English District of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
Servant to Servant
Greetings!
May 22, 2020
Appreciation for Congregations and Workers
District staff and leadership express the District’s appreciation for the servants of God in our English District churches and schools. Watch the video here .
 
Divine Calls
Call Received and Accepted
The Rev. Robb C. Ring, Candidate Status (Pacific Southwest District), has received and accepted a call to serve as Assistant Pastor at Immanuel, Orange, CA.

Calls Accepted
Ministerial Candidate Devin Burmeister has accepted the call to serve as Associate Pastor at Beautiful Savior, Lee's Summit, MO

Ministerial Candidate Titus Utecht has accepted the call to serve as Sole Pastor at Sherman Oaks, Sherman Oaks, CA.
In Remembrance

The District office will be closed Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day (U.S.).
Guide to Reopening Churches
There isn’t a "flip the switch" moment when we will be back to normal, so ongoing, constructive, evaluative conversations are necessary. 
 
There are no black and white answers, nor a one-size-fits-all way to respond. There are best practices, common sense behaviors, and actions that are medically advisable, but no plan will fit every situation. It is appropriate to distinguish between urban and rural settings as well as large, mid-size, and smaller congregations as leaders craft a plan that maintains health and wellness while allowing for services to resume.

English District COVID-19 Soldiers of the Cross Grant Endorsement Application
The Soldiers of the Cross grant is available to all rostered church workers who serve in English District ministries (congregations, schools, and RSOs.) The fund is for temporary relief for those suffering economically as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To download more information and the application click here .
Livestreamed/Recorded Services
We encourage everyone to take advantage of alternative opportunities to hear God’s word and to be blessed by the Divine Service. We have compiled a list of opportunities on the English District website that is continually updated.

If your congregation is recording or live streaming and is not included on this list, please email us at info@englishdistrict.org and let us know how people can access it.

New to live streaming? The LCMS has an instructional video to help you.
1-1-1 A Dollar for Missions
One Dollar - Per Member – Per Week
In May of 2019, we invited congregations to walk with us in faith and undertake the “Dollar for Missions” mission fundraising initiative. Many congregations and individuals have responded since that time, and we are now able to announce to you that a gift has been sent to both Holy Cross Lutheran Mission & Tree of Life Lutheran Church in support of the great work they are undertaking in God’s Kingdom! We were so honored to speak about these congregations and their mission around the District over the past several months, and now we are rejoicing at the opportunity to share what God has provided as an answer to prayer. View video message from Missions Council chair Rev. Justin Laughridge  here.

Contact our District Mission Executive, Pastor   Derek Mathers   or Pastor  Justin Laughridge , Chair of the Missions Council, with any questions regarding 1-1-1.
Continuing Education
English District pastors are invited to participate in a continuing education class entitled “Letters from a Lonely Lutheran: Confidence and Joy Under the Cross”. The class will be led by Dr. John Pless and it will be held June 30-July 2, 2020   at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (Pacific Southwest District), 1421 W. Ball Rd., Anaheim, CA 92802. This class will examine the pastoral letters of Hermann Sasse (1895-1976) as he encouraged brother pastors the world over to continue steadfast in the hope that does not disappoint. The class is worth 1.5 CEU.

Anyone interested may register online .
PPP Loan Forgiveness Requirements
If your congregation or ministry received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, there will be documents and detailed accounting required for maximizing the loan forgiveness. Start preparations now for maximum loan forgiveness at the end of the 8-week covered period. Read more

This link and more can be found on the PPP Loan Information page of our website.
Concordia Technology Blog

Interested in how content mapping can help personalize your web presence? Read more here.
Ministerial Health Commission
Your English District Ministerial Health Commission is here to be a confidential sister or brother in Christ, walking along side of you. We strive to be a listening ear with a non-judgmental heart, supporting you where you are, not where anyone thinks you should be! We will encourage, not chastise, listen without advising, and pray without ceasing for you. May God grant you the strength to reach out if and when you need it.
Worker Wellness
“Building Up the Body: Worker-to-Worker” is a series of church worker wellness devotions on t he LCMS website. The focus for this week is Relational Wellness .

You can also find more wellness resources at lcms.org/wellness including Covid-19 pandemic resources.
Quick Reference Guide for Disasters & Pandemics
LCMS Disaster Response has developed a  Quick Reference Guide for Disasters and Pandemics  for use by church workers. They hope that it is useful to you in your duties. It is available under Resources on the Disaster Response page of the LCMS website  and on their Facebook page . Please pass it along to all those who could benefit from it.
 
The Lord keep you as you continue to work in His church to bring mercy and hope to the afflicted and the fearful.
Prayer Requests
Your prayer concerns are important to the English District. When you submit a prayer request, with your permission, it will be posted in this weekly eNewsletter. The Bible's promise is true: "If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" (1 John 5:14).

Pray for the people of mid-Michigan, thousands of whom have lost their homes because of the flooding.

Get the District's June Prayer List.

Email   prayer requests to Holly Scheer .
In Our District
English District Board of Directors

COVID-19 and shut downs haven't stopped the English District Board of Directors from meeting to take care of the District!
Kaster Family Update

The Kaster family is serving God in Prague. Read their update here .
English District Financial Aid - Deadline for submission is June 1st
 
English District Financial Aid information is available on the English District  website.   Please read the material carefully.

If you have any questions, please contact Gail Holzer.
In Our Churches
Immanuel, Alexandria, VA

Hannah Grace, newborn baby daughter of Rebekah and Jason, was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Welcome to God's family!
In Our Schools
Faith Preschool of Jacob's Well, Fort Wayne, IN

Drive through goodbye to students at end of the year.
Holy Cross, Cleveland, OH

Teachers dropped off signs to congratulate their students on graduating!
Lambs of Faith, Naples, FL

Congratulations to the graduates!
For more information contact the English District Gift Planning Counselor Ron Grimm by phone ( 412)-584-7039 or email .
There are key times in ministry when you need to provide personalized communication. But how do you do that efficiently and effectively? In this Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) Ministry Moment video , Vice President of Ministry Support, Rev. Mark Frith, has a few tips and tricks to help you and bless others.

A new video for school administrators titled " Leading Your School Out of the Crisis" is available here .

If you are interested in moving your ministry forward with ideas like these, please get in touch with David Thiele ! LCEF is here to support you and your congregation.
Church Mutual is proud to announce the creation of the “CM CARES COVID-19 Protecting the Greater Good Recovery Fund.”
We understand the heavy toll that the COVID-19 global health crisis has taken on communities throughout the United States. The impact has resulted in more Americans than ever in need of assistance. During this difficult time, Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. (a stock insurer) 1  is stepping up and offering financial support to help the communities where we live and do business.
 
That’s why CM CARES, the Church Mutual Insurance Company Foundation, has established a $500,000 “COVID-19 Protecting the Greater Good Recovery Fund.” This fund prioritizes donations to support essential needs provided by 501(c)(3) religious, education, nonprofit/human services, senior living and camps organizations that are experiencing increased demand for services and/or supplies caused by the pandemic.
 
We are pleased and humbled to share this opportunity with you. We are inviting eligible nonprofit organizations to apply for a donation up to $2,500.
Contact David Thiele, English District LCEF Vice President, by email or phone 517-980-2857.

Please share the information from Servant to Servant with members of your congregation.
 
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Please share your congregation's or school's unique ministries with the rest of the District. Send pictures and stories for consideration to  Holly Scheer  by Wednesday, 12:00 pm 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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