God in All Things - Without Borders

October 6, 2023

The Eastern Region Pastors Conference was held October 3-5, 2023, in Ocean City, NJ. Guest speakers included Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Boyle and Rev. Roger B. James. This was the first time the pastors' wives gathered at the Conference for a program of Bible Study and discussion.

Called to Glory – Rev. Christian G. Morales

December 21, 1946 to October 1, 2023

The Rev. Christian G. Morales was called to his eternal rest on Sunday, October 1, 2023. He was the pastor of Faith, Chesapeake, VA. Visitation and a funeral service were held earlier today with Bishop Jamison J. Hardy officiating.

Please keep the Morales family in your prayers.

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Revelation 14:13

Obituary - Rev. Christian G. Morales

Call Received

The Rev. Joseman T. Hoem (Indiana District) has received a Divine Call to serve as the Sole Pastor of Peace, New Berlin, WI.

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 identified missions were Logos, Philadelphia, PA and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine. Each of these missions received half of the gifts received. Our 2023-2024 identified recipients are the new LCMS-U chapter at Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington led by Pastor Marc DiConti and the Nuer Language (South Sudanese) Ministry 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 has always been that every English District congregation would participate. To renew our emphasis of 1-1-1 we are intentionally focusing this year with the theme of “1-1-1 REIGNITED!" Bishop Hardy was recently interviewed by Rev. Thomas Engler about this renewed emphasis. 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.

This is the power of many giving a little as we are moved by God's Spirit.

Won’t you join us? For more information on 1-1-1, visit our 1-1-1 page on the website.

Can I be baptized?

This story of conversion may sound like a fairytale, but it is not. It’s true. We may even wonder if God can bring a person to such a degree of faith that he declares, “I feel like I’ve always been a Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod believer.” This from a young man born into, not just a different denomination, but a different religion.

When I first heard this story, I wanted to shout the good news from the rooftops, but I cannot because possible harm could come to this student who has left his faith. Some students have been questioned by government representatives when they return to their home countries. To protect him I will do what Doorsteps (www.ISM inc.org, the LCMS publication published by the International Student Organization) has begun to do when they write about international students. I will share the great news but will omit mentioning real names and avoid photographs as well. I want to tell the story to encourage everyone to realize that God continues to give faith even in the most unexpected ways.

Click here to read more.

October has traditionally been designated as Pastor Appreciation Month — an opportunity for congregations to express, in various ways, their thankfulness to the shepherds who care for them.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) encourages congregations and school communities to use the month of October to demonstrate appreciation not only for their pastors, but for all workers in the parish and school — pastors, commissioned ministers, business managers, administrative assistants, teacher aides, custodians, cafeteria workers and everyone in between.

“These church workers are vital in our Christian faith and life, each according to their vocation,” said the Rev. Dr. James A. Baneck, executive director of the LCMS Office of Pastoral Education. “The pastor teaches us the Word of God for our eternal salvation. Teachers and commissioned workers assist him in specialized ways in the classroom, through youth ministry, music ministry and more. And all servants in the church are worthy of our deep appreciation and encouragement for serving us, the baptized children of God, and for their love for Christ’s church.”

Click here for ways to show your gratitude and support to the church workers in your congregation.

Concordia Lutheran Institute for the Holy Ministry, Yambio, South Sudan needs clergy apparel to outfit new vicars. Pastors, you are asked to check your personal and church closets to see if there are any extra albs with cinctures, clergy shirts with tabs, or other gently used ministerial clothing that may be donated for this cause. If so, please ship them to arrive by November 1, 2023 to: Robert L. Rahn, Lutheran Heritage Foundation, 51474 Romeo Plank Road, Macomb, MI 48042. Email any questions you may have to: rrahn@lhfmissions.org.

Pastors, Christian counselors, and interested lay people are invited to attend this continuing education class January 22nd-January 24th. 

