Author: Jack Busche

March 2025 Devotional

Luke 13:31-35
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”
Our yard was always filled with chickens when I was young. Almost always in the spring and sometimes in the fall, my mother would order 100 to 200 (and sometimes more!) chicks from our local feed co-op, all of which would be large enough to butcher in a couple of months, which we did for ourselves and other family members, nearly every year. If I have anything to say about those chickens raised for their meat, it would be that we knew not to get too attached to them, which was not too hard – they were pretty slow, and were mostly interested in gorging the high-protein feed that they got two times a day. Those chickens (which nonetheless, were given a lot of care) had little to no personality, it would be fair to say.
By contrast, the small flock of chickens we kept throughout the year for eggs and eating insects in the yard seemed to be bursting with personality! Each one of them came to us by way of trade or bought at a county fair, or had been raised from an egg by one of our own hens. They had a pecking order, and food preferences, and ranged from friendly and calm to fiercely independent. We had Rosie, the rooster who had been named by a child convinced he was a hen, an old affable patriarch who had to keep the young roosters in line at times; we had Ameracaunas, large regal hens who laid beautiful blue-green eggs and would coo when you came toward the nest box. My favorite, though, was Ma, a white-black bantam hen who would hightail it into the tall grass every spring and would come out every year with a coterie of chicks behind her. I don’t think we ever saw her chicks hatch, or even find her nest – clearly, the predators also had trouble finding her, this petite hen who must have weighed less than half a pound. Ma was a ferocious protector of her chicks, brushing them along to keep them together, never allowing any others to even approach her babies. When we approached, her clucking would become almost threatening – one didn’t mess with Ma’s chicks, especially when they were little.
I think of that hen when I think about this image of Christ as a hen gathering up her chicks, maternal and fierce, a love that would have her putting her body between her babies and any threat. Jesus calls Herod the king a fox, a predator that would snatch away the unprotected chicks; instead of a bigger predator like a lion or wolf, however, Jesus compares himself to a hen, the self-sacrificing mother who would spread her wings for the sake of her children’s lives. Jesus is not a warrior or a killer, but in him we do have protection – under his spread arms on the cross, we have found our refuge, guarded from anything the foxes of this world might do to us. Under the safety of his wings, nestled close to the one who loves us, we take comfort in a new life that can never be taken, not even in death. Thanks be to God, for our Savior and Mother Hen, Jesus the Christ. Amen!

March

Newsletter

56

Grace Lutheran Church

News at Grace Lutheran

Weekly Bible Study – Mondays at 11 AM
On Mondays at 11 AM, Pastor Jack will host 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.

Mar. 2: Saul Chosen as King (I Sam. 9:1-26)
Mar. 9: Saul is Anointed and Becomes King (I Sam. 9:27-10:27)
Mar. 16: Saul Fights the Ammonites (I Sam. 10:27b-11:15)
Mar. 23: Samuel’s Farewell Address (I Sam. 12)
Mar. 30: Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice (I Sam. 13:1-15a)
Apr. 6: Battle With the Philistines (I Sam 13:15b-14:23)
Apr. 13: NO BIBLE STUDY
Apr.20: NO BIBLE STUDY
Apr. 27: Saul’s Foolish Oath (I Sam 14:24-46)

News at Grace Lutheran

Ash Wednesday Service - March 5th at 6 PM
Lent Services:
In March, we will begin our season of Lent with our Wednesday evening services, starting on March 12th. There will be a shared meal each Wednesday at 5:15 PM, with 6 PM service of Word and Prayer to follow. We will once again be worshiping alongside members of Gwinn-United Methodist for these midweek services.
March 12 - GUMC April 2 - Grace
March 19 - Grace April 9 - GUMC
March 26 - GUMC
Lent Classes
Last year during Lent, several adult Christian education classes were offered as part of the Lenten challenge to “Learn.” Given the great response to those classes last year, we are once again offering a series of classes that all are invited to sign up for (sign-ups will be placed on the Narthex counter); if a class has ten or more people signed up, the class will be scheduled to meet. We hope all feel encouraged to participate!
Here are the classes being offered during the Lenten season:
Christians and Christian Nationalism - ONLY on March 26th at 7 PM
Pastor Dave Van Kley will be leading this workshop, adapting material he will be sharing with our synod’s leaders at the Professional Leader’s Conference on February 23-24 (which Pastor Jack is attending!). As we consider this topic and its relevance to our modern religious and political landscape, here are some of the questions we may be discussing:
What is White Christian Nationalism and what are its aims?
What are the historical roots of Christian Nationalism in America?
It is a monolithic movement or is there a variety of forms?
Why is this movement dangerous?
Can we, together, develop a common understanding of how and when to respond?

