Michigan Lutheran Seminary Choir at Good Shepherd

On Wednesday, March 25, Good Shepherd was pleased to host the choir from Michigan Lutheran Seminary of Saginaw, Michigan.  Their 32-voice choir kicked off a mini-tour in the metro-Detroit area.  

Michigan Lutheran Seminary Choir at Good Shepherd

On Wednesday, March 25, at 7:00 PM, the choir from Michigan Lutheran Seminary of Saginaw will present a sacred concert at Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church.  A free will offering will be taken to defray expenses accrued by the choir.  All are welcome to attend this sacred concert.

Sermon -- Chapel at Michigan Lutheran Seminary (February 5, 2025)

This sermon was preached at the chapel at Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw, Michigan.

JEREMIAH 1:4-10

CONFESSING GOD’S WORD IS NOT ABOUT POPULARITY, BUT THE TRUTH. 

In the name + of Jesus.

     Our Lord Jesus Christ gave this warning to his apostles, “They will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, handing you over to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.  … You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends.  They will put some of you to death.  You will be hated by all people for my name’s sake: (Luke 21:12,16-17).  If the prophet Jeremiah had heard Jesus’ words, he would have reviewed his life and said, “Check.  Check.  Check.  Check.  And check.”

     The Lord had called Jeremiah to a ministry that no one would envy.  He was called to preach to a stubborn people who despised him and his message.  Jeremiah issued warnings to the people of Jerusalem that God’s patience had reached its end.  Judgment was imminent.  The city and the temple would be destroyed.  Those who wished to save their lives should surrender to the Babylonian army.  Any who did not would die from starvation, disease, or the sword.  For this, Jeremiah was branded a traitor and a liar.  But confessing God’s word is not about popularity, but the truth.

     Not only was Jeremiah despised for his preaching, the people in Jerusalem had other preachers who were preaching the opposite.  They were assuring them that God’s favor would always rest on them.  They promised the people deliverance from all enemies.  They declared days of peace and prosperity because Israel was a people chosen by God.  Now, whose message do you think was more popular?  Which one would you rather hear?  Can you guess why Jeremiah was despised?

     Jeremiah was a young man when the Lord called him to be a prophet.  Jeremiah tried to excuse himself from preaching because of his youth.  The Lord dismissed that claim.  I also wonder if Jeremiah knew the challenges he would face and was trying to dodge the Lord’s call.  In either case, the Lord gave Jeremiah all the confidence he would need to serve as the Lord’s spokesman.  He told Jeremiah, “‘You must go to everyone to whom I send you and say whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of them, because I am with you, and I will rescue you, declares the Lord.’  Then the Lord stretched out his hand and touched my mouth.  The Lord said to me: There!  I have now placed my words in your mouth” (Jeremiah 1:7-9).  Jeremiah never had to be inventive or develop gimmicks to make his message more appealing to the people.  He was given the words of the Lord.  He only had to repeat them and proclaim them.  Confessing God’s word is not about popularity, but the truth.

     Some of you will be called to be pastors or teachers.  All of you are called to be confessors of God’s word.  And just as God gave his words to Jeremiah, so God has given his word to you.  You know what is good and right.  You know what is evil and wrong.  God has made that plain to you.  You know that there is judgment for the unbeliever and that there is forgiveness for the penitent.  God has shown you that, too.  While you might think that you are too young to confess God’s word like Jeremiah claimed, you are not.  God’s word is true.  It has authority because it is God’s word, not because you are old enough to make it so.

     You are all confessors of God’s word.  You delight in what God has to say because you know it is true.  More importantly, you delight in it because it is that word which assures you that you are redeemed children of God.  You are not God’s people because you are better or smarter than others.  You are not God’s children because you attend Michigan Lutheran Seminary.  You are God’s children because you have been baptized into God’s name.  You have been washed clean of all your sins through the innocent blood of Jesus.  He has taken your sins, your death, and your punishment.  You, in turn, receive his innocence.  He took God’s curse so that you live under God’s favor.  Therefore, you don’t need to fear anything.  As St. Paul wrote, “If God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31)?

