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Archives
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| From
the President |
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Thanksgiving
leads to Thanksliving. . . An old devotional worn down over the
years from pastoral home visits tells of an elderly man who
said, "I have thanked my way through life." When the
Apostle Paul sent a letter to the Christian congregation in
Philippi, he did so with thanksgiving. From the confines of
house arrest, he thanked God for partnership in the Gospel. He
thanked them for sending one from their midst to care for him
during his imprisonment. He thanked them for supporting his
mission work in Thessalonica. He thanked them for caring for him
in time of need. But Paul's most profound words of thanksgiving
came in words inspired by the Holy Spirit: Do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7.
Those
Spirit-inspired words inform us that thanksgiving leads us into
thanksliving. Thanksliving is a peace that goes beyond human
understanding. Thanksliving is hearts and minds guarded in
Christ Jesus. To understand thanksliving we must recognize that
thanksgiving is not a natural human trait. Sinful human beings
are not born thankful. Thanksgiving comes from Christ dwelling
in our minds, hearts and spirits. When the perfect life,
sacrificial suffering, substitution death, victorious
resurrection, and the amazing ascension of Christ are applied to
the sinful condition of our lives, we are declared forgiven,
renewed and restored and we experience thanksgiving. With this
thanksgiving coursing through our thoughts, shaping our emotions
and grounding our spirits, we can take what makes us anxious to
the Lord in prayer. He can give us peace beyond human
understanding. Thanks for Christ becomes living in thanks to
Christ. Thanksgiving leads to thanksliving. How I cherish the
many times I have heard Christians tell me, "I can do
everything through Him (Christ) who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13. -- President Russ Sommerfeld
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| A
Cheerful Thought |
| God
says that He loves a cheerful giver. Cheerful givers have great
joy! There are cheerful givers in the congregations of the
Nebraska District of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. They
are little children, high school youth, college students, newly
married couples, young parents, single parents, middle-agers,
empty nesters, aging couples, widows and widowers. Christ Jesus
is giving them joyful hearts through His forgiveness. The Spirit
is moving them to give of their praise in worship, of their
talents in service, of their time in mission and of their
treasures to advance His mission of reaching the lost and
teaching the saved. Enjoy the joy! Get in on the cheer! Consider
how the Lord will lead you
to support your congregation and school and beyond with your
District of congregations and your Lutheran Church--Missouri
Synod. "Each person should give what he had decided in his
heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God
loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7.
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| Board
Action Taken |
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The Nebraska District Board of
Directors took the following action in its meeting Friday, Oct.
3:
- Ratified LCEF loans to Mt. Calvary, Holdrege, and St. Paul, Ogallala.
- Chose Ron Rathe as Board Chairman and Pastor Clint Poppe as Vice-Chairman.
- Chose Ron Rathe to represent the Board as an Advisory Delegate to the 2004 Synodical Convention.
- Voted to continue with "Option A" of the new Worker Benefit Plans' Concordia Health Plan for Nebraska District Staff throughout 2004 in order to carefully study all of the options before making any changes. The District Treasurer was also asked to provide a mailing with the same encouragement to the congregations and schools throughout the District.
- President Sommerfeld announced the appointment of a President's Task Force, which will serve through March 2004, to "Consider Support and Concerns for Level 3 (Licensed Deacons) of the Lay Leadership Program."
- Co-chairs for the Task Force are Rev. Dirk Reek of Seward and Rev. Georg Williams of Ainsworth.
- Other members are Rev. Ray Wilke of Norfolk, Rev. Terrell Huber of Creighton, Rev. Leon Zimmerman of Merna, Rev. Clint Poppe of Lincoln, Rev. Norman Friedmeyer of Plattsmouth, Kevin Fry of Ewing, Steve Henry of Arapahoe and Arlan Ahlers of Pierce.
- District staff advisory members are Dr. Marvin Bergman and Rev. Tom Mroch.
- President Sommerfeld will exercise thoughtful consideration of any applications for the licensure of deacons while the Task Force serves.
- The Board of Directors suspended Level 3 of the Lay Leadership Program while the Task Force is at work. However, the current training of laity by the program will continue during the time of service by the Task Force.
- The Board also received a report of the continued progress on the reorganization of The Lutheran Home of Omaha. Congregational members in the Nebraska District are encouraged to consider the home as a quality skilled nursing home for their loved ones.
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| "Be
Strong and Courageous . . . |
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For
the Lord Your God Goes With You" is the theme of the
circuit visits taking place across the District. As President
Sommerfeld and members of the District Board of Directors and
staff visit each circuit, they will share ideas and listen to
what those in attendance have to say. You are invited to attend
any of the visits planned across the District. Contact the host
church office or the District Office to sign up. Remaining
visits in 2003 are:
- The Falls City Circuit Visit on Nov. 2 at Trinity, Auburn.
- The Deshler Circuit Visit on Nov. 9 at St. Peter, Davenport.
- The Lincoln Circuit Visit on Nov. 16 at Christ, Lincoln.
- The West Point Circuit Visit on Dec. 7 at St. Paul, West Point.
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| Congregational
Health Ministry |
| A
Congregational Health Ministry Networking Meeting will be held
Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the District Office
in Seward. Topics will include resources for congregations,
funding ideas and a presentation by a community resource. Lunch
will be provided. Respond to the District Office,
1-888-643-2961, to reserve your spot.
