Proverbs 3:5-6

In the fast-paced world that we live and serve in, sometimes it seems like things are just happening so fast and we can’t be in control of them. We turn around and another day has come and gone with so many tasks and duties left incomplete.

We are reminded in Proverbs that when we put our faith and confidence in Christ, we will rest better, be well, and in His arms. Our path will be made straight when sometimes it seems so crooked. When we try to handle the challenges and path on our own, we fall short. But, by the grace and love of Christ when we put our trust in Him, He makes our path straight and we will be able to serve better.

We know that God is our salvation and defense as we read in Isaiah 12:2, “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense. He has become my salvation.”

We are sinners, but Jesus paid the price for us out of great love to deal with our sin and its punishment. Through faith in Him, our paths will always be made straight as He leads.

As we place our faith and trust in God, we can all be thankful that God holds us in the palm of His hand and gives us what He knows is best for us. So, when trials come, step back and know God’s plan is perfect. Stay in the Word. Take care of yourself to be Well. Use your words and life as a Witness. ‘In All Things,’ God is faithful.

Remember each day – Christ loves you and holds you close.

Serving the Master Teacher,

Lois Stewart

Ann Ciaccio currently serves as Director of Communications for the LCMS Northern Illinois District. Ann and her husband, Steve, live in Batavia and have two young adult daughters. In her role as a communicator, she likes to keep John 13:34-35 in focus for the words she uses. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Pastor Tom Johnson has the privilege of working in Ethnic Ministry Development. He works to encourage and equip a diversity of pastors and congregations to reach out to their neighbors in all of their various backgrounds, languages, and cultures. He believes Gospel ministry is inherently intercultural and global ministry. Jesus came to bring life and salvation to the whole world.

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” Revelation 7:9-10

Empower IL Zooms have been scheduled for each region of elementary schools. If you have not had the opportunity to join in on a Zoom and would like to learn more about Empower IL and the student tax credit, please email me at lois.stewart@nidclms.org for a link.

Plan to join us on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. for our next Early Childhood Educator Zoom. The topic will be ‘Social Media Presence’. Watch for the Zoom link to be sent out.

All Free Standing Early Childhood Center Directors, Elementary Administrators, and High School Administrators need to submit their School Statistical Report by November 1, 2021. Emails have been sent out with some helpful information and contacts.

If you do not have access to your information, please contact Rosters and Statistics:

a. Contact the LCMS Church Information Center at 888-843-5267.

b. Use the “Help” link on the LISN login page to connect with a Rosters and Statistics staff member.

Again, I do not have school access information for your school. That is considered confidential for you as an administrator.

Please remember that your staff must do the sexual harassment training again this year. After they do the online training, please put their certificate of completion in their personnel file.

As the school year continues, please know, once again, that professional development credit is available through Concordia University Chicago. Administrators are asked to contact Catherine Nessling at Catherine.Nessling@cuchicago.edu. Catherine is the person you will want to contact in order to request professional development credits be offered for your in-house PD. This might be related to: student growth, curriculum development, etc. related to state standards. Please make sure to contact her at least a month ahead of time.

We are blessed to be a blessing. May we use our blessings this year to support the education of children in Belize. The 2021-2022 NID ‘Hearts for Jesus’ program is dedicated to supporting the Scholarship Program in Belize. Please consider making this a ministry that you support.

Thank you to everyone who participated in Bringing It For Belize. It was a great event.

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