season. We are so proud of how hard our kids have worked, and how much they have learned this year. We are looking forward to continue working with them, watching them grow and flourish in their faith when we return in September 2025.

News at Grace Lutheran

News at Grace Lutheran

Naomi Circle
The Naomi Circle meets the second Thursday of each month at 2 PM in the downstairs fellowship hall. All women are invited. We do a Bible study from the Gather magazine and enjoy a coffee fellowship. Seven of us ladies recently attended the Superior Conference Cluster 8 meeting at Bethel Lutheran Church in Ishpeming. The program was on basket weaving followed by a short meeting and a delicious meal. The fall Cluster meeting will be here at Grace.
Quilters
The Quilters meet every Tuesday except the second Tuesday of each month in the fellowship room downstairs. We send our quilts to Lutheran World Relief each October as well as donating locally. New quilters are welcome to join. We recently welcomed Diane Lowe. No experience necessary . Come join us for a cup of coffee and see what we do!
Prayer Concerns
Darlene Faucher Karen Octaluk Bill Hatch
Gerry Stille Marlys Pickett Gloria LaFave
Alice Harbin Paul Juidici Sally Weingartner
Roger Harbin Judy Richard Sarah Johnson
Louise Spickerman Harold Zaborowski The family of Pat Makela
Sarah Johnson Richard Erickson The family of Karen McElroy
Mike Stefanski Mary Stefanski The family of Ed Mattson
Arlene Keskimaki Dee Pynnonen The family of Francis Keni
Scott Pynnonen The family of Nancy Ranta

News at Grace Lutheran

June and July Sunday Worship Volunteers
Readers
Communion Assistants
Fellowship Servers

June 1at - Lynnette Broxson
June 8th - Mikael Leppaluoto
June 15th - Arlene Johnson
June 22nd - LuAnne Krueger
June 29th - Kaden Ruokala

July 6th - LuAnne Krueger
July 13th - Lynnette Broxson
July 20th - Sharon Groff
July 27th - Arlene VanKley

June 1at - Arlene Johnson
June 8th - Jean Armatti
June 15th - Ray Richard
June 22nd - Mary Connors
June 29th - Chrys Hendrick

July 6th - Arlene Johnson
July 13th - Ray Richard
July 20th - LuAnne Krueger
July 27th - Jean Armatti

June 1at - Ruth Forgette, Lynnette Broxson
June 8th - Karen Nelson, Arlene VanKley
June 15th - Vicki Winters, Maxeen Jacobson
June 22nd - Lynn Marjonen, Dee D’Ambrosia
June 29th - Mary Connors, Kathy Keskimaki

JUNE BIRTHDAYS

Tom Ketola	6/1
Paul Makela	6/12
Lorrie Robinson	6/13

Sandra Kronner	6/23
Ruth Forgette	6/23
Karen Manninen	6/24

News at Grace Lutheran

Grace Lutheran Church
Church Council, 5/21/25
Present: Pastor Jack, Bill Kangas, Ruth Forgette, Bill Koski, Sharon Groff, Paul Makela, Gary Howard, Jean Armatti, Karen Nelson
Meeting called to order at 3:30 p.m. by Bill Kangas. Pastor Jack led the invocation.
Agenda approved by Karen. Second by Ruth, motion carried.
Reviewed 4/25 minutes. Motion by Ruth, second by Sharon, to approve the 4/25 minutes. Motion carried.
Paul reviewed the financial reports. He made a motion to approve them as written. Second by Gary, motion carried.
Correspondence: Request for financial support for Gwinn High School senior class celebration was received and due by 5/2 so we missed the opportunity.
Pastor’s Report reviewed.
OLD BUSINESS
Youth Update: Library Days will be 6/26 and 8/14 as a way to keep our youth connected. Fortune Lake staff will be installed at Grace on 6/8 with a potluck to be held after worship.
Synod Assembly Review: Pastor Jack reported the assembly was held May 15-17 as planned with several Grace members present.
Bread for the World Review: Pastor Jack reported this was held on 5/5 as planned with 25 people responding.
Property Updates: Bill Kangas reported the skylight has been cleaned and the shed has electricity. There was a flood in the basement last Friday from a crack in the tank in the men’s bathroom. He and Jerry Jensen, Deannie and Keith LeMoine, and Shirlee Leppaluoto all responded for cleanup, and Jerry installed the new toilet. We are clearing out the library room to scrape and repaint it. Since it is so cold in there, we will likely make it a storage room. Discussed options for church library.

