A Note from Pastor Bare

It takes a good memory or a smart phone to remember dates and times and scheduled events. (Kronos) But it takes wisdom, understanding, and guidance from God to know when it’s best to do something. (Kairos) Of course, I’m thinking of trickier, far more complicated matters than planting a garden or sending the kids off to bed.

Ecclesiastes 3 has quite a list of kairos activities for us to contemplate:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. — Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Of course, the first activities on the list “a time to be born and a time to die” are entirely in God’s hands, not ours. It is comforting to know that God chose the right time for us to be born and He will choose the right time for us to die. And as we live out our lives under His grace and peace, we ask Him for wisdom to always do the right thing at the right time for the right reason, to our Creator and Redeemer’s praise!

(Third in a series on “Our Use of God’s Gift of Time”)

~ Pastor J. Bare

Worship Update

Thanksgiving Service: At the Voters’ Meeting held on Sunday, October 26th , it was decided that we will only have one Thanksgiving Service and it will be held on Wednesday, November 26th, at 6:00 pm. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courtyards with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.” (Psalm 100:4)

Greeters for this month:

Altar Committee for November
Gretchen Trumble

Congregational Acts
Baptism, October 26, 2025
Jett Jordan Strieter, son of Jordan & Casandra (Rinas) Strieter

Bible Classes

Our weekend classes are starting a new series: “Plaque-worthy Bible Quotes”. We meet on Saturday night after church, 7:15 pm, and Sunday morning before church at 9:00 am. Our Wednesday Bible classes are continuing their study on 1 John. We meet at 10:00 am and 7:00 pm. Come join us; we’d love to see you!

Event Group

Thank you to everyone who helped with our “Parents’ Night Out”. The children enjoyed a pizza dinner, snacks, and several fun activities (like dunking for apples) while their parents had 3 hours of free babysitting! This went over so well! We can’t wait to do it again.

Other Announcements

Our annual Harvest Fest is quickly approaching! This year’s event is planned for Sunday, November 9th. A potluck luncheon will start after the 10:00 am Worship Service. Baked chicken is being provided by Home & School Connect. Non-school families attending are asked to bring a dessert, while school families will provide hot and cold side dishes. 5th – 8th graders will be providing entertainment. Come and enjoy some great fun and fellowship! Please let us know if you will be coming by signing up on the sheets outside the church office.

Church Christmas Decorate – will be Saturday, November 29th, 9:00 – 11:30 am. Again, we will have a “To-Do” list of what needs to be done to decorate around church. We will especially need a couple of “ladder-climbers” to help decorate the trees. But we will have plenty to do for everyone. Please, consider coming and helping out!

Coming up in December

Bake Sale: The Event Committee will be hosting a Bake Sale, December 6th & 7th, after all church services. We are looking for donations of baked goods. These can be dropped off at church on Friday, December 5th, during church office hours (11:00 am – 2:30 pm).

Christmas for Kids: This year our annual Christmas for Kids event will take place on Saturday, December 6th, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. What a perfect time for the adults to do some Christmas shopping, wrap gifts, or just have a few hours off!

This event is for ages Pre-K (potty trained - no diapers, please) through 6th Grade. Your children will enjoy stories, music, crafts, and games. Registration forms will be available in both the school and church offices - please register by December 1st to help us with planning. Invite a friend! This is a great opportunity to introduce your unchurched friends to our congregation. We are looking for volunteers! High school students: this is a great way to help us and serve your Lord. Contact Laurie Peil or Sandi Pavlawk with any questions. Sign-up sheets will be on the hall table as we get closer to the event.

Advent by Candlelight is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, December 10th @ 6:30 pm. This is an event that is for all women of the congregation (7th & 8th grade included), and their female family members, friends, and neighbors. There is no charge for this event. This is a wonderful evening of the Word, music, and fellowship to help you prepare your hearts for the Advent season before the holidays get into full swing! Keep your eyes out to sign up for this important event.

Christmas Caroling: The Junior and Senior Choirs are planning on Christmas Caroling. Date and time to be determined. Watch for more information!

