From the Pastor’s Desk

Satan's arsenal of lies is endless. Here's another common, but deadly lie that he aims at our hearts, this time targeting the procrastinator living inside of us! "YOU CAN WAIT AND PROCRASTINATE CONCERNING SPIRITUAL MATTERS!"

His main thrust goes like this: "Physical needs are more pressing, more urgent, more visible, more practical, more interesting, more exciting, more fulfilling right here, right now, today! Spiritual needs and concerns will just have to wait for a later date!"

Satan's blatant goal is to get us to put off spiritual planning and preparations so that we never get around to them and then it's too late. He wants us to live and die in unbelief and end up spending eternity in hell with him! That's his evil plot and plan!

The devil slyly works within us the assumption that faith is like a light switch that we can turn off and on as we see the need. If our world is bright and cheery, and the road ahead appears smooth and carefree, who needs faith? But when things are growing dark and bumpy and uncertain, then that's the time to flip the "faith switch" ON!

That makes sense! But it's dead wrong and fatal! That is not the way faith works, nor is it the way life operates! My most vivid example to counter this "wait and procrastinate" lie of the devil is the report of a horrendous passenger jet crash in which only a handful of people survived and hundreds perished. Those who survived reported hearing their fellow passengers yelling out curses and profanities as the plane plummeted. In other words, people will die as they lived! They will not flip on faith in the midst of a disaster as if it's a light switch! Disease, disaster, destruction and even death itself knocking on the door do not make believers out of anyone! That is the truth!

True faith, saving faith is created in human hearts through the Gospel in the Word and Sacraments! True and saving faith is maintained in human hearts through the Gospel in the Word and Sacraments! Faith is a miracle of the Holy Spirit as from the Word he points out our sin and leads us to trust in Jesus for full and free forgiveness! So, today is the day to be in the Word! Today is the day to focus first on Jesus and his life, death and resurrection!

The truth is: It is dangerous and deadly to wait and procrastinate concerning spiritual matters!

The truth is: "Look, now is the favorable time! See, now is the day of salvation!" (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Blessings on your day,
Pastor Bare

Worship Update

Greeters for this month:

Altar Committee for this month:
Kim Kilborn

Congregational Acts

Baptism
Kayson Morris, 4/19/26 -son of Karissa Hoggard and Austin Morris

Entered Eternal Life
Bonnie (Miller) Reinhardt, 4/21/26

Bible Classes

Our Saturday night/Sunday morning Bible classes will pause for the summer beginning May 24th. Our Wednesday Bible Classes will pause beginning May 27th

Event Committee

The deadline to order projects for our Ceramic Craft Day, on Saturday, May 16th, has been extended! Projects must be paid for in advance; deadline to order is now May 6th. (A poster showing the available projects can be found at the end of this newsletter.) The event will run from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm. This is open to everyone, ages 6 and up; children must be accompanied by an adult. Paints and brushes will be provided to use. To place your order, envelopes are on the hall table. If paying by check, please make checks payable to: Jaymi Lefevre.

Mark your calendar! Our annual outdoor service/picnic is planned for Sunday, June 28th, at Williams Township Park in Auburn. Watch for more information.

Join us on a trip to the Lilac Festival on Mackinac Island. We will meet in the Meijer parking lot in Bay City on the morning of Wednesday, June 10th or Thursday, June 11th. $169/person includes: ferry ride to Mackinac Island, luncheon at the Grand Hotel, and free time to explore downtown Mackinac Island. This trip fill up fast fills up fast so sign up early! To sign up, or for more information, contact the Beyond Horizons Tour and Travel: 989-770-7077.

Other Announcements

Pastor Call update: Pastor Tyler Shinnick has returned the call to serve as our next Pastor. It was decided at the Voters’ meeting on April 28th to go to the Assignment Committee and ask for a graduate. The Call Day livestream begins at 11:00 am (our time) on Thursday, May 21st.

