From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Mon Jun 2 15:06:07 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:06:07 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] Nebraska Storms Message-ID: Dear Nebraska District congregations, The storms of May 29 followed by subsequent flooding have caused damage across the state of Nebraska. FEMA is currently investigating damage reports in 40 counties. Lutheran Disaster Response, LCMS World Relief and Human Care, as well as orphan Grain Train have quickly responded. Rev. Roger Kruger of Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska who serves as Disaster Response Coordinator for Lutheran Disaster Response along with Patty Stradley, a LDR volunteer coordinator, have assessed the damage and reported the following: * The tornados in Kearney did some damage to both Holy Cross and Zion Lutheran Church. Many individuals sustained roof damage and downed trees. Due to loss of electricity, many also lost food stored in freezers. As of this writing, two industrial plants northeast of town, which are major employers, are still without power, and employees are unable to earn paychecks. * There was substantial flooding in Cozad and Lexington, and several apartment buildings were evacuated. In Cozad, the evacuees lost both food and clothing to the floodwaters. * A large number of irrigation pivots were destroyed in the Aurora area. * Flooding in Schuyler has resulted in 7 or 8 homes being condemned. * High winds and possible tornados destroyed as many as 6 homes in Gage and Jefferson counties, and 40 received significant damage. Many of the latter are farm homes scattered throughout the area. The loss of outbuildings and machinery has completely shut down many of these farming operations. * Platte Center was evacuated for a period of time, but the flood waters have now subsided. * A large number of farmers are experiencing difficulty either because they have not yet been able to plant because of wet weather and debris in the fields, or because the storms have destroyed what had been planted. Orphan Grain Train is preparing to ship a trailer loaded with washers and dryers and furniture to meet the needs of flood and tornado victims. The need for a Sudanese translator in Lexington was supplied through Rev. John Deang. Lutheran Family Services is investigating how to expedite counseling for stressed farmers and ranchers. The ability to provide vouchers may ultimately be the best way to meet many of these needs. In order to make this possible, monetary gifts may be sent to Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska Attn: Disaster Response 124 South 24th Street, Suite 230 Omaha, NE 68102 More information on response efforts will be passed along as it becomes available. 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: 11602 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20080602/0879c05a/attachment.txt From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Wed Jun 4 11:18:28 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:18:28 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] June 4 Message-ID: Update for June 4 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! What does it take to prompt a makeover? For some, saggy skin and wrinkles may send them for a facial. For others, a room or home makeover may gain momentum due to out-dated d?cor or worn furnishings. Still others like the fresh, new energy one seems to gain from taking what was and giving it a fresh coat of paint or a new floor covering. However, these types of makeovers are usually cosmetic. They make people and rooms look fresh and new (and younger?), but walls get scuffed and floors are spilled on, and pretty soon it's time to start picking out paint samples again. However, there is One who gives us a "makeover" that lasts. Through His Son, Jesus, God gives us a new identity as His children, and clothes us in robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14). What about His church? Does He offer renewal to Christian congregations? Yes, through the words of forgiveness and through His Sacraments, members of congregations are refreshed and renewed for ministry. Congregations can also be renewed through a deliberate process designed to help them examine their ministry history, identify the mission fields that now surround them, and develop a plan for renewed ministry into the changed community. This process, combined with prayer and faithful listening to what God says in His Word, can lead a congregation to intentional outreach practices that help take the saving Word of God to those outside their walls. The Nebraska District leadership is currently working on developing the revitalization process that will be made available to District congregations and schools. It is the goal of the Nebraska District to aid 80 congregations through this intentional ministry process by the year 2017. More information will be shared with congregations when the process is ready to be implemented. * LEA ECEnet Leadership Institute Cancelled * Congregational Information NEEDED * Prairie Fire Registration Materials Mailed * Camp Luther Glow Games Rescheduled * Update on Nebraska Storms * Mission Opportunities in South Korea * In the News: Elwood Minister Known as the "Pistol Packin' Pastor" * Wheat Ridge to Award Health and Hope Grants * Concordia University Announces Two New Programs * Mission Central Adds Another Speaker to the Schedule * Concordia University to Receive Flag from Iraq LEA ECENET LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE CANCELLED The LEA ECEnet Leadership Institute that was scheduled for the evening of June 18 and the day of June 19 has been cancelled. All paid registrations will be refunded. Please note - this is NOT the Concordia University Early Childhood Conference held during the day on June 18. This is the LEA early childhood conference that was scheduled to follow the Concordia conference. Contact Kathy Melton at kathym at ndlcms.org or 888-643-2961 with questions. Back to top CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION NEEDED The Nebraska District Office is interested in collecting contact information for the lay leadership of all 245 congregations in the District. This information will not be shared outside of our office, but will be used to directly communicate ministry information to those who can use it best in each congregation. Positions we are requesting contact information for include president, treasurer, head elder, Sunday school superintendent, and others. Church office staff or others in the congregation are encouraged to send the names and contact information to the District Office through the use of an online survey system. This survey will only be available for one week, so congregations are strongly encouraged to complete the simple form no later than Wednesday, June 11. To complete the survey, follow one of the following links and type the information in the blanks provided. Thank you for your cooperation! http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB227VW2XFL9D http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB227VWEDFT8U Back to top PRAIRIE FIRE REGISTRATION MATERIALS MAILED There is a prairie fire sweeping across the Nebraska District and you are invited to be a part of it. As you join lay leaders and church workers from across the District to gather at Concordia University on August 2, there will be many opportunities to refresh your personal walk with God, as well as opportunities to learn how other congregations in the Nebraska District are carrying out ministry. Session information and registration details for Prairie Fire '08 were mailed to all church offices, congregational chairmen, teachers, and past participants last week. Materials and online registration are also available on the District website at www.ndlcms.org. Everyone is invited to join us and attend the sessions that you feel will benefit you in the ministry you are being called to do. Pastors and church secretaries, please note the publicity packet and poster included in each packet. Please find space in your congregational publications to use the print-ready bulletin insert and newsletter page. These items, along with pre-written bulletin blurbs, may also be printed from the District website at www.ndlcms.org. Contact the District Office at conference at ndlcms.org or 888-643-2961 with any questions on using these materials or on the event itself. Back to top CAMP LUTHER GLOW GAMES RESCHEDULED Camp Luther's new and exciting Glow Games '08 have been rescheduled for Friday, August 8. This event features bands, speakers, games that glow in the dark, and food all night long. The event is geared for junior high youth and is centered on having fun and hearing about ways we can glow for God. Cost for the event is $25.00 per person. Go to www.campluther.org for registration forms or call the camp at 402-352-5655. Back to top UPDATE ON NEBRASKA STORMS The strong storms that blew through Nebraska last Thursday, May 29, caused destruction by tornados, strong winds, and heavy rains. On Monday, Rev. Roger Kruger, Nebraska Lutheran Disaster Response Coordinator, released a preliminary report on damage and needs. This report is available on the District website at www.ndlcms.org. Reports of damage continue to come in from other parts of the state. The communities of Chester and Hubbell appeared to be in the line of these storms, but were spared the full force of the storm. According to Pastor Brad Boyer, pastor at St. John, Chester, and Zion, Hubbell, Chester received between two and three inches of rain, and strong winds or a tornado came close enough to the south side of Hubbell to push several bins at the elevator around and ruin them beyond repair. One member of Zion, Hubbell had a camper turned over and pierced by a concrete retaining wall, probably totaling it. Another member had two tractors with attached planters out in the fields hit, and all four implements are probably totaled. Several of the Zion and St John members were either firemen and first responders who were warning people of the tornado, or trained storm chasers updating the authorities on the size, scope, and direction of the storm. Other damage in the community included two farm houses