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, January 16, 2022, Bishop Jamison J. Hardy visited with the members of Advent, Zionsville, IN. He was the guest preacher at both worship services, assisted with distribution during Holy Communion, and shared during Bible class about the “State of the District."
Pictured: Rev. Marcus MacKay, Bishop Jamison J. Hardy, and Rev. James Grady
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Call Received and Accepted
The Rev. Tyler C. Werner (Minnesota South District) received and accepted the call to serve as sole pastor of St. Mark, Sheboygan, WI.
Call Returned
The Rev. Dr. John J. Bombaro, Board of International Mission, St. Louis, MO, has returned the call to serve as sole pastor of Blessed Sacrament, Hayden, ID.
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Presidential and Vice-Presidential Nomination Reminder |
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The 2022 English District Convention is scheduled for June 20–22. Summer events might not be on our minds right after Christmas and New Year’s Day. But even if convention thoughts aren’t front and center, the February 20 deadline for congregations to submit nominations for President and Vice President is rapidly approaching.
Nomination ballots for President and Vice President were previously mailed to each congregation of the District. With the deferral of the District Convention from 2021 to 2022, congregations may have postponed decisions about nominations.
Congregations that have yet to submit nominations for President and/or Vice President may do so prior to the February 20 deadline. Some may have Voters Assembly meetings scheduled for January or February, which would provide an opportunity for those congregations to determine whom they wish to nominate.
If your congregation has already returned nomination ballots for President and/or Vice President, those have been received and recorded.
If any congregation needs new nomination ballots, please contact the District Secretary, Rev. Luke Zimmerman, who will supply replacements. Other questions about the Presidential and Vice-Presidential nomination process can also be directed to him. |
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February 20, 2022 is the deadline for the following:
Nominations for Board of Directors, Committee on Nominations and Endowment Fund Board of Managers
Circuit Visitor selection results
Submitting Overtures
Convention Delegate Accreditation Forms
More detailed information and forms are available on our website. |
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Convention Youth Delegates |
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Looking for youth of our District Circuits to attend the English District Convention being held at Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI Monday, June 20, 2022 to Wednesday, June 22, 2022 as Youth Delegates.
This is a wonderful opportunity to identify, encourage and support a high school youth (aged 14-18) to serve as your circuit’s youth delegate. Travel, lodging, and meals are covered.
During the convention the youth will have opportunities to experience convention proceedings. There will also be a servant event and a special evening event with the Youth Delegate Leadership Team. For more information please contact Pastor Derek Mathers..
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In light of the wonderful success of last year’s Gala, we are thrilled to announce that we will present Rooted in Christ, the 2022 English District Virtual Gala on Sunday, June 12, 2022 at 7:30 PM.
Pastors, we need your help in getting the word out about the Gala. Please read this flyer and help us reach every member of our congregations in the English District. Let's make this a grand success!
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WOW! Can you believe we are less than six months away from the Youth Gathering in Houston, July 9-13! It seems like yesterday I was writing that we were “just 18 short months away”. Time flies when we are having fun!
As of this writing, the English District has 13 congregations represented by 229 youth and adults registered for the Gathering. A few more congregations are in the process of registering. I’m excited to report that, despite all that is happening across our country, these numbers are slightly smaller, but consistent with past Gatherings. Should you or your group have questions about health and safety concerns please review the FAQ section of the Gathering website. Should you still have questions please contact me at Terleu4@gmail.com.
Registration remains open with a price increase scheduled on March 1st. The last total registration numbers from the Board of Youth Services states that more than 900 congregations will be sending more than 13,500 youth and adults to Houston.
Our District participants will meet and serve at Camp Lone Star on Monday, July 11th. This will be an opportunity to serve both God and our neighbors as we paint, fix, fellowship and enjoy the company of other English District people from across the country. Included in this event is a District t-shirt, button, lunch, and transportation. A generous grant from the English District Endowment Fund has helped make this event cost effective. Thank you very much! We are blessed in a way that many Districts are not. I will be contacting the primary adult leaders via email soon with registration details.
Finally, I would ask that every person and all congregations keep me, our district youth and most importantly, the adults who are giving of their time and talents, in your prayers. The challenges of taking a group of youth who are not your own part way across the country is a daunting task that is only possible with the help of God! Thank you, adult leaders, for ALL you do.
IN ALL THINGS!
Terry Leu
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Connected to Christ Monthly Book Review |
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Mark A. Wood is reshaping the understanding of Witnessing in Everyday Life. As words like evangelism, witnessing, and testimony build anxiety in many people, Mark brings us back to Scripture to remind Jesus’ disciples of what the great commission is truly about. Connected to Christ alleviates the concern about talking to the lost and uncomplicates our role as a witness.
In simple language, Mark asks the questions many neglect when it comes to bearing witness of Christ. This short book is written in two parts. Part 1 answers the who, what, when, where, and why questions. Who are the lost? What is a witness? When am I a witness? Where am I a witness? Why should I witness? Part 2, which is more than half the book, defines how we witness.
