What have our Michigan District congregations and ministries been up to this spring? Below is a compilation of stories we gathered from social media and from submissions sent to us.
83 New Members / 32 Baptisms / 147 Confirmations
From Bruce Volkert, principal at Trinity, Utica: Five students in our 1st grade classrooms were welcomed into the family of God through the waters of Baptism. Pastor Nick Duerr hosts a series of grade-level specific "Faith Fundamental" Sunday worship services throughout the school year. Holy Baptism was the focus of the service for our 1stgrade students and their parents. With the additional assistance of 1st grade teachers Jolyn Felten and Hannah Webb, five families were moved to bring their children to Baptism. We praise Jesus for growing His kingdom through the partnership of our church and school and families.
On March 1, Our Savior, Lansing posted: 18 new members. 2 Baptisms. And a morning giving glory to God for the newest members of God’s family and of Our Savior Lutheran Church!
From St. John, Rochester on March 12: Such a tender moment on campus in our prayer chapel yesterday—along with a beautiful reminder to never stop praying for your friends and family to come to know the eternal love of Jesus! Jo’Ann’s sister has been faithfully praying for her over the last 70 years! It wasn’t until Jo’Ann moved from out of state into a local assisted living facility last year where she was invited by several of our St. John resident women to join them in watching our weekly worship livestreams that the Lord finally had His way! Answered prayer! It’s never too late! Welcome to the family Jo’Ann!
March 22: Shepherd’s Gate, Shelby Twp. welcomed 40 new members and had one Baptism. Praise God!
March 25: Four students were baptized during chapel at Trinity Lutheran School in Traverse City.
March 29, Palm Sunday: St. Peter’s, Eastpointe joyfully welcomed 4 adults and 3 children through the gift of Baptism. St. Michael’s, Portage received 6 new members. Immanuel, Sebewaing had one infant Baptism. Peace, Rogers City welcomed 6 new members.
On April 26, Grace, Muskegon welcomed two new members.
On May 10, a 19-year-old was baptized at Christ, Milford.
On May 17, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Birmingham posted: It's not often that we get the privilege of welcoming five siblings into the church through the sacrament of Baptism at the same time. Welcome to the Redeemer family!
On May 24, 6 new members were received at Peace, Waterford; an entire family was baptized at Shepherd’s Gate, Shelby Twp.; and First, Charlotte received 5 new members
May was Confirmation Month for many congregations: Christ, Milford; Christ the
King, Southgate; Historic Trinity, Detroit (the 175th class to be confirmed); New Hope, Hudsonville; Our Savior, Marlette; Our Shepherd, Birmingham; Peace, Waterford; Shepherd’s Gate, Shelby Twp.; St. John’s, Adrian; St. Lorenz, Frankenmuth; St. Luke, Ann Arbor; St. Michael’s, Portage; St. Paul, Ann Arbor; St. Paul, Unionville; Trinity, Berrien Springs; Trinity, Jackson; Trinity, Traverse City; University Lutheran Chapel, Ann Arbor; Zion, Holland.
Church Connections with Confirmands
Peace, Saginaw posted: On March 1, about 140 participants of all ages in the Peace
Prayer Partner program came together for the annual Prayer Partner Potluck. In the Prayer Partner program, every Peace 6th grade confirmation student (within our church and our school) is assigned an adult Peace member as a prayer partner, whom he or she keeps through 8th grade. Many of these partnerships grow into lifelong friendships! After the potluck, Peace Youth Director Leslie Hansen hosted youth Bible study in the church sanctuary.
On March 22, faith mentors and confirmands from Our Shepherd, Birmingham were building community and making memories through bowling, one frame at a time!
St. Michael, Portage held its Pre-Confirmation Questioning of the Catechumens on May 13. A reception followed and prayer partners were revealed. The rite of Confirmation took place on Sunday, May 17.
Easter Events
On March 15, St. Paul, Ann Arbor held its first Easter Festival with a huge turnout: 355 kids, 240 families, 3,283 eggs, and 48 volunteers. Helped by many volunteers and partners, the congregation is already looking forward to the next one in 2027.
On March 25, St. Paul, Trenton posted: So thankful to have students from Trenton
High School's Peer-to-Peer group join us and help us prepare for our Easter Egg-stravaganza. Over 1,200 eggs were filled and 100 crosses were cut out for our stained glass service project that will be made by the Eggstravaganza participants to be shared with people in our area nursing homes.