south of Chester and one northeast of Hubbell that were total losses in the storm, with another one south of Chester receiving extensive damage to outbuildings. In Hubbell, one house received extensive damage (garage, siding torn off, windows sucked out, followed by belongings) and another minor damage (one shed damaged, some windows broken). Clean-up efforts in the communities are underway as the continuing intermittent rain allows. If your community had damage from the storm and you have not yet been contacted by Rev. Roger Kruger or a representative from Lutheran Disaster Response, you may email him your update at rkruger at lfsneb.org. Back to top MISSION OPPORTUNITIES IN SOUTH KOREA The following mission opportunities were shared by Rev. Patrick O'Neal, LCMS World Mission strategic mission developer for North Asia. Do you have the skills needed to teach English to Korean children? Are you feeling led to short-term mission service this summer? Two to three teachers are needed for the summer English camp at Luther University/Seminary July 25 - August 14. There is a stipend of approximately $585 to $970 depending on the hours taught. You can get more information on this opportunity at www.lcms.org/uploads/mission/service-opps/Short-term South Korea.pdf. Four to five English teachers are also needed for a one-week English camp hosted by Joyful Lutheran Church on August 4-8. The first two days will be held at the church, and the next three days will be held at an outdoor campsite. Don't worry though; the cabins have their own bathrooms and air-conditioning! The church can provide $200 toward each individual's airfare costs. For more information or a list of other service opportunities around the world call 800-433-3954 or go to www.lcmsworldmission.org and click on "service opportunities" in the left-hand menu. Luther University/Seminary (LTU) is seeking two experienced teachers with at least a Master's degree to teach EFL classes to university students and community children and adults. These are paid positions on renewable one-year contracts with start dates of September 1, 2008, and March 1, 2009. If you are interested in these positions, please email directly to patrick.oneal at lcms.org for more information. Back to top IN THE NEWS: ELWOOD MINISTER KNOWN AS THE "PISTOL PACKIN' PASTOR" The following article ran in the Lexington Clipper-Herald. Pastor Jeff Ernstmeyer was voted winner in the People Who Make a Difference poll conducted by the Clipper-Herald at the beginning of the month. C-H staffers Danny Gruber and Ann Johnson were on hand to award the pastor with a plaque and a check for $100. Pastor Ernstmeyer gets his pistol packin' nickname due to the fact that he is certified to carry duty firearms and assist the Gosper County Sheriff's department when the need arises. "If you're not out in the community, in the middle of it, how can you minister to its people?" -Pastor Jeff Ernstmeyer Elwood minister known as the "Pistol Packin' Pastor" By Danny Gruber C-H staff writer ELWOOD - Although his father was a minister at a Lutheran church, Jeff Ernstmeyer never thought he'd be one, too. "I'd say it was a 15 year process," said Ernstmeyer. "God called me to do it." Ernstmeyer was working at Sheppler's Western Wear in Kansas and had been in his position there for 11 years. He was in charge of catalogue sales in the small chain of 23 stores and working on finishing up his bachelor's degree. Then he applied to go into the seminary. When he was finished with his schooling, his first calling was in Elwood. For Ernstmeyer the choice to move to a small town to become pastor was an easy one. Having grown up in the Franklin and Hooper area of Nebraska, he was anxious to minister to a rural congregation. The pastor says that he sees these smaller towns as viable communities, where it's important to be out in the thick of activity, to see what the people are like and what they need. After making the decision to move from Kansas, a choice that involved his wife, Nina, the Ernstmeyers and their two sons, Seth and Nathan, came to Elwood, where Ernstmeyer has been the pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church for five years. Although the duties of a pastor in a modest-sized church are many, Ernstmeyer has recently expanded his role as a community leader by becoming a volunteer firefighter and Reserve Officer for the Gosper County Sheriff's Department. Ernstmeyer attended the Nebraska Law Enforcement training center in Grand Island to become certified as a rescue officer and also attended training to become a member of the Law Enforcement Chaplain's Association. "In this last month I've been known as the 'Pistol Packin' Pastor,'" said Ernstmeyer with a wry smile. "I'm certified to carry duty firearms and help deputies when the need arises. I did it because I wanted to know what an officer goes through." The position for a county chaplain was created to acknowledge the variety of intense emotional, social, mental, physical and spiritual pressures which law enforcement personnel face on a regular basis. "If an officer goes to an accident where someone is dismembered or a child is killed, how do they get rid of that? I offer them a prayer. They begin to see me as more than a person in the pulpit. They see me as someone who cares. Someone who can go the extra mile and offer them compassion. I'm not there to change their minds," Ernstmeyer states. "It's not about making them members of the Lutheran Church." In his spare time, Ernstmeyer likes to hunt, fish and camp. For a real break in routine, he visits an 87-year-old friend and helps him fix fence, build a garage or whatever else he needs to get accomplished. "I guess it's my therapy," he says. Ernstmeyer credits Nina with helping him when he needs to sort through issues, but admits when he encounters a problem with confidentiality concerns he has a network of other Lutheran pastors he can turn to. He also gives his parishioners credit and thanks. "I'm blessed with a congregation that allows me to do this work. It becomes part of what I do." Back to top WHEAT RIDGE TO AWARD HEALTH AND HOPE GRANTS Wheat Ridge Ministries invites and encourages Lutheran congregations to submit applications from September 1 through October 31, 2008, for its Congregation Health and Hope Grant program. The purpose of the Congregation Health and Hope Grants is to facilitate the initial development of congregation-based health and wellness ministries. In 2007, 19 grants were awarded totaling $35,119. All Lutheran congregations - individually or in partnership with other congregations - are eligible for these grants. The maximum amount per grant is $2,000 for a single congregation and $6,000 for collaborative efforts involving two or more congregations. The amount granted by Wheat Ridge must be matched dollar for dollar by the congregation. Approximately 20 grants will be awarded to congregational projects in December. The focus of the Health and Hope Grant is on new congregation-based health ministries developed under the auspices of a congregation health committee or cabinet. Projects must support and promote the health and well-being of people in the congregation and local community. Grant funds may be invested in health-related events and leadership development; staff training; planning; materials, resources or equipment directly related to program development; or contract services or new staff essential for program development. The grant is not to be used for existing staff salaries; congregation or school building programs; or general church or school expenses. Congregations interested in applying for a Wheat Ridge Congregation Health and Hope Grant can visit the Wheat Ridge website (www.wheatridge.org) to download a complete list of guidelines as well as the proposal format. Any questions may be referred to the Wheat Ridge office at 800-762-6748. The deadline for submitting applications is October 31, 2008. Wheat Ridge Ministries is recognized throughout the world as an independent Lutheran charitable organization that seeds new ministries of health and hope in the name of the healing Christ. Currently, more than 100 ministries are receiving assistance through Wheat Ridge funding. In addition to funding grants, Wheat Ridge also connects and equips people, congregations and organizations with health and hope ministries. Back to top CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES TWO NEW PROGRAMS Concordia University, Nebraska will introduce two new, ministry-focused academic programs this fall. The university will begin a Bachelor of Arts in Ecclesiastical Art program, combining the resources of the theology and art departments, and a pre-deaconess program aimed at preparing a student to earn her deaconess certification at select seminaries. "This is an exciting time for Concordia, and we are thrilled to continue to expand our course offerings and degree programs," said Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich, president of the university. "We feel these programs further our mission of excellent Christian education that prepares students to serve and lead in whatever manner God calls them." The ecclesiastical arts program is the only one of its kind in the country as it trains students in artist craft as well as gives them a theological foundation. An apprentice experience at The Center for Liturgical Art on Concordia's campus will also be integral to the program. The students will work as apprentices with artists on commissions from churches across the country. Pre-deaconess studies, the other new option for students this coming fall, will foster the growth of a traditional women's ministry within the church. "The history of women serving actively within the church goes back as far as Jesus' ministry," said Rev. Terry Groth, assistant professor of theology and director of the pre-deaconess program. "In today's church, the deaconess works with the pastor to assist with spiritual growth, education, and the tangible needs of the congregation." Pre-deaconess studies contain a broad range of courses in theology, communications, sociology, and psychology with elective options in education, history, philosophy and Biblical languages. Students in the program will then also select another major. The