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Love your neighbor as yourself
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Servant to Servant 3-10-17
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Daylight Saving Time
For those of us not living in Arizona, don't forget to set your clocks forward one hour this Sunday, March 12th so you're not late for church!
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Assistant to the Bishop's Visit
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Vitality Connect to Disciple Workshop
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Last weekend, The Rev. J. Derek Mathers, Assistant to the Bishop and Mission Executive, attended the Vitality Connect to Disciple Workshop at St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church near Philadelphia, PA. He also visited with the members of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Lititz, PA and Concordia Lutheran Mission, Myerstown, PA. He enjoyed having dinner with The Rev. Luke Zimmerman and the congregational leadership of Calvary, Mechanicsburg, PA.
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Rev. Adam Koontz and members of
Mount Calvary, Lititz, PA
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Calvary, Mechanicsburg, PA
Congregational Leadership
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District Stewardship Leaders Conference
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The Rev. Eric Carlson, Peace, McMurray, PA |
On February 23, a representative from each district of the LCMS gathered for a stewardship conference in Phoenix, AZ. The main presenter was Charles Lane, who serves as the Director for Stewardship Key Leaders, a program of the ELCA. I attended as the stewardship leader for the English District.
The presenter emphasized the biblical teaching that God is the owner of everything, not us. We, as His stewards, are given the authority and responsibility to manage whatever blessings He has entrusted us with. Another key point was to teach and model good stewardship as an ongoing process that embraces stewardship as a way of life that brings glory to God. We are called to help others with every blessing that God has bestowed upon us.
While money is certainly a key part of embracing our role as God's stewards, it is only one aspect. Faithful stewardship seeks to manage all that God has entrusted to our care: time, talents, resources, our vocation, spiritual gifts, and more. Everyone has been blessed with an abundance of resources that are to be managed to the glory of God.
I also met Ron Chewning at the conference. He has a new series coming out soon that will teach biblical stewardship from the aspect of Christians bearing fruit. That resource and many more are available on the Michigan District website.
Money and workers are becoming more scarce in many of our congregations. Teaching biblical views on stewardship is an important way to ensure that God's people embrace their identity as managers of His possessions.
- Pastor Eric Carlson
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The Lifelong Impact of Campus Ministry
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More than ever, Christian college students who come to secular universities face ridicule for any comments they express concerning their faith. As a result, they often feel alone and isolated. For this reason, campus ministry is as crucial for the Christian students as for students who have never heard the Gospel.
Read more
Augusta R. Mennell is the Campus Ministry Director at All Saints Lutheran Church and Student Center in Slippery Rock, PA. If you have a mission or ministry story you'd like to share, please submit for consideration via email to Lynne at [email protected].
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Church and school activities
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#LoveThyNeighbor
Feeding the hungry
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
,
Cleveland, OH, along with
volunteers from Kohl's, helped at the "Heavenly Harvest Food Pantry" distribution.
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Servant Event
Students from Martin Luther Chapel, East Lansing, MI, traveled to El Paso, TX for this year's Spring Break Servant Event. During their time there, they worshiped at Ysleta Lutheran; climbed Mt. Cristo Rey; visited the family from last year and met the family whose house they will build; plus enjoyed some of the local foods - especially ice cream!
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In our schools
Robotics competition
Congratulations to Mrs. Carol Schumacher's team (Niko, Renee & Peter) from Redeemer Lutheran School Pre K - 12th Grade, Oakmont, PA, as they were 2nd place winners at the VEX IQ Robotic competition, held at Sarah Heinz House.
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In our churches
On Transfiguration Sunday, February 26, Rev. Aaron Boerst and Christ Lutheran Church of Lake Mills, WI, welcomed 19 new members! Rev. Boerst was installed as pastor of Christ Lutheran in January of 2016.
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Baptisms
Esther Nichols, principal of Faith Lutheran School, Tucson, AZ, had her three children baptized recently. The members of Faith are thrilled to welcome Emma Marie, Amelia Grace, and Caleb Aaron into their family of faith.
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Susan Buske, The Rev. Richard Klein, The Rev. Orlen Lapp, Bill Sterling and Jonathan Lapp
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Celebration!
In celebration of his 10 years of faithful ministry as God's Shepherd of St. John's Lutheran Church, Golden Lake, ON, the membership honored Pastor Orlen Lapp by naming him Pastor Emeritus of the congregation. Current pastor, the Rev. Richard Klein, officiated at a special service on February 26, 2017. During a meal following worship, members were invited to share their memories of Pastor Lapp's ministry. In his remarks, Pastor Lapp reflected upon a central theme of his ministry that Christians are to be about the business of "doing feet," reminding those present that it was Jesus who did the "ultimate foot washing" when He went to the cross for our salvation.
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Needed Items
Concordia Lutheran Mission, a new church plant in Lititz, PA, is requesting donations of the following items:
- Paraments - liturgical colors - white, red, blue, green, purple, gold and black)
- Candlesticks for the altar
- Candles, torches
- Altar book - one year lectionary
- Baptismal bowl and ewer
- Processional cross
- Communion ware - burse and veil in liturgical colors, white veil, corporals, purificators (4), pall, paten, chalice and pouring chalice, flagon, ciborium, pyx, fair linen
All items may be shipped to:
Concordia Lutheran Mission
c/o
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church
308 Petersburg Road
Lititz, PA 17543
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In our District
Servant Retreats
All English District Youth! We are looking forward to seeing you this summer at one of two events: Medina, OH, July 13-16, 2017 or Lincoln, NE, July 20-23, 2017. We will have the opportunity to worship, serve, study and hang out together! Click here to register online.
