[DistUpd] December 22

Tue Dec 22 12:53:11 CST 2009

Due to the unpredictability of winter weather in Nebraska, this Update is being sent out a day early while I can still get to my computer! Remember, the District Office will be closed Thursday and Friday, December 24 and 25, and Thursday and Friday, December 31 and January 1. Have a safe and blessed Christmas!

[cid:image001.gif at 01CA8305.5A2093C0]
December 22, 2009

In this issue:

Christmas greetings in the name of our newborn Savior, Jesus Christ!

Many of you are busy with last minute preparations, or already beginning your celebrations, so this week's Update will be short and simple. Remember, there is no Update next week, but the regular schedule will resume on Wednesday, January 6.

 *   Prayer Requests
 *   Important Tax Exempt Information for Congregations
 *   LCMS Offers Christmas Greetings
 *   In the News: Faith, York
 *   Overseas Service Opportunities
 *   Lutheran Hour Ministries Names New Director of United States Ministries
 *   Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend
 *   New From Concordia Publishing House
 *   Concordia Theological Seminary Choirs Featured on Christmas Eve

PRAYER REQUESTS
Missions and Ministries of the Nebraska District - We join in prayers of thanksgiving and blessing for the congregations, schools, missions, and ministries of the Nebraska District during this Christmas season. As these ministries and dedicated church workers prepare to share the story of the Savior's birth this week and into the new year, we ask God to bless them and the Gospel message they share. There are 247 congregations in the Nebraska District, along with 43 Lutheran schools and nearly 30 early childhood or preschool centers. There are also new church starts and ethnic ministries across the District, including Native American, Hispanic, and African immigrant ministries. We thank God for these missions, and pray that He would bless their efforts now and in the year to come.

Orphan Grain Train - The following prayer request was received from Orphan Grain Train:
The three Sudanese containers shipped in 2008 have been set up in southern Sudan, thanks to a volunteer team (from Nebraska and Minnesota) that worked three weeks to get the job done. We thank God for their success with this initial step and their safe return this past week. We request continued prayers for the ongoing success of this venture that God's name might be glorified and that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and the provision of food and medical care may be shared widely in that place.

We also pray for Rev. John Deang, Nebraska District missionary-at-large for African immigrant ministry, who is still in Africa and will be returning shortly. We ask God to grant him safety as he returns home.

Back to top

IMPORTANT TAX EXEMPT INFORMATION FOR CONGREGATIONS
A reminder to congregations and schools of the District that Form 451-A Reaffirmation for Continued Tax Exemption filings must be filed with your County Assessor on or before December 31. Failure to file can result in the loss of exemption from property tax. Congregations may find a fill-in form at http://lancaster.ne.gov/cnty/assess/Form451Afillin.pdf.

Back to top

LCMS OFFERS CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
President Kieschnick's Christmas Message
LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick has shared a video Christmas message for congregations, church workers, and members. To view the message, visit the LCMS website at http://www.lcms.org/?16296.

Christmas Greeting from LCMS World Mission Executive
LCMS World Mission Executive Director Rev. Thomas R. Zehnder has prepared a brief video greeting. Please take a few moments to watch the video by using this link: http://blog.lcmsworldmission.org/2009/12/11/year-end-christmas-greeting/.

Back to top

IN THE NEWS: FAITH, YORK
"Faith Lutheran Church had a little extra money, and decided to buy a Christmas gift for York.

Pastor Allen Bergstrazer and the Faith Lutheran community is issuing an invitation to the York community to join them at the church fellowship hall on Christmas Day for turkey and all the trimmings."

So begins a York News-Times article on Faith, York, and their plan to use a portion of their Fan into Flame money. The entire article may be read at: http://www.yorknewstimes.com/articles/2009/12/18/news/doc4b2af64bdd2a7459224844.txt.

Back to top

OVERSEAS SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
LCMS World Relief and Human Care is seeking mercy medical volunteers for a medical clinic outreach to Haiti on March 11-21, 2010.  A variety of medical specialties and hard-working laity are desired.

World Relief and Human Care is also considering adding another trip to Madagascar in April of 2010.  If you are interested in this opportunity, please respond IMMEDIATELY so that the feasibility of this possibility can be determined as soon as possible.

For more information log on to www.lcms.org/mercyteams<http://www.lcms.org/mercyteams>.

Write mercymedical at lcms.org<mailto:us.mc573.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=mercymedical at lcms.org> with your intention to participate and you will receive all the details. Also feel free to call Jacob Fiene 800-248-1930, ext. 1278 with any questions or concerns.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Lutherans in Medical Missions at limm at limm.org<mailto:limm at limm.org>.

***********************************
MACAU
Join the mission field! There is an important need for a short-term missionary in Macau, China, from February 15 - April 4, 2010. If you have a love for people and are willing to teach conversational English to adult professionals, please consider this mission opportunity!

