From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Wed Nov 5 14:31:17 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:31:17 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] November 5 Message-ID: Update for November 5 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! Greetings in the name of our Heavenly Father, who is faithful and gives all of His children His unfailing promises. I'm not going to dwell on the presidential campaign today because, frankly, most people have had enough of the attack ads, negative comments, and mud slinging between candidates, from president down to local school board. Instead, I always find the day after the "big election" an interesting day. The votes have been cast, and now everyone is left with the decisions that were made. Whether you agree with the decisions or not, there is no more arguing or promise-making that can change the outcome. Ideally, today would begin a time for reconciliation and peace-making, when Americans put aside party affiliations and make "being an American" more important. While the comparison falls short in so many ways, this day reminds me in some ways of Easter. The decision God made in the Garden of Eden to save fallen mankind through a Savior was completed on Easter morning. There is no arguing or promise-making that can take the free gift of salvation away from anyone. As chosen and saved children of God, today would be a great time to begin working towards reconciliation and peace-making among ourselves. God calls us to be one church under him, "keep[ing] the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." (Eph. 4:3) Maybe the new-found peace on the television and over the radio waves today will remind us of the gift of peace God gives His church through His son, Jesus Christ. * Prayer Requests * Nebraska District Youth Gathering Registration Still Open * Nebraska District Youth Confirmation Survey * Nebraska District Gift Planning Counselor Receives Leadership Award * 2009 Grace Place Retreat Dates * Prepare/Enrich Workshop Offered in Lincoln * Upcoming Events at Mission Central * Lincoln Community Lutheran Choir Fall Concert * Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study to Meet * Make Plans for the 2009 Nebraska Lutheran Laymen's League Convention * Children's Book Gift Set from CPH PRAYER REQUESTS Rev. Ed Cook - Please remember in prayer Rev. Ed Cook of Lexington who fell and broke his pelvis last week. He is currently hospitalized in Lexington. Pastor Cook is a retired pastor who served vacancies in the District until recently. The Family of Rev. Melvin Tassler - We lift up in prayer the family of Rev. Melvin Tassler, who was called to his eternal rest last Thursday, October 30. Pastor Tassler was pastor emeritus of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lincoln (English District), and also served a number of vacant congregations of the Nebraska District during his years of ministry. Letters of condolence may be written to: Mrs. Melvin Tassler, c/o Mr. and Mrs. H. Joe Weyand, 2731 Dorothy Drive, Lincoln, NE 68507. Back to top NEBRASKA DISTRICT YOUTH GATHERING REGISTRATION STILL OPEN Do you still have youth that wish to attend the Nebraska District Youth Gathering in Omaha on November 21-23? Registrations remain open until Wednesday, November 12. Please visit our website at www.neyouth.org or contact Kathy Melton at 888-643-2961 or kathym at ndlcms.org for more information. Back to top NEBRASKA DISTRICT YOUTH CONFIRMATION SURVEY Pastors or other confirmation leaders are encouraged to take one minute to complete a short, optional online survey to help the Youth Confirmation Ministry Action Team of the Nebraska District determine the level of interest in various confirmation ministry workshops they are considering holding. Visit http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228FMV8AADW to complete the survey. Please take time to share your opinions between now and midnight next Tuesday, November 11. Back to top NEBRASKA DISTRICT GIFT PLANNING COUNSELOR RECEIVES LEADERSHIP AWARD At an awards celebration in October attended by other district gift planners and LCMS Foundation staff, Nebraska District gift planning counselor Neal Koch was recognized for his accomplishments in gift planning and received the leadership award for gift annuities. Neal has served the Nebraska District for almost fifteen years, linking Christians with giving opportunities in their local congregations, in the district, and worldwide. Neal is available to work with individuals, families, and congregations in Nebraska by contacting him at 888-643-2961 or nealk at ndlcms.org. Back to top 2009 GRACE PLACE RETREAT DATES Grace Place Lutheran Retreats is a recognized service organization of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The goal of Grace Place Lutheran Retreats is to offer preventative wellness skills, attitudes, and resources to professional church workers and their spouses, so they can experience and live the abundant lives to which Jesus called them. The retreat dates for 2009 have been set: Educators/Ministers of Music and spouses - July 6-10 in Aspen, Colorado: Cost $345 Pastors and spouses - July 13-17 in Aspen, Colorado: Cost $345 Educators/Ministers of Music and spouses - July 20-24 in Trego, Wisconsin: Cost $345 (Thrivent members pay only $150) Pastors/Educators and spouses - July 27-31 in Trego, Wisconsin: Cost $345 (Thrivent members pay only $150) Single Pastors - September 2-6 in Snowmass, Colorado: Cost $345 Additional information is available at www.graceplaceretreats.org or by contacting Rev. Mark Rockenbach at the Nebraska District Office at markr at ndlcms.org or 888-643-2961. Back to top PREPARE/ENRICH WORKSHOP OFFERED IN LINCOLN Rev. Kevin Kohnke, director of family life at Concordia University, Nebraska, will be offering a Prepare/Enrich training course on Saturday, January 17, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Lincoln campus of Concordia University, Nebraska (570 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 203, find a map at http://www.cune.edu/about/473/). The deadline for registering is December 29 and the registration fee is $175. To find out more about what Prepare/Enrich is, visit http://www.prepare-enrich.com/about_us.cfm?id=33 Additional details and the registration form can be obtained from the following site: http://www.prepare-enrich.com/workshop_schedule.cfm?state=NE Questions can be directed to: Kevin.Kohnke at cune.edu Back to top UPCOMING EVENTS AT MISSION CENTRAL Following is a list of upcoming speakers at Mission Central near Mapleton, Iowa. Visit the Mission Central website for more information at www.missioncentral.us. November 12, 2008 - Carol Halter, one of the most amazing missionaries for LCMS World Mission, has spent over 20 years in Hong Kong and China doing work with the poorest of the poor. Hear her story at 7:00 p.m. November 14, 2008 - Rev. David and Rachel Baker and family will speak on their work in Kazakhstan at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. December 3, 2008 - Rev. Carlos Winterle and his wife Lidia tell of God's calling of people by the thousands in Kenya, East Africa at I:00 p.m. and 7 p.m. December 16, 2008 - Dr. Steve and Julie Lutz of Papua New Guinea serve in the remote jungle area as medical missionaries. The video, photos, and artifacts from this part of the world are BREATHTAKING. Presentations at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. January 14, 2009 - Missionaries Mike and Ann Wade work among the Dungan people high in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan as agricultural missionaries. Their story is amazing. Hear it at 7:00 p.m. Back to top LINCOLN COMMUNITY LUTHERAN CHOIR FALL CONCERT The Lincoln Community Lutheran Choir will present their fall concert at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, at Grace Lutheran Church, 2225 Washington Street in Lincoln. The concert, under the theme "Praise and Thanksgiving," will feature the music of Mendelssohn, Franck, Copland and Shaw. Audience participation will include hymn singing. A reception will follow. Back to top NEBRASKA LUTHERANS FOR CONFESSIONAL STUDY TO MEET The November gathering of the Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study will be held on Thursday, November 13, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 3825 Wildbriar Lane in Lincoln. Refreshments will be in the fellowship hall at 9:30 a.m., followed by Matins at 10 a.m. Presenter for the morning session, starting at about 10:30, will be Rev. Brent Kuhlman, pastor of Trinity, Murdock. His topic will be Luther's "Bondage of the Will," beginning with Luther's concluding remarks (LW 33:246-295). Following lunch, Rev. Paul Egger, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Galva, Iowa, will lead the afternoon topic. His topic, starting at about 1 p.m., will be "The Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope." 