[DistUpd] March 4

Wed Mar 4 11:14:00 CST 2009

Update for March 4
A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE!

Happy Lutheran Schools Week! If you are a member of a congregation with a school or a part of a school association, you are in the middle of a busy and exciting week that celebrates Lutheran schools, the dedicated teachers, the blessed students, and the involved parents that God uses to touch young lives. If your congregation doesn't have a school, this would be a great time to start praying for the teachers and students of a nearby Lutheran school, or any other Lutheran school in the Nebraska District. To locate the Lutheran school nearest you, visit the Nebraska District website school locator at http://www.ndlcms.org/locator/schools/index.html.

On a personal note, some of you inquired about missing the Email Update the past several weeks. My husband and I were blessed with the birth of our second child, Tyler James, on December 30. Tyler was born two weeks earlier than expected, which did not allow me to inform you of my maternity leave and the absence of Updates during that time as I had planned. I am now back at work and the Email Update will return to its normal weekly schedule. Thank you so much to those who emailed during my leave and for the prayers of thanksgiving that were offered. It's a blessing to be back at work and to be sharing the news of what God is doing through His people with you. If you have information to share, feel free to email it to me at communications at ndlcms.org<mailto:communications at ndlcms.org>.

*         Prayer Requests
*         Convention Delegate Information Due
*         Lutheran Witness Subscription Information
*         Statistical Reports Due from Congregations
*         Nominations for Lutheran Hour Ministries' Executive Director Being Accepted
*         Concordia University, Seward, Announces Speaker for Maehr Lecture
*         Seminaries Receive Accreditation for Distance Education Program
*         Lent and Easter Online Resources Available from Concordia Publishing House
*         Overseas Mission Opportunities
*         Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska Hires Immigration Attorney
*         Answers in Genesis Event This Weekend
*         Dedicatory Organ Recital Series Continues at Concordia University

PRAYER REQUESTS
The Lutheran High Northeast, Norfolk, Community - Please keep the students, their families, the faculty, staff, and administration of Lutheran High School Northeast in Norfolk in your prayers at the death of a senior male student on Sunday evening. Please remember the school, churches, and community as they prepare for and go through the funeral on Thursday.

Pastor Bob and Diana Hedtke - Please remember in prayer Pastor Bob and Diana Hedtke, LCMS missionaries in Thailand, as they prepare to return to the United States on March 18. They will be returning from the overseas mission field, and we pray the Lord will continue to use them the mission fields of their home community.

Pastor Art Schauer - We join with Pastor Art Schauer, emeritus, in prayers of thanksgiving for successful open heart surgery last week. We ask the Great Physician to continue to grant Pastor Schauer healing, and we pray that he will be granted a full recovery so he can return to the ministry work God has for him.

Back to top

CONVENTION DELEGATE INFORMATION DUE
Congregations that wish to have pastor and/or lay delegates with voting privileges seated at the Nebraska District Convention in June must return a completed and certified Delegate Information Form to the District Office. Forms and more information were mailed to church offices in September. A copy of the blank form may be printed from the Nebraska District website at http://www.ndlcms.org/news/convention/index.html.

These names must be submitted to the District Office on the official form by March 31 to insure voting delegates receive all of the Convention information necessary. Congregations that do not return completed forms will not have voting delegates at Convention. Contact Julie Roebke at the District Office at 888-643-2961 or julier at ndlcms.org<mailto:julier at ndlcms.org> for more information or with questions.

Back to top

LUTHERAN WITNESS SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
The additions/changes for the blanket rate Lutheran Witness renewal are due back to Sandy Ruether at the District Office by March 20, 2009. All subscriptions for the congregation will be cancelled if the forms are not received by that date. Additions at the blanket rate will not be allowed after the renewal period.  E-Mail sandyr at ndlcms.org<mailto:sandyr at ndlcms.org> if there are any questions concerning the renewals.

Back to top

STATISTICAL REPORTS DUE FROM CONGREGATIONS
Congregation statistical reports have been mailed to church offices and were due back to the District Office by February 28. Congregations that have not returned their form are strongly encouraged to immediately complete the form, mail the original to the St. Louis address on the form, keep one copy, and mail a copy to the District Office. Contact Kim Hofer at the District Office at kimh at ndlcms.org<mailto:kimh at ndlcms.org> or 888-643-2961 with any questions.