News at Grace Lutheran

What is Lutheranism? - 5 Meetings (To Be Scheduled)
Lutheranism emerged in the 16th century during the Protestant Reformation, at a time when the medieval Catholic church was splintering over internal corruption and theological disagreements. The Germans and Scandinavians who called themselves “Lutherans” named their Christian churches after Martin Luther, a fiery former monastic and divinity professor who defied the pressures of the Holy Roman Emperor and the church in his defense of his beliefs. This class is an exploration of the origins of “Lutheranism,” its theological emphases and its institutional history, as a state church in Europe and denomination here in America. Join us and learn what makes our Lutheran church, “Lutheran”!
Jesus on Film: Portrayals of Jesus - 3 Meetings (To Be Scheduled)
The first depiction of Jesus in film was in 1897, in the French film La Pasion Du Christ (The Passion of Christ); since then, there have been hundreds of depictions of Jesus in film, presenting varying viewpoints and even theological ideas in every depiction. This class will be watching and discussing three films that present Jesus in sometimes unexpected yet profound and faithful ways:
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) Fri 14
The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964) Fri 28
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) Apr 11
Genesis to Revelation: Hyperspeed - 6 Meetings (To Be Scheduled)
If you want to know more about the Bible, and don’t know where to start, why not start with all of it? In this class, we are going to be moving through the Bible at hyperspeed, hitting the high points and reading key passages to get a sense of the content of each book and how each fits into the whole of the Bible. This class is one week longer than the rest, meaning our final class will be held sometime during Holy Week. Join us and strap in, as we move through the whole of the Bible at hyperspeed!
Our Neighbor’s Faith: Learning about the Beliefs of Others - 5 Meetings (To Be Scheduled)
As Christians, we are obligated to “love our neighbor”, even when our neighbors may differ from us in faith. Part of loving our neighbor is understanding them better, and in this class, we will be exploring other faiths, how they differ from and how they are similar to our own. Join us for this general discussion to learn about Our Neighbor’s Faith!
One and Done: Read a whole book of the Bible in an hour! - 5 Meetings (To Be Scheduled)
If you ever wanted to read and understand a whole book of the Bible in one easy hour, join us for “One and Done”, in which we will be reading the shortest books of the Bible over five weeks. Incidentally, these short books from both the Old and New Testaments are often our least read books as well, but that does not make them less interesting or less a part of our Scripture. Join us, and by the end of Lent, you’ll be able to say that you’ve already read five books of the Bible this year!

News at Grace Lutheran

April 11th-12th - In the Body: Jr/Sr High Retreat at Fortune Lake:
Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp invites all current 7-12 graders to our In The Body Jr/Sr High Retreat! Join us for a weekend of faith formation, music, and fun! Fortune Lake is thrilled to welcome Rachel Kurtz as our facilitator for this retreat.
Through this year’s theme, Rachel Kurtz will guide the group through what it means to be “In The Body,” both in our own bodies and in the greater Body of Christ. Rachel will touch on what it means to be truly present and kind to our own bodies, how we can better show up as a member of the Body of Christ, and what that looks like in our lives. She will also be sharing her powerful music with the group throughout the weekend. The weekend will also feature familiar camp favorites like songs, games, campfire, hot saunas, and more. Fortune Lake’s one-night retreats are great for both longtime campers and those who are just trying it out for the first time.

