English District of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
| |
God in All Things - Without Borders | |
|
On Sunday, February 11, 2024, The Rev. Scott Kruse was installed as the Sole Pastor of Peace, New Berlin, WI. Bishop Jamison Hardy officiated.
| |
Show Us Your 1-1-1 Container | | |
|
This 1-1-1 jar is from Faith Lutheran Church, Overgaard, AZ. Congregations are invited to send a picture of their container, with their congregation’s name and location to jmcgarr@englishdistrict.org. Watch for your container to be shared in an upcoming issue of Servant to Servant.
| |
Campus Ministry: Poster Opens Door for Conversation and More | | |
|
By Rev. Dr. Eric Andrae
One of our student leaders and I met Carl (32) at the CMU Fall Activities Fair back in September, as he was working for university security.
One of the large posters at our table (see picture to the right) had caught his eye. We struck up a conversation with him and learned that he had grown up Lutheran but had left the church in his 20's and become, in his own words, an “obnoxious atheist.” We invited him to First Trinity to “come back home.” The very next day, while at a local pub celebrating my birthday, Carl and I just happened to run into each other; he was very happy to see me and bought me a beer. Again, I invited him to church, and followed up with an email later, but a couple months went by without him coming to church.
For more of this story, click here.
| |
English District Evangelism Team | | |
|
The February evangelism newsletter titled "Podcasts: Easy and Cheap" is now available on our website.
| |
English District Financial Aid | | |
|
Financial aid is available to students in English District congregations enrolled in synodical-approved church work programs (pastor, teacher, DCE, DCO, deaconess, etc.) at a Concordia seminary or university. If you know of a student that will be enrolling at a Concordia university in the fall, please let them know about this opportunity.
The deadline for applying is June 1st.
Visit our website for more information.
| |
|
On February 10, Faith Lutheran Church, Tucson, AZ hosted the annual Arizona South Circuit Convocation. Rev. Dr. Gerhard Bode of Concordia Seminary spoke on how the Church has maintained her proclamation in times of persecution. The evening before, he addressed the group on the history and unique work of the English District. All who gathered to meet and hear Rev. Dr. Bode were richly blessed.
| |
2023 Congregational Statistics and Lay Leader Reports | | |
|
It is that time again to submit your congregation’s end-of-year statistics and update your current list of lay leaders.
Click here: LCMS Information Support Network for Congregations
Congregational leaders should use the same login information that was used last year to register for the Presidential Voters. If the username and/or password that was created for the congregation is unknown, follow the on-screen helps on the login page to recover the congregation’s credentials.
NOTE: As was the case last year, do not include online engagements or views in average weekly attendance. Average attendance includes only those who were physically present. If the congregation hosted any part of its worship services online during 2023, whether live or recorded, a separate online form will be available to provide that information once the regular 2023 statistics are submitted.
Up-to-date statistical information is essential for the Synod as it plans current and future ministry efforts. Such information is also critical for determining proper voting representation at conventions.
Online reporting is intended to help congregations honor their commitment as members of the Synod, as confirmed by the 2016 LCMS Convention in Bylaw 1.3.4.3:1.3.4.3 Congregations of the Synod, to enable the Synod to plan current and future ministry efforts and to lend accuracy and integrity to the Synod’s delegate representation and voting processes, agree to provide annual membership and statistical information to the Synod.
The lay leader list is used to send copies of the REPORTER and other LCMS ministry related mailings to congregation leaders. The REPORTER is sent, free of charge, to all Congregational Chairmen and Board of Elders Chairmen each month and will be sent to the other congregation leaders as funding permits. Emails for lay leaders will be increasingly important as channels for critical convention communications.
The deadline for congregation statistics and lay leaders reports is March 31, 2024, Congregational leaders may also review their congregation’s profile and lay leader information anytime throughout the year to make sure the contact information, service times, and other important data are current.
| |
Church Worker (Student Loan) Debt Reduction Grants Available | | |
|
The purpose of the English District Endowment Fund is to provide God's people with a unique opportunity to participate in a perpetual fund. This fund shall assist congregations and rostered workers alike. One aspect of the Endowment Fund currently being offered to Rostered Church Workers is a grant for financial assistance with their student loans. Those rostered workers who are currently serving (called workers) in an English District LCMS congregation or school are eligible to apply for this education indebtedness grant.
For a Church Worker (Student Loan) Debt Reduction Grant we ask that you complete an Application for Church Worker Transitional Assistance. These forms are available on our District website.
If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Derek Mathers at 1-800-755-9335. Deadline for applications is April 26, 2024.
| |
Roger D. Pittelko "Ille Dilexit Ecclesiam" Award | | |
|
Nominations are requested for the third annual Roger D. Pittelko Ille Dilexit Ecclesiam* Award (*He loved the Church).
The English District has created this award to recognize and celebrate pastors who have served God’s people well in the English District.
Recipients of this award must meet the following criteria:
- He is an ordained pastor who served in the English District.
- He has retired from full-time active parish ministry.
- He exhibited a lifetime of faithfulness to our God and service to God’s people through congregations and the wider field of the English District.
Download the nomination form from the English District website.
The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, March 8, 2024. The recipient of this award will be announced as part of the 2024 Professional Church Workers Conference.
| |
Lumen Christi Award Nominations | | |
|
The Lumen Christi award is presented to publicly recognize the service of educators, to further promote and encourage all professional and volunteer leaders/teachers who are active members of an English District – LCMS congregation.
The 2024 Lumen Christi Award nominations for the English District Professional Staff of the Year and English District Volunteer Educator of the Year are due by March 8, 2024. Nomination forms are available through the links above. The Lumen Christi Award Criteria and Definitions are available here. Please prayerfully consider making a nomination.
| |
|
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 March 2024 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.
| |
Contact Dan Lepley, DVP - English and SELC District Lutheran Church Extension Fund, for more information at 317-402-9401.
| |
Lutheran Federal Credit Union | | |
For more information, please contact our Lending Department at 314-394-2790. | |
|
12 of the 16 college students who participated in the Divine Service at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church on February 11 gathered behind some of the faithful of United Lutheran, the host congregation. Christ celebrates the Divine Service at 8:00 a.m. and United has their service at 10:00 a.m., so events like this Soup & Sandwich Luncheon offer a wonderful opportunity for the two congregations to fellowship together.
Christ Evangelical, West Olive, MI, is a new mission plant reaching out to college students at Hope College, and Grand Valley State University. They are served by Pastor Christopher Nuttelman, who also serves Hope Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
| |
Prince of Peace, Mesquite, NV | |
|
On February 9, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church held its first Campfire Fellowship. All are invited to gather at a national or state recreational park for fellowship, refreshments and goodies, and a devotion. They gathered at the Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area. Some members came just for the fellowship while others spent the night and continued the fellowship the next morning. Plans are being made for follow up fellowship events.
| |
|
Sherman Oaks, Sherman Oaks, CA
Sherman Oaks hosted their annual cookie walk with a Valentine's day theme.
| |
|
|
Chapel of the Cross, St. Louis, MO
What a wonderful celebration at Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church on Sunday, February 11 of God’s gift of marriage! Thank you to all who participated and served with your gifts and time for the annual Marriage Anniversary Service and reception.
| |
|
Family of Christ, Phoenix, AZ
Family of Christ Preschool hosted a Daddy/Daughter dance, creating precious memories in the process.
| |
|
|
Little Lambs, Berwyn, IL
The students learned all about birthdays and bears during "B" week at Little Lambs Preschool.
| |
|
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!
| |  |
|
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.
| | |
If you'd like to share our emails, please forward
using your email's forwarding option.
| | | | |
