Author: Jack Busche

May 2025 Devotional

I John 5:6-12
6 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. 7 There are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree. 9 If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. 10 Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Happy Easter! It has already been a couple of weeks since we first celebrated the Lord’s resurrection, but the Easter season is long, a full seven weeks (a week of weeks!) before Pentecost. So, we can continue to wish one another Happy Easter, and eat eggs and ham and candy for weeks to come (but I assume you were already going to do that). Whatever your celebrations consisted of on Easter Sunday itself, I hope that we all continue to live into this season of celebration, and to keep celebrating the good news throughout the year. For Christians, it is Easter Sunday every day – Christ is Risen every day! Just as the gospel is good news for all people, it is also good news anywhere and at any time – whether we are at church, or at home, at our jobs, in the grocery store, or anywhere else, whether we are working or sleeping or talking on the phone, He is Risen!
All the same, we try to make Easter Sunday feel a little more special than most Sundays. One of the ways we did this was the communion bread we used. Instead of the usual wafer, or even the dense honey wheat loaf that we have made before, we bought King’s Hawaiian rolls, fluffy and sweet and very good for a ham sandwich. As an unexpected treat, I saw how peoples’ eyes lit up when they came up to receive communion, and how they stayed lit up when they saw how well the bread soaked up the wine or juice when they dipped it into the intinction cup. Although those rolls serve the same function as the wafers, I think they served well as a representation of the ‘special-ness’ of Easter. The body of Christ is no less present when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper any other Sunday, but for Easter 2025, God’s gift of love and salvation tasted just a little bit sweeter that day.

May

Newsletter

56

Grace Lutheran Church

May 2025 Devotional

wafers, I think they served well as a representation of the ‘special-ness’ of Easter. The body of Christ is no less present when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper any other Sunday, but for Easter 2025, God’s gift of love and salvation tasted just a little bit sweeter that day.
Above is a selection from I John, a New Testament letter steeped in the good news of Christ. Here in I John 5, especially verses 7 and 8, I hear a sacramental message, an explanation of the purposes of the sacrament: “There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree.” If we read the ‘water and the blood’ as a straightforward reference to the sacraments of baptism and communion, then we might get a better understanding of how the John author understands the function of these sacraments. Like the miracles in the gospel of John, the sacraments are fundamentally signs, pointing to something else – the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Humans are experiential creatures; we can understand concepts like God’s grace on an intellectual level, but it is through experiences, that which we can see and hear and touch, that we can truly absorb that grace. We can still appreciate and carry our faith in our hearts wherever we go, but these sacraments, water and wine and bread, are a gift from God for the sake of our faith; as believers, time spent together in worship, around the Word and God’s sacraments, is a way-station, a place to rest and fuel up, strengthening us for the faithful lives we are carrying on outside the church doors. So, whenever we use the sacraments, whether we eat a dry wafer or a fluffy roll, it is as if we are hearing the sacraments’ story again, the same story they share with the Holy Spirit: “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” Thanks be to God!

May

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.

May 4: Saul’s Foolish Oath (I Sam. 14:24-52)
May 11: Saul is Rejected (I Sam. 15)
May 18: David Anointed as King (I Sam. 16)
May 25: David and Goliath, Part I (I Sam. 17:1-25)
Jun. 1: David and Goliath, Part II (I Sam. 17:26-58)

News at Grace Lutheran

Pastor Podcast!
If you didn’t know before, Pastor Jack has a podcast with Pastor Alex LaChapelle (Prince of Peace-Harvey), “Pulpit Supply with Jack and LaChap.”
Here is the description:
Pulpit Supply with Jack and LaChap is a collaboration between two working pastors, Pr. Jack Busche and Pr. Alex LaChapelle, who wanted to get together more often to catch up, laugh, and talk through our weekly lectionary texts as we prepare for each Sunday. Join us as we work through the lectionary year together, one week at a time.
This podcast can be found on Spotify!