     Well, Jeremiah would answer that question for you.  A lot of people.  You are confessors of God’s word, but you will find that a lot of people don’t want to hear anything that God has to say.  That might feel strange to you because of how much you delight in hearing the word that assures you of God’s faithful love and of the eternal glory to come.  You will not experience it here in the relative safety of the MLS dorms.  But you might experience it at your summer job.  You might face it with neighbors or relatives.  You will certainly face it at a public college.  And when you do, you might wonder what is wrong with you.  If you have to stand alone in your confession, you will be tempted to abandon it.  Even if you know God’s word is right, the desire to be liked by other people might sway you to seek their favor over God’s favor.  Like the Pharisees, we can yearn to crave the praise of men more than the praise of God.  Beware.  Confessing God’s word is not about popularity, but the truth.

     I don’t say this to scare you, but to prepare you.  And I encourage you with what the Lord told young Jeremiah: “Do not be afraid of them, because I am with you, and I will rescue you, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 1:8). 

     With the Lord there is hope and strength and truth and refuge.  You may not be popular with the world for your confession, but don’t let that convince you that there is something wrong with you.  Popularity is not how we determine who is right.  Jesus told us, “Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it.  How narrow is the gate, and how difficult is the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Mattew 7:13-14).  Those who reject the word of the Lord will perish, but those who faithfully hold to Jesus Christ and his word of the Lord will be saved by him. 

     Confessing God’s word is not about popularity, but the truth.  So, people may say all kinds of nasty things to you and about you.  This would be very troubling to anyone.  But that is why you need to hear the word of the Lord again and again.  You need to be reminded of God’s favor upon you and God’s faithfulness to you.  You are not what the world says you are.  You are a child of the Most High God.  And he tells you, “Do not be afraid of them, because I am with you, and I will rescue you, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 1:8). 

     This is also why you will need to faithfully be in God’s house Sunday after Sunday.  You will need the encouragement of your fellow Christians.  They will pray for you.  They will encourage you.  They will remind you that you are not enduring this wicked world alone.  And you will need to be nourished and strengthened in holy communion where you will receive the body and blood of Jesus which has overcome death, the devil, and the world.

     The prophet Jeremiah faithfully preached and confessed God’s word for many years.  They were hard years.  Eventually, Jeremiah was dragged down to Egypt against his will.  There, he continued to confess and to preach.  Tradition says that his listeners finally stoned him to death.  But do not grieve for Jeremiah.  He is with his Lord and is doing very well.  This is our ultimate goal as well.  Even if the world hates you, they are not in charge.  Your Savior, Jesus Christ, is.  He holds your life in his hands, hands which were nailed to a cross to redeem you.  He is with you.  He is your refuge.  And he is faithful to you.  So do not fear.  His word endures, and it will save you.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sermon -- Chapel at Michigan Lutheran Seminary (October 18, 2023)

The following was preached at Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw for their morning chapel.

ROMANS 11:1-6

Our God Invites Unworthy Sinners to Participate in His Blessings.

In the name + of Jesus.

     With the war that is going on between Israel and Hamas right now, you can plan on hearing many Christians talk about our obligation to defend Israel because they are God’s chosen people.  Now, there may be political reasons to defend Israel.  But many claim that we have a divinely ordained duty to support Israel, and to fail to do so is rebellion against God.  Let’s consider the Scriptures so that we do not put our trust in words that God did not say.

     To start with, it is true that Israel was God’s chosen people in the Old Testament.  But the question needs to be asked: Chosen for what?  The Lord answers for us.  He told Abraham, “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3).  The blessing upon all the earth is fulfilled by the Messiah who came through Abraham and his offspring.  That is what Abraham was chosen for.  That is what Israel was chosen for.  They were God’s chosen people through whom the Messiah would come into the world.  When the Lord acted to crush nations who threatened Israel or even when God sent nations to oppress Israel, the reason was the same: To defend and protect the Promise.  Every act of God, no matter how violent, had this motive behind it: Don’t mess with the Promise!

     Now fast forward from Abraham to Jesus.  Jesus is the promised Messiah who was long foretold.  He preached to the people of Israel so that they would benefit from the Promise and Jesus’ fulfillment of it.  While some believed and rejoiced, many did not.  Jesus had told a parable to issue a warning to any who rejected him.  He compared the kingdom of heaven to a king who had prepared a wedding banquet for his son.  Many who were invited spurned the king and his son, even killing those who were sent to gather them in.  Jesus rendered the verdict: “The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city” (Matthew 22:7).  The Lord did this in 70 AD when the Roman army destroyed the temple and burned Jerusalem.  The chosen people rejected the Messiah for whom they were chosen.

