The Milford Lutheran · Ryan Trine cousin of Steve Ugo Robert Caldwell cousin of Steve Ugo John...

The Milford Lutheran The Voice of Christ Lutheran Church

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.”

Volume 27 Issue 4 April 2020

The year we had two Easters. As I sit inside, having finished a walk with the family, that’s how I imagine we will talk about this time in a few years. In the midst of all this mayhem and madness, there will be a morning when we rise and the news will not be dominated by death and fear. Then we will celebrate. Yes, on that day we will have our Easter. Do not be discouraged. The Lord is risen and we will see Him. I thought about writing a long letter for you all, but I think we have all had more than enough information thrown at us. So in its place is a little good news and something for us to look forward to.

But I said at the beginning, two Easters? Perhaps you’re a little confused. Allow me to back up a bit as I have jumped into the middle of a thought. Easter is not simply a date on the calendar. It is a celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Church, we sometimes talk about every Sunday being an Easter celebration. Now, I say that, but if you check your calendar or google “Easter 2020”, you’ll see a date, April 12th. At this point the Governor of Michigan’s order to stay at home extends to April 13th. That means, at the very least, our worship on the 12th of April will be different than the Easter worship we’re used to. No balloons, no egg-hunts, no Easter Breakfast. Make no mistake, on April 12th we will celebrate Easter. As a friend of mine is encouraging his congregation, open your windows and let your neighbors hear your songs of praise. Let your Alleluias rise to the heavens for we will celebrate that Christ is risen! Let your neighbors know and celebrate the victory of Jesus. Satan cannot steal our joy away, just as he could not steal away our Christ. This will be our first Easter.

What about a second Easter? I feel a little like J.R.R. Tolkien’s hobbits talking about second breakfast. Isn’t one sufficient? Sure, but two is far better. Easter is a theological celebration. It is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. So rest assured, whenever the Lord allows us to gather together again, we will celebrate Easter with all the fanfare that we can muster. We will pack the Church. We will rejoice. Our alleluias will shake the very foundations of the heavens as heaven and earth unite our voices to praise our savior! We will have two Easters this year. What a joy it will be.

As I was thinking about this double blessing, I had that realization that we are not the first to have a double Easter celebration. John 20 describes the day of Jesus’ resurrection, all the Church is not gathered together. Thomas, particularly, is missing. Jesus comes among those who gather and they worship and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. They tell Thomas, but it isn’t Easter he says. Not until I see with my eyes and touch with my fingers. Then the gospel describes a beautiful second Easter. 8 days later (that’s the next Sunday), the disciples were gathered together. Thomas, too, this time. Jesus came and stood among them. A second Easter, a second celebration of the resurrection of Jesus by the Church. Thomas included, all gathered together. Joy abounding!

This will be the year of two Easters. One strange and one familiar, both celebrating the eternal blessings of Christ who is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

God be with you all. - Pastor Johnson

Christ Lutheran Milford 620 General Motors Rd

Milford, MI 48381

Church Website christlutheranmilford.org

Church Office-248-684-0895

Fax-248-685-7703

Church E-mail [email protected]

Pastor: Rev. Andrew Johnson

Secretary: Monica Tkac

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30-1:30 pm

Preschool Building

248-684-6773

Preschool E-mail [email protected]

School Director: Ruth Carlton

Regular Schedule Labor Day-Memorial Day

Sunday Worship-8:30 am

Bible Study-9:45 am

Sunday School-9:45 am

Sunday Worship-11:00 am

Summer Schedule Memorial Day-Labor Day

Sunday Worship Service-9:30 am

Bible Study-10:45 am

Monday Evening Worship

7:00 pm

Worship Schedule

https://www.christlutheranmilford.org/

mailto:[email protected]


Dear Members of Christ Lutheran,

I am sorry that this letter has taken a bit of time to put together. I hope that it will answer some questions and concerns you may have.

Christ Lutheran, Milford is postponing the celebration of Holy Communion at this time. This is why:

• We cannot gather in these current circumstances of “shelter at home;”

• Even if we could, there is no safe way to gather, handle, and distribute the elements in a way that guarantees the avoidance of contagion and the safety of those who receive communion and those who serve it;

• We will still receive God’s grace when we open God’s Word, hear it proclaimed, sing it, and share it with others. Remember: In the Word, God has promised to give us grace through two means: His Word and the sacraments. When we receive the body and blood of our Lord, he strengthens our faith, renews in us his forgiveness of sin, and gives us joy in the union we have with each other through Jesus Christ. He accomplishes the same thing through the Word, so even though we refrain from communion for a time, God will not fail to bring his grace through the Word;

• We’ve been here before. There have been many times in the history of the church when holy communion was infrequent because of circumstances or because that was the best practice. In the last century, some of us grew up receiving the sacrament every other Sunday. Before that, our grandparents received it once a month, once a quarter, or twice a year, depending on their context. The practice of holding communion every time we worship is a current phenomenon (and was also in the very earliest days of the church). Our need to refrain, then, has precedent.

