michiganintouch.com 1
A publication of the Michigan District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Witness Michigan District, LCMS Supplement
Table of Contents
Healthy Workers
Great Compassion
Great Commission
Healthy Churches
Church Extension Fund
LLL / LWML
Christmas Appeal
News & Events
Special Recognition
Calls and Roster Update
Calendar of Events
©2023 Michigan District, LCMS, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan In Touch is published
monthly by the Michigan District and inserted into The Lutheran Witness and distributed
to subscribers 11 times a year. It is also available online at www.michiganintouch.com.
Reproduction of articles is permissible with written permission of the Michigan District
Communications Department and should give credit to Michigan In Touch. References
to resources and websites for further information are included in Michigan In Touch for
the potential use by individuals and congregations. Resources not associated with or
published by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod or Concordia Publishing House
®
may
contain helpful programmatic information but may vary in doctrine from The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. Please use discretion or consult your pastor on doctrinal issues.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
Rev. David A. Davis, President
Debby S. Fall, Editorial Manager
Michigan District, LCMS
3773 Geddes Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Official Periodical of the Michigan District
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
December 2023, Volume 22, No. 11
ISSN: 1538-8115 (print)
ISSN: 2331-8619 (online)
michigan
IN TOUCH
Linda M. Ekong, Art Director
Elisa L. Schulz, Staff Writer/Copy Editor
888.225.2111
intouch@michigandistrict.org
michigandistrict.org
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IN TOUCH
The Lutheran Witness
Michigan District, LCMS Supplement
IN TOUCH
A publication of the Michigan District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
A publication of the Michigan District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Witness
Michigan District, LCMS Supplement
IN TOUCH
michigan
michigan
December 2023
© Prixel Creative/Lightstock LLC
HEALTHY WORKERS
continued on page 2
Continuing in The Word
by Rev. David A. Davis
Here is a great word and promise from Jesus: “If
you [continue] in my word, you are truly my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you
free” (John 8:31–32).
is past year, anyone who got near me was
encouraged to continue in Jesus’ Word. Speci cally,
people have been encouraged to read through the
whole Bible annually. Much fruitfulness grows out of
2 December 2023
2
December 2023
this, not the least of which are truth and freedom. To continue in the Word is to
continue in relationship with Jesus, to continue in His Kingdom, to continue
in His grace. ere is truth. ere is freedom.
How has it gone for you? Did you think about getting started and never
did? Did you get started and then dropped out? Did you read far more than the
previous year but only portions of it? Did you indeed read through the whole
Bible?
Well, 2023 draws to a close and a New Year is at hand. What is your plan in
2024?
Let me encourage you to take up Jesus’ invitation … again. Continue in His
Word. Read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Scriptures. Whether you
never started, started and stopped, or started and kept going, in 2024 purpose
to read through the entire Bible. Find a good plan (like the Reformation
Reading Plan on the YouVersion Bible app),  nd a readable translation, nd
a good time of day,  nd a good location, and  nd Jesus. When you  nd Jesus
through His Word, you nd truth and freedom page after page after page. A
game changer, indeed.
ere is another point about continuing in the Word that you could consider.
What if we had stopped with the Old Testament? We would still be
bringing sacri ces. What if we stopped with Advent? We would be adoring a
miraculous baby and nothing more. What if we stopped with Jesus’ miracles
and teachings? We would be amazed but not changed. What if we stopped
with Jesus’ cruci xion? Paul said we should be pitied more than all people.
What if we stopped with His resurrection? We would have an eternal hope but
temporal uncertainty. What if we stopped with His reigning at the right hand
of the Father? We would have comfort but not urgency of ministry.
Let’s continue in Jesus’ Word all the way to the words about His return in
glory. One day our King is coming back. at serves as the culmination of His
Word and the consummation of our hope. Continuing to that very end is both
truth and freedom.
When Jesus said, “Take and eat; take and drink” (Matthew 26: 26 ), he was
not introducing a new law. He was o ering a life-changing invitation. In the
same vein, receive this invitation: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my
disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John
8:31–32).
Continue right on through, from Advent prophecies to the King’s return.
Rev. David A. Davis serves the Michigan District, LCMS as its
president.
continued from page 1
HEALTHY WORKERS
“
To continue in the Word
is to continue in relationship
with
Jesus, to continue in
His Kingdom, to continue
in
His grace. There is truth.
There is freedom.
”
2 December 2023
© Prixel Creative/Lightstock LLC
michiganintouch.com 3
© Photos courtesy of Shepherd’s Gate, Shelby Twp.
GREAT COMPASSION
Kuczera also organizes Shepherd’s Gate Step Out
and Serve weekend. at’s where more than 400
members work as the hands and feet of Jesus. ey go
out into the community and help around 40 families
and organizations. Kuczera plans it all. He makes sure
the materials are where they’re needed, the work gets
done, and the volunteers are fed. With Kuczera’s lead,
the weekend of serving has turned into a yearlong event,
and Shepherd’s Gate’s volunteers do this whenever and
wherever it’s needed.
