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May 2016 The Visitor
The Visitor - May 2016 A Publication of St. James Lutheran
Church, 4425 South Jackson Rd. Jackson MI 49201 (517) 782-8297
http://www.stjameslutheran.com
[email protected]@google.com
Christ is Risen. He is Risen Indeed! It is still Easter. We
continue to observe Easter for eight weeks after Easter day, all
the way up to Pentecost, which is May 15 for this year. It is hard
for us to remember that we are still in the Easter season once we
are past the day. But, there are signs around us which serve as
reminders to us that we have not left the Easter season, yet. The
liturgical color for Easter is white. Therefore, the stole that I
wear on Sunday mornings is still white and the decorations in the
church are still white.
My question is…how are we doing at living as Easter people? I
wouldn’t be too surprised if some of you, or maybe even if a lot of
you, were to say…not too good. There are many days when that would
be my answer, also. Our human condition sometimes dictates that we
fall back to Good Friday, far too often and far too quickly.
We love the festivities of Easter. We love the message of
Easter, that the tomb is empty. We love the transformative message
that with new life in Christ, we too, have new life. We love the
hope the message brings to our lives and the promise we are given.
But, before not too long, the shadows of the cross begin to return.
We face the challenges of the days. We worry about our jobs, homes,
family, health, and what is occurring in the world around us.
Metaphorically, we are faced with crucifixion Friday all over
again.
We are to remember that Jesus told us “I will be with you
always.” We are free to live as Easter people, able to trust that
we do not walk alone. And, it takes practice to hold onto the good
news of Easter and live as Easter people…resurrected people.
The stone is rolled away; the tomb is empty. It is our truth as
Christians; it is our truth to live into. Christ is Risen. He is
risen, indeed!
Pastor Martha
http://www.stjameslutheran.comhttps://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjno43-iNfLAhWERiYKHUujC90QjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrsandrabontemps.com%2F&bvm=bv.117218890,d.eWE&psig=AFQjCNEhHJ4lov887ND6y9OcGq__mg8F9Q&ust=1458831489440317
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May 2016 The Visitor
05/08 Sydney Ernst
05/20 Bob Jaeger
05/27 Tom Gaffney
05/27 Carol Wilson
05/29 Kristi Laird
05/29 Linda Rasmussen
05/08 David & Kristi Laird (23rd)
05/17 Paul & Terri Swihart (42nd)
05/21 Neil & Melinda Robb (50th)
05/28 Dave & Laura Trombley
Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 22nd!
The meeting will take place following worship. We will discuss
council
reports and elect council members and officers for
2016-2017.
Please make every effort to attend.
Council Members: Please have your reports in to the office no
later
than Monday, May 9th!
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May 2016 The Visitor
WE WILL WORSHIP this month with the residents of Summit Park
Assisted Living Center on Sunday, May 22nd at 2:00 p.m.
On May 1, we will explore the life of Judas. He is known as the
betrayer. What were his motives and did Jesus
know that he would betray him? This will be the last Sunday
School for this school year. Mother's Day is May 8. Pentecost is
May 15 and the Congregation meeting is May 22. The next weekend is
Memorial Day and we are going head long into summer.
THURSDAY STUDY GROUP: The Thursday Study group will be finishing
up The Thirteen Apostles by J. Ellsworth Kalas on May 9th at 1:30
pm in the sanctuary. The last apostles will be St. Jude and St.
Mathias. St. Jude had several different names. Most Bible scholars
believe his name was Judas. You might go by Jude if you were in a
group with Judas Iscariot. Once in the Bible he is listed as
'Judas, not Iscariot'. He is also known by Thaddeus. Was he a
shepherd boy in the Christmas story? The last apostle is Mathias,
the man chosen to replace Judas. What was his role after Pentecost
and why was he chosen to be an apostle? This has been an
interesting study and has helped us to see that Jesus chose all
kinds of people for his band of Twelve.
WE ARE ASKING for you to bring red flowers to worship with you
that Sunday and help us celebrate the presence of the Holy Spirit
in worship. Please take your flowers
home with you after the service. Don’t forget to wear
flame-colored clothing on that day too!