Holy Week 2025 Schedule:
Palm Sunday (4/13):
Palm Sunday Cross Walk – Peter Nordeen Park
All are invited to join members of Grace Lutheran Church and other churches in Gwinn for a Palm Sunday Cross Walk in Peter Nordeen Park (Sunday bible study cancelled that morning).
Holy Communion Worship at 10 AM
Maundy Thursday (4/17):
Holy Communion Worship at 6 PM
Good Friday (4/18):
Worship at 6 PM
Easter:
Holy Communion Worship at 10 AM

News at Grace Lutheran

Laughing at things the church does
Those wonderful Church Bulletins! Thank God for the church ladies with typewriters. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church.
The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals…
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children…
The sermon this morning: ‘Jesus Walks on the Water’
The sermon tonight: ‘Searching for Jesus’…
Ladies don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping. Bring your husbands…
Don’t let worry kill you off-let the Church help…
Charlene Mason sang ‘I will not pass this way again,’ giving pleasure to the congregation…
For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs…
Next Thursday there will be try-outs for the choir. They need all the help they can get…
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days…
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow…
The service tonight, the sermon topic will be ‘What is Hell?’ Come early and listen to our choir practice…
Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones…
Please place your donations in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered…

News at Grace Lutheran

The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility…
Pot-luck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM – prayer and medication to follow…
The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the Basement on Friday afternoon…
This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across the street from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin…
The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday…
The Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door…
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy…
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the Church. Use large double door at the side entrance…
Winner – Asst. Pastor’s new goal: “I Upped My Pledge – Up Yours.”

News at Grace Lutheran

News at Grace Lutheran

Kid’s Café
Kid’s Café is Grace’s after-school program. We are very proud that we have a regular group of both youth participants and adult volunteers that have continued to make this program a success. Each week on Monday evenings, our participating youth enjoy a meal, learn Bible stories and have fun with different crafts and activities. We are very proud of all our youth for how far they have come so far this year.
We look forward to watching them learn and grow in their faith each week.

Upcoming Confirmation Class Dates and Locations:
March 8 - Messiah, Marquette
April 12 – Immanuel, Negaunee
May 10 – Retreat at Fortune Lake

Quake Event Update:
Quake events are weekend retreats created specifically for youth in grades 6-12. Since 1966, Quake has hosted events at hotels and water parks across the country. Quake partners with youth leaders to encourage teens to become established in their faith, empowered for Christian living, and enabled to live a life of ministry and leadership. Our three youth from Grace traveled down with Pastor Jack, Rebecca Herriman, youth from Immanuel Lutheran in Negaunee, Bethany Lutheran in Ishpeming, and Prince of Peace Lutheran in Harvey, as well as pastors and adult leaders from those churches to the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells (enjoying great speakers, workshops and waterpark fun!) and returned home on Sunday, February 16th in the evening. Our theme for the weekend was “Enough,” centered around the theme verse of John 3:16.

News at Grace Lutheran

News at Grace Lutheran

February and March Sunday Worship Volunteers
Readers
Communion Assistants
Fellowship Servers
Thank you to all of our volunteers for November and December!

March 2nd - Dave Van Kley
March 9th - Lynette Broxson
March 16th - Arlene Van Kley
March 23rd - Mikael Leppaluoto
March 30th - Chrys Hendrick

April 6th - Sharon Groff
April 13th - Karen Nelson
April 20th - Arlene Johnson
April 27th - Kaden Ruokala

March 2nd - Ruth Forgette
March 9th - Jean Armatti
March 16th - Ray Richard
March 23rd - Mary Connors
March 30th - Chrys Hendrick

April 6th - Megan Browning
April 13th - Will Browning
April 20th - LuAnne Krueger
April 27th - Jean Armatti

March 2nd - Terri Brintlnger, Arlene Johnson
March 9th - Louise Ingalls, Arlene Van Kley
March 16th - Theresa Hruska, Kim Mooday
March 23rd - Sue DeGroot, Lynn Marjonen
March 30th - Ruth Forgette, Jean Armatti

