From the Pastor’s Desk

God's Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. (Psalm 119:105)

We will be starting a new season of Bible study as school resumes and we begin our fall schedule at St. John's.

For the first twelve weeks (beginning the week of September 14th) we will have a Bible Information Class on Wednesdays at 10:00 am and 7:00 pm. The same class could be held on another day or time depending on the schedules of those who would like to enroll. This class covers all the main Bible teachings and is useful as a refresher course for current members or as a path to membership for those who are contemplating the possibility of becoming confirmed, communicant members of St. John's.

Here is the table of contents for this course:

1) The True God and How We Come to Know Him

2) The Way of Salvation

3) The Means of Grace

4) Trouble Spots

5) Creation

6) Redemption

7) Sanctification

8) The Commandments

9) Worship Life

10) Prayer Life

11) End of Life, End of World, Endless Eternity

12) God's Promises--Our Strength in Life and in Death

Please enroll for this class by calling or emailing St. John's by Friday, September 11th. And please share this information with family members or friends who might be interested in studying God's Word with the thought of becoming members!

Also, please note that I will not be offering a separate weekend Bible study at this time until we know when an additional BIC class may need to be scheduled.

The Lord keep you in His love!

Pastor Bare

Worship Update

Greeters for this month:

Altar Committee for this month:
Rachel Merkle

Congregational Acts

Transfer In, 8/11/26

Pastor James & Patricia Bare, from Bethel, Bay City

Transfer Out, 8/11/26

Matthew & Jessica Rossow and children: Callie, Mackenzie, Tyler to St. Bartholomew, Kawkawlin

Emily (Rothfuss) Main to Divine Grace, Lake Orion

Release, 8/11/26

Candy Adair and children: Louis, Olivia, Nadia, Dio to Faith Lutheran (LCMS), Bay City

Thank you...

...to everyone who shared their favorite hymns for our special service on August 29th & 30th. A total of 79 Hymns were submitted, receiving a total of 212 votes. Here are the top 20:

Choir News

Sing with The Sanctuary Choir! Another season of choir is upon us. This year, there is more than one way you can sing in choir. There will be two choirs that you can sign up for. The first is the main choir that will sing for most of the special services throughout the church year. That choir will be singing in 2 to 3 parts. If you struggle with learning parts, but are interested in giving it a try, learning tracks will be made available for you to use at home in order to practice.

The other choir will be a cantor group which will be used to introduce new hymns or to help reinforce hymns that are not quite familiar yet. That choir will not be expected to sing in parts. These choir members will be notified ahead of time when they are needed for a particular service. Rehearsal time will be quite minimal in comparison to the choir that sings for special services. And of course you can sign up to be in both choirs!

Like last year, we are not asking for a year-long commitment. We invite singers (high school age and up) to volunteer for which services they are able to sing in. A schedule of services and a simple interest form are available in the narthex. There will be an informative Welcome Meeting for all interested singers on Sunday, October 11th, at 8:45 am, with a short rehearsal to follow. Feel free to contact the director, Amanda Perkins, at Manders2104@gmail.com. Come and make a joyful noise with us!

Event Committee

Church Outdoor Service/Potluck: September 12th, at the Bay City State Park. Come out and enjoy our potluck on Saturday, at 5:00 pm. We will be at Shelters 1 & 2 ; table service and drinks will be provided. All you need to bring is a dish to pass and a lawn chair. Our Saturday night church service will follow the picnic and begin at 6:00 pm. So we know how many to set up for, please sign up on the sheet outside the church office or call the office: 989-684-6791.

Join us for our Fall Bazaar on Saturday, October 3rd. This will be held at St. John’s in our Fellowship Hall. Watch for more information!

Other Announcements

St. John’s participated in the National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4th, at Bay City’s Wenona Park. What an amazing turnout! We were able to hand out information about our church and school to so many people. We also had gift bags for the children who visited our table. An average of 1,500 people attended the event and we look forward to participating again next year.

