Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, have announced their call days.

Concordia, Fort Wayne: The Vicarage and Deaconess Internship Assignment Service will be Monday, April 24, at 7 p.m EDT. The Candidate Call Service takes place Tuesday, April 25, at 7 p.m. EDT. Those who cannot join on campus can watch via the live stream at ctsfw.edu or on Facebook at facebook.com/ctsfw. For more information, visit ctsfw.edu.   

 

Concordia, St. Louis: Students who will serve a year as vicars or deaconess interns will receive their assignments at a worship service starting at 3 p.m. CST on Wednesday, April 26. Candidates for the pastoral ministry will receive their first calls to serve at 7 p.m. CST that same day, April 26. For more information or archived videos of the service, visit callday.csl.edu. 

Please use in your church bulletin

Phil's Friends Walk for Hope
A "Walk for Hope" to benefit Phil's Friends cancer ministry, an LCMS recognized ministry in the district, will take place Sunday, April 30, 1-3 p.m. at Concordia University Chicago Track & Field, 7400 Augusta Street, River Forest. While studying at Concordia, Phil Zielke was diagnosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin's Lymphoma at age 22. Members of the Concordia community supported Zielke during his battle and helped inspire him to start Phil's Friends, which supports 7,000 cancer patients and their families each month. To register, visit philsfriends.org.

Walcamp Invites You to 'Meet the Director Dinner'

Walcamp is excited to introduce its new executive director, Brad Weiss. You are invited to a Meet the Director Dinner on Saturday, May 6, at the conclusion of the annual Worker Bee Weekend.  A short presentation will be made on this past year at Walcamp and some visions will be shared for the future. For details call 815-784-5141, or sign up at walcamp.org/page/meet_the_director_dinner.

Worker Bee Weekend
Please join Walcamp for the Annual Worker Bee Weekend May 5-6. The workday on Saturday begins with an 8 a.m. breakfast and a sack lunch will be provided. Accommodations are available for Friday or Saturday night. Questions? Call 815-784-5141.  Please visit the Support Us tab at Walcamp.org to sign up.  Print flyer

Organist Workshop
The Spring Organist Workshop will be held on Saturday, May 6, at Zion Lutheran Church, 11456 N 11000E Road, Grant Park, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Presenter is Dr. Phillip Kloeckner. In addition to presenting ideas and techniques to inspire congregational singing of hymns and liturgical music, Dr. Kloeckner will discuss and demonstrate accessible organ literature for preludes and postludes and adapting non-organ solo and choir accompaniments to the organ. Return registration and fee by April 29 by mail, in person, or email to Tabitha Moldenhauer. Print registration form

Fun Fair 4 Kids
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Batavia, and St. Mark's Lutheran Church, St. Charles, are sponsoring free community fun fair with the opportunity to make a donation in memory of Katie Jonak, who was killed in an auto accident last October. The Fun Fair for preschool-Grade 2 is on Saturday, May 20, 10-11:30 a.m., at the West Side Shelters 1 and 2, Fabyan Forest Preserve, Rte. 31 and Fabyan, Geneva. For information contact church@immanuelbatavia.org or 630-879-7163. Print flyer  Print map

Memorial Service
Cross Lutheran Church invites you to attend  lnto His Loving Care - A Memorial Service for Precious Little Lives Gone Too Soon, on Sunday, May 21, at 2 p.m. at Cross Lutheran Church Chapel, 8609 Route 47, Yorkville. A caring invitation to this service is extended to anyone who has experienced the grief of the loss of a baby due to miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death, or abortion. For more information, contact 630-553-7335. Print flyer

The National Day of Prayer, is an annual observance held this year on Thursday, May 4, inviting people to pray for the nation. The theme this year is from Daniel 9:19, "O Lord, Listen! O Lord, Forgive! O Lord, Hear and Act! For Your Sake, O My God." Resources and tools are available at nationaldayofprayer.org.

Your 2017 Stewardship Emphasis
This workshop is presented by Rev. Mark Bussert, Director of Stewardship at three NID congregations, and is based on a commercially available stewardship product that will provide everything a congregation's stewardship team needs to present an effective "annual stewardship campaign" - letters, newsletter and bulletin materials, Bible study, sermon preparation aids, minute messages, print materials, etc. The workshop will be Saturday, May 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4654 W. 94th Street, Oak Lawn. Cost is $95 per church for three attending; each additional person from the same church $20. Lunch is included. Register by calling 865-567-3409 or emailing Rev. Mark Bussert.

Please share in your church bulletin

Band, choir, orchestra, piano, and organ students completing grades 8-12 are invited to apply to the 2017 Lutheran Summer Music Academy, held on the campus of Valparaiso University from June 25 through July 23. For families who do not have four weeks available, consider the two-week program, Sounds of Summer Institute (SOSI), on  June 25 through July 9. More information can be found at lutheransummermusic.org, or call 888-635-6583 or email  admissions@lutheransummermusic.org.   Print flyer   Print brochure

If you have already registered, thank you. If not, please do so soon. Remember the rate for the block of rooms at the Holiday Inn and William Tell Chicago SW Conference Center, Countryside, ends today (ask for conference code GPC). Complete information is available at nidlcms.org/general-pastors-conference.

During Conference Lunch: Basics of Grant Writing
NID Mission Advancement invites pastors to a separate "Basics of Grant Writing" luncheon during the General Pastoral Conference on Tuesday, May 2, beginning at noon. Presenter Cathie Geske will be available following to speak individually with you if you have specific questions. Please respond to Ronda Wilmot by April 25 so we have an accurate count for lunch. Print flyer

New Church Workers Luncheon
All new church workers to the Northern Illinois District attending the General Pastors Conference are invited to a special luncheon, Tuesday, May 2, at noon, to learn about district resources and meet NID field staff. Please respond to Ronda Wilmot with your RSVP.

All commissioned, ordained and ministry office workers plus highly engaged volunteers are invited to attend a Grace Place Wellness Event, Thursday, September 21, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church, 11500 German Church Road, Burr Ridge. Cost is $20 for first registration, $15 for each additional worker from the same location. Save the date. This program is being provided by NID's Parish Professionals group.

59th Convention of the District
Delegate information and nomination forms have been sent to all congregations and rostered workers. The convention will be held Friday and Saturday, March 9 and 10, 2018, at Concordia University Chicago, 7400 Augusta Street, River Forest. The nomination forms and convention delegate forms also are available at nidlcms.org/convention.

Bethesda Lutheran Communities - Positions Available
Bethesda Lutheran Communities is seeking Direct Support Professionals (DSPs).This position is responsible for providing direct support, positive direction, and assistance to individuals in accordance with program policies and procedures and personal outcome measures.  Questions?Call 888-245-0616. Apply at  Bethesdajobs.org.  Print flyer

Essentials for Church Communications

1. Know your people
2. Know your communication channels
3. Teach and train people to look in certain places
4. Know what you are saying
5. Be up to date
6. Be consistent in how you communicate

From churchtechtoday.com

Get-Together-and-Craft-Day,  April 29

Trivia Fun For Everyone from Voice of Care, April 30

Agape Handbell Ringers Concert, April 30

Don Wharton Concert, May 1

Stephen Ministry Workshop, May 6