[cid:image001.gif@01CAB547.C3754B30] February 24, 2010 In this issue: Greetings in the name of our loving and merciful Lenten Lord, who humbled himself to live and die for all people. As we continue in our Lenten journey, may we be reminded that the tremendous sacrifice Jesus made was for each of us personally, as well as for each and every person we meet or work with each day. May we see and take the opportunities we are given to work side-by-side with fellow believers in sharing this Good News with those who do not know Jesus as their Savior. * [1]Prayer Requests * [2]LCMS World Mission Staff to Visit Concordia University * [3]Free Hearing Screening for Concordia Health Plan Members * [4]District Congregation Looking to Share Bus to National Youth Gathering * [5]CUNE Early Childhood Conference * [6]"Winning Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry" Webinar * [7]"Flirting or Hurting" Resource Available from the District Office * [8]NFL Player to Speak at Concordia, Seward * [9]Bible and Catechism Offered in Spanish * [10]Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study * [11]Getaway for Wives of Pastors Planned * [12]Video-Based Bible Study on Revelations Available * [13]New from Concordia Publishing House PRAYER REQUESTS The Rock, Seward - We join with the members of The Rock Lutheran Church in Seward in prayers of thanksgiving for the new pastor the Lord has sent to them. Rev. Michael Meyer accepted the Call to serve as the pastor of this new congregation, and his installation was Sunday, February 14. We thank God for sending this pastor to tend His flock, and we pray that the congregation will be a wonderful witness for Christ in Seward and the surrounding communities. [14]Back to top LCMS WORLD MISSION STAFF TO VISIT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY Erin Alter, program director of the GEO Missionary Service program for LCMS World Mission, will be visiting the campus of Concordia University, Seward, on Tuesday, March 2, and Wednesday, March 3. GEO missionaries are Globally Engaged in Outreach for one to two years. She will be available to meet with anyone interested in learning more about serving with LCMS World Mission. She is based in St. Louis and works specifically on recruiting for GEO missionary service, but would love to speak with anyone about short-term or long-term teams and mission work in general. For more information on Erin's schedule or where to find her on campus, contact Julie Johnston at CU at [15]Julie.Johnston@cune.edu . [16]Back to top FREE HEARING SCREENING FOR CONCORDIA HEALTH PLAN MEMBERS Concordia Health Plan members with diabetes are eligible for a free hearing screening provided by HearUSA in the month of March, 2010. According to a new study, people with diabetes are twice as likely to have hearing loss as those without diabetes. Take some time in March to have your hearing tested for FREE. Call 800-442-8231 for more information or to schedule your appointment for a free screening. Those who are screened will also receive a free DVD developed by the American Diabetes Association. [17]Back to top DISTRICT CONGREGATION LOOKING TO SHARE BUS TO NATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING Zion, Scotia, is looking into the possibility of linking up with other Nebraska District congregations to charter a bus for this summer's National Youth Gathering. Please contact Zion at 308-219-0094 if you'd be interested in sharing a bus. [18]Back to top CUNE EARLY CHILDHOOD CONFERENCE Concordia University, Nebraska in Seward is offering the 2010 Early Childhood Conference on June 16 under the theme "Do You See What I See?" Keynote speakers are Drs. Ellen Hall and George E. Forman, with luncheon speaker Paul Soulek. This conference is great for teachers and aides involved with education of students (from birth to age 8), child care providers, pastors, DCEs, and child ministry directors. Drs. Ellen Hall and George E. Forman, keynote speakers, will talk about using video documentation of young children's play to reveal learning theory within teaching practice. Video documentation is a resource that can be used by teachers, administrators, consultants, and teacher educators to improve their knowledge, support, and communication of children's learning and development. Following the conference Videatives, Inc. will provide participants with digital resources that may be downloaded from their website including eArticles, streaming video, and short video clips. Paul Soulek, luncheon speaker, has a passion for equipping God's people to confess the Christian faith using the gift of music. The cost of the conference is $43 per person for the conference and an additional $12 for those who attend the luncheon. If you have questions about the conference, please contact Professor Annette Oliver at 800-535-5494, ext. 7474, or [19]ECE@cune.edu. [20]Back to top "WINNING GRANTS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR MINISTRY" WEBINAR Is there grant funding out there for your church or ministry? If so, how can you access it? More and