From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Wed Jan 9 09:53:41 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:53:41 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] January 9 Message-ID: Update for January 9 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! Epiphany greetings in the name of our Savior. As we continue through this season of Epiphany and remember how the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, may we continue to build relationships with those around us and use opportunities the Lord gives us to share His incredible story of love, compassion, and grace. Now, as our routines begin to return to normal, there are a number of news items and upcoming opportunities to take note of. * Prayer Request * Special Prayers for Church in Kenya * Spring Pastors' Conference Date Change * Urgent Need for Chairs for Mission Start * 2008 Life Sunday Resources * Equipping to Share Workshop in Omaha * Nebraska LLL Offering Scholarships to Church Worker Students * Volunteers Needed in Greensburg, Kansas * Overseas Mission Opportunities * Visitors to Mission Central * Singers Needed for Lutheran Choir in Lincoln * The Friendship of Jesus and Muslims Conference * Organ Available PRAYER REQUEST Pastor Philip Houser - Pastor Houser continues to serve his six-month military chaplaincy deployment to the Philippines. We ask the Lord to continue to grant Pastor Houser safety as he travels throughout the region attending to the spiritual needs of the soldiers and sailors serving there. We also pray for peace and strength for Pastor Houser's family and congregation during his absence. Back to top SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR CHURCH IN KENYA >From LCMS World Relief/Human Care (http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=12952) Springs of Life Lutheran Church, nursery school, and the newly remodeled Luther Health Centre in Kibera, Kenya, were looted and set ablaze Thursday afternoon (January 3) as riots continued for the fifth day following heated presidential elections. "No amount of pleading would stop them," said Rev. David Chuchu, Project Coordinator for ELCK (Evangelical Lutheran Church Kenya). He also said a neighboring African Inland Church was burned. The church, school, and clinic are part of LCMS partner church The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya. Luther Health Centre opened its doors in October, after renovations made possible by a $40,000 grant from LCMS World Relief and Human Care. The funding came from donations at St. John Lutheran Church in Oxnard, Calif. and Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot, Penn. ELCK Bishop Rev. Walter Obare's rural home was also under threat of fire Thursday. Church workers, like many residents, were stuck in areas of danger and hundreds of Kenyans were killed. "A humanitarian crisis is unfolding as thousands of displaced Kenyans started running out of food and water," said Rev. Chuchu. People are sleeping in police stations, churches, and schools. As part of the international aid alliance Action by Churches Together, LCMS World Relief and Human Care partner, Lutheran World Relief mobilized emergency food rations for displaced people in the Nairobi slums and in Kisumu. More than anything ELCK pastors ask for prayers. "Please continue to pray for us. We thank God our faith is not in material possessions. Our faith will stand firm and we pray God's intervention for the sake of Kenya. We rejoice in the fact that faith does not burn and the church is never destroyed," said Rev. Dennis Meeker, pastor at Springs of Life Lutheran Church. LCMS World Relief and Human Care will continue to keep in contact with ELCK officials, and intends to help its partner as needs appear. The ELCK serves a population of 85,000 people in 139 parishes and 440 congregations located mainly in western Kenya. To help share Christ's mercy with victims of the violence in Kenya, make a check payable to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO, 63166-9810. Mark "Kenya Relief Effort" in the memo line. Or call the toll-free gift line, 1-888-930-4438. >From Lutheran Hour Ministries (http://www.lhm.org/newsroom/enews.asp) Kenya is in the midst of violent turmoil and upheaval following the recent presidential elections. The violence erupted when it was announced that the incumbent president, Mwai Kibaki, a member of the Kikuyu tribe (the largest ethnic group in Kenya), had narrowly defeated challenger Raila Odinga of the Luo tribe in the Dec. 27 polls. Supporters of Odinga claimed widespread voter rigging by the electoral commission in favor of Kibaki and, as a result, have aimed their anger and frustration at the members of Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe. John Maina is the Director for Lutheran Hour Ministries in Kenya and related his first-hand experiences via e-mail. "Our country is slowly grinding to a standstill. Within a week, a nation that was so hopeful as it went to the polls after the most open and democratic campaign period this country had ever seen, is now covered with a cloud of despair. It is surprising how quickly a country can collapse. My eyes have seen sights in the last week that I had only read about in other countries or watched on CNN. I have watched a mob hack someone to death 10 meters from where I was standing. Three days ago, 10 bodies were collected on the street where I live - victimized for belonging to the "wrong" tribe. Church services that were scheduled for New Year's weekend were cancelled. I had been asked to lead the service at the main Lutheran Church downtown on New Year's Day, but instead we were frantically calling everybody we knew telling them not to even attempt to step into town. Criminal gangs from both sides (of the conflict) are taking over the city posing as demonstrators, looting and burning. I have spent almost the whole week holed up in my house and was only able to come out yesterday [Jan. 3]. Two sections of my residential area are populated by people from the tribe of the opposition leader and they are attacking, indiscriminately, anybody perceived to not have voted for their leader. Gang rapes have been reported in the rift valley and even in the city. The most frightening thing is the lack of food in some sections of the city, since mobs have broken into shopping centers and there is nothing left to buy. The desperation is now causing mobs to break into peoples' homes. I would like to ask for prayers for the members of our staff. Most of the staff lives close to, and in, the Kawangware and Kibera areas that have seen the worst outbreaks of violence in the city. Yesterday the Lutheran Church in Kibera, along with the school, was burned down. The city is not even the worst hit area. The rift valley's beautiful town of Eldoret, where we were planning an outreach event for February, has more than 700 people in the hospital with machete wounds and 84 bodies in the mortuary. This is the town where women and children who had sought refuge in a church were burnt to death. If the tension is not broken within the week it will be extremely difficult to salvage the situation. I am afraid it could turn into a civil war, particularly if the big Kikuyu tribe starts to revenge the killing of their people in other regions. This is something that has not happened in the 40 years of Kenya's independence. The opposition is encouraging demonstrations with the intent of putting pressure on the government and there is a plan to march to State House (the Presidential home). In response, the state has cancelled meetings, explaining that the protestors cannot be controlled because every time the mobs assemble for a demonstration they also burn and loot. The two leaders, both the incumbent President and Raila Odinga, are not showing any signs of reaching out to each other. Archbishop Desmond Tutu is in the country to mediate and we are hoping for a breakthrough. Please pray for that. I have managed to move my family outside the city and I am in a place close to the LHM office. But I cannot go into the office since its location is a center of mayhem. Please pray for our caretaker who lives in the building, which is very near where three gas stations have been burnt down. We were planning to re-open the office (after being closed for the holidays) on Jan. 4, but I have changed that to the 8th, if the situation allows. There is very little available public transportation and people are being pulled out of vehicles and beaten if they are identified as being from the "wrong" tribe. At this point I have advised the Global Work & Witness team that was scheduled to come to Kenya next week to definitely postpone their visit until further notice. We cannot guarantee their safety at this time." To financially support the (LHM) Kenyan ministry, call 1-800-944-3450, ext. 4275. Thank you for your prayers and your gift. May the Holy Spirit use them, as well as our staff in Kenya, to share the Savior with all of those who are struggling to find hope during these difficult times in Kenya. >From LCMS Missionaries Claude and Rhoda Houge in Kenya (Sent via email on January 3) Dear Friends, Many of you have written to us regarding the current problems in Kenya. We want to reassure you that we and the other LCMS missionaries are very safe. We live a distance from where most of the trouble spots are located. In anticipation of possible trouble, we all stocked up on food and other necessities, so we are staying close to home and not going into Nairobi at all. Church was cancelled last Sunday and New Year's Day at Uhuru Highway Lutheran Church downtown. The international community is calling for mediators to come in, but so far the government is not moving in this direction. Many neighboring countries depend on the port of Mombassa for oil and other supplies, so it is affecting many people. Those who are suffering the most are people who live in affected areas who are fearing for their lives and who cannot get out for food. We have four men who change around as day and night guards (just one at a time), and they have moved