[cid:image001.gif@01CAAFD7.85158550] February 17, 2010 In this issue: Greetings this Ash Wednesday in the name of our merciful God who chose to save us sinners through His Son. As we enter this season of Lent and begin 40 days of reflection and repentance, may we remember the choice our loving God made to rescue us "while we were still sinners." What great news to share with those we invite to journey with us to His cross. 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 [1]communications@ndlcms.org. * [2]Prayer Requests * [3]Lectionary Summaries Updated * [4]Thrivent Financial's Pledge for Haiti Relief Met * [5]LCMS World Mission Seeks Missionaries * [6]Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb to Speak at Concordia University * [7]Last Week to Order Free Resources in Time for Armed Forces Sunday * [8]Timpani for Sale or Rent * [9]Pews Available * [10]Looking for the "Other Songbook" * [11]Updated Mission Central Speaker Schedule * [12]KFUO-AM Announces Program Changes * [13]Open Arms Conference Set for April * [14]Thrivent Financial Launches `Fan it Forward' Campaign PRAYER REQUESTS Cristo Cordero de Dios, Grand Island - We thank God for the ministry taking place in the Hispanic community of Grand Island through the congregation and people of Cristo Cordero. We join with the congregation in prayers of thanksgiving for the service of Juan Aguilar, who is studying at the Center for Hispanic Studies at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. This past Sunday the congregation voted to apply to the seminary for Juan to serve them as their vicar as he continues his classes. We ask the Lord to bless the ministry taking place at this congregation and out into the community. Prayer Walk on UNL Campus - Please remember in prayer the pastors of the Omaha/Lincoln Learning Community as they gather for their monthly meeting tomorrow, February 18. Following their discussion time they will walk across the UNL campus on a prayer walk, praying for those they pass and those in the buildings along their walk. We thank the Lord for the opportunity we each have to lift our prayers to Him, and we ask that He will bless these men and those they pray for tomorrow. Back to top LECTIONARY SUMMARIES UPDATED The LCMS Commission on Worship has announced that the Lectionary Summaries for both the Three-Year and One-Year Lectionaries in LSB, Lent 1 through Good Friday, are now available online. Series C: [15]http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=16589 One Year: [16]http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=16590 Back to top THRIVENT FINANCIAL'S PLEDGE FOR HAITI RELIEF MET Thrivent Financial for Lutherans recently announced that more than $2 million has been donated by its members to support the Haiti relief efforts of four Lutheran organizations, including The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS). In just three weeks, Thrivent Financial's pledge of $1 million has now been reached and the combined total of $3 million will be used for helping Haiti earthquake survivors. Thrivent's pledge will be divided among the relief organizations. "We thank Thrivent for their generosity in making these matching funds available, and we thank our donors for responding so quickly," said Hans Springer, associate executive director of fund development for LCMS World Relief and Human Care (LCMS WR-HC), the Synod's mercy ministry that is leading its Haiti relief efforts. "Both Thrivent and our caring supporters are blessings to the suffering people in Haiti." Just days after the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake, Minneapolis-based Thrivent Financial announced that the organization would match $1 for every $2 donated by Thrivent members to the Haiti relief efforts of LCMS WR-HC and three other Lutheran groups, up to $1 million for the potential of generating $3 million for "Helping Haiti." On Feb. 8, generous donors helped meet that $3 million goal. While the matching gift opportunity has ended, Thrivent Financial announced that members who still wish to donate to Haiti relief efforts can continue to make online donations at [17]www.Thrivent.com through Feb. 28. Thrivent Financial members who want to donate by check are asked to send their gifts directly to the organization of their choice. In addition to LCMS WR-HC, Thrivent Financial matched gifts to three other organizations: Lutheran World Relief, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Disaster Response, and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Committee on Relief. To date, LCMS WR-HC donors have given $2.875 million for earthquake response in Haiti. "We are so thankful that our donors continue to open their hearts to the people in Haiti," Springer said. "The needs there are so great that we expect our long-term response to continue well into the future." On behalf of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, LCMS World Relief and Human Care is working cooperatively with LCMS World Mission (the mission sending arm of the LCMS), LCMS congregations and districts, and U.S. and international partners to provide immediate and