At the time this story was written, he was setting up and
getting ready to give shelter to several homeless women
and children in Macomb County. By working with
MCREST, Kuczera helped Shepherd’s Gate transition
into a temporary shelter—a safe place to stay, eat, and
sleep for a week in October.
As he checked in on the nal crew that was working in
Detroit on that summer day, he pondered what his future
will look like. “Who knows what I’ll be doing in a year, or
ten years, but I have a feeling this is going to be a big part
of it.” said Kuczera.
You can view this story at youtu.be/7TivJ82TA88.
Mr. Jeff rey T. Heisner is the Video Journalist/Digital
Media Manager for the Michigan District, LCMS.
R
on Kuczera walked away from his career as
nancial consultant to serve as Shepherd’s Gate
Church’s Local Missions Coordinator. “If you would’ve
told me that I’d be doing this work now 10 years ago, I’d
probably say you’re a little crazy,” said Kuczera.
As he drives through the city of Detroit on a summer
weekend checking on crews of volunteers he helps
coordinate, Kuczera shares why he loves his current job.
He organizes and serves on Shepherd’s Gate missions that
help people in Macomb County and Metro Detroit. “For
me, this is not work,” said Kuczera. “Don’t tell Pastor
Tim, but he could probably not pay me for this.”
Shepherd’s Gate’s pastor, Rev. Tim Bollinger, knew being
Shepherd’s Gate’s Local Missions Coordinator was the
perfect t for Kuczera. “He has one of the biggest hearts I’ve
ever met,” said Bollinger. “I’ve been on mission trips with
him, I’ve served so many local projects with him. It’s in him.”
Kuczera meets with people and organizations that
need help. Whether it’s Elli’s House, Samaritan House,
or shut-in members of the church, he calls on his team of
volunteers and gets the yard work, construction, or other
labor done and needs met. “Two, three times a weekend
he’s somewhere, doing something incredible in a practical
way,” said Bollinger.
Servingand
Sacrifice
by Jeffrey T. Heisner
Kuczera also organizes Shepherd’s Gate
4 December 2023
GREAT COMPASSION
Blessed to be aBlessing
by Kathy Harris
Blessing
Photos courtesy of Kathy Harris
michiganintouch.com 5
F
aith, Bridgeport had a team of ve people serve
on a “hammer-and-nails” project for Funny River
Community Church, Alaska, on August 17–24. e team
was made up of Tom Harris (who had previously served
in Alaska on 2 other projects), Kathy Harris (previously
served in Alaska on 3 other projects), Bill and Sandy
Stroup, and Terri Buchinger (rst Alaska mission).
Our home church supported us in every way possible
(prayers, emotionally, nancially). e week before
we left, our pastor blessed us in front of the congrega-
tion and took a piece of cloth and ripped it in half (see
picture). One half stayed on the altar at Faith, to remind
our members to pray for our mission, and the other went
with us. We put ours on the door handle in the church
where we slept; every time we passed it, we prayed for
our congregation and for the Funny River community.
During this project, we worked alongside some locals
(Leroy S., Dar B., Mark S., Pat D., George W.) and a
retired pastor (Frank Johnston). We helped sheet exter-
nal walls, cut/built trusses, and cleaned windows. After
building the pattern for the trusses, we got 13 of the 26
trusses built and all of the wood and gussets cut for the
remaining trusses. e church opened its facility to host
our team and the community fed us. Members of the
church opened their homes to our team to learn more
about their community.
roughout the week, we saw God blessing us through
community members being open to help with the proj-
ect, other helpers, and non-members of the church who
attended church with us on Sunday. We also got to see
God’s creation up close (moose, bears, otters, reds ...),
develop friendships, and so much more.
is project wouldn’t have been successful without
Jan Bruick and sta from Alaska Mission for Christ
(AMC). ey picked us up at the airport, arranged hous-
ing (at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Chugiak, AK)
after our ight was delayed by four hours, and arranged
for our car rental agency to stay open later for our arrival.
God truly used everyone’s talents on this trip and we are
very thankful for each and every one of them.
God is awesome.
Mrs. Kathy Harris is a member at Faith, Bridgeport.
Editor’s notes:
David Anderson from Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat was in Funny River, AK this summer. He met a group
from Michigan that was on a mission trip to build a building for the local church. Anderson contacted the
Michigan District, LCMS and said that this group was amazing—they were Jesus’ hands and feet on the
ground. Later, the District learned that this was the group from Faith, Bridgeport.
Alaska Mission for Christ (AMC) is an LCMS ministry in its 31st year of serving in the country’s 49th
state. Jan Bruick, AMC’s servant event coordinator, says that this summer they had 56 teams and 400
volunteers serving in Alaska. Four of the teams were from Michigan:
• Faith, Bridgeport served in Funny River, AK with a building project.