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 MAKE PLANS FOR THE 2009 NEBRASKA LUTHERAN LAYMEN'S LEAGUE CONVENTION Members and friends of the Lutheran Laymen's League are encouraged to start making plans to attend the 2009 Nebraska District LLL Convention in Sidney, Nebraska, on March 27-29. The planning committee is hard at work and invites everyone to join them at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Sidney for terrific opportunities for fellowship and ministry. Lutheran Hour Speaker Rev. Ken Klaus will be the featured speaker throughout the Convention. International LLL president Mick Onnen of Davenport, Nebraska, will also be there to share information about Lutheran Hour Ministries. Watch for more information in the months ahead on this encouraging and uplifting opportunity, and mark your calendar for the LLL Convention March 27-28 in Sidney. Back to top CHILDREN'S BOOK GIFT SET FROM CPH Concordia Publishing House is offering a first-ever gift set that includes five of its seasonal children's books for Thanksgiving and Christmas. A $40 value, the set is priced at $9.99 plus shipping. The gift set includes: Merry Christmas (board book); Thanksgiving: A Harvest Celebration (paperback); The Christmas Story According to Luke (paperback); Oh, Come, Little Children (hardback); and The Town That Forgot about Christmas (hardback). Offer valid while quantities last. Order online at www.cph.org/special, or call 1.800.325.3040. Back to top Blessings, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications 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: 33643 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment.txt From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Wed Nov 12 08:49:57 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:49:57 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] November 12 Message-ID: Update for November 12 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! Greetings in the name of our loving heavenly Father. Because of scheduling conflicts, there will not be a full Email Update this week. Following is a correction to a date published in last week's Update, as well as a bit of good news for this week. LINCOLN CHOIR CONCERT CORRECTION The date of the Lincoln Community Lutheran Choir Fall Concert in last week's Email Update was reported wrong. Following is the announcement with the correct dates and locations. The Lincoln Community Lutheran Choir will present their fall concert on Saturday, November 22, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 239 Frank Street in Council Bluffs, and on Sunday, November 23, at Grace Lutheran Church, 2225 Washington Street in Lincoln. Both concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. The concerts, under the theme "Praise and Thanksgiving," will feature the music of Mendelssohn, Franck, Copland, and Shaw. Audience participation will include hymn singing. A reception will follow. LUTHERAN HIGH NORTHEAST HEADS TO STATE VOLLEYBALL The following announcement of good news was shared by Paul Leckband, executive director of Lutheran High Northeast in Norfolk. The Lady Eagles of Lutheran High Northeast qualified for the State Volleyball Tourney after defeating Hartington Cedar Catholic for their District Championship on Friday, Nov. 7. This will be Lutheran High's first volleyball trip to State. They have been seeded #3 and will play Johnson-Brock on Thursday, Nov. 13, 8:30 p.m., at Lincoln East High School. The Lady Eagles carry a record of 28-5 into the State Tourney-a record number of wins for LHNE. Find out more and keep up-to-date on LHNE tournament play on the school's website, www.lhne.org. Way to go, Lady Eagles! Blessings on the remainder of your week and the upcoming weekend. Watch for a full Email Update to return next Wednesday. Information to be shared may be sent to communications at ndlcms.org anytime. Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications 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: 8297 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20081112/1fbebeb4/attachment.txt From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Thu Nov 13 13:56:07 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:56:07 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] Urgent Prayer Request Message-ID: Prayers and Gifts Needed for Bishop Andrew Mbugo Elisa of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudan Please offer prayers for Bishop Andrew Mbugo Elisa who is currently hospitalized in Amman, Jordan, due to an inflammation of his brain. He has lost his balance, is visually impaired, and struggling with his speech as a result of this disorder. He is currently being treated with medication, but may also require surgery. His wife Linda is with him in Jordan. The hospitalization, treatments, and travel are very expensive, and an appeal has come forward from LCMS World Mission and Lutheran Heritage Foundation to assist Bishop Elisa and his family in this time of need. Since the Nebraska District in its 2006 Convention voted to partner with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudan and is currently involved in various Lutheran Christian mission projects in Sudan, this appeal for prayer and gifts to help the Elisa family is coming to you. You may send monetary gifts to: Lutheran Heritage Foundation World Mission Center Attention: Jeff Rahn 51474 Romeo Plank Macomb, MI 48042 Please note "Andrew Elisa Medical Expenses" on the memo line of your check. OR You may go to www.lhfmissions.org and click on the article about Bishop Elisa to give a gift using a credit card. Russ Sommerfeld President, Nebraska District - LCMS -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/html Size: 5015 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20081113/d96364e5/attachment.txt From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Thu Nov 13 14:40:19 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:40:19 -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. 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 by following the Fan into Flame link on the District website, www.ndlcms.org. Also attached is the congregational goal agreement form referred to in the newsletter, as well as President Sommerfeld's November letter, which will be mailed in hard copy to the church offices tomorrow. This letter may also be reproduced or forwarded to congregation members to help educate and inform them about Fan into Flame. 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. 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 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: 6475 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20081113/b8861d4d/attachment.txt -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 11-13.