“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

The story of Job is a story of unimaginable loss. He loses his wealth and then his children. Then his health fails in horrific ways. Finally, his wife’s faith collapses, and she says, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die” (Job 2:9). As God and Satan watched, how Satan must have smiled. Then comes the victorious shout of Job’s faith, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10).

In times of great loss and sorrow, how do you hold fast? Dead in our sin, we have no chance of hanging on, no hope of things turning around. We’re only able to hold fast because we are held fast! We are held fast by God’s Word and faithfulness. We are held fast by the arms that stretched out for us on Calvary’s cross! What promises of God are holding you fast today? (Read Job 2 and Psalm 63)

Please join us in praying and thanking God for the following schools this week:

Lamb of God Lutheran School and Preschool, Las Vegas, NV

Our Redeemer Lutheran Preschool, Winnetka, CA 

Below are photos from Lamb of God Lutheran School and Preschool,

Las Vegas, NV:

K-5 students and teachers wearing our Friday shirts with our theme verse of Colossians 3:1-2

We celebrated the baptism of 8 students during National Lutheran Schools Week.

Repeat Champions! Congratulations to the Lamb of God Lutheran School - Las Vegas girls' basketball team as they, for the second year in a row, won the Red Rock Athletic Conference Div. 2 Basketball Championship, led by Coach Miller! The girls ended their season with an overall 7-1 record and took home the 1st place trophy in the postseason tournament! We're so proud of their hard work, determination, and spirit! They were the epitome of Christian competition and sportsmanship!

Dr. Seuss Day

Soccer Shots

Our cast of characters

Below are photos from Our Redeemer Lutheran Preschool, Winnetka, CA:

ORLS staff

Ash Wednesday

Chapel with Pastor Barth

At the national ALSS (Association of Lutheran Secondary Schools) Conference this past weekend, Lucas Fitzgerald (principal) and Pacific Lutheran High School was one of two schools who won the annual award from The Center for Urban Education for their excellent work in education in our U.S. urban areas. PLHS is located in Gardena, CA, and one of our recipients of the Grantparent Mission Project scholarships for students. Congratulations!

Also at ALSS, Rachel was awarded the Christine Moritz Servant Leader Award. To God be the glory!

We had a great turnout for the California Early Childhood Equipping Conference this past Saturday at St. Paul's, Orange. Lots of learning and fun!

We honored our Early Childhood educators for milestone years of service - there were so many honored, we couldn't fit them all in one photo! Look for more photos in next week's Connections.

Yesterday's Admissions Directors meeting was a huge success as 20 attended the meeting in the pouring rain at LuTEC in Norwalk. The next meeting will be Tuesday, May 16. Mark your calendars now! 

The planning has begun and we are very excited for our Lutheran Educators Conference (LEC) in November of 2023! The LEC Committee is hard at work and we need your help. It is time to determine if you have any Jubilarians on your staff that will be celebrated at the next LEC. Jubilarians are those educators on your staff who have completed 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, or 60 years of service at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

If you are an administrator, please identify those on your staff that will be Jubilarians, so that when the information is sent out to Jubilarians, they are able to respond by the June 15 deadline. Administrators, please submit the names of your faculty members who should be honored as Jubilarians at LEC 2023 by clicking on this link.

If you have any questions, you can contact me at [email protected]. God’s continued blessings on your ministry!

Lisa Holloway

LEC Committee

Read all about how God is at work through celebrating Black History Month in the latest #AroundthePSD article.

We are planning a Zoom Legal Workshop, Tuesday, April 4, from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. We have secured employment lawyer Adam Treiger as the presenter for this workshop. This will be a practical, hands-on webinar. Mark your calendars now and plan to attend!

Make plans to join The Lutheran Hour as it devotionally reflects on the events of Holy Week based on the Gospel of Matthew.  

With hymns arranged by the Erin Bode Group, this special will contemplate on what Jesus did for us on His journey to the cross.  

You can listen to this special starting April 3 by going to lutheranhour.org or the platforms where you typically listen to The Lutheran Hour podcast.  

Please join Dr. Alan Freeman, Director of LCMS School Ministry, and Dave Kuschel, Senior Director of Communications and Advocacy for Concordia Plans, for Tuesday Talks - Zoom sessions focusing on Lutheran School Communication Strategies! 

Tuesday Talks will be offered at 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Central Time and again at 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Central Time. The same material will be presented during each time slot. Sessions will be recorded for on-demand access. 

The next Tuesday Talk takes place on March 28 with the topic of Consistent Messaging. This session will provide a 20-25 presentation on the topic by Dave Kuschel followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion for the remaining time. Documents utilized during the presentation will be made available for download and use. 

Zoom Link: Talk About It Tuesday

Jr. High Camp 2023 is coming May 25-28 -- and we are SO excited for your students to participate in this life-changing camp! Junior high is a pivotal season for most people and many Christians point to experiences in junior high where they saw Jesus working the most positive change in their lives. Our theme for this year’s JH Camp is "Peace Quest." In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” At camp this year, we’re on a quest to find ultimate peace - a peace that offers wholeness to our hearts and lives, and a peace that only comes from Jesus, who has overcome the world. Click here for more information!

• Prayers for Chris Wend, husband of Valorie Wend (principal at Loving Savior, Chino Hills, CA). Chris is still dealing with the effects of a car accident over a year and a half ago. He needs hernia repair and an abdominal reconstruction due to injuries he sustained during the accident. This is a very large surgery which will require 5+ hours of surgery. Please pray for the best plan from the doctors and choosing the right surgeons to give Chris the best path to a full recovery.

Schools we are praying for the week of March 26:

Pacific Lutheran Junior/Senior High School, Gardena, CA

Sherman Oaks Lutheran Children’s Center, Sherman Oaks, CA

Trinity Lutheran Preschool, Temecula, CA

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 Tuesdays.