English District of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
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Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. |
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On Sunday, April 24, 2022, Bishop Jamison J. Hardy visited with Rev. Ted Laesch and the members of Chapel of the Cross, St. Louis, MO.
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Call Received and Accepted
The Rev. Mark J. Renner (Ohio District) received and accepted a divine call to serve as Associate Pastor of St. Mark, Janesville, WI.
Call Received
The Rev. Timothy J. Droegemueller (Florida-Georgia District) has received a divine call to serve as Sole Pastor of St. John the Divine, Chicago, IL.
Call Returned
The Rev. Daniel E. Grams has returned the divine call to serve as Senior Pastor of Holy Cross, Rocklin, CA (California/Nevada/Hawaii District).
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Welcome to the District: New Workers Call Day 2022 |
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The assignment of vicarages, deaconess internships, and call placements was announced and celebrated on Call Day at both seminaries.
On Tuesday, April 26, 2022, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO held its Assignment and Internships Service and Call Day. One vicar-elect received a vicarage assignment, and one ministerial candidate received a call to serve in the English District.
Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN held their Vicarage and Deaconess Assignment service on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. Call Day for ministerial candidates was held on Wednesday, April 27, 2022. It was announced during the services that four vicars-elect received vicarage assignments and two ministerial candidates received calls to the English District.
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Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
Call Candidate
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Samuel St. John (wife, Kylie), Ascension, Tucson, AZ, Associate Pastor |
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Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Vicar Candidate |
Grant Thiel - Grace, Redford, MI |
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Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne Call Candidates |
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Aaron Schultz (wife, Katherine), Advent, Zionsville, IN, Associate Pastor/Headmaster |
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Daniel Gray (wife, Michelle), Martin Luther Chapel, Pennsauken, NJ, Pastor |
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Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne Vicar Candidates |
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Gabriel Strawn (wife, Jennifer), Catalina, Tucson, AZ |
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David Wenndt (wife, Hannah), First Trinity, Pittsburgh, PA |
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Matthew Carlson, Messiah, Danville, CA |
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Jesse Greenhagen, Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries, Philadelphia, PA |
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PHOTO CAPTION (L-R):
Jesse Greenhagen, Bishop Hardy, Katie Schultz, David Wenndt, Aaron Schultz, Hannah Wenndt, Michelle Gray, Daniel Gray, Gabriel Strawn, Jennifer Strawn, Matt Carlson
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Congratulations to The Rev. Hans Andrae, a 2022 recipient of “The Roger D. Pittelko Award – He Loved the Church”. The award was presented to Pastor Andrae, by Bishop Jamison J. Hardy, during a special worship service on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at First Trinity, Pittsburgh, PA. Pastor Andrae's biography can be read here.
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English District Gala Watch Party in a Box |
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Please click on the photo of Pastor Joshua Ulm to hear about our Watch Party in a Box promotion!
THE GALA IS 44 DAYS AWAY!
We encourage you to find someone to run a watch party at your church. If your church registers to hold a watch party, we will send you a "Watch Party Package" which is designed to promote the Gala and help provide a festive atmosphere and encourage fellowship.
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The English District Virtual Gala: Rooted in Christ is Sunday, June 12, 2022 at 7:30 PM.
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Program "Unpacks" Synod's International Mission Work Article from The Reporter |
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In 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) Short-Term Mission unit launched a new way to connect Lutherans in the U.S. with those serving in the international mission field. The program, called Missions Unpacked, provides interactive, online resources that enable individuals, families and groups to learn more about the Synod’s international mission work without ever leaving home.
Click here to read the full article from The Reporter.
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English District Gathering Servant Event Deadline is Monday, May 2 |
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URGENT! PLEASE READ!
He is RISEN, He is RISEN indeed, alleluia!!! This great sentence gives me such great comfort and peace when I need it the most. I pray that those words have the same meaning for each of you.
I’m taking time to remind you that your registration for the LCMS Gathering English District Servant Event on Monday July 11 is due Monday, May 2nd! I realize that many of you may have been out of the office last week, after the hustle and bustle of Lent and Easter. Please take time now to register by clicking here!
$20.00 per person for an English District T-shirt, lunch, and transportation to and from an opportunity to interact and serve alongside others from the English District! You can’t beat that!
IN ALL THINGS!
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Making Disciples for Life Seminar |
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LCMS Life Ministry and LCMS Witness and Outreach are offering a seminar focused on evangelism through Life Ministry.
Making Disciples for Life Seminar Series
Evangelizing the Lost through Life Ministry
Thursday, May 12th
1:00 PM – 5:15 PM CDT
In our witness to the sanctity of human life, we often find ourselves engaged with non-churched people in one way or another. Some of these non-churched people are pro-life; others are pro-abortion. Some are seeking services or assistance; others are offering help. Some are standing beside us proclaiming the value of life; others are standing against us proclaiming imagined rights. In these various circumstances and encounters, we have opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus with people who are perishing no matter what their view of life may be.
The Making Disciples for Life seminar, “Evangelizing the Lost through Life Ministry,” provides a forum for exploring ways in which we can individually and collectively make use of the opportunities to proclaim Jesus that Life Ministry provides for us. Through brief plenary sessions and longer breakout sessions for discussion and sharing ideas, this seminar is designed to provide practical ways to conduct witness and outreach through the Life Ministry you are currently conducting or the Life Ministry you are planning.