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 43339 bytes Desc: 11-13.pdf Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20081113/b8861d4d/11-13-0001.pdf -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Congregation agreement.doc Type: application/msword Size: 192512 bytes Desc: Congregation agreement.doc Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20081113/b8861d4d/Congregationagreement-0001.doc -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 11 letter.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 72665 bytes Desc: 11 letter.pdf Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20081113/b8861d4d/11letter-0001.pdf From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Wed Nov 19 14:24:26 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:24:26 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] November 19 Message-ID: Update for November 19 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! Greetings in the name of our Heavenly Father. * Prayer Requests * Good News from Fan into Flame * Pre-Lenten Workshop * 'Men's NetWork' Kicks Off with Men's Retreat * Christmas at Concordia * Cassie McMahan Receives "Teacher of the Year" Award * Live Nativities in the Nebraska District * Lutheran Hour Ministries Christmas Program Schedule * Peder Eide Christmas Concert in Grand Island * District Office "Casual for a Cause" Update * There's Still Time to Customize and Print LHM's Advent Devotions * Boar's Head Festival at Divine Shepherd, Omaha * New on Reporter Online this Week * CPH Offers Advent/Christmas Preaching and Worship Resources PRAYER REQUESTS Mission Work in Sudan - Continued prayers are requested for the shipment of the three containers from Orphan Grain Train to the site of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudan church property in Malakal, Sudan. At last report, the containers reached Port Sudan safely, and Nebraska District missionary-at-large Rev. John Deang is in Sudan working with officials to get these containers moved from the port city to Malakal. Please pray that the Lord would remove any roadblocks that might stand between these containers and their final destination in Malakal. We also pray for the workers from Minnesota and Nebraska who are anxiously awaiting word that the containers are on their way so they can head to Sudan to help reassemble the farm equipment, the water purification system, the medical clinic, and the other materials included in the containers for use by the church there. Back to top GOOD NEWS FROM FAN INTO FLAME God continues to move the hearts of His people in Nebraska to be about His mission work. Just this week, the Nebraska District received Fan into Flame pledge agreements from two more congregations: Immanuel, Hooper and Faith, York. Each congregation pledged 10% of their congregational budget in gifts over and above their current mission giving. A third congregation, Trinity, Hebron, is in the midst of their appeal and this week sent in their first report of $10,500 in gifts and pledges. All of these funds will be used to tell lost souls about the saving work of Jesus Christ in their communities, across Nebraska, and around the world. We praise God for the generous hearts of the people He moved to action in these congregations. We know there are other congregations talking about participating in Fan into Flame, and maybe have already made participation decisions, but we haven't heard from them. Is your congregation one of them? If so, please complete a Congregational Pledge Agreement and return it to the District Office as soon as possible. Visit the Fan into Flame webpage on the Nebraska District website, www.ndlcms.org, for more information and to download a Congregational Pledge Agreement. Agreements were also mailed to each church office late last week. Contact Andrea Essling at Andrea.Essling at lcms.org or 888-643-2961 with questions. Back to top PRE-LENTEN WORKSHOP A Pre-Lenten Preaching Workshop, sponsored by the South Dakota District Continuing Education Committee, will be held Thursday and Friday, January 26-27 (1 PM to Noon), at Zion Lutheran Church, Mitchell, South Dakota. The presenter will be the Rev. Dr. R. Reed Lessing, Associate Prof. of Exegetical Theology - Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. Theme: "Jonah: The Survivor Series" - Based upon the leader's CPH Commentary on Jonah (2007), this workshop will be a one-stop resource for all of your Lenten, Holy Week, and Easter needs. Sunday morning Bible studies will supplement your Midweek services; sermons include illustrations, outlines, and preachable exegetical insights; the worship resources are complete and ready to implement. This retreat will not only help the pastor with his busy schedule, it will allow his congregation to dig deeply into the power and grace of God, testified to in the book of Jonah. Workshop Site: Zion Lutheran Church, 620 E. Third Avenue, Mitchell, SD 57501. Phone: 605-996-7530. Directions to Zion from I-90: take exit 332. Go north on Hwy 37. Keep going north through three stoplights, until you come to a 4-way stop sign at 1st Avenue. Proceed north 2 ? blocks. The church will be on your right. Accommodations: Hampton Inn, 1920 Highland Avenue, in Mitchell; just south of I-90 in Mitchell (exit 332; Hwy 37 exit). Reserve your room by calling 605-995-1575, requesting a room in the "LCMS Pastors Conference" block of rooms. The rooms are Standard Rooms at $77.00 Single/Double Occupancy and Double Queen Family Suite $97.00 Single/Double Occupancy. Reservations will be needed by January 12, after which any unused rooms in our block of rooms will be released to others. The Hampton Inn serves a free hot breakfast for its guests. Workshop Fee: $45, payable to "SD District-LCMS." Registration form and fee are due by January 15. Registration forms are available by emailing info at ndlcms.org and requesting a "South Dakota Pre-Lent Workshop Form." The workshop is sponsored by the South Dakota District Continuing Education Committee: Howard Shane, Chairman (605-271-5532; HShane1 at yahoo.com), and Keith Bicknase (605-432-9555; elcpastor at itcmilbank.com. Workshop Schedule (tentative): Thursday, January 26 Noon - 1 p.m. Registration at Zion Lutheran Church 1-1:15 p.m. Opening Devotion 1:15-2:45 Session 1 2:45-3:00 Break 3:00-4:30 Session 2 4:30-4:45 Break 4:45-6:15 Session 3 6:15-9:00 Break for Supper (on your own) 9:00-10:00 Optional Fellowship Time at Hampton Inn Friday, January 27 8:00-8:15 a.m. Opening Devotion 8:15-9:45 Session 4 9:45-10:00 Break 10:00-11:45 Session 5 11:45 Closing Devotion Back to top 'MEN'S NETWORK' KICKS OFF WITH MEN'S RETREAT (from www.lhm.org Ministry Network/Latest News) The Men's NetWork, a new program from Lutheran Hour Ministries, held its kick-off event at Tapatio Resort and Conference Center in Boerne, Texas, the first weekend of November. Designed specifically to provide Christian resources and encourage men in their faith walk with their Savior, the Christ-centered, web-based Men's NetWork is currently in its test phase with a number of churches throughout the United States. It will be formally launched nationwide on January 1, 2009. The purpose of this Men's NetWork retreat and golf tournament was to better acquaint attendees with the components of the web site, field questions regarding its content and utility, get user feedback from our survey questions, participate in a new web-based Bible study and, of course, play golf. On two evenings, Pastor Tim Radkey of Lubbock-based Hope Lutheran Church led the group of nearly 50 men through two sessions of his video Bible study: He Who Dies With The Most Toys Still Dies. Camp Luther near Schuyler will be the site of one such "test retreat" this coming weekend, November 21-22. The registration fee is $25. More information is available on the Camp Luther website, www.campluther.org, or by calling 402-352-5655. The Men's NetWork will be available nationwide at www.lhmmen.com beginning Jan. 1. In December, churches throughout the United States and Canada will receive an e-mail packet of information providing more details about this ministry