Teaching at Concordia English Center - Concordia English Center (CEC) is an English language school based in Macau, China. The school focuses on teaching English with GEO missionaries who serve there for a year or longer. Short-term missionaries also serve as teachers to provide support for the GEO teachers and enable more class offerings. The CEC offers classes in five-to seven-week terms. The February-April term is in need of one more teacher so that classes will not be canceled. Through these classes and other activities hosted by the CEC, many people hear about Jesus for the first time. Please consider serving in this very important way so more people have the opportunity to learn about their Savior!

For more information, contact an LCMS World Mission placement counselor at 1-800-433-3954 or mission.recruitment at lcms.org<mailto:mission.recruitment at lcms.org>.

Back to top

LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES NAMES NEW DIRECTOR OF UNITED STATES MINISTRIES
The Rev. Dr. Mark Larson of Aurora, Colorado, has been named Director of the United States Ministries division at Lutheran Hour Ministries. He will begin his new position on January 4, 2010, and will oversee the production of The Lutheran Hour, Para el Camino, and Woman to Woman radio programs, the ministry's print outreach materials, ministry fulfillment, and referral services, and the LHM Men's NetWork, an online program launched in January 2009 to help congregations reconnect with men and build local men's ministries.

"We are most pleased to add someone with Mark's extensive skills into this important leadership position here at Lutheran Hour Ministries," says LHM Executive Director Bruce Wurdeman. "Our staff looks forward to working with this gifted man of God."

Until accepting the position with Lutheran Hour Ministries, Larson served as District Executive-Missions for the Rocky Mountain District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, a position he has held since 2000. He oversees the mission and evangelism programs for the district, which includes Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and El Paso, Texas.

Under his leadership, the Rocky Mountain District received the 2008 Executive Director's Ablaze! Award from LCMS World Mission for a series of evangelism conferences called Conversations of Grace. These conferences equipped the body of Christ for outreach through many partners, including Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Larson's other ministry service includes appointment by LCMS President Dr. Gerald Kieschnick to serve on the President's Blue Ribbon Task Force for Hispanic Ministry, as well as service on the National Advisory Group for Missions, the Executive Committee of North American Mission Enablers, and Frontera Ministries. He has played a key role in the founding of the Lutheran Hispanic Missionary Institute in El Paso and serves on the Board of Directors of this institute that has a vision to raise Hispanic church planters for the LCMS.

Larson served as associate pastor (1988-1994) and then senior pastor (1994-2000) of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in Beecher, Illinois. While there he served on the Mission Board of the Northern Illinois District from 1991 to 2000. He served as the board chair from 1997-2000.

Raised near Grand Island, Nebraska, he received a bachelor's degree in Speech Communications from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois, in 2004. He and his wife, Lisa, have two elementary school-aged children.

Lutheran Hour Ministries is a Christian outreach ministry supporting churches worldwide in its mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations-and the Nations to the Church. LHM produces Christian radio and TV programming for broadcast, as well as Internet and print communications, dramas, music, and outreach materials, to reach the unchurched in more than 30 countries. LHM's flagship program, The Lutheran Hour, is the world's longest-running Christian outreach radio program. It airs weekly on more than 900 stations. For more information about LHM, visit www.lhm.org<http://www.lhm.org>.

Back to top

LUTHERAN MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND
Marriage Encounter weekends are for a husband and wife who love each other and desire to better their communication and increase their appreciation for each other and their marriage. Newlywed couples to couples married fifty or more years are encouraged to consider this opportunity. The next opportunity for a Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend is March 5-7, 2010, at the Good Samaritan Retreat Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The cost is $45 to register. This reserves your room and meals. A freewill donation is taken at the end of the weekend. Questions?  Registration?  Check the website:      www.Godlovesmarriage.org<http://www.godlovesmarriage.org/> or contact:
Vernon and Karen Harrington 712-533-6221 or giblem at frontier.net<mailto:giblem at frontier.net>
Pastor Bob and Aimee Moeller 605-526-3572 or seelsorge8 at aol.com<mailto:seelsorge8 at aol.com>

Back to top

NEW FROM CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE
New Volume of Johann Gerhard's Writings Focuses on Christ
The newest volume of the Theological Commonplaces series is now available.
Johann Gerhard was known by his contemporaries as "the arch-theologian of the Lutheran Church." His depth of insight, comprehensive attention to details, and biblical faithfulness shine forth in the Theological Commonplaces with particular brilliance.