     So, the Lord turned to the Gentiles.  And it was not long into the New Testament era that the Church become less Jewish and much more Gentile.  All that leads into St. Paul’s question in our reading.  “I ask, then, has God rejected his people?  By no means!  For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.  God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew” (Romans 11:1-2).  The Lord did not banish the Jews from the kingdom of God.  They abandoned God’s promises, rejected Jesus as the Messiah, and forfeited his blessings.  This grieves the Lord; for he does not want anyone to perish but to come to the knowledge of the truth—or in the case of the Jews, to come back to the knowledge of the truth.

     God invites unworthy sinners to participate in his blessings.  That means you and me.  You are now the chosen people of God—chosen in Christ who set apart you from sin, death, and the devil, and who set you apart for good works which honor God and serve your neighbor.  You and I were chosen by God’s grace.  We did nothing to curry God’s favor.  We are not chosen by God because we are worthy; we are chosen because God is gracious.  By grace, God showed brought you into his kingdom to receive his benefits.  God invites unworthy sinners to participate in his blessings.

     That is how it has always been, and St. Paul acknowledged that.  Paul himself was proof that God had not rejected the Jews.  Paul was “an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:2).  But he was chosen by grace, as all are.  Abraham came from a family of idolaters; still, God chose him.  The tribe of Benjamin was almost completely wiped out for their wickedness; yet God spared some.  Paul was a persecutor of the Church; yet God chose him.  God invites unworthy sinners to participate in his blessings.

     Your story is probably not so dramatic.  Odds are, you grew up in a Christian home and have never known anything different.  If so, God be praised.  But it is still God’s grace.  You did not choose where you were born.  You did not choose parents who believe that a Christian education is worth every cent of tuition, room, and board they are paying.  Yet, God placed you there for your eternal good.  All this is God’s gracious work for you.  By grace you have been saved.

     And now, you are facing a world which does not care much for the Bible.  They mock what you believe.  They are confused that you do not partake in wicked behavior which is celebrated by others.  Some are even appalled that you don’t go along with them.  Right now, you have the benefit of daily chapel services among Christians who share a common confession.  But the day will come—perhaps at college, perhaps in employment—when you may feel like you are the only one who believes in Jesus and lives according to his word.  You are not alone in this.

     St. Paul wrote, “So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace” (Romans 11:5).  You are Jesus’ chosen people.  The Lord always preserves a remnant who knows that Jesus lived and died for sinners—not because it was owed, but because it was needed.  You know that Jesus conquered death for you—not because you deserved it, but because he is merciful.  You know that heaven awaits—not because you are better, but because you are loved by Jesus. 

     God invites unworthy sinners to participate in his blessings which were secured by Jesus and given by him.  It is not a deal that God has made with you; it is a promise that God has given to you.  So you are the true Israel, the people who benefit from God’s grace, who have been entrusted with the Promise.  You are God’s chosen people.  Chosen for what?  For the forgiveness of sins, a new, godly life, and salvation.  By grace, you have become God’s chosen people.  By grace, the Lord will sustain you through word and sacrament.  There is no other grace. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Michigan District Convention -- Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw

Monday through Wednesday morning this week, pastors, teachers, and lay delegates from all over the Michigan District of the WELS met at Michigan Lutheran Seminary to discuss the business and affairs of the synod and the district.

The fellowship and conversations with many brothers is always appreciated and valuable.   Our Divine Service on Tuesday evening at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church was wonderful.  And I was also elected circuit pastor for the Metro-West Circuit near Detroit.

Here are some photos from our convention.

MLS Chapel

Convention floor in MLS Gymnasium

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Saginaw

Basketball Season 2021-2022

The basketball season for Peter and his St. Paul's Lutheran School Charger team is in the books.  I collected photos through most of the season.  Peter missed quite a few games due to illness, but he still managed to get some decent playing time.  He also scored a few points this season.  The highlight of the season came with the season-ended tournament at Michigan Lutheran Seminary.  St. Paul's got to the championship game.  It was close into the 3rd quarter.  Then we blinked twice and it blew up into a 20+ point deficit.  There is no shame in 2nd place, and the team enjoyed a strong season.

Here are some photos from throughout the season.

Peter and life-long friend Jake.

They were in the same tournament, but did not compete against each other.

Team photo.  MLS Tournament--2nd place.  Go Chargers!

YouTube -- 3rd Sunday in Advent (December 12, 2021)

Here is the service from Sunday, December 12.  It features the Michigan Lutheran Seminary Choir of Saginaw, Michigan.