Pastor Call: Pastor Benjamin Workentine has returned the call to serve at St. John’s. The date for the next call meeting has not yet been set.

Each month we will have several copies available of the Synod's monthly magazine, Forward in Christ, and the quarterly devotion book, Meditations (regular and large print). You will find them on the Usher’s stand and on the table outside the church office. Please take a copy for yourself and/or for someone you know who might enjoy reading these magazines.

School News

The School Opening Chapel Service will be on the first day of school, Monday, August 31st, at 8:30 am. Everyone is invited to join us! This year’s school theme: Shine, Jesus, Shine!

• Grades K-6 will be dismissed at noon on Monday, August 31st.

• No school on Friday, September 4th and 7th, Labor Day Break

• Kindergarten will be in session on Tuesday, September 8th.

• Four-Year-Old Preschool begins on Monday, September 14th

• Three-Year-Old Preschool begins on Tuesday, September 15th.

Church Council Notes

The meeting was called to order by President Larry Schwartz at 6:30 pm.

Pastor Bare led us in devotion and prayer.

The minutes from the June 2026 council meeting were accepted as read.

Elders Report – read by Luke Stehle

• Change in membership:

- Emily Main (Rothfuss) transferred to Divine Grace, Lake Orion, MI

- Matthew and Jessica Rossow with children- transferred to St. Bartholomew’s

- Pastor and Patricia Bare transferring in from Bethel

• Release of membership

- Candy Adair with children – going to Faith Lutheran

• We are looking at starting an encouragement committee. This is to send ‘thank you’ and different types of cards or notes that offer encouragement as needed

• Pastor Bare is looking to start a BIC class

• We are looking at getting a live stream schedule established.

• The favorite hymn service will happen the end of August

• Bay City State Park potluck and service will be on September 12th

• Elders report was approved as read.

Pastors Report – read by Pastor Bare

• A copy of Pastors report is attached to these minutes.

Trustees Report – read by Matt Pretzer

• We have the security system upgrades under way

• Work has been done on both parsonages

• Various repairs and updates have been done around church and school

• Pastor’s office was repainted

• Report was approved as read

Board of Education Report – read by Rusty Rothfuss

• The teachers are well prepared for the upcoming school year

• The back-to-school night was 8/10/26

• Kevin Needham met with the teachers

• Report was accepted as read

Treasurer’s Report – read by Larry Schwartz

• A Copy is attached to these minutes.

• Report was accepted as read

• All reports were accepted as read.

Old Business

• There was no old business

New Business

• We will send a thank you to family for the recent memorial that St. John’s was gifted.

• We were approved for a match fund for the LES. The amount was for $25,000 which needs to be matched through the church. A motion was made that we take the match amount out of the estate gift we were given. This will give us $50,000 for student aid. It was moved and supported, motion carried.

• We applied for a grant for a security system for church and school that was declined. We are looking to pull from the estate gift to pay for the updated security system. This should be under $40,000. A motion was made to take the money from the estate gift to pay for the security system. It was moved and supported, motion carried.

• We are getting a bid for work to be done on the parsonages. No decisions are being made at this time.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:45 pm with the Lord’s Prayer

MLS News

MLS Host Family Needed: For more than four decades, Michigan Lutheran Seminary has been blessed to welcome international students from around the world. Through this ministry, students receive a Christ-centered education while growing in faith, preparing for lives of service, and building relationships that often extend far beyond their years at MLS. Many international alumni have continued their education at Martin Luther College and gone on to serve in the public ministry, a powerful reflection of our mission: Encouraging for Ministry. Equipping for Life.

As we begin the 2026–27 school year, we have an urgent need for one more host family for a female international student from China. Host families provide a caring, Christian home during longer school breaks when the dormitory is closed and may also welcome students for occasional weekends throughout the year. Compensation is provided to help offset costs. If you or someone you know would be willing to open your home and share Christ’s love with an international student, please contact President Mark Luetzow at mtl@mlsem.org or Dean Melissa LaBair at mjl@mlsem.org. One family can make a lasting difference in the life of a student, and in this important ministry of MLS.