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

Jeanne Soyring	3/2
Laura Montbrun	3/12
Ryan Marjonen	3/15
Jean Armatti	3/17

Ed Mattson	3/22
Don Myers	3/26
Sally Marjonen	3/28
Karen Lorens	3/30

Kathy Keskimaki	3/21

News at Grace Lutheran

Naomi Circle
Naomi Circle meets the second Thursday of each month at 2 PM in the fellowship room. We do a Bible Study from the Gather magazine and enjoy a coffee fellowship. All women are welcome to join us.
Quilters
The Quilters meet in the fellowship room every Tuesday except the second Tuesday of each month. We send our quilts to Lutheran World Relief as well as donating locally. New quilters are welcome, No experience necessary . Come join us for a cup of coffee and see what we do!
Prayer Concerns
Darlene Faucher Karen Octaluk
Gerry Stille Marlys Pickett
Alice Harbin Paul Juidici
Roger Harbin Judy Richard
Louise Spickerman Francis Keni
Sarah Johnson Richard Erickson
Mike Stefanski Jackie Kangas
Mary Stefanski Karen Manninen
Arlene Keskimaki Judy Richard
The family of Linda Morison Edwin Mattson
The family of Dan Niemi Pat Makela
The family of Mike Hruska

News at Grace Lutheran

Grace Lutheran Church
Church Council, 2/12/25
Present: Pastor Jack, Bill Kangas, Dee D’Ambrosia, Ruth Forgette, Karen Nelson.
Meeting called to order at 3:38 PM by Bill Kangas. Pastor Jack led the invocation.
Agenda, 1/25 minuets, financial and pastor’s reports were reviewed; no quorum today to vote. There was no correspondence to review.
OLD BUSINESS
Upcoming Worship and Lenten Updates: Pastor reported New Member Sunday will be March 2. Nic Kirkpatrick, Soren Spickerman, and Reed Spickerman will be joining. Lent Wednesdays will be alternating with Gwinn United Methodist Church. Meals at 5:15 PM and services at 6 PM. Services at Grace will be 3/19, with Outreach Committee serving and 4/2, with Council serving. There are Lenten classes being offered and Pastor Jack encouraged participation
Property Updates: Bill Kangas reported that Wright Electric will look into the parking lot light options in the spring. Furnace filters were needed along with batteries and all were replaced. Kitchen drawer handles were donated and installed. The dilapidated fellowship hall divider was removed.
Feeding America: Volunteers from Faith Lutheran in Troy will be coming again and an additional Feeding America day was added, 7/9, which they will work.
NEW BUSINESS
Designated Van Fund: Discussed the purpose of the fund (maintenance/replacement). Will vote at march meeting.
Improved Internet in the Sanctuary: Pastor Jack reported needing an ethernet cable routed to the sanctuary is likely necessary. Spectrum has a special of free upgrade and installation. Exploring options.
Continued on next page

News at Grace Lutheran

Community Meals at Forsyth Senior Center: Steve Finley asked if individuals from Grace might volunteer once a month to set up, serve, and clean up for the meal. Dee and Bill will plan to attend a meal to gather information as to exactly what is needed from us.
CD: our CD comes due 2/22/25. Can roll over at 4.15% interest for 8 months. Pastor Jack spoke with Paul Makela who approved of this. Motion by Bill Kangas, second by Dee, to roll the CD over for 8 months at 4.15% interest. Motion carried.
Committee Reports: Worship and Music planning final details for Lent.
Personnel Committee conducted yearly review with Ashely; all positive.
Council Member Comments: Pastor Jack Noted we are finishing the directory.
Meeting ended at 5:08 PM
All said the Lord’s Prayer
Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 19th, at 3:30 PM
Submitted by Karen Nelson

March 2025

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
						1
2 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Transfiguration of Our Lord	3 / 11 AM Text Study / Kid’s Café 4-6 PM	4 / Quilters – 1 PM	5 / Ash Wednesday / Worship - 6 PM	6	7	8 / Confirmation at Messiah Lutheran-Marquette - / 9 AM - 12 PM
9 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Lent 1	10 / 11 AM Text Study / Kid’s Café 4-6 PM	11 / Meal Kits 9-11 AM / Quilters – 1 PM	12 / Council 3:30 PM / Meal 5:15 PM / Lent Service 6 PM / (GUMC)	13 / Marquette Prison Service – 1:30 PM / Naomi Circle 2PM / Worship and Music - 3 PM	14	15
16 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Lent 2	17 / 11 AM Text Study / Kid’s Café 4-6 PM	18 / Quilters 1 PM	19 / Meal 5:15 PM / Lent Service 6 PM / (GRACE)	20	21	22
23 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Lent 3	24 / 11 AM Text Study / NO Kid’s Café	25 / Quilters – 1 PM / Teal Lake Service – 2 PM	26 / Meal 5:15 PM / Lent Service 6 PM / (GUMC)	27	28	29
30 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Lent 4	31