unifying core of pre-deaconess studies and variety of chosen majors is intended to offer the church a range of experience and knowledge within the ranks of deaconesses in the church. "Our program will offer students the tools they need to succeed in the deaconess program at the seminary," said Groth, "and develop their character as one ministering to the congregation." Back to top MISSION CENTRAL ADDS ANOTHER SPEAKER TO THE SCHEDULE Anna Horkey, who is teaching school in Southeast Asia, will be the guest speaker at Mission Central, Mapleton, Iowa, on August 21. She will speak at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. about how the doors of many "closed" areas are now opening with the message of our Lord Jesus and His love for millions of people who don't know Him. For more information on the Mission Central speaker schedule or directions on how to get there, visit www.missioncentral.us. Back to top CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY TO RECEIVE FLAG FROM IRAQ Concordia University President Brian Friedrich shared the following note from the parent of two CU students -- Rev. Dr. Mark S. Nuckols, pastor of St. Paul, Austin, Texas, and Army Reserve Command Chaplain 316th ESC Both my daughter Mariel and my son Patrick attend CU and have been thoroughly enjoying their coursework and their fellowship with their classmates. The student body president and her board sent a banner to my unit here in Iraq with signatures from the students, the faculty, and the staff of CUNE. In thanksgiving for such a kind gesture and for your faithful prayers for me, my unit, and our mission here in Iraq, my Commanding General, BG Gregory Couch, had a flag flown over Iraq in honor of CUNE and her support of us. The aforementioned flag and certificate is being sent via the U.S. Postal service. Keep up your faithful service to the church and to our nation with the high standards CUNE has set. 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: 46513 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20080604/14acd9d2/attachment.txt From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Thu Jun 5 15:40:33 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:40:33 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] FIREworks Newsletter Message-ID: Greetings in Christ! Attached is the current issue of FIREworks, a newsletter designed to educate and update the leaders of the Nebraska District on the Fan into Flame campaign in Nebraska. This newsletter will be sent every other week to share current information and stories about the things God is doing through Ablaze! and Fan into Flame. Information is also available on the District website at http://www.ndlcms.org/news/FIF/index.html. Pastors and church office staff are encouraged to print and post this newsletter, reproduce this page for their congregational newsletter, or forward it to their electronic mailing list. Issues of this newsletter are also available on the District website, www.ndlcms.org. You are receiving this newsletter because you receive the weekly Email Update e-newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, you may email your request to nicholeh at ndlcms.org. Removing yourself from this list will also take you off the list to receive the weekly Email Update, the Mission Fields Nebraska newsletter, and the Sudan Mission newsletter. Also attached to this email is President Sommerfeld's May Fan into Flame letter that was mailed to all church offices in late May. This letter may also be reproduced or forwarded to congregation members to help educate and information them about Fan into Flame, and to ask them to join with us in prayer for the congregations of the District. Also attached is an electronic copy of the insert referred to in the letter (best printed on 11 x 17 paper). More copies of this brochure are available from your circuit coordinator or by contacting the District Office. I appreciate the opportunity to share with you news of how God is using the congregations and individuals of the Nebraska District through this exciting mission effort. Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have on Ablaze! or Fan into Flame. 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: 6980 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20080605/7a9cafb6/attachment.txt -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Greetings in the name of our eternal Heavenly Father, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (Rev. 1:8) What a comfort to know that our God, the One who controls today, is the same God of our fathers and the same God who has been from eternity. The gifts of faithfulness, patience, and grace He showed to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Paul, and so many others are the same gifts that are ours today. When congregations stop to examine their history, it is a blessing to realize that the God who faithfully led the charter members to form as a congregation and serve His mission purpose 50, 100, or more years ago, is the same God who is still with them today. Many, if not all, congregations can point to ministry milestones that the Lord blessed them with throughout their existence. Perhaps it's a time of tremendous witnessing and outreach in the community, maybe it was a time when the congregation pulled together to provide human care for a community in need, or it could be a building project or other congregational milestone. Congregations can also point to challenges they have faced in the past, and once again see how the hand of God led them through these times. Many congregations don't often stop to examine and rejoice in their past, but what a blessing it can be for congregations when they realize that the same God who has been with their congregation from the very beginning is the same God who is with them now. While the stories of blessing and challenge may change slightly, the same faithful and eternal God is leading them today as He has in the past. * Prayer Requests * Nebraska Storm Updates * Day Camp Offered at Prairie Fire * Lawn Mower Needed for Mission Congregation * Fan into Flame Shining in Nebraska Congregations * How to Develop a Parenting Ministry in Your Congregation * Heartland Lutheran High Attempts to Break Record * Pastor Sherrill Retirement Celebration and Farewell * Lutherans For Life Seeking Director of Operations * Center for Liturgical Arts Completes Work at International Center * Concordia University Leads Conference in Scholar-Athletes * Opportunities to Help Through the Thrivent Builds Worldwide Program PRAYER REQUESTS Karis Pingel - We give thanks to God for the gift of new life He has granted Rev. Aaron and Kara Pingel of Christ, Falls City, with the birth of a baby girl, Karis Dorthea, born on Friday, June 6. She will be welcomed home by three older brothers. After her birth, the doctors noted some irregularities of her extremities. She was life-flighted to Children's in Omaha, where her health was determined to be stable. This week she has been undergoing genetic testing, as well as MRIs and CAT scans. We join with her parents and grandparents, Rev. Richard and Dianne Pingel of St. John, Pender, in thanksgiving for this new miracle of life. We also join in their prayers for little Karis and the medical staff as they work to figure out what's going on. Rev. Greg Volzke - Pastor Greg Volzke of Christ, Juniata, asks us to join with him in prayers of thanksgiving and healing. Pastor Volzke was diagnosed with leukemia last month and is grateful to God that medical testing caught it very, very early and that his doctor has diagnosed it as very, very treatable. Pastor Volzke is grateful for this life-changing event that has opened his eyes to see the gifts of God in a new and special way. He is also thankful that his cousin will be his doctor's nurse during his treatments, giving him an added measure of comfort during this time. Back to top NEBRASKA STORM UPDATES The following is the report issued by the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on June 6. The weather forecasters were thankfully wrong, and the severe weather impact on Thursday evening was considerably less than it might have been. We do have houses damaged in Richardson County, but it will probably be daylight before we know the full extent. At this time, I can tell you that we do believe the damage to be "minor." Other information: * There is some flooding occurring along the Big Blue River in Gage County, causing the closure of several roads in Beatrice. * Rock County has experienced some damage, with one home destroyed, one trailer destroyed, electrical outages, and roads washed out. The damage area is estimated at this time to be approximately 50 square miles. * In Cass County, the community of Nehawka is currently being impacted by flooding, but their water and waste water systems are not currently impacted. The Cedar Creek levee in that county is seeping water, and that situation may worsen. * In Howard County, there are road closures at this time, due to flooding. * In Saunders County, a Flood Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for Salt Creek until Saturday afternoon. * Nemaha County does have downed power lines, across Hwy. 67, causing a closure (at least temporarily) of that highway. Rev. Roger Kruger, Nebraska Lutheran Disaster Response Coordinator, reports the following: As far as I have been able to learn so far, none of the Omaha LCMS congregations or individuals were severely impacted by last night's (June 7) storms (beyond tree damage). However, Karl Ziegler said his church in Papillion was struck by lightning last Wednesday, and it destroyed the chimney and did some roof damage. We are looking into reports that 35 at risk families in Lexington were evacuated from apartments built in the flood plane, and now have significant needs. Back to top DAY CAMP OFFERED AT PRAIRIE FIRE Are you looking for a fun and uplifting day for the entire family? Consider Prairie Fire '08! New at Prairie Fire this year is a day camp led by Camp Luther staff on the campus of Concordia University for children from first grade through eighth grade. This camp will provide opportunities for the children to spend time in devotions, Bible story time, singing, games, and packing outreach boxes for