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Sean Ewbank, Pastor ST. THOMAS LUTHERAN CHURCH

Edward R. Aller, Pastor Emeritus

9393 Church Road

Grosse Ile, MI 48138

(734) 675-0005; (734) 675-8807

Fax: (734)675-5068

Pastor Sean: (734) 250-1655

Emails: pastorsean@ office@ Website:

APRIL 2013

Christ is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

In this Easter season of joy and Spring finally prying winter's grasp off of us, we can celebrate.  We can celebrate new beginnings and God's continued love for us.  We can celebrate life, love, and the gift of family and friends.  We can celebrate that death is not the end, but rather a doorway into new life with Christ who is risen.  

In this spirit and time, I am finally keeping a promise that I made to myself almost 20 years ago.  I was a brand new pastor and not very long into my ministry I saw marriages that were crumbling in my congregation.  Good people.  No one person was the "bad guy."  What they all had in common was that money difficulties made their marriages and the problems in them seem unmanageable.  It always seemed to boil down to money.  Then I got to reading and found out that national statistics bore out what I was finding to be true in my own setting.  In divorce, if money is not the number one cause (which in the vast majority it is) it ranks in the top three for reasons behind divorce.  

The promise that I made to myself is that I would preach on this topic at least once every two years no matter where I was serving.  I am not going to be silent if by dragging this topic out into the light of day we might save even one marriage.  Or how about strengthening a whole bunch of marriages?  Or teaching our kids some sensible values around the topic of money?  Or giving comfort to just one single person who is struggling?  Well, I have been here almost three years and I am finally keeping my promise, even if a bit late.  

Beginning Sunday, April 7, we will join together in a 5 week sermon series using Dave Ramsey's book.  Please attend worship and if you are not currently a part of a small group, do consider joining one.  This series will be helpful, interesting, and even have its moments of great humor.  We will examine Biblical principles behind how we relate to and use money, and at no point will you be asked to give more money to the church.  

Happy Easter!

Pastor Sean

EASTER SUNDAY MARCH 31

COMMUNION WORSHIP SERVICES

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THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD

EASTER FESTIVAL WORSHIP SERVICES

9:00 am AND 10:30am

EASTER SUNDAY CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

HOSTED BY WELCA

Following the 9:00am and 10:30am services

In the Fellowship Hall –

Take a few minutes to share in fellowship

 EASTER FLOWERS

We thank the following for providing

Easter flowers for our altar:

Gayle Mitchell (2) in memory of Carl & Dolly Geloneck

and Donna Black

Ethel J. Yops (2) in Memory of Robert C. Yops, Sr.

and Robert C. Yops, Jr.

Doug & Agnes Kujala

Betty Hoeft

In memory of Ken Hoeft

Pete & Sandi Loso (2) in memory of

Richard & Valere Carr

Peter & Elizabeth Loso

Ken & Joan DeByle

Betty Ruck (2)

John & Cheryl Shelton

In memory of Oliver and Rose Shelton

and Marge Bowen

Paula Riley

In memory of Irene Greer

Jeff & Katelyn Hubbard (2) in memory of

David & Elizabeth Sweeney

and Reg & Dorothy Hubbard

Bev Gover

In memory of Ed Gover

Harvey & Doris Nissley

THANK YOU TO WELCA

Special thanks go the WELCA group who have provided a variety of breakfasts for many years at St. Thomas on Easter Sunday. This year again, church attendees are invited to the fellowship hall to enjoy pastries, bagels, fruit and beverages following each of the worship services.

PLEASE JOIN US AS WE REVIEW

DAVE RAMSEY’S

Complete Guide to Money

New 5-Part Worship Series

April 7

Common Sense with Money

April 14

Money and Relationships

April 21

Getting Out of Debt

April 28

Saving for the Big Things:

Retirement & College

May 5

Making a Difference in Life

Presented at all of our three service times:

Sat. 5:30 pm Informal (Spoken)

Sun. 9:00 am Traditional

Sun. 10:30 am Contemporary & Sunday School

REMINDER: SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED

The WELCA for many years has provided scholarships in honor of Rev. Edward R. Aller. The deadline to apply for this year’s scholarship is April 15. To apply, please submit your name along with some information on what you’ve been involved in with church, school, community, service to others. You may supply a copy of an application submitted elsewhere. Eligibility: First priority – 2013 Graduating Seniors; second is past graduating adults who are attending two or four year post-secondary college with need. The scholarship will be awarded at the High School Senior Recognition worship service –date to be announced.

