OFFICIAL ACTS
Baptisms
Confirmations	0
Weddings	0
Funerals	0

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Good Shepherd Preschool

It is time to enroll for the 2024-2025 school year. Enrollment forms and brochures are on the counter across from the preschool room. If you know someone that is interested in our program and would like more information, please help yourself to those forms . You can also help spread the word by putting up your yard sign to show others that you support Good Shepherd Preschool. Thank you for helping to let others know about the great things happening at St. James!

Blessings and thanks,
Marilee Bailey

Good Shepherd Preschool
Director and Teacher
894-8471

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It's Good Shepherd Yard Sign Season!

If you have a yard sign, please put it in your yard to show your support for Good Shepherd Preschool. Help spread the word about our school!

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Epoxy Class

Saturday, May 4th, from 2:30 - 6:30 pm
$35/person. Sign up TODAY… as space is limited.
Teaching a basic class using epoxy. You will receive a 5x7 in. frame. No prior knowledge is needed. Create your own masterpiece! Must be at least 13 but accompanied by an adult. Bring your own keepsakes/shells if you desire to add to your artwork. Question? Contact James Morningstar at 894-8997!

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Pew Sisters News

The Pew Sisters have just completed the book “Lutheran Spirituality”. We have found it to be a great blessing and a wonderful learning experience. There is a copy available in our library to check out. We would like to share the following passages for the benefit of us all. Let us always show ourselves as Children of God, which we are. Let us be loving, kind, and always forgiving. Shared with you in God’s love…from “Lutheran Spirituality”…“When we look to our pastors, we look at the office they hold and not to them as persons. Recognizing that they are forgiven sinners just like us, overlooking their petty faults, and forgiving them their sins, we support them as they serve us. This is both our job and our joy as Christians”.

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Pew Sisters New Study - Living Fearless

The study begins Wednesday, May 8th, at 9:00 am. Please sign up on the bulletin board so we can get a book count. Some may already have this book as it was the topic of the Fall 2023 Women’s Retreat. Please mark down if you already have the book when you sign up!

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Women of St. James

Attention all “Living Fearless” readers from November 2023 Retreat: The Pew Sisters will be starting “Living Fearless” for our next study: Wednesday, May 8th, at 9:00a ~ Sign-up in the narthex!

As we look back on March’s Retreat with Sarah Shultz, please remember our commitment to checking up on each other. We each chose someone from the Retreat, but it’s also a good idea to touch base with someone you haven’t seen in a while, someone who may need a friend or someone sitting next to you at church. The connections and friendships with women of faith are a vital part of our faith walk. The door is open as we look ahead to what’s next for the women of St. James. What are you looking or hoping to see next? A study that you’ve seen and would like to try, an activity you’d enjoy, or a service project that has been on your mind? Please feel free to give me a call, send me an email or catch me after church to share your thoughts. Let the brainstorming begin. I look forward to hearing from you.

Ellen Grimm
Harleyekglady@comcast.net
231-730-1726

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Congregational Voters Meeting

Wednesday, May 8th, at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. If you would like something added to the agenda, please contact the office by May 6th!

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Confirmation End of the Year Party

Wednesday, May 8th, from 6:00-7:30 pm at the Baumann's

All confirmation families are invited! Please sign up on the board to let Russell and Emilie know how many to plan for.
Meal will be: Mac's Meats Pulled pork, fruit, chips, and drink.

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Church Golf Outing

Saturday, May 11th, 9:00 am, (Please be to the course by 7:45 am!)
9-hole scramble ~ Old Channel Trail Golf Course
$30/person, $7/person if you are a member of the course. Potluck to follow!
Sign your team up on the bulletin board.
Fees are being collected between services!
This event is sponsored by the
Alaska Mission Team.

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Happy Mother’s Day

My Mother kept a garden, a garden of the heart.
She planted all the good things that gave my life its start.
She turned me to the sunshine and encouraged me to dream.
Fostering and nurturing the seeds of self-esteem.
And when the winds and rain came, she protected me enough.
But not too much because she knew
I'd need to stand up strong and tough.
Her constant good example always taught me right from wrong.
Markers for my pathway that will last a lifetime long.
I am my Mother's garden. I am her legacy.
And I hope today she feels the love
Reflected back from me.
  —Author Unknown

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Thank you Mom!

Mother's Day, Sunday, May 12th

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2024 Church Façade Project

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO:

• Trim back shrubs & blow leaves away from building
• Remove plexiglass from windows
• Scrape old paint on window frames
• Prime & paint window frames
• Clean and power wash brick
• Please watch for sign-ups for each job listed above!

