Prayer List
Prayer ListGeneral Articles / ResourcesAnd we remember those who protect and nurture life on this earth, along with all military families, emergency responders, and hospital, nursing home and hospice care workers. [...]
Replays
ReplaysThursday's ThirstDuring the regular season (yes, I am talking MLB and the Tigers) it became my regular habit during the last two months to turn on Bally sports around 7:00 a.m. to watch the replay of the Tigers game from the day before.  Yes, ordinarily I had already seen the game and knew the results.  And, yes again, I was more likely to watch the replay if the Tigers had won the game.  This is a little more difficult in the postseason because I would have to actually record the game (and I’m just too lazy to do that).  Though I must admit, Tuesday morning after staying awake until 11:30 p.m. to watch the end of the Lions’ game, I did enjoy watching a replay of that game. [...]
September 29, 2024
September 29, 2024BulletinsEverlasting God, You have ordained and constituted the service of angels and men in a wonderful order. Mercifully grant that, as Your holy angels always serve and worship You in heaven, so by Your appointment they may also help and defend us here on earth; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [...]
Oldtimers’ Disease
Oldtimers’ DiseaseThursday's ThirstI was listening to a podcast the other day previewing the Old Testament lesson that will be read in many congregations this Sunday (but not ones that are celebrating “St. Michael and All Angels”).  It is a story all about anger and complaining – if you look at it from one perspective.  Or, from a different perspective, it is a story of abundance.  As I listened, I was amazed (once again) at how one’s perspective can completely change one’s story … and I got wondering how often my “Oldtimers Disease” drives me to an unhealthy perspective. [...]
Reverend Dietrick Gladden
Reverend Dietrick GladdenGeneral ArticlesReverend Dietrick Gladden accepted our call to be our pastor.  The installation of Rev. Dietrick Gladden will be on October 6th, at 3pm with a reception to follow. This will be followed by a brunch/luncheon in the gym. Please plan on coming to welcome our new Pastor and his wife Rebecca. [...]
September 15, 2024 Bulletin
September 15, 2024 BulletinBulletinsNot many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. [...]
September 8, 2024 Bulletin
September 8, 2024 BulletinBulletinsAre you interested in helping with the praise music during worship at St. Thomas? Handbells will be starting on September 19th at 7:15 p.m., and you’re invited to join them! They meet in the back of the worship center. You do not need any experience to join, training is provided. They need at least one more ringer – is that you? Come and find out! [...]
September 1, 2024 Bulletin
September 1, 2024 BulletinBulletins / UncategorizedNow, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the just decrees that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you. [...]
August 25, 2024 Bulletin
August 25, 2024 BulletinBulletinsWives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. [...]
Gap and Gain
Gap and GainThursday's ThirstAs I started reading the book I was not impressed.  It was obvious to me that the authors either knew nothing about or totally disagreed with the concept of original sin and human limitations.  They seemed to be pushing the concept that “you can do anything you put your mind to as long as you try hard enough.”  And I hope you realize this simply is not true.  However, I read on – hoping that such a popular book with monster reviews would have some value.  And I am glad I did – even though I am still not sure that they understand the challenges and limitations that all humans have because we are, by nature, sinful and finite creatures. [...]
August 18, 2024 Bulletin
August 18, 2024 BulletinBulletinsOur Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen [...]
Streteched
StretechedThursday's ThirstI regularly had days like Tuesday before I was retired, but I thought they were all in my past.  That said, in reality, the ways in which I was stretched on this past Tuesday do not really compare to many pre-retirement days.  So, I should probably just say that, as one who has celebrated 71 birthdays, I was stretched. [...]
July 28, 2024 Bulletin
July 28, 2024 BulletinBulletinsWhen they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. [...]
Seeking Some Balance
Seeking Some BalanceThursday's ThirstWe hear a lot about mental disorders like bi-polar, depression, and the like, and well we should.  The mental state of many in our world today – and especially it seems, among the young of our country, tracks in many wide directions.  Take, as an example, what was going on in the mind of that 20-year-old who shot up the Trump rally? [...]
July 21, 2024 Bulletin
July 21, 2024 BulletinBulletinsHeavenly Father, though we do not deserve Your goodness, still You provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may acknowledge Your gifts, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [...]