Classrooms 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 1 st & 2nd grade class and their teacher, Mrs. Debbie Pretzer.

The first and second graders are busy with many things. In Bible History class, they are studying the New Testament and currently learning about Jesus's life on earth. The first graders are working hard on beginning reading and math skills. The second grade is enjoying a literature unit that is combined with the third grade. They are reading about an adventure race that takes place in the rainforest, but all the racers in the story are kids! The first and second grade just finished an insect and spider unit where we learned all about the creepy, crawly world of bugs. They are looking forward to beginning our study of outer space. They enjoyed a field trip to Johnson's Pumpkin Farm, where they participated in River of Time, did a scavenger hunt, and got to see some different animals. Of course, everyone is working hard towards meeting Accelerated Reader goals! All the students enjoyed Special Person's Day, where each student got to bring one adult with them to enjoy school for the day. They have also started learning our Christmas Eve service. As we move into the holiday season, we will be adding many fun art projects into the daily mix of activities. First and second grade is fun, busy, and energetic!

School News

Principal Call: At our Voters’ meeting last Sunday, Mr. Christopher Biebert was called to serve as Principal and 7th & 8th grade teacher beginning with our 2026-2027 school year. Mr. Biebert is currently serving at Mt. Calvary Christian Academy in Redding, CA. Please keep Mr. Biebert in your prayers as he deliberates his calls to Mt. Calvary and St. John’s.

NO school for grades 1-8 on Monday, November 3rd due to parent-teacher conferences. Please note: Preschool and Kindergarten will be in session.

Girls' basketball games continue through November 21st. We still need volunteers for running the game clock, keeping the game book, setting up the concession stand, food prep, selling concessions, making popcorn, and clean up. To sign up, go to our latest edition of Cat Tracks and use the Sign-Up Genius link. There are also sign-up sheets in the school hallway. Call the school with any questions.

No school: Thanksgiving break, November 26th – 28th. Please note: Kindergarten will be in session Tuesday, November 25th.

In Our Neighborhood

Christmas Stockings for Soldiers: Send our troops a little taste of home for the holidays. Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. is proud to be one of the nearly 1000 Veterans & Family Memorial Care providers across America that is participating in the 22nd annual Christmas Stockings for Soldiers initiative. From now thru November 28th (Monday thru Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm) please stop into the funeral home and pick-up a free Christmas Stocking to take home, decorate and stuff with Christmas Cheer. You will receive a list of recommended items along with the free stocking. Gephart will ship the stockings, at their expense, to troops abroad in time for Christmas. Sending our heroes some good tidings and holiday cheer is a great way for us to show our support and appreciation for the sacrifices they make to keep our country safe and secure.

In addition Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. is also an official drop off center for Cell Phones for Soldiers. Please bring in your old cell phones to help our troops call home this holiday season. The old cell phones are recycled and turned into free calling cards for our heroes. Call the funeral home with any questions: (989) 686-2291.

St. Bartholomew Youth Group invites you to its Bonfire Event on Saturday, November 8th, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm. Open to students, grades 7-12, they will enjoy an evening that includes a devotion, camp fire, fellowship, taco soup, sloppy joes and s’mores. Parents are welcome to stay. Don’t forget your camping chairs! Questions? Contact Chris Galan, 989-295-4083.

Living Christmas Card: Trinity is hosting the event this year on Saturday, December 6th, and Sunday, December 7th. Both nights will run from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm. They are looking for volunteers in a lot of areas. Would you like to be Mary or Joseph, a tax collector, a soldier or shepherd, one of the Wise Men, or a part of the angel choir? Actors work in 1/2 hour shifts each night. Watch for the sign-up sheet on the table outside the church office.

Trinity is holding a “Trivia Night” to raise funds for the “Living Christmas Card” on Saturday, November 15th, at 6:30 pm. Held at Trinity Church, 1010 33rd St., the cost is $5 per player. All are asked to bring an appetizer or snack to share. Plates, utensils, water bottles and punch will be provided. See the flyer at the end of this newsletter.