long-term relief for the people of Haiti and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti. To make a gift that shares Christ's mercy and helps suffering Haitians, go to [18]www.lcms.org, call toll free 888-930-4438, or mail donations marked "Haiti Earthquake Relief" to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-6861. Back to top LCMS WORLD MISSION SEEKS MISSIONARIES (From LCMSNews, No. 14 - Feb. 11) If you have a "heart for service" and you can speak English, LCMS World Mission would love to talk to you about missionary service. More than 200 opportunities to serve in some 30 countries are available. Among those needed are music and early childhood teachers, doctors and nurses, computer and finance specialists, and agricultural and construction workers. But the largest number of openings is for those who can simply converse with people who want to practice their English skills: U.S. Lutherans who are willing to share their faith as they build relationships with people across the globe. "Anyone can serve," says Jennifer Mustard, placement counselor for short-term service with LCMS World Mission. Having "a heart for service" and "a heart for people" is "the main thing," she says. That sentiment is shared by Erin Alter, the mission board's placement counselor for long-term service, who says "ordinary people can have an impact" because "God works through them to accomplish His mission." Lynette Lierman, a banker from Omaha, Neb., believes God called her to service. Lierman, 27, had never experienced overseas mission work before she signed up for a 10-day mission trip last April with her congregation, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Omaha. On the trip, she taught English in Hong Kong, mostly to high-school students, and ended up serving an extra week. A few weeks after she returned home, Lierman says she "committed to spend one year as a missionary in Hong Kong" and began working toward that goal -- raising prayer and financial support and eventually giving notice at her banking job. She has been serving since mid-August as an English teacher in schools operated by The Lutheran Church--Hong Kong Synod, an LCMS partner church body, and says her short-term service, where she "had the chance to experience and understand what a mission would look like," was "a big part of my decision to come." "The short-term missions give individuals the chance to do their part to spread the news of Jesus to the children of Hong Kong in a quick, yet intimate, setting," Lierman said via e-mail. "We had each formed a close bond to many individual students before we left. It's a rewarding experience for the individual, as well as an incredible benefit to the schools here." Lierman, who serves four schools, teaching English to students in 1^st through 12^th grades as well as leading weekend Bible studies and other activities, says first-grade enrollment at one school has increased by 70 percent, and, at another, 30 percent. "The Lord provided us [LCMS English teachers] to these schools, and He provided us with an amazing reassurance in numbers," she said. "Now 70 percent more first-graders will spend the next six years of their lives learning about Jesus." Lierman believes "more people should pray about becoming missionaries. It was eye-opening to me to see the way that missionaries can be used around the world. "Just being able to speak English is enough for us to help expand His kingdom." Lierman also received training from LCMS World Mission -- including cultural information and lesson planning -- before she arrived on the mission field, as do all Synod missionaries. Alter says LCMS missionaries like Lierman, who offer their English-language skills along with their faith in God, are "having a significant impact on the efforts of the Hong Kong Synod to use these schools to reach out to the community with the Gospel." Mustard adds, "If this is what God is calling you to do, now is the time to start the application process." Needed are: * short-term mission teams that can serve 10 to 14 days. * short-term missionaries, who can serve from one to six months. * long-term missionaries, who can serve one to two years. "We want to send LCMS Christians out into the world to be serving and sharing the Good News," says Alter. "And there really are so many types of positions that there's a good chance we can match most people up with something that's going to be a good fit for their unique gifts and abilities." Summer -- when school is out and workers have vacation time -- is a popular time for service, "but we do have needs throughout the year," notes Mustard, particularly in April, October, and November. Those times "are often beautiful times to travel around the world," she said, "so I encourage people to think outside the box in that way." "We need people," Mustard adds. "God has chosen to work through people to share his message of hope and salvation, and so we need those people to go out into the world. It's His chosen way to work, and so we need to respond to that." For more information about mission service, [19]click here, visit [20]http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=960 