English District of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
Servant to Servant
Greetings!
October 29, 2021
Parish Visits
Ascension, Atlanta, GA
On Friday, October 22, 2021, Bishop Jamison J. Hardy and Rev. Daniel J. Lepley, English District LCEF Vice President, visited with Rev. David V. Miller and some members of Lutheran Church of the Ascension.
 
Borrego, Borrego Springs, CA
Rev. J. Derek Mathers had the pleasure of worshipping with Rev. Michael Matthews, his wife, Kimberly, and the members of Borrego Lutheran Church on Sunday, October 24, 2021. 
Western Region Pastors Conference
The Western Region Pastors Conference was held October 26-28, 2021 at Bethany Lutheran Church in San Diego, CA. The guest speaker was Dr. Jeffrey Kloha. The title of his presentation was “In Christ and in the World” based on readings from 1 Corinthians. Dr. Kloha is the Chief Curatorial Officer of Museum of the Bible. Dr. Kloha previously served 18 years as professor of New Testament at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and served Concordia as provost/chief academic officer. Daily devotions were given by Rev. Steven Duescher, Rev. Dr. Mark Menacher, and Rev. Michael Matthews.
Divine Call
Call Received

The Rev. Scott E. Simpson, Military Chaplain US Army, has received a call to serve as assistant pastor of Holy Trinity, Columbia, SC ( Southeastern District).
Calling a Seminary Candidate/Requesting a Vicar
If your congregation is interested in extending a divine call to a seminary candidate, or plans to apply for a vicar, please contact Kathy Stanis, Administrative Assistant, at 248-476-0039 ext. 320 or by email at kstanis@englishdistrict.org. A new version of the call documents is available (ver. 4.9.3). Do not use any older versions or the call documents will be returned for correction and resubmission. Call documents and vicarage applications must be received to the English District office no later than February 1, 2022.
Evangelization Team
REFORMATION - THE GIFT OF A NEW NORMAL
 
If we’ve heard one thing in the last two years, we’ve heard it a thousand times: “We are living in the new normal.” The pandemic has made us consider our world in a whole new way. We are told to prepare for the future with the threat - this is YOUR new normal. The new normal for many now includes wearing a mask in public and indoors; social distancing rather than gathering together in groups; working from home rather than in a cubical; distance and hybrid learning rather than in person; inequality, injustice and mental health issues magnified. We now know that with every protest there will be a counter protest - pro-life vs. pro-choice; vaccinate vs. freedom to choose; mask vs. no mask in school. Government is totally partisan and polarized with the conservative right on one side and the liberal left on the other - and never will the two meet or agree on anything. Is that really our new normal heading into the future?
 
This weekend, we are celebrating the gift of a new normal in our Christian lives. The Reformation is not just a memorial of a date 504 years ago when Martin Luther nailed 95 theses on the Castle Church doors (October 31, 1517). Rather it is the gift of freedom that results from the proclamation of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone as revealed in Scripture alone. The new normal for the child of God and believer in Jesus is standing fearlessly and victoriously on the Gospel of Jesus and the forgiveness of sin won through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But to stand definitely on this truth in our sinful world means to stand with a bull’s eye target right between the eyes. Who wants that, right? YOU DO! Read this article which will encourage you to say along with Luther: “Here I stand! I cannot do otherwise! God help me. Amen.”
Free Webinars - How to Create a Great Work Culture
Lutheran Church Extension Fund's (LCEF) fall series, Creativity for a Dynamic Workplace, features two renowned speakers who will share different perspectives on how they have experienced dynamic workplaces and helped facilitate a creative space for their work communities--from the restaurant industry to the military.

Whatever type of organization you are a part of--church, school, university, camp and so on--you can benefit from these free LCEF webinars. Sign up at the links below.

November 4, 2:00 PM (CT): "Culture: Where Leadership, Character and Values Meet" with Steve Robinson, Former SVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Chick-fil-A

November 11, 2:00 PM (CT): "It's Your Ship: Achieving Breakthrough Performance" with Mike Abrashoff, Former Commander, USS Benfold and Author, It's Your Ship
Prayer Requests
The Bible's promise is true: "If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" (1 John 5:14).

District daily prayers for November are located on our website.

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.
LCMS Foundation
For more information, contact the English District Gift Planning Counselor Ron Grimm by phone (412)-584-7039 or email.
In Our Churches
Grace, Elyria, OH

Congratulations and God's blessings to the newest member of God's family-Makenna! What a special day at Grace Lutheran Church.
Prince of Peace, Menomonee Falls, WI

Prince of Peace celebrated Pastor Appreciation Month on October 24. They are blessed to have 5 total pastors in their congregation. Their celebration included a gift to each pastor and cake! Missing from the picture is Pastor Feiertag. God bless these men of God!
In Our Schools
Holy Cross, Cleveland, OH

The children worked together this past week to fill Noah's Ark!
Little Lambs Academy, New Berlin, WI

Where is baby Moses? Pastor Greg Michel of Peace Lutheran Church helped the students with their preschool chapel on the biblical account of baby Moses being hidden in a basket. Little Lambs Academy is served by director Laurie Kieliszewski.
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Livestreamed/Recorded Services
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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