English District of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
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God in All Things - Without Borders | |
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Rev. Dr. Peter E. Mealwitz
July 28, 1935 to November 13, 2023
The Rev. Dr. Peter E. Mealwitz entered eternal life on Monday, November 13, 2023. He was preceded in death by his wife, Claudette, and is survived by his three children and five grandchildren. A private burial service was held at Brookdale Cemetery in Elyria, OH. A memorial service will be announced at a future date.
Please keep the Mealwitz family in your prayers.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Revelation 14:13
Obituary - Rev. Dr. Peter E. Mealwitz
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Call Returned
The Rev. Scott D. Kruse (South Wisconsin District) has returned the Divine Call to serve as the Sole Pastor of Concordia, Berwyn, IL.
Call Received
The Rev. Scott D. Kruse (South Wisconsin District) has received a Divine Call to serve as the Sole Pastor of Peace, New Berlin, WI.
The Rev. Aaron D. Sterling has received a Divine Call to serve as the Sole Pastor of Faith, Springfield, MO (Missouri District).
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Our English District 1-1-1 serves as a model for other districts for mission funding. LCMS Central Illinois District has produced a frequently asked questions video about “A Dollar for Missions”, featuring Rev. Dr. Ken Schurb, Stewardship Executive for the LCMS Central Illinois District, which is worth watching.
Click here to watch the video.
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Not included in The English District Saga is a noteworthy discovery. Mr. Carl Thomsen served as our English District legal counsel for 37 years (1946-1983). At the time of Carl's death on July 31st, 1983, he had also served for 11 years as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and legal counsel of Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park in greater Detroit. He was significantly helpful to the English District-LCMS in Lutheran Church Extension Fund legal matters after the "Seminex era split" in 1976. He also was one of the founders of Detroit Lutheran High School, which eventually became four Lutheran high schools, three of which are still doing very well. This information was learned as a new book, God's Acre: The History of Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Parks, nears completion. We give thanks to Almighty God for Carl Thomsen's legacy of faithful service in God's Kingdom of Grace,
Rev. Dr. David Stechholz
English District Bishop/President Emeritus
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Bishop Hardy was recently interviewed by Rev. Thomas Engler about the renewed emphasis on 1-1-1. In this interview Dr. Hardy shares his heart and thoughts about 1-1-1 and its value to the mission of our English District. Please click here to watch the interview.
211,915… this is an amazing number. It could represent many things but for 1-1-1 it is the number of times an individual person, young and old, has put a dollar into one of the 1-1-1 collection boxes in 59 different participating congregations of our English District over the past five years. 1-1-1 is and has always been about many doing little and accomplishing much. $211,915 has been received by our District, above and beyond our regular District budget, to support and strengthen identified missions of our District as designated by Bishop Hardy. Our 2022-2023 1-1-1 identified missions were Logos, Philadelphia, PA and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine. Each of these missions received half of the 1-1-1 gifts received by our District in this time frame. Our 2023-2024 identified recipients are LCMS-U chapter just begun at Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington led by Pastor Marc DiConti and Nuer Language (South Sudanese) Ministry located at the Church of St. Mark - Lutheran, Mississauga, Ontario led by Pastor Philip Gai.
Of the 59 congregations that have participated over the years, 27 have participated every year. The dream from the beginning of 1-1-1 has always been that every English District congregation would participate in 1-1-1. To renew our emphasis of 1-1-1 we are intentionally focusing this year with the theme of “1-1-1 REIGNITED!”
This is the power of many giving a little as we are moved by God's Spirit.
Won’t you join us?
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Click here to read the November 2023 edition of the English District Evangelism Team newsletter. This issue focuses on using your local resources to share the Gospel.
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All Saints Campus Ministry | | |
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What Methods Work for Outreach?
Having stepped into the campus ministry at All Saints fairly recently, I have had lots of opportunity to learn and lots of opportunity to reflect: what actually works? How is it that connections are made and fostered that can bring students in and give us the chance to share Christ with them? In one way or another, this is a question that any congregation has to ask, regardless of whether or not they have a specific ministry or outreach, like All Saints does with campus ministry. How is it that people are concretely and effectively drawn into the congregation?
Click here to read more!
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Lutheran Witness Renewals & Rate Change | | |
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The annual subscription rate for the 2024-25 Lutheran Witness will be $20.65 U.S. and $29.65 (U.S. funds) for Canadian addresses. The churches should receive their renewal packets before the end of November, and they will be due the week of January 22, 2024.
Email info@englishdistrict.org or call the district office at 800.755.9335 with any questions.
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Campus Ministry at Carnegie Mellon University | | |
Pastor Eric Andræ (center/left in top photo, center in bottom photo) and students reach out with ice cream, invitation, and Jesus to incoming new students on campus at CMU. | |
New Campus Ministry serving Boston & Cambridge, MA | | |
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There is a new campus ministry in the New England District, intended to serve students at Harvard, MIT, Boston University, Northeastern, and other schools in or near Boston and Cambridge. If you have children or members of your congregation that are attending any of these schools, please email Rev. Miguel Barcelos with their names and contact information. He will be happy to invite each student to take part in this fellowship of Lutherans.
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Canada Corporation board chairman Jim Thielen addressing the delegates at the LCEF annual meeting on Saturday, November 11.
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Left to right: Andy Spaeth, English District; Linda Despaires, Atlantic District; Kristin Wellik, English District; Terry Leu, English District; Dan Lepley, DVP - English and SELC District; Patti Smith, SELC; Dennis McGavock SELC; Jim Thielen, English District and Canada Corporation; and Lain and Jon Palmer, SELC.
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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 December 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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Lutheran Federal Credit Union | | |
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Crosspoint, Sahuarita, AZ
Crosspoint Lutheran Church and Pastor Jason Hong welcomed new members. The church is currently meeting in a restaurant while their new worship and ministry center is being built.
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Faith, Watertown, WI
This photo was captured during the Children’s Message on Sunday, November 12. Thank you Pastor Seth Hoeppner for taking time to have a special message for the younger members.
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Shepherd of the Coast, Palm Coast, FL
Veterans Day weekend is always a special time at Shepherd of the Coast Lutheran Church. Pastor Greg Michel and Rev. Drs. Mark Schreiber and Matthew Prince (LCMS Naval Chaplain) led the congregation in worship. A full honor guard was present, as well as many veterans, the local sheriff, police officers, fire fighters, and first responders.
A highlight of the service was a “Rite of Healing and Purification” for all veterans, police officers, firefighters and first responders. Participants were given the opportunity to kneel at the altar, dip their hands in water, and be reminded of the gifts given to them in the waters of their Baptism. It was particularly meaningful to those who were wounded in soul, carrying the burdens of guilt in the performance of their duties.
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Peace, Palm Desert, CA
This Veterans Day Sunday, we honored our veterans. Vicar James Bowes, our soon to be Pastor Bowes (2024), led us in service. Vicar James spent 20 years as an active duty hospital corpsman. The anthem for each branch of the military was played as each military and/or family stood. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God was played, along with patriotic music that enhanced the service.
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God bless our Veterans One nation under God! | |
A luncheon was held. We were honored to be joined by Military from our local DAV. | |
Vicar James explained the meaning of each medal in his uniform. | |
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Advent, Zionsville, IN
Kindergarten through sixth grade shared poems, scripture, hymns and historical writings during our Fall Recitation Day. Each student recited a piece from memory in front of their peers and families. The program ended with a potluck and congratulations for all their hard work!
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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.
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Thanks for spreading the word!
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Please share the unique ministries of your school or congregation with the rest of the English 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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