Through the years, St. Thomas WELCA has given $500 scholarships to high school graduates. Since 1993, 28 scholarships have been awarded totaling $14,000.

For the past 5 years, proceeds for the scholarship have come from the WELCA ongoing book sale in the fellowship hall. Since this fund-raiser began, $2,030 has been raised. Thank you WELCA!

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

Monica Arndt 4/02

Erin Shelton 4/02

Joan Hoffmeyer 4/05

Bridget Arndt 4/06

Sarah Karrar 4/06

Kathryn Bartos 4/08

Harvey Nissley 4/11

Jeffrey Hubbard III 4/13

Denise Malone 4/15

Kate Bickel 4/16

Larry Jones 4/19

Cheryl Finazzo 4/21

Nancy Graver 4/23

Lisa Poma 4/23

Marge Noyce 4/24

Sandra Persia 4/25

Robert Arndt 4/26

Adam Gluski 4/26

Grant Gluski 4/26

Lisa Klein 4/26

Madison Davis 4/28

Elizabeth Hoeft 4/29

Karl Rock 4/29

Karen Skrocki 4/29

Special birthday greetings go to

Harvey Nissley who will be celebrating

his 90th birthday on April 11.

Happy birthday Harvey!!!!

WEDDING

Congratulations to

Amanda Cox

And

Chad Hughes

Who were united in marriage

On March 23

At St. Thomas

Pastor Sean presided

KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS

RE-ENROLLMENT TIME!

Thank you to those who have participated this past year in the Kroger Community Rewards Program to earn funds for St. Thomas.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST RE-REGISTER NO LATER THAN APRIL 30; ON-LINE REGISTRATION ONLY AVAILABLE FOR THE PROGRAM in order to earn funds for St. Thomas May 2012 to May 2013.

IF YOU ENROLLED ON-LINE LAST YEAR, please take a moment to re-enroll as follows: Step by step instructions: Go to ; Click "Michigan;” Click "Re-enroll" if you were registered in the program last year and did so on-line.

1. Put in your e-mail

2. Put in your password. (If you forgot the password you set up, please go through the "Forgot your password")

3. Find St. Thomas by typing in NPO number 84955

4. Click the "Select Your Organization"

5. Click the" Save Changes"

IF YOU ARE NEW TO ENROLL:

You must have an e-mail and set up a password with Kroger. Go to ; Click "Michigan." Click "Enroll" then follow the prompts as directed. You will need your Kroger Plus Card number. St. Thomas’ NPO number is 84955. Detailed instructions are available in the church office.

Please note it may take about 10 days after re-registering for the rewards to show up on your receipts.

If you do not have a computer but would like to register, please contact the office and

we will help you.

St. Thomas appreciates your time and support!

* * * * * *

Forms are also available in the church office

to sign up for MEIJER Community Rewards.

CAMP REGISTRATION

Register for our week at MichiLuCa, July 14-19, by following our links on the website!  Look under the "YOUTH" tab.

Elementary camp (completed grades 3-5)

Confirmation camp (completed grades 6-7)

High School camp (completed grades 8-12)

Mission Camp - everyone else! 

Children too young to help with our building renovation projects will be supervised by camp staff.  Mission camp will include service work time, as well as worship, fellowship, hiking, swimming, campfires and more!

Student campers can complete their registrations on line.  Families and individuals registering for Mission Camp can print out the paperwork and turn it in to Krista Ewbank.  Talk to Krista or Pastor Sean for more information, or pick up the printed paperwork in the office.

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LADIES AND GIRLS DINNER

Mark your calendars for Wednesday evening, May 15 at 6:00pm for the annual Ladies’ and Girls’ dinner sponsored by the St. Thomas Men’s Group. The dinner is going to be catered by Sharkey’s Riverfront Tavern. The menu planned is soup, Maurice Salad (iceberg lettuce, ham, turkey, Swiss cheese with a choice of two dressings), and dessert will be ice cream filled puffs topped with chocolate.

A program will be presented by John H. Hartig, Manager of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge who will be talking about the Detroit river development.

Please sign up on the bulletin board by Friday, May 10.

APRIL MEN’S LUNCH

Pastor Ted Aller has agreed to make the lunch on Wednesday, April 3 at 12:00 noon. Let us all join in a good meal that he has always prepared along with dessert. Please don’t forget to bring a canned good for the food pantry. We hope to see you and invite your friends.

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Did I tell you the one about the muskrat

I found on the side of the road?

