By Rev. Matthew Hauser
Peace Pastor and Principal

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in the August edition of Saginaw Township Living Magazine.

Back in June, over Father’s Day weekend, I took my family to see the movie “Inside Out 2.” We had a great time, as I hope and pray you have had this summer! But, with summer ending and the new school year about to begin, I wanted to write briefly about one of the emotions from that movie: Anxiety.

While I hope your summer has been anything but anxious, I suspect that these next few weeks leading up to and beginning the school year may bring back some anxiety, both for students and parents alike.

As “Inside Out 2” tells us, “Anxiety uses our imaginations against us!” I found that line to be both accurate and profound. Anxiety forces us to ask the question, “What if?” And, then to live in an alternate reality where we imagine everything going wrong.

What if my classmates don’t like my outfit? What if I don’t have the supplies I need? What if no one likes me?

What if?

Or, for you parents out there: What if my son’s teacher isn’t patient? What if the school teaches something I’m not OK with? What if everything goes wrong?

What if?

As pastor and principal at Peace Lutheran School & Early Childhood Center, I not only rely heavily on my faith as a primary way to combat my own anxiety, but it’s a joy and a privilege to teach that faith to kids at Peace every day. That faith tends to help anxiety dissipate. However, we’re all human, and that means faith or no faith, anxiety is part of the human experience.

So, what are we to do? Well, if you’re a Christian, I suggest leaning into it! From personal experience, the more I focus on how much Jesus loves me, and the more I remind my family of that, the less anxious we all are. But, even without faith, there are plenty of things you can do.

The first step in solving any problem is admitting you have one! So, start there and realize that every one of us plays this insidious game of “What if” far too often, including our children. Remind yourself and them that feeling anxious is normal. That said, it doesn’t have to be.

Before jumping to having your kids see a counselor or pop a pill (both of which may be entirely necessary), maybe take a break from social media? Maybe turn off the news? Maybe eat well and get good sleep? Take good care of your body and mind and see if that doesn’t help.

Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention that it might not be a bad idea to take care of your soul. I’m not going to try and force religion down anyone’s throat. But, if you’re curious about how I care for my soul and how I help others do the same, you can find me at Peace Lutheran Church or school, and I’d be happy to chat!

Until then, I wish you and your family a calm and peaceful school year!
 

 

You could feel the electric excitement throughout every hall of Peace Lutheran School & Early Childhood Center during Wednesday’s Back to School Night at our Lawndale Campus. Our 2024-25 K-8 students got to meet their new teachers, get their textbooks, drop off their school supplies, find their desks and hug friends they’ve missed during summer. Outside, it was a beautiful evening for families to enjoy pizza and icy treats while learning about the hot lunch program, the school Academic Resource Classroom (ARC), our Earth Angels program, opportunities with our PTL and more. When asked, almost all the smiling kids said they are super excited for the first day of school on Monday. Reminder: Our first day is a half-day, with dismissal at 11:15am. All are invited to join us for our Opening Day Chapel at 10am in the gym. If you need childcare after school dismisses the first day and didn’t sign up during Back to School Night, please contact Early Childhood Program Director Mrs. Kathi Pearson at kpearson@peacesaginaw.org. We excitedly look forward to the first day of school for our K-8 students on Monday, and our Preschool and PreK students on Tuesday! See more photos here.

Now THIS is how you wrap up a fantastic season of Community Summer Camps at Peace Lutheran School & Early Childhood Center: 156 hot dogs + 150 bags of chips = Over 110 happy kids and parents at our third annual End of Summer Camps Hot Dog Lunch! We thank God for all the wonderful children, families and staff who help make our growing summer camps program such a success! See more photos here.

 

It’s that time of year: More beautiful music will soon be in the air! Peace handbells and the Peace Choir will have rehearsals on Thursday evenings starting Sept. 5 for the choir and Sept. 12 for handbells. Handbells will practice 6-7pm in the church (Adams Campus) sanctuary, and choir practice is 7:15-8:45pm in the downstairs choir room.
 