I deeply appreciate the simplicity and practicality in Connected to Christ. It will help Christ’s disciples to once again be bold in their witness and seize the opportunities Jesus makes all around us.
Brad Urlaub, Pastor
St. Mark Lutheran Church, Janesville, WI
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LCMS 2021 Congregation Year-end Statistics |
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Up-to-date statistical information is essential for the Synod as it plans current and future ministry efforts. Such information is also critical for determining proper voting representation at conventions. Every congregation should have received an email from Synod regarding their 2021 year-end statistics. (If they don’t have an email address, they have mailed a copy to the congregation.) The deadline for submitting statistics is February 28th. Please use the link in the email to complete them as soon as possible.
If you have questions regarding this process, please contact LCMS Rosters & Statistics at rosters.stats@lcms.org or 888-843-5267. |
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LWML Convention Information |
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Additional news can be found at the LWML English District website.
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Lutheran Witness Renewal Deadline |
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ATTENTION CONGREGATIONS! If you wish to make any changes to your current Lutheran Witness subscriptions for the coming subscription year (removals, additions, address changes), please return your completed renewal forms to the district office by January 24, 2022. When purchased through the congregation, the cost of a yearly subscription is $10.80.
All current subscriptions will renew automatically, so it is not necessary to return the forms if you don’t have any changes. If you are unable to locate your forms, contact the district office: info@englishdistrict.org. |
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Lumen Christi Award Nominations |
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Our gracious Lord blesses our English District by providing dedicated and talented professional and volunteer leaders/teachers in child, youth, adult, and family ministry areas. These servants of our Lord exercise their God-given gifts in many creative and unique ways to bless those they serve. The Lumen Christi award is presented to publicly recognize the service of educators, to further promote and encourage all professional and volunteer leaders/teachers who are active members of an English District – LCMS congregation.
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2022 LCMS YouthLead Leadership Training |
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YouthLead, formerly known as Lutheran Youth Fellowship, is an annual training event that is teen-led and gives teens the tools they need to mature in their faith, become leaders in their congregations, and reach out to their peers with the love of Christ.
The English District has sponsored and encouraged teens to attend this training for many years and would like to continue to send teens to this annual training to be held March 17-20, 2022 in St. Louis, MO. Please contact DCE Rod Lane at 402-499-0807 for more information. District stipends will be made available to help cover the cost to attend which is a registration fee of $375.00 per youth or adult plus travel expenses. Adults are not required to attend. English District Youth Coordinator Rod Lane will be attending and is comfortable chaperoning teens from other churches.
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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).
We pray for the family of Rev. Timothy Yeadon. New England District President, who was called to glory on January 17, 2022. May God grant them comfort and peace.
We pray for Rev. Gregory Musolf and family – at the passing of his father.
District daily prayers for February 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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Calling a Seminary Candidate/Requesting a Vicar |
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If your congregation is interested in extending a divine call to a seminary candidate or plans to apply for a vicar, please contact Kathy Stanis, Administrative Assistant, at 248-476-0039 ext. 320 or by email at kstanis@englishdistrict.org. A new version of the call documents is available (ver. 4.9.3). Do not use any older versions or the call documents will be returned for correction and resubmission. Call documents and vicarage applications must be received at the English District office no later than February 1, 2022. |
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Contact the English District Gift Planning Counselor Ron Grimm for more information at (412)-584-7039 or email.
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Ascension, North Olmsted, OH |
Abraham, son of Pastor Joshua and Mary Ulm, was born on January 10 and baptized on January 16 at Ascension Lutheran Church. Praise God for new birth of water and the Spirit! |
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During the week of Epiphany, Messiah Lutheran Church held their annual Epiphany Retreat. Dr. Arthur Just from the Fort Wayne seminary joined them as guest speaker, preaching on Epiphany and the Baptism of our Lord. He also led a study of themes in the Gospel of Luke and the epistles of Paul. During Bible study, Dr. Just taught about mission work and updated the congregation on his current mission work. |
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Sunday school students at Peace Lutheran Church had a chance to talk with their pastor, Rev. Greg Michel, about God’s gifts given to us at our baptism. |
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Hales Corners, Hales Corners, WI |
The January new member group enjoyed an evening of fellowship and food with other members. It was a great night for them to get to know one another and learn a little bit more about Hales Corners Lutheran Church! These new members will be officially joining the church on Sunday, January 23. |
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Redeemer, Pittsburgh, PA
Our second grade art students at Redeemer Lutheran School learned how to draw parakeets in art class using live models!
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Abounding Love, Lee's Summit, MO
Abounding Love Preschool sent $450 from their chapel offering to Lead A Child. The children wanted to support a Concordia school in Guatemala. They have been learning Spanish and about how other people live in the rest of the world. What a blessing to be able to share God’s love with others.
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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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