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Archives
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| Complete
Convention Coverage - Contact
the District Office to receive the tabloid issue of the July
Reporter with complete District Convention coverage.
E-mail Reporter@ndlcms.org
with your name and mailing address to request your copy. |
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| From
the President-Elect |
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Thanks be to
God! I thank God for His Word.
I thank God for His Son.
I thank God for His people.
I am grateful that the Holy Spirit led President Gierke
to conclude his faithful 12 years of service as Nebraska
District President with God’s Word given to Moses, Be
strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified … for the
LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake
you. (Deuteronomy 31:6).
I am confident that this Word of God will uphold all of
you even as it does me. I
have such assurance from that Word because we see it in action
in the Person of God’s Son, Jesus.
Jesus and only Jesus gives us strength and courage
through the forgiveness of sins.
He has gone before us to death and emerged alive to never
leave us nor forsake us. And
He brings us together as His people through the Spirit at work
in the Word and Baptism. Gratitude
fills my mind and heart for each member of every congregation,
every church worker and their family members of the Nebraska
District of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.
I am looking forward to the privilege it will be to serve
among you as you carry out the Lord’s mission proclaiming
Jesus the only Savior in word and deed throughout Nebraska and
beyond. To God be
all the glory! -- President-Elect Russ Sommerfeld |
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| Cross-Cultural
Workshop |
| "Excellent!"
"Very Informative!"
"Dr. Behnken did a great job!"
"The ideas were very real and workable." These
are but a few of the comments shared after the cross-cultural
workshop, Planting Missions Across Cultures, hosted by
the Nebraska District Outreach and New Missions Commission
Saturday, May 3. Dr.
Ken Behnken of the Center for U. S. Missions led a group of over
20 people through the basics of approaching and setting up a
cross-cultural ministry in their congregation.
These pastors and lay members were equipped to return to
their congregations and share these insights with other
interested members and were challenged to begin working with
other cultures in ministry. Members of the Nebraska District
staff were also in attendance and are available to come to your
congregation to share more information about this unique
approach to cross-cultural ministry.
For more information, contact Pastor Rich Boring, richb@ndlcms.org,
or Pastor Tom Mroch, tomm@ndlcms.org,
at the District Office.
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| District
President and Officer Installation |
| Newly-elected
District President Pastor Russell Sommerfeld will be installed
into his new position, along with other newly elected officers,
Sunday, July 20, at 4:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in
Kearney. All
members of the District are invited to attend the service and
following luncheon.
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| DCE
Completes Kindle Training |
| David
Ricke, Director of Christian Education (DCE) at Divine Shepherd,
Omaha, has successfully completed a 14-month process of
leadership training through the Karpenko Institute for Nurturing
and Developing Leadership Excellence (KINDLE).
This learning cycle equips Ricke to develop Christ-like
servant leaders by recruiting and fostering lay leaders who
desire to mature as Christ-like leaders.
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| Board
Action |
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The Nebraska District Board of
Directors, at their meeting June 5, took the following action:
- Approved the Constitution and Bylaws of Grace, Wayne; Grace, Norfolk; and Lamb of God, Papillion.
- Granted peaceful release to Pastor John Fale from his call as chaplain of the Nebraska District, serving Faith Regional Health Center in Norfolk. Pastor Fale has accepted a call to serve the Synod in St. Louis.
- Ratified LCEF loans to St. Paul, Ogallala; Peace, Waverly; and St. Paul, Omaha.
- Realigned the Omaha South circuit by transferring Christ, Nebraska City and St. Paul, Weeping Water, to the Omaha South Circuit.
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| KidFaith
Seminar |
| A KidFaith Seminar will be held on
the campus of Concordia University in Seward September 12-13.
This program is designed to assist congregations in
supporting faith nurture for young children.
Teams of at least three from District congregations are
invited to attend this team training event designed to identify
their congregation’s strengths and needs for comprehensive
ministry that considers and meets the needs of young children.
For more information, contact Shanna Stewart at kidfaith@curf.edu
or 708-488-4104. |
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| New
Congregation Joins the District |
| Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Papillion became a
congregation of the Nebraska District with the acceptance of
their Constitution and Bylaws by the District Board of Directors
at their June 5 meeting. Rev.
Philip Houser serves the congregation as pastor and the
congregation joins the District as a member of the Omaha South
Circuit. The church
office is located at 609 Olson Dr., Suite 2, Papillion, 68046
and may be reached by calling 402-934-9045. |
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| Dedication |
| St. Paul, Utica, dedicated their new sanctuary, church
offices, and Sunday school rooms Sunday, June 1. Former pastor Rev. David Muench was the guest speaker at a
service of praise and hymns, followed by an open house and
luncheon. |
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| Congregations
Closed |
| St. Paul Lutheran Church in Albion
held its final service Sunday, April 27. The Lord blessed
this congregation in over 20 years of Word and Sacrament
ministry and many members continue their faith walk as members
of nearby Faith in St. Edward. . . Peace Lutheran Church in
rural Belgrade held its final worship service on June 22.