or call LCMS World Mission at 800-433-3954 and ask to speak to a placement counselor. Back to top REV. DR. MITRI RAHEB TO SPEAK AT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, a Palestinian Arab and Christian pastor based in Bethlehem, will give the Martin and Regina Maehr Lecture on Monday, March 8, at 10 a.m. in Weller auditorium at Concordia University, Nebraska. His lecture, titled "Faith Surviving and Thriving in Palestine through the Preaching and Teaching of Christ," will address the challenges of communicating the Christian faith in light of the tension between the Islamic Palestinian and the Israeli/Jewish state. The talk is free and open to the public. Born and raised in Bethlehem, Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb has been the pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem since 1988. An internationally-acclaimed author and speaker, he is also president and founder of DIYAR, a consortium of several Lutheran institutions serving Palestinians throughout the West Bank through civic, cultural, health and wellness, and educational outreach programs. Dr. Raheb holds a Ph.D. in theology from the Philipps University in Marburg, Germany, and is the recipient of multiple international awards for his work. "I am thrilled and delighted Rev. Dr. Raheb will deliver this year's Maehr Lecture," said Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich, Concordia president. "Mitri is fascinating; he is an educator, scholar, pastor, politician, agent of mercy, and a visionary. He is one of the significant Lutheran leaders of our world today. All who come in contact with him will be touched in a powerful and profound way!" The Maehr Lecture series began in 1976 and is made possible by an endowment established by Dr. Martin Maehr, a former faculty member. Raheb is the second presenter this year in Concordia's "Looking Beyond" speaker series. This year's final talk in the series will be given by 1989 Concordia alumnus Philip Droege, director of White House records, on April 13. Back to top LAST WEEK TO ORDER FREE RESOURCES IN TIME FOR ARMED FORCES SUNDAY LCMS World Mission is pleased to offer FREE resources for your congregation to celebrate Armed Forces Ministry Sunday. Resources for 2010 include: a suggested sermon, a responsive prayer, and a theme bulletin insert. [21]Click here or visit [22]http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=16277 to complete the order form. Order by this Friday, February 19th to ensure delivery in time for the suggested Armed Forces Sunday on May 16, 2010. LCMS World Mission Ministry to the Armed Forces thanks your congregation members for your participation in past Ministry to the Armed Forces Sundays. If your congregation chooses to celebrate Armed Forces Sunday on a day other than May 16, appropriate days could include a Sunday close to Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Veterans Day. For further information please contact LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces at 1-800-433-3954, ext. 1337, or by e-mail at [23]lcmschaps@lcms.org. Back to top TIMPANI FOR SALE OR RENT Attention Music Directors: Would you like to add Timpani to your service music? Do you have timpani lined up for Easter yet? There are several sets of timpani available for sale or rent in the Nebraska District. Contact Jim Krutz at [24]JimKrutz@gmail.com for more information. Back to top PEWS AVAILABLE Bethany Lutheran Church in Omaha has up to five oak pews available at no cost. The recipient would be responsible for transportation. To see, or for further information, contact Bethany Lutheran Church at 402-558-1262 (Monday-Thursday mornings only), or email [25]bethanyoffice@aol.com. Back to top LOOKING FOR THE "OTHER SONGBOOK" Rev. Dr. David Block, former pastor of Divine Shepherd, Omaha, is currently serving LCMS World Mission as missionary at the English-speaking congregation in Prague, Czech Republic. He has made a request for 40 copies of the "Other Songbook." Mission Developer Gary Thies will provide the shipping for getting these songbooks to Prague if there is a congregation willing to donate the books. The request is for 40 songbooks, but congregations with any number of books to donate should contact Gary at 712-882-1029 or [26]Gary.Thies@lcms.org. Back to top UPDATED MISSION CENTRAL SPEAKER 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 in the barn at Mission Central, and the newest addition to the speaking list is in red. For more information on Mission Central or on these special events, visit the Mission Central website at [27]www.missioncentral.us. April 6, 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. - Kalia Lo from Cambodia April 20, 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. - Rev. Greg Sawyer from Hong Kong April 21, 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. - Rev. Ted Engelbrecht & Dr. Ngu from Vietnam April 30, 1:00 p.m. only - Rev. Jim and Mabelle Bloker, Czech Republic June 8, 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. - Matt and Dee Dee Wasmund from Taiwan June 16, 