To Know Christ and To Make Him Known

April 2018 St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, ELCA Volume XXXV • Number 4

St. Luke’s new Congregational Council installed in April members of st. luke’s Congre - and property matters. over with new members; the other gational Council, both current and Council members were elected half are returning members. new, were installed at services on in January at the annual meeting in addition to their duties as sunday, april 1. of the Congregation. members leaders of the church, each council Council is responsible for the serve 2-year terms in staggered member serves as a liaison to a general oversight of the life and sequence to insure continuity of ministry group. We are pleased to activities of the congregation experience. that means each year present st. luke’s Congregational including worship life, finances, only about half of the council rolls Council for 2018:

name role /liaison term name role /liaison term Jan Barclay President 2017-19 lynn Bardo Growth & Prop 2017-19 scott stapel Vice President 2018-20 amy eagle Hospitality 2017-19 Chris Crandell secretary 2018-20 Chris magley social Justice 2018-20 linda reyelts* Faith Formation 2018-19 richard notestine stewardship 2018-20 Caleb Uecker-Herman Finance 2018-20 Deb Granger Worship 2017-19 mike Crawford Good news 2018-20 Dacia nelson Youth adv Board 2018-20 nate Bollman Youth rep 2017-19 *by Council appointment due to vacancy

Charged Up our middle school students attended the Charge! at Great Wolf lodge in traverse City in march with 200 other middle school students from around the state. the event was sponsored by our synod’s camping ministry, living Water ministries. learn more about this electrifying event in the associate Pastor’s message on Page 4.

Connecting to God > Connecting to Each Other > Connecting to Our World Being St. Luke’s and living in the Light of the Resurrection

A message from the Senior Pastor

Friends in Christ: • Celebrating our unique differences and gifts that Blessed easter. Christ’s light make us a family of God. and love is poured out upon us! • reaching out to those in need. What Good news for us. this easter season we look to the opportunities • Worshiping God with all our heart in the service the Holy spirit lays before us. of Word and sacrament. • stepping up when there is a need to fill. • Welcoming the visitor seeking a place of refuge, acceptance and grace. • taking our concerns to the source and taking the time to listen. • Commissioning the next class of stephen minis - ters who have learned what it means to be a • inviting friends, co workers and family to worship caring listener, non-judgmental presence, confiden - and church activities. tial and loving servant of God. live in the light! experience the grace and love • making st. luke’s a safe place for those experi - of the resurrected Christ. it is a joy to be here. see encing domestic violence and getting them the you at st. luke’s. Happy easter, everyone. help they need. Your servant in Christ, • Deepening our relationship with God through prayer, study and worship. Pastor Dave

Senior Pastor to provide pastoral assistance at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

During the month of may, Pastor Dave will assist st. andrew’s episcopal Church (located at 3 mile & Fuller) with administrative needs and worship leadership (10 hours a week). this request came from st. andrew’s short-term interim pastor and their Vestry (congregational council). st. luke’s will be reimbursed for Pastor Dave’s time. there is a possibility a request for pastoral assistance in following months may be asked of Pas - tor Dave until st. andrew’s calls a priest/pastor. However, this would require the episcopal Bishop of Western michigan to make that appointment. Please keep our brothers and sisters in Christ at st. andrew’s in prayer during their pastoral vacancy.

