Love your neighbor as yourself
SERVANT to SERVANT                        2-12-16


 
FROM THE BISHOP
As we enter the penitential season of Lent, our eyes are focused on the work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We see the direct need we have for the work of Jesus in our lives. As we continue to fall prey to the temptations of Satan and as we violate the commands of God on a regular basis, let us, together with the Church, remain contrite and see the great love our Father has for us in sending His one and only Son.
 
We in the Church have a great opportunity to share this Lenten message with many people. As children of the Heavenly Father, we experience His love first-hand through Holy Baptism. And, every time we receive the Lord's body and blood, He shows us His love through the means of grace. Now we are able to share that love and mercy with many who we know and those we come in contact with each day of our life. Let us take the wonderful opportunity to share that very love from the Father as you reach out with a forgiving hand and heart to friends, family and to those who persecute you.
 
I pray this Lenten season is a blessing and joy for you as you see the wonderful grace and mercy the Lord has given to us in His one and only Son.
 
Rev. Dr. Jamison J. Hardy
Bishop/President. English District LCMS

DIVINE CALLS
Calls-Accepted

The Rev. Dr. Jonathan C. Naumann, Redeemer, Oakmont, PA, has accepted a call from the LCMS Board of International Missions to be a missionary for Latin America.

Deaconess Cheryl D. Naumann, Redeemer, Oakmont, PA, has accepted a call from the LCMS Board of International Missions to teach indigenous deaconess students in the Dominican Republic.

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF
In Your Community
Support our troops and veterans
 
Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, has been collecting comfort items for homeless female veterans and their children as part of their ongoing initiative with Operation Barnabas, an LCMS ministry supporting the military and veterans.

At their December meeting, committee members assembled 24 adult comfort bags and ten children's bags. They were joined by the Veterans Outreach coordinator of the YWCA of Greater Mechanicsburg and a member of Gideon's International, who donated New Testament Bibles. Calvary has also started collecting items for summer bags.

In addition to the comfort bags, members also supported the Harrisburg Area "Stand Down for Veterans" event by serving as Ambassadors to homeless vets January 29-31.

Future initiatives of Calvary's Operation Barnabas committee includes:
  • Hosting a veteran's benefit information fair for area vets
  • Providing transportation to Divine Service for vets without a means to get to worship
  • Nursing home visits to Calvary members who are veterans
Ascension of Christ, Beverly Hills, MI
Feeding our neighbors
 
Members and friends of Ascension of Christ Lutheran Church in Beverly Hills, MI, fed the guests of Starr Presbyterian Church's overnight homeless shelter on Monday, February 8. For the past several years, Ascension as helped Starr, located in Royal Oak, MI, serve the area's homeless community by making and serving a hot, hearty meal and visiting with the homeless.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Members of Christ the King Lutheran Church, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, kicked off their Diamond Jubilee Year on Sunday, January 24, with a Festival Service, a brunch, a presentation to the congregation from the Michigan House of Representatives, and a historical presentation of the first 50 years of the congregation. A commemoration of their 75th Anniversary Milestone by the Michigan Legislature is located in the Welcome Center. More festivities are planned for this milestone anniversary at Christ the King, including a congregational picnic where members will continue their remembrance and give thanks to God for the events of the past 25 years.

THE CHURCH AT JACOB'S WELL AND FAITH PRESCHOOL
The Church at Jacob's Well and Faith Preschool in Fort Wayne, IN, had a very busy year in 2015. Some of their highlights included:
  • Trunk-or-Treat, which was the church's first community event. Over 350 people attended, in spite of a huge downpour in the middle of it. In addition to candy and fun, attendees enjoyed seeing a fire truck, playing in a bounce house, listening to live music and 20 or so trunks filled with treats.
  • Two concerts were held: Jenny and Tyler on November 7, and Consumed by Fire on November 30.
  • Christmas Light Show: A 6000+ Christmas light display on 3-16 channel controllers with an FM broadcast of music ran each evening, Dec. 9-31, from 5 p.m. to midnight. Around 400-500 cars visited. Plans are to at least double the display in 2016. This was a last-minute idea, as church members were brain-storming in November for ways to invite the community to 'come and see.'
  • Through a grant from the local Lutheran Foundation, the church was able to gift all the kids in the preschool with preschooler Bibles (The Jesus Storybook Bible), which was very well received. The students are reporting back that they are actually using them at home with their parents! From this point forward, the church plans to give all new students the same Bibles each year at Christmas.
  • Coffee bar: The Church at Jacob's Well was able to purchase a commercial espresso machine, a commercial grinder, air-pots and a top-load fridge at an auction. Pastor Dave Adams recently found a coffee roaster who teaches coffee roasting as part of a church ministry. The roaster in Indianapolis teaches missionaries a trade that can be taken anywhere in the world to enable ministry and the spread of the Gospel. Rev. Adams is talking to them about buying beans wholesale, creating their own coffee brand for church, the preschool and others, then using any profits generated to help with church mission projects.
NEWS FROM OUR INTERNATIONAL WORKERS
Read the newsletters from our international workers serving The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. Click on the links below.