Join our Dining Out group on Thursday, May 19th at Texas
Roadhouse 1051 Boardman Road, Jackson, MI 49202 517-788-9066 We
have fun and fellowship and want you to join us! It’s also another
way for you to check out a new restaurant. PUB THEOLOGY is a small
group ministry that tackles questions of faith and life in an
informal atmosphere. This month meet at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, May 3rd
and 17th at Grand River Marketplace. 117 W. Louis Glick Highway,
Jackson. We have the pleasure of having other faith-denominations
join us and the conversation is always lively and informative. FOOD
WARRIORS: Hospitalized, had a death in the family or some other
life event? Would it be easier for you if you didn’t have to cook a
meal? Contact St. James Food Warriors Chairman, Pam Thomas, at
517-795-9375 or [email protected] and we’ll cook a meal and
deliver it to you. NOISY OFFERING: Thank you for your Noisy
Offering on Sunday, April 17th. We are able to donate $80.29 to The
Jackson Interfaith Shelter. Our next Noisy Offering will be on
Sunday, May 15th and will be designated to the Food Pantry. Don’t
forget to bring your loose change to church with you!
WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
OUTREACH
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May 2016 The Visitor
FOOD PANTRY NEWS: Neither rain nor sleet, nor 4 inches of Spring
time snow can keep us from our duties at the Immanuel Food Pantry!
Due to the unexpected winter conditions, the number of people at
the food pantry was less than normal. We started early, 9:20 am and
sent half our crew home at 10:30 am, the rest of us stayed till the
mandatory 11:30 am, serving 181 families all together and 9
Immanuel volunteers. We had fun fruit for the kids, and Jim Mure
had his stuffed animals for the little ones to take home. The Bread
and Cake room opened a big box of cookies for all the workers to
share, and poof! Before you knew it, we were done and headed home.
Our hearts happy knowing that we were of some service to our God.
Thank you to each and everyone of you, St. James and Immanuel
alike. And last but not least, we cannot begin to thank our
congregation for bringing in the FLATTENED GROCERY BAGS. You cannot
believe how very much they are appreciated by the baggers. In
Christ's service, DeAnna & Becky LITTLE DRESSES FOR AFRICA Will
continue collecting pillowcases and material indefinitely. We also
collect and send boys shorts with the dresses if you have any.
Awesome job everyone! St. James made a total of
190 dresses for this very worthy cause with only a few sewers.
Thank you so much for your compassion and outreach!
We are collecting used glasses for the Lions Club. There is a
box above the coat rack for you to put them in. We are also
collecting used printer cartridges with a donation box on
the coat rack. The empty cartridges will be sent to the Cascades
Humane Society to be turned into cash for their animals care. Thank
you.
GRADUATING THIS YEAR? No matter if it’s high school or college,
we would like to know! Contact the church office via email: at
[email protected] or call the church office at:
517-782-8297. If you graduating from high school, please let us
know the school you’re graduating from, the college you plan to
attend and your major. Graduates from college, please provide us
with your major and the college where you will graduate.
Life Changes meets the 3rd Monday of the Month at 1:00 p.m. So
this month we meet Monday, May 16th at St. James. Lots of things
change as we grow older. Let’s do it together.
“If at first you
don’t succeed,
do it like your
mother told
you.”