News at Grace Lutheran

Feeding America Updates: 6/5 is the next date.
Range Telecommunications Update: Sound system and camera equipment has been installed. Wireless microphones were not included in the system upgrade and Pastor Jack noted they are needed to further improve our microphones and sound. Reviewed overall quote for $2533.28. He noted that what is really needed now are the wireless “Lav” microphones (listed on the quote) for $1139.00 plus labor. Financial support for this purchase was offered vs asking congregation for additional fund approval. Motion by Pastor Jack, second by Ruth, to purchase the microphones through Range with gratitude from the anonymous donor to cover this cost. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Vacation Bible School: Scheduled for July 8-10. Reviewed options for inflatable rental and decided not to do rental this year.
Northland Basement Systems: Have a quote of $4709.55 for sidewalk leveling as it has sunk and could be tripping hazard. Will explore other options for this.
Constitutional Consult Meeting: Pastor Jack met with Pr. Sharolyn Swenson, Asst to Bishop re: ratifying our 2022 constitution draft. She will review our 2022 draft and updates, and will meet with members of Grace in August to finalize it. A copy of the current constitution and the 2022 draft will be given to all the council members for review.
Fun Daze Parade: Discussed doing a church float and agreed to do one if anyone is willing to spearhead this. Motion by Ruth, second by Bill Koski, to ask the congregation if anyone is willing to do the float. Motion carried.

News at Grace Lutheran

Committee Reports: Worship and Music met and planned worship for June. Stewardship Committee discussed ideas for theme for October. Finance Committee met.
Council Member Comments: Ruth commended Pastor Jack for all the work he did for the Synod Assembly. Paul stated we were very lucky with the water issues we have had, notably people who caught the issues and having people who can fix them. He suggested exploring our insurance coverage for these types of issues. Bill Kangas suggested having some type of volunteer appreciation; Ruth noted such an event is being planned for October. Pastor Jack stated he is working on a plan of members visiting members.
Pastor Jack made a motion to adjourn at 5:00. Second by Ruth, motion carried.
All said the Lord’s Prayer.
Next meeting: Wednesday, June 18, at 3:30 PM
Submitted by Karen Nelson

June 2025

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Easter 7	2 / 11 AM Text Study	3 / Quilters 1 PM	4	5 / Feeding America 4-6 PM	6	7
8 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Fortune Lake Staff Installation / Pentecost	9 / 11 AM Text Study	10 / Meal Kits 2 PM / Quilters – 1 PM	11	12 / Naomi Circle 2 PM / Worship and Music 3 PM	13	14
15 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Pentecost 2	16 / 11 AM Text Study	17 / Quilters – 1 PM	18 / Council 3:30 PM	19	20	21 / Fun Daze Pie Sale
22 / NO BIBLE STUDY / 10 AM Worship / Pentecost 3	23 / 11 AM Text Study	24 / Quilters - 1 PM	25	26 / Youth Library Day	27	28
29 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Pentecost 4	30 / 11 AM Text Study

July 2025

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1 / Quilters - 1 PM	2	3	4 / Hope Circle 10 AM	5
6 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10:30 AM Worship in the park / Pentecost 5	7 / 11 AM Text Study	8 / VBS	9 / Feeding America 4 PM / VBS	10 / Naomi Circle 2 PM / Worship and Music - 3 PM / VBS	11	12
13 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Pentecost 6	14 / 11 AM Text Study	15 / Quilters – 1 PM	16 / Council 3:30 PM	17	18	19
20 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Pentecost 7	21 / 11 AM Text Study	22 / Quilters 1 PM / Teal Lake 2 PM	23	24	25	26
27 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Pentecost 8	28 / 11 AM Text Study	29 / Quilters – 1 PM	30	31