On March 29, St. Paul, Centreville hosted an Easter egg hunt with the help of volunteers and a Thrivent Action team. It was a big success. Open Arms, Belleville also hosted an Easter egg hunt. All 5,000 eggs were found. Peace, Ann Arbor held their 17th Annual Easter Egg Hunt. They had 24 amazing volunteers show up to make sure it ran smoothly for the 40 families that came. St. Paul, Trenton held its Eggstravaganza on April 4.
On April 11, Christ the King Lutheran Church of the Deaf celebrated its annual Deaf Passover Seder at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Flint.
Congregation News
In the afternoon of April 26, Cross of Christ, Bloomfield Hills celebrated the installation of Pastor Terry Baughman as the newly called senior pastor. Earlier that day, the congregation had decommissioned their Call Committee and thanked them for their 7 years of work. They also thanked Pastor Dan Flynn, who faithfully served Cross of Christ as their Interim/Vacancy Pastor.
May 2: Christ the King, Southgate held an event led by FiveTwo called Clarify Our Calling Workshop. A group from Trinity, Wyandotte attended as well. They spent the morning and afternoon taking a deeper look into their churches, their individual missions, and the mission they share as a whole.
Also on May 2, youth from Mt. Hope, Allen Park; Christ the King, Southgate; and St. John's, Taylor joined in a prayer walk. Each youth walked from station to station, praying for general and specific concerns together. We thank God for these young men and women of faith.
Our Savior, Lansing: Connect Worship at 10 a.m. on the 2nd and 4th Sundays gives families an interactive, station-based service that shares the same message. Kids can be kids as they hear God’s Word and as families grow together in faith. On a Sunday in March they made little lambs out of cotton balls, made headphones to listen to Jesus’ voice, and learned of their Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep so that we might have eternal life.
On May 13, Zion, Holland’s music ministry volunteers gathered in the fellowship hall for a post-season party. It was a great time of fellowship together.
On May 17, Christ, Milford held a celebration Sunday outdoors.
Also on May 17, St. Paul, Caro hosted a group baby shower, honoring four expectant mothers and their families with a dessert reception for 40 attendees. The church's women played a pivotal role in organizing the celebration, and the members’ generous gift-giving and support made the event a resounding success for the honored families.
Faith, Grand Blanc hosts a volleyball game for anyone who wants to play every Sunday afternoon.
On May 24, members of Our Shepherd, Birmingham planted 1,000 flags to honor soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom.
Honoring Church Workers
On March 24, University Lutheran Chapel, Ann Arbor (ULC) posted: Congratulations to our Deaconess and Director of International Student Connect, Norma Polk, for being named Woman of the Year by LWML Daughters on Mission! Norma was honored at the Council of Lutheran Women’s annual luncheon. Thank you, Norma, for connecting international students to the Gospel!
On March 29, Lutheran Church of the Messiah, Carrolton members held a surprise baby shower for Pastor and Mrs. Mundorf, whose baby boy was due on April 16.
On May 14, the LCMS International Mission posted: We praise God for the Erber family’s 40 years of international mission service! Rev. Dr. David Erber serves as a theological educator for the Africa region while his wife, Joyce, serves as the regional business manager for Africa. Pray for the Erbers and learn more: lcms.org/erber (the Erbers are missionaries from the Michigan District).
On May 17, St. Paul, Ann Arbor celebrated retiring principal Bob Burgess and
ministry milestones for several staff members: Congratulations Mr. Bob Burgess on your retirement and on 42 years of ministry! Congratulations also to Mrs. Julie Novak for 40 years in ministry, to Mr. Andy Contreras for 35 years in ministry, to Mrs. Shelley Grissom for 25 years in ministry, to Mrs. Jessica Meier for 20 years in ministry, and to Pastor Aaron Roggow and Mr. Steve Schmit, both for 15 years in ministry! We thank God for each and every one of you and how He works through you to sow truth, build faith, and shine His love!
Schools
On Thursday, March 19, Our Shepherd Lutheran School in Birmingham hosted a regional competition for the Great History Challenge. Several schools traveled to Our Shepherd for the buzz-in competition. The competition was fierce, but three Our Shepherd students qualified for the Great History Challenge National Championship
held over Memorial Day weekend in Columbus, Ohio.
A few alumni from St. Paul Lutheran School in Ann Arbor who are now students at Lutheran Westland High School (LHWL) visited St. Paul on Thursday, March 19, to serve as Mystery Readers, sharing their favorite stories with the K–4th graders. It was such a joy to see the students so engaged and excited about reading—what a wonderful way to celebrate National Reading Month! Other LHWL students visited Guardian Lutheran School in Dearborn to read to the students there.