initiative. Back to top CHRISTMAS AT CONCORDIA Christmas Concerts - A Concordia Christmas, presented by the Concordia University Department of Music, will offer audiences the chance to kick off the holiday season with three concerts on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7. Performances will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday and at 3 and 7 p.m. on Sunday at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. All performances are free, but tickets are required. The concerts weave together Scripture readings and Christmas music from around the world. The concert program also includes some traditional holiday hymns, audience participation, and pieces composed or arranged by members of the department. In addition to the two ensembles directed by Dr. Kurt von Kampen, the University Wind Ensemble, handbell choirs, Concordia Singers, and the Brass Ensemble will participate. In all, more than 200 student musicians will be involved. To continue the celebration, a holiday buffet will be held in the Janzow Campus Center from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Saturday and between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. Concert and buffet tickets are available at the Weller Hall lobby and by calling 1-800-535-5494, ext. 7269. The concerts are free; the buffet tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for children. Parade of Homes - Five distinctive Seward homes will be decked out for the holidays for the 14th annual Scholarship Parade of Homes on Sunday, Dec. 7. Sponsored by the Concordia University Alumni Association, the event raises funds for high school seniors in Seward County attending either Concordia University or Southwest Community College. Visitors may tour the residences in any order from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 and may be purchased in advance at the Weller Hall Lobby from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Cattle National Bank & Trust Co., Jones National Bank & Trust Co., Union Bank & Trust Company, and Farmers & Merchants Bank - Milford. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the event for $10 at the main entrance of Seward High School and in the lobby of Weller Hall on Concordia's campus between noon and 2:30 p.m. For more information, call 1-800-535-5494, ext. 7269. Back to top CASSIE McMAHAN RECEIVES "TEACHER OF THE YEAR" AWARD The Nebraska District - LCMS is pleased to announce Mrs. Cassie McMahan as the 2008 Outstanding Educator for the schools of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod in the Nebraska District. Mrs. McMahan serves Faith Lutheran Church and School in Lincoln as music teacher and director. Faith principal, Mr. Stu Tietz, describes Cassie as having a tremendously strong gift and talent for teaching and for providing children with creative and engaging music instruction. Her choirs have consistently received superior ratings at the Concordia University "Gathering of Talents" events. Additionally, Cassie has directed the Lincoln Community Lutheran Choir. One Concordia University music professor stated, "Cassie is Lutheran School Music in Nebraska." Back to top LIVE NATIVITIES IN THE NEBRASKA DISTRICT Church office staff, consider including the information on the living nativities in your area in your December newsletter or bulletins. Thank you. Lincoln - Holy Savior, Lincoln, is offering the community of Lincoln and other visitors the opportunity to experience ancient Bethlehem and the awe of that first Christmas at its living nativity, "Drawn to the Light," on December 11 and 12 from 6-9 p.m. at Holy Savior, 4710 North 10th Street). Visitors will also be treated to hot chocolate, a live holiday concert, and a free family portrait. A free shuttle will also be available from nearby Goodrich Middle School. For more information, contact the church office at 402-434-3325. Bloomfield - First Trinity, Bloomfield, will be having their live nativity presentation titled, "It's About The Cross" on Saturday, December 13, in the Harm and Tulleys Event Center on the Knox County Fair grounds in Bloomfield, with presentations at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. This presentation is given to the Bloomfield area as the story of the birth of our Savior is shared with the community. No admission is charged. First Trinity's choir, soloists, along with all who come, will sing Christmas carols and give thanks to God for His gift of Jesus. For more information please contact First Trinity at 402-373-4797 or ftlc at gpcom.net. Seward - The annual "Journey to the Manger" at Concordia University, Nebraska will be held Tuesday, December 9. Members of the campus and surrounding community are invited to arrive at Weller Hall between 6:30 and 8 p.m. Groups will begin a journey every 10 minutes. The devotional event follows the story of the nativity from the prophesies of Isaiah to the annunciation to Mary to the birth of Jesus. As groups of participants move from station to station around Concordia's campus, music and dramatic readings are interwoven with scenes portrayed by student actors. Each journey ends with a time of fellowship and refreshments. More than 20 students will be presenting the story of Jesus' birth and even more will be working behind the scenes. Back to top LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES CHRISTMAS PROGRAM SCHEDULE (from www.lhm.org Ministry Network/Latest News) Church office staff, please consider looking up the air times of these programs in your area and printing them in your December newsletter or bulletins. Thank you. The Christmas season brings with it a wealth of heartwarming tales that help deepen our appreciation for the first and greatest Christmas story, the true story of the Savior's birth. This year Lutheran Hour Ministries is pleased again to offer enduring children's classics such as Little Shepherd and Red Boots for Christmas. Travel back to ancient Bethlehem and meet Little Shepherd's title character, Joel, and his pet lamb, Bramble. Joel's very first night tending flocks turns out to be an adventure that brings him face to face with the newborn Messiah. In Red Boots for Christmas, Hans the shoemaker has little use for Christmas while his neighbors in the village of Friedensdorf display their holiday spirit-until he discovers a new reason for giving gifts. Broadcast schedules for Little Shepherd, Red Boots for Christmas, and other holiday specials such as the timeless animated classics Christmas Is, The City That Forgot About Christmas, The Stableboy's Christmas, and The Puzzle Club Christmas Mystery (in select cities) can be found at www.lhm.org/broadcastinformation.asp. Please check local listings for specific dates and times in your area and note that they are sometimes subject to change. Lutheran Hour Ministries' classic Christmas programs are also available on DVD at the LHM Online Store. Go to www.lhmgift.org/storefront to browse the large selection of items. Back to top PEDER EIDE CHRISTMAS CONCERT IN GRAND ISLAND The youth ministries of Peace Lutheran Church and St. Paul's Lutheran Church, both in Grand Island, as well as Heartland Lutheran High School in Grand Island, are hosting a Christmas Concert by Christian recording artist, Peder Eide, on Friday, December 12, at 7 p.m. The concert will be held in the gymnasium at Heartland Lutheran High School, 3900 W. Husker Hwy, in Grand Island. Cost for the event is $7 per person and tickets can be obtained through the Peace Lutheran Church office at 1710 N. North Road, (308) 384-5673, St. Paul's Lutheran Church at 1515 S. Harrison Street, (308) 382-2973, and Heartland Lutheran High School at 3900 W. Husker Hwy, (308) 385-3900. It is a great concert for youth and families to invite friends to hear the message of Jesus Christ in an energetic format. For more information about this event, please call DCE Carl Eliason at the Peace Lutheran Church office at (308) 384-5673. Posters