their families out of the areas where they live to places they feel are safe. They walked miles to work several days because there was no public transportation. We have told them they are welcome to sleep on our compound if they are afraid to be at their homes. Together in His mission, Claude and Rhoda Houge Ed. Note: We join with the Houge's in prayers of thanksgiving that the Lord healed Pastor Houge of his malaria. He is now recovered and doing fine. Back to top SPRING PASTORS' CONFERENCE DATE CHANGE The dates for the Spring Pastors' Conference have been changed to Monday, March 31, and Tuesday, April 1. The conference will be held at Divot's Conference Center in Norfolk and opening worship will be held at Grace, Norfolk. The conference theme, based on 1 Corinthians 12:12, will focus on how the members of the LCMS function together, with an emphasis on stewardship. Optional stewardship breakout sessions will be offered Tuesday afternoon for any interested participants. Registration materials will be sent out and available on the District website, www.ndlcms.org, in early February. Back to top URGENT NEED FOR CHAIRS FOR MISSION START 1C, a new mission start in Columbus, is looking for 150 chairs to be used in their new fellowship location. They plan to have their first public fellowship this Sunday, January 13. Any congregation, school, or individual who can help this church plant by offering them chairs is encouraged to contact Jerry Steger at jsteger at frontiernet.net or call 402-564-8103. Back to top 2008 LIFE SUNDAY RESOURCES The official "Sanctity of Human Life" Sunday is January 20, but Lutherans For Life has developed materials to help any congregation recognize and celebrate the sanctity of human life on any Sunday. The 2008 resources are all tied to the theme "In the Hand of God" and the materials available include bulletin inserts, a Bible study, a devotional booklet, a children's message, five different sermons, worship service format, and other educational materials. Resources may be ordered directly from the Lutherans For Life website, www.lutheransforlife.org. Don't forget, Nebraska's annual walk for life will start at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 26, on the west side of the capitol building. From there, the walk will progress to the UNL student union. The keynote speaker this year is David Ring, author of I've Got Cerebal Palsy, What's Your Problem? He focuses on the need to conquer the personal challenges in one's life. His triumph over unbelievable odds will amaze you and you are moved to consider how you can triumph over your adversities. Information will also be shared on where the candidates stand on the life issues. Everyone is invited to join in this opportunity to stand up and walk for those unable to stand for themselves. Back to top EQUIPPING TO SHARE WORKSHOP IN OMAHA Isn't it heartbreaking having a neighbor, friend or family member who doesn't know Jesus or who doesn't go to church? How do we reach out to them without being threatening or pushy? Discover how God equips you to be a gentle and effective witness at the Equipping to Share Workshop on Saturday, March 1, at Beautiful Savior, LaVista (7706 South 96th Street). The workshop will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 2:00 p.m. with a free will donation taken for the provided lunch. This interactive training from Lutheran Hour Ministries helps believers with the privilege of sharing the truth and love of Christ in everyday situations. Call Melissa at 402-331-7376 or email equip at bslcomaha.org by Thursday, February 14, to register. Back to top NEBRASKA LLL OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS TO CHURCH WORKER STUDENTS The Nebraska District Lutheran Laymen's League is now accepting applications for student assistance grants for the 2008 - 2009 school term for high school seniors and college students intending to enter full-time church work in The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. The scholarships of $250 per semester (or $500 maximum per year) will be awarded to eligible recipients with payments made to the student's institution of learning and credited to the student's account. The application deadline is May 1, 2008, and application materials are available by contacting the Nebraska District LLL Student Assistance Committee, Mick Onnen Chairman, 2220 Rd. 5000, Davenport, NE 68335; (402) 364-2523 or e-mail at mickonnen at alltel.net. Please note, this is a different address than what was printed in the January 2008 Nebraska Lutheran Reporter. Back to top VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN GREENSBURG, KANSAS Chuck Jedele, Lutheran Disaster Response Site Coordinator, in Greensburg, Kansas, shares the following volunteer opportunities for those who wish to help the victims of last summer's tornado. Pastors and church office staff are encouraged to share this information with their congregations through their newsletters and bulletins. We are in need of more groups/individuals to come and volunteer in January and February. Farmers - can you come during this time of year? Students/teachers - can you give us some time on President's weekend? Retired - with winter blues?? Come for a week or two and be tired and rejuvenated as you help others put their homes and lives back together. (Chuck is 71 years old and excited to use his skills in this work.) There are jobs to be done in both good and bad weather. Good weather jobs include: putting siding on a house, putting a roof on a house, making foundations for new homes, and replacing windows. Bad weather jobs include: sheet rock work, plumbing, wiring for electricity, installing trim on doors/windows/flooring, ceramic tile work, cleaning, installing carpet, and installing interior doors and cabinets. If you or a group from your congregation can volunteer some time, contact Chuck at 620-388-3760 for more information or to make arrangements. Back to top OVERSEAS MISSION OPPORTUNITIES Argentina Right now you have the opportunity to meet an urgent need as a Relationship Builder through EFL in Argentina. The Lutheran seminary in Buenos Aires is seeking an individual with general professional proficiency in Spanish to serve as an English teacher for seminary students and faculty. The classes you offer will contribute to the theological studies of the seminary and provide more opportunities for Christian witness. A single male is preferred because of the housing availability and day to day work with all male classes. Also due to the nature of this work, an individual with church work experience or theological study is desired. China Right now you have the opportunity to meet an urgent need as an EFL Teacher in China. LCMS World Mission is looking for long-term teachers to teach English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in areas where LCMS and its partners are currently serving local communities in Mainland China. You will teach future English teachers who otherwise would not have the opportunity to learn from a native English speaker. For more information on these opportunities, go to: www.lcmsworldmission.org/searchopps or contact an LCMS World Mission placement counselor at 1-800-433-3954 or mission.recruitment at lcms.org. Back to top VISITORS TO MISSION CENTRAL The following visitors will be making presentations at Mission Central near Mapleton, Iowa, in the upcoming months. For more information on these and other happenings at Mission Central, visit the website at www.missioncentral.us. The presentations will be made by workers serving in "closed countries." February 4, 7:00 p.m. ... Dennis Denow will present, and he also is bringing two of the school officials from the Public Muslim School in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. It will be one of the highlights of the year having these special guests, and first time ever in the history of the organization that they have had this type of special guests! April 8, 7:00 p.m. ... Michelle Hoeppner will be telling of her work in the villages of southern China and her contacts with the poorest of poor in that part of the world. July 1, 7:00 p.m. ... Rev. Charles and Jeannette Groth will speak on the work taking place in Cambodia. September 7, time TBD ... Come hear the amazing story of work in Turkey from the first "visitors" to Turkey. Rev. Tim and Rita Nickel will tell of the work in Turkey, where 99.5 percent of the people are Muslim. Back to top SINGERS NEEDED FOR LUTHERAN CHOIR IN LINCOLN The Lincoln Lutheran Choir invites interested musicians to join them in concert as they close their 30th Anniversary season. All interested singers should contact Josh Norris, director, at 402-613-3115 or via email at norris at bigred.unl.edu. Rehearsals begin January 27 with a retreat at the Lutheran Student Center on the UNL campus from 2 to 6 p.m. The concert date is set for April 20. Come join the choir as they conclude an exciting season of wonderful choral music. Back to top THE FRIENDSHIP OF JESUS AND MUSLIMS CONFERENCE Can you imagine what an encounter between Jesus and a Muslim person would be like today? Do you think Jesus would unleash a barrage of condemnation? Would He issue a statement about Islam and its adherents? Or do you think He'd ask for an invitation to dine in a Muslim's home? Would He be moved to weep, much as He did over Jerusalem? What would Jesus think? What would He feel? What would He do? And what about us? What about you? You are invited to explore these questions at The Friendship of Jesus and Muslims Conference. LCMS World Mission and People of the Book Lutheran Outreach (POBLO) have partnered in this first-of-its-kind event, The Friendship of Jesus and Muslims Conference, to raise the level of conversation, direction, motivation, and preparation for sharing the love of Jesus for Muslim friends and neighbors in our communities. The conference is scheduled to take place in Detroit, Michigan, April 3-6, 2008. The registration fee is $150 before January 15 and $175 before February 15. More information on the conference, along with a conference agenda and registration information, may be found on the LCMS World Mission website at http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=12708 or by contacting the LCMS World Mission office at 1-800-433-3954 or mission.info at lcms.org. Back to top ORGAN AVAILABLE There is a small organ available to be donated to a small congregation, school, or individual. For more information on the organ, contact Doris Russell in Ravenna at 308-452-3123 or ben_russell50 at yahoo.com. Back to top 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 http://www.ndlcms.org/news/communications A blessed New Year, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications and Events 1-888-643-2961 nicholeh at ndlcms.org 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. