Administrators -- Please be sure to send this along to your whole staff, even during this pandemic. Thank you!

"And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" Matthew 6:27 ESV

Anxiety is an expression of habit. Of course, it might be worth the cost if it worked. But it doesn't. Our fretting is futile. Worry has never brightened a day, solved a problem, or cured a disease. 

 

God leads us. Worry must not! God will do the right thing at the right time, every time! What a difference that makes! Our God loves us with a deep and abiding love in Christ our Savior! 

Birthday crown and delivery for the birthday student from her teacher in the background!

Please join us in praying for ALL of our schools this week. We know you are facing new challenges, and we pray for peace and strength from God for you each day.

If you haven't yet had a chance to go through all of the resources that we have collected on the PSD website for you to help navigate through this challenging time, please take some time to see what is there and how it can help your specific situation. Above are two of several videos that may be of help to you.

PSD COVID-19 website: psd-lcms.org/coronavirus . We are frequently updating this page with new and additional information, so please check back often.

Jennie Williamson and AriSon just posted a link to videos of some of their God is Great songs!

Here is a great teaching tool from Rick Steves!

You may be feeling like you are experiencing "information overload" at the moment. You're not alone. However, the following information regarding the recently passed CARES Act is definitely NOT something you should ignore.

 

The CARES Act includes provisions that provide $350 billion in forgivable loans as part of the "Paycheck Protection Program" section of the legislation. CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND OTHER NONPROFITS WITH UNDER 500 EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE and SHOULD APPLY. Here are the immediate actions you should take to "get in line" for these financial resources:

 

1. Get equipped with information on the CARES Act. There are several trustworthy organizations offering webinars and videos this week that will greatly assist you:

 

2. Contact your banker immediately as the forgivable loans from the CARES Act will be administered through local banks. Ask your bank whether they will be participating, and if so, who their contact person(s) will be and what the process will be. They may not know as of this point, but make sure you are making the connection now .

 

3. Do the calculations on Total Payroll Cost called for by the CARES Act for your organization now. This is the amount you will be requesting when you apply. There is guidance for what is included in these calculations and how to do them at the following links:

 

LCEF Resources

The Lutheran Church Extension Fund will not be a CARES Act lender. However, if you currently have a loan with LCEF contact Tyler Fewins for options to lessen the financial impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

PSD Emergency Relief Assistance

The Pacific Southwest District has a limited amount of emergency assistance currently available for churches and schools. Note that, since CARES Act funds will now be available, a requirement of PSD emergency assistance is to apply for CARES Act funds.  Contact us to learn more. 

  

You Can Help! Donate to the PSD Emergency Relief Fund

The financial need is great, and will continue to grow as your sister congregations and schools in the PSD endure this hardship. You can help! Contribute to PSD emergency relief funds here.  100% of these donations go to impacted PSD churches and schools to provide emergency financial assistance. 

 

Continue to monitor the resources available on our website at psd-lcms.org/coronavirus . We are frequently updating these pages with new and additional information, so please check back often.

Our April devotion is written by Shelly Surridge, teacher at Salem, Orange, CA. You can read it here. Thank you, Shelly, for reminding us that God's got this!

Open enrollment for the TEC21 workshop program began January 2 and several TEC21 innovation centers are reaching their enrollment cap of 10 participants. There is an urgency now, as the school year winds down, to register your teachers. TEC21 will take registrations until each center is full.

TEC21 is an investment in your school, teachers and students. Your District Education Executive would love to see every school take full advantage of this professional development program!

Register your teachers here:  http://tec21connect.com/registration/ ! Many schools use Title money to pay for some or all of the registration fee. Click here to download a cover letter and a non-religious description of the program to submit to your local Title personnel: https://tec21connect.com/registration/title-ii-funds/ .                          

Click here to download the TEC21 flyer to see all of the benefits!

Our Hearts for Jesus goal is to provide the funds for 1,500 children to attend Children’s Bible Clubs. We are currently able to support 478 children with the contributions received. A $25 gift card will be sent to the first person to email Rachel--yes, you read that right! It’s not too late to begin participating in the HEARTS FOR JESUS: Mission India project--even remotely!

Through the work of Mission India, children in India will get to hear the Gospel (many for the first time!) and share what they learn with their families. The ripple effect? Entire villages and communities hearing about Jesus and His saving grace.

There are still millions more children in India who haven't heard the opportunity to hear about Jesus. There's still time to help us reach them with the Gospel!  The cost for a student to attend the Children’s Bible Clubs is $24 for an entire year!

Here’s the link to all the information you need:  http://missionindia.org/hearts . The site is password protected because of the sensitive nature of sharing Jesus in India and persecution of Christians, which is on the rise.



 If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Klitzing at [email protected] or Ellen Pratt at [email protected] . Thank you for getting involved!

The PSD has created a new full-time position in the School Ministries department.

Title: Associate Education Executive

Description:  Support the Executive Director of School Ministries. In this role, the Associate Education Executive will also provide support and facilitate the planning and operating of Lutheran early childhood centers, elementary schools, high schools, and youth and family ministries by congregations and governing boards as they carry out the Great Commission of our Lord, serving children and families. Key responsibilities will be appropriately divided with the Executive Director, based on skill sets, giftedness,expertise, interest and passion. Many of the key responsibilities will be shared and will overlap.

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Click here to view the job description

Click here for the application - send to Rachel Klitzing at [email protected] by Monday, April 20, 2020.

Coronavirus got you down? Let's Rally Together!

We realize we are asking you to commit to something in questionable times. However, we want to encourage you to RALLY with us June 16-18, 2020, for the Children & Family Ministry Conference at Concordia University Irvine.

“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes… In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” Nehemiah 4:14b & 20

More information on speakers and registration: https://www.psd-youthandfamily.org/children-and-family. Early registration ends TODAY, April 1 ($90 each for a group of 4 or more, $110 for individual registration)

In this chaotic world, families are facing all types of pressures. This is a ministry conference for all parents, volunteers and staff who desire to make a positive impact on children and families.

The health and safety of our participants are important to us, so we will keep this developing issue in our prayers. We will continue to monitor the recommendations from the CDC and will update you accordingly.

In the hope and cleansing power of Christ,

2020 Children & Family Ministry Conference Planning Team

Bible Replay is happy to provide your school, teachers, and families with an ONLINE RESOURCE to quickly meet today’s challenge amid our worldwide crisis. With nearly 1,500 joyful students already on board, Bible Replay can have you up and running in the same day. They are offering a free 30 day trial to Christian schools.  Click here for more information on the Bible Replay website!

The PSD is pleased to announce a scholarship that will assist PSD Lutheran school teachers participating in the teacher colloquy program . Grants will be distributed until funds are exhausted. Each course will be funded up to $500. Click here for the form and more information.

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 Wednesday of each week. This week we pray for: