Newsletters
A Prayer for Easter and the Easter Season
On this glorious Easter morning, fill our hearts with the peace and certainty your empty tomb proclaims. You have shattered the power of sin, defeated death, and opened the gates of eternal life. Let the victory you won be our confidence in every sorrow, our courage in every trial, and our hope in every moment of life.
Lead us to rejoice that your resurrection is not only a past event but a present promise. Because you live, we too shall live. Because you rose, our sins are forgiven. Because you reign, nothing in all creation can separate us from your love.
Bless your Church throughout the world as it lifts high the message of Christ crucified and risen. Strengthen our pastors, teachers, and congregations so that the good news of Easter may be proclaimed with clarity, joy, and conviction.
Send this resurrection hope into our homes, our relationships, and our daily work. Let the light of Easter shine through us so that others may see your love and be drawn to your saving truth.
We praise you, risen Savior, now and forever. Amen.
From the Pastor’s Desk
Pastor Ryan Henning
What I’ve been reading from the Bible: Exodus, Job, Proverbs, John, 2nd Corinthians, Galatians and Ephesians
Covering such a wide swath of the Bible has been interesting. In Exodus, I’m entering the details of laws and construction plans for the tabernacle and all its instruments. It’s helpful to remember that our detail-oriented God put everything in order just as he wanted it to be. Reading Proverbs can be tricky, because it’s tempting to consume these short statements rapid fire and not let them sink in. I’ve heard the encouragement to maybe take one individual proverb at a time and meditate on that for 5 minutes. I’ve always said that John is my favorite gospel; reading it through again, I’m realizing there are plenty of hard-to-understand statements from Jesus regarding who he is, especially in relation to the Father and the Spirit. Finally, reading the epistles of Paul is always helpful for good Christian teaching and encouragement. Ephesians is another personal favorite – I wrote my first Bible study on this book.
- For fun: I’ve been “reading” more audio books than regular ones lately. In March alone I finished SEVEN books (but three of them were shorter and three of those were children’s chapter books). I wrapped up The Count of Monte Cristo, which I thoroughly enjoyed! I read another “classic,” Animal Farm, a fairy tale depicting human tendencies through an animal uprising. Then, I listened to the first three books in the series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. It’s interesting hearing about Greek gods in a modern setting, and they were certainly more light-hearted than much of my reading. Most recently, I wrapped up two “self-improvement” style books by Christian authors: To Hell with the Hustle and Own Your Everyday. Ironically, the one about overcoming pressure to prove yourself has me feeling pressure to stop living up to the pressure… if that sentence made sense. In addition to continuing my leadership book (slowly), my pastor mentor and I also picked up a book on the roles of men and women. He and I will work our way through this book together and gain some clarity to speak well on this topic.
Holy Week: Look Up to See Your Savior!
Forty contemplative days of Lent lead to the high point of the Christian church year. We rightly celebrate this week in our Savior’s life because of everything it means for our lives. He rode triumphantly into Jerusalem, not avoiding his enemies but marching forward knowing he would win. Jesus gave his disciples a new meal, one to be remembered and received regularly for the forgiveness of sins. He poured out his spirit in fervent prayer to the Father, asking for another way, yet ultimately yielding to the Lord’s will. He humbly went all the way to the cross until he could cry, “It is finished!”
On the third day, the tomb was empty! He is risen, and by faith in him, we too will live! Praise the LORD!
Meet Our New Staff Minister – Alex Enter
Mr. Alex Enter has been involved in Youth and Family Ministry since 2015. While studying Staff Ministry at Martin Luther College, he served as the Youth Minister and Camp Host at Camp Croix in Danbury, Wisconsin. He completed his Staff Ministry internship at Grace Lutheran Church in Spring Hill, Florida. After graduating from Martin Luther College with a Bachelor’s degree in Staff Ministry in 2018, he was assigned to Zion Lutheran Church in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, where he served as Youth and Family Minister.
While serving at Zion, Mr. Enter met his wife, Kali, who shares his love for Jesus and the outdoors. Together they have been blessed with four children: Paisly (13), Loretta (4), Amos (2), and Mabel (9 months). As a family, they enjoy spending as much time outdoors as possible.
Throughout his ministry, Mr. Enter has developed a deep passion for working with young people—from preschool through college—and walking alongside their families. He finds great joy in helping families grow closer to Jesus and to one another. He values creating meaningful and memorable experiences that strengthen faith and encourage God’s people to live boldly for Christ.
In his free time, Mr. Enter enjoys visiting family in Minnesota, hunting, fishing, trapping, and foraging. He especially treasures teaching his children to appreciate and care for God’s beautiful creation.
We will be welcoming Mr. Enter and his family come this June. Stay tuned for more details.
To the Gentlemen of Grace Lutheran Church –
If you have been wondering how you might serve your Lord and help our congregation, our Church Council is still looking for someone to serve as our Outreach Elder.
If you are interested in more information or know of someone you’d like to recommend, please reach out to Chairman Jeremy Falck, Pastor Henning or any other member of the Coordinating Council.
Thank you! May God bless the work of our Council representatives.
Grace Lutheran – Building to Bring Glory to Our Lord
Recently Grace Lutheran Church has been offered an extremely generous gift for the purpose of enhancing and expanding the physical area of Jesus’ Lambs of Grace, our preschool.
A feasibility committee was formed to study what were the needs and best use of this gift. To date, it’s determined that an indoor play area, storage room, office space, and work area for the staff to prepare materials would benefit the children and staff the most. Beyond that, it would make it attractive to new families looking for a preschool for their children.
This coming June our new Staff Minister will be coming on board. He will also need office space, and it’s been determined that this gift would be able to support additional office space incorporated into this project.