I know that none of those reasons address how you and I feel about not being able to have communion. Receiving our Lord as he comes to us in his body and blood is one of the most precious experiences we can have. Knowing and facing the facts, then, doesn’t make this easy.

Please consider, then, that the reason I have made this decision, with our elders in agreement, is because we love you. We want you to be safe, because of love. That’s how shepherds feel about their sheep.

Won’t it be a wonderful day when we are gathered again and receive this precious gift! I invite you to believe that this will not last. Things will not always be this way. We will gather around the altar of our God in his good time.

I invite you to connect with me for further clarification or comfort in this regard.

The Lord Jesus, as the “Great Shepherd of the sheep,” will always lead us to green pastures and quiet waters (Ps. 23) which will feed, bless, and not harm us. As his under-shepherds, we will do the same.

The Lord be with you.

Pastor Andrew Johnson

Please remember in prayer the following who have been ill this past month:

Members: George & Bonnie Joerin Jeff Kleckner Harold Pratt Barb Baker Al Fust Bernie Russell Ed Brennan Sherry Ott-Scannell Shawn Mortensen JoAnn Bowman Frank Trace Dick Rasmussen John Carlton Amy Rasmussen John Peterson Joelyn Gaston Richard Prueter

Non-Members:

Mindy Joerin Chris Rauch Michele Monson Sharon Grossbauer Tim Fuester Barbara Mattila Mark Wittke Rebecca Chipps Michelle Dove Sandy Evans Phillip Cook II Jim Medhurst Violet Medhust Shari Roselle Casey Russell Damon Weaver Beth Hipps Roger E.

Please continue to pray for those serving our country, especially:

James Titus grandson of Barb Baker Jacob DeRosa relative of Robbie Reis James Rockrohr son of Rev. Carl & Deborah Rockrohr Michael Beam member and son of Scott & Jennie Beam Nick Wolfe grandson of Joe & Linda Wolfe and Mary Abbas McKale Qualls nephew of Bill & Micki Schaefer Ryan Trine cousin of Steve Ugo Robert Caldwell cousin of Steve Ugo John Broge ll nephew of Mike & Vicki Pelletier Chris Ferrell Son-in-law of Deborah Guibord Air Force

Please call me if there are any changes with your loved one on this list so I can keep it updated. Thank You!

Meals on Wheels Meals on Wheels is still delivering meals during this time. Dates for the April deliveries will be the 20-24th. If you can help out with the delivery

of these meals, please contact Dan Mallinson at 248-807-5601.

3 Michele Kramer 3 Elinor Wikoff 4 Bonnie Joerin 4 Clara Pelletier 5 Olga Loemker 6 Traci Brazier 8 Heather Lindberg 9 Kay Barlow 9 BenJamin Kuehnle 10 David Engel 10 Christine Klees 10 Emily Lowe 11 Anson Bosley 12 Cynthia Hosbach 16 Kirsten Webber 16 Ethan Young 17 Adeline Roy 18 Alexandra Schemanske 20 Colin Lowe 21 Natalie Killingbeck

21 Erika Lindberg 21 Breslynn Mills 21 Deana Webber 22 Emily Mathis 23 Daniel Munson 23 Emma Turnbow 23 Larry Vanderworp 24 Paul Gmelin 24 Jacob Vandike 25 Mark Carlton 25 Amy Mitchell 25 Vicki Spurlock 26 Jayla Brooks 26 Jeffrey Toepfer 27 Quinn Bosley 27 Barbara Hale 27 Micki Schaefer 28 Ava Armstrong 30 Valencia Hill

Michael & Denise Yaylaian 4-04-1964 Tom & Pat Hochthanner 4-18-1970 Richard & Barbara Hale 4-20-1996

The church office will remain closed during the month of April. Monica will continue to work from home, but will be monitoring the emails and phone messages for Pastor and the church. I pray that everyone stays safe during this time and look forward to

seeing you all when this is over. Sincerely, Monica

Worship for Shut-Ins

If you are unable to attend church and would like to listen to worship services on Sunday mornings, here is some info for you:

The Lutheran Hour on the radio has CHANGED AGAIN. Please see below:

The Lutheran Hour broadcast is back in the Sunday morning time slot at 9:00 am on WAAM 1600 from Ann Arbor.