New bell ringers and singers are needed and welcome! No experience is necessary. Bells and choir are open to those in high school and older, or in middle school with a parent. Requirements: A love of praising God through music, a willingness to learn, grow and laugh, a commitment to fully engaging in weekly rehearsals, and a heart for service as the ensembles lead in worship.
 

Handbell Meet & Greet on Sept. 5
Interested in handbells but have more questions? You are invited to our Handbell Meet & Greet on Thursday, Sept. 5, from 6-6:45pm in the church sanctuary. This is for anyone who has ever wanted to try their hand at ringing bells. Everyone will get to ring, try out different bells, learn basic techniques, and even play some beginning level music together. It is an opportunity to learn more about what is involved in being part of a handbell ensemble, ask questions, and meet current ringers. Regular rehearsals will begin Sept 12.

If you are interested in handbells, choir or being an instrumentalist for special music, please contact Traditional Music Director Carol Armbrecht at carmbrecht@peacesaginaw.org or 793.9025, ext. 310.

 

Scenes from our 9am traditional and 11am modern services this past Sunday at Peace, as Pastor Erik talked about what true wisdom means. Great things are happening at Peace Lutheran! We’d love for you to worship with us! Join us at our blended casual service at 6:30pm Saturday at Peace Lutheran School (Lawndale Campus), 3161 Lawndale Road in Saginaw Township, or at our 9am traditional or 11am modern Sunday services at Peace Lutheran Church (Adams Campus), 3427 Adams Ave. in Saginaw. To watch the service videos, click the links above. See more photos here.
 

JOY is back! Please make plans to join us for the first JOY (Just Older Youth) experience after summer break. We’ll have “Bingo & Bring a Friend” at 1-3pm Monday, Sept. 9, in the church (Adams Campus) parlor. JOY is a warm and welcoming group of retirees who enjoy faith, fellowship and fun together once a month. We love making new friends at JOY, and we encourage you to bring a friend to the group in September so our group can grow joyfully!

PEACE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Peace Board of Directors Chairman Andy Richardson (far right) and his family.

Hello, Peace! My name is Andy Richardson, and I am now the Chair of the Board of Directors. My family have been members of Peace since 2000. My wife and I began our service at Peace Lutheran by helping with youth activities and Bible study. Since then, I have served as a Christ Care leader, counter, and on many committees, including School Policy, Vision, and most recently, the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors last met on July 16. I would like to share a brief summary of that meeting:

Board of Directors Meeting
July 16, 2024
The meeting began with prayer and a devotion on listening, based on James 1:19-20, followed by an orientation for new and continuing members. The board serves Peace Lutheran Ministries by providing oversight of staff and finances, communicating with the congregation, and creating the vision and long-term goals of the congregation.

To that end, last March, the board tasked TSSF, an architecture firm that includes Peace members, to assess both the Adams and Lawndale campuses. The school at Lawndale continues to grow in its ministry to children and families, and is struggling to manage space. As we look long term at Peace, the Board of Directors sought to understand the physical needs of both campuses. During this July meeting, we received a summary of that analysis from TSSF and have since been praying, discussing and deliberating the vision and long-term plan for Peace.

Over the coming weeks, we would like to share with you both the results of the study and deliberations of the Board of Directors. There will be informational presentations offered starting in September at various times and locations. More information will be coming soon. I invite you to come, listen, pray and get involved with the exciting things happening at Peace!

The Peace children’s ministry Christ’s Campfire Kids is winding down for the summer. Soon the campfire will be extinguished, and September will be here along with our busy Sunday Bible Club ministry! We love the opportunity to offer children’s ministry to many children (ages 1 through fifth grade), and to have strong attendance each week. It’s such a blessing to share God’s glorious love through His Word to these beautiful kids. We can’t do it without you! We need more adults and youths (Grades 6-12) to execute the lessons and activities that Mrs. Cottrell prepares for SBC during both worship services every Sunday morning. If you are interested in serving as little as one Sunday a month, we would love to have you on our SBC all-star team! Serving God in this capacity is such a heartwarming experience. Please reach out to Mrs. Haley Cottrell to sign up or ask questions: hcottrell@peacesaginaw.org.