• Christ, Milford, served at Mt. Drum Lutheran Church, Copper Center, AK in VBS ministry. ey have
been doing this for 10 years.
• St. James, Montague, served for the rst time in VBS ministry at the Fairbanks Native Bible Church
in Fairbanks, AK.
• Teams from Bethlehem, Good Shepherd, Holy Cross, and Peace in Saginaw as well as St. Peter,
Hemlock have all served in Goodnews Bay, AK in VBS ministry. Last fall, a family from Goodnews
Bay traveled to Saginaw and spent a week sharing their life story with area churches and Valley
Lutheran High School. is year, led by Jan Rauschert, a team of 11 people from Good Shepherd,
Saginaw and VLHS went back to serve in Goodnews Bay.
Additionally, the AMC missionary in Fairbanks, Nate Milan, and wife Sarah are both from Michigan.
AMC’s Jan Bruick adds, “We are thankful for our Michigan District teams and co-workers in His
Kingdom!”
6 December 2023
who are now receiving eternal formation in Jesus
through a quality Christian education. rough them,
our world will never be the same!
Understandably, this important mission partnership
requires resources. While COVID devastated the
world’s economy, South Africa has never rebounded
from over 50% unemployment and widespread crime
and unrest. In recent days, Christian Outreach For
Africa (COFA), the USA-based nonprot mission
partner established to provide sustainable mission
support toward this work in South Africa, shared a ve-
year goal of raising a $1 million student scholarship
endowment for students to attend St. Peter Lutheran
School in Mhluzi for today and into the future.
Which leads back to the original question: Perhaps
now you understand why anyone would be so very
motivated to ride a bike 175 miles nonstop! It’s because
we are crazy—crazy about sharing the love of Jesus
by making a Christian education available to as many
South African students as possible—knowing full well
that it will change the world for eternity!
is is why Muzi Khumalo (who serves as director
of the school) and I took on the 175-mile Munga Grit
gravel race to raise scholarships for the students of St.
Peter Lutheran School in Mhluzi. Beginning at noon
on Saturday, September 9, we rode straight through
the afternoon, evening, and night to cross the nish
line together in absolute exhaustion 23 hours later!
What made it truly worth the crazy eort was the
prayerfully generous nancial support that continued
to ow in before, during, and after we took on the crazy
challenge of the ride—all making a crazy dierence in
Jesus’ name!
And thankfully it’s not too late to be crazy with us!
Are You Crazy?
South Africa Student Scholarship Ride4Change
by Marc N. Schwichtenberg
GREAT COMMISSION
W
hy would you want to ride a bicycle nonstop
for 170 miles?! Are you crazy?!”
It’s a question I was asked a lot as my friend Muzi
Khumalo (son of the late Pastor Mandla Khumalo) and
I prepared to take on the 175-mile Munga Grit, a South
African-inspired gravel race up in Traverse City this
past September.
e answer to this question leads back over ve
years ago when I was rst blessed with the opportunity
to spend time with our Lutheran Christian sisters and
brothers in South Africa. Like many of you over the
years, I had read some of the stories and watched a few
of the movies that documented the brutal atrocities
of apartheid and was somewhat aware of the racial,
political, and economic tensions that still exist to this
day. Yet to be in South Africa, and see rsthand the
racially segregated neighborhoods and townships
established so many years ago that still exist—and
what the Lord can do when He has His way among His
people who have been through so very much—would
leave me forever changed.
Perhaps you’ve heard the story of a young Zulu
man named Mandla Khumalo, whom the Lord raised
up and transformed from a resistance ghter wanted
by the police in the days of apartheid, to a man of
reconciliation and peace by the life-changing power of
the gospel of Jesus—a man who would later be called
by the Lord to become a Lutheran pastor. You may also
be familiar with how the Lord gave him godly vision
to establish a Lutheran church body (Confessional
Lutheran Church of South Africa) along with a
Lutheran school that would impact South African lives
for eternity. As he knew well, when you bring quality
education to a child you change the world, but when
you bring a quality Christian education to a child you
change the world for eternity! While the Lord called
Pastor Khumalo home to heaven much too soon by our
limited, temporal timeline in March of 2021, his vision
for Christian education, gospel outreach, and Christ-
centered reconciliation continues to this day among
the Lord’s people of South Africa.
Home base for those eorts is St. Peter Lutheran
Church and School in Mhluzi, a suburb of Middelburg.
is past year, St. Peter began partnering with a local
orphanage and has admitted nearly 70 new students
Photo courtesy of Rev. Marc Schwichtenberg
“
continued on page 15
michiganintouch.com 7
GREAT COMPASSION
HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS
Photo courtesy of Elisa Schulz Photography
Pastor, We’re Praying for you!
by Joshua C. LaFeve
P
astor, we’re praying for you.” ose were the
words I heard as I descended the steps, passed
the front entrance of Immanuel, Leland, and made my
way to my oce prior to the Sunday morning Divine
Service. I turned to acknowledge the parishioner
speaking, and to express my gratitude, when she met
me with an extended hand holding a single white sheet
of 8.5 x 11 paper, folded in half.