Lutheran Northwest (LHNW) welcomed alumnus Ryan Toss on Monday, March 23, for a lunch-time presentation on firefighting and EMT careers. After attending grade school at St. Matthew, Walled Lake, Ryan graduated from LHNW in 2022 and is now serving as a member of the Auburn Hills Fire Department.
On April 22, Students and families arriving at Our Savior Lutheran School in Lansing received a “prayer wash” from faculty and staff. Each moment—whether with one student or an entire family—was an opportunity to encourage and uplift. It was a simple but powerful way to start the day grounded in faith.
A groundbreaking ceremony took place at St. Paul, Ann Arbor on April 26 as they get ready for a new library, renovation for added preschool space, and a complete rehaul of the parking lot.
May 5 Concert: 9 schools, 3 directors, and over 160 5th-8th grade musicians. This is the Valley Lutheran Junior Symphonic Band program! Personalized small group instruction at each school was paired with large group practices in preparation for the culminating year-end concert. A perfect blend of teaching, experience, and opportunity. The Junior Symphonic Bands concert included the following schools: Holy Cross, Saginaw; Peace, Saginaw; Immanuel, Frankentrost; St. Paul, Frankenlust; Zion, Auburn; St. Peter, Hemlock; Trinity, Monitor; Faith, Bay City; St. Michael's, Richville.
May 9: As part of Valley Lutheran High School Missions and Travel Club, a group of students and chaperones traveled to Camp Restore Detroit for a day of service and community building this past weekend. Partnering with Camp Restore, they worked with community members in Detroit to help with yard work and vital community clean up. At the end of the day, students got to design and sign a brick at Camp Restore alongside many other groups who have volunteered there over the years.
In late May, students from St. Paul School in Ann Arbor were spotted playing in front of the District Office. We love our neighbors!
Partnerships
On March 12, Band and choir students from Valley Lutheran High School in
Saginaw visited the Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne (CTSFW) campus. Band students toured campus with the Admissions team, and choir students recorded with Worship Anew, a ministry that provides worship resources to the homebound.
On April 14, staff from Cross & Resurrection, Ypsilanti; Emmaus, Ann Arbor; St. Luke, Ann Arbor; St. Paul, Ann Arbor; and ULC, Ann Arbor got together at St. Luke’s for a luncheon to collaborate on new ways to work together to best serve the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area.
St. Peter, Eastpointe posted: We are so thankful for the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs for
their care and support of our school community this year. They came alongside us not once, but twice, during seasons of loss, responding quickly and faithfully whenever we needed them. Their presence brought comfort, peace, and calm to our students, staff, and families during some very difficult moments. We are deeply grateful for their ministry and the gentle way they serve others through compassion and love.
Service
On March 17, a group of men from Shepherd’s Gate partnered with St. John,
Rochester to serve a family in need by building a wheelchair ramp. The family’s adult daughter had been unable to return home, but through this act of love and teamwork, they are now finally reunited. With materials and meals generously provided, this project became more than just a build—it became a bridge back home.
On March 25, over 100 volunteers from St. Paul and Emmaus, Ann Arbor helped pack 500 lunches for Hope Clinic. The next day, 10 volunteers took five carloads of sack lunches to Hope.
Also on March 25, St. John, Fraser hosted the annual Empty Bowls Soup Supper. For the past 17 years, the Ceramics classes of Lutheran High Northwest have hosted an Empty Bowls Dinner in the spring to raise money to help the homeless in their area. The students each create at least three bowls for the dinner. Students (and parents) pitch in to make soups and desserts which are served at the dinner. On the day of the dinner, students meet at St. John, cook the soups, set up for the event, serve the meal, bus the tables, and clean up afterward. The meal and bowls are paid for through free-will offerings, all of which are given directly to St. John's Homeless Missions program. It is a great way for students to use their God-given gifts to help serve and provide for those who are in need. Over the years, they've been able to raise nearly $25,000 to help the homeless. This year, between in-person giving at St. John, online giving, and gift-card giving, Mr. Davis and his students were able to donate $2,700 to the Homeless Missions program at St. John PLUS 10 bags of potatoes and 20 loaves of bread that went to Motor City Mitten Mission.
On March 30, the playground at Christ the King Lutheran School in Southgate needed some love. The 8th graders lent their time to help clean up the playground by raking leaves and picking up sticks.
On April 8, students and teachers from Open Arms Childcare Center (Belleville) went to Hampton Manor of Van Buren (Assisted Living facility) and spent time with the residents
On Saturday, April 18, some of the women at Zion, Holland gathered for Saturday Servants to put together items for Operation Christmas Child.