Chapel at Michigan Lutheran Seminary (September 9, 2020)

This was preached for chapel at Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw, Michigan.

EZEKIEL 9:1-6

GOD PRESERVES THE PENITENT.

In the name + of Jesus.

      When Ezekiel was serving as God's prophet, it was not a good time to be in Jerusalem.  It just so happened that Ezekiel was not even in Jerusalem.  He had already been taken into captivity and was living in Babylon.  The Lord, however, gave Ezekiel a vision of what was taking place in Jerusalem.  The Lord showed Ezekiel the elders and the women and the priests of Israel engaging in blatant idolatry right in God's temple.  The Lord, however, is a jealous God who does not share the stage with any other so-called gods.  This had gone on long enough, so the glory of the Lord was leaving the temple.  God was forsaking the people.  Judgment was coming. 

     It was not a good time to be in Jerusalem.  True worship had practically disappeared.  God, however, had preserved a few people who remained faithful to him.  But what were they to do?  Where could they go to find comfort, peace, and the true words of God?  God's faithful people could not find solace in the temple.  It had been defiled.  The city was filled with false prophets who preached feel-good messages.  Jeremiah was there, but he was vilified for his preaching.  The faithful were grieved, and they felt very much alone.

     Life in God's church was not easy.  The fight to remain faithful was getting harder.  But God had not forgotten his people.  God preserved the penitent.  The judgment coming to Jerusalem would be brutal slaughter, but the Lord showed Ezekiel what he would do for the faithful.  “He called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist.  And the Lord said to him, 'Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.'  And to the others he said in my hearing, 'Pass through the city after him, and strike.  Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity.  Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark.  And begin at my sanctuary'” (Ezekiel 9:3-6).

     God preserves the penitent.  The Lord knew who was grieved that so many had abandoned the truth, dismissed the faith, and rejected the Lord.  Therefore, he marked them so that they would be spared.  The mark was actually a Hebrew letter.  The instructions were literally to “tav them with a tav.”  An ancient Hebrew tav looked like a cross.  Therefore, it was a cross which marked God's people so that they were spared.

     In fact, the cross is what spares all of God's people.  Those who were marked were still sinners.  They had not proven themselves superior to anyone.  But God had put faith in their hearts which trusted his promises, which looked for a Savior who would take their sins away, and which did not delight in evil.  Those who were grieved over sin and evil—whether the evils that were going on in the temple or the sins that were going on in their lives—were marked with a cross.  The Savior they longed for would carry their sins to the cross.  Their iniquities would be laid on him, and he would suffer for their sins and die for their guilt.  The punishment that they had earned would be received by Jesus, and so they would be spared. 

     God preserves the penitent.  It did not mean that their lives would be easy.  It was still not a good time to be in Jerusalem.  The armies of Babylon would still come in judgment upon Jerusalem.  Even among the penitent, some would be killed with the sword.  Some would face starvation as food and supplies ran out.  Some would die by disease.  But none of them would perish.  They would be delivered to God's heavenly kingdom and have eternal life in his glorious presence, forever free from evils, from sin, and from all struggles.  The point is not to die comfortably.  Everyone is going to die.  The point is to die in the faith.  Those who die in the faith will not perish but have eternal life.

     Dear Christians, this is your hope as well.  There will be days when you think, “It is not a good time to be in this world.”  It is not hard to see the problems with racial tensions, civil unrest, celebration of perversion, the decline of decency, the increase of obscenity, and so on.  You might even think, “It is not a good time to be in the Church,” since so many are abandoning God's word for feel-good messages and are eager to be popular with the world rather than faithful to God's truth.  Where are the faithful to go?  

     God preserves the penitent—whether you are grieved by the evils in the world or the sins in your life.  The Lord has marked you with a cross.  When you were baptized, you were marked with a cross on the head and the heart.  You were washed and cleansed by Christ who has taken your sins from you.  He has suffered what you deserve.  He has set you apart from death and damnation.  He has set you apart for his glory—that is, for good works in this life and for everlasting life in his presence.  

     No matter what you may suffer, you never lose God's favor, God's promises, and God's salvation.  The Lord has worked faith in you and set you apart for everlasting life. You will be forever free from evils, sins, and struggles—whether you die from COVID, from violence, or peacefully in your bed at age 95.  Because the point is not that you die comfortably, but to die in the faith.  If you remain in Christ, you will never perish—for you have been marked by a tav, a cross.  God has put his name on you.  And God preserves the penitent.  If you need a daily reminder that you are his, you can do as Martin Luther urged in his Small Catechism: When you rise and when you go to bed, bless yourself with the sign of the holy cross and say, “In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.”  This reminds you of you who are and whose you are.