—Author unknown
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
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May 2016 The Visitor
Servant List - May & June 2016
May 1 May 8 May 15 May 22 May 29
Greeter(s) Chris Zebarah Ida Anderson Bill & Joyce
Anderson
Nancy Degryse Tom & JoAnne
Gaffney
Ushers Neil & Melinda
Robb
Ken Zebarah &
Chuck Thor
Jim Souder &
Joyce Anderson
John Reynolds &
Roy Kelly
Neil & Melinda
Robb
Acolyte Help Needed Help Needed Help Needed Help Needed Help
Needed
Assisting Minister
Susan Thornton Deb Schroeder DeAnna
McMillin
John Niehaus Pat Reynolds
Reader Laura Trombley Joyce Anderson Becky Stevick Help Needed
Help Needed
Projectionist Karen Dale &
Pam Thomas
Susan Thornton
& Karen Dale
Tim Ernst &
Susan Thornton
Kristi Laird &
Chloe Laird
Tim Ernst &
Susan Thornton
Fellowship
Time
Ken & Chris
Zebarah
Andrea & John
Niehaus
Pam Thomas Help Needed Help Needed
Counters Mike King & Pat
Reynolds
Jim Souder &
Mike King
Kristi Laird &
Sarah Tackett
Matt Schroeder
& Karen Dale
Mike King & Pat
Reynolds
Altar Care Andrea Niehaus Andrea Niehaus Andrea Niehaus Andrea
Niehaus Andrea Niehaus
June 5 June 12 June 19 June 26
Greeter(s) Roy & Lois Kelly DeAnna McMillin Neil &
Melinda Robb Deb & Matt
Schroeder
Ushers Ken Zebarah &
Chuck Thor
Jim Souder &
Joyce Anderson
John Reynolds &
Roy Kelly
Neil & Melinda
Robb
Acolyte Help Needed Help Needed Help Needed Help Needed
Assisting
Minister Susan Thornton DeAnna McMillin John Niehaus Laura
Trombley
Reader Becky Stevick Laura Trombley Help Needed Help Needed
Projectionist Tim Ernst &
Karen Dale
Tim Ernst &
Karem Dale
Susan Thornton &
Karen Dale
Kristi Laird &
Chloe Laird
Fellowship Time Help Needed Help Needed Help Needed Help
Needed
Counters Mike King &
Pat Reynolds
Jim Souder &
Mike King
Kristi Laird &
Sara Tackett
Mat Schroeder &
Karen Dale
Altar Care Pam Thomas Pam Thomas Pam Thomas Pam Thomas
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May 2016 The Visitor
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 9:00 AM Worship 3:30 PM Confirmation Class at St. James
2
3 8:00 AM Golf at Concord Hills 8:00 AM Tuesdays with the Men at
Bone Island Grill 7:00 PM Pub Theology
4 11:45 AM Fellowship meet-ing at Cracker Barrel 2:00 PM Br idge
Club 7:00 PM Choir Practice
5
6
7 10:00 AM Tech Team Meeting
8 9:00 AM Worship
9 9:00 AM Prayer Shawl/Knitting Group 6:00 PM Church Council
Meeting
10 8:00 AM Golf at Hill's Heart O' the Lakes 8:00 AM Tuesdays
with the Men at Bone Island Grill
11 7:00 PM Choir Practice
12 1:30 PM Thurs-day Study Group
13
14 9:00 AM Immanuel Food Pantry
15 Noisy Offering 9:00 AM Worship’
16 1:00 PM Life Changes
17 8:00 AM Golf at Arbor Hills 8:00 AM Tuesdays with the Men at
Bone Island Grill 7:00 PM Pub Theology
18 6:00 PM - Worship/Music Comm. Mtg. 7:00 PM Choir Practice
19 6:30 PM Dining Out at Texas Roadhouse
20 Newsletter Deadline
21
22 9:00 AM Worship 10:00 AM Semi-Annual Meeting 2:00 PM Summit
Park Worship Service
23
24 8:00 AM Golf at Hickory Hills 8:00 AM Tuesdays with the Men
at Bone Island Grill
25 7:00 PM Choir Practice
26
27 7:15 AM Outreach Committee Mtg.
28
29 9:00 AM Worship
30 9:00 AM Women's Break-fast at Denny's
31 8:00 AM Golf at Pine Hollow 8:00 AM Tuesdays with the Men at
Bone Island Grill
SYNOD ASSEMBLY
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May 2016 The Visitor
“We are a grace-centered Community of faith that
seeks to know Christ and make Him known.”
Worship with us:
Sundays at 9:00 a.m. – Worship Service with Holy Communion,
Childcare Provided
Staff Listing:
Pastor Martha Porter-Reid
Tonia Zanger Parish Administrator
Jim Skrocki Organist
JoAnne Gaffney Choir Director
Kathy Krafft Nursery Attendant
Jan Lehman and Robin Vogel Custodians
Pam Thomas Newsletter Editor
St. James Lutheran Church 4425 South Jackson Rd. Jackson, MI
49201 ______________________ We’re on the Web!
Visit us at:\
http://www.stjameslutheran.com
_________________________________
http://www.stjameslutheran.com
