We Need Our Feet Washed So We Can Serve
“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” John 13:8b
“…not just my feet but my hands and my head as well.” John 13:9
The anticipated days of Holy Week have arrived. There are so many emotions that travel through our minds as we reflect on the walk Jesus took during these days 2,000 years ago. From the triumphant entry into Jerusalem to Jesus trying to prepare the disciples for what was going to happen, we see celebration and confusion. From the time in the Upper Room where Jesus shared the Last Supper to the walk to Gethsemane and prayers of surrender, Jesus knew what His Father had planned and the plan would not change. The betrayal and abandonment as Jesus prepared to face trial and walk to Calvary, many emotions flood hearts and minds.
Let’s focus on that time in the Upper Room where Jesus where tried to explain to the disciples what was going to happen. When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, He was showing them that He was willing to do the lowest work and serve.
Peter wanted Jesus to wash all of him to be clean, but Jesus helped him understand that, by washing the disciple’s feet, the most important person in the room was lowering Himself to perform the work that was expected of the least. This shows that the most important and least important are necessary in service.
In the world, we often view certain types of service as more important than others. Jesus showed the disciples that all service is to the glory of God when done with a right heart. When Jesus went to the cross, He took all of our sins and shortcomings with Him. He defeated the devil, the world, and our sinful nature. Let us give thanks to Jesus by being faithful in service where He has placed us. The calling we each have, is from God and we faithfully follow.
Serving the Master Teacher,
Lois
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Here are the latest opportunities to strengthen your faith, connect
with the community, and flourish in our life together.
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CONFERENCES - MEETINGS - EVENTS
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Early Childhood Meeting to Brainstorm for 2019-2020
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The next Early Childhood meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15.
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This meeting topic will be planning for next school year. We will all meet at St. Peter, in Arlington Heights. Please join us to begin at 4:30pm.
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We had a great Leadership Conference at Concordia University, Chicago on Monday, April 8. We had a very interesting panel discussion on ‘Talking to the Press’ in an emergency.
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Thank you Ann, Maryann, and Ravi for being a terrific panel. Thanks also got to Steve Zielke and Matthew Kamien who have served on the planning team for the last two years. Your service has been appreciated. We welcome Andy DeWitt as the new Vice-Chair and Diane Katz as Financial Secretary.
Great plans are being made for 2019-2020. Watch for your registration form in the near future. We will not be increasing the registration fees. In order to keep the fees as they are, we will offer coffee, tea, and water for the start of the day. At lunch, you will be invited to join the CUC students in the cafeteria for lunch. We will have our own area to eat. You will have a broader choice of food.
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2019-2020 Hearts for Jesus
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As you begin planning your chapel mission projects for the coming school year, please include Lutheran Heritage Foundation as your Hearts for Jesus project.
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LHF is the organization that makes sure there are Catechisms and Bibles with the children around the world. If you visit
www.LHFmissions.org, you can learn more about the group.
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Seventh Circuit Rules the Clergy Housing Allowance is Constitutional
Here is a very encouraging development – The Seventh Circuit had ruled that the housing allowance is constitutional in opposition to the ruling issued by the Wisconsin US District Court. The Freedom from Religion counsel may appeal this ruling to the Supreme Court; however, the Supreme Court can decide whether or not to accept the case.
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Administrative Assistant
Please share in your school newsletter
The LCMS Northern Illinois District office is looking for an Administrative Assistant for the Mission Facilitator for Schools. This is an under 30 hour position with some flexibility with hours.
The Primary purpose of the Administrative Assistant is to provide: 1) personnel support for ALL Commissioned workers in the churches and schools in the Northern Illinois District (NID), and 2) administrative support for the Education Office of the NID. Through this support, Lutheran schools in the NID will be better prepared to serve God’s mission in equipping disciples of Jesus Christ. Please send resume to
Ronda.Wilmot@nidlcms.org
Print full position description
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The Kaleidoscope Fund is a granting program offered by the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) and designed to support eligible Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) ministries with outreach and expansion.
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This year, LCEF is narrowing the focus of impact for the grant to LCMS K-8 elementary schools. Lutheran schools play a critical role in impacting the community through Christian education. Funds will be granted in amounts between $15,000 and $75,000. The 2019 grant process began Monday, April 1, when information was offered live on the webpage
www.lcef.org/kaleidoscope. Those eligible for the grant will be asked to submit a grant proposal summary for review by committee. The proposal submission deadline is May 31, 2019.
You may print a flier here.
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Summer Reading Options
As you begin working on your end of the year agenda, consider have your staff do a book read over the summer. There are so many great choices available. Some principals already have the following titles as they were given to us at the National Administrator’s Conference in Washington DC.
Be encouraged to consider on of these titles or select one that applies directly to your ministry:
- Joining Jesus: Show Me How (How to Disciple Everyday Missionaries) by Greg Finke
- Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age by Barna
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National Lutheran Schools Accreditation
Please remember that you should have prepared your Cumulative Annual Report (CAR). It was due by
April 15. The CAR should have been
emailed to Keith Wilharm, NLSA Consultant by April 15. With the due date passed, you will be contacted individually for follow up if the office has not heard from you.
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Can you and your support group volunteer to stand strong for our Lutheran schools in Springfield? Empower IL has set some dates aside for the LCMS Lutheran Schools in Illinois to be strong in Springfield by meeting with legislators.
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If your school can do this (parents, teachers, students), all participants will receive guidance, instruction, and food from Empower Illinois staff throughout the day.
The dates set for volunteers to be in Springfield are ALL TUESDAYS: April 30, May 7, May 14. May 21, and May 28. If your school or some individuals want to participate with a car going down, Please contact Lois at the NID office at 708-233-3112, and let her know.
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Interesting Articles Supported by LEA
- How to Hold People Accountable With Compassion (Leadership Freak)
- How to Coach the Delusional Teacher by Elena Aguilar (Education Week Teacher)
- 4 Ways to Discover the Best EdTech by Dr. L. Furman (Digital Promise)
- Self-Righteousness Wears Many Disguises by Trevin Wax (Kingdom People)
- Great Techniques to Improve the Donor Experience by Wayne Elsey (NonProfitPRO)
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Update CMIF Information
We are heading into the time of year when schools begin searching to fill vacancies they will have for the coming school year. Please encourage your Rostered workers to update their CMIFs so search time might be reduced for schools looking to extend calls.
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Reporting Retirements
If you have a Rostered Worker retiring at the end of the school year, please have them contact Keith Wilharm at 708-223-3112 or
keith.wilharm@nidlcms.org. We will need to know the worker’s name and retirement date.
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Upcoming Vacancies
If you will have a vacancy to fill for the 2019-2020 school year, please contact
Lois Stewart with information so it can be posted in the NID website.
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Church Workers:
Update Your Contact Information Online
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All rostered and non-rostered church workers are asked to please update their NID contact information when there is a change of email, address, phone, etc., or if new in the district.
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LCMS Northern Illinois District
2301 S. Wolf Road, Hillside, IL 60162
Phone 888-708-LCMS
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