Update for November 5 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! Greetings in the name of our Heavenly Father, who is faithful and gives all of His children His unfailing promises. I'm not going to dwell on the presidential campaign today because, frankly, most people have had enough of the attack ads, negative comments, and mud slinging between candidates, from president down to local school board. Instead, I always find the day after the "big election" an interesting day. The votes have been cast, and now everyone is left with the decisions that were made. Whether you agree with the decisions or not, there is no more arguing or promise-making that can change the outcome. Ideally, today would begin a time for reconciliation and peace-making, when Americans put aside party affiliations and make "being an American" more important. While the comparison falls short in so many ways, this day reminds me in some ways of Easter. The decision God made in the Garden of Eden to save fallen mankind through a Savior was completed on Easter morning. There is no arguing or promise-making that can take the free gift of salvation away from anyone. As chosen and saved children of God, today would be a great time to begin working towards reconciliation and peace-making among ourselves. God calls us to be one church under him, "keep[ing] the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." (Eph. 4:3) Maybe the new-found peace on the television and over the radio waves today will remind us of the gift of peace God gives His church through His son, Jesus Christ. § [1]Prayer Requests § [2]Nebraska District Youth Gathering Registration Still Open § [3]Nebraska District Youth Confirmation Survey § [4]Nebraska District Gift Planning Counselor Receives Leadership Award § [5]2009 Grace Place Retreat Dates § [6]Prepare/Enrich Workshop Offered in Lincoln § [7]Upcoming Events at Mission Central § [8]Lincoln Community Lutheran Choir Fall Concert § [9]Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study to Meet § [10]Make Plans for the 2009 Nebraska Lutheran Laymen's League Convention § [11]Children's Book Gift Set from CPH PRAYER REQUESTS Rev. Ed Cook - Please remember in prayer Rev. Ed Cook of Lexington who fell and broke his pelvis last week. He is currently hospitalized in Lexington. Pastor Cook is a retired pastor who served vacancies in the District until recently. The Family of Rev. Melvin Tassler - We lift up in prayer the family of Rev. Melvin Tassler, who was called to his eternal rest last Thursday, October 30. Pastor Tassler was pastor emeritus of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lincoln (English District), and also served a number of vacant congregations of the Nebraska District during his years of ministry. Letters of condolence may be written to: Mrs. Melvin Tassler, c/o Mr. and Mrs. H. Joe Weyand, 2731 Dorothy Drive, Lincoln, NE 68507. [12]Back to top NEBRASKA DISTRICT YOUTH GATHERING REGISTRATION STILL OPEN Do you still have youth that wish to attend the Nebraska District Youth Gathering in Omaha on November 21-23? Registrations remain open until Wednesday, November 12. Please visit our website at [13]www.neyouth.org or contact Kathy Melton at 888-643-2961 or [14]kathym@ndlcms.org for more information. [15]Back to top NEBRASKA DISTRICT YOUTH CONFIRMATION SURVEY Pastors or other confirmation leaders are encouraged to take one minute to complete a short, optional online survey to help the Youth Confirmation Ministry Action Team of the Nebraska District determine the level of interest in various confirmation ministry workshops they are considering holding. Visit [16]http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228FMV8AADW to complete the survey. Please take time to share your opinions between now and midnight next Tuesday, November 11. [17]Back to top NEBRASKA DISTRICT GIFT PLANNING COUNSELOR RECEIVES LEADERSHIP AWARD At an awards celebration in October attended by other district gift planners and LCMS Foundation staff, Nebraska District gift planning counselor Neal Koch was recognized for his accomplishments in gift planning and received the leadership award for gift annuities. Neal has served the Nebraska District for almost fifteen years, linking Christians with giving opportunities in their local congregations, in the district, and worldwide. Neal is available to work with individuals, families, and congregations in Nebraska by contacting him at 888-643-2961 or [18]nealk@ndlcms.org. [19]Back to top 2009 GRACE PLACE RETREAT DATES Grace Place Lutheran Retreats is a recognized service organization of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. The goal of Grace Place Lutheran Retreats is to offer preventative wellness skills, attitudes, and resources to professional church workers and their spouses, so they can experience and live the abundant lives to which Jesus called them. The retreat dates for 2009 have been set: Educators/Ministers of Music and spouses - July 6-10 in Aspen, Colorado: Cost $345 Pastors and spouses - July 13-17 in Aspen, Colorado: Cost $345 Educators/Ministers of Music and spouses - July 20-24 in Trego, Wisconsin: Cost $345 (Thrivent members pay only $150) Pastors/Educators and spouses - July 27-31 in Trego, Wisconsin: Cost $345 (Thrivent members pay only $150) Single Pastors - September 2-6 in Snowmass, Colorado: Cost $345 Additional information is available at [20]www.graceplaceretreats.org or by contacting Rev. Mark Rockenbach at the Nebraska District Office at [21]markr@ndlcms.org or 888-643-2961. [22]Back to top PREPARE/ENRICH WORKSHOP OFFERED IN LINCOLN Rev. Kevin Kohnke, director of family life at Concordia University, Nebraska, will be offering a Prepare/Enrich training course on Saturday, January 17, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Lincoln campus of Concordia University, Nebraska (570 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 203, find a map at [23]http://www.cune.edu/about/473/). The deadline for registering is December 29 and the registration fee is $175. To find out more about what Prepare/Enrich is, visit [24]http://www.prepare-enrich.com/about_us.cfm?id=33 Additional details and the registration form can be obtained from the following