SBC Christ’s Campfire Kids
Sunday, Aug. 11

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”– Exodus 20:12

When babies are born, they need a lot of love and care. They need someone to feed them, to hold them, to change them, to swaddle them, to rock them to sleep, and to love them. We don’t enter the world alone as babies. God provides grown people to care for us and take care of our needs. Some people have one parent; some people have two parents. Some people have parents and step-parents. Some people are raised by their grandparents or other caring adults. Whomever God provided to take care of you, He did so for a reason. He knew you needed someone to care for you and to guide you as you grow.

God tells us in the Bible to “Honor your father and mother.” We do not want to use disrespectful language or tone with them, like being sassy or talking back. We listen when they ask us to do something helpful and comply with their requests. We use our manners and choose to do the right thing instead of breaking the rules. This isn’t just suggested – it’s one of God’s “Big 10” rules. When God tells us it’s one of His rules, we know it’s really important.

At Christ’s Campfire Kids, we thoughtfully painted family portraits to remind us to honor those adults who care for us. Boy, did these special paintings turn out great! We have so many beautiful families at Peace! See more photos here.

 

Sunday, Aug. 18

We are not common! At Christ’s Campfire Kids this past Sunday at Peace, we cozied ourselves around the campfire and talked about the common loon.

“… You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you. …” – Isaiah 43:4

This quirky critter may be called “common,” but we would argue that the common loon is anything but common. They have bright red eyes. They have incredibly district markings. They carry their babies on their backs. They must run on water in order to fly.

God made each of our Campfire Kids unique, too. He designed you all to look differently, to speak differently, to act differently, and to have different gifts and talents. This does not mean that each of us is good at everything. God made you uniquely you!

When you discover your gifts and talents, the next step is using these gifts and talents to honor God. How can you use what you are good at to serve Jesus? Do not be afraid to try new things. Sometimes we discover new gifts and talents that God has given us when we least expect it. So, keep learning, keep trying and keep growing, because God made you unique, and He made you special. Like the loon, you are anything but common.

On Sunday at Christ’s Campfire Kids, we made our own loony paper puppet to remind us to celebrate the uniquely beautiful people God created us to be! The kids colored, cut and glued to create their own unique loon!

We have only one more weekend around the campfire before our traditional Sunday Bible Club ministry returns! Join us during the 9am traditional or 11am modern worship service at Peace Lutheran Church, 3427 Adams Ave. in Saginaw. See you next time, Campfire Kids! See more photos here.

Greetings! Oftentimes our families are overwhelmed by an overbooked schedule of events, school and work. Helping our children grow their faith is often deferred to those once-in-a-while moments when things are quiet, which is not necessarily weekend church. I would like to invite your child to participate in the Peace Public School Catechism Program. These classes direct us through love and tradition to clear passages of God’s Word.

This program is available to incoming sixth-graders all the way through high school who wish to be confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Peace Lutheran Church, and who attend a different school than our Peace Lutheran day school. Even if your child does not wish to be confirmed at Peace Lutheran, they are welcome to attend these classes to grow their faith.

Grades 6-7 participate in Old and New Testament Catechism classes 3:30-5pm Sundays, starting Sept. 8, with me. Eighth-graders and older participate in a Christian Formation Life Application class with Pastor Erik Schmidt at 5:30pm on Wednesdays starting Sept. 18. For Pastor Erik’s classes, register by emailing him at eschmidt@peacesaginaw.org. We would love to have anyone who wishes to join us and learn more about the Bible, Luther’s Small Catechism, and what we believe as Lutherans.

The class is free for all. They start in September and run through March or April with lots of breaks in between. Please email me, call or text if you have questions or would like to register your child.

God’s Blessings,
Leslie Hansen
980.3025
hansenjlk@aol.com

Looking for a fun way to get more involved at Peace Lutheran Ministries? Become an Earth Angel!

Q: What is an ‘Earth Angel’
A: An Earth Angel is someone who regularly prays for and supports an assigned Peace church/school staff member via monthly cards or small gifts throughout the academic year (September-May).

Q: Who can be an Earth Angel?
A: You. Me. Anyone who has a heart to bless others!