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. - Rev. Claude & Rhoda Houge, Kenya June 24, 7:00 p.m. only - Michelle Hoeppner Cagnin, Hong Kong June 26, 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. - Rev. Carl Hanson & Family, Hong Kong July 7, 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. - Dr. Steve Oliver from Taiwan July 10, 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. - Rev. Joel and Iantha Scheiwe, Hong Kong July 17, 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. - Sharon Owens from Macau Mission Central now has a Facebook page! Those interested in viewing this page may follow the link from the Mission Central homepage, [28]www.missioncentral.us. Back to top KFUO-AM ANNOUNCES PROGRAM CHANGES The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod-owned KFUO-AM recently announced several changes to its broadcast schedule including the return of weekday music. One new show is beginning; two shows are getting new names; and another, a new time slot. KFUO spent much of 2009 evaluating its target religious radio listeners in order to "revitalize the identity, purpose, and presentation" of the station, said Chuck Rathert, the station's program director. "We subsequently tightened up our presentation and refocused the goals of some of our shows," he said. "Our primary goal is to be an exceptional broadcast voice for the theology of the Reformation in an otherwise chaotic and confusing marketplace. We pursue that goal with the resources God has given us." The biggest change will be the return of music programming, which was part of KFUO-AM until 2007. "At that time we attempted an all-talk format,'' Rathert said. "We know we lost some listeners who were fans of the music. We hope to regain them with the return of weekday music." Host Paul Clayton's morning show, which airs from 7 to 9:30 a.m. weekdays, has been renamed "Morning Essentials," and host Diane Summers' 1 to 4 p.m. weekday show now is called "The Essence." Since November, both shows have included short, hourly devotional conversations with guests, along with inspirational Christian music. A new show, titled "Studio A," airs with host Roland Lettner from 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays. Rathert said the show has a two-fold focus: "to provide theologically substantive content and to tap the extensive resources of the LCMS seminaries, universities, and parish expertise." "Law and Gospel," hosted by Rev. Tom Baker, has moved to a new time slot, 6 p.m. weekdays. The show will stream online on the KFUO website, [29]www.kfuo.org, during the months the station goes off the air at that time. The first half of the hour-long show will be on the air during February, and the entire show will air beginning in March. KFUO-AM's license allows it to broadcast only during daylight hours. "In keeping with the station's theme of `We are where you are,' " Rathert added, "listeners can access KFUO programming that is streamed online at [30]www.kfuo.org or by downloading archives on demand." Back to top OPEN ARMS CONFERENCE SET FOR APRIL (from Reporter Online - [31]http://www.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=16575) "Connecting with your Community Through Childcare" is the focus of a conference to be held April 29-May 1 in St. Paul, Minn. Lodging and most sessions will be held at the Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport. The conference is sponsored by the Open Arms Institute and is co-hosted by Eastern Heights Lutheran Church, St. Paul. The congregation operates an Open Arms ministry that serves more than 85 children, providing infants to 5-year-olds with a full-time child development program, and 6- to 12-year-olds with before-and-after-school care. At the conference, Eastern Heights pastor Rev. Steve Benson and Open Arms director Michelle Emmons will share the story of their three-year-old ministry, and discuss how the child care program has been helpful in reaching families in their community and revitalizing the 62-year-old congregation. "We believe that our Open Arms Christian Child Development Center will be a cornerstone in our congregational revitalization," Benson said. "Not only are we becoming a blessing to our community, but we are finding opportunities to reach out to families with baptism, Sunday school, and one-on-one ministry. The Open Arms Institute is providing a tool to reach families with the saving name of our Savior Jesus Christ," he added. Conference sessions will address church planting with child care, and offer information about the process of starting a child care ministry as an outreach strategy for an existing congregation. It is designed for pastors, lay leaders, child care and school leaders, and district staff. Those interested in attending are encouraged to bring a team of representatives because of the range and depth of the information offered, according to Martin Barlau, director of the Loveland, Colo.