District mission needs. The day camp registration fee is $25 per child, and includes a doughnut and juice, lunch, and an afternoon snack, as well as a day of fun led by Camp Luther staff. Parents who attend Prairie Fire will be treated to uplifting worship times, an inspiring message by Rev. Dr. Gerald Kieschnick, president of the LCMS, and informative resource sessions on a variety of ministry topics. Families who wish to find out more about Prairie Fire or register for the day may visit the Nebraska District website at www.ndlcms.org. Back to top LAWN MOWER NEEDED FOR MISSION CONGREGATION The Sudanese Evangelical Lutheran Church in Omaha is in need of a donation of a walk-behind or riding lawn mower. They have a large church lawn to maintain and their current mower died without being able to be fixed. Anyone who has a mower to donate may contact Rev. Charles Gierke at cagierke at cox.net or Rev. Rich Boring at richb at ndlcms.org. Back to top FAN INTO FLAME SHINING IN NEBRASKA CONGREGATIONS The congregations of the Nebraska District that stepped forward to provide examples of what Fan into Flame can look like in Nebraska are currently running or wrapping up their spring appeals. These congregations serve as terrific models for introducing and implementing Ablaze! education in a congregation, as well as the flexibility and simplicity of running a congregational appeal. Congregations that ran or are running spring and summer appeals in the Nebraska District are: * St. John, Battle Creek * First Trinity, Bloomfield * Lord of Life, Elkhorn * Grace, Fairbury * Trinity, Fremont * Peace, Grand Island * Immanuel, Loup City * Pacific Hills, Omaha * Zion, Pawnee City * St. John, Tecumseh * Immanuel, Tilden Immanuel, Tilden, was the first congregation to kick off their appeal, which consisted of a congregational mission focus on Ablaze! and congregational cottage meetings. Immanuel held a commitment Sunday last week and to date have received gifts and pledges of more than $46,000. Even more important is the zeal for mission work the Lord has ignited in the hearts of these people. This congregation is looking outside of itself and examining ways to share the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ with those in their community who don't yet know Him. First Trinity, Bloomfield, is also currently working through its appeal. They are also undertaking a series of cottage meetings to educate members on mission opportunities - locally, regionally, and internationally - and invite them to participate in Fan into Flame. Having just begun their appeal, they have already received more than $8,000 in gifts and pledges. Other model congregations are in the midst of their appeals, and the Lord is blessing each of these congregations with hearts, eyes, and ears to see and hear the mission field opportunities in their communities, in the Nebraska District, and throughout the world. As members learn more about Ablaze! and the opportunities they have to "give witness about Jesus of the hope that is within him or her to another person so that person may encounter Christ," the Gospel message is being shared and hearts are being touched. Please keep these congregations in your prayers, as well as your own congregation, as you consider when and how you will be involved with Fan into Flame. Congregations are strongly encouraged to place Fan into Flame on the July church council and voters meetings so adequate planning can take place for a fall appeal. All congregations are asked to have a date for their appeal in place by September 15. There are circuit coordinators available to come and make informational presentations to your church council to share more with you about Fan into Flame and answer any questions you might have. Feel free to contact the District Office at 888-643-2961 or nicholeh at ndlcms.org with questions as well. Back to top HOW TO DEVELOP A PARENTING MINISTRY IN YOUR CONGREGATION Ben Freudenburg of Concordia University - Ann Arbor will lead a training event on how to develop a parenting ministry in your congregation. In addition to sharing current trends, challenges, and opportunities, Ben will share three resource perspectives: "The Shepherding Parent Seminar" (Rorheim Institute), "Parenting is Heart Work" (National Center for Biblical Parenting), and "Active Parenting Now" (Active Parenting Publishers). The event is at Good Shepherd in Fremont on Friday, June 13, from 7:00-9:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 14, from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. You may join for one or both days. Cost is $40 per participant or $120 for up to six congregational participants. The event is specifically for pastors or other congregational leaders (staff or laity) who might introduce and champion such a ministry in the congregation. Contact Pastor Mark Dahn at St. John, Battle Creek, (402-675-3155) to register or for more information. Back to top HEARTLAND LUTHERAN HIGH ATTEMPTS TO BREAK RECORD Heartland Lutheran High School, Grand Island, will attempt to break the Guinness Book world record for the longest basketball game. The event will be held at Heartland Lutheran High School (3900 W. Husker Highway, Grand Island) starting on July 4 and ending on July 7. We are in need of volunteers to help with the event. Please contact Lloyd Wagnitz at coachw at icanphil413.com if you are able to help. More information can be found at the school's website, www.heartlandlutheran.org, or directly to the event website at http://charity.cccusa.net/hlhs/node/5. Back to top PASTOR SHERRILL RETIREMENT CELEBRATION AND FAREWELL Pastor North Sherrill of Zion, Kearney, will be retiring from the pastoral ministry at the end of June. Pastor, Sharon, and Caleb will be moving to Michigan to be near their daughter and her family. The Zion church council and the board of elders would like to extend a special invitation to everyone to come and join them for a special Farewell and Retirement Celebration for Pastor Sherrill and his family on Sunday, June 15. Guests are invited to join them for their 8:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. worship services and 9:15 a.m. Bible class. A special hog roast potluck dinner and Farewell and Retirement Celebration for Pastor, Sharon, and Caleb will be held at 12:00 noon in the gym. There will be a short program following the meal. Come and join us as we give thanks for Pastor, Sharon, and Caleb Sherrill and the ministry they have shared among us. If you are not able to attend but wish to send special greetings or a card, the church address is: Zion Lutheran Church, 2421 Avenue C, Kearney, NE 68847. Back to top LUTHERANS FOR LIFE SEEKING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Lutherans For Life (LFL), a pan-Lutheran, pro-life educational ministry, seeks a Director of Operations. Duties include supervising staff, developing programs to enhance LFL's efficiency, working with LFL's Director of Development to implement fundraising activities, and, in collaboration with the Executive Director, developing action plans to implement LFL's strategic plan. Requirements: A member in good standing of a Lutheran congregation, a minimum of a bachelors degree and/or business or project management experience, solid experience in administration, personnel management, marketing, and development. We are seeking someone who has the skills necessary to keep LFL growing as an effective organization and at the same time desires to serve the Lord of Life in a vitally important pro-life ministry that equips Lutheran pastors and congregations to share a Gospel-centered, "For Life" message. Send resume, by July 31, 2008, to: Lutherans For Life, 1120 South G Avenue, Nevada, IA 50201-2774; Telephone: 888-364-5433; FAX: 515-382-3020; E-mail: info at lutheransforlife.org. Back to top CENTER FOR LITURGICAL ARTS COMPLETES WORK AT INTERNATIONAL CENTER The Center for Liturgical Art at Concordia University, Nebraska recently created an altar, baptismal font, and ambo for The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's chapel at its headquarters building in St. Louis, Mo. Dedicated at the service marking 25 years in the International Center, the pieces will play a vital role in the worship conducted in the chapel. "The synod contacted us a few months ago," said William Wolfram, designer of the pieces and professor emeritus of art at Concordia. "We were honored to be asked to design the furnishings." The altar is constructed of approximately 1300 lbs. of granite from Ambur, India, a site of historical significance for the LCMS. In 1895 two Lutheran missionaries were dispatched to the town in the first international mission effort of the LCMS. The missionary efforts that began at Ambur grew to become the India Evangelical Lutheran Church, now numbering 50,000 members. The president of a large IELC congregation, Perumal Selvaraj, donated the granite. Selvaraj, also the owner of Regal Granite and Stone Works, visited the LCMS headquarters building in late 2007. During the visit he expressed his desire to donate materials for the chapel. For the CLA, the gift of black granite meant they had a medium to work with that was elegantly matched for the worship space. "We knew the altar would need to be simple, and we knew we had the beautiful granite to work with," said Wolfram. The location of the chapel in the southeast corner of the building means that the view outside the front glass walls is of a complex highway interchange. "In contrast with the constant motion outside the window, we wanted the altar to be unembellished but still striking." Within the design, crosses are placed on each side and one on the top. "This reinforces the cross of Christ reaching out in all directions for all people," said Wolfram. He also designed the front cross to be interchangeable, allowing for variations based on the church year seasons or special worship services. The baptismal font consists of a large bronze bowl, 31 inches in diameter, placed on a simple wooden stand. The ambo is also made of bronze and wood. Once designed, the center worked with others to construct the furnishings. John Conklin of Shorey Metal Works in Topeka, Kan., created the steel framework for the granite and oversaw the assembly of the altar. He also fabricated