Now, I don’t know about you, but when the pastor is
handed a single sheet of paper on a Sunday morning
accompanied with the words, “Pastor, we’re praying
for you,” he is typically not convinced that the words
tucked in that folded up piece of paper contain good
news. Nonetheless, I said, “ank you,” accepted the
oering, engaged in a bit of light conversation with
her, and then headed to my oce.
With some trepidation, I sat down at my desk and
unfolded the sheet of paper. At the top of the page
was the title, “Praying For Our Pastor.” Below were
two columns. e rst contained all the weeks of the
year with the appropriate dates. e second contained
signatures of Immanuel, Leland parishioners. Each
signature represented a single member or family that
agreed to pray intentionally for their pastor and his
family for an entire week of the calendar year.
As you might expect, that was quite
encouraging for this pastor to see.
And I keep that piece of paper close
at hand, next to my Call documents, to
remind me when the going gets tough,
just who is in charge of this whole
endeavor (God in Christ!) and who is
“
supporting me and my family in prayer.
It’s been at least three years now that I’ve received
a piece of paper like this from one of my parishioners,
along with those words, “Pastor, we’re praying for
you.” e one in 2020 was especially meaningful. A
pastor regularly prays for the people God has called
him to serve. He does this in the Prayer of the Church
on Sunday morning, and at various other times during
a given week. How special it is—though certainly not
necessary—to also have just a small piece of evidence
that the prayer line goes both ways.
A couple of years ago I found myself in a conver-
sation with some folks from another parish. In that
conversation they asked, “How best do you think a
congregation can care for its pastor?” I told them my
story. Can you think of a better way (aside from a fair
salary and decent benets!) that a congregation can
care for its church workers than through prayer?
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
always in every prayer of mine for you all making
my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in
the gospel from the rst day until now” (Philippians
4:3–5).
Rev. Joshua C. LaFeve serves Immanuel Lutheran
Church in Leland, Mich.
“
I keep that piece of paper close at hand ... to
remind me when the going gets tough, just who is
in charge of this whole endeavor (God in Christ!)
and who is supporting me and my family in prayer.
”
8 December 2023
CEF Year in Review - 2023
From expanding our relational
eorts with investors to hosting
new events and programs, all
of our work is made possible
through the loyal investments
from supporters like you.
Hands and Feet of CEF
There may only be 12 people
working daily at the Michigan
CEF oce. But across our small
sta, we have counted over 200
cumulative years of ministry—
which is part of why additions
and subtractions to our team
have such an impact.
Throughout 2023, we have
said hello and goodbye to
some amazing servants at CEF.
One such loyal worker was Bill
Burmeister, who retired from
CEF after 13 years of serving
as the Gift Planning Counselor
as well as the Director of
Congregational Services.
CEF has also had the privilege
of welcoming Rodney Barodte
as the new Director of Relations.
FOCUSED on the needs of
Michigan District Ministries
DECEMBER 2023
Promoting Worker Wellness
CEF focused specifically
in 2023 on programs that
promoted worker wellness
and overall ministry health.
This is why we partnered with
Concordia Plan Services to
oer a summer worker wellness
workshop, a free opportunity
for Lutheran ministry workers
in the Michigan district. The
event focused on the idea of
preventative planning and
personal care through financial,
physical, and mental health.
CEF also established the
Ministry Worker Wellness Grant
this year to help work toward
our wellness goal. The new
grant program has oered
funding of up to $2500 for
Michigan ministry workers to
host a wellness event, along
with three bonus grants of
$10,000 for the most creative
wellness ministry ideas. This
grant is in partnership with the
Mighty Fortress Foundation.
Building the Kingdom in 2023
But the true core of our work
at Church Extension Fund is
working directly with ministries
throughout our district to
empower the growth of
His kingdom.
St. Matthew Westland gave
us an opportunity in 2023 to
directly invest in the financial
well-being of a congregation
in need. Messiah Midland
continues to expand into
new community outreach
programs with CEF’s support.
And projects like the church
worker housing loan and helping
MOST Ministries remind us at
the CEF oce how we can
directly empower the individual
lives of church workers through
our business functions.
With your support in 2023,
we have built new facilities,
improved building accessibility,
launched new outreach
programs—and financed the
dreams of Lutheran ministries
all over the Michigan District.
It is thanks to your investments
that we get to support church
workers and district-wide
ministries.
We are so grateful for how you
continue to empower CEF’s
work, and we can’t wait to see
what we accomplish together
in the new year!
Church Extension Fund has been blessed to serve
the Michigan District for over 120 years. And the
past 12 months of 2023 have been further proof of
CEF’s nonstop opportunities to further His kingdom!
