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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Rev. Mark Alan Steinke
May 13, 1959 – September 15, 2021
Rev. Mark Alan Steinke was called to glory on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. Pastor Steinke was actively serving Tree of Life Lutheran Church in Inverness, FL when he was called to his eternal rest. Mark is survived by his wife, Laurie; their daughter Sarah (Derek) Augustynowicz of Highland, IN; and their son Tim Steinke of Boston, MA.
Funeral services of comfort for God’s people and gratitude for Pastor Steinke’s life were held on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at Charles E. Davis Funeral Home in Inverness, FL and also Tree of Life Lutheran Church, Inverness, FL.
Please keep the Steinke family in your prayers.
“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord!”
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On Sunday, September 19, 2021, Bishop Jamison J. Hardy officiated the installation of Rev. James Elsner as Associate Pastor of Peace, Fremont, IN. |
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Call Received
The Rev. Eric Moffett, Foothills, Calgary, AB, Canada (LCC-West) has received a call to serve as sole pastor of Redeemer, Sarnia, ON, Canada.
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PASS ME
We hear the words of Jesus in Mark 9:50, “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” You also may be able to recite by heart the words of St. Paul in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” But would you ever be caught saying, “Pass Me”? You are the salt of the earth after all. Either we don’t believe that salt really makes a difference (which we all do - especially when the doctor puts you on a sodium-free diet) or we don’t know how to apply it to our daily lives as witnesses of Jesus.
Once at a meeting, some young people were discussing the words of Jesus, “Have salt in yourselves.” They then “googled” the various uses of salt and its value in our modern world compared to ancient times. Then one girl simply said: “Salt makes you thirsty.” They all got quiet and thought for a moment. Suddenly they all blurted out in unison, “Have we ever made our world thirsty for Jesus just by being around us?” What about you? Read this article as encouragement to BE who you are and remember what is in YOU. To the world you might be just one person, but to that one person, you might be the world. Your life, salted and fired, will bring out the best in others making them thirsty for the things of God.
Image Copyright © 2015 HarperCollins Christian Publishing.
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Hey, did you hear about Bob? Bob turned up 10 minutes late for tee off. “You’re late Bob” says Alan. “Sorry” says Bob. “Because it’s Sunday I have to toss a coin to see if I go to Church or Golf for the day.” “Fair enough” says Alan, “Why are you so late then” “Well” says Bob, “I had to toss it 20 times”. Golf. A game that can be described as an endless series of tragedies, obscured by the occasional miracle. Would you say that Bob spent considerable effort to see a miracle that morning on the golf course? What are the odds of that? |
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In just a few weeks at the Regionals, your odds will be better than Bob’s! There will be 12 gifts. 12 signed books, Connected To Christ: Witnessing in Everyday Live gifted from author, Rev. Dr. Mark Wood at each of the 4 Regional Conferences. Your Evangelization Team will be giving away 3 books at each event. One to the first three people at each event who will promise to read and write a personal review of this gem of a book. We have obtained copyright permission from CPH. Rev’s. John Diener and Mark Wood have created a free study guide to go along with the book. The odds are better than Bob’s that you will win at Connecting people to Christ, because God waters and grows the seeds you plant. Too bad Bob didn’t get to church. He whiffed 19 times…. 20. No one knew how to connect him to Christ?
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Stephen Ministry Online Leader Training |
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Stephen Ministries in St. Louis, MO has a new online training available for leaders to meet the increased needs for care in congregations and communities: the Bridge Leader’s Training Course.
This live, interactive online course fully equips lay leaders, church staff, and pastors to begin and lead Stephen Ministry in their church. It makes full use of the brand-new Stephen Ministry training materials we recently redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up, helping congregations more effectively meet the ministry challenges of a changing world. Click here for more information.
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My quiet Saturday morning ended abruptly when my 12-year-old son, Billy, and one of his friends burst through the door. "Hey Dad," announced Billy, "Have you met the new neighbors?" "No." "Come on Dad, you have to meet them." "Some other time; I'm busy." "Dad, you have to meet them now." From the urgency in Billy's voice, I assumed the neighbors were waiting outside. I set aside my project and went to the front of the house. No one was there. "Where are they?" I asked. "Well, Dad," he explained, "we haven't met them yet either, but OUR BASEBALL IS IN THEIR LIVING ROOM!" - Pastor Tim @ Cybersalt.
But, there’s a safer way than a baseball accident to learn about your church neighbors. And, how can we learn about the new normal in our neighborhoods? When a new national or regional brand store or restaurant moves to town, they do demographic research. Some of these same premiere tools are available to your church for free. This service is paid for by your English District Lutheran Church Extension Fund. The summer 2021 updated research tools are provided by MissionInsite. – Your Evangelization Team.
Click here to learn about the new normal in our neighborhoods.
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In All Things, Youth Gathering 2022 |
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IN ALL THINGS!
Greetings and blessings to you on a beautiful fall morning here in northeast Ohio. Some of our trees are just starting to change and the fall colors are going to be exceptional this year. Surely our God is In All Things!
Finally, I’m excited to share for the first time the English District button! This button was designed and produced by one of our District youth! It features the Youth Gathering logo, the In All Things theme, and the fact that the English District is Without Borders. Thank you, Joey Scholl, for your excellent design!