the bronze from Wolfram's specifications. Rick Golec of the International Center Building Operations team did the carpentry work. Back to top CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY LEADS CONFERENCE IN SCHOLAR-ATHLETES Led by Concordia University's 57 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) totaled 454 total honorees during the 2007-2008 academic year. Last year the GPAC totaled 404 Scholar-Athletes. NAIA Scholar-Athletes must be a junior or senior at their institution and have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Back to top OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THROUGH THE THRIVENT BUILDS WORLDWIDE PROGRAM Through the Thrivent Builds Homes program, anyone is invited to join members of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and other volunteers on a trip to another state-or another country-to experience a different culture, learn new skills, meet other Thrivent Financial members, and do something really amazing: help change lives! In cooperation with Habitat for Humanity, the volunteers on these trips help build houses in communities in need of housing, giving them the opportunity to positively impact the issues of poverty and substandard housing-either in the United States or around the world. Below are the two trips being planned out of Nebraska this summer: July 12-20 Santa Ana, El Salvador Cost - Thrivent qualifying members $649 plus airfare nonmembers $849 plus airfare October 5-12 Biloxi, Mississippi Cost - Approximately $400 for qualifying Thrivent members $500 for nonmembers (cost depends on the price of gas) Anyone interested in either of these trips is encouraged to call Anita Sites of Thrivent at 866-340-2525 or e-mail her at anita.sites at thrivent.com for more details. The Thrivent Builds website also has more information at http://www.thriventbuilds.com/worldwide/index.html. Please share this information in your church bulletins, with friends, and with anyone else you think might be interested in one of these opportunities. 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: 48192 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20080611/30512d94/attachment.txt From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Tue Jun 17 17:00:27 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:00:27 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] June 18 Message-ID: Update for June 18 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! Greetings in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Summer is the time of family vacations for many. I don't know anyone who plans for a vacation by throwing some clothes in a suitcase, getting in the car, and driving away from home without a destination in mind. Perhaps this has worked for some, but most families spend at least a little time deciding where they will go when they get in the car and back out of the driveway. Likewise, churches that are to be "mission outposts" to their communities must first understand the community around their church - where they are going as they embark on their mission journey to share the saving message of Jesus Christ. The communities of Nebraska are very different today from the communities the churches were planted in, or even the communities of 20 years ago. Today's population is very mobile, with many people not working or shopping in the neighborhoods where they live. Communities that were once considered made up of Christians or "churched" individuals now find over half of their population disconnected from any church or not attending church regularly, if at all. The population of many Nebraska communities has also changed in that many of the people living there are no longer related to others in the community. Children grow up and move away, and houses are sold to others with no ties to the community. This eliminates the once-natural relationships in the neighborhood. As congregations begin looking at how to be a mission outpost to these different and changing communities, they could ask themselves the question, "Where are we going?" Through prayer, time in God's Word, and in earnest conversations, God can lead congregations to see how He would use them to be at work in His mission field. For more information on demographics of your community or on what it means to be a mission outpost, contact Rev. Rich Boring at the District Office at 888-643-2961 or richb at ndlcms.org. * Prayer Requests * Bethlehem Deaf Celebrates 70 Years of Ministry * "Serving Your Neighbor Through Disaster Response" Session at Prairie Fire Cancelled * Nebraska District North LWML Adopts Mission Grants in Convention * A Fan into Flame Frequently Asked Question * JCPlayZone Entertains Kids During the Hot Summer Months * Tour of Israel and Jordan Planned for Next Spring * World Refugee Day * Orphan Grain Train Partners for Ministry * Special LCMS Worship Conference One-Day Registration Fee PRAYER REQUESTS Burnell Von Seggern - Please join in prayers of healing for Burnell Von Seggern of Orchard as he recovers from a successful surgery he underwent on Monday, June 16. Burnell serves as the President of the Nebraska District LLL and formerly served on the Nebraska District Board of Directors. Boy Scouts Affected by Iowa Tornado - We continue to lift up in prayer the Boy Scouts who were at the Little Sioux Boy Scout Camp last week, as well as the families of those who were killed by the storms. We remember the family of Boy Scout John Fennen, whose memorial service was conducted at Divine Shepherd in Omaha. John was a member of the troop chartered by the congregation, and we pray that the Lord will use the members and staff of the congregation to share the love of Jesus with the family at this very difficult time. We also join in prayers of thanksgiving for the Boy Scouts who were at the camp and were not injured, including Matt Vondrasek, member of Mount Calvary in Omaha, and Joel Koenig, member of Immanuel in Hooper. LCMS Districts and Others Affected by Flooding - The following updates have been shared by the LCMS District Offices where devastating flooding is taking place. Please keep all those affected by these floods in your prayers. More information is available on the LCMS website at http://www.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=13586. Indiana - Flood waters have ravaged significant parts of Indiana! These past couple of days we have been working to assess the damage and the need for help and support! Hundreds of our LCMS families have been affected and many others are struggling to hold back the flood waters as we hear of the possibilities of more rain this week! Iowa East - In Iowa, the situation continued to worsen Wednesday (June 11), as more flooding hit eastern Iowa, causing the city of Cedar Rapids to close due to high water. Rev. Dean Rothchild, assistant to the president in Iowa District East, said that at least 23 congregations were affected in the district, including St. John's in Waverly, Iowa, which has 35 families in the parish who are flooded out of their homes. Rothchild said it's difficult to assess the damage, because many of the roads are impassable and bridges are washed away. "The good news," he said late Friday (June 13) afternoon, "is that the river here in Cedar Rapids crested at noon, but the Iowa River still has to crest in Iowa City and its sister city, Coralville." Those cities are 25 miles to the south of Cedar Rapids. He doesn't anticipate churches in that area to experience flooding because "they are on higher ground." Rothchild said he spent most of Friday in his office answering phone calls offering help. "I've received calls from Luther Haven Camp in Indiana, a congregation in Tennessee, and many others," he said. "The work here is going to be a lot of mucking-out, similar to what was left behind after [Hurricane] Katrina." "We are asking congregations who need assistance to contact the district so that we can match their needs with volunteers who want to help," he said. "Two weeks ago we had the tornadoes come through here, and the volunteer response was great. I'm sure we'll have the same response now." Missouri - Last week brought torrential rainfall across much of Missouri that has led to the worst flooding the state has seen since the mid - 90s. Seventy counties in Missouri have been declared disaster sites, where some areas saw as much as 10 inches of rain over a 48 hour period. This caused flash flooding in creeks and streams and massive river flooding along the Meramec near St. Louis. There were 5 tragic fatalities associated with this disaster and thousands of others whose homes and businesses have been impacted. Cleanup and long term recovery efforts are just getting underway and will take months to achieve. Lutheran Family and Children's Services, the designated disaster response agency for Lutheran Disaster Response and LCMS World Relief and Human Care in Missouri, is currently assessing the long term recovery needs as identified due to the current flood situation. Once those needs are identified, they will coordinate Lutheran efforts to respond to those needs. These needs may consist of coordinating volunteer efforts to help with clean-up and restoration, helping families deal with the emotional and spiritual effects of loss, and providing special programs to help children deal with the upheaval in their lives. Your generous donations are vital to aid LCMS districts and congregations in their response to flooding this spring by reaching out with Christ's mercy to fellow members and their neighbors. Donations may be addressed to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, marked "Flood Relief 2008," and mailed to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis MO 63166-6861. To give by secure credit-card gift line, call 1-888-930-4438, or go to https://catalog.lcms.org/givenow/Gift_Input.asp?ID=661. Back to top BETHLEHEM DEAF CELEBRATES 70 YEARS OF MINISTRY The congregation of Bethlehem Deaf Lutheran Church in Omaha invites everyone to join them for their 70th anniversary celebration this Sunday, June 22, at 10:00 a.m. They will have guest speaker Rev. Richard Moody from St. Louis coming to preach in a wonderful service full of music and praise for God's work there among the Deaf. The service will be