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MCA Conference
The Michigan Chaplain's Association (MCA) is hosting their annual spring conference, with the focus on Pastoral Care Surrounding Suicide. Guest speaker is Rev. Karl J. Van Harn, Director of Pastoral Services and CPE from Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Grand Rapids, MI. Dates are Wednesday
afternoon - noon on Thursday (April 26-27) at the Bethany House St. Francis Retreat Center, 703 East Main, Dewitt, MI (just north of the Lansing area).
For brochure, rates, registration and further information, click here
and look under "events," or call Chaplain Steve Sutterer at (517) 243-5167.
Retreat brochure
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Professional Church Workers Conference and More!
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The theme of this year's Professional Church Workers conference is "Loving Your Neighbor: Even if they are unlovable." The key note speaker will be The Rev. Dr. Lawrence R. Rast, Jr., president of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and professor of American Christianity and American Lutheranism. Also presenting will be The Rev. Allan Buss, Senior Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Belvidere, IL and The Rev. Dr. John A. Nunes, president of Concordia College-New York. We are excited about the opportunity to gather together to worship, learn, and fellowship in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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News from our international workers
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The season of Lent is upon us again, bringing with it a chance to re-focus, to be renewed, and to repent. We use this time to practice denying ourselves, for our Lord has suffered for us. He has died for us. He has made us His own in the waters of Holy Baptism.
Click
here to read our newsletter.
Thank you once again for your incredible support, partnership, and love. We treasure your company on this road and all of the prayers you are voicing on our behalf and on behalf of all those here in Southeast Asia. Yours gratefully in Christ, The Ferry Family Charles, Cheryl, Caleb, Caitlin, Carissa, Cassandra, and Chloe
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Dear Friends in Christ,
As we reflect on the transfiguration of Christ, let us be ever mindful of our heavenly Father's words:
This is my beloved Son, listen to him! Many voices in this world compete for our attention. Unfortunately everyone has his or her way of listening to what he wants to and to tuning everything else out. Nevertheless, the voice of Christ guides us through the word and sacrament. While the voices of popular personalities and the popular media fade with the passing of time, the voice of God continues to guide us. Let us listen to Him as His words confer eternal life!
By the grace of God the work in Mexico continues to go forward as national pastors are being formed and the Gospel is being preached. Click
here to read our latest newsletter.
In Christ,
Rev. Daniel, Kathy, and Ana Conrad
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We encourage you to use the prayer list for your daily personal, congregational, school, classroom, staff, and circuit prayers to the Lord, our God. The Scriptures tell us to "pray without ceasing." Please feel free to use this list in your weekend service folders, on the congregational website or in newsletters.
April prayer list
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Greetings from Concordia College, New York
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Our logo is "Small School. Big Impact" and we're having a big impact on the lives of our students.
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Detroit Area Concert for Concordia College-Selma, AL
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The 17th Annual Concert of Praise and Prayer will be held at 4:00 PM on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at Outer Drive Faith Lutheran Church, 17500 James Couzens Hwy., Detroit, MI. Donation: $10/Adults; Youth ages 12 and under/free. Proceeds from the "Save Our Schools" concert will support Concordia College, Selma, AL (CCA), the only historically Black Lutheran College in the nation. If you would like to support CCA, but are unable to attend the concert, contact Mrs. Barbara Hatcher at (313) 341-7078 or via email:
[email protected]
or Rev. Dr. David P. Stechholz, Ambassador for Church-Wide Partnership & Outreach, (248) 470-6298 or via email:
[email protected].
Click
here for more information and tickets.
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Bethesda Lutheran Communities to Award $32,000 in Scholarships
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Now accepting applications from Lutheran high school, college and seminary students.
Bethesda Lutheran Communities is awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships to create opportunities for the next generation and enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Bethesda invites students to apply for one of several Bethesda Student Scholastic and Service Scholarships. This year, Bethesda is awarding $32,000 in scholarships. Four $3,000 scholarships will be presented to current college students, six $3,000 scholarships to seminary students, and four $500 scholarships to high school seniors. Recipients will be announced in July.
Only active, communicant members of Lutheran congregations will be considered for the scholarships. All applications are due Monday, May 1, 2017. To apply or learn more, click
here.
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Dear Ones in Christ,
Greetings in the name of the Triune God.
It is my sincere prayer that many of you will identify ministries, particularly local ministries, that would benefit from the financial support of the LWML English District and that you would then submit a mission grant proposal on their behalf. Please note that the deadline for receipt of proposals is May 1, 2017.
Guidelines for Submitting Grant Proposals
Mission Grant Proposal Submission Form
If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours in Christ,
Diana Honebrink
Vice President of Gospel Outreach
LWML English District
[email protected]
520-400-3967
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church. Ephesians 1:22
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Previous issues of the eNewlsetter, Servant to Servant, are available
here.
You are encouraged to share the information from Servant to Servant with members of your congregation.
All are invited to subscribe to this weekly publication. Forward the newsletter to members of your church using the "Spread the Word" link at the bottom left of this newsletter. They can subscribe by clicking on the link at the bottom right titled, "Sign up for our emails." Thanks for spreading the word!
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