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Richard (Nugent) Withey

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I’m going to stab this with my fork before

it runs off my plate.

THANK YOU

St. Thomas hosted approximately 100 people for the Cluster Lenten Soup Supper on March 20. Very special thanks go to soup makers – Denise Lenhart, Tammy Davis, Dick & Gayle Withey, Denise Keeler, Pattie Wallace, Sandi Loso, Maryellen Nelson, Elke Malcomson, Diane Bloetscher and Krista Ewank for the wonderful selection of soups. Delicious desserts were provided by Judy Cemer, Bev Gover, Ethel Yops, Linda Landis, Grace Biggar and Carol Cameron. Lisa Blackburn provided lots of crackers and Kathie Kline and Becky Arndt provided beverages and ice. Sister churches provided a wonderful variety of sandwiches. Special thanks to Grace Biggar, Harvey & Doris Nissley and Greg Shelton for set up and Tammy Davis, Sandi Loso and Lisa Blackburn for clean up and many others who helped. The Holden Evening Prayer which followed was equally as nice and many thanks go to all those who helped with the service.

ITEMS OF NOTE

• On March 17, we remembered Carol Pray as the Purple Lenten Chasuble which Pastor Sean wears was dedicated in her memory.

• ISLAND-WIDE AMERICAN CROSS BLOOD DRIVE APRIL 7 AT ST. JAMES IN THEIR GALOWAY HALL. 8AM – 1:45PM. Go on line to to schedule an appointment or call Saint James at 676-1727 or 675-0417

• Devotional booklets for April, May and June are available in the tract rack.

• Peace Lutheran Church – 12250 Fort St in Southgate - presents a dinner theater play – “The Real Housewives of Cricket County” – Sunday, April 21 at 5:00pm. A Spaghetti Dinner with salad, rolls and dessert will be served between acts. Free will offering. Make reservations by calling 734-284-1922

APRIL SERVANTS OF ST. THOMAS

|SERVICE |GREETERS |USHERS |10:00 AM COFFEE HOST |LAY READERS |ALTAR CARE |COMMUNION ASSISTANTS |ACOLYTES |5:00PM YOUTH MEALS | |April 7

|9:00am |* |Al Skrocki, John Shelton, Sandi Loso |Agnes Kujala |Judy Cemer |Cheryl

Shelton

and

Grace

Biggar |Dan Sanquist & Judy Cemer |Kiernan O’Connor |* | | |10:30am |The Karrar Family | | |Allison Schmit | |Mark & Nancy Graver |Allie Graver |Kathie Kline | |April 14

|9:00am |* |Stu & Denise Keeler |Elke Malcomson |Sal Finazzo | |Corey & Darcie Bammer |Collin Bammer |* | | |10:30am |Linda & Michael Landis | | |Art Wahl | |Bill Swasey & Erin Shelton |Danielle Thompson |Rebecca Arndt | |April 21

|9:00am |* |Corey Bammer, Paul Smolak, Adam Bickel, Aaron Bickel |Judy Cemer |Maryellen Nelson | |Carol Viazanko & Dan Sanquist |Maddy Davis |* | | |10:30am |Judy Kohler & Marcia Steger | | |George Thompson | |Al Skrocki & Sandi Loso |Justine Brozek |Judy Cemer | |April 28

  |9:00am |*  |Judy Cemer, Sonny Ouellette, Bob Arndt, Bill Swasey |Need Volunteer* |Bill Swasey | |Sal & Cheryl Finazzo |Lisa Kohler |** | | |10:30am |Dick & Gayle Withey | | |Ethel Yops |  |Stuart & Denise Keeler |Lauren Graver |Tammy Davis | |APRIL 2013

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

• May 8 – GI Recreation Dept Senior Lunch – Cinco De Mayo Party – Taco Bar, songs of Mexico & prizes.

• May 8 – Downriver ELCA Cluster Ascension Service at Transfiguration Lutheran Church in Taylor.

• May 12 – Mother’s Day and High School Senior Recognition service.

• May 15 – Ladies’ & Girls’ Dinner at St. Thomas – 6:00pm.

• May 17-18 – Southeast Michigan Synod Assembly 2013.

• May 19 – Confirmation Sunday at St. Thomas.

• May 31 - June 2 – Island Fest (Parade on June 1).

• June 5 – Interfaith Baccalaureate for 2013 graduating seniors at Grosse Ile High School – 7:00pm.

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MEN’S

WILD

GAME

LUNCH

MARCH 6

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