More than 2,400 students and teachers came together for worship and celebration under one roof when the fourth triennial Joint Lutheran Schools Celebration (JLSC) took over the Ryder Center at Saginaw Valley State University on Tuesday, May 8, 2018.
The students represent 26 mid-Michigan Lutheran Schools of the Michigan District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
“The Joint Lutheran Schools Celebration is held every three years, but we’ve been planning this year’s event for over two years now—it’s a huge undertaking,” said Brian Young, JLSC Committee Chairman. “Some schools are right here in Saginaw city and township, Frankenmuth, and Bay City. But schools from as far as a few hours away will also make the trip because it’s an incredibly special event.”
“When you see over 2,000 students singing in one voice, together for one cause, it’s all worth the long drives, the planning, and the hard work.”
The May 8 event kicked off with worship at 10 a.m. that included the St. Lorenz (Frankenmuth) Girls of Grace dance ministry, and at 10:45 moved to an entertainment portion featuring nationwide entertainer Ben Glenn “The Chalk Guy” from Indianapolis.
While every JLSC includes worship and entertainment, it also includes a charity or special cause that garners donations from all 26 participating schools. This year’s JLSC caring and sharing outreach project was the Lutheran Church Charities’ LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs. These trained dogs interact with people at churches, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, events, and disaster sites throughout the nation. Students brought monetary donations for the dogs to the JLSC.
To see more pictures of the celebration, visit JLSC’s Facebook page.
Photo courtesy of JLSC
