News

Good morning friends,

The anticipated technical difficulties have struck.

Hopefully the email from the new service will come out later today.

So let me know if you don't get the email by later today!

God bless,

Pastor B

Good morning friends,

In order to save some money and hopefully make things easier, I'm switching to a new email service starting next week. The weekly email from that service is scheduled to send next Tuesday at 10:00am. If you don't get it, please check your spam folder. Let me know if you do not receive it at all and were expecting it.

You will no longer receive your emails from Faithlife. It should say that you have received it from pastorbuelow@stpls.org, through a service called Mailerlite.

Thanks for bearing with me with any technical difficulties in the meantime.

God bless and see you tomorrow in God's house,

Pastor B

Good morning friends,

In order to save some money and hopefully make things easier, I'm switching to a new email service starting next week. The weekly email from that service is scheduled to send next Tuesday at 10:00am. If you don't get it, please check your spam folder. Let me know if you do not receive it at all and were expecting it.

You will no longer receive your emails from Faithlife. It should say that you have received it from pastorbuelow@stpls.org, through a service called Mailerlite.

Thanks for bearing with me with any technical difficulties in the meantime.

God bless and see you tomorrow in God's house,

Pastor B

In Bill Withers song, Lean On Me, he sings:

Lean on me when you're not strong

I'll be your friend,

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on...

You just call on me, brother, when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on.

I just might have a problem that you'll understand,

We all need somebody to lean on.

Bill Withers is right--we do need somebody to lean on. Every day, we need not just a hand to help us up out of difficult situations, we need someone to save us from sin. We remember that especially this weekend as we celebrate the confirmation of 12 of our young people.

Lord-willing, they have a lot of life ahead of them. They'll have lots of situations where they'll need somebody to lean on. In those situations, they'll probably be told, "Listen to your heart! Trust yourself! You're the best! You can do it!"

That won't work. If you lean on yourself, you're going to fall down!

A common confirmation passage, Proverbs 3:5-6, gives the correct thing to lean on: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight."

Don't lean on yourself, or anybody else for that matter. Lean on the LORD. Trust in him with all your heart. He is the one who levels mountains and raises valleys to make a royal highway in our hearts for Jesus through repentance and faith. He will also make our path straight--a path that works its way through the dangers and difficulties of sin, death, and the devil, and brings us to our eternal home.

So when you need somebody to lean on (and you will!)... Lean on HIM!

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Midweek Bible Studies, Wednesdays at 10am (Proverbs) and 7pm (Luke)

Sunday Worship @ 8 (Livestream) & 10:30am

Monday Night @ 6:30pm

Bible Class and Sunday School @ 9:15 at the School

This Sunday: 2 Corinthians Continues

Bulletins & Calendar

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Thank you from Pastor Buelow to St. Paul's for supporting the mentor program during his first three years of ministry. Part of that cost went to the 3-year pastors and wives retreat (4 years now because it was canceled last year) in San Antonio this Wednesday through Friday. Thank you!

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Prayers:

For the almost-confirmands (Examination April 29th, Confirmation May 1st)

For Pastor Naumann as he deliberates his call to St. Paul, North Mankato, MN

Bring prayers of thanksgiving and intercession to God!

There's a funny quote in a show where the boss asks, "Would I rather have people fear me or love me?"

What do you think? If you were in charge, would you rather have people fear you or love you?

In Exodus 15, the Israelites are praising God for rescuing them from Egypt and leading them through the Red Sea on dry ground. Verse 13 says, "In your mercy you will lead the people that you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy pastureland."

Would God rather lead his people with fear or love? How about.... both!

In your mercy... God leads his people with his love. In his grace, he buys us back from slavery to sin through Jesus and leads us to our heavenly home.

In your strength... God leads his people with his awe-some power. In his might, he terrifies his enemies (verse 16: "Terror and dread will fall upon them!"), and guides his people home while protecting them from all danger.

So would you rather have people fear you or love you? The boss in the show answers: "I want people to be afraid of how much they love me."

