[DistUpd] April 16

Wed Apr 16 14:47:13 CDT 2008

Update for April 16
A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE!

Greetings in the name of our loving Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who "though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Yesterday was tax day - the day that inevitably comes around each year and causes anxiety for many. This is the day the government has set as a deadline for many Americans to pay their taxes - our financial responsibility for being an American citizen. Saint Paul tells us in Romans 6:23 that there was a payment due for our sinfulness. The bad news is that the payment required was death. The Good News we know and have the opportunity to share with others is that Jesus made that payment for us to give us the privilege of being children of God and citizens of His kingdom.

How would you react if a stranger offered to pay your taxes for this year? Could you keep the news of your good fortune to yourself? How would you spend the extra money that would have gone for your taxes? How do we react each day to the news that Jesus, the Son of God, paid a far greater price for our eternal salvation - the price of His life? Are we shouting it from the rooftops and sharing it on the street corners? How do we "spend" the unlimited forgiveness and love that are ours through Jesus? Do we support the work of telling others about Jesus through Christian stewardship practices? Thanks be to God for the greatest gift of all - the gift of His Son who "though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)

*        Seminary Call/Placement Days Next Week
*        Important Tax Information for Your Members
*        District Youth Gathering Information
*        Omaha Campus Ministry Coordinator Position Open
*        Short Term Medical Mission Needs
*        2010 LCMS National Youth Gathering Information Announced
*        New Toner Cartridge Available
*        Tri-City Orphan Grain Train Organizational Meeting
*        Odds and Ends Furniture Sale at Concordia
*        Pacific Hills, Omaha, to Host Visiting Theologian

SEMINARY CALL/PLACEMENT DAYS NEXT WEEK
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne -- Vicarage and Deaconess Internship Placement Service will be April 22, at 7:00 p.m., in Kramer Chapel. Candidate Call Service will take place the next evening, April 23, at 7:00 p.m., in Kramer Chapel. Those unable to attend the services will be able to listen live via the internet by going to www.ctsfw.edu<http://www.ctsfw.edu/> and selecting "Listen Live!" in the left-hand column. The vicarages and calls will be posted on this same webpage after the April 23 service.

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis -- Call Day will be Tuesday, April 22. Approximately 117 students who will serve as vicars (a one-year internship) next year will receive their assignments during a 3:00 p.m. worship service. Rev. Randall Golter, president of the Rocky Mountain District LCMS, will serve as preacher. During a 7:00 p.m. worship service, approximately 167 candidates for the pastoral ministry will receive their first calls to serve as pastors, missionaries, and chaplains in the LCMS. Dr. William Hoesman, chairman of the Council of Presidents and president of the Michigan District, will serve as preacher. Both services will be held in the Seminary's Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. Also on that day, seven deaconess students are expected to receive their internship assignments, and there are seven deaconess candidates.

Those unable to attend the April 22 services will be able to view a webcast of the services from the Seminary's website, www.csl.edu<http://www.csl.edu/>. Both audio and video will be available. For more information, visit the Resources section of the Seminary's website one week prior to the services. The vicarages and calls will be posted on Concordia Seminary's website on April 22 at 9:00 p.m. (CST).

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IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION FOR YOUR MEMBERS
Concordia Plan Services, the LCMS benefits partner, has asked us to ask you to help spread the word about economic stimulus payments for eligible individuals and families. Many Americans, especially the elderly and lower-income Americans, may not realize that for them to be considered for this payment, they must file a 2007 federal tax return, even if they are not normally required to do so. Please consider including the following information in your church bulletin or newsletter to alert those in your congregation to this fact.

An Important Reminder from the IRS - At the request of the IRS, we are helping to spread the word about the economic stimulus payment to individuals and families. The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, passed by Congress, offers eligible individuals an economic stimulus payment. To be considered eligible for a payment, individuals must file a 2007 federal tax return (even if they are not normally required to file), in addition to meeting other IRS requirements. To learn more about the Economic Stimulus Act or about qualifying for a payment, individuals should consult a financial or tax advisor or visit the IRS website a www.irs.gov<http://www.irs.gov/>.

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DISTRICT YOUTH GATHERING INFORMATION
Church offices should have received an information packet on the Nebraska District Youth Gathering to be held November 21-23 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Omaha. This initial mailing is designed to give pastors, DCEs and youth leaders basic information on the upcoming Gathering that they can share with their youth. With the theme, "Identified," the Gathering is designed to help the participants reflect on how God has reconciled each of us to Himself through Christ, giving us a new and changed identity. Registration information will be sent to church offices in late summer and more information will be available soon on the Gathering website, www.neyouth.org<http://www.neyouth.org/>. Bookmark this site and check back often for the most up-to-date Gathering information.

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OMAHA CAMPUS MINISTRY COORDINATOR POSITION OPEN
The Nebraska District Omaha Campus Ministry, in partnership with Pacific Hills, Omaha, seeks someone who has a heart for God and a desire to work with college students! This full time position will be offered to an active member of an LCMS church with a bachelor's degree; some experience in college/young adult ministry preferred. If you are passionate about building up the faith of Christian college students and reaching out with the Gospel to those who are not Christian, this position may be for you. Responsibilities include being active in personal faith growth, college ministry oversight, directing student leadership team, implementing vision for metro area ministry, ability for flexible schedule and occasional travel. Applicants should possess strong communication skills, and be willing and able to cultivate relationships with a variety of people and institutions. Résumés must be received by April 28. For more information and a full job description, contact:

Stacey Swan
Stacey_Swan at yahoo.com<mailto:Stacey_Swan at yahoo.com>
402-578-4177
Pacific Hills Lutheran Church
1110 S. 90th St.
Omaha, NE 68154

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SHORT TERM MEDICAL MISSION NEEDS
A medical doctor, RN and dentist are currently needed for the MOST (Mission Opportunities Short Term) Ministries medical team going to Dominican Republic from June 20-28, 2008. The approximate cost of the trip is $1,800 to $2,000.  Please contact Pastor Fitzgerald at mfitzgerald at stlorenz.org<mailto:mfitzgerald at stlorenz.org> or Debby Suchyta at debby.most at juno.com, or call 734-994-7909 ext. 11.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Lutherans in Medical Missions at limm at limm.org<mailto:limm at limm.org> or visit their website at www.limm.org<http://www.limm.org/>. Please copy LIMM if you contact MOST Ministries at the email addresses above.