the next monthly Fellowship gathering will be tuesday, april 10. it begins with Holy St. Luke’s Communion in st. luke’s sanctuary at 11:00 am , followed by lunch and presentation. Fellowship april’s presentation will be “spirituality Basics” by sister nancy Brousseau, a member of the Dominican community and long time spiritual and retreat director. sister nancy has certificates in the spiritual exercises of st. ignatius and spiritual Direction. she is also a certified grief-recovery specialist. she was director of the Dominican Center at marywood for five years and director of spirituality Programs for six years. sister nancy has a master of arts in religious edu - cation, a master of Divinity and a Doctor of ministry in spiritual Direction. she also taught middle school for 17 years and was a school administrator for five years. Sing a New Song ALSO ON OUR RADAR By Jonathan Lonsway, Minister of Worship & Music • Supper House at st. alphon - “sing to the lord a new song!” this encourage - sus Church on thursday, april ment is found throughout the Psalms, and easter 12 at 4:30 Pm . seems a great time to talk about new things. i’m always looking for new songs to sing, songs • Dégagé Ministries in down - that tell our story in a fresh or unique way, that widen town Grand rapids on Friday , our Christian experience or expand our spiritual lan - april 13 at 6:00 Pm . guage. learning new songs is a profound way to remind ourselves that • “ Walking Together” synod our faith is always changing and growing. workshop on saturday, april 21 i look back on the person i was even just 10 years ago, and i real - hosted at st. luke's from 10 am - ize that i am a completely different person! i am grateful for that previ - 3:00 Pm . anyone is welcome to ous version of me, because he helped make me who i am today, but i attend. see registration form on can’t go back to being who i was. page 14. or, find it on the web: i think it is the same with church and with worship. We remember mittensynod.server303.com/doc fondly our past church experiences, and we still sing our favorite s/WalkingTogetherRegistra - songs from long ago because they helped make us who we are today. tion18.pdf But we sing new songs because we’ve changed and grown, and we know we will change and grow in the future. it’s exciting to try and • NECM annual Fundraiser imagine who we will be in just a few short years. Dinner and silent auction on one of the ways we are changing and growing is in our worship saturday, may 5 at 5:00 Pm . the ministry. in the past we had a “Worship & music Committee.” they $20 per person includes appe - helped make us who we are today. But that team died away, and we tizers, auction, and dinner. reg - haven’t had a lay worship ministry team in a few years. ister at [email protected] or call But now as we look to the future, we have a new team who is ex - 616-454-1097. cited to do new things. tracy Flanders (chair), Deb Granger (council li - aison), Cathy Crawford and Holly Finn are all creative people who • Teacher Appreciation Tea have a creative vision for our worship ministry. on sunday, may 6 durning Faith Formation hour. Parents • Tracy remembers our past ministries and she loves to try and and/or their child(ren) are en - combine the best of the past with new ideas. couraged to write a note or draw • Deb has an artistic eye and skill making banners and other a picture for their teacher. they worship aids. can be put in sharon ross’ door • Cathy is a dancer and loves to help people be embodied through mailbox. worship. • Holly is a musician who loves to use music to worship.

We don’t know what the future will look like, but we’d like your During Spring Break help to imagine it. if you have any ideas for worship, please share April 1 - April 8 them with us. if you can sing, or dance, or play an instrument, con - Sunday morning Faith sider sharing your talent with the church. and if you like to think Formation is also about the big picture, please consider joining our new worship min - taking a break. istry team (we’re not sure what to call it yet). In addition regular as we sing the new song of our worship ministry and our church mid-week activities imagines a new chapter in our story, consider how you can support will also be on hiatus. and be a part of the community we are and will become. God bless! All will resume beginning on Monday, April 9. Discuss pros & cons All Charged Up! of combined Sunday morning service at A message from the Associate Pastor upcoming forum eight of our middle school students attended the Join the Church Council and Charge! which was sponsored by our synod’s camping pastoral staff for a discussion ministry, living Water ministries in march. the kids were all charged about merging our sunday up just to spend the weekend at Great Wolf lodge with about 200 morning services into one, in other middle school students from around the state. lieu of the usual two morning We jump started each morning with lots of fun Christian songs. services. some included goofy movements. it was loUD! a forum in late march netted Pastor Curry from shekinah Chapel in the Chicago area, charged many responses both for and us up each time with greeting call and response: i am awake! (i am against such a move. if you awake!) i am alive! (i am alive!) i am alert! (i am alert!) i am enthusias - missed that forum, you still have tic! (i am enthusiastic!) now say it fast! (i’m awake, i’m alive, i’m alert, a chance to be a part of the con - i’m enthusiastic!) i plan to use this in church real soon. versation on Wednesday, april From here we went to learning about giving our worries to God 11 at 7:00 Pm at church. and loving your neighbor as you love yourself. students learned about leadership and cooperation through skill shops and reflected on their faith in small groups and congregational time. Church then there was lots of FUn at the water park and just hanging out together with new friends. We came back with our batteries charged! Council this is what easter is all about, too. on easter morning we come to church awake, alive, alert and enthusiastic because Jesus is risen! March We receive the Good news that there is new life beyond the negative Highlights messages in our world that plant fear and worry in our hearts. Jesus is alive! there is hope for renewed life, charged up life, and a promising future. Jesus’ resurrection breathes new life in us. We are freed from sin, fear, and death to serve others, and to make our world • Pastor marcy reported a better place for all people. Jesus charges us to go and tell the Good that seven people from st. news of life in Him. We are charged to live with the joy of resurrection luke’s attended a safe people. He is risen! He is risen, indeed! allelUia! Haven safe Church train- ing in February, learning about ways to recognize and handle domestic abuse.