God will lead his people in loving mercy and awe-full strength. How should we respond? Maybe we could put it this way: We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things!

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Midweek Bible Studies, Wednesdays at 10am (Proverbs) and 7pm (Luke)

Sunday Worship @ 8 (Livestream) & 10:30am

Monday Night @ 6:30pm

Bible Class and Sunday School @ 9:15 at the School

This Sunday: 2 Corinthians Continues

Thursday Bible Information Class @ 6pm

Bulletins & Calendar

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Holy Week Thank You

Thank you so much to everyone who helped make Holy Week a special time to reflect on what our Savior has done for us and to celebrate! Thanks to the burrito boys, the easter egg hunt helpers and bag fillers, those who passed out invites, those who lifted up their voices in praise to God, and to everyone! We praise our God that he allows lowly people like us to receive his blessings and praise him in return!

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WELS International Youth Rally

This summer's International Youth Rally is in Knoxville, TN, under the theme: "Here and Now."

For information about the rally, go to https://wels.net/serving-you/christian-life/discipleship/youth-rally/. To sign up, please contact or email Allen or Ginny Ash (alginash at yahoo.com), who are planning on going and willing to chaperone. Our deadline to sign up will be THIS SUNDAY (!) April 24th so we can get the early bird discount.

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Prayers:

For the almost-confirmands (Examination April 29th, Confirmation May 1st)

Bring prayers of thanksgiving and intercession to God!

Easter devotion by Rev. Daniel Deutschlander (On Giving Advice to God, NPH, p. 182, 183)

Oh, blessed death! Oh, most glorious life. It's Easter! He has burst forth from the grip of death. He has triumphed over the hosts of hell. And now he lives--lives ever more. He died to sin once for all--that means for me too, even for me. And now he takes me with him out of the cold, clammy grip of death, out of the grace, out of that house of the dead, and into the bright sunshine of Easter Sunday morning.

As he died and now lives to the glory of God, so he takes me too into a new life with him. It is a life delivered from sin, a life washed with forgiveness brought by his Word and Sacraments. What, then, will be my answer to this most holy of days, this most holy event of all the events in history and in my own history? Shall I chase the Easter Bunny, running aimlessly across the lawn? Shall I stuff myself with brightly colored eggs (while forgetting that they are just symbols of the resurrection)? Shall I dress myself in Easter finery for a parade designed to impress people with my good taste?

How silly it would be, if that's what Easter was all about. No, even before I head off to church, I will bask in the sunshine of his grace in the new life that is mine from the resurrection. Oh, I know that I am still weighed down with my nature. I know that I will still be tempted even today to put myself first. I know that at day's end I will still have confession to make, pardon to crave, grace to seek. Ah, but--and that's the joy of this day--from God's point of view my sins have already been left behind in the empty grave. Instead of sin, I have pardon; in place of guilt, there is grace heaped upon grace. For Christ is risen! ...

Join in the apostle Paul's exultant hymn: I am alive to God in Christ Jesus! If Christ Jesus is alive and I am in him, then I can never die; for Christ died once and dies no more. His life is mine and mine is his. We are by the message of his death and resurrection bound together with the ties of his love and grace that not death, not the devil, not hell itself can break. For they lie vanquished, smashed, broken, and defeated by our triumphant Savior. And his triumph is ours. That's why he came. That's why he died. That's the fruit for us of his rising again. It is all for me; it is all for you.

Prayer: Dearest Jesus, the tomb is empty! Not just your tomb but mine as well can collect mold and and must. For I am not there. I am risen with you into the bright sunshine of your Father's grace and favor. Oh, joy beyond all earthly gladness! Write it, O God, on my heart and mind: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

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Holy Week Services & Hymns

What a week! We leave behind our "earthly" time to enter God's sacred time this holy week. Each day is sanctified by the word of God, songs, hymns, spiritual songs, special choirs, brass, and prayer as we remember in a special way what Jesus has done for us!