2026 Jr. Cardinals Flag Football Registration is Open! Registration is officially open for the 2026 Jr. Cardinals Flag Football season! Students in grades 1–5 from WELS/ELS churches and schools are invited to join us from September 9th through October 17th at Michigan Lutheran Seminary. Coached by members of the MLS JV and Varsity teams, players will focus on skill development and teamwork during Wednesday evening practices (5:45–6:30 p.m.) and Saturday morning games (9:30–11:30 a.m.). The $45 Early Bird registration rate is available through August 31st ($50 from September 1–8), and every player receives an official game jersey and mouth guard. Mark your calendars for Skills Drills on September 9th, the first practice on September 12th, and a special halftime recognition at the MLS varsity football game on October 23rd!

The final deadline to register is September 8th. To sign up and review the concussion waiver, visit www.mlsem.org. For any questions, please contact Michael Priebe at mdp@mlsem.org.

MLS Homecoming Football Game: Please join us for the 2026 MLS Homecoming football game on Friday, September 25th, as the Cardinals take on Nouvel Catholic Central! Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Come out and celebrate Homecoming, cheer on the Cardinals, and enjoy an exciting night of football and fellowship with the MLS family!

MLS Foundation News

We’re excited to share upcoming events with you and your congregations. Your support of Christian education means so much, and we want to keep you connected to what’s happening. We hope these updates help you and your congregants stay informed, involved, and encouraged as we look to the months ahead. For more information, and to register for any of these events, please visit our website: https://mls-foundation.org/

Eberhardt Society Informational Dinner: The MLS Foundation is making plans for the Eberhardt Society Informational Dinner on Sunday, September 13th, at the Trillium Banquet Center in Saginaw.

The Eberhardt Society honors individuals who have chosen to support Michigan Lutheran Seminary through a planned gift, such as a bequest in a will or trust, a beneficiary designation, or another estate-planning arrangement. The society is named for Rev. and Mrs. Eberhardt, whose gift of the land on which MLS still stands provided a lasting foundation for the school's ministry. Today, Eberhardt Society members continue that legacy by helping ensure that future generations of students can receive a Christ-centered education.

Whether you are already a member of the Eberhardt Society or would simply like to learn more about how planned giving can support the mission and future of MLS, we would like to invite you to join us for an evening of fellowship, dinner, and information. If you're interested, please RSVP by September 7th.

Cornhole Fun! Join us for a fun cornhole tournament on Sunday, September 27th, at Tri-City Brewing in Bay City, to benefit the programs of the MLS Foundation! Register in advance to secure your spot; registration closes on September 20th.

Light Up a Student’s Life: Each November & December, Light Up a Student’s Life offers a meaningful way to honor someone special while supporting students at Michigan Lutheran Seminary. With a gift of $20 or more, a light will shine on our Christmas tree in your loved one’s honor or memory, and we’ll send them—or their family—a card letting them know of your thoughtful gift. Your support helps provide financial assistance to MLS students and makes Christ-centered education more accessible to families. Watch for more information, coming soon!

In the Area

Pastor Larry Seafert will be celebrating 30 years in ministry this year on Sunday, September 13th. His 30-year journey has touched many. If you would like to send your congratulations by card, please use the following address: St. Bartholomew Lutheran Church, Attn: Pastor Larry Seafert, P. O. Box 357, Kawkawlin, MI 48631

Saginaw Valley Lutheran Chorale rehearsals begin September 20th. The Chorale welcomes all confirmed WELS/ELS members to join them to prepare for a concert of sacred music to be presented on December 12th & 13th. Weekly rehearsals begin on Sunday, September 20th, 6:30-8:00 pm at Michigan Lutheran Seminary. New voices are always welcome!