Update for June 24 A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE! Summer greetings in the name of our heavenly Father. Summer officially started last Sunday, but with weather like we're having, we don't need a calendar to know summer is here! It's time for vacations, ball games, swimming, fishing, picnics, or whatever it is that keeps you and your family busy this time of year. I hope you are staying cool (or appreciating the heat) and enjoying the joys of summer with family and friends. § [1]Prayer Requests § [2]Youth Leadership Retreat to be Held in Grand Island § [3]Stories from Nebraska VBS § [4]Ordination Anniversary Celebration § [5]Office Space Available in Omaha § [6]Grace Place Retreats for Single Church Workers § [7]Updated Mission Central Speaking Schedule § [8]Lutheran Hour Ministries Selects New Executive Director § [9]LCMS Missionary Speaking Across Nebraska in July § [10]Service Remembers Beginnings of Lutheran Family Services § [11]District Pastor Earns Doctorate PRAYER REQUESTS Family of Kristi Zehnder Suttie - Please remember in your prayers the family of Kristi Suttie, the 47-year-old daughter of Dr. Thomas and Jackie Zehnder, who was called to the Lord's side last Friday, June 19. Dr. Zehnder serves the LCMS as executive director of LCMS World Mission. Kristi was taken to heaven several weeks after discovery of and surgery for aggressive cancer. Please remember Dr. Zehnder, Jackie, and their family in your prayers as they struggle with the loss while celebrating her eternal life with Jesus. [12]Back to top YOUTH LEADERSHIP RETREAT TO BE HELD IN GRAND ISLAND Please pass this information along to your congregation's youth leaders and print it in your bulletin and newsletter. Thank you. I'm a teenager...what can I do for the church? What does a Christian leader look like? How do I share my faith story with my friends who don't believe? How do I stay focused on God when there are so many distractions? What about life after high school? How do I stay strong in my faith? The Nebraska District LYF Leadership Retreat can help youth answer these questions! Teen Focus Training, is the biblically based training materials to be used at the leadership retreat equipping youth to be leaders in their home congregations, families, high schools, and communities by challenging them to see that they are not the church of tomorrow...they are an important part of the church right now. Written by youth for youth, and led by youth for youth, Teen Focus Training is the latest LYF resource from the LCMS Youth Ministry office. The overnight leadership retreat will be led by a group of youth from the Nebraska District who were trained in the curriculum and will be assisted by Nebraska District DCEs Andrea Roettger and Carl Eliason. Who should attend? High school youth (completed 8^th grade) with potential and desire to be leaders in their church today and in the future. When is it? Starting 7 p.m. on July 31, concluding at 2:30 p.m. on August 1. (Yep, it's overnight, so bring a sleeping bag and a change of clothes.) Where is it? The retreat will be held at Peace Lutheran Church, Grand Island, Nebraska. What will happen? Youth will be trained in the latest leadership materials as described above, all meals are included in the cost, extra activities will also be planned to help you get to know other youth from throughout the district. Cost: $35 Registration Deadline: All completed registration forms and payments are due to the District Office by next Wednesday, July 1. Registration materials were mailed to all congregations and are available on the District website at [13]http://www.ndlcms.org/education/youth/LYF.html. [14]Back to top STORIES FROM NEBRASKA VBS Summer is the time for vacation Bible schools across the District. We love hearing stories about unique and special things happening at VBS, as well as seeing the miracles God is working through these summertime gatherings. We are hearing many stories this summer about the wonderful things God is doing, and following are just two of the accounts that have been shared with us. Thanks be to God for the seeds being sown in the hearts of these little ones. Immanuel, Dodge - This congregation of 34 communicant members in the Howells community of 632 people is hosting a VBS this week with the help of Camp Luther staff. They had 31 children from Dodge, Howells, and Snyder attend their opening session on Monday. There are 10 teachers, aides, and volunteers helping, in addition to the three team members from Camp Luther. After the morning session, the children are fed a free, hot lunch before they go home. They are also having a Pizza Party Wednesday at 6:00 pm for the campers and their whole family. The campers will be showing off some of their crafts and may even sing a few songs. We thank God for the opportunity He is giving the members of this church to reach out to the children of their community and share with them the story of Jesus' love for them. Holy Cross, Kearney - With a communicant membership of 926 in a community of 27,431 people, Holy Cross also had a blessed turnout for their vacation Bible school in early June. In fact, they report a total of 340 children who heard the Good News of Jesus, with an average attendance of 295 each day. Pastor Kuefner, associate pastor at Holy Cross, ended this year's VBS by kissing an alligator when the kids responded to his challenge to raise $1,200 in offerings. In fact, the kids contributed nearly $18,000 for mission work both in their community and around the world. Thanks be to God for using this congregation to share the story of Jesus with these children and their families. [15]Back