Maundy (Holy) Thursday: 6:30pm

416 When You Woke That Thursday Morning

659 Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior

417 It Was a Dark and Dismal Night

664 Wide Open Stand the Gates

677 The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord

930 Go, My Children, With My Blessing

Psalm 116

Good Friday: 1:30 traditional & 8pm Service of Darkness

Different services

421 Son of God, by God Forsaken

422 A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth

558 Salvation Unto Us Has Come

Psalm 22A

867 Afflicted Saint, To Christ Draw Near

419 Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle

947 Lamb of God, Pure and Holy

Psalm 22B

Also many special choral songs and solos in both services

Easter: 7am Sunrise & 10:30am Festival with Communion

Different services with different sermons

443 Awake My Heart with Gladness

460 Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven (with brass)

453 The Tomb is Empty (with school choir)

442 Christ the Lord is Risen Today; Alleluia

441 I Know that My Redeemer Lives

445 He's Risen, He's Risen

Psalm 118

454 Alleluia! Jesus is Risen

937 God's Right Hand and Holy Arm (https://youtu.be/AudpPxOp_RQ)

447 Christ is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed (Choir)

439 Christ Jesus Law in Death's Strong Bands

471 Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds

470 Like the Golden Sun Ascending

461 He Is Arisen! Glorious Word!

Psalm 16

See you in God's House!

Think of family and friends to invite! Pray that God gives opportunity.

Thank all the wonderful instrumentalists and choirs for their work to God's glory!

Bulletins & Calendar

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Funeral for Joyce Obermiller

The funeral for our sister in Christ Joyce Obermiller will be held at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, April 16, 2022, at the church, with visitation for the hour before.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

Obituary: https://www.gephartfuneralhome.com/obituary/joyce-obermiller

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WELS International Youth Rally

This summer's International Youth Rally is in Knoxville, TN, under the theme: "Here and Now."

For information about the rally, go to https://wels.net/serving-you/christian-life/discipleship/youth-rally/. To sign up, please contact or email Allen or Ginny Ash (alginash at yahoo.com), who are planning on going and willing to chaperone. Our deadline to sign up will be April 20th so we can get the early bird discount.

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Prayers:

-For the family and friends of Joyce Obermiller

-For Mr. Needham as he continues to deliberate his calls

Bring prayers of thanksgiving and intercession to God!

Jeff Mallinson is a professor of Philosophy and Theology at Concordia University, Irvine, California. He used to do a podcast trying to protect Christians from spiritual wolves that would hurt their faith. It was called "Protect your Noggin." In a sad twist of irony, Dr. Mallinson has now himself both become devoured by the wolves and become a wolf himself.

After the tragic death of his adult son, Dr. Mallinson spoke words at the memorial service for his son. He cited some modern songs, he quoted a hat from Portland that said, "Breathe in Joy, Breathe out Peace," and he never mentioned Christ once. His memorial statement, as well as those of his family, are recorded on the website taosurfers.com, where this "Lutheran" professor explores the new guiding philosophy of his life, Taoism, basically a loose group of teachings that helps you get through life (the memorial statements can be found here: https://www.taosurfers.com/auggie-memorial/2021/12/8/memorial-statements-from-the-family-about-auggie).

Why bring this up? The seeming tragic death of this man's faith points to several lessons the Bible has for us:

1) Cling to your faithful God; don't get "cocky." 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, "So let him who thinks he stands be careful that he does not fall... But God is faithful."

2) Watch out for and correct sin and false teaching, but don't get caught in it! Galatians 6:1 says, "Brothers, if a person is caught in some trespass, you who are spiritual should restore such a person in a spirit of humility, carefully watching yourself so that you are not also tempted."