News at Grace Lutheran

Grace Garden:
We are looking for volunteers for this years garden project here at Grace. The produce we harvest will be used for the meal kits that Community Outreach distributes each month to help our neighbors in need throughout the community in the Gwinn area. If you would be interested in volunteering to help please contact our office or Pastor Jack.
Office: 906-346-3156
Pastor Jack: 715-660-8956
Krispy Kreme Youth Fundraiser:
Our youth here at Grace are putting on a Krispy Kreme fundraiser to raise money for youth events. Orders and money are due by May 12th. Delivery dates will be between May 19th-23rd. Cash, checks and venmo are accepted as payment. Please consider placing an order to help support our youth with opportunities to grow in their faith. If you would like to place an order please contact Rebecca Herriman at 906-360-8548.
Feeding America:
The Feeding America scheduled to happen at Grace on April 3rd, has been rescheduled to May 15th.
Daughters of Grace Banquet:
Our Daughters of Grace Banquet will be held on Friday May 9th, here at Grace. We will enjoy a Turkey dinner catered by Jody (Toodie’s Catering) at 6 PM and music by Deb Bengry and friends at 7 PM. All women are invited and guests are welcome too. Tickets at $20 each can be purchased from Lynnette Broxson, Pat Seger or Christine Mitchell. Children 5 and under are free - no ticket needed. Children 6-11 are $10 and children 12 and up are $20. Please Purchase tickets by April 30th! Please sign the back of your ticket to be entered into a drawing for a prize!

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 is 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 or 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: MAY 13th - Meal Kit distribution. MAY 15th - Feeding America. MAY 17th - Pop/Can Drive for Community Outreach funds. MAY 18th - Gus Macker volunteering at Gwinn High School. We handout water to those playing ball and people attending the games.
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. GUS MACKER NOTICE: The Gwinn United Methodist Church and Grace members will be attending the booth and are requesting donations of water or money to purchase water to give out. We are asking for the smaller bottles of water instead of the larger ones. A collection bottle will be available for donations to purchase waters in the Narthex for Sundays, May 4th and 11th. Donated waters can be left in the Fellowship Hall and Lynn will get them to the Methodist Church for Friday, May16th. Thank you to our community and Church for all the support!

News at Grace Lutheran

Upcoming Confirmation Class Dates and Locations:
May 10 – Bethany, Republic

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.
UPDATE: On Monday, April 14th, the kids got to dye Easter Eggs as their activity after lessons. They had a blast! Thank you to those who donated eggs to make this fun activity happen!

News at Grace Lutheran

News at Grace Lutheran

Naomi Circle
Naomi Circle meets the second Thursday of each month at 2 PM in the fellowship room. All women are welcome to join us. We do a Bible Study from the Gather magazine and enjoy a coffee fellowship.
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 welcome, 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
The family of Tracy The family of Francis Keni

Daughters of Grace Banquet:
Our Daughters of Grace Banquet will be held on Friday May 9th, here at Grace. We will enjoy a Turkey dinner catered by Jody (Toodie’s Catering) at 6 PM and music by Deb Bengry and friends at 7 PM. All women are invited and guests are welcome too. Tickets at $20 each can be purchased from Lynnette Broxson, Pat Seger or Christine Mitchell. Children 5 and under are free - no ticket needed. Children 6-11 are $10 and children 12 and up are $20. Please Purchase tickets by April 30th!

News at Grace Lutheran

Bread for the World Offering of Letters Sunday - MAY 4
As you already know, hunger continues to be a serious problem in the United States and a life-threatening emergency in some parts of the world. One in ten people around the world still go to bed hungry each night, while one in four children under five years old suffers from severe malnutrition. The problem is never that there isn’t enough food to go around, but that it is distributed unevenly. In other words, it’s a “fixable” problem.
The effort to alleviate hunger has been led by Christian communities around the world, including the Lutheran Church, through it’s World Hunger Appeal, under the administration of Lutheran World Relief. Locally, we participate in programs like Feeding America distributions. Every Monday during the school year, Grace volunteers provide food for children from the Sawyer and Gilbert schools, along with the spiritual nourishment of learning in community. And once a month, the Social Ministry team packages and distributes meal kits to people who are food insecure.
But the support of the United States government also is a key factor in fighting hunger. Programs like WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) provide needed support to families in need of supplemental support to keep their children strong and healthy. US aid, funneled through agencies like Lutheran World Relief, has helped bring needed supplies to nations like Haiti and Nicaragua, Sudan and Bangladesh, and in places like Gaza and Ukraine, where war rages. Peace and justice are not possible when basic needs are not met. For US security reasons alone, it is important for us to support these efforts.
As Christians, we have much deeper and more urgent motivation. “For when I was hungry, you gave me food.” (Matthew 25:35)
Bread for the World is a non-partisan organization that has advocated for domestic and global hunger programs for many, many years. It is has enjoyed robust support on both sides of the political aisle. Founded in the 1970’s by Arthur Simon, with the goal of ending hunger through education, coalition-building, and advocacy, Bread for the World organizes an “offering of letters” in congregations throughout the USA, urging members to write letters to congressional representatives in the House and Senate to support pending legislation that will help to feed and clothe people in need. This year, with the new administration resetting government priorities across the board, Bread for the World is asking for letters to support full funding of WIC and global nutrition programs. The letters can be simple and are best if they include something personal, taken from your own experience.
When we meet in May (to be scheduled), before and after worship, we will provide you with everything you need to do that: paper, envelopes, addresses, sample letters, and any coaching you might need to write three letters—to Representative Jack Bergman, Senator Gary Peters, and Senator Elissa Slotkin. It won’t take you long. You can even have cookies and coffee while you write!
These letters from constituents make a difference. And the more genuine and personal they are, the more impact they will have. You can listen to the testimonials from Sen Todd Young (R-Indiana) and Rep Jahana Hayes (D-Connecticut) on the impact of these letters at https://www.bread.org/offering-letters/#how-to.
Please join us in the simple task of writing a letter for the sake of the hungry on May 4th.
--Mikael and Shirlee Leppaluoto, Dave and Arlene Van Kley