more churches and ministry groups are exploring grant funding as a possible source of support, particularly for community outreach programs. To secure foundation and corporate grants, ministry leaders need to understand the grant funding process and know how to "package" their ministries into compelling proposals. Wheat Ridge Ministries is offering a "Winning Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry" webinar on Wednesday, March 17, from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. The cost is $39.00. This is the second date for this webinar, as the first date quickly sold out. Those who are interested are encouraged to register soon at [21]www.wheatridge.org/winninggrantswebinar. Registration is limited to the first 50 registrants. This session is presented by Joy Skjegstad, veteran grantwriter and author. Through this session, you will learn: * How to assess whether grant funding is a fit for your church or ministry * What corporate and foundation funders look for in evaluating grant proposals * Steps to developing a grant proposal that is both compelling and effective, using a template provided through the webinar * Key strategies to use in communicating with "secular" funders Register now or find more information at [22]www.wheatridge.org/winninggrantswebinar. [23]Back to top "FLIRTING OR HURTING" RESOURCE AVAILABLE FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE The following resource is available for check-out from the parish health resource library. Contact Julie Roebke at the District Office to reserve a copy for your church, school, or youth group. Flirting or Hurting - For grades 6 to 9. (Comes with DVD and Teacher's Guide) Sexual harassment is an important and sometimes uncomfortable topic for teachers and administrators. This program helps students to recognize and respond to sexual harassment. It also gives administrators and teachers tools to help students create a safer environment. This DVD contains three segments: two of the segments target students and one targets teachers. Throughout the student programs, the host - an older sister character - provides definitions, explanations, and insights based on her own experiences. The two 15-minute segments to use with youth include breaks for discussions or activities. Segment 1: Students learn the definition of sexual harassment, see examples of offensive behavior, and learn about the devastating effects often associated with sexual harassment. Segment 2: Students learn what Title IX means to them and what to do if they find themselves the targets of sexual harassment. Segment 3: Educators receive suggestions on how to use this program effectively with youth, including: - Why it's necessary to educate kids on sexual harassment - How and where to use the program - How to respond to students' questions. [24]Back to top NFL PLAYER TO SPEAK AT CONCORDIA, SEWARD NFL wide-receiver and 2010 Walter Payton Man of the Year finalist Mike Furrey will speak at Concordia University, Nebraska on March 1, 2010, at 8 p.m. Furrey, a life-long Lutheran and committed Christian husband and father, will share his personal story of faith and service. This event is open to the community and will take place in the arena of Concordia's new Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center on its Seward campus. A $5 door donation will be collected to support the Mike Furrey Foundation, a non-profit organization advocating and providing for the basic needs of disadvantaged individuals, particularly children. In the 2009 season, Mike played wide-receiver and safety for the Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Northern Iowa and Ohio State University. Furrey has also played for the Las Vegas Outlaws, St. Louis Rams, and Detroit Lions. The March 1 event is being sponsored by Concordia Publishing House (CPH). Furrey is featured as an author in CPH's new men's Bible study resource, Blessed is the Man, available now at [25]www.cph.org. CPH provides the publishing ministry of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod and is dedicated to supporting the faith of college-age Christians beyond the classroom. For more information about this event, please contact Sue Kohlwey at Concordia University, [26]sue.kohlwey@cune.edu or 800-535-5494, ext. 7210. [27]Back to top BIBLE AND CATECHISM OFFERED IN SPANISH Do you serve, or would you like to serve, Spanish-speaking people in your community with the Gospel? Or are you planning a mission trip to Central or South America? If so, the Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF) has a free resource that will soon be available to you: the Spanish edition of the Holy Bible, bound with Luther's Small Catechism. To pre-order copies, visit the LHF website at [28]www.LHFmissions.org/Spanish_Bible_Poll, where you can also take a poll to help LHF decide how many copies of the Bible/catechism to print, in what version, in hardcover or soft cover. LHF's materials are provided at no charge to those who need them. [29]Back to top NEBRASKA LUTHERANS FOR CONFESSIONAL STUDY