English District of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
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Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. |
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Ordination & Installation |
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Circuit Visitor Rev. Steven Duescher officiated the ordination and installation of Michael Matthews on Sunday, January 31, 2021. Rev. Matthews has been called to serve Borrego Lutheran Church in Borrego Springs, CA.
Pictured L-R: Rev. Rigo Gonzalez, Rev. Gabriel Ochoa, Rev. Paul Willweber, Rev. Michael Matthews, Rev. Steven Duescher, and Rev. Andrew Fedder
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English District Virtual Gala |
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Roger D. Pittelko Ille Dilexit Ecclesiam Award
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Nominations are requested for the first annual
Roger D. Pittelko Ille Dilexit Ecclesiam* Award
(*He loved the Church.)
The English District has created this award to recognize and celebrate pastors who have served God’s people well in the English District.
Recipients of this award must meet the following criteria:
- He is an ordained pastor who served in the English District.
- He has retired from full-time active parish ministry.
- He exhibited a lifetime of faithfulness to our God and service to God’s people through congregations and the wider field of the English District.
The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, March 5.
The recipient of this award will be announced as part of the 2021 English District Virtual Gala to be held on June 13, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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Lumen Christi Award Nominations |
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Our gracious Lord blesses our English District by providing dedicated and talented professional and volunteer leaders/teachers in child, youth, adult, and family ministry areas. These servants of our Lord exercise their God-given gifts in many creative and unique ways to bless those they serve. The Lumen Christi award is presented to publicly recognize the service of educators, to further promote and encourage all professional and volunteer leaders/teachers who are active members of an English District congregation.
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A Super Healing Witness to Celebrate! |
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It’s Super Bowl weekend! It has something for everyone – Kiddy and Puppy Bowls, funny commercials, the half-time show, sub sandwiches, nachos and dip, pizza, and, oh yeah, there’s also the football game starring the famous quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.
We will discuss these things all week long. But will we even take a moment to bear witness to that which is truly super? Your English District Evangelization Team encourages you with this message from Rev. John Diener: Share the victory that is found in Jesus Christ. That will truly make it a Super weekend.
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1-1-1 - Focus on Campus Ministry |
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Our English District identified recipients of 1-1-1 (A Dollar for Mission) for 2020-2021 are the campus ministries of our District. We want members of our District congregations, those who bring a (1) dollar per (1) person per (1) Sunday, to have a clear picture of how these gifts are being used to directly support the mission of our District. These gifts come together to fund important ministries across the District, like LCMS-U – Whitewater, $1 at a time.
Read more about the campus ministry birthed at The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus.
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Registration is open for the virtual Life Conference - Making Disciples: Valuing Life being held on March 19-20, 2021. Featured speakers include: Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, Deaconess Tiffany Manor and Timothy Goeglein.
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District Life Committee Update |
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As your circuits meet throughout the District to begin nominations and prepare overtures for the Convention please think of creating an overture through your congregations to support life in all aspects. Whether it be pro-life issues, right to life issues, or even greater care and keeping of our most vulnerable both old and young please think of ways to encourage our Missouri Synod to take steps to show our love and care for all of our Synod churches and their members. If interested please call me for any ideas.
The Chicago circuits just put out a great overture to the convention. They can serve as a model. Thank you!
May God bless our English District, its churches and members, and the most in need around us.
Rev. Timothy P. Halboth
Chairman, English District Life Committee
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Church Worker (Student Loan) Debt Reduction Grants Available
The purpose of the English District Endowment Fund is to provide God's people with a unique opportunity to participate in a perpetual fund. This fund has been established to assist congregations and rostered workers alike. One aspect of the Endowment Fund currently being offered to Rostered Church Workers is a grant for financial assistance with their student loans. Those rostered ordained workers who are currently serving (called workers) in ministry in their first through eighth year in an English District LCMS congregation or school are eligible to apply for this education indebtedness grant.
For a Church Worker (Student Loan) Debt Reduction Grant we ask that you complete an Application for Church Worker Transitional Assistance. These forms are available on our District website.
If you have any questions, please contact Rev. J. Derek Mathers at 800-755-9335 ext. 311.
Deadline for applications is March 1, 2021.
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Esther 4:14 National Grant Program |
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Any congregation or recognized mission of the LCMS that has membership in an LCMS district (U.S. only) is eligible to apply for an Esther 4:14 grant. This grant program is designed to encourage congregations to purchase equipment to meet the technological challenges of the day. Grants will be awarded based on need, innovative character and willingness to share discoveries with other LCMS congregations and organizations.
The awarded grants will favor advancing congregational technological capacity. Grants may provide technology (e.g., cameras, mixer boards); end-user equipment (e.g., tablets for shut-ins); software or software subscriptions (e.g., editing software, Microsoft Teams, Zoom pro accounts); training; and other equipment or technologies to meet timely needs.
Congregations applying are asked to demonstrate that grant funds will allow congregations to reach out to members and their communities. Grants may provide for new programs or provide necessary supplementation to existing programs.
Click here for more information and a link to the grant application. Deadline for applications is April 5, 2021.