Concordia Publishing House annually translates the works of this seventeenth century theologian and the third volume is now available. In On Christ, Gerhard sets forth the person of Christ in great detail, pondering Jesus Christ's name, His deity and humanity, and the personal union of the two natures in Christ. He delves into the mystery of what the union of humanity and divinity in Christ means and what it implies for our salvation.
You can purchase On Christ individually or become a subscriber to the Theological Commonplaces series. If you subscribe, each volume is shipped to you automatically.

The Theological Commonplaces series from Concordia Publishing House is a first-ever English translation of Johann Gerhard's Loci Theologici. Gerhard was the premier Lutheran theologian of the early seventeenth century. Combining his understanding of evangelical Lutheran theology with a broad interest in ethics and culture, he produced significant works on biblical, doctrinal, pastoral, and devotional theology.

The newest translated volume, On Christ<http://bit.ly/4xiO37>, is now available at www.cph.org<http://www.cph.org> or by calling 1-800-325-3040.

The series also includes these two volumes: On the Nature of Theology and on Scripture<http://bit.ly/3bAUyt> and On the Nature of God and on the Trinity<http://bit.ly/ZScC4>.

Heirs of the Reformation CD Set
Heirs of the Reformation: Treasures of the Singing Church<http://bit.ly/OSOOG> is a four-CD set from Concordia Publishing House that showcases Lutheran hymns of the generations immediately following the time of Martin Luther.

Karl Osterland wrote about the CD set in Cross Accent: Journal of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. You can find the entire review on the Heirs of the Reformation<http://bit.ly/OSOOG> product page at www.cph.org<http://www.cph.org>. The CD set is available there as well or by calling 1-800-325-3040.

Osterland writes, "Heirs of the Reformation: Treasures of the Singing Church is a powerful reminder of all that is good (and even great) in the Lutheran musical heritage. The variety of musical styles, instrumentation, and accompaniments is a sonic smorgasbord."

Osterland continues, "The set is successful in presenting enjoyable performances of Lutheran heritage music, both old and new. It would make a fine addition to the CD library of professional musician or lay-listener alike."

The collection of this CD set includes a blend of both choral and solo voice, as well as a blend of modern and historical instrumentation to present classic compositions from Gerhardt, Hammerschmidt, Praetorius, Bach, Schuetz, Hildebrand, Gerike, Sedio, Busarow, and Schalk.

"Heirs of the Reformation: Treasures of the Singing Church includes forty-five beloved Lutheran hymns, presented in a variety of styles that will appeal to every listener," says Peter Reske, Managing Editor of Music/Worship Resources. "At times contemplative, exhilarating, and devotional, this set and companion booklet will surely include your favorite, as well as a treasury of others you will come to love."

More of Martin Luther's Works Now Available in English
Concordia Publishing House (CPH) announces the expansion of Luther's Works: American Edition. Twenty new volumes are being translated from Luther's original Latin and German into clear, accessible, modern English, and the introductions and footnotes make significant academic contributions to our understanding of Luther's confession of Christ.

The newest book, volume 69 (John 17-20) is now available at www.cph.org/luthersworks<http://www.cph.org/luthersworks>  or by calling 1-800-325-3040. The book is available by itself or as a subscription. Each volume is currently priced at $49.99; subscribers pay only $34.99 each, a 30% savings. Volumes will come out once a year and will ship automatically. To learn more about the series, the website also includes a prospectus for the expansion of Luther's Works: American Edition.

The newest volume of Luther's Works: America Edition focuses on four chapters from the Gospel of John, including Luther's exposition of Jesus' high priestly prayer in John 17, as well as his preached meditations on the entire Passion and resurrection of our Lord according to John.

Back to top

CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY CHOIRS FEATURED ON CHRISTMAS EVE
Christmas at Kramer Chapel with the Concordia Theological Seminary Kantorei and Schola Cantorum will be broadcast on Christmas Eve from 9:00-10:00 p.m. on WBNI 94.1 FM. The service was compiled from recordings already produced as well as live recordings of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany services over the years in Kramer Chapel. It includes congregational singing and lessons read by Dean of the Chapel, Dr. Paul J. Grime. Kantor Richard C. Resch is the director of both choirs and Kantor Kevin J. Hildebrand is the organist.

"We are delighted that WBNI approached the seminary wanting to feature the music of our choirs for this broadcast. The airing of this Christmas Eve Service will give [listeners] a taste of what it is like to worship in Kramer Chapel at Concordia Theological Seminary," said Kantor Resch.  If you are not in the WBNI listening area you can listen to live-streaming audio by going to www.nipr.fm<http://www.nipr.fm/>.

For more information on music events at CTS simply go online to www.ctsfw.edu<http://www.ctsfw.edu/> or phone 260-452-2224.

Back to top

Christmas blessings and a happy New Year!
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/>

* 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: 49497 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20091222/a09d89ef/attachment.txt
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 8048 bytes
Desc: image001.gif
Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20091222/a09d89ef/image001-0001.gif