Making Christian Counseling More Christ Centered

Many pastors and church leaders of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod realize that much of what passes for Christian counseling is based in the Law and not the Gospel of Christ. Dr. C.F.W. Walther said that properly dividing Law and Gospel in “private ministrations” is more difficult than in preaching and teaching. How can Lutheran pastors and other counselors better learn to properly distinguish Law and Gospel in counseling situations — and apply the Gospel as an antidote where needed? How can Lutheran pastors better equip the non-Lutheran Christian counselors they refer parishioners to with these critically important concepts? When should a Lutheran pastor refer a parishioner to a mental health specialist, perhaps even a non-Christian one, when the expertise needed falls into the “left-hand kingdom”? These and other complicated pastoral care questions will be addressed in hopes that the learners will become more confident and effective in their care of the souls entrusted to them. Click here to register.

High school students are invited to attend the Higher Things retreat on January 12th and 13th. 

Masks of God

Serving God goes far beyond being an acolyte on Sunday morning or helping with Sunday School and VBS. In your everyday life, you are a Mask of God. You carry the love of Christ to your neighbors in ways you may not even realize. Let’s explore how God the Father has gifted you to share his love with all your neighbors, not just your church family, and how important all of your work in this sinful world truly is. Click here to register.

First Lutheran Church of El Cajon 867 S Lincoln Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020

Transgenderism

Transgenderism is a major challenge to affected individuals, to families, to the Church, and to society. The prevalence of transgenderism has dramatically increased over the past several years.  Transgenderism could possibly lead an individual to sign onto non-beneficial medical and surgical therapies with short-term and potentially long-lasting side effects, including infertility.   

As the family is the basic building block of Church and society, it is easy to see the impact that Transgenderism, along with other similar challenges, has on both institutions. And notably, the Church is persecuted for proclaiming Biblical teaching.

Jesus died for all people. Our concern is the same agape love that all sinners have received from Him (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:19).

Our Synod has some wonderful resources to assist. We commend the brief article, Clarity and Care for Children with Gender Confusion by Dr. Brad Alles, which may be downloaded at

https://files.lcms.org/file/preview/family-ministry-article-clarity-and-care-for-children-with-gender-confusion. An older, yet more comprehensive statement from the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations may be downloaded at https://files.lcms.org/file/preview/9dS1vCGpE8bztLZ3r1XNLcduyDX4xOZy. Additionally, Concordia Publishing House has a number of very helpful materials.

Please feel free to reach out to your English District Lifeline team if we can be of any assistance to you on this or any other sanctity of life issue. We pray God’s richest blessings on you in your outreach to your transgender-identifying neighbors, as you seek to help these individuals receive the care and healing that they so desperately need.

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.

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.

Grace, Wyoming, MI

Grace Lutheran Church celebrated this past Sunday when Pastor Zachary Marklevitz blessed their new carillon and organ. Part of the blessing was a concert by Grace's musicians as well as Steve Smith who was the consultant for the building of the new organ. 

Holy Spirit, Elk Grove Village, IL

On the 16^th Sunday after Trinity, Olivia was baptized into Christ at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit.

Shepherd of the Canyon, Gold Canyon, AZ

Shepherd of the Canyon Lutheran Church, a mission congregation of the English District, held its first worship service in its new, partially remodeled space. The lumber and saws weren't a distraction and they even had some visitors! They are preparing for an October 29th dedication with Bishop Hardy as special guest. The team is working hard to be ready!

St. Mark, Janesville, WI

On October 1, 2023, St Mark Lutheran Church held its very first service with man’s best friend, the dog. Members and friends alike all brought their well behaved pooches and all went well. Other than a few well placed barks during the singing, the service was a great success and brought some new faces through our doors.

Redeemer, Pittsburgh, PA

The first and second graders at Redeemer Lutheran School had a "Rad" time at the Aviary this week. The classes were able to take advantage of free admission for Rad Days.

Concordia Little Lambs, Berwyn, IL

Preschool students at Little Lambs Preschool have been learning about our five senses! They are learning about our sense of hearing and are painting to different types of music.

Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elmhurst, IL is seeking to hire a church office secretary for 10-15 hours weekly. Responsibilities include managing the church office calendar, printing worship bulletins, answering emails, telephone reception, and other secretarial tasks as needed.

For all inquiries and interest in application, please call Pastor Oliphant at (630) 834-1411 or email at aoliphant@redeemerlcms.com.

ENGLISH DISTRICT LCMS

248-476-0039

info@englishdistrict.org

www.englishdistrict.org

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