[DistUpd] July 18

Wed Jul 18 10:14:12 CDT 2007

Update for July 18

A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE!

Summer greetings in the name of our Heavenly Father. I hope you are
staying cool (or enjoying the heat) as the days of summer continue.

*        District Website and Email Scheduled to be Down

*        Still Time to Register for Prairie Fire

*        LCMS Convention News

*        Missionary Donna Meyer Available to Speak

*        Medical Mission Team Trips

*        Human Care Partners Assess Needs Following Lake Tahoe Fire

*        Farewell Reception for Project Hope Director

*        Wheat Ridge Ministries Now Accepting Grant Applications

*        Opportunity for Youth Groups to Help Out and Earn Money

DISTRICT WEBSITE AND EMAIL SCHEDULED TO BE DOWN

The District website, www.ndlcms.org <http://www.ndlcms.org/> , and
email service to District staff will be inoperable beginning at 5:00
p.m. this Friday, July 20, until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 23. The
computer system at the District Office will be undergoing maintenance
during this time. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.

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STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR PRAIRIE FIRE

Did you mean to register for Prairie Fire, but you forgot? Now the
registration deadline is past and you aren't sure if you should send in
your registration? Good news! There is still time to register for
Prairie Fire at Concordia, Seward, on August 4.

Online registration is not available, but those who still wish to
register may send their completed registration form and registration fee
to the District Office postmarked by this Friday, July 20. Registration
forms and more information on the resources being offered that day are
available on the District website at www.ndlcms.org
<http://www.ndlcms.org/> . 

EVERYONE is invited to come hear Rev. Scott Snow, National Director of
Outreach for LCMS World Mission, and visit with other church workers and
lay leaders from across the Nebraska District to be inspired and
encouraged for outreach. 

Sessions being offered include:

*        Outreach Through Midweek

*        Youth Confirmation: An Outreach Ministry?!

*        Preschools are Mission Tools

*        Practicing Hospitality

*        Responding to Conflict

*        Ministering to Inactives

*        Understanding Your Community to Enable Outreach

*        Outreach to 30-Somethings and Younger

*        Faith Ablaze! at Home

*        Witnessing to Family and Friends

*        Consecrated Stewards

*        Stewardship 365/24/7

Contact Connie Borchers at the District Office at 888-643-2961 or
connieb at ndlcms.org with questions or for more information.

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LCMS CONVENTION NEWS

Election Results

Delegates to the 63rd Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod elected members of the LCMS Board of Directors on July 16. Two
ordained ministers, one commissioned minister, and four laypersons were
elected.

In the ordained category, on the second ballot, incumbent Dr. Robert T.
Kuhn from Oveido, Fla., was returned to the Board, receiving 640 votes.
The delegates also elected Dr. Donald K. Muchow of Buda, Texas, who
previously served on the Board. He received 629 votes.

Kurt M. Senske of Austin, Texas, was elected as the commissioned
minister with 646 votes.

Laypersons included Kermit A. Brashear of Omaha, Neb., with 905 votes;
Curtis W. Pohl, St. Michael, Minn., 804 votes; Gloria S. Edwards,
Portula Valley, Calif., 710 votes; and Walter Brantz, Cody, Wyo., 683
votes. 

A bylaw states that only one person can be elected to the Board from a
particular district. Previous elections for the pastoral and
commissioned candidates rendered ineligible a number of laypeople whose
names appeared on the original ballot: Jeffrey C. Coyne, Edward A.
Dollase, and Brad L. Hewitt.

In other elections on Monday, delegates returned Dr. Raymond L. Hartwig
to his office as Secretary of the Synod. Also returned to his position
as Vice President-Finance/Treasurer was Thomas W. Kuchta, who ran
unopposed.

Hartwig received 708 (59.1 percent) of the votes cast. Rev. Philip J.
Esala of Kettering, Ohio, received 425 votes (35.5 percent) and Rev.
David L. Mahsman of St. Louis, Mo., received 64 votes (5.3 percent).

Election results for synodical president and vice presidents were shared
in a special Email Update on Monday. This information may also be found
on the official Convention website, http://reporter.lcms.org/. A summary
of election results and other key actions will appear in the September
issue of the Nebraska Lutheran Reporter.

