PSD School Ministries
Connections
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“What shall I render to the Lord, for all his benefits to me?...O Lord, I am your servant.” Psalm 116:12, 16
Quid Pro Quo: a favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something. Something for something. This for that. You scratch my back; I’ll scratch yours. That’s the way of the world, isn’t it? No wonder many can’t figure out what Christian service is all about. Some think it’s what’s expected in order to receive God’s blessing. The psalmist, however, knew there was nothing he could ever do to repay God for his faithful, steadfast love. He sought instead to dedicate himself to a life of serving that would bring praise and honor to God’s glorious name.
We have an added benefit—we are on the other side of the story. The psalmist only knew of the promise of the Messiah; we know the promise was fulfilled in God’s Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. How much more ought we commit to living lives in service to others, in gratitude for the way Christ first served us? How can we serve at our schools and in our communities this week?
Lord, show me how serving the needs of others brings glory to your name. Make me a servant, Lord, humble and meek. Amen.
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Please join us in praying and thanking God for the following schools this week:
Zion Lutheran School & Early Childhood Education Center, Anaheim, CA
Concordia Christian Preschool, Barstow, CA
Creation School, Vail, AZ
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Below are photos from Zion Lutheran School & Early Childhood Education Center, Anaheim, CA: |
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Pastor Tim leading chapel with the PreK class |
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One of Zion's 4th-grade students was baptized last month |
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Zion's Student Council coordinated a Bingo Night for students this month |
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Zion had a drive-in Donuts with Dads one morning before the school day began last week |
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Below are photos from Creation School, Vail, AZ:
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Early Learners explore growing things |
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Exploring chemical reactions |
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Preschool children love the new chicks! |
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Recreating the ancient city of Jerusalem |
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Testing unique wind turbine designs |
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Picking up trash on Earth Day |
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The May devotion is now on our website. It is written by Carl Boburka, principal at Immanuel Lutheran School in Riverside, CA, and titled Run in Such a Way as to Get the Prize. Click here to read it. Thank you, Carl, for reminding us to "run our race" confidently, knowing that our God guides and directs us in all that we do.
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Educator of the Year 2021 |
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Each year, we wish to honor exemplary educators in the Pacific Southwest District who exhibit exceptional leadership, teaching skills, and total commitment to Christ and the ministry of our Lutheran schools. We are asking for your help in identifying those who represent this spirit of dedication, commitment, and excellence. The 2021 Educators of the Year will be recognized at the Lutheran Educators Conference (LEC) in Palm Desert, CA, in November.
Below are the links to the nomination forms for the 2021 PSD Educators of the Year. This is an open nomination system. You may nominate in any or all of these four categories. The deadline for submitting nominations is August 31, 2021.
Process:
April - August 31: Nomination period
September: Educator of the Year committees meet to determine finalists in each of the four categories
September/October: Evaluations/interviews completed regarding the finalists
Late October/Early November: Committees select winners
Sunday, November 21: Honorees are recognized at LEC
Nomination Forms:
Thank you for your participation in honoring our outstanding educators in the PSD!
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Thank you for continuing to send your Hearts for Jesus contributions for LeadAChild to the District Office. We know this year has been challenging in offering collections, and we are especially grateful to the schools who are doing their best to contribute this year. To date, $10,601.62 has been collected towards our $35,000 goal. If your school hasn’t yet shared this project with your students, would you please consider doing so in May? We will continue to collect contributions through July. There is still time to meet our goal! For more information on the project, please see the Hearts for Jesus page on the School Ministries website (www.psd-schools.org) or email [email protected].
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Lutheran Elementary Tournament at CUI |
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Concordia University Irvine to Launch Lutheran Elementary School Tournament, Orange County (LEST OC)
Irvine, CA - For nearly 60 years, Concordia University Portland hosted a Lutheran Elementary School Tournament (LEST). The first LEST involved a basketball tournament featuring four Portland area schools. Through the years, LEST has grown and now draws from schools in seven states and Canada competing in more than 20 events from athletics to academics and arts.
Following the closure of Concordia University Portland, Concordia University Irvine is committed to continuing the LEST tradition. On February 17-19, 2022, Concordia, partnering with Crean Lutheran High School, Orange Lutheran High School, and the Pacific Southwest District, will be hosting LEST in its new Orange County, California, location.
The primary goal of LEST OC is to provide an organized structure to promote fun, skill development, fair play, and fellowship among Lutheran elementary school youth through academic, athletic, and recreational activities.
LEST OC will offer a variety of individual and team events that facilitate participants’ emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual growth. Participation and maximal involvement for each school is encouraged. It is the position of LEST OC that participation in competition can facilitate optimal growth and development. By focusing on doing one's best, instead of overemphasizing winning, it is hoped that competition will promote a positive feeling of self-worth, as well as lifelong participation in academic and recreational activities.
Concordia is currently planning a 7th & 8th grade basketball tournament, a full complement of arts events, and many of the existing academic contests from Portland, as well as a few new ones. Details of specific events will be released in the coming months.
Please reserve February 17-19 on your school calendars to join us. If you have any questions, or to be added to a specific LEST OC communication list, email Bil Hood at [email protected].
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- Join us in praying for congregations, high schools, elementary schools, and early childhood centers searching for administrators, directors, teachers, and staff for the 2021-22 school year.
Schools we are praying for the week of May 2:
Word of Life Christian Preschool, Surprise, AZ
North Valley Christian Academy and Preschool, Phoenix, AZ
St. Mark Christian Preschool, Phoenix, AZ
Each week, prayers of thanksgiving and prayers for teachers, administrators, support staff, pastors, students, and families of the Lutheran schools, early childhood centers, and churches of the Pacific Southwest District are listed. To include names on the list, please send information to [email protected] by noon on Tuesday of each week.
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School Ministries, Pacific Southwest District-LCMS
1540 Concordia Drive East, Irvine, CA 92612
Phone 949-854-3232 | Fax 949-854-8140
Rachel Klitzing, Executive Director of School Ministries
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