followed by an open house with the celebration going into the early afternoon. Contact Vicar Mark Winkelman for more information at winkelmanm at csl.edu or 402-558-5672. Back to top "SERVING YOUR NEIGHBOR THROUGH DISASTER RESPONSE" SESSION AT PRAIRIE FIRE CANCELLED The break-out session entitled "Serving Your 'Neighbor' Through Disaster Response" to be offered at Prairie Fire has been cancelled. Please make note of this change when you register for the day full of encouragement, inspiration, information, and support for outreach ministry in your congregation and in your personal life. Church offices are encouraged to make use of the publicity packet that was mailed with the registration information in late May to publicize the event. The packet included print-ready newsletter pages and bulletin inserts, as well as sample bulletin paragraphs. Please make the registration materials available to your members and encourage congregational leadership and others to attend. Registration materials and online registration is also available from the District website at www.ndlcms.org. Back to top NEBRASKA DISTRICT NORTH LWML ADOPTS MISSION GRANTS IN CONVENTION The Nebraska District North Lutheran Women's Missionary League met for their 34th Biennial Convention in Norfolk on June 6-7. At this convention, the delegates adopted mission grant projects for the 2008-2010 term. Projects adopted (in order of payment) are: * Feed God's Hungry Children Throughout the World - Kids Against Hunger * Revitalizing Rural and Urban Congregations and Schools in the Nebraska District - Nebraska District LCMS * 1C Mission Church - a mission church of Peace Lutheran, Columbus (tie) * For 100 to Attend Camp Luther's Summer Camps - Camp Luther (tie) * Building of a School for the Poorest of Poor in Our First Mission Field in India - Mission Central * Fremont Area Building Family Boutique - LCMS World Relief and Human Care * Upper Nile Boat Project, Sudan - Nebraska District LCMS * Hispanic Mission Outreach Program, Omaha - Cross, Omaha/Beautiful Savior, La Vista Back to top A FAN INTO FLAME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION We already support Synod and District, as well as other mission projects. Why should we participate? What a blessing that your congregation has embraced its responsibility as a member church of Synod and provides needed funds to support LCMS ministry. The Nebraska District is committed to passing along $1.35 million of the dollars it receives from congregations this year to Synod for our common ministry. Your congregation's corporate and individual support through Gary Thies' efforts for LCMS World Mission is wonderful support for the Synod's budgeted support of LCMS and Nebraska District missionaries and mission projects. In fact, 80% of World Mission International funds come from designated gifts to specific projects. Fan into Flame gifts are new funds, above and beyond the regular congregational gifts to the District and Synod and special support of missionaries and mission projects in order to establish new efforts to reach 100 million people worldwide, 50 million right here in the USA. These new ministries will then call for future ongoing support via congregational giving to District and Synod and special giving through Gary Thies' efforts. Back to top JCPLAYZONE ENTERTAINS KIDS DURING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS (from LHM Church and School Resources Newsletter) This summer, when the kids are inside getting a break from the heat, you can entertain them with Lutheran Hour Ministries' interactive kids' website, www.jcplayzone.com. JCPlayZone offers games, recipes, crafts, coloring pages, and free e-cards. Introduce JCPlayZone to your Vacation Bible School, summer camp programs, Sunday school classes, and even adult Bible classes. Activities and games are updated periodically so that kids will keep coming back. Games include a word search, matching game, and crossword puzzle, among others. Besides providing a safe, Christian environment for kids to play online, some games, coloring pages, and e-cards help share Bible stories. JCPlayZone also has Christian music, Daily Devotions, and audio versions of Bible stories to help teach kids about Christian values. Many parents who have checked out JCPlayZone and its companion website, JCParentZone, are excited to share the links with their friends and are happy to have a safe, Christian website for their kids to play on. One mother said, "JCPlayZone is a wonderful website for families. I'm glad to see a Christ-centered website that I can feel safe letting my children use." A father wrote, "Being parents of two very active young boys, it is a blessing to find a site that will guide us as parents to help communicate the Word to our children. When we are looking for that inspiration from the Lord, we can go to JCPlayZone and JCParentZone." You can also download web banners that your church or school can use on your website to link parents and kids to JCPlayZone. Visit JCPlayZone and JCParentZone today! Back to top TOUR OF ISRAEL AND JORDAN PLANNED FOR NEXT SPRING Anyone interested in joining more than 30 fellow Lutherans from Pacific Hills, Omaha, and their friends on a 13-day tour of Israel and Jordan next March 16-29, are encouraged to email Pastor Bill Moorhead at pastormoorhead at pacifichillslutheran.org. Pastor Moorhead may also be contacted with questions or for more information. Back to top WORLD REFUGEE DAY The Refugee Task Force of Omaha presents the annual World Refugee Day celebration Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Benson High School, 5120 Maple Street in Omaha. The event, free and open to the public, is to educate the community on refugee issues and celebrate cultural diversity. Omaha is home to thousands of refugees from various parts of the world. The day will include an educational program on refugee issues, musical and dance performances by different refugee groups, lunch, vendors with hand-made items, a job fair, vision and glaucoma screenings, a fashion show, awards ceremony, children's carnival, and athletic events. The planning committee is anticipating 1,000 participants. The program begins at 10 a.m. with a parade of flags and welcome from Janelle Mullen, Assistant Superintendent in Curriculum and Learning of Omaha Public Schools and Tor Kuet of the Southern Sudan Community Association. There will be a dance presentation by the International Day Care children, local refugee presentations and festive dances by the Karen and Hmong Communities. Children's activities include face painting, bouncy castle, clowns, story book center, Mexican art projects and games. At 11:30, educational panels include stories by refugees and asylees about political situations and the process of how refugees come to the U.S. Panelists are from Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, and Burma. Additional presentations will be about the Darfur situation, supporting education in the Southern Sudan, the process for sponsoring a refugee family and discussions on refugee mental health issues. Topics include post traumatic stress syndrome, trauma, adjustment issues, and ways the community can support refugees. An awards ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. with a fashion show, dance, and educational presentation to follow. Countries represented include Sudan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Burma (Myanmar), Somalia, Togo, Burundi, Iraq and Kenya. Volleyball and soccer games conclude the activities. World Refugee Day sponsors include Lutheran Family Services, Omaha Public Schools, Tyson Fresh Meats, Wells Fargo, No Frills Supermarkets, Marriott Omaha, Crowne Plaza, Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services, Justman Brush Company, and Blanket Barons, Inc. Back to top ORPHAN GRAIN TRAIN PARTNERS FOR MINISTRY (from LIMM Update - June 13, 2008) Southern District LCMS Recovery Assistance, Inc., Orphan Grain Train, and Lutherans in Medical Missions worked together to ship 42 hospital exam tables and 50 apothecary cabinets donated by Oschsner Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to OGT's headquarters in Norfolk, Nebraska, where they will be redistributed around the world. This is truly partnership in action. LIMM was thankful we could make an immediate commitment to pay for the fuel for the trucks to go from Baton Rouge to Norfolk--the one hitch that seemed to be keeping the exam tables and cabinets in Baton Rouge. Thanks to David Buss of RAI Ministries for asking LIMM to help with this opportunity to utilize good equipment for service elsewhere. Back to top SPECIAL LCMS WORSHIP CONFERENCE ONE-DAY REGISTRATION FEE The national LCMS worship conference to be held July 22-25 at Concordia University Nebraska, Seward, will offer a wide variety of workshops geared for church secretaries, Sunday school teachers, and other church volunteers. Planners for the Institute on Liturgy, Preaching, and Church Music are now offering special one-day registration prices for those who register by July 1: * $95 for one person. * $125 total for two people from the same congregation. * $150 total for three or more people from the same congregation. "This one-day registration is ideal for those living within driving distance from Concordia, Seward," said Rev. Jon Vieker, assistant director of the Synod's Commission on Worship, which is sponsoring the conference. "They can join the conference for a day and take in the workshops, worship life, and other experiences of the conference." More than 620 pastors, musicians, and others already have registered for the conference, according to Vieker. Regular registration of $275 for the full four-day conference also is available through July 1. To find out more about the conference or to register, go to http://worship.lcms.org/2008Institute. Back to top Thanks to all who shared information to be passed along in this week's Update. Information from the congregations, schools, and ministries helps make this electronic newsletter a useful ministry tool for all. If you have something you would like shared in a future Update, email the information to communications at ndlcms.org or call the District Office at 888-643-2961. 