• Council discussed devel- oping a Crisis Communica- tion Plan. a committee will be formed to help facilitate the development of the plan/document.

• Council members partici- pated in their annual orientation program.

• Complete minutes avail- able in the church office. St. Luke ’s National Youth Gathering youth news Informational Meeting for youth & parents there will be a special informational dinner meeting on sunday, april 15 at 5:30 Pm for high school students going to national Youth Gathering and parents. We will meet to discuss hotel, transportation, what to bring, etc. Please bring a topping for tacos that will serve 15 people. Parents Youth Advisory and students will go over information from 5:30-6:15 Pm . students are Board Members: asked to stay for the next Getting ready session until approximately Cathy Crawford, Josh Crystal, 7:30 Pm . Questions: talk to Pastor marcy or Josh Crystal. Erin Magley, Jared Rice, Joordn Uecker-Herman, Dacia Nelson, and Pastor Marcy.

Gathering for the Global Farm Challenge By Ryan P. Cumming, Ph.D., pro - $500,000 to support communities gram director for Hunger Education around the world and here at with ELCA World Hunger home through gifts given at and ahead of the elCa Youth Gathering. in a world that seems un - at the Youth Gathering in changing with so many challenges, Houston, youth and adults will it can be hard to believe that have a chance to experience for change is possible. But “we are a themselves God’s grace at work church founded on change.” through elCa World Hunger’s ex - We are a church committed to hibit in the interactive learning sharing in the work that God is space. Lince, a mother in Indonesia, receives a doing to transform our world. all piglet from ELCA World Hunger’s partner. Here, they will learn about those who hunger can be fed. Paul, a farmer from Central everyone living in poverty can one african republic, who was given a a way to afford their education and day have enough. scholarship to learn about sus - meet their needs by raising pigs this year, youth across the tainable farming in Japan and given to her by elCa World elCa have the chance to be part brought his education back to Hunger’s partner in indonesia. of that change through the elCa serve his community at home. they will hear about refugees World Hunger’s Global Farm Chal - they will learn about lince, a in the United states, indigenous lenge—a challenge to raise mother of five children, who found families in malaysia, and so many other farmers whose lives have been changed because “a church founded on change” accompanied them. Paul, a farmer from our church will be working Central African throughout 2018 to raise the gifts Republic, learns needed to support this work. about raising goats during his time in Japan. From the YOUTHGATHERINGBLOG @listserv.elca.org. Reprinted with permission. In Our Prayers