3) Always look to your very real Savior and what he has done. Mallinson seems to have gotten tired of the "old, old, story" as he explored other teachings. But his straying into Taoism has brought him nothing but airy, spiritual-sounding platitudes that cannot help anyone in concrete times of sin and death. They cannot save us from hell. We have a better "philosophy." We have a flesh-and-blood Savior who rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to die. He bowed his head to all mortal pain in our place, not to give us spiritual-sounding advice that cannot help us by the grave. Jesus suffered mortal pain so that we would have true hope of a future without it. After taking away our sins, he rose again from the dead. He does not leave us to "ride the waves" of this life; Jesus has taken up his pow'r to reign forever, and to reign in our hearts now through his powerful Word.

"I will not die. No, I will live, and I will proclaim the works of the LORD (Psalm 118:17)."

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Midweek Worship @ 3:30 & 6:30

This week: Pastor Buelow

Sunday Worship @ 8 (Livestream) & 10:30am

Bible Class and Sunday School @ 9:15 at the School

This Sunday: 2 Corinthians

Wednesday Bible Classes on hold during Lent

Thursday Bible Information Class @ 6pm

Bulletins & Calendar

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Funeral for Carol Smith

The funeral for our sister in Christ Carol Smith will be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday, April 8, 2022, at the W. L. Case and Co. Funeral Chapel, 4480 Mackinaw Rd. Visitation from 1-4pm.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

Obituary: https://www.casefuneralhome.com/obituaries/Carol-Ann-Smith?obId=24474604

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Holy Week Services

Palm Sunday / Passion Sunday:

Normal service times on Sunday, April 10th

Maundy (Holy) Thursday: 6:30pm

Good Friday: 1:30 traditional & 8pm Service of Darkness

Easter: Sunrise 7am & Festival with Communion 10:30am

Think of family and friends to invite! Pray that God gives opportunity.

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Easter Breakfast

The men of St. Paul's are once again planning to make breakfast burritos the day before Easter to serve between services on Easter Sunday. Any men who are interested are invited to meet at 8am on April 16th in the kitchen at school to prepare burritos!

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LWMS Rally & Envelopes

The Lutheran Women's Missionary Society rally envelopes that are periodically distributed are for anyone who wishes to support mission work. There is a box in the narthex for collecting them. They will be brought along to the Mid-Michigan LWMS rally at Bethel, Bay City, on April 23rd @ 9:30am. For more about the work of LWMS, go to lwms.org .

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WELS International Youth Rally

This summer's International Youth Rally is in Knoxville, TN, under the theme: "Here and Now."

For information about the rally, go to https://wels.net/serving-you/christian-life/discipleship/youth-rally/. To sign up, please contact or email Allen or Ginny Ash (alginash at yahoo.com), who are planning on going and willing to chaperone. Our deadline to sign up will be April 20th so we can get the early bird discount.

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Prayers:

-For the family and friends of Carol Smith

-For Mr. Needham and Mr. & Mrs. Korth as they deliberate calls

Bring prayers of thanksgiving and intercession to God!

A few weeks ago, a writer named Joe Mathews wrote an opinion piece in the San Fransisco Chronicle about how to achieve true equity--by forcing parents in California to swap children (https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Want-true-equity-California-should-force-parents-16777540.php). If all the rich kids get traded to poor parents, and the poor kids get to go live with rich parents, then equity will be achieved! No one seems to know if the piece is satire or not, but the idea of the "state" stepping in to parent our children is not a satirical idea; people sometimes rely on the state to do all the work, instead of the family.

To Christians, the idea of handing over our children to the state seems crazy. God commands children to learn from and obey their parents (4th commandment, Proverbs 23:22, Eph. 6:1), and he commands parents to raise their children, especially in the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4 says, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

Deuteronomy 6 tells the Israelites, "This is the body of commands... so that you may fear the LORD your God by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I am commanding to you, as well as to your children and grandchildren... Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God. The LORD is one! Love the Lord your God...Teach these words diligently to your children, and speak about them when you sit in your house... Tie them as a sign on your wrists, and they will serve as symbols on your forehead..."

Proverbs 6:20 echoes this language when it says, "My son, keep your father's commands, and do not forsake your mother's teachings. Fasten them permanently to your heart, and tie them around your neck."

