Update for October 22 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! Greetings in the name of our Heavenly Father, who loves us and promises to provide for us. Just watching the nightly news can be enough to cause us to worry. Along with the other headlines, we hear constant discussions about the upcoming elections and the uncertainty of the economy. It's easy to forget Jesus' words, "And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." (Luke 12:29-31) One of the Bible stories in the book I read with my three-year-old before bed has a paraphrase of this portion of Jesus' teaching, with an emphasis on how much God loves us and how he promises to give us what we need. At a time when there seems to be more things to worry about than hours in the day to worry about them, what reassurance it is to be reminded that our loving Heavenly Father has already "given us the kingdom" and the worries of this life are not to be our worries. His love for us is so great that not only does He provide for our physical needs, but He has already sent His Son Jesus to provide us with the gift of eternal life. In this time of uncertainty, it is not appropriate to bury our heads in the sand and ignore those things we are called to attend to. However, as we make the decisions God places before us, let us remember Jesus' direction to "provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:33-34) § [1]Prayer Requests § [2]Church/School Secretary Workshop Registration Deadline This Week § [3]Nebraska Pastors and Grace Place Retreats Featured in Lutheran Witness § [4]Lutheran World Relief Ingathering Sites Announced § [5]Extra Percussion Instruments Available § [6]Fan into Flame Congregational Update § [7]LCMS Mercy Medical Team to Sumatra Looking for Volunteers § [8]Congregation Anniversary Update § [9]LHM's Advent Devotions Available Online § [10]November is National Hospice Month § [11]Take a Look at Concordia Publishing House's 2009 VBS Materials § [12]An Opportunity to Have a "Taste of the Sem" § [13]New Testament Greek Class to be Offered in Lincoln PRAYER REQUESTS Family of Henry Visser - Please remember in prayer the family of Henry Visser, member and trained lay leader at Christ, Cairo. Henry was called to the Lord's side suddenly on Monday, October 20. He served the congregation of Christ, Cairo, in a number of ways, and was known by many in the Nebraska District through his participation in the district's Lay Leadership Training Program. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 23, at Christ, Cairo. Preston Charles Rodencal - We join in prayers of thanksgiving with Pastor Charles and Brenda Schmidt of Grace, Fairbury, and Pastor Larry and Sandra Rodencal of Peace, Cincinnati, (former pastor of St. John, McCook) for the gift of a new grandson born on October 4. We thank God for the new gift of life He has given this family and we look forward to welcoming Preston into God's family through the waters of Holy Baptism. Rev. Thomas Schmitt - We lift up in prayer Rev. Thomas Schmitt and his family at the death of his father, Paul Schmitt. We ask the Lord to grant this family a special measure of His comfort and peace at this time, as well as reassurance in the promise of an eternal reunion in Heaven. [14]Back to top CHURCH/SCHOOL SECRETARY WORKSHOP REGISTRATION DEADLINE THIS WEEK Attention all church office staff!!! The deadline for registering for the Nebraska District Church and School Secretary Workshop is this Friday, October 24. The workshop, held at Concordia University, Seward, on November 11, will offer practical tips for designing newsletters, address setting and maintaining godly boundaries, and provide lots of time for networking with other church office staff. More information and registration forms may be found on the District website at [15]http://www.ndlcms.org/news/conferences/secretary.html. [16]Back to top NEBRASKA PASTORS AND GRACE PLACE RETREATS FEATURED IN LUTHERAN WITNESS The October 2008 issue of The Lutheran Witness featured an article on Grace Place Retreats, and featured the retreat offered especially to pastors from the Nebraska District and their spouses. The article share the idea behind what founder Dr. John Eckrich calls "one of the Synod's most misunderstood ministries - and most urgently needed." The article goes on to tell how "working with pastoral-care professionals and Lutheran leaders, Eckrich developed his vision for a continuing-education ministry to offer a `pause point' or `minisabbatical' for church workers and their spouses - an opportunity to recharge spiritually, physically, and emotionally." To read the entire article online, visit The Lutheran Witness webpage at [17]http://www.lcms.org/pages/wPage.asp?ContentID=396&IssueID=26. [18]Back to top LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF INGATHERING SITES ANNOUNCED The dates for this year's Lutheran World Relief Ingathering are November 3-7. Cities with ingathering sites are Beatrice, Lincoln, North Platte, Omaha, Scottsbluff, and Sidney. These gathering sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Goods packed for LWR should be sorted and labeled according to kind, packed in strong cartons secured with packing tape, and addressed for Lutheran World Relief. Boxes should not exceed 40 pounds and should be marked with the name and address of the sending church. For locations and information on what to donate, check the District website at [19]http://www.ndlcms.org/news/temp/lwr.html, call Dave Roseland at 1-800-456-1092, Betsy Buschkemper at 402-292-6665, or Mary Stoetzel at 308-534-9327. [20]Back to top EXTRA PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS AVAILABLE Attention Music Directors: Just in time for Christmas and Easter services.... Four octave celesta and several sets of Ludwig timpani for sale. Contact: [21]jimkrutz@gmail.com for more information. Also, professional percussion instrument repair and maintenance services available. [22]Back to top FAN INTO FLAME CONGREGATIONAL UPDATE There are some incredible stories of what the Holy Spirit has already accomplished in Nebraska congregations where pastors and people have prayed and participated in Fan into Flame. God can do great things anywhere and in every congregation through this mission effort. Fan into Flame is an opportunity for your congregation to witness once again the power of the Spirit in the lives of God's people. Following is an example, written by the pastor and leadership, of how one congregation in the Nebraska District implemented Fan into Flame. Full congregational summaries are available on the District website at [23]http://www.ndlcms.org/news/FIF/summaries.html. St. John, Tecumseh - The Fan into Flame appeal has been a tremendous blessing to our congregation. The key to our congregation's ready acceptance and mission zeal for this appeal was the Holy Spirit working through the startling fact that every minute 83 people die in the world not knowing Jesus Christ. This message cut to the heart of our congregation and provided them with a sense of urgency found in the heart of Jesus who came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). Throughout the appeal, Pastor Diener used various means to highlight the value of "every minute" in sermons and other communications. One week after the first congregational mailing was sent, the Church Council met to hear more about the appeal from Pastor Diener and were challenged to give their early gift commitment. This meeting resulted in eight leaders and their pastor giving early gifts of $17,000, eclipsing the entire congregation's goal. The Holy Spirit set the hearts of our leaders Ablaze!, and this passion set the tone for our entire appeal. The Fan into Flame appeal kickoff was a Friendship Sunday and picnic. Our members, along with many personally invited, currently unchurched visitors, heard of the friendship we share in Christ Jesus and the mission appeal that day. The following week was Testimonial Sunday, where our leaders who gave early gifts shared their faith, their commitment, and the sense of urgency to make a difference through gifts that will provide international, national, district, and local opportunities to share the Good News. These testimonials helped bring this appeal to a personal level for our members. Our monthly newsletter, weekly bulletin, and information table overflowed with information about the Fan into Flame appeal. Every worship service during the appeal had a Fan into Flame "minute" following the sermon to show the Fan into Flame video clips, make the campaign announcement provided in the information packet, and provide appeal details. Our appeal also featured a Mission Festival prior to the cottage meetings. Our cottage meetings were meetings held for a specific portion of the congregation for 30 minutes immediately following the worship services. These meetings were led by Pastor Diener, who answered questions and provided encouragement not to miss the wonderful opportunity our Synod was giving every member to be involved in the mission of the Church. Despite the thought that $15,000 may be too aggressive a goal, the power of the Holy Spirit worked in the hearts of our people to provide a generous response of $56,270 (375% of our goal), with $23,360 sent through initial gifts. During the cottage meetings, I shared one of the greatest disasters in history which took place in 1271. Nichelo and Matteo Polo (the father and uncle of Marco Polo) were visiting Kubla Kahn, ruler of all of China, all of India, and all of the East. He was attracted to the story of Christianity as Nichelo and Matteo told it to him. And Kubla Khan said to them, "You shall go to your high priest and tell him on my behalf to send me 100 men skilled in your religion and I shall be baptized, and when I am baptized all my barons and great men will be baptized and their subjects will receive baptism too, and so there will be more Christians here than there is in any part of the world." So Nichelo and Matteo went to the Pope in the Vatican, but he responded that "those barbarians don't deserve the Gospel." Nothing was done for 30 years, and then only 2 or 3 were sent. As a result of this delay, Buddhist monks, who were pleased to come, converted the largest empire history has ever known - from China to the Middle East and Europe - to Buddhism. The world is ripe for a harvest now but the laborers are few. We can do something about that - and not miss this opportunity. Fan into Flame gives us the opportunity to directly support mission work all around the world, including our own community. May God bless your congregation's prayerful consideration to participate in this life-changing and life-giving mission opportunity. Your congregation will surprise and delight you with their support - not because of your efforts - but because the Holy Spirit will bless it beyond even your highest expectations. If you want to know the difference the Spirit makes, speak to the people of St. John's, Tecumseh, and they will share with you the joy of responding to the challenge of the Fan into Flame appeal. Every congregation of the Nebraska District is encouraged to prayerfully consider how they can be involved in Fan into Flame. It doesn't take much to participate - just a dedicated core of lay people, a mission-minded pastor, and the materials provided by Fan into Flame. Once the opportunity to be personally