The Rev. Brenna Overland and husband Aaron who welcomed their first child last month. Brenna serves as the Pastor of Bay City-First and as one of the Pastors To Pastors for the presbytery.

Jessica Schira and husband Jake, on the birth of their second child last week. Jessica serves at the Financial Secretary for the presbytery and at Saginaw-First.

The Rev. Dr. Stephan Shugert, Honorably Retired, Pastor Emeritus of Mt. Pleasant-First. who is battling pneumonia.

The Rev. Peter Russell, Honorably Retired, who is residing at Abbey Park in Grand Blanc.

Cathy Chang and family serving in the Philippines.

Rev. Andrew Miller (4/4) - Pastor of Mt. Pleasant-First

Rev. Dong Won Park (4/15) - 50 Years - Honorably Retired

Elder Jon Baker (4/26) - Commissioned Ruling Elder of Rosebush

Rev. Hoon Koo Lee (4/28) - Member-At-Large

Rev. Katrina Pekich-Bundy (5/1) - Pastor of Alma-First and Associate Protestant Chaplain of Alma College

Re. Ed Borycz (5/12) - Honorably Retired

Rev. Kim Strunz (5/16) - Member-At-Large

Rev. Dale Swihart (5/16) - Honorably Retired

Rev. Dr. Daniel Ahn (5/18) - Honorably Retired and Pastor Emeritus of Saginaw-Michigan Nanum

Rev. Bruce Cunningham (5/18) - Honorably Retired

Rev. Joseph Walser (5/22) - Honorably Retired

Easter is over. Pastors are taking a deep breath as Holy Week services are done and things, hopefully, are slowing down. Churches have loved the celebration with extra people and opportunities to worship. Both are looking towards the end of the program year and what to do before summer hits. We look forward and back from Easter. But this year, what I will remember most from the Easter is a little bit different than normal. What will I remember Easter 2023 for?

Having no refrigerator!

The Monday of Holy Week, DeAnn came downstairs to find that our freezer in our refrigerator had given up. There was water everywhere and you could tell things in the freezer had already started to spoil. So we had a whole refrigerator and freezer we had to throw away. Then came finding a new refrigerator which we did and which could come in a week. But that meant for all of Holy Week, we had to eat out or do take out. It was an interesting experience.

But it was also a great reminder about how much we take for granted. Having someplace to store leftovers or make ice for a cold drink or being able to raid the refrigerator for a snack (though not being able to do that one is probably a good thing!). We take having a freezer and a refrigerator for granted. Yet it was not until the last 100 years or so that being able to freeze food and have ice year round and keep the milk cold was even possible for most families.

I think about that as we come out of Easter. It can be so easy to take Easter for granted. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the church is full and it usually means spring has started (though this is Michigan!). And we forget or overlook that Easter is still with us. Easter doesn’t end with the last “Alleluia” on Easter morning. We are still in the Easter season almost to the end of May and we can and should celebrate Easter long after the day of Easter. 

So as we refill our new refrigerator and get things back to normal, I am going to try to not take Easter for granted but to give thanks and celebrate with joyful hearts! May the joy and promise of Easter last in all we seek to do and be as the church of Jesus Christ.

Ted McCulloch, Stated Clerk

We received this wonderful email today from Presbyterian Special Offerings. Congratulations to both Fenton-First and Bay City-Westminster for their generosity and support.

As we enter the Pentecost Offering season, I want to lift up a couple congregations in your community. 2023 marks the 25^th anniversary of the PC(USA)’s Pentecost Offering, and Fenton First Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Bay City are two of the few (less than 1% of the denomination) that have participated in the Offering every year since its inception. Incredible! Their generosity over the years has nurtured the faith of generations of young people as they share their unique gifts with the church and the world.

Pentecost Offering materials should already be in congregations. If you or folks in Lake Huron Presbytery are looking for additional resources, I invite you to explore the Special Offerings website. I am also happy to locate specific resources for you

Peace,

Lauren W. Rogers (she/her)

DID YOU KNOW … there are nearly 57,000 children struggling with hunger in eastern Michigan? Many of these kids and their families rely on school meal programs for proper nutrition. During the summer though, when school is out, these children may find themselves without food during the day. The Food Bank distributes free meals through the Meet Up and Eat Up and Summer on the Run meal programs. In 2022, more than 49,000 meals were delivered to 39 program sites. In addition, more than 8,000 nutrition bags were distributed on Fridays, giving the children food over the weekends throughout the summer. When you make a contribution to the Food Bank, you are directly impacting the lives of these children; providing them with the nutrition they need to grow and thrive. Help us fight hunger at FBEM.org.

Brochures from the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan can be found on the Mission Coordination Committee page of our website. Please feel free to print them or add them to your website and/or newsletters.

Birch Run-Taymouth invites all to their Fish Fry on Friday, April 28th. Lunch is from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Dinner is from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Click on More Information for pricing and a printable flier.

Caro-First seeks a pianist and/or organist to provide music for Sunday morning worship services on a regular or part time basis. Terms and pay are negotiable based upon experience. Opportunity for practice time with Steinway grand piano and historic Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ are also available and negotiable. If interested please contact Terry Wood at terryhwood@centurytel.net or 989-551-1554.

The Synod’s overarching theme is “In our Synod, we’ll try anything to equip leaders who attend to God’s creative, emerging future.” Working toward this goal, we offer regular equipping opportunities, beyond our monthly workshops to equip preachers. We are grateful for each of our partners in providing these ministries.