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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Bishop Jamison J. Hardy was honored to be with the members of Redeemer, Lincoln, NE on October 17-18, 2020. He served as the guest preacher and taught Bible class.
Pictured are Rev. Joel Dietrich, Bishop Jamison Hardy, and Rev. Mark Ebert.
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On Sunday, October 18, 2020, Rev. Andrew M. J. Fedder was installed as a Theological Educator/Missionary through the Office of International Mission, The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. Rev. Steven Duescher, Circuit Visitor, officiated the service. |
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Rev. Eric Kaelberer, Rev. Steven Duescher, Circuit Visitor, Rev. Andrew Fedder and Rev. Jeffrey Horn |
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We are thankful to Rev. James Huenink for his service to the wider church of our District during his time as our District Life Coordinator. As he has recently resigned this position, Bishop Hardy is pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Timothy Halboth as our English District Life Coordinator and Chair of our District Lifeline Committee. Pastor Halboth has a passion for Life Issues, how they are being addressed in our North American culture, and how we as God’s people respond to them. We look forward to hearing from Pastor Halboth and our Lifeline committee as they fulfill their role in our District. Please welcome them and remember them in your prayers. |
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Lutheran Youth Fellowship New Name: YouthLead |
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For the past 40 years, Lutheran Youth Fellowship (LYF) has been providing leadership training to Lutheran youth from around the country. This year the program will take a new name that more accurately reflects its emphasis: YouthLead. The change comes after a series of focus groups and discussions. Read more here.
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Pastor Appreciation Month |
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Many churches around North America will observe October as Pastor Appreciation Month. Thank God that His people love and encourage their pastors. Thank you, people of God, for your loving encouragement – not only in October, but on so many days in so many ways.
Pastoral ministry is a great and important work – not usually the sort of work this world honors, but is a labor of love, the patient perseverance that God honors and blesses. Pastoral ministry often happens in ways that are hidden from human sight, ways that are not revealed until the next generation or the generation after that, or perhaps only in the light of eternity. I can speak from authority on this. my own pastor had a profound effect on me that only became clear to me years after his death. His teaching and his impact on me has led me to be the pastor that I am today. Your impact should not be ignored as you live out your calling.
We want to share some words from our hearts to the pastors who are reading this message. When you don’t see the results of your efforts, please remember that the one who plants is often not the one who harvests. In your service of parish ministry, remember that you are the beneficiary of the efforts of those who came before you in ways beyond enumeration. The seeds that others planted in their generation may have come to fruitful maturity in your time of service. But if those before you had not planted seeds, you wouldn’t have seen the fruition in your ministry.
Thank you for giving to the Lord. Thank you for your sacrificial service to the proclamation of the gospel and the dedication of sharing His love. The apostle Paul wrote about “the daily pressure of his concern for all the churches.” For the parish pastor it is the daily pressure of his concern for all those entrusted to His care. The spiritual pressure of pastoral ministry is something that never lets up, does it?
As you go about the work of sermon preparation and preaching, worship planning and leading, class preparation and teaching, meeting deadlines of every description, dealing with staff concerns, addressing relational issues in the congregation, helping people handle life crises and calamities, visiting the sick in the hospital and the home and nursing homes, rejoicing at the birth of a baby or the new birth of a believer in holy baptism, helping dying people face the facts of their condition with the eyes of faith in Christ, walking with grieving families through their pain and sadness, helping couples prepare for the great adventure of marriage, addressing the moral issues that are so rampant in our society, discipling seekers and reaching out to unbelievers, working with lay leadership, dealing with the church budget, representing Christ in your community, enduring all those evening meetings – all the while trying to manage your own household well and trying to take care of yourself – know this:
You are doing great and important work for the sake of Christ and the Church. You are making a Christ-like difference in this world and for eternity. You are touching lives with the truth and love of Jesus Christ. Thank you for giving to the Lord.
“I am confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. He who called you is faithful, and He will do it.” God bless you and keep you safe and strong in His loving care.
Rev. Dr. Jamison J. Hardy
Bishop/President
Rev. J. Derek Mathers
Assistant to the President/Bishop
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Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT)
Volunteers Needed
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LERT-trained volunteers and LERT teams are needed badly in the Alabama/Florida panhandle area. Rev. Ed Brashier has had very few respond to his call. It is mostly chainsaw work but there is other work that needs to be done as well. Please publicize this to your LERT teams. Contact Rev. Ed Brashier at (205) 296-3714.