     God preserves the penitent.  They shall never perish.  And through his word and sacraments, God will strengthen and keep you in the true faith unto life everlasting.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

Traveling with the Schroeders ... end of summer, 2016

Vacation was hard to come by because of multiple work schedules and only three cars to accommodate all the schedules.  (It is somewhat embarrassing to complain about "only" three cars.)  So, once we had people placed in football camps, we could afford to take one of those cars out of circulation and hit the road for a week.  As it turns out, we needed that car in circulation anyway.

Back in July, some Schroeders headed to Wisconsin to see my parents.  More of us were supposed to go, but an additional orthodontist appointment for Caleb meant that Laura and Caleb did not.  But Nathanael, Philip, Peter, and I got to go both to see my parents and to catch part of Packers' training camp.  Nathanael had hoped to get his SVSU shirt autographed by SVSU alum and Packers' wide receiver, Jeff Janis.  But Janis walked past, so no autograph for Nathanael.

Our actual family vacation whittled the family down to Laura, Peter, and me.  All others were either at football camp or working.  In this incredibly dry summer for Michigan, we got to enjoy rain on our vacation.  But in the midst of our vacation plans, we found out that Charli had arranged plane tickets for Nathanael to come and see her graduation from boot camp in South Carolina.  We were not able to make the trip, but we were glad Nathanael got to go.  Way to go, Charli!

So, here was the itinerary for our vacation.

Jellystone Park, Frankenmuth (2 nights)
Home to get Nathanael to the airport (1 night)
Traverse City State Park / M-22 drive / Sleeping Bear Dunes (2 full days, 1 night)
Back home to pick up Nathanael from the airport (1 night)
Say "Goodbye" to Faith who left for New Ulm on Friday morning, sleep a lot to get caught up from excessive running around; spend the night at home (1 more night)
Up to Saginaw for Caleb's and Philip's registration & opening service at MLS.  We were going to have a family night at a hotel, but Caleb and Philip said they were going to stay in the dorm.  So, why spend the money?  Go back home.

Anyway, here are a few photos from the last month of summer.  Enjoy!

Green Bay Packers' training camp.

Nathanael enjoys watching the wide receiver drills at Packers' training camp.

Peter's Lambeau Leap at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Me with my parents in Sheboygan.

Andrew got to say "Goodbye" to Faith before he headed back to Ann Arbor for more football camp.

Peter with Yogi Bear at Jellystone Park.

Peter at Bronners' Christmas store, Frankenmuth.

Peter, checking out directions in Sutton's Bay on M-22 in Leelenau county.

Ice cream break at Northport on our M-22 loop.

Sleeping Bear Dunes, from the top of the Empire Bluff Trail.

Peter running down the Dune Climb, Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Caleb and Philip, all ready for a new school year at MLS.  Peter starts 2nd grade later in the week.

A final farewell hug before Faith leaves for MLC in New Ulm, MN.
We will not see Faith until Thanksgiving.  Sniff.....

M-Live article, MLS Basketball

We are proud of all of our children, and we do our best to let them know that.  It is especially flattering when we find an article written about them, noticing that someone else is paying attention to them as well.

Well, apparently M-Live has noticed Andrew--although M-Live has altered his height a number of times between football and basketball season.  At one time, he was 6'6".  Then he lost an inch.  Apparently, he is getting even shorter for basketball season, being listed now at 6'4".

M-Live has a nice article about Andrew from this basketball season.  He also gives a nice shout-out to his big brother, Nathanael.  You can find it here.

One side note, if you scroll through the photos at the lead of the article, all of the MLS players' names are wrong.  Even the coach's name is wrong.  The M-Live reporter grabbed every name from the JV program.  Oops.

2014 Family Christmas Letter (belated)

SCHROEDER CHRISTMAS LETTER -- 2014

The last hours of 2014 are past

And we are writing to you at last

Our annual letter, our year in review

For us to reflect and inform all of you.

The year began with a medical concern,

The diagnosis taking quite some time to learn—

Laura’s legs and arms were getting badly bruised.

We need to know why she’d blacked and she’d blued.

Some medical questions were less than inspired—

Ask a mother of six, “Do you often feel tired?”