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2010 LCMS NATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING INFORMATION ANNOUNCED
The theme for the 2010 National LCMS Youth Gathering is "We Believe," based on John 20:31, "But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (ESV)

About this theme, Rev. Terry Dittmer, Director for Youth Ministry notes, "Gathering participants always share how much it means to encounter other students who "believe like I do" as part of the National Gathering.  "We Believe" is a wonderful, corporate expression of our faith in Jesus Christ, especially as we focus on the creed and our confession as we take that faith to the New Orleans community in Word, celebration, service, witness, and fellowship."

"We Believe," the 11th triennial National LCMS Youth Gathering, will be held July 17-21, 2010, in New Orleans, Louisiana. 2010 marks the event's third visit to New Orleans. Previous New Orleans' Gatherings included "A Time for Joy" (1992) and "Higher Ground" (2001). The Gathering had planned to hold its 2007 event in New Orleans, but moved to Orlando in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

"New Orleans is once more a vibrant city for meeting the mission of the National LCMS Youth Gathering," shares Gretchen Jameson, Associate Director for LCMS Youth Ministry - Communications.

Changes have been made to Gathering participant guidelines. For the first time in its history, 14-year old participants will be encouraged to attend. "Our goal is to provide opportunities for incoming freshman to experience the Gathering" shares Mark Kiessling, Gathering Program Director. "Planners will give special consideration when developing workshops and program content to meet the unique needs of these younger students."

To register for the 2010 National LCMS Youth Gathering, youth participants must be at least 14 years old at the time of the Gathering;  OR entering their freshman year in high school at the time of the Gathering; OR be a 2010 high school graduate; and may not have turned 21 by the time of the Gathering.

The 2010 Gathering will also allow congregations to bring more adult leaders with their groups. "We recognize that some congregations may have concerns about the Gathering in New Orleans," Kiessling states. "By increasing our adult-to-youth ratio, congregations can bring more adults and we hope to encourage groups to feel more confident in attending."

The Gathering website, http://2010.lcmsgathering.com/, provides parents and adult leaders the opportunity to interact with New Orleans, the members of the LCMS Southern District, and the information that "helped LCMS decide that New Orleans is the best home for the 2010 Gathering."

Registration for "We Believe," the 2010 National LCMS Youth Gathering will open in the fall of 2009.  For more information, contact the DCS Youth Ministry Office at 800-248-1930, ext. 1155.

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NEW TONER CARTRIDGE AVAILABLE
The Community Services Department of Lutheran Family Services recently replaced their Laserjet 4+ printer with a different one. Unfortunately, they have a toner cartridge HEW 92298A on hand. The box is open, but not the plastic around the cartridge. If there is a Lutheran church or school with a printer that can use this, the cartridge is available at a good price. Contact Ann Carpenter at acarpenter at lfsneb.org<mailto:acarpenter at lfsneb.org> or 402-346-6100, ext. 3500.

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TRI-CITY ORPHAN GRAIN TRAIN ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Those interested in learning more about organizing at regional satellite location for Orphan Grain Train in the Grand Island/Hastings/Kearney area are invited to an informational meeting on Thursday, April 24, at 7:00 p.m. in the annex building at Cristo Cordero de Dios (512 East 2nd Street), Grand Island.

Orphan Grain Train is a recognized service organization of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod based in Norfolk, Nebraska. More information on Orphan Grain Train is available on their website at www.ogt.org<http://www.ogt.org/>.

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ODDS AND ENDS FURNITURE SALE AT CONCORDIA
Concordia University in Seward is doing some spring cleaning by offering older/unused furniture items for sale at an odds and ends sale in the parking lot in front of Jesse Hall on Concordia University campus on Friday, May 2, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. These items have been in storage or are no longer needed with campus renovations. Come check out office desks, chairs, bookcases, student desks, tables, odds & ends, etc. There will also be a "free to good home" section. Money raised will go toward campus improvement projects.

PACIFIC HILLS, OMAHA, TO HOST VISITING THEOLOGIAN
Everyone is invited to the fourth annual visiting theologian weekend at Pacific Hills Lutheran Church (90th and Pacific), Omaha, on Saturday, April 26, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (includes lunch). The featured speaker will be Dr. Charles W. Ore, cantor emeritus of PHLC, speaking on "The Theology of Music According to the Best of the Lutheran Heritage." The registration fee is $10 per person at the door for both the presentation and lunch. RSVP is required by email to pastormoorhead at pacifichillslutheran.org<mailto:pastormoorhead at pacifichillslutheran.org> by April 23. Pastor Moorhead may also be contacted with questions or for more information.

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Thanks to all who contributed information for this week's Email Update. If you have items to share in future Updates, please send them to communications at ndlcms.org<mailto:communications at ndlcms.org>. Past Updates are available from www.ndlcms.org/news/communications/update.html<http://www.ndlcms.org/news/communications/update.html>.

Blessings,
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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