Even though it seems crazy to hand our children over to the state, we still need to be careful not to hand over our children in other ways. When we don't track their gaming/viewing/phone time diligently, and fail to limit and guide it, we are potentially handing them over to be "raised" by other things. When we don't talk to them about underlying issues that drive them to lose themselves in potentially dangerous spheres--underlying issues like insecurity, social awkwardness, and withdrawal from normal activities and relationships--we are handing our children over to other things, in a sense (see the "Parent Conversations" article in the upcoming Forward in Christ). We always need to be ready to address our children and their everyday challenges and opportunities with the Word of God.

As parents and relatives and congregation members, we need forgiveness from Christ for sins of omission when it comes to our children. We receive that forgiveness as children of God, and we share that forgiveness with our children. Parents and children receive their true identity and security in this: "See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are (1 John 3:1)."

God is our perfect Father in heaven. He loves and forgives us through Jesus, and he disciplines us and our children in that love. "My son, do not regard the Lord’s discipline lightly, and do not become weary of his correction. For the Lord disciplines the one whom he loves, and he corrects every son he accepts (Hebrews 12:5-6)."

God gives us the blessing of children, and the responsibility not to give them away, but to raise them in the LORD. We do this as parents. We assist parents as grandparents and relatives and as congregation members supporting a Christian school. We ask God our Father continue to raise us to do this through Word and Sacrament, so that we all may share in his holiness. "God disciplines us for our good, so that we may have a share in his holiness (Hebrews 12:10)."

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Midweek Worship @ 3:30 & 6:30

This week: Pastor Andy Retberg, St. John's Brockway

Sunday Worship @ 8 (Livestream) & 10:30am

Bible Class and Sunday School @ 9:15 at the School

This Sunday: Start of new class on 2 Corinthians

Wednesday Bible Classes on hold during Lent

Thursday Bible Information Class @ 6pm

Bulletins & Calendar

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Funeral for Peter Felsing

The funeral for our brother in Christ Peter Felsing will be held at Deisler funeral home, on Saturday, April 2nd, at 11:00am, with visitation from 9-11.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

Obituary: https://deislerfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/7813/Peter-Felsing/obituary.html

Funeral arrangements for Carol Smith are pending.

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Holy Week Services

Palm Sunday / Passion Sunday:

Normal service times on Sunday, April 10th

Maundy (Holy) Thursday: 6:30pm (NO 3:30 service as written in last email)

Good Friday: 1:30 traditional & 8pm Service of Darkness

Easter: Sunrise 7am & Festival with Communion 10:30am

Think of family and friends to invite! Pray that God gives opportunity.

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WELS International Youth Rally

This summer's International Youth Rally is in Knoxville, TN, under the theme: "Here and Now."

Royal people. Momentous Purpose. We are here and now “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).

Esther’s life was riveting. God’s love for her was amazing. God’s work through her was powerful. Esther was a royal woman who served a momentous purpose. We serve a momentous purpose too! Like Esther, our lives are riveting because of God’s amazing love and God’s powerful work. We are his royal people prepared, placed, and serving Here and Now for such a time as this.

For information about the rally, go to https://wels.net/serving-you/christian-life/discipleship/youth-rally/. To sign up, please contact or email Allen or Ginny Ash (alginash at yahoo.com), who are planning on going and willing to chaperone. Our deadline to sign up will be April 20th so we can get the early bird discount.

This year's Easter Breakfast free-will offering will help defray the costs of registration and travel for participants. There are also funds available for financial aid for those interested but concerned about cost. Contact either of the pastors if you're interested.

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Easter Breakfast

The men of St. Paul's are once again planning to make breakfast burritos the day before Easter to serve between services on Easter Sunday. Any men who are interested are invited to meet at 8am on April 16th in the kitchen at school to prepare burritos!

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Prayers:

-For the Felsing and Smith family as they mourn our fellow members Peter Felsing and Carol Smith, who have entered their eternal rest.