to top ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION The people of the Nebraska District are invited to a reception recognizing the anniversaries of ordination into the Office of the Holy Ministry of Rev. Merlin Holtzen (15 years) and Rev. Dr. Ted Janzow (65 years). The reception will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Walton (just north of the intersection of Old Cheney Road and S. 162nd St, east of Lincoln) on Sunday, July 12, from 3 to 5 pm. Especially invited are those who were baptized, confirmed, or married by these faithful pastors. For more information, contact Pastor Robert Wentzel at Trinity at 402-782-6515 (office) or 402-525-9758 (mobile). [16]Back to top OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE IN OMAHA St. John's Lutheran Church in Ponca Hills (Omaha) has space available at its office building located at 9910 N 48^th Street. They have one suite available now and one to open in August `09. The available suite is Suite 100, a 576 sq. ft. area with two separate office rooms. Suite 200 is available in August and is 2840 sq. ft., has two separate entrances, 13 offices, several work rooms, and it can be divided up to meet your space needs. Cleaning and utilities are included in the monthly rent. It has close and easy access to I-680, plenty of parking and a nice and quiet secluded location. For further information or any questions, please call the office number at 451-2425, and leave a message. A member of the management will get back to you as soon as possible. [17]Back to top GRACE PLACE RETREATS FOR SINGLE CHURCH WORKERS Grace Place is offering a retreat for single Lutheran pastors and teachers at the spectacular high Rocky Mountain Retreat House of St. Benedict's Monastery outside of Aspen, Colorado this fall. The retreat is for any single clergy or educator, whether single by widowship, divorce, or never previously married. The program runs from 2 p.m., Wednesday, September 2, until 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 6, 2009. This "pause point" in ministry service and personal pilgrim walk will allow time to reflect on personhood and health, vocation and direction; restore good self-care health principles, and finally be renewed and rejuvenated in the setting of fellow members of the body of Christ and among the fall colors of aspen and pine. The cost for the whole week is $350 per person. There is easy access to Aspen by flight, train or car. By highway, it is about 4 1/2 hours from Denver. Church workers who would like more information should contact Grace Place through the District website at [18]http://www.ndlcms.org/congregational/workercare/graceplace.html. [19]Back to top UPDATED MISSION CENTRAL SPEAKING SCHEDULE The following special events are planned at Mission Central near Mapleton, Iowa. Gary Thies invites everyone to come and hear these wonderful folks talk about their work around the world. All speaking events are at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the barn at Mission Central unless otherwise noted. The newest additions to the speaking list are in red. For more information on Mission Central or on these special events, visit the Mission Central website at [20]www.missioncentral.us. June 6 - Dr. Lo and family - Indonesia June 12 - Delano and Linda Meyer - Sierra Leone, West Africa June 17 - Rev. Mark and Rose Krause - Riga, Latvia June 20 - David and Radka Fiala - Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia June 21 - Rev. Greg Sawyer - Hong Kong at 10:00 a.m. (worship service) June 24 - Rev. Claude & Rhoda Houge - Kenya, East Africa June 27 - Rev. Joel Scheiwe and family - Southern China July 7 - Rev. J. P. Cima and family - Vietnam July 20 - Donna Meyer - Indonesia August 6 - Mark Wolfram - Taiwan at 1:00 p.m. only August 15 - Amy Kashenov - Kazakhstan at 2:00 p.m. only August 22 - Vicar Heath and Aunnee Trampe - Riga, Latvia at 1:00 p.m. only September 16 - Rev. Matt Heise - Georgia, Russia, and Mongolia Mission Central now has a Facebook page! Those interested in viewing this page may follow the link from the Mission Central homepage, [21]www.missioncentral.us. [22]Back to top LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES SELECTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR After prayerful consideration, the Board of Governors for the International Lutheran Laymen's League has selected Bruce Wurdeman as the new Executive Director for Lutheran Hour Ministries. Wurdeman, who currently serves as LHM's Director of United States Ministries, will take the reins beginning Aug. 1. He will replace Larry Lumpe, who will be retiring at the end of July following his second stint as Executive Director for the ministry. "Bruce has a great vision for the ministry and high expectations for excellence," says Mick Onnen, President of the Int'l LLL. "I praise God for Bruce and his willingness to accept the Executive Director position, and I pledge my full support for his work and service among us." "I am both honored and humbled to become the next Executive Director for Lutheran Hour Ministries," says Wurdeman. "God is accomplishing tremendous things through this life-changing ministry, and I look forward to working with our staff to boldly proclaim the salvation story of Jesus Christ to ever-increasing numbers of people." In his current position, Wurdeman oversees the production of The Lutheran HourŽ, Woman to WomanŽ, and Para el Camino radio programs, seasonal television specials, and print materials, as well as ministry fulfillment and referral services. Under his direction, the ministry also launched the LHM Men's NetWork in January 2009, a program