site: [25]http://www.prepare-enrich.com/workshop_schedule.cfm?state=NE Questions can be directed to: [26]Kevin.Kohnke@cune.edu [27]Back to top UPCOMING EVENTS AT MISSION CENTRAL Following is a list of upcoming speakers at Mission Central near Mapleton, Iowa. Visit the Mission Central website for more information at [28]www.missioncentral.us. November 12, 2008 - Carol Halter, one of the most amazing missionaries for LCMS World Mission, has spent over 20 years in Hong Kong and China doing work with the poorest of the poor. Hear her story at 7:00 p.m. November 14, 2008 - Rev. David and Rachel Baker and family will speak on their work in Kazakhstan at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. December 3, 2008 - Rev. Carlos Winterle and his wife Lidia tell of God's calling of people by the thousands in Kenya, East Africa at I:00 p.m. and 7 p.m. December 16, 2008 - Dr. Steve and Julie Lutz of Papua New Guinea serve in the remote jungle area as medical missionaries. The video, photos, and artifacts from this part of the world are BREATHTAKING. Presentations at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. January 14, 2009 - Missionaries Mike and Ann Wade work among the Dungan people high in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan as agricultural missionaries. Their story is amazing. Hear it at 7:00 p.m. [29]Back to top LINCOLN COMMUNITY LUTHERAN CHOIR FALL CONCERT The Lincoln Community Lutheran Choir will present their fall concert at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, at Grace Lutheran Church, 2225 Washington Street in Lincoln. The concert, under the theme "Praise and Thanksgiving," will feature the music of Mendelssohn, Franck, Copland and Shaw. Audience participation will include hymn singing. A reception will follow. [30]Back to top NEBRASKA LUTHERANS FOR CONFESSIONAL STUDY TO MEET The November gathering of the Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study will be held on Thursday, November 13, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 3825 Wildbriar Lane in Lincoln. Refreshments will be in the fellowship hall at 9:30 a.m., followed by Matins at 10 a.m. Presenter for the morning session, starting at about 10:30, will be Rev. Brent Kuhlman, pastor of Trinity, Murdock. His topic will be Luther's "Bondage of the Will," beginning with Luther's concluding remarks (LW 33:246-295). Following lunch, Rev. Paul Egger, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Galva, Iowa, will lead the afternoon topic. His topic, starting at about 1 p.m., will be "The Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope." Meeting will conclude by 2:30 p.m. Everyone is invited, both clergy and laity. A free-will offering will be taken to help defray expenses. [31]Back to top MAKE PLANS FOR THE 2009 NEBRASKA LUTHERAN LAYMEN'S LEAGUE CONVENTION Members and friends of the Lutheran Laymen's League are encouraged to start making plans to attend the 2009 Nebraska District LLL Convention in Sidney, Nebraska, on March 27-29. The planning committee is hard at work and invites everyone to join them at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Sidney for terrific opportunities for fellowship and ministry. Lutheran Hour Speaker Rev. Ken Klaus will be the featured speaker throughout the Convention. International LLL president Mick Onnen of Davenport, Nebraska, will also be there to share information about Lutheran Hour Ministries. Watch for more information in the months ahead on this encouraging and uplifting opportunity, and mark your calendar for the LLL Convention March 27-28 in Sidney. [32]Back to top CHILDREN'S BOOK GIFT SET FROM CPH Concordia Publishing House is offering a first-ever gift set that includes five of its seasonal children's books for Thanksgiving and Christmas. A $40 value, the set is priced at $9.99 plus shipping. The gift set includes: Merry Christmas (board book); Thanksgiving: A Harvest Celebration (paperback); The Christmas Story According to Luke (paperback); Oh, Come, Little Children (hardback); and The Town That Forgot about Christmas (hardback). Offer valid while quantities last. Order online at [33]www.cph.org/special, or call 1.800.325.3040. [34]Back to top Blessings, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications 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/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#prayer 2. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#gathering 3. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#confirmation 4. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#gift 5. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#grace 6. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#prepare 7. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#mission 8. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#choir 9. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#nlcs 10. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#lll 11. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#cph 12. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 13. http://www.neyouth.org/ 14. mailto:kathym@ndlcms.org 15. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 16. http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228FMV8AADW 17. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 18. mailto:nealk@ndlcms.org 19. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 20. http://www.graceplaceretreats.org/ 21. mailto:markr@ndlcms.org 22. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 23. http://www.cune.edu/about/473/ 24. http://www.prepare-enrich.com/about_us.cfm?id=33 25. http://www.prepare-enrich.com/workshop_schedule.cfm?state=NE 26. mailto:Kevin.Kohnke@cune.edu 27. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 28. http://www.missioncentral.us/ 29. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 30. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 31. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 32. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 33. http://www.cph.org/special 34. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20081105/c7f22411/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 35. mailto:nicholeh@ndlcms.org 36. http://www.ndlcms.org/