This seminar will be conducted live at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis and on-line. Recordings of the sessions will be available to seminar participants through June 20, 2022. There is no cost for this seminar, but registration is required. Click here to register.
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Convention Prayer Partners |
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Please encourage your congregation members, family and friends to sign up to be prayer partners for the Convention. We are seeking prayers for all aspects of the convention: safe travel, the business of the English District, elections, activities, discussions, theological presentations, fellowship and to celebrate the English District’s ministries and missions. Click here for sign up. Scroll down to choose a time slot and then lift the needs of our delegates, staff, clergy and convention in prayer.
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The District is seeking youth delegates for this year's convention June 20 – June 22. If you have youth in your congregation who love the church and might be considering some type of church work, we are interested in hosting them at convention.
Youth Delegate Benefits:
- Get a front-row seat to how the church wrestles with decisions.
- Observe church policy discussions and have the opportunity to advocate the hopes and concerns of young people
- Experience real presence and gain first-hand knowledge of how the church changes and defines its goals for the future.
- Lead a chapel service for the entire assembly.
- Receive free room and board on a Concordia campus.
- Participate in leadership training
- Interact with decision-makers and district staff, share ideas and ask questions.
- Get exposure to networking, skills enrichment, and collaborative opportunities.
- Join a supportive student community passionate for the church, others, and the life-saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Travel: We would like the youth to travel with your church leadership team to attend the convention. If there is a reason this travel plan wouldn't work, please let Derek Mathers know. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Housing: Youth will stay on the campus of Concordia Ann Arbor.
Chaperones: We have a seminarian who will work with the youth while they are at the convention. We also have a female middle school teacher to assist him. Rod Lane will also be available to support these chaperones with anything they might need.
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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 May 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.
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Contact Dan Lepley, DVP - English and SELC District Lutheran Church Extension Fund for more information at 317-402-9401.
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Christ, Aurora, ON
Rev. Justin Park frequently leads the congregation in song following his sermon. They are indeed blessed to have a pastor who not only preaches God's Word in all its truth and purity, but follows up by leading in song from the pulpit with his beautiful voice and competent guitar.
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Faith, Tucson, AZ
In addition to rejoicing in the Resurrection, Faith Lutheran also rejoiced this Eastertide in some new "temporary" vinyl banners that are now covering both sides of their outdoor church sign! Wow, what a difference as you can see from the before picture! All the more so as Faith can now highlight its K-8 school, the Hispanic outreach of Santa Trinidad which now meets here, and welcome college students at the University of Arizona.
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April 24, 2022 was National Music Director Appreciation Day. St. John's showered Music Director Debbie Bernard with flowers, cake and appreciation! Debbie is shown here with Pastor Stephen Alles. |
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The cake was prepared by a member of the congregation and offered at the social time following the presentation. |
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West Portal, San Francisco, CA
On Palm Sunday, West Portal Lutheran was proud to baptize four children from three families. We welcome Alexis, Jeremy, Alyssa and Corinne to the West Portal family.
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Fairlawn, Fairlawn, OH
Some of the Fairlawn Lutheran School students enjoyed a Resurrection celebration with members of the congregation. The celebration included lunch, crafts and games!
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Hales Corners, Hales Corners, WI
Congratulations to the Hales Corners Lutheran School Cast and Crew of Frozen Jr.! Thank you for using your God-given gifts and talents to entertain and bring joy to a sold out audience on Friday and Saturday. It was a great show! To God be the glory!
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Abounding Love, Lee's Summit, MO
The Pre-K class started a gardening project with Mr. Brad in early April. They can't wait to see what grows!
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Update on Dorothy Tetro, former English District Principal and 1995 Lumen Christi Award and 2006 Lifetime Ministry Award recipient
Dorothy has been living in Rochester, NY where she and her husband Ralph moved to be closer to their daughter. In 2019, Ralph, Dorothy’s husband of almost 65 years, passed away. Dorothy celebrated her 88th birthday on April 28th. She enjoys watching and playing along with Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and the Price is Right to help keep her mind active. Dorothy has also enjoyed scrapbooking and preparing family histories for the younger family members. No longer able to attend church in person, Dorothy looks forward to watching Faith Lutheran Church’s virtual church service each Sunday. She keeps up to date with her great-grandchildren in Ft. Wayne, Indianapolis, and St. Louis, through WhatsApp and videos. She loves following her former students on Facebook and seeing them grow in their faith. As many of you know Dorothy has a strong faith in the LORD which keeps her spirits up and brings her joy.
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Lutheran Benefits Group Job Opportunity |
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Account Service Representative
Lutheran Benefits Group in Sterling Heights is seeking an account service representative to work closely with church and school clients to help them with their health care needs and answer their questions. Ultimately, the duties of an ASR are to give excellent customer support and to help in the growth of the agency. Download the job description here. If interested, please contact Keith Mueller at 586.739.5700 or keith@luthben.com.
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Please share the information from Servant to Servant with members of your congregation.
- All are invited to subscribe to this weekly publication.
- Forward the newsletter to members of your church.
- They can subscribe by clicking on the "Sign up for our emails" link at the bottom.
Thanks for spreading the word!
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Also, please share your congregation's or school's unique ministries with the rest of the District. Send pictures and stories for consideration to jmcgarr@englishdistrict.org by Wednesday at 12:00 Noon ET. We want to see how YOUR congregation or school is showing the love of God to those in your community and around the world.
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