Church Extension Fund
3773 Geddes Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105-3098
www.mi-cef.org
Oces: 800-242-3944
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell
together in unity!”
Psalm 133:1
Rodney Barodte
Thanks to his work, CEF now
daily connects with churches,
pastors, volunteers, Lutheran
school principals and their
faculty, as well as CEF
congregational
representatives.
Throughout the next several
months, CEF will be
interviewing and hiring two
new employees in the IT and
Mortgage department.
Pastor Ed Doerner talks with CEF’s Andy Sohn
about the many ways that Messiah Midland
reaches into their community.
Ministry Worker
Wellness Grant
Marty Moro on a medical team for
MOST Ministries.
NEED NEW
michiganintouch.com 9
CEF Year in Review - 2023
From expanding our relational
eorts with investors to hosting
new events and programs, all
of our work is made possible
through the loyal investments
from supporters like you.
Hands and Feet of CEF
There may only be 12 people
working daily at the Michigan
CEF oce. But across our small
sta, we have counted over 200
cumulative years of ministry—
which is part of why additions
and subtractions to our team
have such an impact.
Throughout 2023, we have
said hello and goodbye to
some amazing servants at CEF.
One such loyal worker was Bill
Burmeister, who retired from
CEF after 13 years of serving
as the Gift Planning Counselor
as well as the Director of
Congregational Services.
CEF has also had the privilege
of welcoming Rodney Barodte
as the new Director of Relations.
FOCUSED on the needs of
Michigan District Ministries
DECEMBER 2023
Promoting Worker Wellness
CEF focused specifically
in 2023 on programs that
promoted worker wellness
and overall ministry health.
This is why we partnered with
Concordia Plan Services to
oer a summer worker wellness
workshop, a free opportunity
for Lutheran ministry workers
in the Michigan district. The
event focused on the idea of
preventative planning and
personal care through financial,
physical, and mental health.
CEF also established the
Ministry Worker Wellness Grant
this year to help work toward
our wellness goal. The new
grant program has oered
funding of up to $2500 for
Michigan ministry workers to
host a wellness event, along
with three bonus grants of
$10,000 for the most creative
wellness ministry ideas. This
grant is in partnership with the
Mighty Fortress Foundation.
Building the Kingdom in 2023
But the true core of our work
at Church Extension Fund is
working directly with ministries
throughout our district to
empower the growth of
His kingdom.
St. Matthew Westland gave
us an opportunity in 2023 to
directly invest in the financial
well-being of a congregation
in need. Messiah Midland
continues to expand into
new community outreach
programs with CEF’s support.
And projects like the church
worker housing loan and helping
MOST Ministries remind us at
the CEF oce how we can
directly empower the individual
lives of church workers through
our business functions.
With your support in 2023,
we have built new facilities,
improved building accessibility,
launched new outreach
programs—and financed the
dreams of Lutheran ministries
all over the Michigan District.
It is thanks to your investments
that we get to support church
workers and district-wide
ministries.
We are so grateful for how you
continue to empower CEF’s
work, and we can’t wait to see
what we accomplish together
in the new year!
Church Extension Fund has been blessed to serve
the Michigan District for over 120 years. And the
past 12 months of 2023 have been further proof of
CEF’s nonstop opportunities to further His kingdom!
Church Extension Fund
3773 Geddes Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105-3098
www.mi-cef.org
Oces: 800-242-3944
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell
together in unity!”
Psalm 133:1
Rodney Barodte
Thanks to his work, CEF now
daily connects with churches,
pastors, volunteers, Lutheran
school principals and their
faculty, as well as CEF
congregational
representatives.
Throughout the next several
months, CEF will be
interviewing and hiring two
new employees in the IT and
Mortgage department.
Pastor Ed Doerner talks with CEF’s Andy Sohn
about the many ways that Messiah Midland
reaches into their community.
Ministry Worker
Wellness Grant
Marty Moro on a medical team for
MOST Ministries.
10 December 2023
LUTHERAN LAYMEN’S LEAGUE
Holiday Specials
ese holiday specials are available through Lutheran
Hour Ministries. Check lhm.org for more details.
Little Shepherd is a 30–minute, animated Christmas
special about how the birth of Jesus transforms a
shepherd boy and his family. It is LHM’s most recently
produced TV special.
Red Boots for Christmas is a 30–minute, animated
Christmas special based on a German folk tale about a
grouchy shoemaker who comes to understand the gift
of giving.
Christmas Is is a 30–minute, animated Christmas
special about a boy who dreams he’s a shepherd boy in
Bethlehem 2,000 years ago.
� e City � at Forgot Christmas is a 30–minute
animated Christmas special in which the voices of
Sebastian Cabot, Louis Nye, and Charles Nelson
Reilly bring to life the tale of a town where Christmas
is almost forgotten.
� e Stableboy’s Christmas is an Emmy-award-
winning 30–minute Christmas drama about a young
daughter’s disappointment over a gift she did not
receive and a fantasy about the rst Christmas.