April 2025

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1 / Quilters 1 PM	2 / Meal 5:15 PM / Lent Service 6 PM / (GRACE)	3 / Feeding America 4 PM	4 / Hope Circle 10 AM	5
6 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Lent 5 / Epiphany 4	7 / 11 AM Text Study / Kid’s Café 4-6 M	8 / Meal Kits 2 PM / Quilters – 1 PM	9 / Meal 5:15 PM / Lent Service 6 PM / (GUMC)	10 / Naomi Circle 2 PM / Worship and Music 3 PM	11 / 7-12 Grade Youth Retreat at Fortune Lake Depart	12 / 7-12 Grade Youth Retreat at Fortune Lake Return
13 / Ecumenical Prayer Walk 9 AM / NO Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Palm Sunday	14 / 11 AM Text Study / Kid’s Café 4-6 PM	15 / Quilters – 1 PM	16	17 / Maundy Thursday / 6 PM Service	18 / Good Friday / 6 PM Service	19
20 / NO Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Easter Sunday	21 / 11 AM Text Study / NO Kid’s Café	22 / Quilters - 1 PM	23	24	25	26
27 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Easter 2	28 / 11 AM Text Study / Kid’s Café 4-6 M	29 / Quilters – 1 PM	30

News at Grace Lutheran

FROM THE BACK PEW
By Mikael Leppaluoto
How many of us listen to music to soothe? It has a calming effect. Some have said that Music heals. And it need not be from the radio, a CD, or a Bluetooth with earphones dangling from our heads. Just as pleasurable is the gentle babbling of a mountain brook, birds chirping out syncopated rhythms from the treetops, subtle whisperings of the wind through leafy boughs, an ocean surf tenderly caressing a sandy expanse of beach, or the unorchestrated pattering of rain on rooftop.
However, more often than not, in the midst of our daily activities we will put our favorite music on, in whatever electronic equipment sits close at hand, and enjoy maybe a light classical piece by Bach with no lyrics to muddle our thinking. Or some mellow jazz from the clarinet of Pete Fountain and the sax of Kenny G alongside. All of us have our personal favorites. There is a quality in Nat King Cole’s voice that draws me, and Louis Armstrong can sing some awesome Blues when I need the Blues. Then there are certain songs that pull you in both because of the artist and the words they sing. Barbra Streisand singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is one of those. If one is up for a duet, Josh Groban and Charlotte Church make “The Prayer” memorable. And, of course, all of us have a hymn that is cherished among all others; or more than one. On quite a few occasions, I have fallen asleep to a lesser known religious song based on Psalm 51 called “Whiter Than Snow.”
Many, many, times in our lives we are uplifted when we need uplifting the most and it comes from where we least expect it. Jesus talks to us in roundabout ways when He feels that a hammer on the head would not do the trick. Have you ever heard a song that was not sung in a religious context but very well could have been? The lyrics of the song “Candle On The Water” from the movie Pete’s Dragon could be Jesus singing directly to me and from a venue least expected by me. So, when you are down and need to be lifted up, Jesus sings:
“I’ll be your candle on the water, my love for you will always burn.
I know you’re lost and drifting, but the clouds are lifting.
Don’t give up, you have somewhere to turn.
I’ll be your candle on the water, ‘til ev’ry wave is warm and bright.
My soul is there beside you, let this candle guide you.
Soon you’ll see a golden stream of light.
A cold and friendless tide has found you, don’t let the stormy darkness pull you down.
I’ll paint a ray of hope around you, circling in the air lighted by a prayer.
I’ll be your candle on the water, this flame inside of me will grow.
Keep holding on, you’ll make it, here’s my hand so take it
Look for me, reaching out to show, as sure as rivers flow,
I’ll never let you go....I’ll never let you go....I’ll never let you go..."
Our Lord does tell us, not in song, but through words, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

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