-For Mr. Needham and Mr. & Mrs. Korth as they deliberate calls

Bring prayers of thanksgiving and intercession to God!

This week's "better late than never" email comes in the lead up to a Sunday that has a very clear message. The story of the "Prodigal Son" is a well-known and well-loved story that communicates the Father's grace. We appreciate portions of the Bible that are very clear and give such clear comfort.

But how should you think about portions of the Bible that are very difficult to understand? What about those passages you read and say, "Huh?!"

Saint Augustine (AD354-430) once wrote this, "It is a wonderful and beneficial thing that the Holy Spirit organized the holy Scripture so as to satisfy hunger by means of plainer passages and remove boredom by means of its obscurer ones."

In Saint Augustine's opinion, the simple passages satisfy the hungry soul, and the more complicated ones satisfy our natural "boredom" by giving us something to wrestle with and put us on a rewarding journey of discovery. So next time you come across a "Huh!?" passage in the Bible, thank the Holy Spirit that he gives you the clear passages, and thank him that he has also shown you once again how much you have yet to learn from him.

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Saginaw Valley Lutheran Choral Concert

THIS SUNDAY! @ Bethany Lutheran Church, 3pm

Midweek Worship @ 3:30 & 6:30

Sunday Worship @ 8 (Livestream) & 10:30am

Bible Class and Sunday School @ 9:15 at the School

This Sunday: 2nd Peter

Wednesday Bible Classes on hold during Lent

Thursday Bible Information Class @ 6pm

Bulletins & Calendar

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Holy Week Services

Palm Sunday / Passion Sunday:

Normal service times on Sunday, April 10th

Maundy (Holy) Thursday: 3:30 & 6:30pm

Good Friday: 1:30 traditional & 8pm Service of Darkness

Easter: Sunrise 7am & Festival with Communion 10:30am

Think of family and friends to invite!

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WELS International Youth Rally

This summer's International Youth Rally is in Knoxville, TN, under the theme: "Here and Now."

Royal people. Momentous Purpose. We are here and now “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).

Esther’s life was riveting. God’s love for her was amazing. God’s work through her was powerful. Esther was a royal woman who served a momentous purpose. We serve a momentous purpose too! Like Esther, our lives are riveting because of God’s amazing love and God’s powerful work. We are his royal people prepared, placed, and serving Here and Now for such a time as this.

For information about the rally, go to https://wels.net/serving-you/christian-life/discipleship/youth-rally/. To sign up, please contact or email Allen or Ginny Ash (alginash at yahoo.com), who are planning on going and willing to chaperone. Our deadline to sign up will be April 20th so we can get the early bird discount.

This year's Easter Breakfast free-will offering will help defray the costs of registration and travel for participants. There are also funds available for financial aid for those interested but concerned about cost. Contact either of the pastors if you're interested.

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Easter Breakfast

The men of St. Paul's are once again planning to make breakfast burritos the day before Easter to serve between services on Easter Sunday. Any men who are interested are invited to meet at 8am on April 16th in the kitchen at school to prepare burritos!

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Prayers:

-For the Rosebrock family as they mourn Al Rosebrock

Bring prayers of thanksgiving and intercession to God!

Our dear brother in Christ, Al Rosebrock, was called to his eternal home yesterday. Even as we mourn, we rejoice in the promises God made to Al in his baptism, promises he firmly believed. His body, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, now rests until the last day. His soul, purchased by the blood of Christ, rejoices in the loving presence of his Father.

The funeral will take place at St. Paul's this Thursday, March 24th, at 12pm, with visitation from 10am. A luncheon will follow at the grade school. All members are welcome to gather around Christ's promises, receive comfort from God's Word, and to comfort the family. Friends are also welcome to visit with the family at the Wakeman Funeral Home, 1218 N. Michigan Ave., on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Al's obituary can be found here: https://www.wakemanfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Alfred-Rosebrock/#!/Obituary

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul:

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 23