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/html Size: 54174 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20080109/838766e1/attachment.txt From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Mon Jan 14 16:24:00 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:24:00 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] Church Reconciler Training Message-ID: Greetings in the name of Christ! This email is coming to you on a Monday afternoon because of the urgent nature of our request. The regular Email Update will still come on Wednesday full of all the information you have come to expect! Each church office should have received a mailing in November of 2007 containing information on the upcoming Church Reconciler Training hosted by the Nebraska District at The Leadership Center in Aurora from April 13 through April 19. The information is also available on the District website from the homepage at www.ndlcms.org. Due to contractual obligations, we are asking anyone who is planning to attend this beneficial training to contact the District Office by 12:00 noon this Friday, January 18. If possible, please also send in your registration fee or $150 deposit to hold your place. If we do not have the required number of participants registered by Friday, this training will need to be canceled. Contact Rev. Mark Rockenbach or Julie Roebke at the District Office to register or with questions. Rev. Rockenbach may be emailed at markr at ndlcms.org and Julie may be emailed at julier at ndlcms.org. Call the District Office at 888-643-2961 if you prefer. Remember, this training is not just for congregations who are in conflicted situations. This is a training that will equip and assist participants in living lifestyles of reconciliation. This lifestyle can be applied to personal conflicts, as well as for use in the congregation. Thank you for giving this opportunity your prayerful consideration and for contacting the District Office if you are planning to attend. Blessings, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications and Events 1-888-643-2961 nicholeh at ndlcms.org www.ndlcms.org -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/html Size: 7116 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20080114/2bf179dc/attachment.txt From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Wed Jan 16 14:01:27 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:01:27 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] January 16 Message-ID: Update for January 16 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! Greetings in the name of our Heavenly Father, who has placed us to "shine like stars in the universe as [we] hold out the word of life." (Phil. 2:15-16) What an awesome privilege and responsibility we have to shine with the love of Christ in this darkened world. Please pray that the Lord will give you opportunity to share "the Light of the world" with those in your family, neighborhood, congregation, and community. * Prayer Requests * Correction to Mission Central Speaker Schedule * Marriage Ministry Workshop in Norfolk * District Congregation Looking for Projector * Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries Available * Faith Moments, Inc. Now Online * "The 72" Outreach Ministry Accepting Applications * Coming Events at Camp Luther * Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study * Higher Things Open House * Southern Illinois District Position Open * Important Lutheran Service Book Special Price Information * Former District Vicar Wins Seminary Hymn Competition PRAYER REQUESTS Rev. Tim and Cynthia Anderson - We join with Pastor Tim and Cynthia Anderson of Good Shepherd, Fremont, at the birth of their granddaughter, Gracelynn Emery Anderson, who was born on January 15. We thank God for protecting mother and child, and we look forward to welcoming Gracelynn into the family of Christ through the life-giving gift of baptism. Missionary Rev. Patrick O'Neal - Please pray for Rev. Patrick O'Neal, Strategic Mission Developer in North Asia for LCMS World Mission (formerly LCMS missionary in Jamaica and supported by many Nebraska District - LCMS congregations and members), Rev. Carl Hanson, Dr. Kim Joo, and others who will travel to Beijing, China, on January 21 and then into Pyongyang, North Korea, January 22-29. Pray that the Lord will give them safety and wisdom as they seek to discover exactly how the LCMS can be involved in working in North Korea. Pray for good communication and understanding between them and government officials, farm workers, and others. Pray also for their families in Korea and Hong Kong while they are away. Updated Prayers for Kenya - Rev. Paul Mueller, Regional Director in Africa for LCMS World Mission, sent the following update on the situation in Kenya. A quick update concerning Kenya: today, Tuesday, January 15, 2008, is a rather intense day for Kenya as Parliament opens and no media are permitted to cover this process. The opposition leader is calling for protest and rallies on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Kofi Anan, former Secretary-General elect for the United Nations, is arriving on Wednesday in hopes to have the two parties talk and come to some resolution. We will be staying close to home using email and phones to communicate. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) and Rev. David Chuchu, Project Director for the ELCK, is working hard with relief efforts in Western Kenya. Joy (Rev. Mueller's wife) met with the leadership yesterday and they are very saddened by the turn of events that are taking place in Kenya. Joy has been in communication with the project coordinators in each diocese (4) and they have done a preliminary survey on the needs of the people. Thousand of people are displaced and the orphans are scattered. Churches were burned and land disputes are on the rise. There is much work to do and the people are suffering. Keep those prayers going up! Back to top CORRECTION TO MISSION CENTRAL SPEAKER SCHEDULE There are a couple of corrections to the Mission Central speaker schedule that was shared in last week's Email Update. The entire schedule is repeated here, with the corrections marked in red. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. The following visitors will be making presentations at Mission Central near Mapleton, Iowa, in the upcoming months. For more information on these and other happenings at Mission Central, visit the website at www.missioncentral.us. The presentations will be made by workers serving in "closed countries." February 14, 7:00 p.m. ... Dennis Denow will present, and he also is bringing two of the school officials from the Public Muslim School in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. It will be one of the highlights of the year having these special guests, and first time ever in the history of the organization that they have had this type of special guest! April 8, 7:00 p.m. ... Michelle Hoeppner will be telling of her work in the villages of southern China and her contacts with the poorest of poor in that part of the world. July 1, 7:00 p.m. ... Rev. Charles and Jeannette Groth will speak on the work taking place in Cambodia. September 9, time TBD ... Come hear the amazing story of work in Turkey from the first "visitors" to Turkey. Rev. Tim and Rita Nickel will tell of the work in Turkey, where 99.5 percent of the people are Muslim. Back to top MARRIAGE MINISTRY WORKSHOP IN NORFOLK A network of Nebraska congregations has been meeting with Ben Freudenburg of Concordia University, Ann Arbor, as a consultant in family ministry. Non-network congregations are invited to join them at their next event. The event will focus on marriage ministry, with specific sessions focusing on pre-marriage, re-marriage, and marriage enrichment programs. The event is Friday, February 1, from 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, February 2, from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. You may join for one or both days. Cost is $30 per participant or $100 for up to six congregational participants. Contact Pastor Mark Dahn at St. John, Battle Creek, (402-675-3155) by January 25 to register or for more information. Back to top DISTRICT CONGREGATION LOOKING FOR PROJECTOR The congregation of Bethlehem Deaf in Omaha is looking for a used projector to use during their worship services. If your congregation or school has a projector you are willing to donate or sell at a reduced cost to this congregation, please contact Vicar Mark Winkelman at winkelmanm at csl.edu. Bethlehem Deaf is a congregation supported in part by the partnership of the 245 congregations of the Nebraska District through their mission and ministry gifts and their prayers. God is presenting the congregations and the schools of the District another opportunity to be partners in the deaf mission field of Omaha. Please prayerfully consider if you can help in this way. Back to top LENTEN DEVOTIONS FROM LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES AVAILABLE Uncustomary Love and Writings from the Wilderness continue LHM's two-pronged devotional outreach approach to inspire churched and unchurched people which began during the 2007 Advent season. Both versions are available in PDF format for easy customization at www.lentendevotions.net. Uncustomary