After many-a test and ruling things out,

The doc said, “It’s ITP; there is no doubt.”

Laura’s blood platelet count dropped excessively low.

“How do we fix this?” we wanted to know.

Injection, infusions, and hospital stays

Brought no lasting cure – not much, anyways.

So in early November, surgery was set

Removing Laura’s spleen was our last and best bet.

We are grateful to say that all went well.

Laura’s ITP is better from what we can tell.

She went back to teaching before December ended,

Which suggests that she has pretty well mended.

Despite ITP, she has managed our abode,

Getting rest as needed but was not often slowed.

Tom continues to serve all the while

Where Meadowbrook Road crosses Nine Mile—

The only Lutheran church in the city,

Good Shepherd, which is small but it is pretty.

He has tried to take on additional studies

With online classes and meetings with buddies.

He reads for his Octoberfest Luther Lecture

So it’s based on facts and not on conjecture.

Faith is a sophomore for the MLC Knights.

She has class in her days and basketball nights.

She likes the education track she has chosen

But notes that Minnesota is usually frozen.

In the summer, Faith doesn’t sit on her fanny—

She watches two boys when she works as a nanny.

In off hours she works out with all kinds of drills

So she can improve on her basketball skills.

Nathanael had a big year in 2014,

His birthday was his last one as a teen.

We marked his high school graduation day

From Michigan Lutheran Seminary in May.

Basketball, track, and a concert choir tenor

Are how Nathanael finished his year as a senior.

Summer days meant weed-whacking and lawn mowing.

For years he and Charli Sayles are steadily going.

For college those two have tried to stay calm

With she in Milwaukee and he in New Ulm.

Nathanael tried football for the MLC Knights

Who rarely pass the ball.  Said Nathanael, “That bites!”

Andrew enjoyed quite a great football season,

Going deep into the playoffs was one special reason.

The semi-finals were in Marquette’s Superior Dome

But a few points short meant a long, long trip home.

Andrew plays basketball for the Cardinal squad.

So far his games have been far from flawed.

He played JV baseball in the last, chilly Spring.

It kept him busy, but he said, “It’s not my thing.”

He’s in concert choir this year as a junior.

He goofs around with friends and seems to be loonier.

He loves to drive and always asks for the keys.

He also works lawn care in summer heat or breeze.

Caleb also had a big year in the past twelve months.

He graduated, proving that he’s no dunce.

His years at St. Peter, from K to Grade 8

Are now all complete and he thinks that’s great.

In May, Caleb took his confirmation vow.

He comes to the altar for Holy Communion now.

At home, he’ll put on head phones to listen to a tune.

He likes to spend quiet time in his room.

Caleb is at MLS.  Like his sis and each brother,

From Eagle to Cardinal, one bird to another.

He played JV football, as a defensive safety,

And now Freshmen hoops, and wins don’t come easy.

Philip entered the teen years in November.

He had hoped to get to a Packer game in December.

Laura’s surgery meant the trip would be postponed.

“I will patiently wait for next season,” he groaned.

Meanwhile, Philip is in seventh grade.

The basketball court is where he’s usually played.

Last year, he played with Caleb; nothing was greater.

This year’s Eagles team has only one Schroeder.

 

Philip plays trumpet and has picked up trombone.

He has an I-pod, but also longs for a phone.

If you want to play Madden, then Philip’s your man.

He’s also become a Detroit Tigers’ fan.

This past December, Peter turned six.

He loves to play with his Lego bricks.

He’s in Kindergarten where he’s taught by his Mom.

He plays with many friends and rarely sits calm.

When his siblings are home, that is Peter’s delight.

He grabs them to play from the day into night—

Light saber battles, PlayStation, Nerf guns,

With boundless energy his little body runs.

Besides school, sports, and work, our family spent

Time mainly in Detroit.  At least, that’s where we went

To see the Motown Museum and a Ford Field tour.

For us, Greenfield Village always has its allure.

 

In June we went took a trip to Wisconsin

To celebrate an anniversary that was golden.

The Schroeder grandparents rejoiced all that day

For the marriage God wrought and blessed all the way.

Time to wrap up.  We’re near the end of the page.

It’s hard to write verses when you’re not a sage.

God’s grace be upon you though the love of his Son.

We’ll write you again when this new year is done.

Love,

Tom, Laura, Faith, Nathanael, Andrew,

Caleb, Philip, and Peter Schroeder