Update for August 10 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." Psalm 107:1 God is very good and we give Him thanks for the blessings He showered on the participants and presenters at Prairie Fire last Saturday. The Lord gave us perfect weather in August (which means it wasn't too hot!), He granted safety to all who traveled to and from the event, and His Spirit was truly present among the 650 people who gathered that day. Thank you to all who attended this event on Concordia's campus, and thank you to all who helped as presenters, hosts, or other volunteers. The Lord truly blessed the day and all those in attendance, both participants and staff. It was wonderful being there with all of you and feeling your excitement about the ministry opportunities God has given you in your congregations and communities. We pray you will be able to take back what you heard to your congregations and share with others the new ideas and insights for ministry you gained. ¨ [1]Prayer Requests ¨ [2]Thank Yous ¨ [3]Omaha Area Clergy Invited to Meet with Mayor ¨ [4]Omaha Preschool Looking for Teachers ¨ [5]Equipping to Share Workshops Across the District ¨ [6]Family Life Marriage Seminar ¨ [7]Mission Fest at Mission Central ¨ [8]Living for Tomorrow is Coming to Nebraska ¨ [9]Heartland Conference for Rural Ministry ¨ [10]National Bioethics Conference Planned ¨ [11]2005 Wheat Ridge Christmas Seals Available PRAYER REQUESTS Ethan and Steve Marshall - Good news! Ethan is now back home, his infection having cleared up. He is still having issues with his blood pressure, but they are working on that. The biopsy on the lump they removed from Steve's lung turned out to be negative, and he is recovering well. He is now back on the list as a possible donor. Ethan's mom, Melanie, was also bumped up to possible donor status. Surgery is tentatively scheduled (with either mom or dad's kidney) for late September. The family thanks you for all your prayers! Sarah Nicole Gierke - We give thanks for this gift of new life given to the son and daughter-in-law of Rev. Charles and Joyce Gierke of St. Mark, Omaha. We thank God that mother and child are doing fine and we look forward to welcoming this little one into the family of believers through her baptism. Nigerian Missionaries - Missionaries Jerry and Carol Loewe in Nigeria have shared this prayer request with us. Please remember these fellow co-workers in the mission field in your prayers. Last Wednesday there was a terrible car accident. LBT (Lutheran Bible Translator) missionaries Ed and Wilma Rupprecht and long term volunteer missionary Ron Lange were hit head-on by a car passing a truck on a curve. God used seat belts, air bags and a heavy duty car to save their lives. The four Anglican pastors in the passing car were killed. Wilma was driving and has sprained ankles, lots of bruises and pain that the Lord has provided medicine to help deaden. Ed has a couple of broken ribs the x-rays do not show but he feels them. Ron can lie down but moves very slow up and down. We have fixed up an infirmary here on the compound. We are taking shifts caring for them. We ask for your prayers for healing, strength and comfort for the surviving families of the men in the other car and wisdom to deal with authorities in Nigeria. Yvonne Greunke - We join with Rev. Martin and Yvonne Greunke at the completion of Yvonne's chemotherapy treatments. She shares the following update and prayer request with us. Praise the Lord for seeing me through all this with as little adverse effects as possible. Thanks for all the prayers that have sustained me all this time. Of course I am not done with treatments, as I will be starting radiation soon. I will receive treatments every day for six weeks once they start. Thanks again for keeping me going with all the prayers, cards, calls, and concern expressed throughout these past four months of treatment. Keep them coming as they are so appreciated. Thanks, Yvonne Greunke Family of Selma Malotky - Please remember in prayer the family of Mrs. Selma Malotky, widow of Pastor Harold Malotky, of Utica. Selma was called to the Lord's side Sunday, August 7. The funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul, Utica. We pray that the Lord will grant comfort and strength to the family at this time of earthly loss and hope in His promise of an eternal reunion at Jesus' side. The complete obituary is available at [12]http://www.ndlcms.org/news/obituaries/index.html for those who did not receive it. [13]Back to top THANK YOUS As many of you may know, this year marks the 25^th year of ordination for President Sommerfeld and the 45^th year of ordination for Rev. Dr. Marvin Bergman, Nebraska District Lay Leadership Program Coordinator. These anniversaries were observed with letters from co-workers and congregations across Synod, as well as an evening with friends, family, and members of the District staff and Board of Directors. Following are words of appreciation for all that was done to make this observance special. "Thanks be to God! I am thanking God for the many letters, cards and thoughtful notes I received from congregations, individuals, pastors, teachers, principals, DCEs, music directors and others throughout Nebraska in observance of my 25^th anniversary of ordination. It was humbling to be blessed in this way. The evening of memories, laughter, kind words, and songs of praise by the Sudanese singers hosted by the Nebraska District Staff and Board of Directors was most appreciated, as was the original pectoral medallion cross created by Concordia University Art Professor Ken Schmidt." - President Russ Sommerfeld Rev. Bergman also expressed thanks and gratitude for the kind words and thoughts shared with him by many he has worked side-by-side with during his 45 years of ministry. [14]Back to top OMAHA AREA CLERGY INVITED TO MEET WITH MAYOR Omaha's mayor, Mike Fahey, invites area clergy to an open house at his office in downtown Omaha on Sept 1, from 3-4:30 p.m. Please respond to Bill Moorhead at [15]pastormoorhead@pacifichills-lcms.org if you are interested in going or for more information. [16]Back to top OMAHA PRESCHOOL LOOKING FOR TEACHERS Divine Shepherd, Omaha (Little Lamb Preschool), is still in need of a teacher for their Tuesday-Thursday 3-year-old classes all day; a teaching assistant for their 3-year-old class Monday-Wednesday afternoons; and a director for the preschool. Please pray that these positions be filled with loving, competent individuals willing to share their faith with children. Contact Divine Shepherd at 402-895-1500 if you are interested in the positions or need more information. [17]Back to top EQUIPPING TO SHARE WORKSHOPS ACROSS THE DISTRICT The mission is God's, the message is God's, the power is God's; but the privilege is yours. How can you encourage a friend to learn more about Jesus? Discover how God prepares you for His mission at one of the Equipping to Share Workshops being held across the Nebraska District. This interactive training from Lutheran Hour Ministries helps believers with the privilege of sharing the truth and love of Christ in everyday situations. Contact the host congregation for more information, registration fee amounts, and to register before the day of the workshop. Saturday, September 17, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Centennial, Superior. 402-879-3137 Sunday, September 18, from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. at Zion, Grant. 308-352-4107. The $10.00 registration fee covers the workshop and the meal following the session. Saturday, October 8, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Holy Savior, Lincoln. 402-434-3325. Lunch will be served. Sunday, October 9, from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. at Trinity, Arapahoe. 308-962-7666 [18]Back to top FAMILY LIFE MARRIAGE SEMINAR The Nebraska Family Council is hosting a family life marriage seminar for couples on October 21-22 at The Villager, 52^nd and "O" St. in Lincoln. Couples are invited to spend Friday evening and Saturday "discovering the biblical blueprints for a lasting marriage." The seminar will offer couples a chance to enjoy outstanding speakers, learn from practical projects together, and spend lots of uninterrupted time talking and falling in love all over again! This romantic and refreshing weekend is designed to help participants receive their mate as a gift, resolve conflicts in their relationships, express forgiveness to one another, and maintain a vital physical relationship. The registration fee per couple is $78 before August 30 and $98 after that date. A discounted room rate at the Villager of $65 is available until October 7. For more information, contact Nebraska Family Council at 888-777-5188, or [19]www.Nebraskafamilycouncil.org. [20]Back to top MISSION FEST AT MISSION CENTRAL A mission celebration is being held at Mission Central, Gary Thies' headquarters, on August 21, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Mission Central is located about three miles east of Mapleton, IA, on County Hwy E-16. A number of missionaries will be present, as this will be a concluding part of Brent Friedrich's wedding celebration. Brent serves in Nigeria, Africa, and has invited many missionary friends to his wedding on August 20 in Charter Oak, Iowa. Pastor Ken Grienke, who was head of LCMS African Missions, will be the preacher for the 11:00 a.m. mission service on Sunday. A noon meal will offer everyone a chance for fellowship and conversations with the various missionaries. The meal, pork loin sandwiches, will be complemented by potluck salads or desserts brought by attendees, like the old fashioned mission festivals of years ago. The afternoon will offer people the chance to hear some of the other missionary stories and an opportunity to visit with them. They are setting up for 400+ people for the service and meal but can handle many more for the afternoon. Come early, stay late and pray for God's blessings upon His day at Mission Central. [21]Back to top LIVING FOR TOMORROW IS COMING TO NEBRASKA The Nebraska Lutheran Laymen's League, Lutheran Hour Ministries, and the Nebraska District are partnering together with 24 churches in the District to bring this outreach effort to the people of Nebraska. There is still time for your congregation to join them in reaching out with the Good News of Jesus to those in the community who are searching for answers. Through television, radio, print, and other media, Living for Tomorrow (LfT) will help connect people with Lutheran congregations in their communities. There is still time for congregations to join in this effort, which will take place in early November. Congregations interested in being involved are encouraged to contact Rev. Rich Boring at the District Office, [22]richb@ndlcms.org or 888-643-2961, as soon as possible. [23]Back to top HEARTLAND CONFERENCE FOR RURAL MINISTRY Representatives from seven districts gathered July 8 and 9 at the new leadership training center on the campus of Saint Paul Lutheran High School, Concordia, Missouri. Identified as the Heartland Conference, the meeting's purpose was threefold: * Critique and prioritize the four leadership modules under development through SPIFE designed specifically for rural/small town congregations; * Examine the role Saint Paul Institute for Education (SPIFE) can play in working regionally, across districts lines, to partner in serving rural/small town congregations throughout the heartland of America; and, * Formulate a next step for partnership implementation in each district. Number one on the priority list is "Culture - WE CAN: Pastor and People Planning Big in Rural America." This module is scheduled to be ready to implement throughout the heartland by September 1. Watch this publication and the District website for more information as this becomes available for congregations in rural/small town ministry. To stay abreast of leadership module development and scheduling, you may also go to [24]www.spife.org. [25]Back to top NATIONAL BIOETHICS CONFERENCE PLANNED