Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

  

I give thanks to my God always for you and the faith that is given to you by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Wendy and I, along with our children, bring you blessed Advent and Christmas greetings. As we celebrate the Christmastide and birth of the Christ child, I am very thankful and grateful for the partnership in the ministry that we share. It has been an absolute blessing and joy to serve as Bishop/President of the English District and to partner with the people of Christ throughout our Church.

For me, the Christmas season always brings back memories of my childhood and the times that I have had with family and friends, all of whom are connected with the Church. It is such a joy to fellowship together around the Good News of the saving Gospel and the birth of the Savior of the world. In a world that would constantly drag us down and cause us anger and frustration, we take shelter in the arms of our Lord and the promises fulfilled in our lives. We celebrate the many manifold gifts that the Lord has given to each one of us to use in His kingdom. Take time to give thanks for the mercy, compassion, and love that the Lord gives to you each day of your life. Celebrate the joys of being a unique child of God, full of potential, as the Lord provides you opportunity to "love your neighbor as Christ has loved you."

May this Christmastide be a joyous time of receiving the gifts of our Lord in your lives.

  

From the Hardy family

From Operation Troop Appreciation:

"A special thank you to the Kindergarten through 12th grade students of Redeemer Lutheran School, Oakmont, PA, for their most generous donations to support our troops and veterans! A+ job!"

Project Night Night is a national organization that sends a bag containing a stuffed animal, a blanket, and a book to homeless and displaced children in shelters. "This brings them comfort while in an uncomfortable place," noted Pastor Tim Halboth. One hundred and twenty-five bags were stuffed and delivered to shelters the next day.

Elizabeth Schinkel of North Huntingdon, PA, took first place in the annual Voice of Democracy essay competition. Schinkel, a senior at Redeemer Lutheran High School, Oakmont, PA, was given a monetary award and certificate from Post Commander Donald Kattic of local VFW Post 781 for her essay on "American History: Our Hope for the Future." She will now advance to the District-wide competition, as advancing students compete at the District, State and National level to compete for a grand prize of $30,000.

Preschoolers at Concordia Little Lambs, Berwyn, IL, shared for whom and what they give thanks.

Tips for writing a hymn

• Begin with a Scripture passage.
• Add visually descriptive or figurative language.
• Choose a melody from a well known and beloved hymn.
• Make it a rhyme or use repetition as a method.
• End the hymn with your best line.

Lutheran Women in Mission

Free copy of the LWML Quarterly

Calling church workers on candidate status

At the July 2016 Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod Convention, resolution 12-02A was approved by the delegates. In part, the resolution states:

 

WHEREAS, There are ordained and commissioned church workers on candidate status, that is, rostered church workers without calls but who are available for calls and service to the church.

 

Resolved, That district presidents publish annually in a district publication the names of these candidates.

 

Click here for a listing of the English District rostered church workers who are on candidate status. 

Calling a seminary candidate

Is your congregation interested in requesting a candidate from the seminary to fill a vacancy? If so, please contact Administrative Assistant Kathy Stanis at 248-476-0039 ext. 320 or email her at [email protected] to receive information needed to request a candidate and how to obtain call documents online. Deadline to make a request and submit call documents to the English District office is February 1, 2018.

Learn More

Convention nomination ballots

By now, all congregations should have received in the mail their official nomination ballots for District President and Vice Presidents. These ballots are to be returned to Rev. Luke Zimmerman, District Secretary. The nominations deadline is February 19, 2018. Please prayerfully consider pastors who may serve well in those offices. If your ballot is lost or misplaced, email Rev. Luke Zimmerman for a new ballot.

Please prayerfully consider joining us in ministry, so that the English District - LCMS can continue its work in spreading the message of Christ. We have established the English District Endowment Fund, which is designed to support current and new missions and ministries, church worker and seminary students, and campus ministries in the areas where our congregations live and witness. Every gift matters. Whatever God leads you to give will be a great blessing as we all work together to plant new missions and schools and provide resources to existing ministries and church workers across the United States and Canada and around the world.

 

Click  here for our giving page. Thank you!

  

For our Canadian friends: To receive a tax receipt, please make your cheque payable to your congregation and designate the gift for the English District Endowment Fund. Your congregation will forward your gift to the English District and provide you with a receipt for income tax purposes.

The Young Investors (Y.I.) Club makes saving money fun while teaching children to give thanks for God's blessings.

Christmas shopping!

Are you one of the millions of online shoppers? If so, you can help the English District when you shop online this year. Remember to #StartWithaSmile! Why? Because Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to the English District of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. Bookmark the link  https://smile.amazon.com/ch/38-1675740  and support the missions and ministry of the English District every time you shop.