-based Open Arms Institute. "The pastor, congregational leaders, and someone with interest or experience in Christian early childhood education make an excellent team," Barlau said. He noted that registration is free for the fourth member of a team. Registrations mailed by April 19 are $215 for Open Arms members, and $290 for non-members, and include most meals. Registration after that date is $300 for members, and $375 for non-members. Some scholarship funding is available. About 60 LCMS congregations have started child care programs related to Open Arms, according to Barlau. And half of those were started in conjunction with mission congregations, he says. More information about the conference, including registration and scholarship forms, is available at [32]http://openarmsinstitute.com (click on "Conferences"). Or, contact the institute at 970-667-3249 or [33]openarmsinstitute@msn.com. Back to top THRIVENT FINANCIAL LAUNCHES `FAN IT FORWARD' CAMPAIGN Want to make a difference without lifting a finger (well, maybe just one)? [34]Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has launched a new charitable outreach campaign on Facebook allowing new fans an easy way to help others worldwide. Now through March 31, 2010, for every new fan of the Thrivent Financial Facebook page, Thrivent Financial will contribute $1 to [35]Lutheran World Relief (LWR), up to $10,000. The goal of "Fan it Forward" is to generate $10,000 for LWR and raise awareness for the humanitarian outreach the organization is making in countries around the world. "We hope our members and others participate in 'Fan it Forward' and help us spread the word," said Marie Uhrich, senior vice president of Communications for Thrivent Financial. "This is a new way for us to build community online to help make a difference." Individuals can participate in the campaign by going to [36]Thrivent.com/facebook and clicking on the "Become a Fan" button. A new tab on the Thrivent Financial Facebook page highlights the campaign details and gives fans quick tools to spread the word through Facebook, Twitter, and email. So how will those participating in Thrivent Financial's "Fan it Forward" campaign be able to make a difference? Consider that: * 25 fans ($25) will help start a crab-raising business for a woman in Southeast Asia. * 100 fans ($100) will provide a family a hearty goat that gives milk that nourishes and sells. * 375 fans ($375) will give a family a dairy cow that can produce more than six gallons of milk a day. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans introduced its Facebook page in spring of 2009 with the goal of creating a vibrant online community. Fans of the site have already played a key role in other charitable activities, such as helping raise over $3 million for Haiti relief efforts. Back to top Lenten blessings, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications 1-888-643-2961 [37]nicholeh@ndlcms.org [38]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. mailto:communications@ndlcms.org 2. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20100217/6817481e/attachment-tmp.htm#prayer 3. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20100217/6817481e/attachment-tmp.htm#lectionary 4. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20100217/6817481e/attachment-tmp.htm#thrivent 5. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20100217/6817481e/attachment-tmp.htm#missionaries 6. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20100217/6817481e/attachment-tmp.htm#raheb 7. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20100217/6817481e/attachment-tmp.htm#forces 8. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20100217/6817481e/attachment-tmp.htm#timpani 9. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20100217/6817481e/attachment-tmp.htm#pews 10. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20100217/6817481e/attachment-tmp.htm#songbook 11. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20100217/6817481e/attachment-tmp.htm#speaker 12. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20100217/6817481e/attachment-tmp.htm#kfuo 13. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20100217/6817481e/attachment-tmp.htm#arms 14. file://localhost/var/lib/mailman/archives/private/distupd/attachments/20100217/6817481e/attachment-tmp.htm#fan 15. http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=16589 16. http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=16590 17. http://www.Thrivent.com/ 18. http://www.lcms.org/ 19. http://www.lcmsworldmission.org/service 20. http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=960 21. http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=16277 22. http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=16277 23. mailto:lcmschaps@lcms.org 24. mailto:JimKrutz@gmail.com 25. mailto:bethanyoffice@aol.com 26. mailto:Gary.Thies@lcms.org 27. http://www.missioncentral.us/ 28. http://www.missioncentral.us/ 29. http://www.kfuo.org/ 30. http://www.kfuo.org/ 31. http://www.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=16575 32. http://openarmsinstitute.com/ 33. mailto:openarmsinstitute@msn.com 34. https://www.thrivent.com/?wssrc=fif&wssubject=nr 35. http://www.lwr.org/ 36. http://www.facebook.com/thrivent?wssrc=fif&wssubject=nr 37. mailto:nicholeh@ndlcms.org 38. http://www.ndlcms.org/