Love is also available in Spanish. Uncustomary Love, written by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour(r), reminds Christian readers that Lent is not only a season of reflection, but of doing. He draws attention to both familiar and peculiar cultural traditions like crossing one's fingers or walking around a ladder, and contrasts these odd customs with the exemplary actions of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Suggesting his own contemporary customs, Pastor Klaus shares positive practices readers can use in their own lives. Uncustomary Love is excellent for all believers and would be a great outreach to those members you haven't seen in a while. For those searching for the true meaning behind Easter's empty tomb, Writings from the Wilderness, written by Pastor Joe Burnham of Christ Lutheran Church in Denver, is an open invitation to non-believers to consider their personal journeys relative to the road Christ walked. Pastor Burnham explores life's sojourn and complexities, while considering God's triumph sealed by the resurrection of His Son, Jesus, on Easter Sunday. These observations challenge readers to explore possibilities beyond the ordinary. You can use Writings from the Wilderness to invite your neighbors or students' parents who are non-members to your Easter services. Customize the inside cover to include your contact information, service schedule, and even a list of your church or school's special Lenten events. The popularity of LHM's seasonal devotions continues to grow. By the end of 2007, more than 170,000 copies of the Advent devotionals Radical Advent and Revolutionary Christmas had been downloaded and printed. Among the churches using either devotion were Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Catholics, and Episcopalians. Since Lent begins February 6, it's not too early to start planning how your church or school can use LHM's devotions. Visit www.lentendevotions.net today to download the devotions and other promotional materials such as bulletin shells, web banners, and customizable cover art. You can also hear audio versions of Uncustomary Love or sign up to receive each day's devotion via e-mail. Back to top FAITH MOMENTS, INC. NOW ONLINE Pastors and church office staff, please consider sharing this information in your congregation's newsletters and bulletins. Created by four Concordia University, Nebraska alumni, Faith Moments, Inc. is a nonprofit, Internet-based service and resource ministry providing encouragement and materials to actively integrate Christian faith-building opportunities into the family schedule. This web-based family ministry is designed to: * Engage families in faith formation where they live and make decisions. * Equip families with tools for effective, non-threatening faith conversations. * Assist families in creating manageable, interactive faith-building situations. * Provide resources for families to expand opportunities for faith development. Having launched on January 7, Faith Moments is available to families absolutely free at www.faithmoments.com. Back to top "THE 72" OUTREACH MINISTRY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS (from LCMSNews -- January 11, 2008) "The 72 -- Partners on the Road" is now accepting applications from congregations that want to expand, revitalize, or start an outreach ministry in 2008. "The 72" is a ministry of LCMS World Mission that works with congregations to help them improve outreach efforts. It has served an average of 15 congregations a year since it began 11 years ago as "Harvesters for Christ." Congregations that have partnered with "The 72" in the three- to four-week process have increased their adult membership by more than 14 percent, according to Director Rev. Al Tormoehlen. Teams from "The 72" help congregations reach people in their communities with the Gospel and welcome them into their churches. Team members often are retired couples who are experienced in outreach either as laity or church workers. A congregation's expense for this partnership includes meals, housing, and transportation for "The 72" teams. From the time an application is submitted to the arrival of a team takes about four months, Tormoehlen says. For more information about "The 72 -- Partners on the Road," visit the website www.lcmsworldmission.org/the72 or contact Tormoehlen at 800-433-3954 or the72 at lcms.org. Back to top COMING EVENTS AT CAMP LUTHER Men's Woodcutting Retreat Feb. 1-2, 2008 Spend part of the weekend at camp in fellowship and cutting wood. Bring your chainsaw and have fun working with other men helping clear out dead wood from the camp's wooded areas. Friday night is spent playing cards and taking part in a Bible study, while Saturday evening is finished off with a steak and potato dinner. Women's Scrapbooking Weekend February 1-3, 2008 Spend the weekend doing just what you want.....scrapbooking. The whole weekend is yours to do with what you want. Tables and work areas are provided, as well as all meals. Cost for the weekend is $75.00. Enjoy working with other ladies and sharing ideas. His Kids Respite Weekend: February 8-10, 2008 A weekend of events and activities for those with special needs. Limited to the first 12 who sign up. Contact the camp for a brochure and registration form. Check in Friday evening at 5:00 p.m. and check out Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Cost: $120.00 plus $30.00 registration fee. TOTAL FEE IS $150.00 Small Church Confirmation Retreat February 15-16, 2008 Friday at 7:00 p.m. to Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Rev. Dr. Marvin Bergman will be the guest leader. Cost is $37.00 per person. Jr. High Retreat April 11-12, 2008 Friday at 7:00 p.m. to Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Cost is $45.00 per person. Go to www.campluther.org for more information and registration forms for any of these programs. Find general summer camp information/schedules/fees/forms at www.campluther.org Find specific bulletin insert with complete summer schedule at http://campluther.org/ClientData/1036/Assets/bulletininsert208.doc Back to top NEBRASKA LUTHERANS FOR CONFESSIONAL STUDY The January gathering of the Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study (NLCS) is Thursday, January 24, at Concordia University in Seward. Chapel will be held in Weller Auditorium at 9:30 a.m. Refreshments will be served at 10 a.m. in TLEC 113. Dr. Matthew Phillips from Concordia University will lead the morning topic at 10:30, "Scholastic Theology in the 12th Century." Following lunch, Rev. Rev. Robert Wentzel from Trinity, Walton, will lead the afternoon topic on "A Lutheran Response to Pietism," from The Complete Timotheus Verinus by Loescher, Chapter 10. The meeting will conclude by 2:30 p.m. Everyone is invited, both clergy and laity. Back to top HIGHER THINGS OPEN HOUSE A Higher Things open house will be held at Good Shepherd, Lincoln (3825 Wildbriar Lane, near 40th and Old Cheney), on Sunday, February 10, at 3 p.m. This will be an informational meeting for pastors and laity with an emphasis on highlighting the many resources and events Higher Things has to offer in the area of youth ministry. Contact Reverend Jeff Bloom at 402-474-6275 with questions or for more information. Back to top SOUTHERN ILLINOIS DISTRICT POSITION OPEN The Southern Illinois District of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod is seeking qualified candidates for the full time position of District Schools and General Executive. The Schools and General Executive in the Southern Illinois District promotes and provides professional guidance for early childhood, child care centers, elementary, and secondary Lutheran schools. She/He serves these schools in all aspects of their operation including accreditation, certification, funding, administration, supervision, continuing education, and personnel and all other issues affecting Lutheran schools and preschools. Position duties include: providing personnel services - including both the provision of Call lists to congregations and schools as requested and assisting personnel in finding position changes; providing guidance and resources for new school starts; educational networking for schools and their staffs; evaluation services to schools and preschools to assist them in developing and improving their ministries; and regular visitation of all the schools, preschools, and child care centers of the district. This person serves as a consultant and facilitator to Lutheran schools in developing funding and marketing initiatives for their ministries, and serves as a liaison between LCMS schools, other private schools, and the State of Illinois. The person in this position also consults with schools and preschools in resolving staff and/or other issues related to schools or preschools, and serves as liaison between the district's Youth Advisory Committee, the Board for Congregational Support and the district at large to promote the district's youth program. Finally, this person serves as business manager (approximately 15% of time) of the Southern Illinois District in accordance with the duties outlined in the district bylaws. Position requirements include: full commitment to the doctrinal position of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the objectives of the Southern Illinois District, listing on the official roster of the Synod as a minister of religion, either ordained or commissioned, at least 10 years of successful experience in Lutheran ministry as a teacher and administrator (service in a congregation also preferred but not required), holding a minimum of a Master's Degree in Education. A Master's Degree in Educational Administration is preferred. Conditions of employment include compensation according to the SID Salary Guidelines, benefits, and transportation supplied according to Board of Directors policy. The emphasis of this position is approximately 80% education and 20% other duties (e.g., business manager and youth). For a full listing of the job description and district bylaws concerning this position, please contact