The February gathering of the Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study (NLCS) will be held on Thursday, February 25, 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 day will be Dr. Ken Jones, associate professor of philosophy and religion at Grand View University, Des Moines, Iowa. His topic will be "Justification and Justice, Faith, and Love." The morning session will start at about 10:30 a.m. Following lunch, the afternoon topic will start at about 1 p.m. The 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. [30]Back to top GETAWAY FOR WIVES OF PASTORS PLANNED A pastors wives' getaway will be held in Norfolk on April 11 and 12 at Divot's Conference Center in Norfolk. Rev. James DeLoach of Kearney will be the featured presenter/teacher. Under the topic "Built on the Rock," participants will examine who they rest on, and which rocks they are building upon - those that crumble, or the One Rock that never fails. Participants will examine how the Lord would have them respond to personal, family, and congregational crises. So often we begin to feel that we are "in over our head" or that we lack the strength or energy to respond at all. God's Word and the Lutheran Confessions extol Christ as the true Rock of our salvation and encourage the saintly wise--wives and all--to be built upon Christ for time and for eternity. Prepare to be refreshed in your Christian calling and resourced with a firm foundation and focus in the midst of dangers and enemies you frequently face. Registrations are due by March 5 and may be obtained by contacting Kristi Leckband at [31]kleckmusic@ptcnet.net or 402-329-4262. Questions may also be directed to Kristi. [32]Back to top VIDEO-BASED BIBLE STUDY ON REVELATIONS AVAILABLE (from [33]www.LHM.org) As a pastor, church worker, lay leader, or Lutheran school teacher, you've probably heard your parishioners, students, or parents of students ask questions about the book of Revelation. They may have even asked you to lead a Bible study on Revelation. We have a study just for you! [34]Explaining All The Scary Stuff In Revelation is a video-based Bible study written by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour^®. Surveying the history and root causes behind ancient Rome's homicidal persecution of the early Church, Pastor Klaus details the points of collision between these two entities and how early Christians naturally despaired of their situation. Klaus then gives the viewer rules for understanding and interpreting this book's distinctive writing form. He explains how Revelation's use of numbers and fantastic symbols, monstrous creatures, and spiritual images are all part of John's secret code--and God's divine plan--to portray the religious and world leaders Satan was using in his battle against Christ and His Church. The use of coded or apocalyptic language kept Revelation's message safe for believers--and hid it from those who would undermine and attack the Church. The coded messages also pointed to Christ's victorious resurrection--comforting the victimized Christians and assuring them of present hope and future triumph in the face of what must have seemed insurmountable odds. Explaining All The Scary Stuff In Revelation is one of nine video Bible studies available from the [35]LHM Men's NetWork. Each study can be [36]downloaded online for free or [37]purchased on DVD for $15. Discussion guides can also be downloaded and copied, and each purchased DVD comes with one copy of the discussion guide. While the Bible studies are developed with a male audience in mind, many of them are suitable for a class with both men and women. The [38]Men's NetWork also offers a forum for men to discuss whatever is on their minds, short video segments like "The Baloney Shop" and "Stuff They Didn't Teach Me In Sunday School," and other useful resources for building a men's ministry. [39]Back to top NEW FROM CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE New Proverbs Commentary Connects Christ to the Text Concordia Publishing House (CPH) announces the availability of the newest [40]Concordia Commentary--Proverbs by Dr. Andrew E. Steinmann. The latest title to the popular series is available at [41]www.cph.org or by calling 800-325-3040. "Proverbs is often seen as a set of guidelines for ways to succeed in life," says Dr. Christopher Mitchell, CPH commentary editor. "However, this commentary shows that it is, first of all, a book about Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He has accomplished the victory for us by His death and resurrection. Through faith in Him, God endows us with wisdom and guidance on the path of everlasting salvation." Mitchell continues, "Proverbs teach prudence and discretion for the life of faith, which is contrasted to the ways of the world." Some sections of Proverbs are connected thematically while others feature short, pithy aphorisms that challenge the interpreter. This commentary explains both the larger features of the book and the individual proverbs that comprise this treasury of divine wisdom. "This is a favorite