“It’s a Good Place to Be!”

    Nora Smith's roots lie in a farm in the Manistique/Gulliver area. Post-high school, she explored various career paths, including a brief stint in cosmetology. However, her life changed with marriage and a move to Gladstone. Together with Jerry, she raised three boys, and together, they played a significant role in nurturing many more children, thanks to Jerry's 41 years of coaching and Nora's continued service to the youth of First Lutheran Church.

    A humble soul, Nora wasn't seeking a career change when the Parish Assistant position at First Lutheran was posted. Yet the Holy Spirit had plans, and her friend Pat Casteel encouraged her to apply. She said, "God calls and equips reluctant people, and that was me." For 18 years, she served this congregation, changing lives and witnessing to the people at First and in our greater community.
Nora had always been involved with our Sunday School, but her engagement as parish assistant became mission-critical for the church.

    When Nora took the position, she attended Lay School to help her with the more theological side of the job. Nora's adaptability was evident as she explained that working for the church "tucked away awesome memories…" The position led her to do things she never thought possible, including attending and chaperoning three ELCA Youth Gatherings. 

    We continue to be grateful for Nora's faithful witness at our church. She helps to facilitate our sewing group and shows up when we need help. When young folks connected to First Lutheran speak of the church or come back home for a visit, one of the names that always seems to come up is Nora Smith.

    Nora's faithful service at First Lutheran has impacted generations of young people, and she keeps going. Nora is a blessing, and as she said, "Blessings tend to come back to you in different ways." We continue to Thank God for Nora Smith and how she blesses us. She said First Lutheran Church, "It's a good place to be." Part of why it's a good place is because God spoke, and Nora listened. Thanks be to God.

Be Kind, Be Cool

Finlee C. is a third grader at Jones Elementary School. He likes football and pizza, and hanging out with his friends is a favorite pastime. Finlee and his older brother have a YouTube channel where they make cool videos under the handle The Yooper Boys @yooperboys2960. When Finlee’s not out having fun, he pitches in to support Sav-Mor, the family business. 

Finlee believes that we are to respect God. He knows that part of that involves being kind and cool. Some of Finlee’s kindness comes from helping other students with their assignments. Math is easy, and he can help even if he prefers gym class!

When it comes to church attendance, Finlee comes because his mom makes him, but he is ultimately glad that she does. Finlee is faithful in showing up even when staying home would be easier. He gladly sings solos for worship and gets a kick from watching his older brother acolyte. 

For Finlee, First Lutheran Church is an intergenerational family affair. His great-grandparents were members, and he doesn’t know any other way to approach God. That’s okay. It’s wonderful. In his world, worship is an inherent and inherited way of life. How many of us know the liturgy and even the smell of the church as familiar and as always? Sometimes, it doesn’t take a grand conversion for someone to find faith; sometimes, it’s generations of faithful people showing up. 

Three Strikes isn't an Out!

Mary Bjorkquist was finishing up with the crew, who stuffed and labeled the newsletters for the month when Pastor trounced and asked for a First’s Look interview. Mary, of course, said yes. Mary is a Gladstone native. Except for one year working at Mackinac College on Mackinac Island, Mary spent her 33-year career working at what would become the ISD. Mary and her husband Gary also raised their two boys, Eric and Dan, in Gladstone. Mary and Gary enjoy their grand puppies, and Mary is an avid bowler. She encourages anyone wanting to join the mixed seniors bowling league to get in touch!

Back in the 1970s, when Eric was little, and Dan was still on the way, Gary and Mary began seeking a warm and welcoming church community for their growing family. They needed more family connections and a place of faith that wasn’t rigid but comfortable. Their mothers instilled a strong faith in the couple, so they committed to trying a new church and had a few friends who attended First Lutheran Church. They visited and then never looked back. 

First Lutheran Church became that place of welcome, and Gary and Mary have been here ever since. They are almost always found at 10:30 services in the front pew organ side. Mary has been on the offering counting team for 6-7 years and has served on the nominating and audit committees. 

Mary's journey in the church has been a testament to its growth and change. The children who once attended Sunday School and Confirmation with Eric and Dan are now parents and grandparents themselves. The church family has expanded, and while the friends who initially led the Bjorkquists to First now worship elsewhere, Mary's faith remains steadfast. As life evolves, God’s presence in the church remains constant. 

One of Mary’s cherished hymns, “Precious Lord Take My Hand,” reflects her deep connection to the church. The lyrics, 'Through the Storm, through the Night, lead me on to the Light,' resonate with her. First Lutheran Church has been a grounding force in Mary's faith journey. She finds solace and believes that our Precious Lord guides us, and the church's role in fostering these connections fills her with gratitude. We are blessed to have Mary Bjorkquist as part of our church community.  

Our Newest Old Friend

Bill Obenauf is the newest member of First Lutheran Church. He grew up in Chatham on a dairy farm. Careerwise, he ran heavy equipment, was an over-the-road truck driver, and worked in soil blending for years before finally retiring from working in water treatment in Wisconsin. Bill is a bachelor who moved back to Gladstone to care for his aging parents, who have both since passed. He currently has four feline roommates. Three are absolute troublemakers, and one is an elderly cat companion. Bill enjoys chopping and turning wood. He is an outdoorsman and likes books and computer time, too.