and a copy ready bulletin insert are available upon request to help you publicize this event to your members. Back to top DISTRICT OFFICE "CASUAL FOR A CAUSE" UPDATE The staff at the Nebraska District Office in Seward went "casual for a cause" starting this past spring. On "casual for a cause" Fridays, employees may wear jeans and donate money to build a church roof in Sudan. Many churches and schools in Sudan have only thatched or mud roofs that continually need repair, and the purchase of a zinc or tin roof will provide needed shelter for worship and education space. As of this week, donations to the church roof project totaled $967.51 toward the $2,000 roof price. A great big thank you to the staff, visitors, congregations, and others who have been moved to contribute to this mission project since April. It is our prayer that we will have half of the roof paid for by the end of 2008. Other church and school staffs in the District were invited to join us in this fun and easy way to raise mission awareness and support needed mission projects through the Nebraska District and LCMS World Mission. Some offices, as well as entire congregations, took us up on the challenge and "went casual" while learning about mission work in Nebraska, in Sudan, and around the world. Church and school offices are still invited to consider adopting a "casual for a cause" program for their staff, encouraging co-workers and those who come into the building to donate to a mission project of your choice. Staffs or individuals may also choose to join with the District Office staff and send donations in support of our project. Donations may be sent to the Nebraska District LCMS, PO Box 407, Seward, NE 68434, with the designation of "casual for a cause." Project ideas are available on the District website at http://www.ndlcms.org/ministries/district/agreements.html. Visitors and those attending meetings at the District Office on Fridays are invited and encouraged to wear jeans and consider joining in this effort. We thank God for the blessings He has provided through this mission-awareness effort, and we ask that He will continue to bless the mission work taking place in Sudan and right here in the Nebraska District. Back to top THERE'S STILL TIME TO CUSTOMIZE AND PRINT LHM'S ADVENT DEVOTIONS (from www.lhm.org Ministry Update/Latest News) Since coming available online in mid October, Lutheran Hour Ministries' two Advent Devotions have been printed more than 66,000 times. Both Come to the Manger, penned in a traditional style by first-call pastors from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and Christmas Conversations, written by Pastor Ryan Peterson of St. John Lutheran Church in Ellisville, Missouri, connect with readers searching for truth beyond the trappings and commercialism of the season. Both sets of Advent Devotions can be found at www.adventdevotions.net. Thus far, LHM's survey of usage has indicated that its Advent Devotions are reaching people who attend church and community events, but who are not necessarily church members. Also, there is a "pass around" factor of use where devotions are being distributed among friends. Beyond the forthright Gospel proclamation of these devotions, one positive sidebar to these seasonal messages is the interest in LHM's ministry objectives and programs they generate. Both devotions are available as customizable PDFs in English and Spanish, and audio is available for Come to the Manger in both languages. For those interested in reading Come to the Manger in Chinese, a Web link is available at the bottom right of www.adventdevotions.net. For portability, podcasts are available for automatic downloading to computers or MP3 players. Also, bulletin shells, PowerPoint slide templates, Web banner ads, and cover art are available for stylizing church promotional pieces. Back to top BOAR'S HEAD FESTIVAL AT DIVINE SHEPHERD, OMAHA Church office staffs are encouraged and invited to share any or all of this information in their December newsletter or bulletins. Thank you. On Friday and Saturday, December 5 and 6, at 7:00 p.m., a new and different way to look at the birth of our Savior will be presented in the sanctuary of Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church in Omaha (15005 Q Street). A cast of 45 people will present the Nativity as entertainment to the King and Queen. The response of the King will help us see the real King. Plan to bring a friend or neighbor to witness the Gospel in word and song. What is the "Boar's Head Festival"? It is really a time-honored story of a love so great, that God sent His only Son into our restless and changing world to be one of us. "Emmanuel" - God with us! The wild boar has long been a symbol of the devil and all that is evil in this world. The "Master of the Hunt," the one who kills the wild boar, is a symbol of Jesus, who came to that little town of Bethlehem as a helpless infant, cradled in a food trough for cattle. He came because He loved us! By His agonizing death, which we deserved, and by His resurrection He proclaims His triumph over evil - that same evil represented by the severed boar's head. That entire message of love comes wrapped in the Boar's Head Festival - the birth of a baby, the conquering of sin and death, and the coming of all the faithful of all time to worship the Son of God born for us. Back to top NEW ON REPORTER ONLINE THIS WEEK Each week, new stories are posted to Reporter Online, the web-based version of Reporter, the national newspaper of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. New this week are: * LFL invites others to join Jan. 22 'March for Life' The Northern Virginia chapter of Lutherans For Life invites other pro-life supporters to join its members, Synod President Gerald B. Kieschnick, and the LCMS Sanctity of Human Life Committee for the Jan. 22 "March for Life" in Washington, D.C., and several other march-day activities. FULL STORY. * CPH, LHM release Advent devotions Concordia Publishing House and Lutheran Hour Ministries each are offering new Advent devotions for 2008. FULL STORY * LWML offers Christmas cards "Joy" is the message of new Christmas cards from the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. FULL STORY * Roegner to step down as World Mission director Dr. Robert Roegner announces his resignation as executive director of the Synod's Board for Mission Services, effective Nov. 16, citing his desire to return to "a more hands-on ministry." FULL STORY * Contest nets new hymn for seminary Matthew Priem, a fourth-year student at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is this year's winner in the Pamela Anne Prevallet Memorial Fund Annual Hymn Competition. Priem is from Ocala, Fla. FULL STORY To read any of these stories -- and more - follow the "full story" links above or visit Reporter Online at http://www.lcms.org/reporter. New stories are added each week. Back to top CPH OFFERS ADVENT/CHRISTMAS PREACHING AND WORSHIP RESOURCES Concordia Publishing House offers a fully integrated Advent-Christmas program for the parish, Away in a Manger. Based on the well-known cradle hymn and the Explanation of the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed, the congregational materials and full sermon texts in this resource explore the promises of the Messiah found in the Book of Isaiah and their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Away in the Manger: Resources for Advent-Christmas Preaching and Worship for pastors and those who plan and lead parish worship features full sermon texts and homiletic notes for each Advent mid-week service as well as Christmas Eve or Christmas day. All materials for the Away in a Manger children's service are available on a CD-ROM, customizable for any size congregation. "Away in a Manger is a comprehensive Advent through Christmas resource for pastors and congregations that is beautifully written, well structured, and offers everything needed for Advent