News at Grace Lutheran

May Sunday Worship Volunteers
Readers
Communion Assistants
Fellowship Servers

May 4th - Will Browning
May 11th - Arlene Van Kley
May 18th - Karen Nelson
May 25th - Dave Van Kley

May 4th - Arlene Johnson
May 11th - Mary Connors
May 18th - Ray Richard
May 25th - Ruth Forgette

May 4th - Dee Mattson, Shirlee Leppaluoto
May 11th - Gary Connors, Bill Kangas
May 18th - Kim Mooday, Theresa Hruska
May 25th - Barb Contois, Terri Brintlinger

MAY BIRTHDAYS

Reggie Krueger	5/10
Lynn Sykes	5/10
Deb McNabb	5/15
Mike Thompson	5/18
David Kangas	5/19
Sheryl Stiemke	5/21

Mary Stefanski	5/24
Mikael Leppaluoto	5/28
Pastor Jack Busche	5/28
Pete Lake	5/28
Gail Terres	5/29
Bill Koski	5/30

News at Grace Lutheran

News at Grace Lutheran

Grace Lutheran Church
Church Council, 4/16/25
Present: Pastor Jack, Bill Kangas, Dee D’Ambrosia, Ruth Forgette, Bill Koski, Sharon Groff, Paul Makela, Gary Howard, Karen Nelson
Meeting called to order at 3:30 2 p.m. by Bill Koski. Pastor Jack led the invocation.
Agenda approved by Ruth, with 2 items added. Second by Bill Koski, motion carried.
Reviewed 3/25 minutes. Paul noted to add his name as the “nay” vote re: “Bread for the World Campaign” (under New Business in the 3/25 minutes). Motion by Ruth, second by Dee, to approve the 3/25 minutes with that addition. Motion carried
Paul reviewed the financial reports. He made a motion to approve them as they are written. Second by Gray, motion carried.
Correspondence reviewed.
OLD BUSINESS:
Upcoming Holy Week Worship: Reviewed service dates.
Youth Update: There will be a Krispy Kreme Donut Drive for Quake/Campership. VBS will be July 8-10.
Feeding America Update: April 3 was canceled due to a snow storm and is rescheduled to May 15.
Bread for the World - Letter Writing Campaign: Will be held May 5 in Gathering Room.
Range Telecommunications Update: Improvements to sound system were unanimously approved at congregational meeting on 4/6. Wi -Fi network project is complete. Contracts and down payments for all of the projects has been submitted so the rest of the work will be done as soon as possible.
Continued on next page

News at Grace Lutheran

Light on the Pole: Bill Kangas reported there was no response from Wright Electric. He called Code Electric, quote is just over $400, and waiting on quote from housing.
Community Meals at Forsyth Senior Center: Next meal is on 4/23, 5:15-6:15. No volunteers needed. Will promote at church.
New Business:
Request to Borrow Van: Tabled from 3/25 meeting. Messiah would like to borrow our van from 9/20-9/30. Discussed concerns of liability. Motion by Gary, second by Ruth, to say “no.” Motion carried.
A+ Pest Management Quote: Our cleaners, LuAnne and Reggie, are noticing excessive cluster flies. Reviewed quote, which suggests 2 treatments at $300 each in August and September. Motion by Karen, second by Pastor Jack, to approve. Motion carried.
Committee Reports: Worship and Music met and planned worship for May.
Property Committee will meet on 4/28. Finance Committee will meet on 4/24. Stewardship Committee will meet on 5/5.
Council Member Comments: Sharon reported the room with the new heaters is cold! - circuit blew, no heaters/fireplace for heat. Also, the walls have rotting pain and should be re-painted. Discussed room options and plan for action. Will start with everyone on council looking at the room to get their thoughts.
Pastor Jack made a motion to adjourn at 4:51. Second by Ruth, motion carried.
All said The Lord’s Prayer
Next Meeting Wednesday, May 21, at 3:30 PM
Submitted by Karen Nelson