News at Grace Lutheran

FROM THE BACK PEW
By Mikael Leppaluoto
You can have your cake and eat it too! This is for all of those who had Finnish grandparents who loved to bake and visit (and it might be true of every nationality).
I’m beginning to analyze why I can’t lose weight as fast as I would hope. “It started in my childhood,” I murmur to my personal therapist who resides in the dark recesses of my own head.
I grew up as a tow-headed rambunctious (that’s the word my mother saddled me with….she would say, “Mikael, why are you so sweet and innocent when Mrs. Korhonen watches you, but run around like a rambunctious whirling dervish at home as soon as I try to relax?”) perfect child in a small town on the coast of California, tucked between the crashing waves of the Pacific and the coastal mountains, reached only by a winding two-lane road, parts of which hung over the rolling surf, that initiated carsickness on the first bend. It was a grand place to grow up in the l950s, much like Gwinn, I'm sure; kid-friendly, safe, family oriented, and all built around a church community. I’m sure if I looked back, I would say we lived more like the “Beaver” than like “Roseanne.”
Now as I look down at my budding Porky Pig belly, I can whisper a prayer to my mother, “Mom, do you remember Mrs. Korhonen, my Godmother? Do you know what Finnish ladies used to do for fun? They didn’t go jogging at 6 in the morning in leotards wearing the latest Nike tennis shoe, they didn’t do Pilates exercises before lunch, and they didn’t check the caloric intake of what went into their mixing bowl. They baked! Mother, they baked!! I was swinging on a sugar high when I got home….no complaints from me, though. She would make cakes and cookies from scratch, no cookbook.” Even now my stomach growls an Amen!
“So, after much deliberation,” I say to my mental Shrink,” it is impossible to lose weight if you are both Finnish and Lutheran.” I’m sure Garrison Keillor in Lake Wobegon would have fun with that thought. That is it in a nutshell, excuse the pun!
I have given this issue a lot of thought, Freud would have been interested, and it seems to me that it has a lot of validity. First off, I would often be “dragged” by my mother and father to visit in Finnish homes. There my cheeks would be pinched, and my cowlick would be lovingly fondled (yes, I had hair once upon a time, for those who are smiling) and I would be the perfect “Preacher’s Kid” (because I knew food would soon be coming) and I got that “behave” look from my mother. Then, as sure as dogs shake their legs when their belly is rubbed, Mrs. Kaijankoski (or, well, it could have been any number of Finnish ladies) would apologize and say she didn’t have much to offer with coffee; but, as we entered the dining area, the table would be laden with all kinds of heavenly delights.

News at Grace Lutheran

FROM THE BACK PEW
By Mikael Leppaluoto
I often wonder what the table would have looked like if she would have had something to offer. (An interesting point is that my wife remembers the same things when she was young and we were 2400 miles apart.) My eyes probably bugged out like filled water balloons and, I’m sure, the “wedgie” I was feeling was because my Dad had a grip on my Fruit-of-the-Looms, so I wouldn’t make a fool of myself charging the table. Of course, the pre-visit lecture consisted of “Now, Mikael, you can only have two things when we have coffee.” But what kid remembers that when wiping the drool off their lower lip, and besides, it is disrespectful to the whole Finnish culture not to try everything placed before you. After all, Mrs, Kaijankoski put an enormous amount of love into the repast set before us and I had to show my appreciation. That’s where my diet habits were formed.
As to the Lutheran part of this montage. The proof is in the pudding…. and the casserole dish…. and the Jello…. and the cardamon bread….and the cake…. and Mary Connors’ chocolate chip cookies…. and the endless array of home cooked delicacies that grace our churchly functions. We feed our souls in the sanctuary and feed our stomachs in the dining hall. Is it no wonder that I sometimes “oink” in my sleep?
“You see, Dr. Freud,” I say to the imaginary man in the dark frock coat sitting in the frontal lobe of my subconscious, “it all started in my childhood and continues to this day. My paunch grows as the good ladies with Finnish blood running through their veins keep bringing succulent dishes into the Lutheran Fellowship Hall. What am I to do?”
And somewhere deep down, a burp is the only answer I get!

December 1st - Deb Hurkman, Christine Mitchell
December 8th - Terri Britlinger, Shane Ruokola
December 15th - Louise Ingalls, Robin Howard
December 22nd - LuAnne Krueger, Theresa Hruska