involved in mission work is shared with the members of your congregation, the Spirit can move hearts to respond. For more information on how to get started, or to report how your congregation plans to be involved, contact Andrea Essling at the Nebraska District Office, [24]Andrea.Essling@ndlcms.org or 888-643-2961. [25]Back to top LCMS MERCY MEDICAL TEAM TO SUMATRA LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS LCMS World Relief and Human Care seek a variety of medical specialties and hard-working laity as members of its first "Mercy Medical Team" for Sumatra, Indonesia, February 14-25, 2009 (with an evening of team building in Atlanta on February 14). Clinics for care of the extremely under-served poor on the island of Sumatra will be set up near the World Relief and Human Care office in Ache and the surrounding area of the northern part of the island. Before returning home, there will be a day of rest and sightseeing on this beautiful tropical island. Volunteers cover the cost of the trip which includes airfare from the chosen departure airport, and a flat fee for ground transportation, lodging, and medical supplies for the needy (total estimated to be around $3000). Write for more details to Maggie Karner at [26]Maggie.karner@lcms.org or call her at 800-248-1930, ext. 1371 with any questions. Also see [27]www.lcms.org/mercyteams for more information. [28]Back to top CONGREGATION ANNIVERSARY UPDATE Trinity, Schuyler, shared the following updated information on their anniversary celebration: Trinity, Schuyler, will celebrate its 75^th Anniversary on November 9. President Russ Sommerfeld will be the guest preacher at a 10:00 am service, followed by brunch. Everyone is invited to join them. [29]Back to top LHM'S ADVENT DEVOTIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE (from [30]LHM Ministry Update, October 2008) Once again this year, two Advent devotions will be offered online from Lutheran Hour Ministries at [31]www.adventdevotions.net. Come to the Manger continues our traditional approach to the Christmas devotions, but with a twist. Written by ministerial students from the 2008 graduating class of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, these meditations share insights as seen from a first-call pastor's perspective. In devotions of varied topics, Come to the Manger considers the significance of the Christmas story from different angles. Whether it's God fulfilling promises to Abraham centuries ago or the prayers of a grandmother recovering from cancer a few years ago, the bold truth of "Emmanuel-God with us" is at the heart of each pastor's text. With Christmas Conversations, Pastor Ryan Peterson of St. John Lutheran Church in Ellisville, Missouri, invites the reader to a give-and-take exchange apart from the holiday bustle. Slowly, deliberately - he unwraps the universal meaning of the holiday season like the amazing gift it is. Written for those who are unchurched or peripheral to the life of the church, it guides the reader along, inviting him or her to join in the conversation. The Christmas story is a miracle story, and Peterson knows miracles for modern man are hard to believe. God - appearing in the person of Jesus Christ? A child - born of a virgin? Salvation - a free gift to all? These are not easily received by a 21st-century mind. Peterson walks alongside his reader in these messages, encouraging him and her, mindful that patience is crucial when having a Christmas conversation. Both Come to the Manger and Christmas Conversations will be offered as customizable PDFs in English and Spanish. Audio will be available for Come to the Manger in both languages, as well as the option to subscribe to podcasts for automatic downloading to your computer or MP3 player. Promotional pieces available this year include bulletin shells, PowerPoint slide templates, web banner ads, and cover art for creating your own promotional pieces. For more information or to download these resources, visit [32]www.adventdevotions.net. [33]Back to top NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL HOSPICE MONTH Church office staff, you are invited and encouraged to include the following announcement in your November newsletter or in one or more November bulletins. November is National Hospice Month, a time to raise awareness of a comforting care serving approximately 6,000 terminally ill Nebraskans each year. Providing more than traditional healthcare, hospice furnishes an interdisciplinary team of a doctor, nurse, social worker, chaplain, various therapists, and volunteers. The hospice team provides pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families when a cure is not possible. Faith communities have the power to support people of all ages with end-of-life issues such as advance care planning, serious illness, caregiving, and grief: · Encourage friends and family members to talk with their physician about hospice · Visit someone who is sick or in the dying process · Volunteer with a local hospice · Support someone in the grieving process · Have a conversation with your family about your end-of-life wishes and sign an advance directive Find additional information and locate a hospice in your area at [34]www.nehospice.org. [35]Back to top TAKE A LOOK AT CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE'S 2009 VBS MATERIALS "If an LCMS congregation is sponsoring a VBS program in the summer of 2009, we want it to be a CPH VBS," says Gretchen Jameson, Manager for Public Relations and Corporate Communications at Concordia Publishing House. Jameson shares that this is "a bold invitation," adding, "We know some use programs offered by other Christian publishers. We want every LCMS