Newsletters
From the Pastor’s Desk
Pastor Ryan Henning
What I’ve been reading
- From the Bible: (Genesis, Exodus, Job, Mark, Luke, Romans
and 1st Corinthians)
The Bible reading plan in my newest Bible has me reading a chapter from four different books a day. Right now, I’m into Exodus, Job, Luke, and 1 Corinthians. While the four chapters rarely connect in any way, it’s helpful to hear different portions of God’s Word on a regular basis. In a way, it seems like an easier approach to reading more of the Bible than reading four chapters from the same book on a day. Something that I’d like to add is a regular prayer and/or journaling routine to my reading.
- From Forward in Christ (March): This month, I appreciated the “Confessions of Faith” article (pp. 7-9), especially showing how a determined family member continuing to witness can be exactly how God brings someone home to hear his Word. The Q&A (pp. 14-15) addresses a question I think a lot of people ponder – If God is in control of everything, does that mean every moment of my life is already planned, that I don’t have any true free will? There’s an update on overseas missions in Southeast Asia (p.23) that reminded me of the work Erin Kolar did on her trip to India. Finally, the highlight about the WELS Leadership Conference (pp. 24-25) reminded me to share my takeaways from attending (look for an article later in this Newsletter).
- For fun: Since the beginning of the year, I’ve managed to finish four books. 1. Analog Church, analyzing how our digital age could benefit from a return to more “analog” life in church practices. 2. Love, Marriage, And Family - Learning from the Early Christians: A Finnish Pastor compared modern ideas around sex, marriage, and family with those of ancient Greeks, Romans, Jews, and early Christians. This book is now in our library. 3. Prepare: Living Your Faith in an Increasingly Hostile Culture. This was written a decade ago, and at that time, it was already apparent that Christians were becoming less tolerated in our culture. The book attempts to give us perspective and encouragement as we wonder what to do in the face of persecution. 4. The Clinic – I recently started listening to audio books, and my first one was a murder mystery (not a church-related book!) Alternating narrators and hidden identities made for an interesting listen. Since I finished the prior audio book, I’ve been listening to The Count of Monte Cristo, which is super LONG, but I’ve also been enjoying this as a change of pace. I also started reading two different books by Paul David Tripp. One is a daily devotional book, New Morning Mercies. I won’t finish that one until the end of the year, but I’ve appreciated how he can continue speaking about the gospel in fresh ways every morning. The other is called Lead, and I just started on Tuesday at the end of February. Nonetheless, I’m looking forward to it!
(Look for more from Pastor Henning later in this newsletter.)
March and April Bible Class
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, beginning the week of March 15th on 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 first lesson will be:
Sunday, March 15th, beginning about 10:20 A.M.
Tuesday, March 17th, beginning about 6:30 P.M.
Wednesday, March 18th, beginning about 1:15 P.M.
Each lesson lasts about one hour. I hope to see you in Bible class!
Bob Fink
Easter Flower Sign Up
Deadline is Wednesday, March 11th
COST: $12 per plant - Choice of Lily or Mum
To donate an Easter flower, see the sign-ups in the Fellowship Hall.
Easter plants may be taken by the donors after the second service on Easter Sunday.
From Pastor Henning - Leadership Conference Takeaways
- One of the best parts (and I knew it would be going in) was seeing so many familiar faces. Over half of my Seminary classmates were there, in addition to pastors and current students who were in the years around me. It was encouraging and eye-opening to hear some of their ministry experiences as well. Plus, it was fun to grab some pizza, play some cards, and just have time with friends.
- All in all, there were around 1,600 people total there, so the worship was incredible! Singing with that many voices has a special kind of joy. When you get to take communion and feel the unity of fellow believers numbering over a thousand, that’s pretty cool! Even though I’m not much of a big crowd person, it was still neat to think, “Who’s going to pop up next?” such as people from churches I attended in Nebraska as a teen or in Minnesota as a teacher.