In All Things,
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LCEF District Vice President Dan Lepley visits Ontario |
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Rev. Dan Lepley was blessed to visit congregations in Ontario with Derek Mathers, Assistant to the Bishop. While COVID-related restrictions are much more stringent than in the states, the Gospel is free to roam and continues to bear fruit for Christ’s kingdom. The churches in Canada reflect the diversity in the body of Christ and highlighted the inroads being made into immigrant communities.
In response to the closing of Lutheran Church Canada’s East District Church Extension Fund, the English District Canada Corporation is providing loans and investment opportunities to our sister congregations in Ontario.
English District congregations visited were Hope, Kitchener; St. Mark’s, Mississauga; St. Matthew, Scarborough; St. Luke, North York; Christ, Aurora; Grace, Mitchell; Our Saviour, Chatham; and Redeemer, Sarnia. Along the way visits were made to Independent Lutheran churches of First, Kingsville and Christ the King, Port Rowan as well as LCC congregations Good Shepherd, Barrie and Peace, Tillsonburg.
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LCEF District Vice President Dan Lepley, Congregational Chair Steven Sieunarine from Hope, Kitchener, ON. and Rev. Derek Mathers, Assistant to the Bishop.
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LCEF District Vice President Dan Lepley and Pastor Dusan Tillinger with leaders of First Lutheran Church, Kingsville, Ontario. |
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District First Vice-President, Pastor Jeff Miskus and LCEF District Vice President Dan Lepley at St. Mark, Mississauga. |
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Pastor Dereck Pillay and leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Matthew in Toronto with LCEF District Vice President Dan Lepley.[Caption] |
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Left to right: LCEF District Vice President Dan Lepley, Rev. Larry Labatt of Christ the King Lutheran Church, Port Rowan, Ontario, (independent congregation) and Rev. Derek Mathers, Assistant to the Bishop. |
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Rev. Gerald Luck of Grace Lutheran Church, Mitchell, Ontario with LCEF District Vice President Dan Lepley. |
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Pastor Justin Laughridge of Church of St. Luke’s Lutheran, Toronto with LCEF District Vice President Dan Lepley. |
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Around table from left: Nelson Santos, Mayor of Kingsville; Becky Bunn, First Lutheran Church Executive Director; Joe Oswald, Hogs for Hospice CEO; Dave Glass, First Lutheran Church Board of Trustees spoke person; Rev. Derek Mathers, English District Mission Executive; John Kraus, Board of Trustees member, and Rev. Dan Lepley, LCEF District Vice President. |
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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 October are located on our website.
Rev. Ryan Beffrey, Epiphany, Dorr, MI, recently had surgery. Pastor Beffrey is doing so well that the doctors released him from the hospital. Please continue to keep Pastor Beffrey in your prayers for a full and complete recovery.
Your prayers are requested for the Steinke family and the church family of Tree of Life, Inverness, FL.
For the Johnson family and for the members of Hope, Syracuse, NY upon the passing of Mr. Abednego Johnson, Lay Minister.
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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For more information, contact the English District Gift Planning Counselor Ron Grimm by phone (412)-584-7039 or email.
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Apostolic, Moses Lake, WA |
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Through the waters of his Baptism, John William was welcomed into the Apostolic Lutheran Church family on September 12. John is the son of Bryan and Elizabeth. |
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Apostolic also welcomed Kingsley Lynn Lucille, daughter of Andrew and Kira, to the church family through the waters of Baptism. Kingsley was baptized at Sacred Heart NICU, as she entered the world a month early. |
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Redeemer, Sarnia, ON
Sunday, September 19, Rev. Dr. Roger Ellis baptized Leah, daughter of Andrew and Alaina, into the Lord’s family. Big brother Cole helped with the baptismal candle.
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Fairlawn, Fairlawn, OH
Fairlawn Lutheran Church held their annual outdoor worship service, rally day, and church picnic which included an ice cream truck!
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First Trinity, Pittsburgh, PA
Pastor Eric Andrae, campus pastor at First Trinity, Pittsburgh, and the chaplain for Lutheran Student Fellowship, was the co-host and speaker at the Women’s Choice Network banquet on September 16. Women's Choice Network is a life-affirming pregnancy services center in Pittsburgh, PA.
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Messiah, Danville, CA
Messiah Lutheran Church welcomed Deaconess Pam Boehle-Silva and her husband, Dennis. They shared with the congregation about their mercy work in Kenya. Included were updates on the water purifier project as well as plans for a hospice house! Pam and Dennis are pictured with Pastor Peter Ledic.
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Holy Trinity, Albion, PA
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church hosted Heavenly Fries, an outreach/fund-raiser on September 14-18, 2021 as part of the Albion Community Fair. The fair is in its 87th year, and Heavenly Fries has become a tradition at the fair over the last 60 years. Over 6,500 servings of fries were distributed this year. Despite rising production costs, members, families and friends of Holy Trinity volunteered their time to keep the price at a low $3.00 a serving. About 100 coupons for free fries were distributed by Pastor Michael S. Taylor, who was on site daily to offer prayer for anyone who asked when he wasn't serving fries himself. Fans of our fries also donated over $300.00 for the seminary student Holy Trinity supports at Concordia Fort Wayne. The congregation would like to thank Elder Dale Klobusnik and his wife Lyn who have done all the behind-the-scenes planning for many years. The connections and good will made with the public by Heavenly Fries are priceless. Patrons say that the Heavenly Fries, lovingly referred to as Jesus Fries, are the best at the fair. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! - Psalm 34:8a
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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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Livestreamed/Recorded Services |
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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.
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If you'd like to share our emails, please forward
using your email's forwarding option.
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