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Re:Vitality - Making Disciples for Life |
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Reconsider Re:Vitality
As limiting as times during Covid-19 have been there are many positives as well. One of those is that Rev. Dr. Mark Wood, Director of LCMS Witness & Outreach Ministry and director of the LCMS revitalization initiative, has found opportunity to further define the focus of Re:Vitality. The most significant change is that Re:Vitality tools are almost all self-administered, no longer needing the presence of a facilitator. This is good news and makes these tools much more readily accessible to English District congregations. Of course, if you think it beneficial, I continue to be available to come to your congregation and support the material and work through application of it.
I encourage you to take another look at Re:Vitality and imagine how these resources might provide training for God’s people in the mission God has placed before us. Recently, Rev. Wood spoke at the Minnesota South District Pastors Conference . His presentation is about 1.25 hours but it is a complete presentation of all the Re:Vitaility tools and resources, explaining how they fit together and what the purpose is of each one. I share this because I believe it is worth your time to consider these tools, even in the middle of all that is going on around us, for God’s Word is continuing to accomplish God’s will and His kingdom is growing. Here is the link.
It is my hope that you will let me know your thoughts after watching it.
Rev. Derek Mathers
Assistant to the Bishop and Mission Executive
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1-1-1 A Dollar for Missions
One Dollar - Per Member - Per Week
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Greetings in Christ! Today we wish to update you and celebrate with you how God has worked in and through the congregations of the English District over this past year in supporting our two “1-1-1” ministry recipients.
By God’s grace & through our member congregations, the Dollar for Missions Initiative received $47,900 (USD) in total gifts. As has been the case in other years, this amount was split, in order to be disbursed to both Holy Cross Lutheran Mission, Hazelwood, PA and Tree of Life Lutheran Church in Inverness, FL. Both ministries have received that funding, and we continue to pray God’s richest blessings upon them as they share the Good News of Jesus Christ in their communities and among God’s people.
For the 2020-2021 giving cycle, we again will see that there is power and strength in many giving a little, this time toward the goal of supporting our English District Campus Ministries. These important parts of our overall mission as a District will be highlighted in upcoming Servant to Servant publications as well, so that you can get to know them better and celebrate with them the work of God’s Kingdom across the campuses that they touch.
Thank you again for your gift and prayer support for these mission projects. God’s richest blessings as you continue to serve Him with JOY!
In Christ,
The Missions Council of the English District LCMS
Click here for more information.
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Do your members know all of the different mission organizations your congregation is connected to? You can inform your members about the mission work and ministries in your community by lifting up one mission or ministry each month. Learn more in this LCEF Ministry Moment video "Monthly Missions."
If you would like to discuss how to move your ministry forward with ideas like these, please contact David Thiele, English District LCEF Vice President, by email or phone 517-980-2857. LCEF is here to support you and your congregation.
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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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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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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 along side of you. 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 it.
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English District COVID-19 Soldiers of the Cross Grant Endorsement Application |
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The Soldiers of the Cross grant is available to all rostered church workers (ordained and commissioned) who serve in English District ministries (congregations, schools, and RSOs.) The fund is for temporary relief for those suffering economically as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To download more information and the application click here.
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Your prayer concerns are important to the English District. When you submit a prayer request, with your permission, it will be posted in this weekly eNewsletter. The Bible's promise is true: "If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" (1 John 5:14).
Pray for Rev. Dr. Roger Pittelko, English District President/Bishop Emeritus, for recovery and healing.
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Martin Luther Chapel,
Pennsauken, NJ
Martin Luther Chapel in Pennsauken, NJ is starting a new initiative to reach children, especially during this time of Covid. It's called KidsChurch, which is a short video geared towards children. It includes a Bible reading, some songs, an explanation of the Bible story and ends with prayer. A new video will be produced each week that mirrors the weekly Gospel reading and can be shared with children, grandchildren and friends. It can be found on the church's website -- mlchapel.org under the "Video" tab.
Here is a direct link to the first one.
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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 Holly Scheer by Wednesday, 12:00 pm 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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If you'd like to share our emails, please forward
using your email's forwarding option.
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