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Mission Update
The Missions office of the  
South Wisconsin District - Peg Raabe
 
414-292-0744 Raabe@swd.lcms.org 
Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" -- which means, "God with us." 
(Matthew 2:22-23)

Recent newsletters
From time to time our office receives e-news from our missionary friends and others. Please take a look at these:

Newsletter of the International Student Ministries, Milwaukee 
December 2016
The lion and the lamb
What an odd combination! Lions and lambs are not known to get along. And yet a picture of a lion and a lamb together, often used at Christmas time, illustrates the truth of God's great love for us sinners, dwelling in a world of enmity because of the curse of sin. Why?

It is a picture of Jesus.
Then one of the leaders said to me, "Stop crying! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has won the victory. He can open the scroll and the seven seals on it."
(Revelation 5:5-GW)
 
John saw Jesus coming toward him the next day and said, "Look! This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29- GW)

It is a picture of Heaven.
Wolves will live with the lambs. Leopards will lie down with goats. Calves, young lions, and year-old lambs will be together, and little children will lead them. (Isaiah 11:6- GW)

It is a picture of you and me with Jesus, our Savior!
... righteous people are as bold as lions. (Proverbs 28:1- GW)

My sheep respond to my voice, and I know who they are. They follow me. (John 10:27- GW)
 
What a comforting picture of God's love for us; what a perfect gift He gives to us in the baby Jesus! May each of you have a joy-filled Christmas, and may God's peace carry you through the New Year!

Christmas blessings to you all! 
Recognize these two?
 
Yes, they are our own two Pastors Phil Enderle (St. Matthew, Warrens) and Brian Beardsley (Immanuel, Auroraville and Trinity, Borth) attending the National Rural & Small Town Mission Conference. The conference was held on Nov. 3-5 in Wichita, Kan. under the theme, "Standing Where You Are Planted." Others from our District also attended. You will spot some of them in the pictures that accompany the article and photo pages in the RSTM December newsletter. Take a peek!   
Thanks "Giving" mission accomplished!
Volunteers form a "turkey basket brigade" for making deliveries to SWD's Milwaukee area food pantries. 

Duane Tweeten, of Brookfield Lutheran, reports that another year of providing Thanksgiving food baskets for people in need is all wrapped up and was as successful as ever! The total number of baskets remained the same as in recent years-1056. 971 baskets were delivered to eight food pantries in the Milwaukee central city. In addition, 75 baskets were picked up at Brookfield Lutheran by nine other organizations to pass along to needy families they serve.
 
Clearly this project has been steadily growing and reaching families in need. In 1993, Brookfield Lutheran began this annual event purchasing and delivering 12 baskets. For the past 24 years this project has increased in the number of families receiving baskets.

Two additional items were included this year in each box: A letter written from BLC's 7 th and 8 th grade "Life in Jesus" class and the small children's booklet, "Do You Know Who Jesus Is?" published by Lutheran Hour Ministries. We want each family receiving the food to discover their Savior and the love He has for them.

Thanks again to all the congregations in the SW District who contributed to this Thanksgiving outreach. We couldn't continue this project year after year on our own.
Please continue to pray for Pastor Peter Kelm

Recent news from Pastor Kelm is that the doctors are continuing to search for a treatment that will bring success in eradicating the vicious cancer cells that continue to plague him. New methods of treatment are always being discovered, and we thank our gracious God for the gifts of modern medicine! Meanwhile, he is a busy pastor at First Immanuel in Cedarburg, and enjoying it. Here's what he says,

"Not great news, but I'm still here and enjoying my family and ministry immensely! God is good! And the Season is a clear reminder that no matter what happens, my eternity is set because of what Jesus has done.
Thanks for prayers and keep them coming!"