President Herbert Mueller, 2408 Lebanon Avenue, Belleville, IL 62221 (618-234-4767) at SIDPresHCM at aol.com. Please send applications or nominations with resume' and permission to request LEIF or PIF and SET forms to President Mueller at the same address by February 28, 2008. Back to top IMPORTANT LUTHERAN SERVICE BOOK SPECIAL PRICE INFORMATION The introductory prices for Lutheran Service Book and its companion editions will continue to be in effect until May 12, 2008! On this date, the pew edition will be priced at $23.00, and there will be a modest price increase on many of the companion editions. Concordia Publishing House is pleased to announce that there will be no increase on the annual renewals for Lutheran Service Builder and the accompanying liturgy license. However, when Lutheran Service Builder 2.0 is released in November 2008, there will be a 15% increase on the initial purchase price. Existing subscribers will receive version 2.0 and all of its enhancements as part of their ongoing service. Only new customers will need to pay the increased rate. Lutheran Service Book and Lutheran Service Builder continue to serve The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in its worship life. Nearly 70% of our congregations have adopted these resources. Visit lsb.cph.org to view all the latest resources, including Lutheran Service Book: Propers of the Day. Back to top FORMER DISTRICT VICAR WINS SEMINARY HYMN COMPETITION Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is pleased to announce the 2007 winners in the Pamela Anne Prevallet Memorial Fund Annual Hymn Competition. The competition was created in June 2000 by Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Prevallet in remembrance of their daughter. It serves to foster the creation of new liturgical hymns of the highest caliber for the church. Seminarian B.J. Fouts, the first-place winner of the competition, wrote two hymns: "Now at the Joining of These Two" and "We Wait, We Wait for Jesus. Come!," both selected to receive the first-place award. Seminarian Fouts served as vicar at St. John, Oxford, during the 2006-2007 school year. These hymns, and the other award winners, are available on the seminary website, www.csl.edu. The Pamela Anne Prevallet Memorial Fund at Concordia Seminary holds the copyright to the texts of the winning hymns. To request permission to use the hymns, or for more information, please e-mail the seminary at communications at csl.edu. The use of these hymns in congregations is encouraged. Back to top Blessings, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications and Events 1-888-643-2961 nicholeh at ndlcms.org 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. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/html Size: 52555 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20080116/b1ba45de/attachment.txt From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Wed Jan 23 13:11:56 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:11:56 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] January 23 Message-ID: Update for January 23 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! You may have heard the word "ABLAZE!" in your church and throughout the LCMS for nearly four years now, but maybe you don't know exactly what it means or why we are talking about it. Permit me to explain: ABLAZE! began as a vision of LCMS World Mission to involve every member of the LCMS, its partner church bodies, and partner mission agencies in one focused and concentrated effort to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who do not yet know Him. Quite simply, every time you hear the word ABLAZE!, think about telling someone about Jesus. Tell them how much He loves you, how much He loves them, and how He died and rose again to give all of us eternal life because He wants us to be with Him forever. That is the essence of the ABLAZE! movement. If you want more information on ABLAZE!, including personal witnessing tools or resources to help educate and publicize the ABLAZE! movement in your congregation, visit the LCMS website at http://www.lcms.org/pages/default.asp?NavID=5247 or follow the link from the Nebraska District homepage, www.ndlcms.org. * Prayers of Thanksgiving for Mission Start * Update and Continued Prayers for Kenya * Church Reconciler Training will be Held * High School Confirmation Celebration * District Hispanic Congregation Looking for Instruments * Youth Outreach Event * Biblelot Project Extends from Prairie Fire 2007 * Overseas Mission Service Opportunities * "Lutheran Hour Ministries Sunday" Resources Available * Pastor Sabbatical Grants Offered * Special Honduras Mission Event at Mission Central * New District and Congregational Services Online Store PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING FOR MISSION START We join with members of 1C, the mission start of Peace Lutheran Church in Columbus, for the blessings the Lord showered on their second public fellowship gathering. There were many who returned from the week before, as well as many new faces. The Lord blessed their first gathering with 165 people and the second week with 175! We ask the Lord to continue to bless this outreach effort into the community of Columbus, and use them to share the Good News of Jesus with those unconnected or disconnected from the church. Back to top UPDATE AND CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR KENYA (from Lutheran Hour Ministries, http://www.lhm.org/newsroom/enews.asp) A popular African proverb says, "When two elephants fight, it is the grass which suffers." A majority of the people in Kenya have found themselves in the role of the grass being trampled by two political leaders locked in a violent dispute over the result of a recent presidential election. Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM)-Kenya staff and volunteers are also among those feeling the effects. The LHM-Kenya office has been closed for much of January, mostly because navigating the streets of Nairobi has become dangerous for members of certain ethnic tribes who are being targeted by armed mobs or caught in the crossfire between protestors and police. Some staff members have been forced from their homes and have taken their families to find shelter in makeshift camps in and around the city. However, wherever they are, they continue to use the Gospel to encourage and witness to the people around them. Kibera slum, described as the second largest slum in Africa, has seen some of the worst violence. Kibera has more than a million people living in an area that is roughly 75 percent of the size of Central Park in Manhattan. Jared Nyaema, Bible Correspondence Course coordinator for LHM-Kenya, recently visited Springs of Life Lutheran Church in Kibera, which was destroyed in the first few days of mayhem. "The arsonists first looted church equipment (before burning the church) and later burned down a newly-built medical center and a nursery school which were in the same compound," Nyaema commented. LHM-Kenya (known locally as Nuru Media Ministry) staff is reaching out to the residents of Kibera through upcoming relief projects that will help with the spiritual and physical needs of the people who have lost their homes, as well as their hope. Following another weekend of violence, the death toll resulting from the Kenyan post-election crisis has risen by 600 people. In addition, as many as 250,000 people have been displaced, according to news reports. LHM-Kenya asks for your prayers and support. These efforts will not be the first time LHM-Kenya has witnessed to the inhabitants of Kibera. In August 2007, a group of students from Jennings High School in St. Louis, Missouri, helped build a children's playground as part of a Global Work & Witness trip. LHM staff members were able to reach out to many families in the slums as a result of this single project. Please continue to keep the LHM-Kenya staff in your prayers, as well as the LCMS World Mission missionaries and all those in Kenya who are suffering from the violence. Please also pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of all and bring peace back to this area. Back to top CHURCH RECONCILER TRAINING WILL BE HELD We are pleased to inform you that we were able to meet contractual obligations for the upcoming Church Reconciler Training at the Leadership Center in Aurora from April 13 through April 19. We express sincere gratitude to those who helped us accomplish this goal. The training will not be canceled and we will continue to receive registrations until March 3, 2008. Those who are planning to attend this training are encouraged to reserve their slot as soon as possible. The training is limited to the first 48 people who register. Registration information is available on the District website at http://www.ndlcms.org/. You may also contact Rev. Mark Rockenbach or his assistant Julie Roebke at 1-888-643-2961. Back to top HIGH SCHOOL CONFIRMATION CELEBRATION Peace, Grand Island, celebrated a unique Rite of Confirmation on December 16 when eight high school youth affirmed their faith before the congregation. The youth represented grades 9-12, and before the Rite of Confirmation was celebrated, one of the youth was also blessed in Holy Baptism. The group consisted of six youth who were not able to complete the traditional Confirmation ministry by the end of their eighth grade year and two youth who have been involved in the church's youth ministry but are not connected to the congregation through their family. The genesis of the class occurred when the new Director of Youth Ministry, DCE Carl Eliason, attended the National Youth Gathering in Orlando and discovered three of the six youth attending the event from Peace would not be participating in Holy Communion during the Tuesday night worship service because they had not finished Confirmation instruction or were not members of the LCMS. Once returning to Grand Island, research turned up a number of youth who had "fallen through the cracks" and plans began to formulate to create a high school Confirmation process. The eight youth