LUTHERAN WOMEN’S MISSIONARY LEAGUE
michiganintouch.com 11
Dear Friends in Christ,
Certainly, you have many on your “Christmas list”—
people you plan to give a gift to as we celebrate again
the great gift of Jesus. Jesus coming into the world as
Savior is worthy both of great celebration and also
imitation in the practice of gift giving.
This Gift is timeless—beyond any day or any
season. Our joy in the Michigan District is equipping
congregations to share Jesus, the greatest Gift of all,
with each other and within our communities and the
world.
As we prepare our hearts to receive Jesus, would you
consider adding the Michigan District to your gift
list? Until our work is complete on the day He returns,
there will always be a need to bring Jesus to those who
will find Him in our shared Great Commission and
Great Compassion ministry.
Michigan District
The Lutheran Church
-
Missouri Synod
3773 Geddes Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105-3098
Phone: 734.665.3791
|
Toll Free: 888.225.2111
|
Fax: 734.665.0255
|
michigandistrict.org
|
facebook.com/milcms
|
twitter.com/milcms
People of Hope ... Vigorously Making Known the Love of Christ
Continued on reverse side
2023 Christmas Appeal
President Davis, I would like to support the Michigan District, LCMS!
Enclosed is my tax deductible gift of :
$1,000
$500
$250 $100
$50
$25 Other
Name
Address
Phone Number
Congregation/CityCity State Zip
Email
Greatest Need (Unrestricted)
General Endowment
Lutheran Education
Mission & Ministry
Conference & Training Support
Leadership Development
I would like my gift to support:
I’m considering including the Michigan District in my estate, please contact me.
To explore additional ways to give to the Michigan District, visit michigandistrict.org/donate/ways-to-give.
Church Worker Care
Other
© Prostock-Studio/iStock
12 December 2023
Gifts to the Michigan District are not meant to replace or reduce your gifts to your
congregation or other ministries. Instead, these gifts support our current congregations
and church workers through district-wide training opportunities, congregation/circuit
collaboration, strategic congregation partnerships with the community, and
vision support for future ministry and innovation as
we carry out this work together as People of Hope.
Your gift will enable the Michigan District to strengthen and equip
church workers and congregations to share the greatest Gift of all so
that a world in need sees our hope in Jesus.
God grant you a blessed Christmas and a New Year of opportunities to
share your hope.
...eyes on Jesus ...
Rev. David A. Davis, President
Michigan District, LCMS
Your gift can be given for any of these designations:
...eyes on Jesus ...
Rev. David A. Davis, President
Credit Card Number Expiration Date
Signature Date
(MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express, Diners Club)
Cardholder’s Name (as it appears on the card)
Billing Address (if different from front)
By signing this form, the card holder is authorizing the Michigan District, LCMS to debit their card.
Please make checks payable to Michigan District, LCMS or provide credit card information below.
Return completed form and check (if applicable).
Return to:
Attn: Development Department
Michigan District, LCMS
3773 Geddes Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
My 2023 Christmas Gift
Or donate online at michigandistrict.org\christmasappeal
Church Worker Care
Lutheran Education
Greatest Need/Unrestricted – Ongoing and special needs
General Endowment – Invested with distributions for ongoing and special
needs
Lutheran Education – Early childhood centers and K-12 school support
Missions & Ministry – Training, grants, and administrative support for
great compassion and great commission endeavors
Conference & Training Support – District-sponsored training and
enrichment events
Leadership Development – Activities and scholarships for next generation
leaders
Church Worker Care – Preventive and immediate assistance and referrals
michiganintouch.com 13
CHRISTmas at St. Lorenz
Come to listen, sing along, and enjoy a Frankenmuth
tradition:  e St. Lorenz CHRISTmas Concert. All church
ensembles including the Mixed Choir, Mass Choir, Parish
Hand Bells, and Wind Ensemble will be heralding the
celebration of Our Lord’s nativity with joyous and festive
music. Additionally, come to hear and sing some of your
favorite Christmas Carols to start the Advent and Christmas
season. For more information, visit stlorenz.org. For 2024
Music at St. Lorenz, see display ad on page 14.
News and Events
Hymn Festival
Holy Light: A Candlelight Service of Carols and Hymns
will be led by organist Robert Hobby at Our Savior, Lansing
on Wednesday, December 6, at 7 p.m. Hobby is the Minister
of Music at Trinity English Lutheran Church in Fort
Wayne, Ind. e singing, by congregation and choir, will
be accompanied by organ, brass, timpani, and handbells. A
freewill o ering will be taken. Invite your family and friends
and join Our Savior as they celebrate the coming King born
in Bethlehem.
New Beginnings in His Presence
Do you need a break? Do you need encouragement from
fellow Christians? Do you like Mackinac Island? Would you
like to stay at the Grand Hotel while the Michigan colors are
in full glory? Could you bene t from great times of worship
and Bible study? Do you need an evening of laughter? If you
answered yes to even a couple of these questions, then the
Lutheran Adult Gathering is a great t for you.
e 2024 Lutheran Adult Gathering (LAG) will take place
October 11–13, 2024 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.
