Love your neighbor as yourself
Servant to Servant                                         8-4-17

#LoveThyNeighbor
In your community
Members of Morning Star, Lakeside, CA, donated backpacks and school supplies to the Lakeside Christian Helps Center with the support of a $250 Community Impact Card from Thrivent. Glory to God, 19 backpacks were filled.
In your world
The Youth Group at Peace, McMurray, PA held a shoe drive fundraiser. They collected gently worn, used and new shoes from April 2017 to July 2017. Each week, they would gather and fill large clear plastic bags with 25 pairs of shoes per bag. By the end of July, they had collected a grand total of 1,700 pairs of shoes and received a check for over $500 for future youth activities. The shoes collected provide inventory for micro-entrepreneurs around the world. This industry represents one of the most effective ways to lift many families out of poverty in devastated economies. If interested in starting your own shoe drive fundraiser, visit https://funds2orgs.com/.
In your neighborhood
In an effort to promote police and community partnerships, many organizations participated in the 2017 "National Night Out," on Tuesday, August 1, 2017. Below are photos of two English District churches that participated, offering food, fellowship and fun, while meeting with neighbors and first responders.
Faith, Arlington Heights, IL, visited by Lutheran Church Charities Comfort Dogs.
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Hope, Hastings, MN, hosted a corn roast, bounce house and
had emergency vehicles for attendees to explore.
In our churches
 
Installation
On Sunday, July 30, 2017, The Rev. Steven A. De Santo was installed as an Intentional Interim Minister at Celebration Lutheran Church, St. John's, FL. The Rev. J. Derek Mathers, Assistant to the Bishop and Mission Executive, officiated.
Pastors and Elders with The Rev. Steven A. De Santo
The Rev. J. Derek Mathers, The Rev. Steven A. De Santo, The Rev. William Douthwaite, III, and The Rev. Kenneth C. Rankin, III

Baptisms!
We rejoice with Martin Luther Chapel, East Lansing, MI, on the recent Baptisms of Ansi (Vincent) and Ruiyue (Katara) Cao.


Changes at Hope
On July 30, 2017, acting Circuit Visitor Rev. Roger C. Ellis assisted The Rev. William Gillissie, Vacancy Pastor, in leading worship for his retirement service at Hope, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. After the service, the congregation leadership signed a letter of agreement, accepting their new Intentional Interim Minister, The Rev. Raymond V. Kirk.  Rev. Kirk will help the congregation get ready to call their next full time pastor.
Campus Ministry
What a blessing for the group from Martin Luther Chapel, East Lansing, MI and their German hosts to take part in a special service at the Wittenberg Stadtkirche!
 


In our District
 
Servant Event
The Rev. J. Derek Mathers, Assistant to the Bishop and Mission Executive, was honored to spend time in Lincoln, NE recently at the English District Servant Event at Redeemer Lutheran Church.
 
Pictured left to right: DCE Rod Lane, The Rev. J. Derek Mathers, The Rev. Michael Brown, The Rev. Mark Ebert, and Chris Cassel, member of English District's Board of Directors.


Reformation Devotion

Thanks to Rev. Robert Voelker, Gethsemane, Windsor, Ontario and Reformation 500th Anniversary Committee, for his devotion titled, "Free in Christ," An abridged version and full version are available on our website.
Divine Call
Call Received
The Rev. Luke R. Timm, Living Faith, Clive, IA, has received a call to serve Hope, Hastings, MN.
Called to Glory
Former English District pastor, The Rev. Peter Carl Hoffmann, was called to glory on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. 

Visitation will be held on Monday, August 7, 2017 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Burdan Funeral Home, 12901 Wicker Ave, Cedar Lake, IN 46303. 

The funeral service is scheduled for Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 10:00 AM, Trinity Lutheran Church, 631 W Commercial Ave, Lowell, IN 46356.

Click here to read obituary.
News from our International Workers
Dear Friends,

We give thanks for your ministries and your witnessing there in the United States. We may live here, but we are all called to tell the Good News of God reconciling the world to Himself in Christ Jesus. We pray that the Holy Spirit works among you to accomplish the spread of the Gospel of Christ. Be assured that we are praying here for you. And we ask God to keep us all faithful to Christ, our Lord.

We commend you to Christ,
Rev. Dale and Suzanne Kaster, Ghana, West Africa

Click here to read the Kasters' recent newsletter.
Back-to-school shopping!
Whether you are ordering books, supplies or clothes, 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
and support us every time you shop.
Attention English District Parish Professionals!
We have started a private Facebook group for all English District Commissioned Ministers working in the parish setting. The purpose of this group is to provide support, share ideas, and get to know one another. Please feel free to ask for prayer support, ask for ideas, as well as share blessings in your life and ministry. You may join the group by clicking here . If you have questions, please email DCE  Korey Danley  or Rev. J. Derek Mathers.
New 'Kids in the Divine Service' released for families
LCMS Worship has released an updated resource known as "Kids in the Divine Service," as it works to encourage and support engaging family members of all ages in Divine Worship.
 
Written by English District pastor, The Rev. Christopher I. Thoma, of Our Savior, Hartland, MI, the free inserts feature detail on the liturgy, sanctuary, vestments and other aspects of the Divine Service. They are suitable for use in worship bulletins, Sunday school and school or church newsletters. Click here
for the complete article and downloads.
Previous issues of the Servant to Servant eNewlsetter are available on the English District website   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!
Please share your congregation's or school's unique ministries with the rest of the District. Send pictures and stories for consideration to  Lynne Cobb  by Wednesday, 3:00 pm ET.

We want to see how YOUR congregation or school is "loving your neighbor as yourself."
ENGLISH DISTRICT LCMS

webmail@englishdistrict.org



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