underwent instruction and Pastor Michael Reiners officiated at the service. Back to top DISTRICT HISPANIC CONGREGATION LOOKING FOR INSTRUMENTS The children's group at La Trinidad, Lexington, is in need of a drum and a bass with an amplifier for a band to help out during their services and special presentations. If you or your congregation can donate one or more of these items, please contact Pastor Joel Hormachea at johormach at yahoo.es or 308-324-4341. Back to top YOUTH OUTREACH EVENT The youth group of Emmanuel, York, is hosting an outreach event open to all high school youth on Sunday, April 6. The event will begin with a spaghetti dinner in the church fellowship hall from 11:00 - 1:00 for a free-will offering. After that, Dr. Micah Parker will present "How to Trust God Through Adversity" at 1:30 in the church sanctuary. The Emmanuel youth group felt that their peers would be most impacted by this message as they deal with all sorts of conflict and adversity in their lives each day. Emmanuel's Church's Endowment Committee was able to generously provide funds to cover Dr. Parker's fees and expenses, so they are able to bring his presentation to everyone free-of-charge. Dr. Parker is a Nebraska native (and Concordia, Seward alum), having grown up in Grand Island. He has served in numerous athletic and faculty positions since graduating from college and is now based in Houston, Texas. His ministry focuses on audiences of teens and young adults, but his message is appropriate for audiences of all ages. Coach Parker has delivered messages at several FCA events throughout the country and spoke in front of probably the largest audience of his career at the LCMS National Youth Gathering in Orlando this past summer. To find out more about Dr. Parker's ministry, visit his website at www.trustguyministries.com. Questions regarding the event may be directed to Bill Bolte by e-mail at billbolte at alltel.net or by phone at 402-362-7561, or by contacting Rev. Tim Marshall at 402-362-3655 or by e-mail at tmarshall at efyork.org. Youth groups who might be traveling from further distances are invited to join the family of Emmanuel the next morning for worship services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and Bible study at 9:15. Back to top BIBLELOT PROJECT EXTENDS FROM PRAIRIE FIRE 2007 Those of you who attended Prairie Fire 2007 last August or who have been in the District Office since that time may remember the brightly colored pottery pieces that were used that day. These "biblelots," or small objects of curiosity, beauty, or rarity, were designed and made by the Center for Liturgical Art at Concordia University, Seward. Now, the Center is taking this concept and extending it around the world. People who took these pieces with them from Seward to their homes helped broaden the scope of the artwork from one eight-foot table, to a church sanctuary, to across the state. Now, the biblelot project will enlarge this fluid art piece to encompass the world. Artisans from Panama City, Panama, to Topeka, Kansas, will take part in a movement (literally) of art. Through the creation of simple, beautiful objects, bibelots, they will create an unassuming and quiet witness of God's grace. These small objects will be distributed first through LCMS congregations with only one rule attached - at the right time and the right moment they must give this object away to someone. When they give it away, they are to tell their story of how they obtained it and its connection to their understanding of God the Creator. The piece then will not exist as a monolithic form. Rather it will be organic as it moves through time and spaces, telling stories as it grows. They are hoping that by having a bibelot (a physical item) in hand it will provide an easy transition for an individual to approach someone who might be a stranger, friend, Non-Christian, atheist, different denomination, or simply a fellow Christian and openly talk to them on a number of levels. Maybe that individual shares the story about how he was given a bibelot, or what it means to his/her faith life. The vision they have is that these objects become alive through the faith of their handlers and are passed on to different people. It will have a different impact because they are not crosses, but a living art. These bibelots will have history, they will have traveled, they will be handmade, and will be beautiful objects used to glorify God. These small pieces are a great visual tool for introducing or encouraging the ABLAZE! movement in your congregation. The bibelot project is one that will have an impact on multiple levels. From an outreach position, the goal is to work with both individuals and congregations within the United States, as well as develop an International presence where they can produce the bibelots. However, the goal is not to set up a factory, but rather create an environment that promotes unity in Christ, Christian fellowship, and provides financially for individuals in poor areas of the world. The aim is to create both mobile and eventually long-term art studios where individuals can participate in the process of making bibelots and other forms of art work. Once produced, the goal of the bibelots is to get them into the hands of people all over the world. This will be accomplished by working with churches that can purchase the bibelots and use them through ministry, workshops, or youth projects. The bibelot is to be a living, moving, visual way of spreading the Gospel. The hope is that when an individual receives a bibelot through a church service or from an individual, it will become a tool for them to pass on to someone else and share their faith. It will help create a bridge to come alongside individuals that may not be Christian, or possibly someone from a different denomination, and provide a non-offensive gift or transition to talk about how they received the bibelot, where it was made, or how it has impacted their life. The bibelot will be a blessing for the people that make them, and for the people that handle them. For more information on the biblelot project, visit their website at http://www.bibelot.squarespace.com/. If you, your congregation or your school is interested in being a part of this ministry, call or email artist Mark Anschutz at the Center for Liturgical Art at 402-643-7431 or Mark.Anschutz at cune.edu. If you know someone you think might be interested in being a part of this, please pass this information along to them as well. Back to top OVERSEAS MISSION SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES Hong Kong If you are an experienced business person, then consider using your experience on the mission field. LCMS World Mission has a three-year strategic plan for our work in Asia that includes establishing handicraft industries throughout the region. We need you to use your expertise to help establish fully sustainable, profitable enterprises. You will be working with one of our partners, the Concordia Welfare and Education Foundation (CWEF). For more information about the work that CWEF does, check out their website: www.cwef.org.hk. Slovakia Looking for a school to teach at with a real challenge? If you enjoy working with high school students and would like many opportunities to witness, think about teaching at Evangelical Gymnazium-Tisovec, a completely bilingual school in Slovakia. You will teach English grammar and conversation, as well as other subjects using English, to students attending this Lutheran school. You will also be involved in other activities at the school and dorm. For more information, go to: www.lcmsworldmission.org/searchopps or contact an LCMS World Mission placement counselor at 1-800-433-3954 or mission.recruitment at lcms.org. Back to top "LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES SUNDAY" RESOURCES AVAILABLE Lutheran Hour Ministries proclaims Christ to a world in need of the Savior and equips congregations to share Christ with others. Congregations are encouraged to celebrate this ministry and observe LHM Sunday on February 24, 2008, or whenever it fits into the congregation's event schedule. For resources to help celebrate LHM Sunday, including worship resources, presentations, publicity, and more, visit their website at http://www.lhm.org/lhmsunday/. Back to top PASTOR SABBATICAL GRANTS OFFERED May 14 is the postmark deadline for congregations and their pastors to apply for grants of up to $45,000 each from the Lilly Endowment Inc. in its 2008 "National Clergy Renewal" program for pastors' sabbaticals and for congregational "renewal." Over the past decade, the national program has awarded 1,014 such grants to provide support for pastors' sabbaticals and "activities that enable the congregation as a whole to be renewed in its ministry" during that sabbatical. Pastors and congregations work together to design their renewal programs, which must be described when they apply for the grants. Any Christian congregation served by a pastor with a master of divinity degree from a seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools is eligible to apply. For application brochures and other information about the program, visit the Lilly Endowment website at http://www.lillyendowment.org/religion_ncr.html. "Many people do not realize that part of a pastor's calling ... is to be spiritually growing all the time," said Craig Dykstra, the Endowment's senior vice president for religion. "Periodically, that requires an extended time away from the daily press of one's usual responsibilities," Dykstra continued. "That's where this clergy renewal program steps in," he said. "It provides pastors the opportunity to work alongside their congregations to plan an intentional time away for rest and renewal that will fit their own unique interests and needs." The list of congregations and pastors receiving the grants for 2008 is expected to be made public in October. Trinity Lutheran Church, an LCMS congregation in Franktown, Colo., and its pastor, Rev. Terry D. Beltz, are among the 132 recipients of Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal grants for 2007. That congregation's grant of $40,933 -- to be used by the end of 2009 -- will allow Beltz and his wife, Pam, to teach and help with handiwork and gardening at Holy Trinity Institute, a self-supported orphanage in Brazil which Beltz toured several years ago with other pastors on a study tour with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil, an LCMS partner church. "That will be my way of providing service back to an entity that receives children who are eventually allowed to be returned to their parents or placed into another caring home," Beltz said as he explained that he was an adopted child. The Beltzes -- whose three children will eventually join them in Brazil to help at the orphanage -- plan to be at Holy Trinity Institute for about 40 days -- "a good biblical number," as Rev. Beltz puts it. After their return to the States, the pastor and his wife plan to rent a motor home, visiting for a month or so with congregations in western Colorado and eastern Utah "who have transitioned from medium-to-large-size, and find out how that process worked as they connected to their communities," a situation and process which Beltz says applies to Trinity, Franktown. The congregation, with about 500 members, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, as the pastor reached the same milestone in his ministry. And while the pastor and his family are away, plans call for the congregation to engage two groups of "The 72 ... Partners on the Road," an outreach ministry of LCMS World Mission that uses trained volunteers to work with congregations to help them start or shore up outreach ministry to unchurched people in their communities. "That's all to foster a culture of outreach in our congregation," said Beltz. All of those activities -- from Brazil through the outreach training -- will be funded by the Endowment grant. Back to top SPECIAL HONDURAS MISSION EVENT AT MISSION CENTRAL Everyone is invited to attend the special meeting at Mission Central of the formation group to discuss sending the first missionary to the country of Honduras. Everyone will have the privilege of hearing the first-hand report of the mission team that was sent to explore the possibility of sending the first LCMS missionary to Honduras on February 7, at 1:30 p.m. This team will have pictures, reports, and comments by all members that traveled to Honduras to explore this new country. Everyone is encouraged to come and hear first-hand how God is opening the doors of new countries to send in missionaries with the message of our Lord Jesus. Dr. Jorge Groh, the LCMS Latin America Area Director from Panama City, Panama, is expected to be present and to give his insight and decision on sending our first missionary to this country. This very special event will be held at Mission Central located 2 miles east of Mapleton, Iowa, on Highway E-16. For more information on Mission Central or for driving directions, visit the Mission Central website at www.missioncentral.us. Back to top NEW DISTRICT AND CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES ONLINE STORE The new DCS Online Store offers "downloadable resources" such as books, Bible studies, pamphlets, and other items which you can purchase online using a credit card and receive immediately via the Internet. They also offer printed materials, kits, DVDs, and specialty items for your ministry. They offer free shipping on all items requiring shipping and accept Visa and Master Card for payment. Everyone is invited to go and browse around at http://www.lcms.org/ca/dcs/dcsstore/categories.asp. NOTE: Some products previously available through the CPH Mall have been moved to the new DCS Online Store and are no longer available at CPH. Back to top Blessings on your day, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications and Events 1-888-643-2961 nicholeh at ndlcms.org 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. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/html Size: 50988 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20080123/a3782505/attachment.txt From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Wed Jan 30 09:34:06 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:34:06 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] January 30 Message-ID: Update for January 30 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! Greetings in the name of our Savior, Jesus. The name of Jesus brings comfort to Christians around the world who know Him as their Lord and Savior, but what about those who have never heard of Jesus or don't believe He is the Son of God and the only way to eternal salvation? Two out of three people in the world today have no relationship with Christ. In Nebraska, that number is one out of two, or over fifty percent of the people who work with us and live around us. The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and LCMS World Mission, together with its 29 partner and sister churches worldwide, are encouraging each baptized Lutheran to share the saving message of the Gospel with those around them. In addition to sharing the Good News of Jesus to the unreached and uncommitted people in our own communities, the message is also to be shared with those around the world, as well as through ethnic and multicultural ministry work throughout the United States. Workers must also be trained to work in each of these mission fields. Fan into Flame was endorsed by the 2004 Synodical Convention as a way to support these mission efforts with $100 million above the current LCMS World Mission budget. This campaign will be coming to the Nebraska District during 2008, and every congregation and individual is invited and encouraged to be a part of this exciting effort. Fan into Flame will devote approximately half of all funds received toward reaching 50 million unreached or uncommitted people with the Gospel in North America and allocate half of the funds toward sharing the Good News of Jesus with an additional 50 million people throughout the world. Congregations that participate will receive back approximately 15% of the new money the Holy Spirit moves their congregation to raise to be used for local outreach activities as designated by the congregation. The Nebraska District will also receive 15% of the funds to be used to support outreach ministry in the District. The additional gifts will be used by LCMS World Mission to advance national and international projects in support of the Ablaze! initiative. More information on how District congregations and individuals can be a part of this mission movement in the LCMS will be sent to church offices and is also available on the District website at www.ndlcms.org. Please prayerfully consider how you can be a part of this exciting new mission effort. * Prayer Requests * Is Your School Missional? * Spring Junior High Retreat * Does Your Congregation Have a Food Pantry? * Confirmation Retreat * Congregational Remittance Vouchers Mailed * LCMS Family Ministry Home Base E-newsletter Available * Seminary Visitation Events for Prospective Students * LCMS Establishes Network of Disaster Response Coordinators * Concordia University Offers Gerontology and Aging Studies Program PRAYER REQUESTS Family of Dr. Henry Simon - Please remember in prayer the family of Dr. Henry E. Simon, who served as president of the Synod's North Wisconsin District from 1974 to 1985. Dr. Simon died January 25 in Appleton, Wisconsin at the age of 88. Simon graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1944, and served as pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Lilly, Wis.; St. Matthew Lutheran Church in White Lake, Wis.; and Faith Lutheran Church in Appleton. He served nearly 25 years at Faith, Appleton, which grew during that time from a mission congregation of four member families to a congregation with two pastors that planted two "daughter" congregations. In the North Wisconsin District, Simon served as second vice-president, chairman of the Pastoral Conference, chairman of the Board for Missions, a member of the Board of Education, and Bible study advance chairman. He also served a term on the Synod's Board for Mission Services. Simon's wife, Dorothy, died May 3, 2007, several months short of the couple's 63rd wedding anniversary. Simon is survived by sons Rev. Henry A. (Dr. Mary Manz) Simon of Odenton, Md., and James (Bonnie) Simon of Watertown, Wis., and a daughter -- Lo Simon of Appleton. Rev. Patrick O'Neal - We join in prayers of thanksgiving with Rev. Patrick O'Neal, Strategic Mission Developer in North Asia for LCMS World Mission, for his safe return from North Korea and for the blessings the Lord showered on his trip. Following is his brief report on the trip: "I want to let you know that I returned home safely from North Korea yesterday (Tuesday, January 29) via Beijing, China. It was an incredible trip and Pastor Carl Hanson and I are very excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for LCMS World Mission in North Korea. It was good to meet the people in North Korea and to begin to develop the relationships that we hope will be long lasting. I will write more in the January newsletter. Thank you for your prayers for us before and while we were in North Korea. Everything went very well and we feel blessed to have been given the permission to make this trip - the first of its kind - that everyone in North Korea is watching very closely." Back to top IS YOUR SCHOOL MISSIONAL? Does your congregation have a Lutheran preschool or elementary school? Is this school an outreach tool for your church, having a special focus on connecting people from the community with your church? Is the Lord using your school to make "little missionaries" that are sharing the Good News of Jesus with their family and friends? Do you have a story you can share about how God is blessing your school and the students to be witnesses for Him? The Nebraska District would like to focus the March Reporter on Lutheran education in the Nebraska District, especially the ministry of Lutheran education in recognition of Lutheran Schools Week