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Workers Together
An Email Publication of the Kansas District LCMS
August 2015
Each article title is listed in the Index below and linked to the location of the article in this document. After each article there is a link, “Index”, which takes you back to the Index. So, you can scroll down and read each article or pick and choose from the Index. We welcome your comments/suggestions, sent to Shannon Oldham at [email protected].
Index
President’s Office
Call Updates
In Our Prayers
Introduction from President Peter Lange
District Calendar Educational Services
LYF Representative Application Information
District Youth Gathering
District Jr. High Rally
PCWC Fall Conference
2016 National Youth Gathering
Young Adult Volunteers!
Congratulations to These Schools
Annual District Adult Education Webinar
Would Your Congregation Host Webinar? Mission & Stewardship
2015 Support for District and Synod
Mission Grants Available Soon
Scholarship Grant Applications Available
Lutheran Hour Ministries Webinars
Guinea Prayer Requests
Making Church Events into Outreach Opportunities
RSTM 2015 National Conference
Caring Ministry
New Beginnings
Be Well 2015
Business CPS Employer Health Elections Materials Sent 2016 Salary Guidelines Now Available 2014 Audited Financial Statements Lutheran Witness Renewal Packets
LCEF
LCEF Investment and Loan Rates
Join the Y.I. Club
Miscellaneous
A Very Special Thank You
Wacky Science Fun at Beautiful Savior, Olathe
Faith, Sports, and Family: It’s Not Only About How to Say “No” to the Coach!
New Haskell Facility Taking Shape
District Office Contact Information
President’s Office Peter K. Lange, President: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 200 Tami Lierz, Assistant: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 200
Educational Services Jim Bradshaw, Educational Services: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 200 Tami Lierz, Assistant: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 200
Missions & Stewardship Caring Ministry
Rocky Mease, Chaplain: [email protected], 316-993-0746 Business Office
Debbie Crites, Business Manager: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 204 Shannon Oldham, Assistant: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 202
Lutheran Witness Subscriptions Shannon Oldham: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 202
Retreat Center Reservations Shannon Oldham: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 202
Communications – Workers Together, District Email List, Website Shannon Oldham: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 202
Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) Jeff Maltz, LCEF Vice President, Kansas/Oklahoma: [email protected], 785-357-4441 ext. 118 or
800-357-4421 ext. 118 Curt Loupe, Administrative/Promotions Director: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421
ext. 100 Index
Call Updates
Calls Accepted Kevin Dierks, New Braunfels, TX to St. Luke/Kansas City, Community Ministry Liaison, Aug. 9
Nancy Jankowski, Bristol, PA. to Hope/Shawnee, Principal, Aug. 9
Daniel Gibson Decatur, IL. to Hope/Shawnee, teacher, Aug. 9
Rev. James Judson, Fort Washakie, WY to St. Paul/Ellsworth Aug 9?
Roxanne Bayer, West Point, NE. to Good Shepherd Marysville, Aug. 9
Diane Harries, Hope/Shawnee, Teacher, Aug. 9
Mary Heine, Wisner, NE. to St. Paul/Leavenworth, Kindergarten Teacher, Aug. 16
Karen Boettcher, Holy Cross/Wichita, Principal, Aug. 16
Michelle Howard, Director of Early Education, Christ/Overland Park, Aug. 23
Rev. Rocco Mallardi to Messiah, Hays Sept. 13
Diane Biekman to Linn Lutheran PS Director
Rev. Jim Jobst to Faith/Magnolia, AR and Mid-South District as Missionary at Large. Calls Pending Calls Declined
Megan Homan, Hope/Shawnee to Topeka Lutheran School Index
In Our Prayers
Daughter of Rev. Dean & Betty Von Stroh, Peace, Andover – health concerns
Betty Von Stroh – health concerns
Rachel Davis, daughter of Rev. Clark Davis – kidney issues
Kristin Brzon, daughter of Rev. Ed and Barb Trost – health concerns
Daughter of Rev. Erv and Sharon Daugherty
Rev. Al Bruenger – health concerns
Rev. Dick Kaczor – healing from a stroke that has left him unable to communicate
Rev. Charlie Scott – prayers for healing
Rev. Paul Krause, father of Rev. Tom Krause – Alzheimer’s & in a care center in Winfield
Jo Dieckhoff, spouse of retired principal Bill – heart surgery
Index