LAG is a weekend retreat with brothers and sisters in Christ
who come together from around the region to experience
worship, encouragement, education, and time together. It is
a chance to see old friends and meet new ones, a chance to
be intentional about your faith development, and a chance
to step out of the normal busy routines to be refreshed and
equipped for daily life.
e Gathering is for adults of any age—whether you are
in your twenties, thirties, forties, or older, you are welcome
to come! is could make a great Christmas gift for your
spouse or adult family members. For more information, visit
michigandistrict.org/events.
Church Worker Care
14 December 2023
Music
at St. Lorenz presents
ST. LORENZ
LUTHERAN CHURCH
1030 W. Tuscola
Frankenmuth
_____
ST. LORENZ WORSHIP
& EVENTS CENTER
850 W. Genesee
Frankenmuth
_____
989.652.6141
stlorenz.org
Concordia University - Choir
February 28 | 6:00 PM
COMING FROM IRVINE, CA, the fty-ve member Concordia University Choir under the direction of Dr. Michael
Busch will perform a wide range of repertoire during the usual 6pm mid-week Lenten service.
St. Lorenz Wind Ensemble "March Mania"
March 10 | 3:00 PM
Join the Wind Ensemble for March Madness festivities as they play songs and marches that you will get to vote on in a
tournament style bracket! Make sure to show up with the family to get your favorite song to be the winner!
Ascension Day Vespers
May 9 | 7:00 PM
We conclude the season with the RISEN AND ASCENDED SAVIOR who lives and reigns! Experience the beauty of EVENING
VESPERS as we celebrate this high festival with songs of praise aided by the choirs and instrumentalists of St. Lorenz.
LOCATION: ST. LORENZ WORSHIP & EVENTS CENTER
LOCATION: ST. LORENZ CHURCH SANCTUARY
All concerts are free and
open to the public. A free-will
offering will be received.
LOCATION: ST. LORENZ CHURCH SANCTUARY
Your Investment
Builds Churches
When you invest with Church Extension Fund your
investment helps to renovate and build churches and
schools, just like St. John, Fraser (pictured). Pastor Smith
of St. John says about their recent renovation, “CEF is
very supportive of the work. They don’t simply supply
the money, they have worked with our sta for years
to make it all come together.”
The information provided here is
not an oer to sell or a solicitation
of an oer to buy CEF securities.
The oering of CEF securities
is made solely by our Oering
Circular. CEF will oer and sell
our securities only in states where
authorized. The securities are
subject to certain risk factors as
described in our Oering Circular.
CEF investments are not insured
by the FDIC, SIPC, or any other
governmental agency.
Oce:
800-242-3944
24/7 Interest Rates:
800-232-7313
Website:
www.mi-cef.org
19-CEF-0116_HalfPageAd_V3.indd 1 6/24/19 3:15 PM
michiganintouch.com 15
As of today, over $25,000
has been given, but since all
gifts will be matched up to
$40,000 through our Michigan
District’s International
Ministry Initiative of the Here
We Stand campaign, that means close to $15,000 is still
available for the 100% match! Crazy, right?! Please
prayerfully consider being a part of this important
Ride4Change to help take a child through school and
make an impact on lives for eternity through the love
of Jesus. To be part of the change, follow this link:
donorbox.org/cofa-scholarship-2.
Rev. Marc N. Schwichtenberg is the Senior Pastor at
St. John Lutheran Church and School in Rochester.
For a podcast interview with Rev. Schwichtenberg
about the bike ride challenge, visit michigandistrict.
org, click on Podcasts.
Special Recognition
Kaye Wolff Receives Christus Vivit Award
Chosen by the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis—after consideration of personal knowledge
and/or recommendations by others—Mrs. Kaye Wol
was the recipient of the Christus Vivit Award for
demonstrating exemplary service to the church.
Wol, a retired information and technology
professional, has dedicated much of her tremendous
volunteer service to e Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod (LCMS) ministries and initiatives that serve
minority groups. She has worked closely with
LCMS Black Ministry and other ethnic ministries.
She is a founding member of Concordia Seminary’s
Multiethnic Symposium committee, which began
in 2008, and she remains a part of the planning
committee and is also a past presenter. She also served
on the advisory committee for the Seminary’s Ethnic
Immigrant Institute of eology (EIIT) during its
inception in 2002. She has served as chairman of the
LCMS Black Ministry Church Planting Task Force
(1996–2003) and also served on an LCMS convention
resolution task force (2016–19). Additionally, she
has presented several LCMS Rural and Small-Town
Mission webinars.