Bill's path to First Lutheran Church has been a journey of faith and family. He first joined his mother, Irene, in worship here during his visits home from work all over the country. After moving back to the Upper Peninsula to provide full-time caregiving for his parents and the eventual loss of his father in 2015 and his mother in 2021, Bill felt a deep longing for a faith family connection, which he found in our church. 

At First Lutheran Church, he finds family in the men's group, at Tried N True, and when he has the opportunity to join the FLC crew at the Dew Drop for breakfast after 8:00 a.m. church. Bill has not hesitated to get involved with church activities. He has also ushered and participated in church clean-up days. Bill already has his usual spot in the back piano side pews. It feels as though he has always been there, and for a long time, in and out, he has. 

We are overjoyed to welcome Bill officially into our church family. His kind nature, sense of humor, and easy-going personality make him a perfect fit for First Lutheran Church. We are grateful to God for bringing him into our fold and look forward to the many blessings his membership will bring.

Children Will Lead Them

Children Will Lead Them

Rhonda (Flinn) Husbye was born and raised in Escanaba, MI. Her family was active at Bethany Lutheran Church there. Pastor Dean Peterson was a faithful mentor and champion for Rhonda as a young woman. As an adult, Rhonda spent 28+ years working for her family's flower and garden business before moving on to Lakestate Industries and working for us here at First Lutheran Church! Rhonda and her husband Eric have four children: two by birth, one by adoption, and one they took in. The Husbyes have eight living grandchildren, two in heaven and one on the way.

While Rhonda’s faith journey began at Bethany, the curiosity and enthusiasm of their two boys led Rhonda and Eric to explore First Lutheran Church. The boys found a welcoming home in our Sunday School program, and this natural fit drew their parents closer to our faith community. The warm reception from Anita, Nora, Connie, and Andy further solidified their connection. Rhonda’s involvement deepened through chaperoning, organizing, and fundraising for National Youth Gathering Trips, as well as her volunteer work coordinating Hope at the Inn.

Rhonda is a lifelong Lutheran, and her faith is strong. She has felt God’s presence and support most profoundly in some of the difficult moments in her life. Now, Rhonda serves the church every day as an administrator. She does her work thoughtfully and prayerfully. Her care for the work affirms her calling to this vocation.

We are blessed to have Rhonda at First Lutheran Church. Not all people would see reconciling books, organizing newsletters, and making PowerPoint presentations (to name a few of her many tasks) as faithful work. Still, Rhonda does, and for that commitment and spirit, we thank God for Rhonda.

"I Like Being Kind!"

 

Kristianna D-W, a well-known church community member, goes by Kristi at school. At nine years old, her drive to “be kind and help others” is evident at our 10:30 a.m. worship service. She is often found helping the ushers welcome folks and pass out bulletins. Kristi will even step in to pass the plate, and last summer, she took on some light acolyting duties. Music class and recess are two of her favorite activities in school, and she has gymnastics as an extracurricular pastime.

Covid was a hard time for community connections, and Kristi remembers telling her Grandma Pam that she wished they could go to church again. When they did, Kristi was happy to see her godparents, Tom and Judy Vanlerberghe, in the front pew (Tom was last month’s First’s Look). She jumped back into Sunday School and serving God at First Lutheran with enthusiasm and some of the best hugs!

When Kristi and Pastor met after school one day to discuss this piece, Pastor thanked Kristi for coming to church outside of regular hours. She responded, “I wish we could go to church every day!” When asked about this answer, she said, “Because I want to know a lot of things about God.” Kristi is very articulate. She can easily explain the ways she sees God “bless us every day.” Her answers came not just efficiently but with joy.

It has been a blessing to watch Kristi grow and blossom at church. What a great testimony to those who worship at church to see a young person with such a vibrant faith. One final word of wisdom that Kristi ended with is, “Not everybody is perfect, but everyone is perfect the way they are.” She has clearly taken some powerful lessons to heart. What a privilege we have to worship with this dear heart of a kid!

First Will Do

Tom Vanlerberghe and his wife Judy migrated back to First Lutheran Church in Gladstone after living and worshipping in Escanaba for some time. Tom graduated from Gladstone High School and enlisted in the Army upon graduation. He served in Vietnam and came home for planned R&R and to enjoy unemployment. Instead, he almost instantly fell into a job at the Forest Service and stayed for his entire career!

For the Vanlerberghes, connection became important. Their two living children reside downstate and in Wisconsin. Their nine grandchildren are almost all grown and scattered around the United States. Seeing family, especially with the unpredictability of U.P. winters, is more challenging than it used to be. The Vanlerberghes discovered that finding a faith community that felt like family was essential.

Tom and Judy checked out First at the encouragement of Tom’s sister, Mary Bjorkquist, a longtime member. What they found was a friendly place full of familiar faces. Tom’s long-time friend and hunting buddy Raino Maki is one of our main ushers at 8:00 am worship. Several old classmates and acquaintances made the Vanlerberghes feel like First was already home.

Thankfully, most Sunday mornings at 10:30 am, you will find Tom and Judy in the front center pew organ side. Tom’s faith doesn’t need to be in church. In his prayer life, any piece of ground would work. Tom believes in our higher power. As a veteran who has seen a lot of the world, he would have plenty of reasons to question all of it, yet he keeps showing up with us and for worship. We are blessed to have Tom and Judy as a part of our faith family.