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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The Council of Presidents of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod met in April 2022. Synod President, Vice Presidents, and District Presidents paused for a group photo shot. In addition, the District Presidents who will be leaving office were also photographed. A special thank you to the outgoing District Presidents for faithfully serving their districts. |
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On Sunday, May 15, 2022, The Rev. Marcus A. Williams was installed as Senior Pastor of Blessed Sacrament, Hayden, ID. Bishop Jamison J. Hardy officiated the service.
Pictured: Bishop Jamison Hardy, Rev. Marcus Williams, Rev. Dr. John Bombaro
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Call Received and Accepted
The Rev. Robert J. Stevens, Crosspoint, Sahuarita, AZ, has received and accepted a divine call to serve as Sole Pastor of Mount Calvary, Estes Park, CO (Rocky Mountain District).
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English District Gala, June 12, 2022 |
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We are less than ONE MONTH AWAY from the 2022 English District Gala – Rooted in Christ!
The Gala, in support of the English District Endowment Fund, enables the incredible work of the missions and ministries of our district.
Join others around the District on June 12 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time for inspiring speakers, award presentations, online auction, and music in celebration of our ministry.
Click here to register today! That is the only way to participate in the online auction which will open on June 5th.
This year’s Gala promises to be informative and fun and boasts over $15,000 worth of items for the online auction including:
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A Pinarella Mountain Bike |
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Detroit Lions autographed footballs |
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Engaging Media on Life Issues |
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Sanctity of life issues have been front and center in the news of late. Have you been asked by members of the media to comment on this from the perspective of the church?
On Thursday, May 12, along with other District Life Coordinators, I had the opportunity to participate in a Zoom conference on media engagement, sponsored by the LCMS Life Ministry. Chaired by Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor, Director of LCMS Life Ministry, the conference included presentations from Dr. Kevin Armbrust of Lutheran Witness and the LCMS Reporter, Mr. Peter Slayton, social media manager for the LCMS, and Mr. Andrew Egger, LCMS layman and journalist.
Take home messages included the following:
1. When approached by the media to give the position of the Church on sanctity of life issues, keep 1 John 4:7-11 in mind. Maintain the focus on Jesus in all that you say, speaking explicitly as a Christian. Remember that journalists are approaching church workers specifically for their theological expertise, they have already spoken with the constitutional experts! It might be salutary to think through in advance what you might say if approached, and prepare notes to have on hand. You might also look at this as an opportunity to reach out to the journalist him/herself.
2. Don't prejudge. Most often, a journalist is simply trying to report on what the various stakeholders have to say on a given issue. If you know in advance with whom you will be talking, you might research him/her to anticipate any issues. Know that overt hostility from the press is very uncommon.
3. When speaking for a congregation/circuit/District on social media, it is important to stay on message. When countered with angry comments, take a lot of time to respond, and even consider letting it go.
I found this conference to be very helpful and encouraging. God has called us to the task of boldly, yet gently, speaking His Truth to others (including the media!), even in times of adversity (Colossians 4:6; 1 Peter 3:13-17). He has given us the words we need for the task (John 16:13-15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). If I may be of any assistance to you, please feel free to contact me. Thank you and know that I thank God for all He is doing through you and pray His richest blessings on your work in His Kingdom!
In Christ,
Roni Grad
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“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” is an English idiom that dates back centuries. The English Pecah Blogspot writers note that it even seems to be connected to Ecclesiastes 9 “A living dog is better than a dead lion.” This idiom, "A bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush", speaks to having certainty vs. uncertainty. But what if you could have more certainty? What if you could have all three birds in your hand?
What are the top three birds that protestant pastors and church leaders are trying to catch? Raising up leaders. Finding volunteers. Making disciples. Lifeway has recently surveyed hundreds of pastors to discover the top proficiencies they are seeking. Raising up leaders, finding volunteers and making disciples are three different birds. However, birds have a lot in common, so maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Because Synod’s triennial emphasis has been focusing on these same skills that pastors have on the top of their lists. Rev. Dr. Mark Wood, the Office for National Mission, and CPH, are continuing to create resources for meeting these challenges. And they are only a few clicks away. And they are price-less. Pastors, church leaders, and church members can view many of these learning modules and workshops from the comfort of their own homes, on their own schedules, any time, day or night, and meet up every few weeks for discussion. Click Here and on the links above to learn more. One bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Why settle for one when you can have three?
