Lutherans #LoveLansing at the Lugnuts
Over 545 Lutherans from 11 LCMS congregations in the Greater Lansing area descended on Jackson Field in downtown Lansing on August 3, 2024. They gathered an hour before the game on the Tailgate Terrace for a stadium buffet and fellowship. There was as much food given as received, however, as the Lutherans brought food donations to the stadium to donate to the Greater Lansing Food Bank. The combination of fellowship, generosity, and being a presence in the community was the vision for the “circuit convocation” – a gathering of the circuit churches every three years. Tickets to the event, which included the all-you-can-eat buffet, were subsidized by the LCMS Michigan District and Church Extension Fund.
“It was great to see so many of us from the area Lutheran congregations enjoying a beautiful evening at the ballpark together. The venue allowed us to be together but also right in the midst of our community at the same time. These are the people we are trying to reach with the Gospel,” said Pastor Bill Wangelin of Our Savior Lansing.
Pastor Jim Pearl of St. John, St. John’s, commended, “God blessed us with a wonderful evening filled with fellowship, fun, and the opportunity to bless the community through donations to the Greater Lansing Food Bank.”
There were other groups noticeably present at the game, such as political campaigns and the Knights of Columbus. A group of nuns in their habits ate next to the “Welcome to Lutheran Night” sign. The people in the stands reflected the diversity of the area. It placed our LCMS churches in the context of the community to which we are sent. While the Lugnuts couldn’t pull off a win, the beautiful evening ended with a great fireworks display, lighting up the city skyline and the state capitol.
A few of the congregations annually go to the Lugnuts as a church event. Now that the circuit churches were drawn into this experience together, the pastors and lay leaders are talking about how to coordinate this event next year. We may not have the grant from CEF and the Michigan District or the Tailgate Terrace, but we could still bring the Food Bank donations and enjoy an evening together next year surrounded by the community we are called to serve.