Introduction from President Peter Lange by Rev. Peter K. Lange, President, Kansas District LCMS
Dear Fellow Members of the Body of Christ in the LCMS Kansas District,
As I write this, I have now served three weeks in the office of District President to which the voting delegates from the 164 LCMS congregations in Kansas elected me on June 5. Since many, if not most of you reading this, were not able to be in attendance at that convention on June 4-6 in Topeka, I thought I would share with you a slightly edited and updated version of the remarks that I shared with the convention just a few hours after my election: President Kohlmeier, Delegates and Guests of the 72nd Convention of the LCMS Kansas District, I’m very humbled, and indeed quite numbed by the trust you have placed in me with this election. I’m also keenly aware that the vote of 115 to 86 is the result of a robust exchange of ideas among the good people of the Kansas District in the months leading up to this election. And so I want you to know that I hope to be a faithful and trusted servant leader of all the workers, congregations, and schools of the Kansas District. I know that I’ll have to earn that trust. And I want each and every one of you to know that will be one of my highest priorities from the very beginning. Please pray for me—for wisdom and patience, strength and energy, for fairness and courage, and most of all for faithfulness to our Lord and His Word. And please pray for my wife, Marcia, and our family, and especially our youngest daughter who is still in high school, even as we will pray regularly for all the people of the Kansas District. I also want to acknowledge the collegiality of so many of my fellow workers in the Kansas District—especially in my Circuit 6 (Topeka & Lawrence)—during these past 16 years, and of those on the Board of Directors these past three years. My prayer is that all of us, including each of you, will increasingly be able to work together to lead the Kansas District toward greater and greater concord in our confession of the faith, faithfulness and zeal in our witness of Jesus Christ, and harmony in our life together. I’ve already begun sharing some of my vision and priorities with the Executive Staff and Board of Directors of the District. God willing, we will continue to be able to dialogue about these things, as well as the goals that are being refined through our strategic ministry planning process. And I look forward to sharing many of these things with the entire Kansas District through these articles and through other vehicles. For now, I just say thank you for this awesome opportunity and privilege, even though I know this work will also bring considerable challenges. And I ask that each of you would pray God’s blessing on our life and labors together in the LCMS Kansas District. I close with these words from Romans chapter 12:3-6a: For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.
Index
District Calendar
Aug. 14-15 – Pre-Retirement Workshop – Hays Sept. 7 – District Office Closed Sept. 17-18 – Principal’s Conference – Topeka Oct. 2-3 – District Jr. High Rally – West in Rexford / East in Williamsburg Oct. 11-13 – Professional Church Worker’s Conference – Wichita Oct. 16-18 – Singles Retreat – Retreat Center, Herington Oct. 30-31 – District Board of Directors – Topeka Nov. 20-22 – District Youth Gathering – Hutchinson Nov. 25 – District Office Closed at 2:00 PM Nov. 26 – District Office Closed Nov. 27 - District Office Closed Dec. 24 - District Office Closed Dec. 25 – District Office Closed Dec. 28-31 – District Office Closed
Index
Kansas District LYF Representatives
Annually two high school sophomores are elected by the Kansas District Youth Ministry Team to serve as Kansas District LYF Representatives through their senior year. One of the main duties of the LYF
Representatives is to attend the National Teen Leadership Initiative held in St. Louis in March of their sophomore year. After being trained, the representatives then bring the training they receive back to the Kansas District to be shared with other youth through the Kansas District Teen Fellowship Retreat Those youth interested in becoming Kansas District LYF Representatives must complete the application form and submit the necessary information to the Kansas District Youth Ministry Team by August 15, 2015. You can find the application form on the Kansas District website at www.kslcms.org.
