[DistUpd] November 19
District Updates
distupd at lists.ndlcms.org
Wed Nov 19 14:24:26 CST 2008
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.
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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<http://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<mailto:Andrea.Essling at lcms.org> or 888-643-2961 with questions.
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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 ½ 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<mailto: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<mailto:HShane1 at yahoo.com>), and Keith Bicknase (605-432-9555; elcpastor at itcmilbank.com<mailto: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
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'MEN'S NETWORK' KICKS OFF WITH MEN'S RETREAT (from www.lhm.org<http://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<http://www.campluther.org/>, or by calling 402-352-5655.
The Men's NetWork will be available nationwide at www.lhmmen.com<http://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.
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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.
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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."
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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<mailto: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.
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LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES CHRISTMAS PROGRAM SCHEDULE (from www.lhm.org<http://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<http://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<http://www.lhmgift.org/storefront> to browse the large selection of items.
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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.
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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.
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THERE'S STILL TIME TO CUSTOMIZE AND PRINT LHM'S ADVENT DEVOTIONS (from www.lhm.org<http://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<http://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<http://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.
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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.
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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.<http://www.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=14372>
* CPH, LHM release Advent devotions
Concordia Publishing House and Lutheran Hour Ministries each are offering new Advent devotions for 2008. FULL STORY<http://www.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=14378>
* LWML offers Christmas cards
"Joy" is the message of new Christmas cards from the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. FULL STORY<http://www.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=14376>
* 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<http://www.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=14370>
* 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<http://www.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=14374>
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.
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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<http://www.cph.org/> or by calling Customer Service at 1-800-325-3040.
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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<mailto: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<mailto:nicholeh at ndlcms.org>
www.ndlcms.org<http://www.ndlcms.org/>
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