These are exciting times at Grace Lutheran. We have to marvel how our God is able and willing to bless us and the special ministry here. Look for more information as this study moves forward. As for what you can do, please pray for diligence and wisdom for those working on this endeavor.
Respectfully,
Bruce Matthias
For the Feasibility Committee
Applications for Summer Camp Enrollment and for our Upcoming School Year are Available!
Contact our Preschool or the Church Office
for More Information.
May God Bless our Jesus’ Lambs of Grace Preschool!
Adult Bible Classes During April
Do you sometimes think life is meaningless?
Solomon seemed to think so. Even though he was one of the wisest, richest and most accomplished men who ever lived, Solomon wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes that everything in this life is meaningless. Can this really be true? Are we misunderstanding King Solomon? Then again, we may have felt the same way as Solomon did -- where CAN we find meaning in our lives? As we study this interesting book of the Bible, eventually Solomon does indeed lead us to the proper understanding of living in a fallen world.
Join us during April as we continue a journey through the book of Ecclesiastes. Many of the passages in this book can be understood in more than one way, which means being prepared for lively discussions as we work through the text.
Come and add your understanding of life to our discussions. Our lessons will be:
Sundays about 10:20 A.M.
Tuesdays about 6:30 P.M.
Wednesdays about 1:15 P.M.
Each lesson lasts about one hour. I hope to see you in Bible class!
Bob Fink, Staff Minister
News From Manitowoc Lutheran High School
Manitowoc Lutheran High School is looking for families to host international students for the 2026 – 2027 school year. The high school is looking to host three to four students at this time. Host families receive a financial stipend for hosting. If you have any interest in being a host, please contact the International Coordinator, Mrs. Renee Ruediger — rruediger@mlhslancers.org — or call the school office to speak with her. You could also reach out to Grace members such as Ruth Hahnke, Laurel and Chris den Heijer, the Remiker family, or the Kolar family, all of which have had the experience and the joy of hosting students.
May God bless this incredible program as His Word is shared around the globe!
Shoreline Circuit LWMS Rally
Mark your calendars for the Shoreline Circuit LWMS Rally on Saturday, April 18th, 2026. The rally will be hosted by St. John’s Lutheran Church in Maribel.
The day begins with registration at 8:00 A.M., and the rally runs from 9:00 A.M.–12:00 P.M. There will be lunch and felllowship following the rally.
The guest speaker, Pastor Eli Steinbrenner, will share an update on the Mission Enhancement efforts at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Plymouth.
For more information, please contact Circuit President Naomi Raddatz at 920-629- 3031.
Spring Clean-Up Day – Saturday, April 25th
Join us on Saturday, April 25th (starting around 8:00 A.M.) for our Spring Clean-Up day at Grace Lutheran. The more hands on deck, the more we can get done. We’d ask you to bring rakes, gloves, shovels, wheelbarrows and any other outdoor tools that will help with the big job in front of us! Mark your calendars and join us!
Women’s Ministry Spring Retreat
Are you interested in a meaningful day of fellowship and spiritual growth? Join other like-minded Christian women as they dive into the topic of Perfection on April 18, 2026, from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. at the Ledgeview Community Center in De Pere, WI. Perfection is a word many of us carry with pressure and expectations, but what if God’s definition is different from the one we’ve learned? This retreat promises encouraging conversation, reflection, and connection.
To register and learn more, visit St. Mark Ministries’ page: https://stmarkministries.churchcenter.com/calendar/event/213799151.
The cost is $40.00 per person.
Veteran or First Responder?
St. Paul Lutheran Ministries in Appleton is hosting a special workshop on May 9, from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., for Veterans and First Responders. Military members, first responders, and their families face unique challenges—from high-stress roles to the lasting effects of trauma. This encouraging, faith-centered workshop offers Christ-centered hope, spiritual resilience, and support for those called to serve as both “God’s servant” and “agent of wrath.” Registration is free and available online at www.LutheranMilitary.org or by calling the organization directly.
Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/rapid_grace?igsh=d3l0bWJxdG92ZDFv. This is a fun new way for us to stay connected, share encouragement, and highlight all the wonderful things happening in our church community. We’d love for you to follow along and join us there!
Use this QR code to access our Instagram page.
Taylor Wuensch became a Grace member in January of 2026. She spent a few years growing up in North California but moved often due to a father who had a career in the Coast Guard. She often chuckles with having lived and moved to at least 7 different states over the years.
Taylor and her husband Jesse, together 15 years, met at Lincoln High School. They now have two daughters, Aubrie and Kinlee. Aubrie is an energetic teenager who loves playing volleyball and baking. Her younger sister Kinlee loves playing outside, riding her bike, and playing with their 2 dogs.
Jesse stays busy as a welder and family man. He attends Aubrie’s Storm Volleyball games regularly with the family and Kinlee’s events at Jesus’ Lambs of Grace.
Taylor attended Silver Lake College, where she got a degree in teaching. She has taught 6th grade for the past 11 years, most recently math at Wilson Middle School. She is a big Taylor Swift fan and has recently picked up the hobby of Diamond Art.
The Wuensch family likes to travel in summer when they have free time
off school and work. They enjoy going to the park and finding fun art activities to do at Glaze and Paint in Manitowoc.
Reminders of the Truth. Jesus Lives, the Victory is Won!
Matthew 28:5–6
“He is not here; he has risen…” The angel announces the resurrection to the women at the tomb—one of the clearest, most triumphant statements in Scripture.
Mark 16:6
“He has risen! He is not here.” Mark’s Gospel echoes the same victorious message: the crucified one is now the risen Lord.
Luke 24:5–7
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” Luke emphasizes both the resurrection and Jesus’ own predictions that it would happen.
John 20:17–18
Jesus tells Mary Magdalene that he is ascending to the Father, and she goes to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” A deeply personal resurrection appearance.