- Two of the keynotes particularly stood out to me. First, The Quiet Exodus: Why Women Are Leaving and How We Invite Them to Stay. This was a sit-down discussion between a former Seminary president (and my Seminary advisor) and the director of WELS Women’s Ministry. It was eye-opening for me to realize that single women, single mothers, and wives without children can often feel out-of-place in our churches, especially when opportunities for women get limited to kitchen, kids, or music. I wonder, does Grace provide opportunities for women to serve beyond these areas? How are we doing in hearing women’s voices? Second, The Lost Habits of Leadership: Curiosity and Critical Thinking in Ministry. I mentioned this keynote in a sermon in January. As we have big potential in the coming years at Grace, it will be essential for us to both be curious and to think critically. We want to hear all ideas, be curious and open to new thoughts, ways we wouldn’t have considered before. We also don’t want to just do something new for novelty’s sake. Let’s think carefully about how a change would affect all the people we’re trying to serve.
- In addition to four keynote presentations, there were sixty-nine breakout sessions to pick from, and you attended five over the two days. I heard some familiar points, some good reminders, and even some new perspectives. I particularly appreciated one session on apologetics, which the presenter termed “a species of evangelism.” We can use our defense of the faith as a stepping stone to sharing the good news of Jesus.
- Many of the Conference materials are available online: lutheranleadership.com/2026- conference-materials/. You can watch videos of every keynote presentation, and several of the presenters made their slides and handouts available digitally. I pray that when this is offered again in two to three years, we can pull together a team to benefit from the fun, fellowship, and full plate of learning opportunities!
We Welcome our New Church Coordinator – Marlee Sickinger
Marlee Sickinger is a new member at church and is now serving as the Church Coordinator, bringing energy and organization into everything she does. In her role, she enjoys building meaningful connections with members, coordinating groups and volunteer opportunities, and partnering closely with the Pastor to support and strengthen the ministry at Grace.
Marlee is passionate about creating welcoming spaces where individuals and families can grow in faith and community. Her background includes several years of experience in social work and early childhood education, equipping her with a compassionate, service-minded approach to ministry.
She also serves as an international host parent for Manitowoc Lutheran High School, welcoming three students and supporting their journey in a new country. Outside of church, Marlee enjoys spending time with her fluffy husky, Leica, reading a good book, gardening and volunteering with JCI USA (Junior Chamber of Commerce).
Email: coordinator@gracelutheran-church.com
Building and Expanding – For His Glory!
Thanks to an exceptionally generous gift given to Grace Lutheran Church and Jesus’ Lambs of Grace Preschool to be used for future building and expansion, our congregation has established a Feasibility Study Committee. This group is tasked with exploring what kinds of building or expansion plans would best serve the needs of Grace Lutheran and our preschool ministry.
Serving on this committee are Chairman Bruce Matthias, Ann Hornes, Dave Kappelman,
Tom Meineke and Jack Meisner. Donna Langman and Mike Remiker will serve as advisory members for the group. Please contact any committee member with comments or questions.
May God bless the efforts of our Feasibility Committee and may He continue to shower His blessings and love on our congregation and preschool. To HIM be the Glory!
Grace Lutheran Fellowship Opportunities…
Lenten meals are served before our Wednesday evening Lenten services. Come enjoy fellowship and food from 5:15 to 5:45 P.M. and stay for worship at 6:30 P.M. If you wish to help with Lenten suppers, look for sign-up sheets in the Fellowship Hall.
Easter Breakfast will be served on Easter Sunday (April 5th) following the Sunrise Service (6:30 A.M.) and ending shortly before the 9:00 A.M. service. Once again, one can find sign-up sheets to help with set-up, preparation, serving and clean-up. The sign-up sheets are found in the Fellowship Hall. Join us for this very special celebration of our Lord’s resurrection!
News From Manitowoc Lutheran High School
MLHS Musical Reserved Ticket Sales Are Now Available for Seussical the Musical! Dates are March 13-15th. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7pm and Sunday’s performance is at 2pm. Reserved seats are $14. There will be General Admission available at the door as well. Visit www.mlhslancers.org/community to get your reserved seats today!
2026 Lancer Gala - Gems of our Future - Join us for the 2026 Lancer Gala – “Gems of Our Future” on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the stunning Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center. This elegant night will feature fine dining, fellowship, and opportunities to support the mission of Manitowoc Lutheran High School. Tickets are going fast! Secure your spot today and be part of an evening that celebrates faith, community, and the bright future of our students. Register now at www.mlhslancers.org/gala26.
