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January 2003 

 
In This Issue
 
From the President
Ballot Deadline
Outreach Updates
Convention Voting Delegates
Youth Worker Inservice Training
1,175 Chosen Youth
Board Action
Camp Luther Seeks Director
Warm the Heart, Soothe the Soul
Call Information
Reach Out and Rejoice
Coming Events
Anniversaries

 Archives

From the President
A little girl sat quietly at the kitchen table, evidently deep in thought. Finally, with the simplicity of a six-year-old, she asked: “Mommy, doesn’t tomorrow ever come?” “Why, of course it does,” her mother responded. “Why do you ask?” The child thought for a moment and then replied: “Because every morning when I wake up, it’s always today.” In her childlike way, this little girl had given expression to an outlook on life that all of us well might ponder as we end one year and begin a new one. With Jesus as our Savior, every morning is indeed today—not yesterday with all its sin, failures and regrets—not tomorrow with all its fears and uncertainties—but TODAY, bright with God’s promise of His presence, care and love in Jesus Christ. The psalmist says it in this way: “I trust in you O Lord . . . my times are in your hands.” (Psalm 31:14-15) A blessed New Year as you go with your God, your trust in Him, your times in His hands.            -- President Eugene Gierke
 
Ballot Deadline
Congregations are reminded that ballots for various Nebraska District officers must be returned to the Secretary of the District, Pastor Arthur Brinkmeyer, 9th and Beaver, York, NE 68467, by FEBRUARY 1.  For more information, contact your pastor or congregational chairman.
 
Outreach Updates
  • “Tell the Good News About Jesus” Grants - All grant applications were due to the District Coordinator and will be forwarded on to St. Louis this month.  Congregations who receive grants will be notified by the Synodical Committee.
  • Harvesters for Christ - Congregations wishing to utilize Harvesters for Christ are urged to contact Rev. Al Tormoehlen in St. Louis at 314-996-1287.
  • Evangelism Resources - Current information and resources on evangelism and rural ministry are available on Synod’s website, www.lcms.org.
  • Pastor Jim Witt of Trinity, Blue Hill, has been appointed by President Gierke to fill the vacancy left by Pastor Jack Gillam on the Outreach and New Missions Commission.
  • The Cross-Cultural Workshop postponed from last September has been rescheduled for June.  Watch future Reporters and the District website, www.ndlcms.org, for more information.
 
Convention Voting Delegates
Congregational delegates to the Convention are strongly urged to attend one of the Bylaws Listening Post #3 meetings in February (click here for dates).  The Listening Post will involve reviewing LP #2 comments and an initial draft of the new Bylaws.  Participation is important, since the Bylaw information will be presented to delegates at the June Convention.  All meetings start at 7:00 p.m.
 
Youth Worker Inservice Training
Lay people who work with youth within their congregations are invited to find out what it means to have a purpose-driven group and what steps they can take to make their youth group purpose-driven. The workshop will be held Saturday, Jan. 25, at Lutheran High Northeast, Norfolk.  The $20 registration fee will include lunch.  Information was sent to all congregations, or call Susan Bray at the District Office for more information, 888-643-2961.
 
1,175 Chosen Youth
1,175 young people, adults and committee members gathered to celebrate being CHOSEN by God at the Nebraska District Youth Gathering in Omaha Nov. 22-24.  Click here for details and photos.
 
Board Action

The District Board of Directors took the following action at their Dec. 6 meeting:

  • Approved the Constitution and Bylaws of Zion+Peace, Omaha; Immanuel, Tilden; Grace, Franklin; Immanuel, Columbus; First, Papillion; St. John, Pilger; and St. Peter, Scribner.
  • Ratified LCEF loans to Zion, Omaha and St. Paul’s, Falls City.
  • Ratified the appointment of Rev. James Witt to the Outreach and New Missions Commission.
  • Ratified the appointment of Delwyn Harnisch to the Board of Directors of Lutheran Family Services.
  • Approved the 2003 Operating Budget.
  • Approved a renewal of the partnership between Holy Cross, Kearney and the District for campus ministry in Kearney.
 
Camp Luther Seeks Director

The Board of Directors of Camp Luther Nebraska is seeking applications to fill the position of Director of Camp Luther. Applicants must have previous outdoor ministry experience, the ability to bring vision and purpose and administration to current and future camp ministries, the desire to lead and serve in a camp community, be a trained church worker on the roster of the LCMS, and be a member in good standing with the LCMS. Visit www.campluther.org for more information about Camp Luther.

Names of interested individuals and resumes or further inquires can be sent to:

Julie Johnston, Concordia University, 800 N Columbia Avenue, Seward, NE 68434, 402-643-7405, 402-643-0561 (fax), jjohnston@seward.cune.edu.

 
Warm the Heart, Soothe the Soul
The 13th annual Women's Retreat will be held at St. John, Seward, on Feb. 8, from 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Featured speaker, Linda Evans Shepherd, is an author, speaker and nationally syndicated radio host of Right to the Heart.  Registration forms are available in area churches.  Call Linda Cahoon at 402-643-4817 for more information or to register.  More information is also available by clicking here.
 
CALL INFORMATION
ORDAINED MINISTERS

Calls Accepted

Rev. Timothy Heupel (FtW'78)

Candidate to associate, Beautiful Savior, Omaha

Calls Declined

Rev. Brad Birtell (StL'92)

St. John, Columbus, to Holy Cross, Dakota Dunes, S.D., and associate, Faith, Pierre, S.D.

Rev. Frank Brink (Colloquy'94)

Senior, Mt. Olive, Norfolk, to Trinity, Vallonia, and Faith, Salem, Ind.

Rev. Larry Fett (FtW'83)

Grace, LeMars, Iowa, to Peace, McCook.

Rev. Timothy Heupel (FtW'78), Candidate, to senior, Zion, Mitchell, S.D., associate, Trinity, Davenport, Iowa, and to St. Paul, Omaha.

Rev. Shawn Kitzing (StL'00)

Immanuel, Loup City, to Trinity, Amherst.

Rev. Greg Lucido (StL'00)

Swede Valley of Ashby, Faith of Hyannis, and Bingham of Bingham, to Zion, London, and Grace, Clarksville, Ark., and Trinity, Amherst.

Rev. Leonard S. Spiehs (FtW'91)

Resurrection, Sioux Falls, S.D. to St. Paul/St. Paul, Shelton/Kenesaw (Lowell).

  

COMMISSIONED MINISTERS

Transactions

Kassie (Kulow) Weaver (A'97)

Teacher candidate transfer from Texas District.

  
Coming Events

Pre-Lent Pastors' Conference, February 3-4, 2003

Women’s Retreat, St. John, Seward, February 8, 2003

Listening Post #3, Bethlehem, Crete, February 10

Listening Post #3, Trinity, Lexington, February 11

Listening Post #3, Good Shepherd, Fremont, February 12

Listening Post #3, Our Savior, Norfolk, February 13  

District LLL Convention, Emmanuel, York, March 21-23

Junior High Retreat, Camp Luther, Schuyler, March 28-29, 2003

Junior High Retreat, Camp Comeca, Cozad, April 4-5, 2003

Principals’ Conference, Leadership Center, Aurora, April 10-11, 2003

Nebraska District LCMS Convention, Concordia University, Seward, June 5-7, 2003

 
Anniversaries

Immanuel, Rising City, 120th, Feb. 23.

Zion, Juniata, 125th, June 8, 2003, with a 10:30 a.m. service and an afternoon service of praise and hymns.

St. Matthew, Cedar Bluffs, 125th, September 28, 2003

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