Q: Why should I consider being an Earth Angel?
A: This is YOUR opportunity to become part of an important ministry here at Peace. Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or dad, a retiree, a full-time worker, a homebound adult, a student, etc., you can make a difference in the life of a Peace staff member. It’s fun and rewarding!! But … SSSSHHH!!! It’s a secret! (Think of it like being a Secret Santa – only on a much more heavenly level!) Our staff reports that your prayers, cards and small gifts are so appreciated! The identity of Earth Angels will remain anonymous until a Reveal Reception in April 2025. That’s where the fun comes in (and the laughter and hugs ensue)! It is in blessing others that, oftentimes, we experience a blessing ourselves.

Q: How can I jump on board?                
A: If you are interested in blessing a Peace staff member in this way, please complete this application. You may drop it off in one of the Earth Angel boxes located in the church or school entryway, OR you can scan it and email it to: angels@peacesaginaw.org. Once you are assigned to a staff member, you will receive instructions on how/where to drop off your monthly cards/gifts.

One More Note
As you prayerfully consider this invitation to serve, please remember that we have 60-plus church and school staff members. Our goal is for every one of them to have an Earth Angel who will pray for them and cheer them on! We need YOU! Thank you for your consideration!

Learn More This Weekend
Got questions or need more details? Visit the Earth Angel table at worship services this Sunday, Aug. 25, at our Adams Campus, or contact Earth Angels Coordinator Kim McDonald at angels@peacesaginaw.org or 792.1158.

You are invited for a potluck dinner, fellowship and inspiration as we host the team that traveled to facilitate VBS in Goodnews Bay, Alaska, in July. The team includes Peace Family Life Ministries Director Mrs. Haley Cottrell and Peace Fifth-Grade Teacher Mr. Royden Pett. The potluck will be enjoyed at 6:30pm Monday, Sept. 9, in the church (Adams Campus) downstairs parlor. Please bring a dish to pass. Beverages and table service are provided. We are delighted that the Alaska mission trip team will be joining us for dinner. You will be blessed by their inspiring presentation. Please join us as we welcome the Alaska team and offer them our prayerful thanks for their sharing the Gospel for us in this special way.

God blessings to you for your support,
Nancy Salvner, PWIM Publicity Chair

We are in need of a least six volunteers to help form two more set-up teams for Saturday evening worship in the Weis Room at our Lawndale Campus. Set-up volunteers serve roughly one time per month during the school year only. Set-up usually takes about 45 minutes and takes place on Fridays after 6:30pm or Saturday morning. If you are able and willing to serve your church in this way, please contact Facilities Director Joel Keup at 245.7878 or jkeup@peacesaginaw.org.

Dear Peace Community,

You are invited to join others at the Old Town Community Outreach Center on Sept. 18-21, as they study God’s Word and reach out to the surrounding community to share the love of God as part of City Quake. Click here to register or learn more. You may also take a card from the notice shelf just outside the church gym door for more information. Thank you, and God bless your outreach to those around you.

Judy Hillman
Peace Liaison to Old Town

You are invited to join the members of Community Prayer Circles for prayer and praise 2:30-4pm Sunday, Sept. 15, in the Peace Lutheran Church (Adams Campus) parlor. Community Prayer Circles includes participants from churches and other Christian organizations throughout our community, including Peace Lutheran. Participants gather once a month for prayer, praise and socializing. Youths and adults of all ages are invited!

Harold H. ‘Buck’ Orr, on Aug. 9
Virginia ‘Ginny’ Gronholz, on Aug. 14
Tom Domson, on Aug. 18

Lila Alpin

Lester Crampton
Wyatt Crouse
Richard Curry
Nicole Eigner
Gerald Evans
Kim Feldotte
Mitch Foss
Allen Gerwin
Cathy Haglund
Dave Haiderer

Pastor Paul Hinz
Sally Hinz
Jack Koltvedt
Pam Lelak
Jan List
Ruben Mendez
Lynne O’Laughlin

Joyce Trumble
Tara Weber
Sam Weis

Wedding Anniversary
Scott and Bonnie Weber celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on Aug. 18. Altar flowers this past weekend were provided in their honor.