Around the WELS

This year’s Advent Devotion Booklet from Martin Luther College, titled: All Things New, is their newest devotion book with 25 Advent devotions. As we gather around the manger this year, we'll ponder Jesus’ words in Revelation 21:5, “l am making everything new!” Is that even possible? How can God fix this world, so marred by sin? How can he possibly make something good out of so much evil, something new out of so much brokenness?

In these devotions, we'll see that through the coming of Christ—his birth at Christmas, his presence in our hearts through faith, and his triumphant return at the end of the world—God indeed makes all things new. You will be able to access MLC devotions in multiple ways:

• Read them online as a flipbook. (The flipbook will be available in mid-November. Please note that flipbooks are not suitable for printing.)

• Request that they send them as daily emails to your personal email December 1st – 25th.

• Booklets will be available on the table outside the church office.
  

MLS News

The MLS Band and Shadows invite you to their Fall Concert! The evening will feature a wide variety of music, including Highlights from The Music Man, Carnaval in São Paulo, and Down by the Riverside. The concert will take place on November 2nd at 6:30 pm in the MLS Chapel. We hope to see you there!

MLS applications are open! Michigan Lutheran Seminary 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! Families who apply before November 30th will be entered into a drawing for a $500 tuition credit and those who apply before December 31 st will be entered into a drawing for a $250 tuition credit. For any questions, please reach out to admissions@mlsem.org.

MLS Drama is pleased to present "The Diary of Anne Frank" on November 15th – 16th. An impassioned drama about the lives of eight people hiding from the Nazis in a concealed storage attic, "The Diary of Anne Frank" captures the claustrophobic realities of their daily existence - their fear, their hope, their laughter, their grief. Tickets are now available for purchase at www.mlsem.org. Showtimes are Saturday at 6:30 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm.

The MLS Christmas concert will be on Friday, December 19th at 7:00 pm. Under the theme "Christe, lux mundi," the choirs and band will perform carols such as "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear," "Silent Night," "Before the Marvel of This Night," and "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming." Doors will open at 6:30 pm.

Church Council Notes:
Start of meeting

• The meeting was called to order by President Lane on 10/14/25.

• Pastor Bare opened the meeting with a reading from Psalm 91

• A safety presentation was given by Mike Shore and Zach Dzurka from the Bay County Sheriff Department.
  
  They made the following observations:

  • Be diligent with locking of the doors.

  • Ask questions of strangers

  • Keep our current door lock policy.

  • Get a security assessment (already done).

  • Take advantage of free safety education programs offered by the Sheriff Department (will be

  scheduled).

Elder’s Report

• No changes in membership.

• We will be viewing the WELS Connection again.

• Advises all to make sure you keep your vehicles locked while in church /school.

• Reviewed usher list.

• Elders are recommending one Thanksgiving service this year on Wednesday the 26th @ 6:00 pm to be brought before the Voter Assembly.

Evangelism Report:

• Trunk or Treat is October 31st from 4-6 p.m.

• Bookmarks in the pew are for our use or to take and share

B.A.L.M. Report

• Joint Reformation Service is being held at Bethel. Service time is 6:30 pm on October 29th

Board of Education Report

• Approved new substitute teacher list

• The board requests that all gym booking requests be run through school only. There have been some recent double bookings. They would like all bookings scheduled on the school calendar to avoid any double booking.

• The school office computer was replaced as the old one had crashed.

• Sunday School is averaging 8-9 children and now has two volunteers helping out.

Trustees’ Report

• There are a few lights in church that need to be replaced.

• The mounting of the outdoor video monitor is in progress and the glass for the sign has been replaced.

• The crack in the mortar joint of the school building by the 1st and 2nd grade room on Alp St. has been repaired.

• We will continue to use Satkowiak for our snow removal this winter.

Treasurer’s Report

• YTD offerings vs. budget $10,967.70 below budget

• YTD total income vs. budget $5,742.94 above budget

• YTD spending vs. budget $36,346.31 below budget

• General Fund balance as of 9/30/25 is $34,929.91