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Israel Study Meeting Tuesday, May 24 |
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The 2023 clergy and spouse tour to Israel has now been opened to all called "Ministers of Religion!" This will allow many more of our called workers and spouses to come to Israel at a deeply discounted rate, less than half the cost of most Israel trips. Join SELC District President Wally Vinovskis, Indiana District LCEF Vice President TJ Mattick, and English/SELC District LCEF Vice President Dan Lepley to learn about the Sea of Galilee region and this tour opportunity at one of the ZOOM meetings.
Tuesday, May 24 2022, 10:00 a.m. EST/7:00 a.m. PST Zoom Link
Tuesday, May 24, 2022, 9:00 p.m. EST/6:00 p.m. PST Zoom Link
Pictured: Markus Lepley, next to a Jesus Trail marker overlooking the Sea of Galilee
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Prayer Partners:
Please encourage your congregation members, family and friends to sign up to be prayer partners for the Convention. We are seeking prayers for all aspects of the convention: safe travel, the business of the English District, elections, activities, discussions, theological presentations, fellowship and to celebrate the English District’s ministries and missions. Click here for sign up. Scroll down to choose a time slot and then lift the needs of our delegates, staff, clergy and convention in prayer.
The Convention Workbook is now available for downloading on the District website. For those of you attending the convention, please carefully read the reports, biographical forms of those nominated, and proposed overtures presented in the Workbook. If you wish to print any part of the Workbook, you will need to do that before arriving at the convention. Electronic devices and laptop computers will be permitted in the delegate section and may only be used for convention business. There will be limited power outlets available in the convention hall.
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Five Minutes with a Missionary Podcast |
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LCMS International Mission has launched a new podcast, 5 Minutes with a Missionary. It’s a window into missionary life. As our missionaries talk about their experiences, savor the uniqueness of the places in which God has called them to serve — while finding common ground with your own role and service. Each episode features an unfiltered take on life abroad for the sake of the Gospel in the time it takes to pick up your drive-thru order or empty the dishwasher. It’s fun. It’s personal. It’s real. And it’s always an adventure.
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Volunteers Needed for Dominican Republic Trip in August |
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LCMS International Missions is looking for 8 more volunteers to serve in the Dominican Republic August 1-6, 2022 and provide a VBS-type program for our missionary kids. Spanish is a plus, but not required.
This is a time-sensitive request as the application deadline is May 26th. Please share their Facebook and Instagram information if you’re able to do so.
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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 June are located on our website.
Pray for the family of Joan Lorenz, wife of former English District Mission Executive Rev. Dennis Lorenz, who was called to her eternal home on March 27, 2022. Obituary
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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Ascension, Tucson, AZ
Congratulations to Maddie on her Confirmation May 15 — a great witness of her faith!
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Fairlawn, Fairlawn, OH
Another Rummage Sale is in the books! Thank you to everyone who donated goods, volunteered their time and attended the event. All proceeds will benefit the youth program and their youth and families are grateful to you!
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Trinity, Villa Park, IL
The men of Trinity Lutheran Church celebrate World Bourbon Day every year with a steak and bourbon night. This year about 60 men (many were visitors from the community) gathered together to taste top shelf bourbons, smoke cigars, grill and eat 2" hand cut steaks. Trinity member Chef Dino Apuzzo cut the steaks and served up baked potatoes, garlic shrimp, freshly harvested wild asparagus and sautéed mushrooms and onions to complete the feast. Not only is this a great outreach to the community, but it has become a favorite father and adult son activity.
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Shepherd King, West Bloomfield, MI
Welcome to the Pre-K Zoo! Last week was wild with activities. They made zoo portraits, created rainforest collages and even made flamingos. They also researched their favorite zoo animals. What a fun week!
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Little Lambs, New Berlin, WI
Thank you to the Peace Lutheran Quilters who made these beautiful 4k graduation quilts that will be auctioned off to some lucky 4k families!!
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Hope, Hastings, MN
Thank you Pastor Ken for all you do for the preschool! These kiddos are so lucky to have such a wonderful friend to help plant the love of Jesus in their hearts!
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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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