CUrrent PraYers Church council, pastors, Oldest member celebrating Barb staff, leadership extraordinary milestone Barbara Bishops elizabeth eaton & a very significant birthday for Bill & family Craig satterlee a very special lady is coming up on Brussow family Faith Formation teachers may 3 when ruth thiebout turns David 100 years young! Jim Home BoUnD June D she is st. luke’s al Bea Joyce Violet oldest member. Fran tudy June G ruth’s family is ContinUinG PraYers militarY hosting an open arlene Jordan adams, marines House in her Dawnmarie & tammy taylor ahn, army honor at st. luke's Jason and kids max angel, army on Friday, may 4 from 7 Pm – 9 Pm in Jordan, mallory alex Bickel, air Force the Gathering room. all of st. Josh matthew Crawford, army luke's congregation are invited to lorin Blaine Hughes, air Force this special birthday event. nancy & family Corey Hughes, air Force Her family has indicated that riak family melissa Valentino, air Force ruth loves cards, so if you would Kelli Walker, air Force like to send her a birthday greet - PraYer FoCUs alex Yurush, army For those invited to come to ing, it would be appreciated. Con - st. luke’s tact the office for her address or drop off your card to the office for Care Ministry delivery to ruth. Death : elsie Campeau, linda Bardo’s mother, on march 7.

Family Promise is seeking a church - could it be St. Luke’s? Family Promise provides shelter and basic needs sunday morning, the beds are picked up and the to families with children who have become homeless families move out. and helps them find a new home. through the inter - it takes about 20 volunteers to host a week at a faith Hospitality network 18 churches provide church. some of the responsibilities include: overnight housing for each of five families (up to 15 • providing evening and breakfast meals people). each of the churches houses the families for • interaction with families during and after meals three different weeks throughout the year. • two people to stay overnight each night at st. luke’s we have been blessed by God with a • 1 to 2 coordinators to oversee st.luke’s program large building and especially a big downstairs class - learn more about this endeavour on sunday, room area which would be ideal to accommodate april 22 during the Faith Formation hour when Kate such families. each classroom could be converted to o’Keefe from Family Promise will provide a presenta - a bedroom. Family Promise provides cots, the con - tion and answer questions (Kate was st. luke’s gregation provides bedding. Families arrive each youth director a few years ago). Pastor marcy has ex - evening for a meal, some family time, then lights out. perience with Family Promise at her former congre - in the morning, breakfast is provided before families gation and will be on hand to answer questions, too. head out for the day. saturdays are a free day for the st. luke’s has resources to be shared. is this families to just relax, run errands, or do family activ - something God may be calling st. luke’s to do? ities; they may remain at the church all day. on Please ask God to guide us. Lace up your shoes for annual ‘Walk for Good Food’ the aCCess Walk for Good Food (formerly the gregational Church, 10 east Park Pl ne (downtown Hunger Walk) takes place on sunday, may 6. Pick up Gr) to register at 1:30 Pm . the actual walk begins at your envelope at church on april 8 and 2:15 Pm . begin getting sponsors. You don’t have to We are grateful for all the support st. actually do the walk, you can just gather luke’s has given to this activity over the donations to support the hungry in our years. last year we came in 3rd place in community. donations raised. Can we top that this For those who do want to walk, there year? will be lunch provided after the second Questions about the Walk please service at church on the day of the Walk. contact Ginni Drews or Pastor marcy. st. luke’s walkers will meet at Park Con -

Invite your friends, neighbors to hear concert by singer Mark Smeby st. luke’s is hosting an inspi - of popular songs, and sharing his this will be a rational concert by Christian/ message of faith and hope. His free concert and gospel singer mark smeby from version of "mary Did You Know" open to the public. nashville on sunday, april 29 at was most downloaded on ama - Please invite your 3:30 Pm . zon.com in 2014, 2015 and 2016. friends and neigh - mark frequently visits He has appeared on tV and in film bors. this is an es - churches throughout the country, and his music has been featured pecially great way to sharing original music and covers in film and on radio. introduce people to st. luke's!