Wol has authored articles for the Lutheran
Woman’s Quarterly and Bible studies for Lutheran
Women in Mission (LWML) groups. She also has
contributed articles to Lutheran Mission Matters
(formerly Missio Apostolica) and has written Lenten
devotions for Lutheran Hour Ministries, where she
was a MissionU witnessing facilitator for 14 years. She
was instrumental in making the LCMS docu-movie
e First Rosa, about the pioneer Lutheran educator
and missionary Rosa Young (LCMS, 2014), where she
served as the unit production manager.
In 2020, Wol presented at the eological
Convocation on Race Relations at the Seminary in
St. Louis. She also has been a guest on KFUO’s radio
show “e Coee Hour” periodically over the last
six years. From 2020–22, she also served on a church
worker recruitment committee.
Active in the LWML most of her life, Wol has
served in local, district, and national roles within the
organization. During her term as LWML vice president
of special focus ministries (2015–19), Wol started the
Deaf Ministry Outreach Program to encourage hearing
women to learn basic American Sign Language (ASL)
and deaf culture, and to encourage and welcome deaf
women into active participation in LWML groups. She
continued from page 6
Are You Crazy?
Photo courtesy of Rev.
Schwichtenberg
Photo courtesy of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo
currently serves as chairman
of the 2021–23 Nominating
Committee.
A frequent visitor to the
Seminary campus, Wol is
known by many former and
current students as “Auntie
Kaye’” for her frequent
mentoring, support, and
commitment to them. Wol
and her husband, Rev. Paul
A. Wol, live in Southeld,
Mich. ey worship at Emmanuel Lutheran Church
in Dearborn, where Rev. Wol serves as the assistant
pastor. Kaye Wol is learning ASL and enjoys cooking
and eating, dressing in cultural attire, traveling, and
music. She and her husband have three grown children,
ve granddaughters and one great-granddaughter. ey
enjoy frequent visits with those family members who
live close by.
is article was originally published in the 2023
commencement page of Concordia Seminary in St.
Louis, Mo.
16 December 2023
For more information about these and other events visit:
michigandistrict.org/events
Calendar of Events
DECEMBER 2023
24–26 Christmas Weekend
DISTRICT OFFICE CLOSED
25 Christmas Day
31 New Year’s Eve
JANUARY 2024
1 New Year’s Day
DISTRICT OFFICE CLOSED
9 Board of Directors Meeting
New Life, Swartz Creek
21–27 National Lutheran Schools Week
FEBRUARY 2024
3 Theological Conference
Our Savior, Lansing
14 Ash Wednesday
15–16 Snow Tire Conference
Frankenmuth
24 Parish Nurse Conference
Frankenmuth
MARCH 2024
2 Pre-Retirement Conference
Holy Cross, Flushing
2-3 State Basketball Tournament
Lutheran High North, Macomb
18 Board of Directors Listening Event Metro West
Trinity, Monroe
19 Board of Directors Meeting
Trinity, Monroe
24 Palm Sunday
28 Maundy Thursday
29 Good Friday
DISTRICT OFFICE CLOSED
31 Easter Sunday
APRIL 2024
12–14 The Katie
DoubleTree by Hilton, Bay City
20 Community Worship Network
Our Savior, Lansing
28–30 Office Personnel Conference
DoubleTree by Hilton, Bay City
NEED NEW
Calls and Roster Update
ORDAINED
COMMISSIONED
Change of Status
Eberhard, Charlotte (St. Lorenz, Frankenmuth) to Candidate
Hildebrand, Laura (Christ, Stevensville) to Candidate
Hoerner, Miriam (Trinity, Utica) to Candidate
Major, Cynthia (St. Lorenz, Frankenmuth) to Emeritus
Pfeil, Nathanael (Holy Cross, Saginaw) to Candidate
Transferred Out of District
King, Carole (Candidate) to South Wisconsin District
Lewis, Lori (Reinstated) to Missouri District
Removed from Roster
Ennis, Jacob
Krueger, Bethany
A complete up-to-date listing of Calls and
Vacancies can be found at michigandistrict.org.
Calls Accepted
Rev. Robert Bartz (Three Rivers, MI) to IIM, Emmaus, Wauseon, OH
Rev. Dr. Douglas Krengel (Cypress, TX) to Sole, Immanuel, Bridgman
Rev. Colin Ford (Traverse City, MI) to, Associate, Mount Olive,
Columbia, SC
Rev. Jonathan C. Meyer (Edmond, OK) Sole, St. Matthew, Grand Rapids
Transferred Into District
Rev. Kurt C Klingbeil (Van Wert, OH) from Ohio District
Rev. Tyge Zucker (Red Wing, MN) from Minnesota South District
Transferred Out of District
Rev. Robert Bartz (Three Rivers, MI) to Ohio District
Rev. Timothy Eichberger (The Villages, FL) to Florida-Georgia District
Rev. Colin Ford (Traverse City, MI) to Southeastern District
Rev. James Weist (Traverse City, MI) to Montana District
Resigned from the Roster
Rev. Matthew Starner