Peace recently voted to disband and gathered one last time for
worship on June 22, when Pastor Paul Rowoldt, Columbus Circuit
Counselor, preached at the service. Area clergy assisted
and remaining congregational members were recognized. |
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| Dedicate
Family Life Center |
| Our Redeemer, North Platte, dedicated
its new Family Life Center in March. The unit includes a
spacious gymnasium and four new classrooms. |
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| Three
Valedictorians in One Parish |
| The congregations of
Immanuel, Beemer and Zion St. John, Wisner have something to be
proud of this spring. Three students from this dual parish were
valedictorians of their high school classes this year. Rachel
Stigge of Zion St. John was the top student of the Wisner-Pilger
graduating class. Greta Lierman of Immanuel earned the top spot
at Bancroft-Rosalie High School. Erin Kuester, also of Immanuel,
graduated as valedictorian at West Point High. Two of these
young ladies also attended Lutheran schools in West Point or
Beemer for part of their education and all three were confirmed
by Pastor Schepmann. |
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| First
Graduation |
| Heartland Lutheran High School in
Grand Island graduated its first class of one student on May 4,
2003. |
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| Interpreter
Training Institute |
| Concordia Theological
Seminary at Ft. Wayne is offering a two-week Church Interpreter
Training Institute (CITI) July 13-26. The Institute's purpose is
to train people to be able to interpret church services and
other religious events into sign language for the deaf.
Because of the change in our culture and in federal laws, more
deaf people live independent lives among the hearing population.
Many of them go to hearing churches, and it's so important to be
able to minister to the deaf by interpreting services and other
events. Contact Rev. David Bush at Concordia Theological
Seminary, 260-452-2100. |
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| District
Staff Member Retirement |
| Dr.
William Preuss, Assistant to the President in Outreach and New
Missions for the past 18 years, retired the end of June.
Bill and his wife, Judy, will continue to live in Seward
and volunteer for many organizations dear to their hearts.
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CALL
INFORMATION |
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ORDAINED MINISTERS |
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Calls Declined |
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Rev.
Allen Pingel (StL85), St. Mark, Milwaukee, WI, to St. Paul,
Malcolm |
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Rev.
James Keltner (StL84), St. John, Ellinwood, KS, to First
Trinity, Bloomfield
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Rev.
Brad Birtell (StL92), St. John, Columbus, to Christ the
King, Spencer, IA |
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Status Changes |
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Rev.
Darrel Kois (StL86), missionary-at-large, Deaf and Ethnic
Ministries, Omaha, to emeritus status eff. 3-1-03 |
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Rev. Leigh Hart (StL99),
missionary-at-large, Northside Community, Omaha, to candidate
status eff. 4-27-03 |
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Rev. Jerome Rossow
(FtW68), associate, Trinity, Lincoln, to emeritus status eff.
5-31-03 |
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Rev. Donald Cooper
(FtW80), Immanuel, Lincoln, to emeritus status eff. 6-15-03 |
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Rev. Cory Eckstrom
(StL96), missionary-at-large, Deaf Ministries, Omaha, to
candidate status eff. 3-1-03 |
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Ordinations/Installations |
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Rev. Ronald Holling (StL70) as pastor, St. Paul, Omaha, May 18 |
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Rev.
John Ryding (StL77) as pastor, Christ, O’Neill, June 1 |
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COMMISSIONED MINISTERS |
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Calls Accepted |
David
Kumm (S01), Teacher, Zion, Brighton, CO to Teacher, St. John,
Battle Creek
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Tammy Schroeder (S88), Teacher, St. Paul, West Point to
Teacher/Principal, St. Paul, West Point |
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Randy Krieger (S82),
Teacher, Valley Lutheran High, Phoenix, AZ to Teacher/Coach,
Concordia University, Seward |
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Placements |
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Matthew Simpson (S03),
Fenton, MO to teacher, Heartland Lutheran High, Grand Island,
Lutheran High School Association of Central Nebraska
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Coming
Events |
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Lay
Leadership Program Orientation, Seward, July 12 and
August 4
Teachers’
Retreat, Seward,
August 5, 2003
Orphan Grain Train National Convention, Lutheran High
Northeast, Norfolk, Sept. 12-13
Seminar,
“A Sacramental Reading of the New Testament” Zion,
Ainsworth September 21-23
LWML South Retreat,
The Leadership Center, Aurora, September 27-28
New Worker Orientation,
Concordia University, Seward, September 15-16
Fall
Pastors’ Conference, Midtown Holiday Inn, Grand
Island, October 20-21
Teachers’
Conference, Immanuel, Columbus, October 23-24
Lutherans
For Life National Convention,
Holiday Inn, Omaha, November 7-9
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Anniversaries |
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Emmanuel,
York, 100th, an old-fashioned mission festival on
July 20 with Rev. Robert Roegner as guest preacher; and a service
of thankfulness and praise on November 2, with Rev. Dr. Ralph
Bohlmann, former LCMS President, as guest preacher.
Contact the church office for more information,
402-362-3655.
Zion,
Pierce, 100th, Aug. 2, with picnic/concert at 5:00 p.m. and
Aug. 3 with Rev. Kenneth Klaus, Lutheran Hour Speaker, preacher at
a 10 a.m. service, followed by a catered noon meal. Meal
reservations may be made by calling 402-329-4313 or e-mailing zionluth@ltcnet.net.
St.
Matthew, Cedar Bluffs, 125th, September 28
beginning with worship at 9 a.m. including former pastors and sons
of the congregation, followed by a special program at 10:30 a.m.
and lunch beginning at 11:00 a.m.
The afternoon begins with a concert at 1:30 p.m., followed
by a worship service at 2:00 p.m. and reception at 3:00 p.m.
Trinity,
Grand Island, 125th, October 11-12, special service
with Rev. Terry Timm preaching.
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