and Christmas services, with complete integration of the children's Christmas service," says Rev. Paul T. McCain, publisher and executive director of editorial at Concordia Publishing House. "Bulletins, devotions, Bible studies, sermon helps and notes, and a keepsake book for the children and family make this year's Christmas observance at congregations a particularly memorable and enriching one." Orders for this and many other resources can be placed at www.cph.org or by calling Customer Service at 1-800-325-3040. Back to top Thanks to all who shared information for this week's Update. If you have information to share, please send it to communications at ndlcms.org. We hope these weekly E-mail Updates are a valuable resource in your ministry. The Updates are for all workers and leaders in your congregation. If you know of someone you think would benefit from the information in the Update, please forward it to them. Anyone is invited to subscribe by visiting http://www.ndlcms.org/news/communications/update.html. Blessings, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications 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: 59677 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20081119/c9c85af4/attachment.txt From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Tue Nov 25 16:54:47 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:54:47 -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. 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 by following the Fan into Flame link 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. 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 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: 6026 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20081125/e28cd803/attachment.txt -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 11-25.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 50640 bytes Desc: 11-25.pdf Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20081125/e28cd803/11-25-0001.pdf From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Tue Nov 25 17:01:02 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:01:02 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] November 26 Message-ID: Update for November 26 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! "You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you." (Psalm 118:28) What a blessing it is to have time set aside this week to focus our hearts on praising the Lord and thanking Him for all of the good gifts He showers on us. May you have a blessed and enjoyable Thanksgiving celebration. * Prayer Requests * District Office Holiday Hours * District Office Staff Changes * Good News from Fan into Flame * Rev. Dr. Robert Roegner Returns to "Hands-On Ministry" * Copy Machine and Riso Machine Available * Kids Against Hunger Packaging Project in Omaha * Summer Short-Term Mission Opportunity * The 72 is Looking for Volunteers * Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend * Lutheran Hour Ministries Mission Trip Opportunities * New from Concordia Publishing House PRAYER REQUESTS Containers in Sudan - Please continue to pray for the three Orphan Grain Train containers that have been unloaded in Port Sudan, Sudan. Rev. John Deang is continuing to work with the Sudanese government to facilitate transportation of these containers to Malakal in southeastern Sudan. We ask the Lord to remove any remaining roadblocks and allow safe passage of these containers through Sudan. Pastor Keith Kiihne - Please lift up in prayer Pastor Keith Kiihne, emeritus pastor, who is very ill and hospitalized at Methodist Hospital in Omaha. Please pray for him and his wife Dorothy at this time of spiritual, physical, and emotional need. Back to top DISTRICT OFFICE HOLIDAY HOURS The District Office will be closed this Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28, in observance of Thanksgiving. The office will reopen Monday morning, December 1, at 8:00 a.m. with staff devotions. Information is available anytime on the District website at www.ndlcms.org. Back to top DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF CHANGES Kathy Melton, who served the Nebraska District as assistant to Don Weber in Education and Youth and assistant to Dr. Marv Bergman in Lay Leadership, has left her position at the District Office for a position in Omaha. Questions or information for the education or youth ministries may be sent to education at ndlcms.org. Questions for Rev. Dr. Bergman may be sent directly to him at Marv.Bergman at cune.edu. The District Office staff gives thanks to God for the blessing Kathy was in our office and to the education, youth, and lay leadership ministries in Nebraska, and we pray God's blessings on her. Back to top GOOD NEWS FROM FAN INTO FLAME God continues to move the hearts of His people in Nebraska to be about His mission work. Just this week, the Nebraska District received Fan into Flame pledge agreements and reports from two more congregations: Trinity, Arapahoe and St. Matthew, Cedar Bluffs. Trinity made a pledge of new money from their budget over and above their current ministry giving. The congregation of St. Matthew voted on a goal of $10,000, and through the Lord's blessings they sent in gifts and pledges totaling more than $17,000. All of these funds will be used to tell lost souls about the saving work of Jesus Christ in their communities, across Nebraska, and around the world. We praise God for the generous hearts of the people He moved to action in these congregations. Peace, Grand Island, a Fan into Flame pilot congregation in Nebraska, is featured in the November/December 2008 Fan into Flame Update News newsletter. Peace used the Acts 1:8 framework to outline a four-week focus in their worship services and Bible study time. Read more about how the Lord blessed the efforts of Peace in the newsletter found on the LCMS website at http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=11976. We know there are other congregations talking about participating in Fan into Flame, and maybe have already made participation decisions, but we haven't heard from them. Is your congregation one of them? If so, please complete a Congregational Pledge Agreement and return it to the District Office as soon as possible. Visit the Fan into Flame webpage on the Nebraska District website, www.ndlcms.org, for more information and to download a Congregational Pledge Agreement. Agreements were also mailed to each church office this month. Contact Andrea Essling at Andrea.Essling at lcms.org or 888-643-2961 with questions. Back to top REV. DR. ROBERT ROEGNER RETURNS TO "HANDS-ON MINISTRY" (from Reporter Online, www.lcms.org/reporter) Dr. Robert Roegner announced his resignation as executive director of the Synod's Board for Mission Services, effective Nov. 16, citing his desire to return to "a more hands-on ministry." On November 19 the board appointed Dr. Thomas R. Zehnder of Baileys Harbor, Wis., as interim executive director. Zehnder, 72, is a former missionary to Japan and served as president of the Synod's Florida-Georgia District from 1987 to 1997. Roegner, 55, had served in the post since November 2001. He was instrumental in the development and implementation of the church body's Ablaze! movement to share the Gospel with 100 million "unreached and uncommitted people" by 2017, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. In a Nov. 10 statement to the missions board and staff, Roegner said he has spent the past seven years using his passion for mission and reaching the lost for Christ "and being a part of the planning for the Ablaze! movement, helping to create a vision within The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod and our partners here in the United States and worldwide, writing resolutions for conventions, putting together a structure within LCMS World Mission to lead this movement, giving leadership to a strategic plan that helps to accomplish