St. Paul Lutheran Church in East Lansing, Michigan. Member congregation of the ELCA - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

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May 2006

I want to give thanks about a number of things that have been on my mind and heart.

1) Thank you to those of you who were a part of our Prayer Vigil when the Neo-Nazis were in town. This is a spiritual concern that I have had since I was a teenager, how God could allow people of our spiritual tradition to be a part of the vast genocidal activity of World War II. The teachings of Jesus are diametrically opposed to those who hate. That means people on both sides of the issued can be totally wrong if they hate those who hate them. Jesus called us to love and pray for our enemies and to do good to those who harmfully use us. (Luke 6:27-31) It doesn't mean we are to be doormats, but hate only engenders more hate. To pray for those we perceive as our enemies is a more powerful spiritual tool.

2) Not knowing how the vote on the property will go this Sunday, I want to thank all the people who have been focused on this issue, Chairman Buck Kuisel and the Property Committee, headed by Dan Grooms, with members Mike Claucherty, Mike Feldpausch, and now Jerry Jolicoeur have done a great job looking into the needs and getting information to the members of our congregation. I pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance to lead us in this decision.

3) Thanks to all who made this Easter a meaningful time for me and those who participated in so many worship and activities. I begin by thanking Pat Reynolds and the soup and bread makers and providers for the meals before the Lenten services. It was great to have above average attendance at Lenten meals and services. The Praise Team, The Men's Chorus, and Brass Quartet did an excellent job in helping to inspire our worship as we celebrated our Lord's resurrection. We give thanks too for Susan Jacob's leadership in preparing for worship and Fred Hartwig's decoration. The ushers, acolytes, altar services, assisting ministers, ushers, counters and nursery staff and teachers all do their parts in a humble and dutiful way. And thanks to Mark Martin and the Youth Group for the fine pancake and sausage breakfast, and Cindy Martin and her helpers for the Easter Egg Hunt. Finally the office work done by Julie Anderson and the cleaning by Jim Claucherty helped things go smoothly and in good order.

All in all it was an inspirational Easter morning for me. Thanks also to all of you who attended and were a part of the celebration.

And to all those who I forget to thank and those that will be upset by mentioning your name I hope you will forgive me. There are so many beautiful things so many of you do that I'm not even aware of here at church. Thanks to all who contributed, packaged and delivered so that seven families in our area who otherwise might have had a rather sparse Easter could have a good meal that day.

As pastor, I get to see some of these things that many members do not. That is why I write this thank you, knowing it only scratches the surface of all that is done.

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