God in All Things - Without Borders

September 2, 2022

Mr. Theodore O. Geheb

October 25, 1935 – August 22, 2022

Ted Geheb, former English District Parish Services Executive, was called to glory on Monday, August 22, 2022. He is survived by his wife Marlene, former English District Administrative Assistant to the President. We pray the Lord’s blessings on the Geheb family. Please keep them in your prayers.

Obituary

On Sunday, August 28 Rev. Dr. Ike Nicholson was installed by Bishop Jamison J. Hardy at St. John the Divine in Chicago, IL.

Rev. Derek Mathers and Rev. Justin Laughridge visited Circuit Visitor Rev. Steven Resner serving as Vacancy Pastor at Eternal Life Lutheran Church, Mesa, AZ. The visit included seeing their building renovations and gaining a sense of the congregation's ministry and mission context.

Rev. Derek Mathers and Rev Justin Laughridge also visited with Pastor Fred Gerlach at Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Phoenix, AZ. The church and school are connecting families with opportunities to hear the message of God's love in Jesus.

Rev. Mathers and Rev. Laughridge traveled to Golden Canyon, AZ to begin their service as part of the Review Team of new mission start Shepherd of the Canyon Lutheran Mission. Working together with the Planting Team, they seek, by God's guidance, to bring this work of God into being. They met the Planting Team, heard their hearts, and experienced their passion. Dr. Mark and Mary Ellen Wood provided guidance and leadership for all.

LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, LCMS Director of Church Relations Rev. Dr. Jonathan Shaw, SELC District President Rev. Waldemar Vinovskis, and English District LCMS President Rev. Dr. Jamison Hardy gathered with Canadian pastors to share and discuss the existing LCMS and LCC relationship. The discussion included opportunities to work better together in ministry and mission for the sake of people in Canada that do not have a relationship with our saviour Jesus Christ. The discussion was beneficial and fruitful for future ministry.

Call Received

The Rev. Gordon S. Naumann has received a Divine Call to serve as Sole Pastor of St. Andrew, Albuquerque, NM (Rocky Mountain District).

Call Received and Accepted

The Rev. Brian T. Crane (South Wisconsin District) has received and accepted a Divine Call to serve as Sole Pastor of Eternal Life, Mesa, AZ.

Call Returned

The Rev. Daniel E. Grams has returned the Divine Call to serve as Sole Pastor of Shepherd of the Coast, Palm Coast, FL.

The Rev. Mark Pierson has returned the Divine Call to serve as Assistant Pastor of Atonement, Glendale, AZ (Pacific Southwest District).

The pastors of the Philadelphia Circuit of the English District invite your participation in the Pennsylvania Life March at the State Capitol steps in Harrisburg on Monday, September 19. The schedule includes informational speakers at 11 AM, a noon march, and a 1 PM address from Silent No More. Join us for this day as we consider God’s gift of life, learn what we can do in our state as we strive for justice for all, and march for the dignity of all people, both women in difficult pregnancy situations, and children unborn in the womb, both loved by God. For FAQ’s about the day go to marchforlife.org/Pennsylvania or contact Rev. Seifferlein for details pastorcms@mclclititz.org or (920) 918-7200.

Please note: The English District office will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2022 in observance of Labor Day.

A new pro-life movie, Lifemark, will be appearing in theaters in the United States and Canada, September 9-15. More information is available at lifemarkmovie.com. Synod has doctrinally reviewed and approved the film and will publish a related discussion guide and Bible study at www.lcms.org. 

The mother church of the English Missouri Synod (and English District-LCMS) in Detroit was St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church, founded on Detroit's east side in 1896. Grand Ave. East at the time was a silk stocking district. The congregation peaked in membership at around 2100 in 1919. By 1976 when it left the LCMS for the AELC it numbered 274 members. It merged with two other Lutheran churches in 1983 to become Genesis Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA). A Baptist congregation purchased the former unique Romanesque style building in 1980's.

At one time, the English District had 10 congregations within the Detroit city limits. Detroit's population went from 1.88 million in 1950 to its current 650,000, and most church buildings in the city closed down, merged, or were sold. Among the distinguished pastors of St. Mark's (noted in The English District Saga) were founder Rev. D.H. Steffens, Rev. J.A. Detzer (former District President, 1915-1918), and Rev. Erwin "King" Kurth, author of Kurth's Catechetical Helps. Zion Evangelical-Lutheran Church is the sole English District congregation in Detroit, though several District congregations are in the surrounding suburbs, as is the case with so many other U.S. and Canadian cities.

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 September 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.

Lutheran Benefits Group in Sterling Heights, MI is seeking a full-time customer service representative (CSR) to work with clients and prospects. Provide excellent customer care to churches, schools and employees while assisting in the growth of the agency. Self-motivated with strong administrative and organizational skills. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, Adobe, general technology and learn third party software. If interested, please contact Keith Mueller at 586-739-5700.

Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Loudon, TN, is looking for individuals with music experience who are interested in part-time work. (We are open to full-time options as well). Our Music Director has announced her intention to retire at year’s end and a committee has been formed to determine how the church will replace this position.

Skills we are looking for include:

• Ability to play the organ, piano, clavi nova
• Familiarity with church hymns particularly from the LCMS hymnal
• Experience leading and conducting a choir to sing traditional and contemporary pieces
• Experience leading and conducting a chime choir
• A degree in church music or past experience in leading and accompanying Lutheran service worship is especially desired but not limiting

If you possess all or part of these qualifications and this is something that interests you, please contact Pastor Brian Truog at 865-458-9407.