successful completion of its goals," and other duties. "The time has come for me now to stop talking, writing, planning, and giving leadership here at LCMS World Mission and to start doing," he said in the statement. "The desire for me to return back to a more hands-on ministry has never been greater than in the past six-plus months. It comes with a lot of prayer, discussion with my family and a few close friends, and a deep desire to be more engaged with the people of God in the LCMS." Back to top COPY MACHINE AND RISO MACHINE AVAILABLE Messiah Lutheran Church and School in Lincoln would like to donate a black and white Savin 2535p copier and a Riso machine to a church or school who could benefit from this type of either of these machines. The Savin copier has been regularly maintained. They are both in good working order. Included with the Riso would be a blue drum, burgundy drum, and a moderate supply of masters and ink cartridges. Please contact Micah Miller for more details or if you are interested in either one of these machines at 402-489-3024 or mmiller at messiahlincoln.org Back to top KIDS AGAINST HUNGER PACKAGING PROJECT IN OMAHA A Kids Against Hunger packaging was held Saturday, November 22, at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in conjunction with the Nebraska District LCMS Youth Gathering. A community packaging session on Saturday morning had 38 participants package 4,312 meals, and the youth gathering had 148 participants package 12,936 meals, for a total of 186 volunteers packaging 17,248 meals. Funding of $5,000 in supplies for this project came from Thrivent, with $3,000 from the Northwest Douglas-Sarpy County Chapter. * 14,256 of these meals will be used by Orphan Grain Train in a shipment to Swaziland. (36 pallets, 256,620 meals) * Nearly 3,000 meals are being distributed to Lutheran food pantries in the Omaha area. Contact has already been made with First Lutheran, Iglesia Luterana Cristo Re, Project Hope, and Kountze Memorial. Over twenty food pantry clients lined up outside Kountze Memorial on Monday morning were handed the individual packets, with several people asking for multiple packages for their hungry ones at home. It was a very moving and uplifting experience to visit with them face to face. For more information on Kids Against Hunger, or Thrivent's support of this ministry, contact dennis.engelbart at thrivent.com or info at kidsagainsthungernorfolk.org, or visit www.kidsagainsthungernorfolk.org. Back to top SUMMER SHORT-TERM MISSION OPPORTUNITY There is a small group in Grand Island wanting to determine the interest in a short-term mission project in Slovakia. This will be an opportunity to teach English to high school students during summer school. The destination may be in Slovakia or Poland. Of particular interest is the possibility of meeting up with a young gentleman who was a foreign exchange student at Heartland Lutheran High School in Grand Island this past school year. The missionary leading this effort in central Europe is a graduate of Concordia in Seward. Please contact Alice Bartlett in Grand Island (ABart at kdsi.net) or Jennifer Mustard at the LCMS World Mission office, (Jennifer.Mustard at lcms.org). Back to top THE 72 IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS Are you retired? Have you been wondering...what should I do with these amazing gifts of extended life and good health God has given me? Or How can I continue making a significant difference in the lives of others? If you answered yes to either of these questions, The 72(tm)-Partners on the Road ministry invites you to consider serving congregations of the LCMS as a team member of The 72. Members of The 72 serve our Lord and His Church by partnering with LCMS congregations to equip their members for effective outreach ministry through various stages of development. Loren and Marge Rehmer of Prior Lake, Minn., shared how they feel about their impact as they have partnered with congregations since 1996. Loren said, "It is really rewarding to come to a parish that has little or no outreach program, meet wonderful Christians, and help them develop a plan of action to reach the lost in their community...Working with various boards and committees brings fulfillment to us as they (the members) start to develop a plan of action." The 72 is an innovative ministry that develops partnerships to expand and enhance their partners' ministry as well as mobilize its own teams to their full capacity. One of the newest partnerships is with Ablaze! Covenant Congregations (A!CC). The 72 will begin partnering with A!CC in 2009 to assist them as they plant new and healthy churches in their surrounding areas. To read stories about those touched by this outreach ministry, visit www.lcmsworldmission.org/The72. If you are interested in learning more about The 72 or requesting an application, please contact The 72 office by sending an e-mail to The72 at lcms.org or by calling 800-433-3954, Ext. 1286. They are waiting to hear from you today. Applications for the next training session, which will begin in February 2009, are being accepted now. The training begins with some pre-study work done at home and concludes by meeting with all other new team members at Saint Paul Institute For Education in Concordia, Mo., April 27-May 1, 2009. Back to top LUTHERAN MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND Another Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend will be offered at the Good Samaritan Retreat Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the weekend of March 6-8, 2009. Last year over 30 couples attended, so register early. What is Marriage Encounter? In a nutshell, it is a weekend for married couples away from the responsibilities and daily pressures of life. It is an opportunity to focus on each other. It is an opportunity to help improve our communication in a relaxed and private setting. It is for couples with "good" marriages who want to enrich what they already have. There are NO "group discussions." It is a series of presentations that touch on many aspects of marriage given by three lay couples and a clergy couple. After each presentation, the couple has time in the privacy of their own room for personal sharing using the communication techniques learned on the weekend. The cost is $45 to register (this reserves your room and meals) and a freewill donation at the end of the weekend. If you want to know more or to register, go to www.GodLovesMarriage.org or contact one of these couples: Vernon and Karen Harrington: 712-533-6221 or giblem at frontiernet.net Milton and Donna Kaufman: 605-651-3231 or miltkauf at tnics.com Pastor Bob and Aimee Moeller: 605-526-3572 or seelsorge8 at aol.com The weekend is presented by Lutherans, but people of any faith are welcome. Think about this chance as an opportunity to take a new look at your marriage and your partner! Learn simple, effective communication techniques. Enhance the love that you share. Attend a Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend! Registrations for this weekend are needed by February 23, 2009. Back to top LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES MISSION TRIP OPPORTUNITIES When you participate in a Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) Global Work & Witness trip, you "leave your hometown as mission trip participants, and you come home as missionaries for life." That's what one trip leader said after her group returned from a weeklong trip to Guatemala. "We realized that sharing the love of God through Jesus' sacrifice for every one of us is one of the most invigorating ventures EVER! We wholeheartedly fell in love with the people God chose for us to touch and to reach with His love." Groups of 10-20 teenagers and/or adults work alongside local LHM ministry center staff on Vacation Bible School activities, building projects, and other outreach events. Besides working and witnessing, each trip allows for some time to