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: 44734 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20080617/bedc4aeb/attachment.txt From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Fri Jun 20 09:18:05 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:18:05 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] FIREworks Newsletter Message-ID: Greetings in Christ! Attached is the current issue of FIREworks, a newsletter designed to educate and update the leaders of the Nebraska District on the Fan into Flame campaign in Nebraska. This newsletter is sent every other week to share current information and stories about the things God is doing through Ablaze! and Fan into Flame. Information is also available on the District website at http://www.ndlcms.org/news/FIF/index.html. Pastors and church office staff are encouraged to print and post this newsletter, reproduce this page for their congregational newsletter, or forward it to their electronic mailing list. Issues of this newsletter are also available on the District website, www.ndlcms.org. You are receiving this newsletter because you receive the weekly Email Update e-newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, you may email your request to nicholeh at ndlcms.org. Removing yourself from this list will also take you off the list to receive the weekly Email Update, the Mission Fields Nebraska newsletter, and the Sudan Mission newsletter. Also attached to this email is President Sommerfeld's June Fan into Flame letter that was mailed to all church offices yesterday. This letter may also be reproduced or forwarded to congregation members to help educate and information them about Fan into Flame. Also attached is an electronic copy of the "Frequently Asked Fan into Flame Questions" brochure. This brochure is best printed on legal size (8.5 x 14 inch) paper. Congregations are encouraged to reproduce this brochure for their members as they discuss the invitation to be a part of this exciting mission effort. I appreciate the opportunity to share with you news of how God is using the congregations and individuals of the Nebraska District. Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have on Ablaze! or Fan into Flame. 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Name: 06 letter email.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 72965 bytes Desc: 06 letter email.pdf Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20080620/58571761/06letteremail-0001.pdf From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Wed Jun 25 11:51:40 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:51:40 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] June 25 Message-ID: Update for June 25 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! Greetings in the name of our Heavenly Father. With the invention and widespread use of global positioning system (GPS) navigation devices, the question of "How will we get there?" almost takes on an air of excitement. Type in the destination address, start the car, follow the directions, and anticipate arriving at your destination. Others prefer the "old fashioned" way of studying maps, tracing routes, and writing out detailed directions. Both methods should get the traveler to his or her destination. When the children of Israel travelled in the wilderness for forty years after the exodus from Egypt and before entering the Promised Land, they had their own GPS device - the presence of the Lord. We read in Exodus 13:21, "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light." Later God tells them, "See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared." (Ex. 23:20) God had a plan in place to lead His people to the Promised Land. He also has a plan for each of His congregations. While he doesn't usually send pillars of cloud or fire or angels, He does give us His Word, the privilege of prayer, and the ability to reason as we carefully develop a model for refocusing, redeveloping, or re-energizing ministry at our congregation. If your congregation is seeing God's mission fields in your community and beyond, you might be asking "How will we get there?" Know that just as He led the Israelites, He will lead your congregation to the work He has for you. If your congregation is ready to ask the questions, "Where have we been?," "Where are we going?," and "How will we get there?," contact Rev. Rich Boring at the District Office at 888-643-2961 or richb at ndlcms.org to find out more. * Prayer Requests * Statement from LCMS President in Response to California Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex "Marriage" * "Project Scrub Bucket" Through Orphan Grain Train * District Congregation Has Extra VBS Materials Available * Wheat Ridge Ministries and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) Awards Grant to Nebraska Congregation for Refugee and Immigrant Ministries * In the News - District Congregation Takes VBS Mobile * Fan into Flame Frequently Asked Question * Early Bird Registration Deadline for Wheat Ridge Symposium is July 1 * Spanish Bible/Catechism Now Available for Free * Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study to Meet * Congregations to be Receiving "Children Making Music" DVD PRAYER REQUESTS Correction from last week - The name of the Boy Scout killed by the Iowa tornado whose memorial service was held at Divine Shepherd, Omaha, was Joshua David Fennen, not John as was earlier reported. Please continue to remember Joshua's family in your prayers as they continue to struggle with this loss. Over 700 people attended the service at Divine Shepherd, and we are thankful for the comforting message Pastor Mark Hannemann was able to share with the family, friends, and scouts who gathered. Pastor David Feddern - We lift up in prayer Rev. David Feddern, pastor of St. Paul, Cambridge, who will be undergoing surgery at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, June 30, at Methodist Hospital in Omaha. According to Pastor Feddern's Caring Bridge website, http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/davidfeddern, this surgery "will be to repair the opening that still exists in his intestine and wound. This will be the fifth surgery. It has been over eight months now since the original hernia surgery on October 18, 2007, that resulted in complications from a nicked bowel." We ask the Lord to place His healing hand on Pastor Feddern, to guide the hands of the surgeons and medical staff, and to grant comfort and peace to the Feddern family at this time. Back to top STATEMENT FROM LCMS PRESIDENT IN RESPONSE TO CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT RULING ON SAME-SEX "MARRIAGE" The recent decision of the California Supreme Court legalizing same-sex "marriage" highlights the downward spiral of moral values that is becoming so prevalent in our culture. This most recent action contravenes not only the Judeo-Christian values that have defined the moral compass of this great nation, but also the laws of nature and the natural reproductive process. In the face of such moral decline, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) has consistently upheld the Bible-based values that designate "marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:2-24; Matthew 19:5-6)" (2004 LCMS Convention Resolution 3-05a. [Available online at http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=13613.] All subsequent quotations are from this resolution). The LCMS has consistently held that "homosexual behavior is prohibited in the Old and New Testaments [of Holy Scripture] (Leviticus 18:22, 24; 20:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 1 Timothy 1:10) as contrary to the Creator's design (Romans 1:26-27)." As a Christian body in this country, the LCMS has the duty and responsibility to speak publicly in disagreement with this action of the California Supreme Court. In the present context we cannot be silent, since such silence "could be viewed as acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle." Accordingly, we as a church body urge our leaders, members, congregations, and all Christians, "to give a public witness from Scripture against the social acceptance and legal recognition of homosexual 'marriage.'" While this occasion calls us to declare that homosexual behavior is both unnatural and sinful, (see Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:24-27), we also recognize that it is necessary to respond to these "sexual sins with the same love and concern as all other sins, calling for repentance and offering forgiveness in the Good News of Jesus Christ when there is repentance." "The Gospel declares that Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2) and that Christ, who knew no sin, was made to be our sin so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). It is the church's proper evangelical work to proclaim the reconciliation of the sinner to God in the death of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) in a spirit of compassion and humility, recognizing that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-24)." Finally, we pray that all people, especially men and women properly united as husbands and wives, will honor God's divinely ordained relationship of marriage. And we pray that all husbands and wives will "give thanks to God for the blessings of marriage, lead a chaste and decent life, and each love and honor one's spouse." Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod Back to top "PROJECT SCRUB BUCKET" THROUGH ORPHAN GRAIN TRAIN On Monday, June 23, Orphan Grain Train in Norfolk launched a three-week effort called "Project Scrub Bucket" to help those affected by the flooding in Nebraska and Iowa. Youth from youth groups all across Norfolk will volunteer to assemble 5-gallon buckets full of cleaning supplies to be given to families who now have to start the hard task of cleaning up after the flooding. The buckets have been donated, but it costs $36 a bucket for the needed cleaning supplies. The first load of full buckets is slated to head to Waverly, Iowa, where Lutheran Disaster Response will distribute them to the families. For more information on "Project Scrub Bucket" or on Orphan Grain Train, visit their website at www.ogt.org. Congregations wishing to designate door offerings for this ministry or individuals who wish to contribute will also find donation information on the website. Back to top DISTRICT CONGREGATION HAS EXTRA VBS MATERIALS AVAILABLE The congregation of Zion, Pierce, has materials left over from their Vacation Bible School this year. They used the CPH "Friendship Trek" materials. Any congregation interested in these materials is encouraged to contact DCE Laura Ahlers at lauraa at ptcnet.net for more information or to make pick-up arrangements. Available materials include: * 3D display * Several sets of Preschool Pals Leader Pack which has a centurion helmet, beard, necklaces etc. * Buddy the Porcupine puppet * Skit DVD * Music CD Back to top WHEAT RIDGE MINISTRIES AND LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICE (LIRS) AWARDS GRANT TO NEBRASKA CONGREGATION FOR REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT MINISTRIES Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in LaVista, Nebraska, was awarded a $5,000 grant from The Good Samaritan Fund administered by Wheat Ridge Ministries and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). This grant will be used to fund English as a Second Language, citizenship, and computer classes in Omaha. In all, $46,364 in grants will go to 11 congregations in eight states for 2008. "We are pleased to be able to partner with these Lutheran congregations that have a heart for refugees and immigrants," said Brian Becker, Wheat Ridge Ministries' Vice President for Ministry Programs. "It's exciting to see the results of the many positive seeds sown through the Good Samaritan Grant program. There is real hope and healing taking place in these congregations." The Good Samaritan Fund offers seed grants to Lutheran congregations developing new services to immigrants, asylum seekers or refugees. Congregations must contribute at least 25 percent of the project cost, either through cash or in-kind support, and funding priority is given to projects that demonstrate at least one of the following services to immigrant communities: social or legal services, joint projects between community members and new residents, and leadership development within the ethnic groups served. Lutheran congregations wishing to apply for a Good Samaritan Fund grant should visit www.wheatridge.org or www.lirs.org where they will find information about the granting process and the types of information required. Official 2009 application forms will be available on the web sites in the fall. For more information, please contact Brian Becker, Vice President for Ministry Programs at Wheat Ridge Ministries, at 800.762.6748. Back to top IN THE NEWS - DISTRICT CONGREGATION TAKES VBS MOBILE Members of Peace Lutheran Church in Grand Island, along with members of Cristo Cordero de Dios, took Vacation Bible School to the children and families of the Kingwood Estates mobile home park in Grand Island. Children of all ages, along with some of their parents, grandparents, and other adults, started the evening with songs and a snack. That was followed by crafts, Bible stories and games. The evenings also included prayers, allowing the children to make prayer requests. There were 15 to 25 children in attendance each evening. The full story may be read on the Grand Island Independent website at http://www.theindependent.com/news/x822806109/Church-spreads-God-s-word-with-mobile-vacation-Bible-school. There is also a link from the national K-Love Radio news page, http://www.klove.com/news/, where the story was announced on-air Wednesday morning. Back to top FAN INTO FLAME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION My congregation is planning to participate, but we don't have any ideas for local outreach projects. Can you share some? Every congregation is invited to participate in whatever way works best for them. The 15% net returned to the congregation may be redesignated in a number of ways. The congregation may choose to support the outreach project developed by a neighboring congregation or circuit, provide for a mission congregation or new church start in the District, or designate the funds for a District or LCMS World Mission project through the District Office or Mission Central. Congregations that wish to use their 15% net and are looking for ideas may visit the Nebraska District Fan into Flame webpage at http://www.ndlcms.org/news/FIF/index.html to download the project brochure full of ideas from congregations that already participated. Back to top EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR WHEAT RIDGE SYMPOSIUM IS JULY 1 The deadline to register for Wheat Ridge Ministries' 2008 National Symposium on Health and Hope using early bird rates is less than a week away! Individuals who wish to take advantage of the $325 early bird rate must register by July 1. After July 1, the rate increases to $355 per person. For more information or to register, visit the Symposium website at http://www.symposium.wheatridge.org/site/c.ktJSJ7MRIuE/b.3204665/k.BE8E/Home.htm. The theme of the Symposium is "Living Well! The Body Language of Faith." This Symposium will provide a rare opportunity for leaders to be resourced and renewed in their ongoing work of being effective agents of health and hope within the diverse communities in which they live, work, play and pray. The theme, "The Body Language of Faith," will be explored from many angles, with a central scriptural focus on "bones, breath and blessings" based on Ezekiel 37. Our common interest in health and human care ministry will be lifted up and the diversity of disciplines, interests, and experiences will be celebrated. Come to learn from great speakers and from each other. There will be opportunities to praise God for bringing Christ into our lives so that we may "live life to the full" in body, mind and spirit. Participants will encourage each other to pursue the exciting opportunities each of them have been given to be agents for health and human care in their families and communities. Back to top SPANISH BIBLE/CATECHISM NOW AVAILABLE FOR FREE The Holy Bible and Luther's Small Catechism, translated into Spanish and published in a single volume, is now available from the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, a recognized service organization of the LCMS. Pastors, missionaries, and laypeople are encouraged to order a copy (or multiple copies, if there is a need in your congregation or area) by calling 800-554-0723, or by visiting the LHF website at www.LHFmissions.org. LHF is a mission organization dedicated to translating and publishing Lutheran materials into languages around the world. There usually is no charge for any LHF materials, but donations of $10 per Bible to help cover shipping and handling costs are greatly appreciated. Back to top NEBRASKA LUTHERANS FOR CONFESSIONAL STUDY TO MEET The June gathering of the Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study (NLCS) is Thursday, June 26, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 3825 Wildbriar Lane in Lincoln, NE. Refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall at 9:30 a.m., followed by Matins at 10. Presenter for the morning session will be Dr. C. Matthew Phillips, professor of history at Concordia University in Seward. His topic, starting at 10:30, will be "The Foolishness of the Cross: Theologies of Redemption in Twelfth-Century Sermons on the Cross." Following lunch, Rev. Robert Wentzel, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Walton, will lead the afternoon topic on "A Lutheran Response to Pietism," from The Complete Timotheus Verinus by Loescher, chapters 11-14. The meeting will conclude by 2:30 p.m. Everyone is invited, both clergy and laity. A free will offering will be taken to help defray expenses. Back to top CONGREGATIONS TO BE RECEIVING "CHILDREN MAKING MUSIC" DVD In an effort to curb the declining number of church musicians and shrinking supply of people to lead church music programs, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) is working to encourage parents, pastors, and teachers to get children involved in music. A key component of this work centers on the development and distribution of "Children Making Music," an educational DVD intended to encourage church and school leaders to commit to including and supporting music programs at their institutions. "Children Making Music" highlights music as a gift from God that can enrich life in the church and beyond. The DVD, which was developed by a group of Lutheran musicians and worship leaders, will debut this summer. It is designed to be shown at church and school board meetings, Bible classes, parent-teacher organization meetings, Sunday schools classes, and other similar occasions. If as a result just a couple of students at each institution are motivated to study music, it could mean that several thousand additional musicians would be able to lead congregations in song in the future. "Music plays a tremendous role in worship," said Rev. Jon Vieker, assistant director for the LCMS' Commission on Worship. "We want today's children to have an appreciation for music and the important vehicle it is for the proclamation of the Gospel." The 30-minute "Children Making Music" DVD highlights youth participating in what church founder Martin Luther called "an outstanding gift of God," second only to theology. Scenes were shot at Lutheran churches and schools across the country. The DVD has been developed so that it can be used not just by LCMS organizations but also by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS), and other Christian denominations. A free copy of the DVD will be mailed to all LCMS congregations and elementary schools in July. Anyone interested may request a free copy of "Children Making Music" by writing to worship at lcms.org. For more information, visit www.worship.lcms.org. Back to top Thanks to all who shared information to be passed along in this week's Update. Information from the congregations and ministries helps make this electronic newsletter a useful ministry tool for all. If you have something you would like shared in a future Update, email the information to communications at ndlcms.org or call the District Office at 888-643-2961. 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. 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