book of Scripture for preaching the legalistic gospel of self-help, synergism, and a theology of glory. From it you can easily glean ten easy steps for achievement. In contrast, this commentary demonstrates that Proverbs is about the hypostasized Wisdom of God who became incarnate in Jesus Christ. He speaks through Proverbs to grant prudence and discretion for the life of faith under the cross." The Concordia Commentary series supports pastors and teachers of the Word to proclaim the Gospel with insight and clarity. Concordia Commentaries affirm the inspiration and authority of Scripture and offer a literal translation, textual notes, and theological exposition to present the distinctive themes of Holy Scripture. Launch Imaginations with New Arch Books Adventures Concordia Publishing House (CPH) introduces four new Arch® Books for children ages 5-9. "The 16-page length makes them perfect for young children who may have trouble sitting still for longer story books," says Peggy Kuethe, book editor at CPH. "The sing-song rhyme of the re-told Bible stories makes them easy and fun to listen to. And the grown-ups page at the end of each book provides parents with in-depth information about the Bible stories so they can answer `why' questions about God and His people." [42]Arch® Books are available at [43]www.cph.org or by calling 800-325-3040. The new Arch® Books titles include [44]Daniel and the Lions, [45]The Resurrection, [46]The Fruit of the Spirit, and [47]Jesus Heals the Centurion's Servant. These books are segmented by different parts of the Bible for a thorough journey through God's Word: beginnings, Old Testament, Christmas, Jesus' miracles, parables and lessons of Jesus, Easter, and New Testament. Kuethe shares, "Illustrations are colorful and helpful for giving context and explanation to the stories. But perhaps the feature that has made Arch® Books favorites for generations of Christians is that they're true to God's Holy Word." Savor Coffee with the Savior Women's routines are hectic. Calendars are filled with career work, cooking, caring for children, cleaning, ministry, and possibly exercise if there's time. Ladies often put themselves on the back burner for their families and subsequently wish they could put the world on pause. Concordia Publishing House (CPH) invites women to steal away and make personal time with their Lord through [48]Coffee with the Savior. This new Bible study encourages women to share a relaxing and intimate moment with Jesus as they would with a girlfriend over coffee. While author Kristen Myers is not a coffee drinker, she chose the title because "so much of women's socialization time revolves around having a cup of coffee. If you walk into any coffee shop, you will see women engaged in intimate conversations, growing friendships, all because they made the choice to take time to meet over this simple drink." Myers continues, "God desires this same type of intimacy with us--daily time communing, conversing, and growing with Him. So why not do what comes naturally to women--sit with a cup of coffee and talk with our best Friend?" Coffee with the Savior is inspired by Jeremiah 29:12-13: "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." (ESV®) Since graduating from college, this Scripture was special to Myers, but the words became more meaningful as a stay-at-home mom. "I was aching for friendship, adult conversation, and guidance. On the day that I read Jeremiah 29:12-13, it was as if the words jumped off the page and the Holy Spirit overwhelmed me with the reality of Jesus' presence in my life. I realized that through these words to His people, God had also promised me, and all people, that He would be available 24/7 when we simply called on Him and sought Him with our whole heart." Coffee with the Savior takes a biblical look at the close relationship between Moses and God and how women can follow that example in their own relationship with Christ. Topics include God's desire that we come to Him, that we pray to Him, and that we receive His gifts. The concluding chapter encourages women to continue their commitment through dedicated personal study of God's Word and recognize their individual value in the Body of Christ. Peggy Kuethe, senior editor of women's resources at CPH, says, "This Bible study uses a friendly, conversational style to explore the perfect friendship we have in Christ. And it helps women see that what God desires most is relationship with us." Myers says, "I think what is so important to me is that women realize God desires to have a daily relationship with us. He wants each and every one of us to dive into His Word every day so that He may teach us through His Holy Spirit. We have such an awesome opportunity to know our Savior personally. We must make the choice, however, to meet Him for coffee." [49]Back to top Lenten blessings, Nichole Hetz Nebraska District LCMS Director of Communications 1-888-643-2961 [50]nicholeh@ndlcms.org [51]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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