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MISSIONARY DONNA MEYER AVAILABLE TO SPEAK

Donna Meyer, member of Zion, Hastings, has served LCMS World Mission as
a long-term missionary/teacher for missionary children in Guinea for the
past three years. She is in Nebraska on furlough before leaving again to
serve in Indonesia as a long-term volunteer/teacher. 

Donna is available to speak to your congregation, mission society, or
other group before she leaves in August. The only Sunday available is
Sunday, August 19. She is available for weekday or evening speaking
engagements beginning August 5.

To contact Donna about speaking at your congregation or mission meeting,
call her at 402-364-2432 or 402-200-0192 (cell), or email her at
dhnztt at yahoo.com. 

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MEDICAL MISSION TEAM TRIPS

LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR/HC) has the following mercy medical
team trips to offer:

September 6-16, 2007: Jakarta, Indonesia

October 5-15, 2007: Nairobi, Kenya (Kibera slum and rural clinics)

October 19-30, 2007: Nairobi, Kenya (Kibera slum and rural clinics)

October 19-27, 2007: Antiqua, Guatemala (rural clinics)

2008 date TBA: Madagascar

Date TBA: Kenya

The Indonesia, Kenya, and Madagascar trips will cost approximately
$3,000 per person. The Guatemala trip will cost approximately $2,000 per
person. All trips include airfare, lodging, meals, and travel
in-country, as well as a day of rest and/or sight-seeing. LCMS WR/HC
will arrange travel, assist with visas, provide evacuation insurance,
and provide a team leader.

Because space is limited, trips will be filled on a first response basis
with priority given to specific medical professions needed most.
Typically, two or three doctors, several nurses, and several other
medical professionals are needed for each team. Team numbers are limited
to 10-12 per trip.

If you are interested in any of these trips, please contact:

Sally Henrickson, RN/LCSW

Sally.henrickson at lcms.org

LCMS World Relief/Human Care

1333 S Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122

1-800-248-1930, ext. 1278

If you have any additional questions, please contact Lutherans in
Medical Missions at limm at limm.org. Please copy LIMM if you contact LCMS
WR/HC.

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HUMAN CARE PARTNERS ASSESS NEEDS FOLLOWING LAKE TAHOE FIRE (from LCMS
"Disaster News" e-News, July 12)

250 homes were destroyed by what residents call the Angora Fire,
mid-June at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. The large-scale fire cost $13.5
million to extinguish. There is no longer an LCMS congregation in Lake
Tahoe, but Lutheran Disaster Response, a partner in disaster relief
efforts, asked LCMS World Relief and Human Care to help assess the
situation. Rev. Carlos Hernandez, director of districts and
congregations with LCMS World Relief and Human Care, and LDR affiliate
Dr. Linda Boston, disaster coordinator for Lutheran Social Services of
Northern California, assessed the community needs together.

They visited Hope Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in South Lake
Tahoe. Six member families, many of whom are blue-collar, working
families, lost their homes, and others were damaged. Rev. Joel Martyn,
pastor at Hope, shared that many people are in shock and don't yet
understand the magnitude of the disaster.

Donations were piled in the parking lot: clothing, furniture, and other
items. The church secretary acted as a sort of disaster coordinator.

Rev. Martyn showed Rev. Hernandez and Dr. Boston a home that received
minor damages in the fire. The homes around it were no more than
foundations, chimneys and ash. "The most frightening part of the tour
was the realization that fires were still smoldering," said Rev.
Hernandez. 

Based upon the community needs and Rev. Martyn's requests, LDR, in
partnership with LCMS World Relief and Human Care, will respond with:

*	Short and long-term response strategy consultation. LCMS World
Relief and Human Care will share its short-term response experience. 
*	A spiritual and emotional workshop in mid-August. 
*	Dr. Boston will contact Rev. Martyn every 4-5 days to monitor
the situation.

ELCA Bishop David Mullens planned to assess the situation on July 8. 