Ascension Service: St. Bartholomew, Kawkawlin, will host this year’s Ascension service for the area WELS churches on Thursday, May 14th at 6:30 pm with Holy Communion. Troy Schreiner, Dean of Students at MLS, will be preaching. A joint choir is also being formed. A rehearsal will be held at St. Bartholomew on Sunday, May 12th, 6:30 pm.

Classroom Spotlight

We would like to share with you what is ‘happening’ in our school, so each month we will feature one of our classrooms and teacher. This month’s classroom spotlight is on our 3-year-old Preschool and their teacher, Laurie Peil.

School News

Teacher Calls update: the revised calls extended to our teachers, Mrs. Megan Spaude and Miss Emma Schleicher, have been accepted. We are blessed to have them here for our 2026-2027 school year.

Financial Aid applications for the 2026-2027 school year are due back by May 28th. Copies are available in both the school and church offices.

Our School's Spring Show, put on by our Kindergarten through 4th grade students, will be this Friday, May 8th, beginning at 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Enjoy some concession snacks while you watch the performance! Concessions will be offered by our Home & School Connect committee with proceeds going to our school’s music program.

Graduation dates: We ask God’s continued blessings on our students and look forward to seeing many of their smiling faces next year at St. Johns! Preschool and Kindergarten Graduation will be on May 17th: 3-year-old at 12:00 noon; 4-year-old at 2:00 pm; Kindergarten at 4:30 pm. The Eighth-Grade Graduation Service will be held in church on Friday, May 29th at 6:00 pm; grades K-8 will be singing.

M.A.L.L. League Track Meet, for grades 1-8, will be held at Garber High School in Essexville on Friday, May 22nd, starting at 9:00 am. Come cheer on our school!

The MLS Track Meet will be held on Wednesday, May 28th, at Cardinal Field. Come cheer on our 5th–8th graders as they participate in races and field events! Events begin at 10:00 am.

Last Day of School/Picnic is Thursday, May 28th. Once all the lockers and desks have been cleaned out, school will be dismissed and we will go to Williams Township Park, 1080 W. Midland Rd., Auburn, for our school picnic. A Hotdog lunch will be provided.

St. John’s Summer Basketball Camp is planned for July 8th & 9th. Watch for more information!

Preschool packets for the 2026/2027 school year available in the church and school offices.

MLS News

Registration for MLS Summer Camps is now open! These camps offer a fun, faith-filled environment where young athletes and artists can develop their skills, build teamwork, and grow in confidence. With outstanding facilities and a dedicated staff, each camp provides a high-quality and rewarding experience for every participant.

Camp offerings include Fine Arts, Basketball, Football (including a Father/Son clinic), and Volleyball, with options available for a variety of age groups. Registration deadline is May 31st . Visit www.mlsem.org to register secure your child’s spot.

MLS is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 school year. If you have an 8th grader about to enter high school, or a high school student interested in transferring, visit mlsem.org and click Apply! For any questions, please reach out to admissions@mlsem.org.

Check This Out!

Camp Lor-Ray Kids’ Camp 2026 is about sneaking away from technology and stepping into God’s creation to learn more about the WORD in fellowship. The camp’s property, located just north of Muskegon, MI, consists of 165 forested acres and includes an outdoor chapel overlooking a private, 15 acre manmade lake.

Registration for Kids' Camp is here! Sessions include 1st-3rd grade (July 5th-8th), 4th-6th (July 12th-17th) and 7th-9th (July 19th-24th). The cost is as follows: 1st-3rd Grade: $274. 4th-6th and 7th-9th Grade: $349. Contact the Kids’ Camp Superintendent/Coordinator at camplorray@gmail.com with questions or concerns when registering your camper. You can find the camper registration form on our website: camplor-ray.org

Church Council Notes: 11/11/25

The meeting was called to order by President Larry Schwartz at 6:30 pm
Pastor Bare led us in devotion and prayer.
The minutes of the March 2026 council meeting were read and accepted.

Pastors Report – Pastor Bare

• Pastor handed out a report that had an update on Shut in Calls, Bible Classes, and meetings he attended.

Elders Report – read by Luke Stehle

• No changes in Membership.

• Joint Ascension Service with area Churches and held at St B’s May 14th.