A nationwide bioethics conference for pastors, health professionals and laypersons on making Christian ethical decisions is set for Nov. 11 in St. Louis, Mo. "The Image of God: Its Meaning and Implications" will be the first such conference co-sponsored by three organizations of the LCMS: LCMS World Relief and Human Care; Concordia Bioethics Institute at Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon; and Lutherans For Life (LFL). "Every day, the news is saturated with cutting-edge technology in the healthcare field. Some of this technology can be used for wonderful things, and some of this technology can be used for incredibly evil outcomes," said Maggie Karner, director of Life Ministries with LCMS World Relief and Human Care. "As Christians, we need to know the facts about what's in the news and what's on the horizon so we can be witnesses of light and hope in this darkened culture." Topics include: "Arguing About Embryos," "The Sanctity of Life in the Biotech Industry" and "Bioethics: Creating a Caste of Disposable People." The one-day bioethics conference will precede the LFL annual national conference, which continues Nov. 12-13^ at the same location. Conference registration fee is $50. Reduced hotel reservations are available at the conference hotel. For more information, contact: LFL at 888-364-LIFE or contact [26]mskarner@juno.com or visit [27]http://worldrelief.lcms.org or [28]http://www.lutheransforlife.org. [29]Back to top 2005 WHEAT RIDGE CHRISTMAS SEALS AVAILABLE Wheat Ridge Ministries is pleased to announce the availability of its 2005 Special Anniversary Edition Christmas Seals. For the third straight Advent and Christmas seasons, Wheat Ridge is issuing special commemorative Seals sheets with re-creations of some of our "favorites" from the past 100 years. The brightly colored, self-adhesive Seals are a wonderful way to witness faith and hope in the Lord when affixed to Christmas greetings. You may [30]click here to download the Christmas Seals promotional slick. The support from Christmas Seals helps Wheat Ridge continue to seed new ministries of health and hope around the world. When Christmas Seals packets are distributed to congregation, organization or school families, it helps them reach out in the name of Jesus Christ to a hurting world. Donations through Christmas Seals have helped Wheat Ridge provide start-up funding for hundreds of ministries, touching the lives of children and adults around the world. It's a joy-filled way to celebrate the birth of our Savior and make a lasting difference in the lives of God's people. Christmas Seals are distributed free to congregations, organizations and schools for families and individuals. To place an order for your congregation or school, please contact the Wheat Ridge office at 800-762-6748 or order on-line at [31]www.wheatridge.org. [32]Back to top Again, thank you to everyone who attended Prairie Fire in Seward on Saturday. We pray you were blessed by the time you spent gathered together with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you also to all who shared information for this week's Update. Your continued input helps make this e-newsletter a useful ministry resource for many across the District. To share news or information from your congregation or school, send items to [33]communications@ndlcms.org. On a personal note, as my maternity leave continues to draw closer (four weeks or less now!) I will continue to fill the Update with information I have received. Some of it may seem a bit early, as we have news on events taking place into October and November already. However, the Update will most likely be sporadic during my absence and I would like to be sure this information gets into your inboxes. If you need to refer to past issues of the Email Update at any time, visit the archives page from our website at [34]http://www.ndlcms.org/news/communications/update.html. Blessings, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications and Events 1-888-643-2961 [35]nicholeh@ndlcms.org [36]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. References 1. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#prayer 2. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#thank 3. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#mayor 4. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#preschool 5. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#ets 6. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#marriage 7. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#mission 8. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#lft 9. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#rural 10. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#bioethics 11. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#seals 12. http://www.ndlcms.org/news/obituaries/index.html 13. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 14. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 15. mailto:pastormoorhead@pacifichills-lcms.org 16. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 17. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 18. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 19. http://www.Nebraskafamilycouncil.org/ 20. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 21. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 22. mailto:richb@ndlcms.org 23. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 24. http://www.spife.org/ 25. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 26. mailto:mskarner@juno.com 27. http://worldrelief.lcms.org/ 28. http://www.lutheransforlife.org/ 29. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 30. http://www.wheatridge.org/Resources/Christmas_Seals/Seals_Slick_2005.pdf 31. http://www.wheatridge.org/ 32. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20050810/d1d85084/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 33. mailto:communications@ndlcms.org 34. http://www.ndlcms.org/news/communications/update.html 35. mailto:nicholeh@ndlcms.org 36. http://www.ndlcms.org/