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FAREWELL RECEPTION FOR PROJECT HOPE DIRECTOR

The Project Hope Board of Directors invites everyone to a farewell
reception for outgoing director, Mary Ann Johnson. Mary Ann is stepping
down from her directorship after nine years of dedicated service to
those in need of food, clothing, a hug, or a prayer. As a representative
of Project Hope, her smiling presence is well known in the Omaha
community and will be greatly missed.

The reception will be held at St. Mark Lutheran Church (1821 N 90th
St.), Omaha, on Sunday, August 19, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. In lieu of gifts,
a non-perishable food item for the pantry would be suitable.

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WHEAT RIDGE MINISTRIES NOW ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS

Wheat Ridge Ministries is now accepting applications from Lutheran
congregations for its Congregation Health and Hope Grant program. The
purpose of the Congregation Health and Hope Grants is to facilitate the
initial development of congregation-based health and wellness
ministries. Applications are due by September 30, 2007.

All Lutheran congregations - individually or in partnership with other
congregations - are eligible for these grants.  The maximum amount per
grant is $2,000 for a single congregation and $6,000 for collaborative
efforts involving two or more congregations. The amount granted by Wheat
Ridge must be matched dollar for dollar by the congregation.
Approximately 20 grants will be awarded to congregational projects in
November.

The focus of the Health and Hope Grant is on new congregation-based
health ministries developed under the auspices of a congregation health
committee or cabinet.  Projects must support and promote the health and
well-being of people in the congregation and local community. 

Grant funds may be invested in health-related events and leadership
development; staff training; planning; materials, resources or equipment
directly related to program development; or contract services or new
staff essential for program development. The grant is not to be used for
existing staff salaries; congregation or school building programs; or
general church or school expenses.

Congregations interested in applying for a Wheat Ridge Congregation
Health and Hope Grant can visit the Wheat Ridge website
(www.wheatridge.org
<http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=dpIQKZNCKdIFL2K&s=cqIKIUOFKmKUI5PKLtE&m
=isLRK0MIIlK5E> ) to download a complete list of guidelines, as well as
the proposal format. Any questions may be referred to the Wheat Ridge
office at 800-762-6748.  Deadline for submitting applications is
September 30, 2007.

Wheat Ridge Ministries is recognized throughout the world as an
independent Lutheran charitable organization that seeds new ministries
of health and hope in the name of the healing Christ.  Currently, more
than 100 ministries are receiving assistance through Wheat Ridge
funding.  In addition to funding grants, Wheat Ridge also connects and
equips people, congregations and organizations with health and hope
ministries. 

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OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH GROUPS TO HELP OUT AND EARN MONEY

Do you know of any youth who would like to make a few dollars while
helping out a good cause? 

Each year, Lutheran Family Services invites individual youth or their
youth group to help advertise the Healthy Families Walk held on August
26 by passing out flyers to local businesses in western and central
Omaha. 

Every volunteer that helps pass out flyers will receive a $5.00 gift
certificate for lunch at Burger King. In addition, each volunteer will
be paid $1.00 for every place they put up a flyer. This is a great
activity for youth groups to earn money for a movie night, or for an
individual to get a small reward for helping a critical fundraising
event be a success. 

Lutheran Family Services in Omaha is seeking people to help distribute
flyers between now and July 27, so youth who are interested are urged to
sign up fast. To volunteer, contact Mary Langdon at 402-978-5603 or
mlangdon at lfsneb.org.  

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Thank you to all the congregations and individuals who submitted
information for this week's Update. Items to share are always welcome
and may be emailed to communications at ndlcms.org. We pray this
e-newsletter may be a useful resource tool to you in your personal and
congregational ministry. Please feel free to pass this resource along to
others you know who may also benefit from this information. Anyone is
welcome to subscribe and may do so by sending their email address to
communications at ndlcms.org and requesting to be added to the mailing
list, or by visiting www.ndlcms.org/news/communications/update.html. 

Nichole Hetz
Nebraska District LCMS
Director of Communications and Events
1-888-643-2961
nicholeh at ndlcms.org <mailto:nicholeh at ndlcms.org> 
www.ndlcms.org <http://www.ndlcms.org/>  

* Please Note: The inclusion of items in the Update from outside sources
is for informational purposes only. Inclusion of such items does not
constitute District endorsement.

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