In the spring, St. Luke, Haslett hosted a series of drop-in employment workshops at Christ Campus on Saturdays, from 1–3 p.m. Each workshop had a different focus such as finding job openings, creating a resume, interviewing and onboarding, and good work practices.
On May 2, The Vine Church, Walker joined King’s Table Ministries and volunteers from New Hope Community Church for the "Weekend of HOPE." Together, they prepped the gardens at two Dignified Living group homes in Walker. It was a beautiful day of practical service and connection between volunteers, staff, and residents.
On May 4, St. Peter, Macomb’s school community (15 students and 3 adults) took part in the annual cut-a-thon benefiting Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan. Through their generosity, 49 ponytails were donated—enough to create 4–5 wigs for children in need.
On Saturday, May 9, Hope, Warren held a Postal Carrier Food Drive. Together, they filled more than 40 boxes of food that will help support families in their community through their weekly food pantry ministry.
On May 14, 24 students from Lutheran Northwest went to Cross of Christ, Bloomfield Hills and worked hard to help beautify the grounds.
On May 17, Peace, Ann Arbor members assembled care packages for the veterans at the Ann Arbor VA Hospital.
Also on May 17, New Hope, Hudsonville members volunteered at Mel Trotter Ministries by serving food. And a group of students from Lutheran Northwest joined St. Peter’s, Eastpointe for their service day. St. Peter’s posted: We are so thankful for all of their hard work, helping hands, and the joy they brought while they were here. Thank you for serving our school community with such positive attitudes and energy!
On May 20, Trinity, Pinckney posted: We recently had a blessing of the quilts that will be put into service with Orphan Grain Train (OGT). We thank our quilters for their love for others, love that is evident in these quilts. 36 quilts were delivered to OGT.
The week of May 24, members of Shepherd’s Gate, Shelby Twp. partnered with Camp Restore Detroit to help repair and restore lawn equipment used to serve local neighborhoods throughout Detroit.
International Missions / Ministry
In late February/early March, St. John’s, Midland sent a mission team to Stronghold Cambodia. There, they helped partner schools by visiting students’ homes, offering parent training on handwashing, giving fluoride treatments to children, leading devotions, helping with ESL, leading a youth gathering for 7th-12th graders and VBS for 3rd-6th graders, painting murals on the school walls, and painting the new soccer field walls.
The second annual All Nations Celebration took place on March 14 at St. Luke, Haslett, with 220 people in attendance.
News From Ministry Partners in the District
On March 9, Elli’s House, Detroit, posted: On Women’s History Month, Elli’s House founder, Deb, was honored as part of The Power of HER project by 1 Girl Revolution. This inspiring photography project celebrates women across Detroit who are making a difference in their communities every day—leaders, advocates, and world-changers whose stories deserve to be seen and shared. Deb’s heart for serving women and building relationships on the streets of Detroit is at the center of everything we do at Elli’s House, and we’re so proud to see her story included among so many incredible women working to bring hope and change to our city. Go to facebook.com/ellishouse313 to see pictures.
On Sunday, April 26, Lutherans For Life Executive Director Rev. Dr. Aric Fenske preached at St. Paul, Fowler and then spoke at the Lutherans for Life of Michigan Life Summit.
On April 30, Gifts For All God’s Children was blessed to take a group to tour 8 different places. From Rochester to Pontiac and to Macomb county, the group saw ministries and organizations serving those less fortunate. It was a great day.
Campus Ministry
On March 20, Rev. Dr. Trevor Sutton posted: The inaugural MSU Christian Study Center event was awesome! A huge thanks to everyone who helped make it happen—so great to see MSU students, faculty, and staff coming together to explore how the university can flourish through the contributions of the Christian intellectual tradition!
On April 22, University Lutheran Chapel held another “Final Fix.” They welcomed well over 400 students into their building for a breakfast buffet, coffee, and a place to study and/or hang out with friends before finals are underway. Thank you to the dozens of volunteers and baristas who make this event possible every semester!
On April 26, St. Peter, Big Rapids posted: We had the privilege of praying a blessing over our Ferris college students. As this season comes to a close, some are preparing to graduate and step into what’s next, while others are heading home for the summer. It has truly been such a gift to walk alongside these young adults—getting to know them, learning from them, and watching them grow in both life and faith. Each one has left a meaningful mark on our church family, and we are so grateful for the time we’ve shared together. We’re praying for safe travels, rest, and God’s guidance in every step ahead. No matter where they go, they will always have a place here at St. Peter’s.
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