Call Update: On Sunday, February 15th, our MLHS Principal, Dave Uhlhorn and his wife Rachel, who teaches at Immanuel Lutheran in Manitowoc, received a call to St. John’s Lutheran School in Baraboo. On Wednesday, February 11th, the MLHS Board of Control called Mr. Daniel Nolte was called to MLHS to teach PLTW/ENG/Tech. Daniel currently serves at Shoreland. The BOC also called Mr. David Fulton has been called to MLHS for Spanish/Geography. He currently serves Grace LES in Oshkosh. Please keep these teachers and MLHS in your prayers.
Support the Lakeshore Lutheran School: A dedicated gas pump—located at the BP station at 808 Memorial Drive in Manitowoc—now directs two cents from every gallon sold back to support the schools, and please note that YOU CAN USE SCRIP to pay for your gas!! Fill up and fuel both your vehicles and the mission of Lakeshore Lutheran Schools and MLHS!
SCRIP: Check out the RaiseRight App for Spring Break Bonuses! www.mlhslancers.org/scrip
Job Openings: St. John’s Two Rivers:
Full-time maintenance/custodial position with full benefits. Hours 6:30am – 3:30 pm Monday -Friday. For more information, email employment@sjtworivers.org or call 920-794-7300.
Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, while Good Friday focuses on the crucifixion of Jesus, both being part of a three-day observance that culminates in Easter Sunday.
Maundy Thursday
Focus: Commemorates Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples, emphasizing humility, service, the institution of the Lord’s Supper, and the new commandment.
WELS Practice: WELS churches observe Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday, remembering Jesus' words and actions during the Last Supper.
Symbolism: The stripping of the altar after Holy Communion symbolizes the abandonment of Jesus by his disciples and the stripping of Jesus by the soldiers before his crucifixion.
Biblical Readings: Luke 22 is a common reading for Maundy Thursday.
Good Friday
Focus: A day of solemn remembrance of Jesus' crucifixion and death on the cross.
WELS Practice: WELS churches often hold special worship services on Good Friday, focusing on the passion of Christ.
Symbolism: Good Friday is a time for reflection on the consequences of sin and the suffering of Jesus, reminding us of His humiliation, suffering and death.
Biblical Readings: Isaiah 52 is a common reading for Good Friday.
No Benediction: There is no benediction after Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, as they are just parts one and two of a three-part observance – the third being Easter Sunday.
Easter
Easter is our Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, symbolizing the defeat of death and the sure hope of salvation. It is considered the most important day of the church year.
Jesus’ Lambs of Grace Preschool – News and Information
Growing, learning, having fun and hearing – every day – about Jesus our Savior! That, in a nutshell, is Jesus’ Lambs of Grace Preschool – our preschool here at Grace Lutheran.
Some of our news over the past few weeks includes a very successful Open House where we met with new families and kids interested in learning more about our preschool. May God bless our efforts as we continue to share with our congregation and community the blessings offered through Jesus’ Lambs of Grace.
During February, we enjoyed celebrating Valentine’s Day with our friends, and we also had a Super Bowl party, even though our Green Bay Packers didn’t make it to the big game this year. We still had fun.
Speaking of great fun, we celebrated our 100th day of school in February and also had a super time with our Winter Dance! We have some talented “movers and shakers” in our preschool family.
We appreciate so very much the support and prayers given to our Jesus’ Lambs of Grace preschool! God continues to bless us each and every day with the chance to share His love with these outstanding children. May all we do be done for Him!
If you would like to know more about Jesus’ Lambs of Grace Preschool or might be interested in enrollment, please contact Director Debbi Heiderich at 920-482-0001.
This brings the newsletter to a close, but the news will continue! Keep yourself up to date with all things Grace Lutheran by:
- Listening to the after-worship service announcements, and
- Reading the onscreen announcements found on the monitors in church, and
- Checking your church mailbox for weekly announcement sheets, and
- Reading the weekly “Church News” emails sent from our church office, and
- Calling the church office with your questions.
It is our desire to keep our entire church family in the know. May God bless our efforts to do so, and may God bless all of you!
