Update for June 10 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! Greetings in the name of our Heavenly Father! What a blessing it was to gather with many of you last weekend on the campus of Concordia University in Seward for our District Convention. It was a wonderful time of renewing acquaintances, worshipping with fellow believers, and encouraging one another in the mission God has given us to tell others about the love of Jesus. The Convention theme, "Full of Grace - Seasoned with Salt" based on Col. 4:5-6, helped to focus all in attendance on the wonderful gift of grace we have through Jesus Christ, and the opportunities we have to engage the mission fields of Nebraska and share this Good News. Delegates were reminded how they can have conversations of grace in Jesus salted with His sound teaching. Today's Update will share an overview of the Convention, with more information available on the District website, [1]www.ndlcms.org, by the end of this week. Feel free to contact the District Office for more information. CONVENTION NEWS The Rev. Russ Sommerfeld, Seward, was elected to his third term as president of the Nebraska District of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod by the delegates attending the 16^th Nebraska District Convention June 4-6. Re-elected for a second term, moving from third to first vice president, representing Region C, was the Rev. Richard Snow, pastor of St. John, Battle Creek. Chosen as second vice president, representing Region A, was the Rev. Mark Middendorf, pastor of Zion, Scotia. Named third vice president, representing Region B, was the Rev. Arnold Jurchen, pastor of Holy Cross, Goehner. Re-elected for a second term, moving from second to fourth vice president, representing Region D, was the Rev. Orville Walz, a retired pastor living in Bennington. The Rev. Clint Poppe, who previously served as first vice president, declined nominations to serve another three-year term. Other officers elected included: Secretary: Rev. Roland Jank, Jr., of Mount Olive, Omaha. Teacher member, Board of Directors: Rhonda Burk of Lincoln. Lay members, Board of Directors: Region A, Glenn Van Velson of North Platte; Region B, David Knorr of Humboldt; Region C, Virginia Von Seggern of Orchard; and Region D, Harlan Metschke of Papillion. Lay members holding current terms on the Board of Directors are: Region A, Dr. Marvin Swan of Grant; Region B, Glennis Holtmeier of Tobias; Region C, Kent Warneke of Norfolk; and Region D, Kathy Brashear of Omaha. Completing terms on the Board of Directors are: Rev. Clint Poppe of Lincoln, Rev. Michael Gruhn of Lexington, Kevin Fry of Ewing, Christopher Martin of Omaha, and Stan Fehlhafer of Lincoln. Elections also took place for various district and synodical offices. Those elected to serve were: Nominations Committee: pastor members, Rev. Paul Beyer of Daykin, Rev. Loren Cooper of Hampton, and Rev. Charles Gierke of Omaha; teacher member, Linda Ahrens of Lincoln; and lay members, Steve Althouse of Waverly, ElRoy Bartels of Tobias and Burnell Von Seggern of Orchard. District Constitution Committee: pastor members, Rev. James Carretto of Wisner, and Rev. Jim Rasmussen of Omaha; teacher member, Wilbur Tewes of Bennet; and lay member, Richard Kreutzer of Kearney. Board of Regents for Concordia University Nebraska, Seward: pastor member Rev. Karl Ziegler of Bellevue; teacher member James Knoepfel of Fremont; and lay members Lyle Middendorf of Lincoln and Mike Klintworth of Seward. Lay member for Synodical Committee for Convention Nominations: Kermit Brashear of Omaha. The alternate lay member is Kevin Fry of Ewing. The delegates, under the convention theme of "Full of Grace - Seasoned with Salt," devoted considerable time to worship, study of the Word, education, and prayer. The convention was opened with a worship service and communion at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward with the Rev. Dr. Gerald Kieschnick, president of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, delivering the sermon. He shared with the delegates his conviction "that the message of hope we have in Christ Jesus our Lord is so critical for people of the world who otherwise would have no hope. In Jesus there is hope, there is life, and there is salvation." They studied the Word in two Bible class sessions led by Rev. Michael Awe of Tilden and Rev. Keith Grimm of La Vista. The Rev. Dr. Jacob A. O. Preus III, president of Concordia University Irvine in Irvine, Calif., led keynote presentations during the convention. He spoke on how believers in Jesus can take the solid Biblical teaching of salvation through Jesus Christ and make it relevant to the people of today's world. Rev. Dr. Gerald Kieschnick, president of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, spoke to the delegates during his time in Seward. He challenged the delegates to personally give witness about Jesus and the hope they have in Him. As part of his presentation, he spent time dealing with the decline of Christian beliefs, presence and influence in communities across the country. "How we respond will define The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod in the 21^st Century," Kieschnick said. "My prayer is that we will respond with hope." He also took time to address questions presented to him by delegates in attendance. The delegates took part in a dialog with Rev. Jon Braunersreuther, representative of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance. Members of this task force are attending conventions across the country to share proposed changes to the governing structure of the 2.4 million member church body, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Resolutions passed at this convention include realigning some of the congregations into new circuits, creating one additional circuit in the Lincoln area. The Nebraska District of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod has its headquarters in Seward, with over 111,000 baptized members in 247 congregations. Delegates who attended the convention should watch their email inboxes for the opportunity to complete a brief online evaluation of Convention. Additional thoughts and comments may be sent to [2]info@ndlcms.org. LFS ORPHAN PRAYER SERVICE/OPEN HOUSE AND DEDICATION Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (LFS) will be holding an Orphan Prayer Service at Ridge Cemetery, 1761 W. Linden Ave. in Fremont, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 16. The public is invited to attend with special encouragement for attendance by former orphans of the Lutheran Orphan Home, adoptive families, and anyone with a prior connection to the Lutheran Orphan Home. The prayer service will be led by Nebraska District LCMS President, Rev. Russ Sommerfeld. A luncheon will be held following the service at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Avenue. Attendees will be encouraged to share stories about the orphanage. Luncheon RSVPs should go to Melissa Price at (402) 978-5678 or [3]mprice@lfsneb.org. LCMS World Relief and Human Care and Trinity Lutheran Church of Fremont have provided funds to beautify the Orphan Ridge at the cemetery and repair the headstones. Founded in 1892, the Lutheran Orphan Home was one of two orphanages that eventually formed the agency now known as Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska. The LFS Fremont Area Building Families Boutique now exists on the original site of the orphanage, which is now the property of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. On June 16 LFS will also host a Fremont Area Building Families Boutique open house and dedication of the boutique store known as "Sara's Boutique." The event, open to the public, will be at the Boutique, 1420 E. Military Ave., from 4:30-6:30 p.m., with the program starting at 5:30. Activities will include the unveiling of the new donor recognition wall, refreshments, and performances by Zoe Children's Choir. Blessings, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications 1-888-643-2961 [4]nicholeh@ndlcms.org [5]www.ndlcms.org References 1. http://www.ndlcms.org/ 2. mailto:info@ndlcms.org 3. mailto:mprice@lfsneb.org 4. mailto:nicholeh@ndlcms.org 5. http://www.ndlcms.org/