geared to help congregations reconnect with men and build local men's ministries. "In only its first six months of operation, the program has witnessed unprecedented growth and excitement," says Onnen. More than 2,000 churches from the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS) and other denominations have already signed up. Wurdeman previously worked at Lutheran Hour Ministries from 1994 through 2002 in the Volunteer Opportunities department as an assistant director and manager, positions that allowed him to recruit and train more than 100,000 volunteers throughout North America. He most recently served as a mission and ministry facilitator for the Texas District of the LCMS, where he was a resource person for 100 congregations in West and South Texas. [23]Back to top LCMS MISSIONARY SPEAKING ACROSS NEBRASKA IN JULY Donna Meyer, a Nebraska teacher serving LCMS World Mission in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, will be back in Nebraska in July and will be speaking at congregations throughout the District. Her speaking schedule in Nebraska is as follows. For more information, contact the hosting congregation or Donna directly at [24]donna.meyer@lcms.org. Date Time Congregation City June 28 St Peter Bible Class Davenport, NE July 1 7:30pm St Peter Deshler, NE July 2 1:30pm Zion Tobias, NE July 11 5pm Grace Hazard, NE July 12 10:15am Zion Hastings, NE July 12 TBA St. Paul Minden, NE July 22 7-8pm Hope Sioux City, IA July 23 TBA St John Pierce, NE July 25 6pm Trinity Fremont, NE July 26 8, 9:15am Trinity Fremont, NE TBA TBA Trinity Madison, NE [25]Back to top SERVICE REMEMBERS BEGINNINGS OF LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES In the News: Fremont Tribune Bill Wehrmann was one of the lucky ones. Adopted from the Lutheran Orphan Home in Fremont as an infant in 1932, Wehrmann was raised by loving parents, including a father who was a Lutheran pastor. But Wehrmann knows that many others at the orphanage weren't so lucky. He was one of several people who attended a prayer service Tuesday for the 45 orphans buried at Ridge Cemetery. Most of those buried at the cemetery were younger than a year old when they died. "It was very emotional. I got to thinking that apparently God doesn't have my room ready yet because I'm still here," said Wehrmann, who grew up in Scribner and now lives near Blair. "Yet all these that are gone are with God because they were baptized and adopted, both literally and eternally." Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska sponsored the prayer service and a luncheon afterward where Wehrmann and other orphans shared their memories. Read the full account of this special prayer service on the Fremont Tribune website at [26]http://www.fremonttribune.com/articles/2009/06/17/news/local/doc4a3 90ab9148d5676389240.txt. [27]Back to top DISTRICT PASTOR EARNS DOCTORATE Rev. Timothy J. Heupel, Director of Care Ministries at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, LaVista, was conferred the degree of Doctor of Ministry from the Sioux Falls Seminary, Sioux Falls, S.D. on Saturday, May 23. Heupel's project paper was entitled, "The Self-Described Factors Leading to Behavioral Change Among Selected Inmates of Douglas County Jail." Congratulations Rev. Dr. Heupel! [28]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 [29]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 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 sending their email address to [30]communications@ndlcms.org and requesting to be added to the mailing list, or by visiting [31]www.ndlcms.org/news/communications/update.html. Summer blessings, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications 1-888-643-2961 [32]nicholeh@ndlcms.org [33]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/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#prayer 2. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#youth 3. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#vbs 4. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#anniversary 5. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#office 6. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#grace 7. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#mission 8. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#lhm 9. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#meyer 10. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#lfs 11. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#doctorate 12. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 13. http://www.ndlcms.org/education/youth/LYF.html 14. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 15. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 16. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 17. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 18. http://www.ndlcms.org/congregational/workercare/graceplace.html 19. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 20. http://www.missioncentral.us/ 21. http://www.missioncentral.us/ 22. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 23. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 24. mailto:donna.meyer@lcms.org 25. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 26. http://www.fremonttribune.com/articles/2009/06/17/news/local/doc4a390ab9148d5676389240.txt 27. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 28. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20090624/cd0a9b4d/attachment-tmp.htm#atop 29. mailto:communications@ndlcms.org 30. mailto:communications@ndlcms.org 31. http://www.ndlcms.org/news/communications/update.html 32. mailto:nicholeh@ndlcms.org 33. http://www.ndlcms.org/