Dear friends of Jesus connected through Peace,

Whew! What a week. Sunday we had our regular voters’ meeting to decide 2026 ministry. That was tough. Tuesday night the Right to Life banquet was hosted at Peace and I tried to make sure everything went smoothly. Wednesday and Thursday I had studies on Genesis. Friday we had the Trail for Treaters and talked to tons of people in the community. Saturday we’re cleaning up the site for the fall. Sunday we’re celebrating the Reformation. It’s good, but I am so ready for a break.

We don’t stay busy as God’s people to find good things, but because we are so filled with good things. We are convinced that the God of heaven and earth has made a home for us, that he does not hold our failures in the struggle against evil against us but has won for us, and that he can’t wait to finish the fight!

So press on, friends, with all the strength God gives you.

See you Sunday at 9:30

Pastor T

P.S. Fall work day Saturday morning at 9:30. Be glad to get ready for winter with you! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jRW9BdFPyF78VvJ4s4zm-Sl2dM3tSMmFFIcfY2SeXrM/edit?usp=sharing

Gospel Spotlight

This week I spent time at the Otsego-Plainwell Right to Life banquet. I heard some great stories and gained hope for life.

But the best part of the night, I got to invite a young lady to services. She said, do you meet here for service every week? Yes, every week. We gather each week to receive God’s forgiveness and gain the Spirit for life.

Where did you see the gospel at work this week?

Prayer Highlight

A young man from Allegan recently called the church looking for regular rides to service. This week I invite you to pray for him to have chances to come to service.

“Gracious God, your Word and Spirit have gone into the world changing the hearts and minds of people. Thank you for going before us especially to this young man. We pray that more doors open for him to gather with a Christian congregation and be saved.

“In Jesus’ name we pray,

“Amen.”

Our sick or homebound friends - Judy Haugh, Brenda Grimm, Shirley Kling, Darlene Syers, Irene Haas, Maxine Sandahl, and Marge Gavan

Trail for Treaters

Trail for Treaters was great! Thanks for all the donations!

“Still Not Frozen: Reformation 2025”

I talked with a guy a while back who started going to church. I asked him how that was going. He said he had a little more peace. I was so glad for him.

We’re still changing. We’re growing. We’re becoming. Not by our own power. But by the power of the gospel.

Come enjoy this life-giving gospel with me Sunday November 2nd at 9:30 as we celebrate the Reformation.

After service, we’ll have an ice cream party. Be sure to pick up a coin at Peace before hand, and grab one to share with a friend!

https://youtube.com/shorts/HuXu0X--hHQ

Voters’ Meeting follow up

The voters met Sunday, October 26th after the service to make decisions for 2026 ministry.

We approved an Emergency Funding Plan that would be implemented if necessary. The chief point of the Emergency Funding Plan is that we would release all gifts that had not been designated by a donor. This would mainly apply to Memorial Funds, which are gifts given in honor of a deceased individual. To see this plan, see our “Doctrine and Policy Handbook” https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QejXdmcVtYb7t4ChOhkcDpz9YkeCvGMTL3KcYwhUEuo/edit?usp=drive_link
We approved a budget for 2026, affirming our commitment to Christian ministry next year. We decided to continue ministry in 2026 expecting about a $15,000 deficit (ie spending about $15,000 more than we make in the year).
We did NOT decide how particularly to carry out ministry in 2026 in order to address the deficit and the ministry situation. We also did not decide when we would make this decision. We did NOT decide a 2026 ministry plan.

We’ll try to follow up with you regarding decisions for 2026 ministry. We invite you to talk with pastor or the council.

IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

Individuals 70 ½ or older should also know that they can receive some excellent benefits through IRA charitable distributions. Since the explanation is fairly lengthy, please visit the WELS page that explains. https://mcg.welsrc.net/download-mcg/ira-charitable-distributions/. If you need help, please speak with Ralph Holewa, our financial secretary.

Making Easter worship more wonderful: Candle

We’re thinking to make our Easter worship more wonderful in a visual way: a paschal candle!

The Paschal Candle is a symbol of our Lord’s resurrection and His visible presence here on earth during the 40 days after Easter.

The candle is lighted from the new fire kindled at the beginning of the Easter services.

This Easter candle symbolizes many things:

Before the minister lights the candle, he draws a cross in the wax. Above the cross he inscribes a letter “A” and below it the letter “O”, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These symbolize that Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Then he draws the year on the candle to signify that the risen Christ shall be a “pillar of fire” also in this year to lead us to the heavenly promised land.
There are wax nails put into the cross to symbolize the five wounds of Christ.

After the Easter service, the Paschal candle is put next to the altar. It stands there and is light for all the services until the Ascension service.

On that day we extinguish it when we hear the words of the Gospel: “He was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God.” (Mark 16:19)” (Adapted from What an Altar Guild Should Know, Paul H D Lang)

A Paschal candle is an affordable way ($150 - $200) to make our worship more beautiful. Here are some pictures. What do you think? Should we try one? Let me know.