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The Bible's promise is true: "If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" (1 John 5:14).
Pray with us for the Ulm family, for strength and healing.
Your prayer concerns are important to the English District. If you have a prayer request you would like shared in this newsletter, email the District office.
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Continuing Education Opportunity |
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CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE
“The Atheist Who Became a Bishop” - Bo Giertz is a Unique, Broad, & Deep Voice North Americans Need to Hear
June 14-16, 2021 at Grace Lutheran Church, Auburn, Michigan
Instructor - The Rev. Eric R. Andrae
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VOTE BY FEBRUARY 15, 2021
A letter from Synod was sent by mail and email to all member congregations on December 28, 2020 describing the convention delay referendum, where to find more information online, and a description of the process and credentials for logging into the website to vote. If your congregation has questions about logging in, using the website to vote, or did not receive a letter, please send an email to rosters.stats@lcms.org or call 314.996.1366.
The deadline to vote is February 15, 2021.
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District Nomination Ballots |
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This is a reminder that the deadline for returning nomination ballots for District President and Vice-President has been set for February 17, 2021, as required by District Bylaws IV.B.3 and IV.C.3. If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Luke Zimmerman at EnglishDistrictSecretary@gmail.com. |
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This information is being published in the hope that you may know of someone in your congregation or ministry who would be interested in applying for the position. We would very much appreciate your putting a notice in your bulletins or newsletters. Thank you.
The English District of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod is seeking a part-time (approximately 10 hours per week) Communications/Media Facilitator. This position is available immediately.
Qualifications required: Experience in communicating through all forms of media. Knowledge and ability to work with others throughout the District and in the print, social networks, and communications field to reach an end product. Must be self-motivated, well-organized and team-oriented.
Duties include: Responsibility for public relations and communications for the purpose of disseminating information and mission and ministry awareness of the English District - LCMS.
Anyone interested in this position please submit a resume and cover letter which includes compensation requirements and availability to Sally Naglich at snaglich@englishdistrict.org.
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How well do you know the community surrounding your church? LCEF offers free demographic studies. Learn more in this LCEF Ministry Moment video: Know Your Neighborhood.
Contact your LCEF District Vice President, Pastor Daniel Lepley, to discuss this and other ideas to help your ministry move forward according to God's will.
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FREE Spanish Outreach Resources |
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Great news! The Lutheran Heritage Foundation (a recognized service organization of the LCMS) has a variety of FREE new resources available in the Spanish language, including Luther’s Small Catechism, The Bible with Small Catechism (combined volume), A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories, and “Jesus Never Fails” devotional tract. These materials are available to any LCMS church, mission or individual who wants to share the Good News with their Spanish-speaking neighbors. To order, send an email to info@LHFmissions.org or call the LHF office at (800)554-0723.
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Ministerial Health Commission |
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Your English District Ministerial Health Commission is here to be a confidential sister or brother in Christ, walking alongside of our church workers and their families. We strive to be a listening ear with a non-judgmental heart, supporting you where you are, not where anyone thinks you should be. We will encourage, not chastise, listen without advising, and pray without ceasing for you. May God grant you the strength to reach out if and when you need assistance.
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Livestreamed/Recorded Services |
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We encourage everyone to take advantage of alternative opportunities to hear God’s word and to be blessed by the Divine Service. We have compiled a list of opportunities on the English District website that is continually updated.
If your congregation is recording or live streaming and is not included on this list, please email us at info@englishdistrict.org and let us know how people can access it.
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For more information, contact the English District Gift Planning Counselor Ron Grimm by phone (412)-584-7039 or email.
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Prince of Peace, Menomonee Falls, WI
The Lutheran Church of the Prince of Peace celebrated the 60th anniversary of the organizational meeting of the church. Pictured are Rev. Norm Timmermann, emeritus pastor, and Rev. Tom Engler with the church's care dog Roda.
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Hales Corners, Hales Corners, WI
Hales Corners Lutheran School celebrated Lutheran Schools Week with hat day, Wildcat spirit day, costume day and more. They also collected items to bless first responders, pastors and support staff, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Humane Society, bus drivers, nursing home residents, a food pantry and others.
PS2-3rd grade students created beautiful crosses hung throughout school to remind us of God's great love. The 4th-8th grade classes made yard signs to line our parking lots and the road in front of our school to remind those who drive by of the Good News!
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Open Arms, Atlanta, GA
Barbara Collins Hopkins, executive director, has done an excellent job growing Open Arms ECE Center and meeting the needs of the parents in her community. During Lutheran Schools Week, the children dressed up as community helpers. The Bible lesson for the week shared the story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. The children were learning what it means to serve like Jesus!
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Please 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. They can subscribe by clicking on the "Sign up for our emails" link at the bottom. Thanks for spreading the word!
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Please share your congregation's or school's unique ministries with the rest of the District. Send pictures and stories for consideration to info@englishdistrict.org by Wednesday at 12:00 Noon ET. We want to see how YOUR congregation or school is showing the love of God to those in your community and around the world.
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