Stephen Ministry: New trainees are acquiring many useful caregiving skills the second class of stephen ministers at st. luke’s have passed the half-way mark in their training. the group will be commissioned in may. the trainees have worked extremely hard and their dedication is paying off. the course has involved pre-class reading assignments and in-class lectures, discussions and role play - ing. the group is showing growth in knowledge and skills. a recurring emphasis of stephen minister training has been confidentiality. What a care receiver says to his or her stephen minister is held strictly confidential. even the identity of the care receiver is kept confiden - tial from other stephen ministers and everyone else. remaining training topics include: Grief, Depression, Helping suicidal Persons Get the Care they need, supervision, making the First Caring Visit. When these topics are completed, the trainees will be commis - sioned as stephen ministers and receive their first caregiving assignments. But even then, their training is far from over. Continuing education is an important component of stephen ministry training. stephen ministers will meet for continuing education twice a month even after they begin meeting their care receivers. the goal is for stephen ministers to continually enhance their skills and learn new ways to care. We want them to provide the best care possible.

St. Luke’s churchwide fellowship event let's meet at Dave & Buster's restaurant on Friday, april 20 at 6:00 Pm for dinner and fun for all ages! it’s a restau - rant with family friendly games and prizes. Questions? Contact Josh or Becky Crystal @ 466-2519. the restaurant is located at 3660 28th st., Kentwood. see you there! ‘Story Time’ – New summer ministry program for young children at St. Luke’s By Sharon Ross, Minister of Spiritual Formation derful opportunity for parents, grandparents, and on Wednesday mornings st. luke’s will be host - childcare personnel to get some respite. Please help ing a story hour for children ages us get the word out to the public by 3 - 8. the program will run from sharing this with your neighbors 10:00 am –11:15 am beginning June and friends! 13 and ending July 26. nursery will be available for ages this new story time is designed 0 – 2 years old. for parents to get a “wee break” servants needed: if you would while their children are learning like to help on one or more Bible stories and partaking in age Wednesday mornings, please con - appropriate activities. this is won - tact me: [email protected]

Super Saturday

AUGUST 4 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Are you looking for something fun to do with your family and friends this summer? Something a little different than you have done in the past? St. Luke’s is working with Bethlehem and Faith Lutheran churches in planning Super SAturdAY! What is it? Well, start dreaming about families hanging out at a carnival and all the fun that is. Think about activities such as bounce houses, puppet shows, photo booths, music, and (of course) food! Something for everyone. the theme for Super Saturday is “Following JeSuS.” We will have picnic tables and a tent set up in the parking lot and hope to provide a family-oriented event for our community. Please help get the word out. Want to help with this event? Let the church office know. Summit on racism and inclusion presented in May lakeshore ethnic Diversity alliance (leDa) summit on race and inclusion examines the effects of racial disparities and strategies for their elimination at a day-long conference involving hundreds of partic - ipants from across the state of michigan. • To all who donated blankets for Safe Haven Ministries. We collected the 2018 summit on race and inclusion will take place at Hope 35 blankets. Your gifts will help College in Holland on tuesday, may 15 from 8:15 am - 3:30 Pm . the abused women start new homes. keynote speaker will be Dr. Joy DeGruy, an inspirational and insightful expert on the residual legacy of trauma and stress, as it re - • To all who helped create the lates to issues of culture and race. Stations of the Cross exhibit for Holy the day-long conference will also feature six sector-specific break - Week. Special thanks to Jan Barclay, out sessions of which attendees will be able to attend two: Health, Judy Blank, Deb Granger and Holly Business, Gov’t/Policy, Community, Faith, and education. Uecker-Hermann for sharing their Cost is $75. Pastor marcy will be attending. Please let her know if artistic gifts to deepen our prayer you would like to attend with her. scholarships available. register at during this holy season. ethnicdiversity.org . • To Josh and Becky Crystal for chap - eroning our middle school students to the Charge! at Great Wolf Lodge.