• Working on a program to get Shut-ins to a Church Service.

• Events Committee will be doing a Craft Bazaar in October.

• Elders are reviewing an updated Membership Listing.

• Elders report was approved as read.

Trustees Report – read by Matt Pretzer

• Trustees did a workday on April 19th

• Looking at putting a visible strip on the Altar steps so people can see there is a step.

• Working on bids to refinish the gym floor.

• Reviewing jobs that need to be done at the two houses we own.

• Working on updating the sound system in the Church Auditorium downstairs.

• Report was approved as read.

Board of Education Report – read by Rusty Rothfuss

• Emma Schleicher and Megan Spaude have accepted their Calls to teach next School Year.

• On April 30th there will be a Parents’ Meeting to go over next school year and answer any questions parents might have. Everyone is invited.

• The school calendar for the next school year is planned out and accepted.

• Registration packets going out.

• May 8th School Spring Show.

• May 12th School Field Trip to Loons.

• May 13th—15th Upper Grades Mackinaw Trip.

• May 18th & 19th Upper Grades to Camp Timbers.

• Report was accepted as read.

Treasurer’s Report – read by Larry Schwartz

• A Copy is attached to these minutes.

• Report was accepted as read

Old Business

• None

New Business

• Approved information to be sent into Synod to ask for a Pastor assigned from the Seminary.

• Meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm with the Lord’s Prayer.

A Look Back…
Confirmation Anniversaries

2016 - 10 years (Youth - Pastor Paul Schaewe; Adult - Pastor Paul Schweppe)

Youth: Emily Berchem, Cole Broekhuizen, Taylor Johnson, Kara Reed, Kayla Reed, Benjamin Schaaf, Joseph Smith, Isaiah Tarrant, Uliana Wingeier

Adult: Rachel Gillham, Jason Lee

2001 - 25 years (Pastor Paul Schweppe)

Youth: Stephanie Blank, Stephanie Crabtree, Jamie Dahlquist, Kyle DeShone, Michael Haas, Brooke Hammerbacher, Brandon Lefevre, Corey Martek, Eric Merkle, Drew Perkins, Justin Royal, Ryan Schmidt, Simon Schweppe, Kylee Strieter, Matthew Wall

Adult: Elissa Bennentt, Ralph Smith, Heather Ulman, Randy Gassman, Irene Gassman, Jason Jones, Nicole Jones, Kenneth Schultz, Justine Priem

1976 - 50 years (Pastor John Brenner)

Youth: Darby Begick, Wendy Heinz, Neal Joitke, Ruth Koeplin, Janne Krueger, Jeanne Krueger, Matthew Lechner, Katherine Lentz, Wayne Marsh, Brian Merkle, Ricky Neetz, Cheryl Oswald, Deborah Peterson, Brian Richter, Lori Rowell, Karen Schrenk, Patricia Smith, Susan Steeby, Sue Waldbauer, John Wheeler, Martin Witkop

Adult: Robert Graham, Jan Hughes, Leonard Righter, Loretta Strieter, Nancy Sturm, Darrell Thompson, Patricia Thompson

1951 - 75 years (Youth - Pastor J. Vogt; Adult - Pastor Adelbert Westendorf)

Youth: Richard Freier, Carl Miller, Norman Smith, Timothy Thurau, Eugene Rothfuss, James Fugerer, Daryl Haberland, William Hoffman, Arthur Joitke, Rollin Westendorf, Gerald Schuster, Maurice Witzke, James Obermiller, Ronald Smith, William Seidenstucker, Janet Ertel, Marlene Obermiller, Charlotte Rapelse, Marlene Reinhardt, Marietta Meyer, Larry Loll, Lois Fogelsinger, Bonnie Sloan, Katherine Fogelsinger, Nancy Kirchoffer

Adult: Leo Bailey, Jr., Arthur Crook, Floyd Hughes, Richard Moyer, William Ritterscamp, Vannel Slates, Olive Giese, Maud Kloha, Edna Schindehette, Betty Schwerin, Virginia Tober