Mary Burke-Gianino Obituary
Mary Burke-Gianino ObituaryObituariesMary Christine Burke-Gianino, age 69, of Warren, Michigan passed away on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. She was born on February 6, 1955, to her late parents Albert and Ruth Burke. [...]
July 14, 2024 Bulletin
July 14, 2024 BulletinBulletinsO Lord, You granted Your prophets strength to resist the temptations of the devil and courage to proclaim repentance. Give us pure hearts and minds to follow Your Son faithfully even into suffering and death; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [...]
Hopefully
HopefullyThursday's ThirstAs I re-read some recent Thursday’s Thirsts, I noticed how many times I used the word hopefully. This can be a somewhat dangerous word, so I thought I might use this week to discuss the word’s usage. Hopefully – there it is again – you will find this worth your consideration. [...]
Let Freedom Ring
Let Freedom RingThursday's ThirstI’m on vacation, so this is a re-write from – believe it or not – ten years ago.  And, since it is being sent out a day earlier than usual – and at the suggestion of a neighbor – it comes under an altered heading.  Afterall, if you are at all like me, I don’t just get thirsty on Thursdays!  So, enjoy and be blessed (hopefully). [...]
July 7, 2024 Bulletin
July 7, 2024 BulletinBulletinsBehold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us. [...]
June 30th, 2024 Bulletin
June 30th, 2024 BulletinBulletinsIn March the organ power supply blew, resulting in using the keyboard for our worship services. The organ has served the congregation for nearly 50 years, quite an achievement and a direct result of the care and maintenance given to the organ over the years. [...]
When Will I Ever Learn?
When Will I Ever Learn?Thursday's ThirstDo you remember Pete Seeger, the American singer-songwriter from the 1950’s? Have you ever heard his song, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone”? I remember it mostly from Peter, Paul and Mary. The refrain at the end of each verse sang, “Oh, when will we ever learn? Oh, when will we ever learn?” [...]
June 23rd, 2024 Bulletin
June 23rd, 2024 BulletinBulletinsAnd I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. [...]
June 16, 2024 Bulletin
June 16, 2024 BulletinBulletinsBlessèd is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; [...]
Thin Ice
Thin IceThursday's ThirstWhat do you think of when someone says to you, “You’re walking on thin ice there”?  My mind goes to risky business and touchy subjects.  With that in mind one might say that I have been doing my share of thin ice walking this past week. [...]
Wednesday’s Words
Wednesday’s WordsThursday's ThirstYesterday morning, as I began my day reading a devotion from “Portals of Prayer,” the Bible verse topping the page got my attention.  “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12.12)  I think these words will continue to ring in my ears for quite some time.  “Christian hope” can be defined as “knowing the what, just not the when.”  We rejoice because we know that eternal life is ours.  We just don’t know when we will see Jesus face to face.  Or another way to put it, we don’t know when the tribulation in which we live will end.  However, since we know that it will end (because of our Christian hope) we can patiently endure it.  And the best and healthiest way to endure is by being – you guessed it – “constant in prayer”. [...]
June 9, 2024 Bulletin
June 9, 2024 BulletinBulletinsSince we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. [...]
Holy Cow!
Holy Cow!Thursday's Thirst“Holy Cow!” is an expression I have used various times over the years to express amazement or delight, but I never thought much about the background of the statement.  In looking it up this week I discovered that the expression was used regularly by sportscasters Phil Rizzuto and Harry Carry.  Some people speculate it references Hinduism.  Others think its Irish Gaelic.  Personally I am more interested in the first half of the expression than the second. [...]
May 12, 2024 Bulletin
May 12, 2024 BulletinBulletinsAlmighty God in his mercy has given his Son to die for you and through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus, has paid for your transgressions, and defeated death and all your enemies. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you of all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. [...]
Still Praying
Still PrayingThursday's ThirstIt had been over a year since we had seen them, so it was great to finally get together.  We met at a restaurant about an hour away so that the drive would be similar for both couples.  As you can imagine, there were no lags in the conversation while we were with them – after all, in one way or another, we have been friends since day one. [...]