sightsee and learn about the culture of that country. LHM oversees all logistical details, manages the project in the host country, and provides high quality DVD-based volunteer training prior to the trip. Because many of the logistical details are taken care of by LHM, there is less legwork for your group. Currently, there are projects available in many countries including Kenya, Thailand, Mexico, and Latvia. Each group is responsible for their own travel and project costs. Visit www.lhm.org/globalmission or contact Jeanne Lawrence at 1-800-752-9636, ext. 4168 or jeanne.lawrence at lhm.org for more information. Back to top NEW FROM CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE More information and ordering instructions for the following resources are available on the CPH website, www.cph.org or 1-800-325-3040. CHILDREN'S BULLETIN CONNECTS KIDS AND FAMILIES TO WORSHIP A new resource from Concordia Publishing House provides interactive, engaging weekly children's bulletins for use by children and their families. Growing in Worship involves children more fully in worship and the life of the church. The Commission on Worship of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has endorsed the new resource saying, "Growing in Worship engages children with Christ as He is encountered each week in Word and Sacrament, and sends them home with Christ-centered ideas and suggestions for the week ahead. Every congregation should get Growing in Worship. It is truly a wonderful resource for our children!" The new four-page weekly children's worship folder highlights the theme and message of the day and teaches children about the Church Year and special festivals. Each bulletin includes: * PRAY: Child-friendly format that highlights the prayer of the day (Collect) * SEE: Activity that focuses children on what they will see in worship * HEAR: Clear instructions help children follow the Gospel reading * DO: Engaging activity unpacks the message of the Gospel reading Definitions of words used in the context of worship, intriguing facts, and brief ideas for daily family faith-activity and discussion throughout the week are also included in each children's bulletin. The all-new children's worship resource is ideal for children ages 5-10. Now through December 31, 2008, Concordia Publishing House is offering 20% off the first quarter of subscription. Call 1-800-325-3040 and mention code WGW. The promotion offer is not available through the website. For more details, including a sample, and complete pricing and subscription details, visit www.cph.org/worshipresources and click on "Every Sunday Bulletins." CHILDREN'S HOLIDAY TITLES Fear Not, Joseph! Fear Not, Joseph! from Concordia Publishing House portrays the man who stood beside Mary in her pregnancy and protected her during Jesus' birth. He faced fear and doubt as God brought a miracle to pass before his very eyes. This story describes the faith of Joseph as he devotedly followed God's instructions and became an earthly father to an infant who was the Savior of the world. Drawing from Luke 1 and Old Testament prophecy, author Julie Stiegemeyer and illustrator Cheri Bladholm tell Joseph's unique story as he faithfully walked the path his Father placed in front of him. Fear Not, Joseph! captures the heart of the biblical Christmas story as it explores Joseph's faith. Hardback with jacket 32 pages $12.99 Item #56-2444YBG The Christmas List The Christmas List from Concordia Publishing House follows two children who take different approaches with their Christmas wish list. Emily is thoughtful as she considers what she wants on her Christmas list. Jacob, her brother, is done with his list and everyone in the family is asking about hers. But Emily has a lot to think about. When Emily is through thinking, she asks for the most precious gift of all - a gift that will last forever. A gift that is also well worth sharing. In this book children learn that a wish list of gifts is not as important as Jesus' list of all the names of God's children-the Book of Life. (Luke 10:20; Revelation 3:5) The Christmas List helps children focus on the meaning of Christmas: that God sent His Son to be our Savior from sin and to reconcile us with our heavenly Father. Hardback with jacket 32 pages $12.99 Item #56-2448YBG The Wonder of Christmas In The Wonder of Christmas from Concordia Publishing House, author Dandi Daley Mackall wonders aloud as she captures children's imaginations with whimsical questions about the celebration of Christmas. Easy-to-read and -understand explanations of that first joyous Christmas night are combined with colorful illustrations of a Christmas pageant about Jesus' birth. Children ages 5 and up learn from the straightforward answers as they enjoy the distinctive rhyme and engaging illustrations in The Wonder of Christmas. They discover the facts of Jesus' humble birth, His divinity, the importance of Christmas, and its meaning. Hardback with jacket 32 pages $12.99 Item #56-2445YBG Away in a Manger Away in a Manger from Concordia Publishing House shares the carol that paints a picture of the Christ Child's birth more than 2,000 years ago. Realistic artwork completes the story with exceptional impressions of this amazing time in Christian history. As children hear the words they have sung at home or in church, they grasp the drama and excitement of Bible truth and the season of hope and joy-Christmas. Rhyming text is memorable and easy for young ones ages three and up to say and sing. Children discover the peace that comes from knowing their Savior has arrived to bring them salvation. Hardback with jacket 32 pages $12.99 Item #56-2442YBG My Giant Fold-out Book: Christmas My Giant Fold-out Book: Christmas from Concordia Publishing House is a fun, interactive board book with whimsical art, simple text, and giant fold-out pages. As the story unfolds in a simple, easy-to-read narrative, children ages 2 and up learn about Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus in the stable, the angel's announcement to the shepherds, and more, as depicted in Luke's Gospel. Each page reveals more of the scene described in text that stretches across the front and back of the expanded page. The activity helps children stay engaged and learning. Simple and brightly-colored art appeals to young children. Board book 6 fold-out pages $12.99 Item #56-2433YBG Back to top A blessed Thanksgiving to you and your family, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications 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: 51803 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20081125/7b1d991e/attachment.txt From distupd at lists.ndlcms.org Wed Nov 26 15:59:05 2008 From: distupd at lists.ndlcms.org (District Updates) Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:59:05 -0000 Subject: [DistUpd] Reverend Keith Kiihne Called to the Church Triumphant Message-ID: The Reverend Keith K. Kiihne, pastor emeritus, Omaha, Nebraska, departed this life on Tuesday, November 25, 2008, at the age of 70. Survived by wife, Dorothy; sons Mark (Sarah); David (Lisa); daughter, Patricia Kiihne; five grandchildren; brother Raymond (Margaret); many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents and brother, Donald. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 1, 2008, at Pacific Hills Lutheran Church, Omaha, Nebraska. Interment will be at First Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Altona (Rural Wayne) Nebraska, at 3:30pm. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 30, from 3:00 - 7:00 pm, with family receiving friends from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, followed by a 7:00 pm Prayer Service at Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home, Omaha, NE. Letters of condolence may be written to Mrs. Dorothy Kiihne, 3035 S 70th St Apt 120, Omaha, NE 68106. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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