SUB-CONTRACTOR WILL:

• Brick tuck pointing/repairs
• Caulking and Sealing of brick

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Trail Life - USA

Trail Life Trailmen Hit The Trail!
As the weather warms up Trail Life USA Troop #8945 prepare to hit the Trail with a number of upcoming outdoor activities!

But FIRST ... we say THANK YOU to those who have generously donated camping equipment or funds to the Troop! We appreciate it and will be good stewards of all we receive. Won't be long and we will need to acquire items for a Camp Kitchen (young boys are eating machines!!!) and more outdoor gear as these young Trailmen love to be outside!

As I write this, we are preparing for a fishing expedition on White Lake on Tuesday evening, April 23rd! With Master Fisherman, Frank Morningstar, we have high hopes of being taught how to fish for a number of species and perhaps pulling enough in for a meal!

Saturday, May 4th, at the Bowditch Farm, (time to be determined), Learning how to safely handle and shoot a bow and arrow.

Friday, May 31, overnight campout and Woodsman exploring at Bruce Wackernagel's woods property north of Montague. Setting up shelters or tents, digging a latrine, cooking over a fire, tree and track identification, picking off ticks, and more! Our older Navigator Trailmen (Jr. High age) are planning the meal menu and will be doing the cooking!

Tuesday, June 4, Court of Honor Awards Banquet as we recognize and congratulate the Trailmen who have completed a number of requirements to advance. This will be a family event and we will be making a sloppy joe dinner for all who come.

Saturday, June 29, Car Wash that will accept donations at WinBerg Construction on Business 31. (THANK YOU Brad & Erika!) Hours to be posted soon. Proceeds go to future Troop Expeditions and State and National Trail Life USA gatherings and campouts.

We are planning on walking with St. James Lutheran Church in the 4th of July parade

Sometime in July an overnight paddle on the White River. We'll put in and paddle for several hours, make camp, and explore.

Any and all boys from Kindergarten and up are invited to come, check us out, and see what it's all about, and be part of it all! We meet every Tuesday evening from 6-7:30 p.m. The evening includes outdoor games, a teaching and demonstration time, and devotion. Got Questions? Contact Troop Leader, Josh Huls (231-780-8449), for answers! See you on the Trail!

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Coming in July…

VBS 2024 "Way, Truth, Life"

We are looking for volunteers! We need 50+ people to help out with VBS. Jobs include; working with kids, food prep, decorations, set up & clean up, craft prep days, media, and floats, who are willing to jump in at a moments notice.

Take a look at the sign-up board in the church to see if there is a spot that you can help with. Take some time to pray about whether VBS is something that you would like to be a part of.

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Thrivent Whitehall Office

Introducing Roots & Wings
One of the things I am grateful for as your financial advisor is the opportunity to connect with organizations doing amazing work in the community. Roots & Wings is a brand-new non-profit making the topic of legacy practical and accessible, helping families just like yours live and leave a legacy in their faith, family, and finances. You are living a legacy right now, whether you are intentional about it or not. In much the same way, you’ll also leave a legacy when you pass away.

Through an online library of resources, Roots & Wings equips, encourages, and inspires individuals and families in the areas of:

• Financial Education that isn’t confusing or boring, and helps with practical planning for generations
• Purpose and guidance for those experiencing an identity crisis in the wake of a major life transition
• Nurture that supports caregivers, widows, divorcees (and more) as they reclaim their stories in the midst of grief

Roots & Wings is celebrating the release of their online library on Friday, May 3rd from 12 – 12:30 p.m. EST. with a Virtual Launch Lunch – a quick, 30-minute webinar showcasing their resources and sharing their vision for community impact. It’s free and easy to register at bit.ly/launch_lunch. Will you join me online for this event?

For any financial questions, needs or concerns, please call Marci Bentz at the Whitehall Thrivent Office at 231-894-8886, text 231-760-8246 or email whitehalloffice@thrivent.com.

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Online Service Directions!

How to watch our services online step by step: on Facebook Live on Sundays at 8:00 am

1. In the top search bar... Go to https://www.facebook.com/stjamesmontague/videos
   (You do not need to have a Facebook account page to access this)
2. Close the popup box asking to login to your Facebook account.
3. Scroll down through the Facebook page until you come across the most recent videos
4. Click on the Live video of the church service.
5. Explore the rest of the Facebook page and watch other videos. 😊

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Funeral Luncheons

If we have a funeral, Faith Mayville, our Luncheon Coordinator will contact you for help. Each funeral luncheon requires table/chair set up, food donations, food servers (kitchen staff), and table/chair take down. Faith will let you know what is needed. If you are unable to fulfill your assigned duty, please make arrangements with someone before or after you on the list. Thanks!