May 2025

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
				1	2 / Hope Circle 10 AM	3
4 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Easter 3	5 / 11 AM Text Study / Kid’s Café 4-6 PM	6 / Quilters – 1 PM	7	8 / Naomi Circle 2 PM / Worship and Music - 3 PM	9	10 / Confirmation at Bethany Republic - / 9 AM - 12 PM
11 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Easter 4 / Mother’s Day	12 / 11 AM Text Study / Kid’s Café 4-6 PM	13 / Meal Kits 9-11 AM / Quilters – 1 PM	14	15 / Synod Assembly	16 / Synod Assembly	17 / Synod Assembly
18 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Easter 5	19 / 11 AM Text Study / Kid’s Café 4-6 PM	20 / Quilters 1 PM	21 / Council 3:30 PM	22	23	24
25 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship / Easter 6	26 / 11 AM Text Study / NO Kid’s Café	27 / Quilters – 1 PM / Teal Lake Service – 2 PM	28	29	30	31

June 2025

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship	2 / 11 AM Text Study	3 / Quilters 1 PM	4	5 / Painting Day / 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	16 / 11 AM Text Study	17 / Quilters – 1 PM	18 / Council 3:30 PM	19	20	21 / Fun Daze Pie Sale
22 / 8:45 AM Bible Study / 10 AM Worship	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	30 / 11 AM Text Study

News at Grace Lutheran

FROM THE BACK PEW
By Mikael Leppaluoto
Do you remember these words from an Elvis song:
Today I looked into yesterday. I went past the years and walked the roads of my past. It felt good to taste the images on my tongue again; to sit and see the ghostly pictures fade in and out like a silent movie.
The mind is such a menagerie of collected thoughts; it remembers penny candy, hula-hoops, and baseball cards on bicycle spokes, but not what the nineteenth amendment says. It can bring up all the lyrics of our favorite hymn, but not the words of our wedding vows. We recall where we were when Kennedy was shot but can’t remember where we left our keys ten minutes ago.
In the recesses of your mind there are hidden corners that have numbers you learned in Algebra class that you probably have never used in your entire lifetime, dark nooks full of angry words spoken to family members, and alcoves containing sins best left forgotten. These stay secluded behind built-up walls.
But when we sit in the quiet, it is best to remind your memory of the sunlit days. Those days when we played “Kick the Can” in the darkening dusk, took nude dips in swirling pools of the Escanaba River, and ate together, as a family, around the supper table after saying a prayer. There is a visual of baked corn golden crisp out of the oven, mother’s cinnamon rolls, or succulent apple slices. I still feel a kiss under a Hawaiian moon and see a happy smile beneath a bride’s veil. I sense again the grasp of a newborn’s fingers, smell the fresh scent of baby powder, and hear the melody of contented laughter. I can almost caress the invisible air and feel a long-gone dog on my lap and am aware of an unseen tongue on my hand.
I think of long forgotten birthdays, family trips across country, and laughs that birthed tears. I remember how important church activities were, visiting with neighbors, and fishing with a stick pole and a bent safety pin. I recollect swinging on a church bell rope (I was 9), searching for pop bottles so I could go to a movie matinee, and running up sand dunes along the Pacific Ocean.
I recall how money was hard to come by, but it didn’t matter then. We occupied ourselves with pick-up ballgames (no adults please), marbles, and riding our bikes to nowhere in particular. In the summer, it was “go out and play but be home by supper!” I’m not sure if “worry” was in our parents’ vocabulary. We trick-or-treated without fear and walked to school in the dark. We hitched rides from strangers and talked politely to adults.
As you welcome the warm days of summer, sit a moment, relax, and contemplate your own “rainbows and kittens.” Give thanks to God for all the glorious memories He has given you in your journey through Life. His gifts are many; His treasures are numerous. “We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our past treasures.”

June 1at -
June 8th -
June 15th -
June 22nd -
June 29th -

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

Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine.”

“Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind.