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| From
the President |
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FROM
THE PRESIDENT
. . . Songs in the Air! What is your favorite Christmas
carol or hymn? Is it "Joy to the World," "God
Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Oh, Come, All Ye
Faithful," or "Silent Night"? Many a choir, youth
group, or Bible Study group will take those and other carols to
nursing homes, shut-ins and hospitals. Thanks be to God!
My
favorite is 15 verses long! It was written by Lutheran Pastor
Paul Gerhardt, who lived in Germany from 1607-1676. Pastor
Gerhardt wrote 133 hymns, many of which are still sung today.
Hymns like "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" and
"Awake My Heart with Gladness." Gerhardt's life was
filled with struggle and challenge, but the Lord maintained in
him a gentle and strong spirit through Christ. The following are
my favorite verses of his Christmas hymn, "All My Heart
This Night Rejoices" (taken from Hymn 77, TLH). I
offer them for your meditation. You may also want to write a
verse or two in a Christmas card or letter. In 1715, Carl von
Borgatzky, who also became a great hymn writer, was brought by
these verses to a clear understanding of how the Christ-Child
saved him by faith.
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All
my heart this night rejoices
As I hear Far and near
Sweetest
angel voices.
"Christ is born," their choirs are singing
Till
the air ev'rywhere
Now with joy is ringing.
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If
our blessed Lord and Maker
Hated men, Would He then
Be
of flesh partaker?
If He in our woe delighted,
Would
He bear All the care
Of our race benighted?
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Hark
a voice from yonder manger,
Soft and sweet, Doth entreat:
"Flee
from woe and danger.
Brethren, from all ills that grieve you
You
are freed; All you need
I will surely give you."
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Guilt
no longer can distress me;
Son of God, Thou my load
Bearest
to release me.
Stain in me Thou findest never;
I
am clean, All my sin
Is removed forever.
. . . President Russ Sommerfeld
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| Cheerful
Givers! Sacrificial Givers! Thanks Be to God! |
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"
. . . God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7b. The
Nebraska District is blessed with congregations who give
cheerfully for the common missions of the District and Synod.
After a difficult summer of drought and economic downturn, some
Nebraska District congregations have been powerfully moved to
give significant offerings to support the missions and services
of District and Synod. What a joy to see God work such
generosity!
$1,500,000
from the offerings received by the Nebraska District are sent on
to support the common mission of The Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod. Another $1,611,549 has been budgeted for use in mission
outreach across Nebraska.
During
the trying summer the District did not receive from its
congregations a projected $248,000 for the work of District and
Synod. But October and November have been blessed! Generous
congregations have reduced the shortfall to $148,000. What
generosity will God work through His people in December? He
knows. It is His mission. And congregations are inspired to
pray, serve and give. What a joy to give the Gospel of Christ at
Christmas!
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| Called
to Glory |
| Margaret
R. (Holscher) Stelzer, wife of Rev. Harold T. Stelzer,
pastor Emeritus, departed this life on Thursday, Oct. 23, at the
age of 81. Pastor Stelzer served St. Peter, Elk Creek, and
currently serves Christ, Lincoln. Letters of condolence may be
written to Rev. Harold Stelzer, 3150 Jasper Court, Lincoln, NE
68516 . . . Brandon
G. Boettcher, son of Rev. Don and Norma Boettcher, Spencer,
departed this life on Sunday, Oct. 26, as the result of an
automobile accident at the age of 23. Letters of condolence may
be written to Rev. and Mrs. Don Boettcher, RR 2, Box 110,
Spencer, NE 68777.
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| Journey
to the Manger |
| Experience
the "Journey to the Manger," a journey back in time to
that first Christmas when the promise of our Savior was
fulfilled. Experience the difficult journey to Bethlehem, the
bothersome Roman soldiers, the bustling market place, no vacancy
at the inn, and finally the peace-filled manger. Renew your
Christmas spirit on Friday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 7. Tours
are from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Zion, Worms, 1655 Worms Rd., St.
Libory. Call 1-308-894-8625 for more information.
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| German
Advent Service |
| Mount
Calvary, Omaha, located at 5529 Leavenworth St., invites you to
attend an Advent service conducted in the German language on
Sunday, Dec. 21, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Rev. Edmund Schafer of
Ascension, Marianna, Fla., will be the guest preacher. All are
invited to join in refreshments served by the Mount Calvary
Ladies Aid following the service.
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| Seeds
of Hope Awards |
| Rupert
and Ruth Dunklau, Ruth Henrichs, Rev. Dr. W. Theophil Janzow and
Rev. Dr. Reuben and Darlene Swanson will each be recognized with
a Wheat Ridge Ministries' Seeds of Hope Award at a ceremony Jan.
17 in Omaha. The Seeds of Hope Award recognizes individuals for
their exemplary dedication and commitment to serving in
ministries of health, hope and healing.
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| Christmas
Blessings |
 As
we joyously travel through the Advent season and look forward to
celebrating God's gift of His Son, Jesus, the elected and
appointed officers of the Nebraska District, as well as the
staff at the District Office, extend to all members of the
District their warmest wishes for a holiday season filled with
the real joys of Christmas. |
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CALL
INFORMATION
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ORDAINED MINISTERS
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Calls Accepted
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Rev. Don Thompson (FtW'90), St. Paul, Cambridge, to Trinity, Cortez, Colo.
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Calls Declined
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Rev.
Ronald Benson (FtW'01), associate, Trinity,
Grand Island, to associate, Trinity, Lincoln.
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Rev.
Brad Birtell (StL'92), St. John, Columbus, to
senior, Grace, Wayne.
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Rev.
Steven Heinsen (StL'96), associate, Christ,
Norfolk, to St. Peter, East Peoria, Ill.
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Rev.
Garry McCracken (StL'98), Messiah, Lebanon,
Ill., to Zion (Worms), St. Libory.
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Rev.
David Palomaki (StL'87), Redeemer, David City,
and Immanuel, Rising City, to St. Paul, Iron River, and Sion,
Amasa, Mich.
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Coming
Events |
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West
Point Circuit Visit, St. Paul, West Point Dec. 7
Spring
Pastors' Conference Feb. 2-3, 2004
Nebraska
District LLL Convention, Arapahoe March 19-21, 2004
Principals' Conference, The Leadership Center, Aurora April 15-16,
2004
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Anniversaries |
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Grace,
Neligh,
75th, April 18 with a special service at 10:30 a.m.
Good
Shepherd, Fremont,
50th, July 17-18 with
a special worship service featuring Dr. Dale A. Meyer July 18 at
2:00 p.m.
St. Paul, Kenesaw, 100th, July 25, 2004, with
guest speakers Dr. Dale A. Meyer and Rev. John Diener and a noon
meal. Call 1-402-752-3240 to register for the meal.
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LCEF
Christmas Greetings |
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LFS
Christmas Greetings |
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