Index
District Youth Gathering
2015 KANSAS DISTRICT YOUTH GATHERING
(An event for high school students)
November 20-22
The Atrium (formerly Ramada) - Hutchinson, KS
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10
Registration opens September, 2015! Index
District Jr. High Rally
Index
Professional Church Worker’s Conference
When: October 11-13, 2015 Where: Holy Cross Lutheran, Wichita (opening keynote & worship); Doubletree Hotel, Wichita (Eisenhower Airport) Theme: “Holding Up the Prophet’s Hands” – Exodus 17:12-13 Keynote Speaker: Rev. Dr. Bruce Hartung Keynote Sessions: *Why worker health matters *The resources Christ gives *What can congregations do? New this year: All church workers and laity are invited to the opening keynote and Divine Worship to be held on Sunday, October 11 at Holy Cross Lutheran - Wichita. A meal will be served from 5:00-5:45pm. The keynote will be from 5:45-6:30pm. Divine Worship with Holy Communion will begin at 7:00pm. The cost of the meal for the church workers is included in the registration cost. The price of the meal for the laity attending will be $15. Please note additional information for this which will be coming to the congregations. Cost: *$110 through September 15 *$125 after September 15 *$60 Emeritus, Vicar, Spouse Online Registration: REGISTRATION IS OPEN Worship Service Offering Designation: Local – Lutheran Student Center (Wichita St.); District – Comfort dogs for the KS District; International – Guinea Mission Field
Index
2016 National Youth Gathering – Save the Date!
What: LCMS National Youth Gathering When: July 16-20, 2016 Where: New Orleans Your Kansas District Coordinators for the 2016 Gathering are: Arleata Harmon Kate Luckemeyer Risen Savior, Wichita St. John, Ellinwood [email protected] [email protected]
Arleata and Kate are planning for bus transportation, a Pre-Gathering Servant Event, Pre-Gathering Activities and the Kansas District Event. So plan to leave for New Orleans a few days before the Gathering begins! For more details, visit the LCMS National Youth Gathering website at www.lcmsgathering.com. You can also visit the Kansas District NYG website at kseducationalservices.yolasite.com/national-youth-gathering.php.
Index
Young Adult Volunteers!
Registration is now open for Young Adult Volunteers (ages 19-25) for the National Youth Gathering next summer! Please go to the following link to get complete information about this! As district coordinators, we would encourage your congregation to help financially and prayerfully support your young adults who are interested in serving in this way. At this point in time, we are considering have the District buses arrive in New Orleans in time for their training to begin. The deadline to register for this as a volunteer is December 31, 2015. http://www.lcmsgathering.com/yav/. Also be sure to keep your eye on the national web site: www.lcmsgathering.com Registration information will be coming to your congregation soon! Look over it carefully! We will be updating our Kansas District web site soon, so be sure to check it out at www.kslcms.org. Feel free to contact us Arleata Harmon & Kate Soeken, Kansas District NYG Coordinators, with any questions.
Index
Congratulations to These Schools
Congratulations to Christ Lutheran School and Early Childhood Center/Overland Park, Lord of Life Lutheran Preschool/Leawood and St. John Lutheran School/Alma who all were granted National Lutheran Schools Accreditation in good standing at the LCMS School Ministry - National Lutheran Accreditation Commissioners' meeting in St. Louis in late July. Various celebrations are being scheduled in these local congregations this fall to recognize their five year accreditation certification.
Index
Announcing the Annual District Adult Education Webinar on November 7
The Adult Education Committee of the Kansas District invites our District laity and professional church workers to the sixth annual LIVE adult education webinar. On Saturday, November 7, from 9:00 a.m. until Noon, the Rev. Dr. Cameron MacKenzie will present From Luther to Lutheranism: Confessing the Faith with the Reformer Today. Ever since the Reformation, people have been writing about Martin Luther and for the last century or so even making movies about him. Yet as we head toward 2017 and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, one wonders about relevance. Can people today still identify with the experiences of Martin Luther? Are the teachings of Luther still true? Are they still important? In From Luther to Lutheranism, Dr. MacKenzie will seek to answer questions like these for Lutherans today while looking at the life and times of Martin Luther. After all, there’s a reason why we still call ourselves “Lutheran.” The Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie is the Ellis Professor of German Reformation Studies at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, and chairman of the Historical Theology Department. He is the author of The Battle for the Bible in England, 1557-1582. At the seminary he regularly teaches courses in the history of the Christian Church such as Reformation Era, Luther’s theology, Calvin and Calvinism, Puritanism, and the history of the English Bible.
Index
Would Your Congregation Serve as a Host for the November 7 Webinar?
On Saturday, November 7, Lutherans across Kansas will gather at various locations for the sixth annual Adult Education Live Webinar. Your congregation will be linked via the internet with the other locations in Kansas to hear Rev. Dr. Cameron MacKenzie present From Luther to Lutheranism: Confessing the Faith with the Reformer Today. The reason for this notice is to solicit host sites for this morning event. What is necessary to host this conference?