DVD’s of the worship service are available each week for shut-ins. Please contact the church office at 248-684-0895 if you would like to receive a DVD.

ALSO, sermons can be seen on the Christ Lutheran web site at christlutheranmilford.org

LWML April 2020 News

Spring Greetings Ladies!.

Our April meeting has been cancelled , along with everything else due to the corona virus.

As of now, we are leaving the meeting for May on the calendar until we get news otherwise.

Wed. May 13th at 12:30. It will be a salad potluck! We will be planning the Rummage Sale to be held here June 11th-13th, 2020.

Please note, the LWML Zone retreat for May has also been cancelled.

The LWML Michigan District Convention will be held in Gaylord MI July 10-12, 2020. See Holly Kozak if interested in attending!

Thank You! Amazon Smile is a way to fundraise when you purchase items from Amazon. Please read on for more information. • Our unique charity link is: • https://smile.amazon.com/ch/38-6176273 • Please use this link when ordering from Amazon. • You are automatically taken to smile.amazon.com and are

asked if you want to support Christ Lutheran Church. • Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible

smile.amazon.com purchases to Christ Lutheran Church.

We have Facebook! Log in to Facebook and search “Christ Lutheran Church, Milford”. Just “Like” the page so you get important updates about upcoming

activities in the church.

Christian Education Scholarship Did you know that Christ Lutheran Church has a scholarship fund for members pursuing college degrees relating to church service? It’s called the Christian Education Scholarship fund, and it’s available for full-time students entering the ministry, deaconess, teaching or lay ministry programs. These students must be attending an approved Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod school. So, if you are a member of Christ Lutheran School and are considering a career in church work, please contact the Board of Stewardship chair Jennifer Beam for more information on this opportunity for assistance.

Electronic Giving Update: We are now up and running to receive electronic giving through Kindrid, our partner with Lutheran Church Extension Fund.

WAYS TO GIVE: Use the envelope assigned to you. Donate by cash or check in the offering plate. Give online at; www.christlutheranmilford.org/give Give via Facebook at Christ Lutheran Church and Preschool. If you have any questions email Jennie Beam at [email protected]

Our next Blood Drive will be on Thursday, May 28, 2020.

Thank you for all your support!

Jack Anthony Polega

Son of Donald and Alexandria Polega

This edition of your newsletter will be missing the “Those Serving This Month” page due to the lack of services. Please check the calendar for a list of

online devotions and services on Facebook Live.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/f.html?C=CWZK0AZZZD4W&K=A3D5PXTC3YTZ5H&R=RUAUU1627J8L&T=C&U=https%3A%2F%2Fsmile.amazon.com%2Fch%2F38-6176273%3Fref_%3Dpe_1723670_203812010&A=911PKBHEOKPL6FL4MZSVD7IRMMOA&H=VDASZTYSL5KKEMXX2H4DSZFQ4ZKA&ref_=pe_1723670_203812010

https://www.amazon.com/gp/f.html?C=CWZK0AZZZD4W&K=A3D5PXTC3YTZ5H&R=RUAUU1627J8L&T=C&U=https%3A%2F%2Fsmile.amazon.com%2Fch%2F38-6176273%3Fref_%3Dpe_1723670_203812010&A=911PKBHEOKPL6FL4MZSVD7IRMMOA&H=VDASZTYSL5KKEMXX2H4DSZFQ4ZKA&ref_=pe_1723670_203812010

http://www.christlutheranmilford.org/give


Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 7:00 Devotions Facebook Live

2

7:00 Devotions Facebook Live

3


4


5 Palm Sunday Worship 11:00 am Facebook Live



7


8


9

Maundy Thursday Service 7:00 pm Facebook Live

10 Good Friday Service 7:00 pm Facebook Live

11


12

Easter Sunday Worship-11:00 am Facebook Live 7:00 Devotions Facebook Live





17


18


19 Sunday Worship 11:00 am Facebook Live 7:00 Devotions Facebook Live







26 Sunday Worship 11:00 am Facebook Live 7:00 Devotions Facebook Live


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Meals on Wheels Delivery dates will be-April 20th-24th.

2020

All Facebook live services can be found on

@christlutheranmilford

Newsletter items are due online to Monica by

April 19th. Thank You!

CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL 620 General Motors Rd. Milford, Michigan 48381 (248) 684-0895 christlutheranmilford.org

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Milford, MI Permit No. 1

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD


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