on March 2-8. If you have a story of a project or experience that exemplifies the mission attitude of your students and teachers, please send it in! You don't have to be a prize-winning author to send your story. If you want, you can just write the outline of the story and include your contact information for follow-up. If you have an article you already used in a school or church newsletter, by all means, send it to us! Send examples and stories of the mission work taking place through the Lutheran schools in Nebraska to Nichole Hetz at nicholeh at ndlcms.org or fax articles to 402-643-2990. You may also call 888-643-2961 to share your story. Please submit stories by next Wednesday, February 6, if possible. Thank you for letting us share and celebrate with you! Back to top SPRING JUNIOR HIGH RETREAT The Spring Junior High Retreat at Camp Luther near Schuyler is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 11-12. The theme will be Cross Training, based on Hebrews 12:1 and the cost is $45.00 per participant. Dr. Micah Parker will be making a special presentation as part of the retreat. For more information or to register, visit the Camp Luther website at www.campluther.org. Back to top DOES YOUR CONGREGATION HAVE A FOOD PANTRY? Zion Lutheran, Scotia, is looking into the feasibility of starting up a local food pantry, as the closest options available for the area are several miles away. If your church runs (or helps with) a food pantry, they'd be interested in knowing what you did to get it started, how you maintain it, how you distribute the food, etc -- anything that you'd feel would be beneficial for them to know in order to determine whether it's feasible for them to take on a project like this. You can either email them at zionscotia at yahoo.com, or send the information to Zion Lutheran Church, PO Box 334, Scotia, NE 68875. Thank you! A food pantry is one great way to connect with those in your community who may be disconnected from church or living outside of a personal relationship with Christ. A strong Christian witness given along with the food is a great way to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. A project like this might be a way your congregation could choose to use the gifts received through Fan into Flame. Back to top CONFIRMATION RETREAT Camp Luther is hosting a Confirmation Retreat for rural churches on February 15-16. Registration will begin at 6:30 p.m. on February 15 and the retreat will conclude at 3:00 p.m. on February 16. The retreat, led by Rev. Dr. Marvin Bergman, costs $37.00 per participant and includes breakfast and lunch on Saturday, as well as snacks and lodging for Friday night. For more information or to register, visit the Camp Luther website at http://www.campluther.org/Index.asp?PageID=4143. Back to top CONGREGATIONAL REMITTANCE VOUCHERS MAILED Every church office should have received a packet of remittance vouchers in mid-January. Please make sure this packet is passed along to the congregational treasurer as soon as possible if it hasn't been already. These vouchers are used by congregations to mail their mission and ministry gifts to the Nebraska District. These gifts are used to provide ministry resources to the 245 congregations of the Nebraska District, as well as in support of the ministry of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Vouchers may also be printed from the District website at http://www.ndlcms.org/financial/office/remittance.html. Back to top LCMS FAMILY MINISTRY HOME BASE E-NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE Home Base, an E-journal on Christian family life prepared by the District and Congregational Services - Family Ministry department of the LCMS, is now available online at http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=1732. Topics covered in this issue include: * The Tougher Tests Our Teens Face * Why Some Of Us Are ''Helicopter Parents" * Cues That Aging Parents May Be In Trouble * Inspiration For Our Family Life Action Group Back to top SEMINARY VISITATION EVENTS FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne Christ Academy College, February 14-17, 2008. Christ Academy College is designed to bring college men together to study theology and establish a community of men who are seeking the Office of Holy Ministry. For additional information concerning Christ Academy College, go to www.ctsfw.edu, select Events, then select Christ Academy College. You can e-mail questions to CACollege at ctsfw.edu or phone 1-800-481-2155. Phoebe Academy College Retreat, February 14-17, 2008. Born out of the male counterpart, Christ Academy College, Phoebe Academy College Retreat invites all current undergraduate women to come and experience what CTS offers in theological and diaconal training. This extended weekend retreat will provide PACR participants the chance to sit in on classes, informal lectures, and to talk with professors and deaconesses. The primary opportunity is for PACR to be centered on God's Word and Sacraments in Kramer Chapel with deaconess students, seminarians, and Christ Academy participants. Various activities and fellowship will accompany the weekend retreat. For additional information concerning Phoebe Academy College Retreat, go to www.ctsfw.edu, select Events, then select Phoebe Academy College Retreat. Send e-mails to melissa.degroot at ctsfw.edu or phone 1-800-481-2155. Spring Invitational Campus Visit from March 27-29, 2008. This three-day visit is designed to give men who are considering the Office of Holy Ministry and women who would like to learn more about the vocation of deaconess the opportunity to meet with our faculty, visit with the student body, and get to know the seminary community. All on-campus housing and meals are provided free of charge. For additional information concerning the spring visit, go to www.ctsfw.edu, click on Events, click on Invitational Visit in the left-hand column, or phone the CTS Office of Admission at 1-800-481-2155. Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Contemplate, held March 13-15, is designed for those who are college age or older to provide an effective means of learning more about life in the Concordia Seminary community and the preparation that leads to service as a pastor, missionary, chaplain or deaconess in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The weekend will include campus tours, welcome reception and dinner, classroom observations, break-out sessions focusing on the spiritual and personal aspects of the decision-making process, as well as provide opportunities for presentations on the academic program, resident field education, vicarage and internship years, financial assistance and housing. An occasion for further dialogue with current students occurs during the student panel discussion Friday evening. Married and single student housing tours and individual appointments with admissions counselors and the Life Transitions Office are made available to participants on Saturday morning. The visitation event concludes with a campus information fair to showcase the myriad of services and organizations available to students and their families. There is no charge to attend, and all meals and lodging are provided free of charge. Round-trip transportation to Concordia Seminary from the airport is provided. For more information, contact the Admissions Office at (800) 822-9545 or admissions at csl.edu. Back to top LCMS ESTABLISHES NETWORK OF DISASTER RESPONSE COORDINATORS Increasing the ability of districts and congregations to respond quickly and effectively in times of disaster is the goal of a new initiative by LCMS World Relief and Human Care, the mercy arm of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. According to Rev. Glenn Merritt, director of disaster response for LCMS World Relief and Human Care, a regional network of trained coordinators "is a disaster response concept that coordinates the capacity of districts and the Synod to bring immediate relief and long-term recovery to LCMS professional church workers and congregations in the aftermath of a disaster. This concept also enables local congregations to effectively and efficiently bring mercy to their communities when tragedy strikes." In this model, each district will establish a disaster response team of four to six volunteers, led by a designated coordinator. The district coordinator for the Nebraska District is Rev. Roger Kruger of Partners in Caring of Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska. Rev. Kruger has also been involved with Lutheran Disaster Relief and has experience responding to and coordinating disaster relief efforts. Should a disaster occur in your community, please contact Rev. Kruger at 402-978-5670 or rkruger at lfsneb.org. Back to top CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY OFFERS GERONTOLOGY AND AGING STUDIES PROGRAM Concordia University, Nebraska is introducing an exciting new program in Gerontology and Aging Studies. The Concordia Gerontology and Aging Studies program is focused on preparing church and lay leaders for service to older adults. The service-oriented and ministry-based curriculum begins with a one week session in June (with appropriate pre- and post-work), followed by a core of on-line courses designed to introduce students to the challenges and the promises of older adult ministry. Students who complete the full certification program will then complete a practicum in which they work with Concordia mentors to implement an elder component into their professional services or ministry. Most students can complete the certificate in 18 months. For more information, please contact Renea Gernant at Renea.Gernant at cune.edu or call 800-535-5494, ext. 7305, 402-643-7305, or 402-643-1113. Back to top Blessings, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications and Events 1-888-643-2961 nicholeh at ndlcms.org 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. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/html Size: 38863 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20080130/ff71eda3/attachment.txt