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| Dedication
Services |
| Immanuel,
Merna, dedicated the addition of a fellowship hall, kitchen
and bathrooms to its ministry facilities Sunday, Oct. 12. Lloyd
Lenz was the guest speaker at the all-day celebration. . . . Bethlehem,
Crete, will hold a dedication service at 2:30 p.m. Sunday,
Nov. 9, for its remodeled sanctuary, offices and preschool and
fellowship hall addition. Former pastor Jerome Rossow will be
the guest speaker and a catered meal will be served from 12:00
p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Call the church office at 1-402-826-4359 for
more information.
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| Called
to Glory |
| Dr.
Theodore Beck,
Professor Emeritus, departed this life on Sept. 19. Dr. Beck was
Professor of Music at Concordia University in Seward from 1953
to 2001 and composed music for The Lutheran Church--Missouri
Synod for more than 50 years. . . . Henry Kersten of Fort
Wayne, Ind., was taken to the Lord's side Sept. 23. Henry was a
Lutheran school teacher who taught at St. Paul, Omaha, and St.
John, Pierce, during the course of his ministry.
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| Adult
Spiritual Growth Retreat |
| Looking
to grow spiritually? Why not consider going to Camp Luther,
Schuyler, for their Adult Spiritual Growth Retreat, Nov. 21-23,
2003? Retreat speaker is Greg DeMuth, DCE at University Lutheran
Chapel in Lincoln. The theme will be The Purpose Driven Life.
The cost is $60.00 per person and includes meals, two nights'
lodging and materials. For more information and registration
materials, see www.campluther.org
or call 1-888-639-5809.
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| Communities
Continue to Recover |
| Recovery
efforts continue in the Coleridge and Deshler communities
following devastating tornadoes this summer. Deshler was one of
two communities to host new spiritual-care workshops to help
communities recover from traumatic loss in a new initiative from
LCMS World Relief/Human Care. The congregation-based disaster
response workshop, attended by church and community leaders, was
designed to partner with the congregations, listen to them, and
offer "specific, helpful coping mechanisms," according
to Pastor John Fale of World Relief/Human Care. Prayers for both
communities continue to be a source of comfort and strength.
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| Mission
Festival |
| Rev.
Ken Greinke, Area Mission Director for Africa, will share the
good news of what God is doing through the missionaries in Kenya
and East Africa during the mission festival Sunday, Nov. 23, at
Pacific Hills, Omaha, with services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and
an informal meeting between services at 9:20 a.m.
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| Christian
Life Conference |
| Dr.
Gene Veith will speak on the Christian's life in the realm of
the Church and the State on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Immanuel,
Eagle. For more information and to register, please call
1-402-781-2190 or e-mail lcmseagle@juno.com.
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| Wood
and Work |
| Camp Luther, Schuyler, welcomes men for its 4th
Annual Men's Retreats, Jan. 2-4 or 9-11, 2004. The
"wood" is tree cutting, which is the service project
and "work" is the theme, Christian Men in the
Workplace. Cost is $50.00 for meals and two nights' lodging
without chain saw, or $25 if you bring a chain saw. More
information and registration forms are available through www.campluther.org
or call 1-888-639-5809. LLL and men's groups welcome! |
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| Igniting
Congregations |
| King
of Kings, Omaha, will host one of eight Lutheran
Church--Missouri Synod "One Mission Ablaze: Igniting
Congregations" gatherings Nov. 14-15. This gathering will
bring together leaders from 30 congregations that have shown
tremendous growth in worship, including King of Kings, Our
Savior in Norfolk and Good Shepherd in Lincoln. Leaders from
Divine Shepherd in Omaha have been invited to attend the
gathering in Lafayette, Ind., which will focus on the
recruitment and retention of church workers. According to
President Kieschnick's senior assistant, Rev. Jon
Braunersreuther, the initiative is designed "to recognize
these congregations who, by God's grace, have been particularly
effective in specialized ministry areas, challenge them to
increase their effectiveness and share what they've learned with
other congregations."
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CALL
INFORMATION
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| ORDAINED MINISTERS |
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Calls Accepted
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| Rev.
Duane Fahr (StL'91), St. Peter, Deshler, to First Trinity,
Bloomfield.
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Calls Declined
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Rev.
Duane Fahr (StL'91), St. Peter, Deshler, to St. John,
Wakefield.
Rev.
David Palomaki (StL'87), Redeemer, David City, and Immanuel,
Rising City, to Peace, Rapid City, S.D.
Rev.
Wilfred Pieper (StL'90), St. John's, Elk River, Minn., to
Zion (Worms), St. Libory.
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Ordinations
and Installations
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Rev.
Brad Boyer (StL'03) as pastor, St. John, Chester, and Zion,
Hubbell, Sept. 14 (ordination also).
Rev.
John Burger (StL'90) as senior pastor, St. Paul, Utica,
Sept. 21.
Rev.
Robert Deardoff Jr. (StL'82) as pastor, Beautiful Savior,
North Platte, Oct. 5.
Rev. Bret Schroeder (StL'91) as pastor, Trinity, Hebron, and Zion,
Shickley, Sept. 28. |
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Coming
Events |
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Lutherans For Life National
Convention, Holiday Inn, Omaha, Nov. 7-9
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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Emmanuel, York, 100th, service of thankfulness
and praise on Nov. 2 with Rev. Dr. Ralph Bohlmann, former LCMS
president, as guest preacher. Contact the church office for more
information, 402-362-3655.
Grace, Neligh, 75th, April 18, 2004, with a
special service at 10:30 a.m.
Good Shepherd, Fremont, 50th, July 18, 2004, with Dr.
Dale A. Meyer as guest speaker.
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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