Rev. Dr. Edward and Monica Naumann
International Workers to South Asia 
 
Rev. Dale and Suzanne Kaster
International Workrs to Ghana, West Africa

Rev. Charles and Cheryl Ferry
International Workers to Indonesia & Southeast Asia

GILBERT MEILAENDER SPEAKS TO PASTORS ON BIOETHICS
Submitted by Rev. Robert Voelker
In October 2015 at the Lake Erie Regional Pastoral Conference Dr. Gilbert Meilaender presented  " Enduring Issues in Bioethics." He is a well-known and respected ethicist, LCMS pastor, and a professor at Valparaiso University. His books include Bioethics: a Christian Primer and The Oxford Book of Theological Ethics (co-editor).
 

LCEF is excited to announce three internship positions for this coming summer! College sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply for one of the positions available in Information Technology, Lending and Real Estate Management, and Marketing and Customer Support. Not only will the students become a part of the LCEF family, but they will learn about their potential career endeavors and gain experience in a professional environment. Job descriptions and application materials can be found on LCEF's internship page. Have your student act quickly. The deadline for applications is April 12, 2016. 

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LUTHERAN INTERIM PASTORS
The National Association of Lutheran Interim Pastors (NALIP) Basic Education curriculum is designed to introduce clergy and lay professionals to the practice of intentional interim ministry. Although focusing on Lutheran theology and polity, the event is open to all lay leaders and clergy desiring and/or called to this special ministry in congregations during a pastoral transition.

This course is designed in three phases (Planting, Cultivating, and Harvesting) covering a period of about six months. The first and third phases are in-residence, beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Monday and concluding at noon on Friday with a total of at least 60 contact hours.

Upcoming training events:
  • Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, April 11-15, 2016 (Registration deadline March 14)
  • St. Francis Retreat House, Easton, PA, May 2-6, 2016 (Registration deadline April 4)

PROFESSIONAL CHURCH WORKERS CONFERENCE
June 14-16, 2016
Please note date change from May to June
 
The Professional Church Workers (PCW) Conference will be held beginning the evening of Tuesday, June 14, 2016 and will continue until noon on Thursday, June 16, 2016. It will take place in Hales Corners, WI. The district circuit visitors will meet following the PCW Conference until noon on June 17, 2016. Registration information will be coming soon.
In conjunction with the District Conferences and meetings English District Professional Church Workers have the opportunity to attend J2e3 (Jesus to... Everyone. Everywhere. Everyday) Missions Summit June 13-15, 2016. To register for J2e3 please go to www.J2e3summit.com. There isn't a registration fee to attend the Summit. The district will pay for travel for those also eligible and attending the PCW Conference. You will be responsible to book and pay for the extra night(s) hotel to attend J2e3. You need to register separately for the Missions Summit . Save the dates!
 
REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR VOCATIO
Vocatio is a fun opportunity for high school students entering grades nine through 12 to participate in Bible study, worship, and discussion about vocation. This five-day retreat on Concordia Seminary's campus in St. Louis, MO encourages participants to find God's calling for their lives through studying theology, learning from Seminary professors, and engaging in thoughtful conversation. The dates are June 25-30, 2016. This event includes a Concordia University System college fair, presentations, servant event and more. 
 

REGIONAL CONFERENCES
Eastern Regional Pastors Conference
September 19-21, 2016


For more information: Conferences and conventions

ENGLISH DISTRICT LCMS

webmail@englishdistrict.org



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