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

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May 2007

As I write this, our nation is still recovering from the loss of the students at Virginia Technical University. There is much tension among the university campus, some are thinking about the possibility of copycat killings or worry about revenge upon Asian students. In a university community like ours with around 5,000 international students, we need to keep in mind their vulnerability in times like this. It is so easy for some to take out their frustration and anger on people who may look different. This is one area where we as a community can make a difference. We can show the love given to us in Jesus Christ who makes every person, no matter what nationality, a brother and sister in Christ. Jesus came to break down barriers not only between God and humankind, but also between people. Let us do what we can to mend the tears in our social fabric made by this tragedy.

I want to mention a few special things going on here at church this coming month of May.

During the Adult Forum at 9:45am we will have several different activities going on:

• May 6 - Our Youth Group will share their learning at the "Construction Zone" near Chicago. Several adults have asked them about the things they learned and did at that event. They have a lot to share.
• May 13 - I've asked Lindsay Cramer to share with us her recent trip to Antarctica. She will have a visual presentation along with her reflections on this special place.
• May 20 - We begin a Four Part Bible Study on the Stewardship of Creation, led by Dave & Anne Szymanski & Barb Paff. The Bible has a lot to say on how we care for the earth. We will use a new study written by Deaconess Kim Winchell of our Synod as the basis for our classes. The following 3 classes will meet at 10:45am following the 9:30am Worship. (Remember we go back to one service on May 27 at 9:30am for the summer.)

I want to thank all who participated in the special Congregational Meeting on April 15. It was good to hear the frank comments both for and against hiring an architect for the building project. (The report of the meeting is elsewhere in this newsletter.) This is a serious endeavor and we need everyone's input to make God pleasing decisions. That is why we need to pray continuously that the Holy Spirit guide us to do his purpose in all we do. Especially we pray in this regard because this will be a decision which will form St. Paul's for many years to come. I want to commend Chairman Buck Kuisel for the open meetings, the Property Committee led by Dan Grooms for all the work done to this point, and Fred Hartwig for the preliminary drawings. We are blessed in so many ways by the willingness of many members.

Finally, on Sunday, May 20 at 11am we will have the dedication of all the memorials for Tulin Stavely. Joe Stavely and Tulin's mother, Gail Kevenk, will be here with other family members. We will dedicate the modesty rail made by our resident wood craftsman, Woody Brenneman, and the other gifts given in her memory. That day is also the day for the Churchwide Vision for Mission Sunday. There will be a special envelope for this ELCA mission offering. Have a blessed Spring.

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