congregation to give CPH a fresh look in 2009; they won't be disappointed." Concordia Publishing House is the publisher of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. The 2009 VBS program includes, "new music, a focus on living out faith, and options for both large and small VBS programs." The 2009 program, Gadget's Garage website is now online at [36]www.cph.org/vbs. The site includes a wealth of new features designed to assist those planning to host VBS programs in the summer of 2009. "We've really expanded our website," says Vacation Bible School Marketing Manager Terri Simon. "VBS directors can find the basics about the program and easily place orders. They can also download media, preview music, participate in community, and starting this winter, create a congregational VBS webpage using our site." Beefing up the content and improving the features of the VBS website is "a great way to get volunteers, parents, and students involved and excited long before VBS begins." Website features include: § o Blogs, forums, and even a Facebook connection for discussion, and posting photos (January, 2009). § o A "Leader Toolbox" with tips for large and small VBS programs, FAQs on the benefits of site rotation (a style of VBS programming), and new and improved recruitment kit ideas. § o The Nuts & Bolts of Gadget's Garage, which offers an overview of the program and details about the all new CPH Starter Kits and the featured 2009 VBS mission project. Vacation Bible School Editor Cindy Wheeler shares, "At Gadget's Garage VBS, kids learn about Jesus, their Savior, and respond by putting their faith in motion, using their hands, minds, ears, eyes, and hearts to serve Jesus and live as His people." The website "helps customers better connect with the important message that CPH VBS is all about Jesus, every day in every way." Two Starter Kits are available for the 2009 VBS. The traditional Starter Kit includes all leader resources--CDs, guides, and Skit DVD. The new Small VBS Starter Kit is ideal for Vacation Bible School programs with fewer than 50 students, fewer volunteers, or limited space. Now through December 31, 2008, Concordia Publishing House is offering free shipping on Starter Kit orders. Pre-order at [37]www.cph.org/vbs or call 1-800-325-3040 and mention code VSM. Kits will be shipped December 2008. [38]Back to top AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A "TASTE OF THE SEM" The seventh annual visitation event called "Taste of the Sem" will take place Jan. 17-19, 2009, on the campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. The event is designed to allow young men in high school the opportunity to experience Seminary life with the help of current Concordia Seminary students. With the theme, "Thy Strong Word," participants will spend the afternoon studying God's Word in its original languages and understand what it means to proclaim God's Word in its truth and purity. The event features Bible study, prayer and discussions concerning the Office of the Holy Ministry. Participants are matched with Seminary students and accompany these students to their resident field education congregations on Sunday morning and to classes and chapel service on Monday morning. High school participants also are given a tour of the campus and the opportunity for dinner and discussion with Seminary faculty members. "We want these young men to become informed and excited about what the future could hold for them at Concordia Seminary," commented Rev. Kyle Castens, director of ministerial recruitment at Concordia Seminary. "A `Taste of the Sem' is exactly what we want the participants to have, and we think this taste will develop an appetite for more." There is no registration fee. All meals and lodging will be provided free of charge. Transportation between the airport, train station, bus station and the Seminary campus also will be provided. Participants are responsible for their own transportation costs. For more information about "Taste of the Sem," contact the Admissions Office, Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105; 1-800-822-9545, [39]admissions@csl.edu, or visit the Seminary's website at [40]www.csl.edu. [41]Back to top NEW TESTAMENT GREEK CLASS TO BE OFFERED IN LINCOLN A beginning Greek grammar class will be starting in November at Good Shepherd, Lincoln, for anyone interested in studying the New Testament in the original Greek language. The class will meet Monday evenings from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Classes will begin on Monday, November 10. The only cost will be the purchase of a Greek grammar textbook. If you would like more information or would like to register for the class, contact Curtis Christiansen at 402-483-1238 or contact Jan in the church office at 402-423-7639. [42]Back to top Thank you to all the congregations and individuals who submitted information for this week's Update. Items to share are always welcome and may be emailed to [43]communications@ndlcms.org. We pray this e-newsletter may be a useful resource tool to you in your personal and congregational ministry. Please feel free to reproduce anything in this newsletter and pass this resource along to others you know who may also benefit from this information. Anyone is welcome to subscribe and may do so by emailing their email address to [44]communications@ndlcms.org and requesting to be added to the mailing list, or by visiting [45]http://www.ndlcms.org/news/communications. Blessings, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications 1-888-643-2961 [46]nicholeh@ndlcms.org [47]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. 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