We welcome these new administrators into the Pacific Southwest District:

Please let us know if we missed anyone. God's richest blessings to these new leaders in the PSD!  

The August devotion is now up on our website. It is written by Joel Held, teacher at Faith Lutheran High School, La Verne, CA. Click here to read it! Thank you, Joel, for encouraging us to be witnesses, full of peace and joy in every situation.

Administrators, as we begin this new school year, we want to remind you of a program available to the new teachers on your staff, the New Teacher Investment Program. You will find the program housed on our School Ministries website. This program is a helpful tool to support and give new teachers resources and discussion groups on topics applicable to being a new teacher. Here are some recommendations from those who utilized the program last year:

During the school year, our School Ministries staff commits to praying for two or three schools in the Pacific Southwest District each week. A prayer card is sent to each school for that week, and we also share the names of the schools here in Connections. In addition, we will share photos from the schools scheduled each week in Connections under the title Spotlight on Our Schools, so be sure to look for an email with details from Anna Preus the week before your school is scheduled.

Click here to be directed to the Prayer page on our website, where you'll find the schedule as well as what is prayed for specifically each day. The list has been reorganized, so you may be receiving your card at a different time of the year than in years past.

Calling all School Counselors – those who work in our schools in the areas of counseling for behaviors, achievement in school, and mental health and wellness! We are starting a new network for you! If you serve in this capacity at your school, please email your contact information to [email protected]. Administrators, if you would also please email Kim the contact information on who serves in that capacity at your school, we would greatly appreciate it. The inaugural meeting will be held as a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, September 29, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Email invitations will be sent out to all who submit their contact email address. We are looking forward to it!

Thank you to all of our schools who generously supported LeadaChild, our 2020-21 Hearts for Jesus unified mission project! With much joy we will be sending a check for $20,883.73 to support the work of LeadaChild. $19,760.41 will be directed to support children and their school needs, and $1,123.32 to be used to support scholarships and teacher training. Please continue to keep LeadaChild in your prayers! If you would like to continue supporting LeadaChild’s vital ministry in the five world regions and 18 countries where they serve children, equip teachers, and prepare leaders, you can find more information on their website or you can meet Lisa Hellyer in person at LEC in November! Thank you!

Making Disciples for Life is the triennial emphasis of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and is a partnership between individuals, congregations, districts, and the Synod to evangelize the lost, retain the faithful, strengthen congregations, and plant churches and schools. A new website has been created to support and resource LCMS congregations and schools. Click here to be directed to that site. This is a resource center that LCMS wants to build in partnership with congregations and schools. Your input is valued and welcomed! 

Additionally, a fall conference is being planned to discuss what it takes to be a faithful church amid a turbulent culture. The Making Disciples for Life (MDFL) fall conference, set for October 11–13, 2021, will discuss just that. The conference, which will be held in St. Louis and online, will have the theme of “The Rock in Shifting Sands.” The conference will feature three tracks focusing on:

For more information on this conference, please click here. 

The 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade is happening! We thank God that He has brought about healing to many and continues to do so. The theme of the parade is Dream. Believe. Achieve. The Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) Float Committee coordinates and manages hundreds of volunteers every year during the decorating process. As each Petal Pusher® volunteer walks into the float building, they become a Christian witness. They show the love of Christ through their joy in serving others. 

When the finished LHM float rolls down Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Day, we share our Christian message with over one million people along the parade route, as well as over 200 million TV viewers worldwide. This year marks our 71st year of participation with the only Christian themed float in the parade. Our float, Jesus Teaches, shows modern day disciples learning from the Master.  

This year finds us with our 11th Annual Coloring Contest. Click here for the coloring sheet as well as the instructions. You have permission to make as many copies of this as you need. Students in school, Sunday School or Day Care can participate. Here are more details:

Jr/Sr High School Educator      

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.