LETTERS

Dear St. Luke's family, Dear sisters and brothers in Thank you so much for the outpouring of support during this diffi - Christ, cult time (death of Kelly’s brother, Mike, on March 8 and her sister, Thank you for your gift of Sherri, on March 12). Your continued prayers are needed as we con - $639.63 for the Bethlehem In - tinue to go through the grief process and begin to heal. tergnerational Center (BIC). Your gift will be put in our tuition Pete & Kelly Rasmussen Family Mike & Sherri Robinson assistance fund and will assist elderly participants who other - wise could not afford it to attend the center and receive care and enrichment. Your generosity is truly mak - The family of Doris Winters would like to express their grateful ing it possible for our congrega - thanks for the love and care the people of St. Luke's gave to our tions to be joined together for mother during her years as a parishioner and member of your congre - “God’s Work, Our Hands” on a gation. daily basis. Your willingness to include her in a variety of activities, provide her with transportation to and from activities and worship, share meals with In thanksgiving, her, and during her last months when her health made active participa - Pastor Jay Schrimpf, Bethlehem tion no longer possible, your cards, visits, and prayers were a blessing Lutheran Church to her and to her family as well. When it came time to celebrate her long life and her passing into the arms of our Lord and Savior, you comforted us with a lovely service and the opportunity to fellowship and reminisce while enjoying a deli - cious lunch.

Thank you and God Bless! Anne Terrell, Doris Winters’ daughter STATIONS AN INTERACTIVE JOURNEY WITH JESUS ON THE of Cthe ROSS WAY TO THE CROSS

During Holy Week, St. Luke’s sanctuary was set up with Participants journeyed from the Garden of Gethsemane to eight Stations of the Cross, creative visual s that interpret the hill of Golgotha in a self-guided, contemplative journey the historical events of the suffering of Christ on Good that included visual elements, Scripture verses, and medi - Friday. tative readings at each station.