Back to top

NOMINATIONS FOR LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES' EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BEING ACCEPTED
The Board of Governors of the International Lutheran Laymen's League invites applicants and nominations for the position of Executive Director for Lutheran Hour Ministries with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. The Executive Director provides leadership to accomplish the vision and mission (http://www.lhm.org/about/mission.htm) of LHM, and is accountable directly to the Board of Governors.

As the chief administrative and executive staff member, the Executive Director will have wide latitude to lead a diverse and creative international media ministry. Successful management will assure compliance with board directives and policies, and provide a sound financial basis for ministry operations. The job description may be viewed in detail at www.lhm.org/execdirector.htm<http://www.lhm.org/execdirector.htm>.

Candidates must be a lay member of either the LCMS or LCC who desire to speak boldly of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The successful candidate will demonstrate a track record of effective organizational, management, supervisory and leadership skills at an executive level in a secular or comparable not-for-profit organization. Experience in anticipating, defining and analyzing issues, and initiating timely actions using proven business judgment are essential.

Applications and nominations will be accepted until April 15, 2009.  If interested, please submit a resume with cover letter and salary history to:

Michael Onnen, President
International Lutheran Laymen's League
2220 Rd 5000, Davenport, NE 68335
E-mail: mickonnen at alltel.net<mailto:mickonnen at alltel.net>

Back to top

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, SEWARD, ANNOUNCES SPEAKER FOR MAEHR LECTURE
Dr. Edward Martin will speak on the problem of evil at the 2009 Martin and Regina Maehr Lecture on Friday, March 27, at 10 a.m. Martin, a professor of philosophy and theology at Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va., will address the question of how a good and all powerful God can allow evil to happen in the world. He will also discuss Christian responses to this question.

"Dr. Martin was invited to the Concordia campus to speak because of his solid intellectual approach to this and other issues of the Christian faith," said Rev. Dirk Reek, assistant professor of theology. "He has an entirely honest approach to the real intellectual questions of Christian theology."

In addition to his position at Liberty University, Dr. Martin also teaches at Trinity College and Seminary in Evansville, Indiana and holds masters and doctoral degrees in philosophy from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

The lecture, free and open to the public, will be given in the Weller Hall auditorium on Concordia's Seward campus. The Maehr Lecture series began in 1976 and is made possible by an endowment established by Dr. Martin Maehr, a former faculty member.

Back to top

SEMINARIES RECEIVE ACCREDITATION FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, have been granted preliminary approval from the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) for a comprehensive distance education program that may now offer courses for academic credit, applicable toward the Master of Divinity degree. This will enable students in the new Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program the opportunity to receive such credit, and it also attests to the academic credibility of the educational models that are being used.

For more information on the distance education programs at either of the seminaries, visit their websites at www.csl.edu<http://www.csl.edu/> (St. Louis) or www.ctsfw.edu<http://www.ctsfw.edu/> (Ft. Wayne).

Back to top

LENT AND EASTER ONLINE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FROM CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE
Concordia Publishing House (CPH) announces a special webpage for Lent and Easter. This website, full of information and resources for everyone, can be found at www.cph.org/40days<http://www.cph.org/40days>.

The seasonal site features Lent and Easter online resources including free daily meditations from the company's newest Lenten offering, Sacred Head Now Wounded. A special coloring activity for children, free e-cards, and seasonal traditions shared by CPH staff will be included along with Lent and Easter products for use in churches, schools, and homes.

CPH says that the site is one way for customers to encounter what defines Lent and Easter. "In our busy world, Lent offers Christians an intentional opportunity to draw near to God through His Word," according to CPH. "Devotion, study of God's Word, weekly worship, and time spent with family and in prayer defines these 40 days, and that is the focus of the cph.org/40days site."

Back to top

OVERSEAS MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
Vietnam
A wonderful opportunity is available for individuals to serve in Vietnam. Vietnam is in need of individuals to build relationships with people through teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) at area universities. Although teaching classes will be the primary responsibility of the individual, much time and emphasis is placed on spending time with students and co-workers outside of school to look for opportunities to build relationships.

To learn how you can serve by going global, go to: www.lcmsworldmission.org/searchopps<http://www.lcmsworldmission.org/searchopps>.
Contact an LCMS World Mission placement counselor at 1-800-433-3954 or mission.recruitment at lcms.org<mailto:mission.recruitment at lcms.org>.