Jesus prays in gethsemane

Station 1: Jesus before pilate

Station 2: Jesus takes up his Cross

Station 3: Simon helps Jesus carry the Cross

(Stations of the Cross continues on next page) STATIONS OF THE CROSS continued

Station 4: Jesus speaks to the weeping women

Station 5: Jesus is stripped of his garments

Station 6: Jesus is nailed to the Cross

Station 7: Jesus cares for his Mother

Station 8: Jesus dies on the Cross THE EPISTLE is published monthly as a min - Be a swinger! istry of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The congregation is invited Join St. Luke’s golf league for fun and fellowship to submit articles to the Editorial Staff. Articles Warm weather is coming and are due by the second Sunday of each month. Support Staff: Jackie McGee and Linda we’re back this season for more Reyelts. Fun, Fellowship and Golf! our league is golfing at north Church Staff Kent Golf Course in rockford on Ministers ...... All Members Wednesday afternoon starting Senior Pastor ...... David Blank april 18 (weather permitting). We Associate Pastor ...... Marcy Miller have new tee times, with our first Minister of Spiritual Formation ...... Sharon Ross foursome teeing off at 4:32 Minister of Worship through 5:12 for nine holes of and Music ...... Jonathan Lonsway golf. First come, first tee off. Treasurer ...... Marcie Schaab Bring a friend, spouse, sib - Administrative Assistant ...... Jackie McGee ling, son/daughter, grandchild, Secretary ...... Deb Marcusse parent, acquaintance, etc. or Coord. of Worship Tech ...... Josh Crystal come alone as you do not need a Coord. of Early Childhood regular partner. We have have Ministry ...... Susan VanderLaan regular golfers who are not st. gan. last season we donated over Custodian ...... Eric Glazier luke’s members. We encourage $700. Maintenance ...... Mike Fessenden players to golf with different play - at the end of the season in late Phone Number: ...... 616-363-2381 ers weekly. august, we will wrap things up Fax Number: ...... 616-363-5713 Golf skills of all levels are wel - with a barbeque dinner celebration Website: www. stlk.org come and everyone is encouraged at the golf course. E-mail: [email protected] to participate. You are not re - Please join us for golf! Place Facebook: www.facebook.com/stlukesgr quired to golf every week and you your name and email address on Address: 3215 Four Mile Rd. Grand Rapids, MI 49525 can pay as you play. Cost is $20 the signup sheet in the narthex to for nine holes with a cart plus $2 receive weekly golf league email for two weekly challenge hole updates. Congregational Council competitions (split the pot) that For more information, contact President ...... Jan Barclay we donate to north Kent Connect, larry sakala at 616-818-8476 or Vice President ...... Scott Stapel part of aCCess of West michi - [email protected] Secretary ...... Chris Crandell Faith Formation liaison ...... Linda Reyelts Finance liaison ...... Caleb Uecker-Herman Good News liaison ...... Mike Crawford Youth can acquire leadership skills at summer academy Growth & Property liaison ...... Lynn Bardo the 2018 Wittenberg leader - spaces are limited, so apply Hospitality liaison ...... Amy Eagle ship academy will take place today. Cost of the academy is $499 Social Justice liaison ...... Chris Magley June 24 – 27 at Wittenberg Uni - which includes room, board, Stewardship liaison ...... Richard Notestine versity in springfield, ohio. snacks, all instruction and social Worship liaison ...... Deb Granger Designed for high school stu - activities (linens included). th th Youth Advisory Board ...... Dacia Nelson dents entering 11 and 12 if you have any questions, Youth representative ...... Nate Bollman grades, the Wittenberg leader - please contact the Wittenberg ship academy explores leadership leadership academy at through every lens while helping (937) 327-7807, or contact Jon We are a to build skills to stand out in the Duraj or Cam Dobrotka via email: steohen college admission and scholar - [email protected] and do - congregation MINISTRY ship process. [email protected] Meet people of different faiths and worldviews for engaging activities, studies the Kaufman interfaith institute in Grand rapids offers a variety of interfaith affinity Groups in celebra - tion of their "2018 Year of interfaith Friendship." these groups provide safe and engaging spaces for you to meet people of different faith traditions or worldview while enjoying some of your favorite activities.

Here's a list of the affinity Groups: • science & religion • Cinematic Conversations • Chess Players • interfaith Foodies • interfaith Book Group • interfaith Fitness • interfaith & interwoven • Youth Corner • interfaith imagination • scriptural reasoning • Contemplative traditions • medicine & minds

For dates and times when these groups meet, go to www.gvsu.edu/interfaith/welcome-to-the-2018-year- of-interfaith-friendship-65.htm Walking Together A Day of Worship and Formation for Congregational Leaders Saturday, April 21, 2018 10:00am ± 3:00pm

Location: 6W/XNH¶V Lutheran Church 3215 4 Mile Road NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 Cost: $10 per person (includes lunch) Registration Deadline: Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Theme: /HDGLQJZLWK)DLWK+RSH/RYH«DQG.QRZOHGJH *************************************************************************** Registration Section Workshops (circle 3) (WHZLOOGRRXUEHVWWRKRQRUHYHU\RQH¶Vworkshop choices.) x tŚĂƚ͛ƐEĞǁǁŝƚŚStewardship? x Steps You Can Take to Prevent Abuse in Your Congregation x Preparing for the 2018 National Youth Gathering x Growing Spiritually as a Congregation Council x Leading Through Times of Change x A Look Ahead at the 2018 Synod Assembly x Your Budget Tells a Story ʹ Creating a Narrative Budget x The Fine Print ʹ Legal Considerations for Congregation Leaders x Dealing with -isms (Racism, Sexism, Ageism) in your Congregation

x Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Your Congregation

Name: ______

Email: ______Phone: ______

Congregation name: ______City: ______

Special dietary needs? Describe:______

Send your registration and check payable to North/West Lower MI Synod by April 10, 2018 to: North/West Lower Michigan Synod, 2900 N. Waverly Road, Lansing MI 48906 Check Amount:______Check number______