Kenya
LCMS World Relief and Human Care sponsors a medical mission team that will partner with the Lutheran Church of Kenya in their medical facilities in Kisumu City and the neighboring village of Atemo April 13-23, 2009. The clinics will be general practice with no surgery or inpatient care. There will be one day and one night at the Masai Mara game reserve at the end of the trip. The cost is $3,000 and includes international airfare, Kenyan domestic airfare, food, and lodging, with the remaining amount used for the purchase of medical supplies and medications.  Volunteers will also collect supplies in the U.S. to take with them. Physicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, as well as lay people who have a special interest in visiting Kenya are encouraged to apply.

Please write Jacob Fiene, Manager Medical/Material Resources, LCMS World Relief and Human Care at Jacob.Fiene at lcms.org<mailto:Jacob.Fiene at lcms.org> or call him at 800-248-1930 ext. 1278.

Back to top

LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES OF NEBRASKA HIRES IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc. (LFS) announces the hiring of Rob Dorton, Esq., as immigration attorney/program manager for its Lutheran Immigration Services Program.

Dorton is a native Iowan who received his J.D. degree from the Boalt Hall School of Law at Berkeley. For the past five years he has practiced as a public interest attorney in the San Francisco Bay area.  In that position he provided low-income legal services to persons living with HIV/AIDS and mental health disabilities, including diverse populations of immigrants.

Kitcki Carroll, director of community services for LFS, stated, "Rob has a strong understanding of not-for-profits, supervisory experience and a strong respect and understanding of immigration issues. We are excited to have him on board and look forward to the leadership that he will bring to our department as it continues to grow."

Dorton will be involved in deportation cases and complex immigration issues. He will work closely with the LFS Board of Immigration Appeals-accredited immigration specialists, who comprise the first and only such statewide network in Nebraska. Immigration specialists are located in Omaha, Grand Island and Lexington. "The network allows us to leverage resources and skills across the state to effectively meet the immigration legal service needs of Nebraska communities," said Carroll.

Back to top

ANSWERS IN GENESIS EVENT THIS WEEKEND
Messiah Lutheran Church & School, Lincoln, is offering the public the chance to hear Answers in Genesis Speaker, Bodie Hodge, on Saturday March 7, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Mr. Hodge will offer 4 presentations throughout the day.

Each presentation will be 55 minutes in length with a break for lunch after the second presentation.

o       Is Genesis Important In Your Daily Walk?
o       The Flood: Who Should You Trust?
o       Dinosaurs, Dragons, and the Bible (adult version)
o       How Can I Use Genesis To Witness Today?

Answers in Genesis material will be on sale during the Saturday presentation.

Lunch will be provided at Messiah with a free will offering to defray lunch costs.

The Saturday event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Warren Viehl, Director of Christian Education, at Messiah at wviehl at messiahlincoln.org<mailto:wviehl at messiahlincoln.org> or
402-489-3024.

Back to top

DEDICATORY ORGAN RECITAL SERIES CONTINUES AT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY
Twenty-three-year-old German organ virtuoso Felix Hell will give concerts Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22, at 3 p.m. in the recital hall of Concordia University, Nebraska's Music Center.  The performances are part of a year-long series of dedicatory concerts for the newly installed recital hall organ, Opus 3868 from Casavant Frères'.  The concerts are free, but because of limited seating, tickets are required and can be reserved by calling 800-535-5494.

A liturgical organist since the age of eight, Hell has performed extensively in his native Germany and around the world, including over 400 recitals in 44 states in the U.S. Five years ago he taught a class to Concordia organ students to rave reviews.

"When we were planning our inaugural season for the Casavant organ and were thinking about a guest artist to invite, Felix Hell was the very first name on my list," explained Dr. Jeffrey Blersch, Concordia professor of music. "He is not only a phenomenal musician with extreme virtuosity; he is also able to relate to our students in a manner that is informative and inspiring."

Hell's program will include a variety of styles to demonstrate the versatility of the new organ.

Hell is the distinguished Organist in Residence at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pa. and an organ instructor at the Sunderman Conservatory.

The concert is being sponsored by the Jones National Bank and Trust Fine Arts Series.

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<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 on your Lenten journey,
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: 44762 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.ndlcms.org/pipermail/distupd/attachments/20090304/238eb9c7/attachment.txt