High Speed internet access (Cable or DSL) in the room where the conference will take place. It may be that a cable may have to run to the room to make this possible. For best results, it should be hard-wired versus wireless.
Some means of projection of the image from a computer to either a large screen TV or a screen. The
easiest of these would be to have a projector.
Phone line and phone available in the room (in case of technical difficulties)
Someone present on site to help you with technical issues if you do not have the necessary expertise yourself.
If your congregation is willing to host, please contact the District Office at 785-357-4441 ext. 200 or email [email protected] What a great way to kick off the 500th anniversary celebration of the Reformation!
Index
2015 Support for District and Synod
Each fall, all congregations are given the opportunity to pledge mission support to Synod and the Kansas District for the upcoming year. Of every dollar received by the District, at least 25% is sent to Synod as unrestricted support. Mission commitment pledge forms for 2015 were mailed to all congregations in September. This information is beneficial to the District Board of Directors as they finalize the Ministry Plan and Budget for 2015. You may send in your mission pledge form any of the following ways:
1) Mail your form to Kansas District LCMS, 1000 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, KS 66604. 2) Email your form to [email protected]. 3) Fax your form to 785-357-5071.
4) Call Shannon at 800-357-4421 ext. 202. To communicate the mission, goals and services of the Kansas District and share how your pledge dollars are utilized, we have provided two documents on our district website, www.kslcms.org – click Publications–Resources at the top of the page and look under the heading Business Office –District:
Kansas District LCMS 2013 Financial Report Kansas Mission and Ministry
If you have any questions, or if we can be of service to you in the area of stewardship, please contact Jeff Maltz at 800-357-4421 ext. 118 or [email protected].
Index
Mission Grants Available Soon
The Board of Missions is again offering Mission Grants to District congregations and organizations. Please look for an email soon that will include application forms. Application forms will also be available on the District website as soon as they are available.
Index
Scholarship Grant Applications Available
Attention students! Are you pursuing a degree at one of our LCMS colleges or seminaries in professional church work? Do you need financial aid for the 2015-2016 academic year? Scholarship grants are available from the following organizations in Kansas:
Kansas District LCMS – Application & Instructions – Deadline: June 1, 2015 Lutheran Laymen's League (LLL) – Deadline: June 1, 2015
o Scholarship Introduction o Financial Aid Application o Notice of Acceptance of Enrollment
Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) – Financial Aid Application – Deadline: June 1, 2015
Index
Lutheran Hour Ministries Webinars
Archived Webinars Index
Guinea Prayer Requests
Please continue to pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. And pray for the scientists who are working to find a cure for and vaccine for Ebola.
Pray for wisdom, discernment, and integrity for the leaders of the affected nations as they make decisions affecting millions of lives.
Pray that the Body of Christ would demonstrate love and concern for their neighbors in this crisis-affected area.
Pray that God would glorify Himself in the midst of the crisis and demonstrate to a broken world that He is the Reconciler of all things (Colossians 1:19-20).
Index
Making Church Events into Outreach Opportunities
Have you ever felt like you missed your chance? Have you ever wondered about the purpose of an event at your congregation or felt like you are just going through the motions when it comes to outreach events? You are not alone! Check out the Kansas District Website for information & articles about making your church events into outreach opportunities. http://www.kslcms.org/resources/2015-Events%20as%20Outreach%20Oppourtunity.pdf
Index
RSTM 2015 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Now is the perfect time to register for the 2015 National Rural & Small Town Mission Conference to be held Nov. 5-7 in Kansas City, Mo. We will again be at the Kansas City Airport Marriott Hotel. Reserve your spot now!
This conference will specifically address the blessings and challenges facing rural and small-town congregations today. Congregations will be encouraged to cultivate ways to become healthy churches, eager to bear witness to Christ, able to show mercy to those in need in communities, and develop a robust life together with fellow members. This conference is meant for anyone interested in rural or small-town areas, with topics and resources specifically suited for this unique mission field. Breakout topics include witness and outreach strategies, later-life ministry, active stewardship, small youth groups, confirmation options, military ministry, congregational partnerships, Lutheran schools, student debt, pastoral strategies for serving in rural and small towns, and many other topics affecting our rural and small-town congregations. There is something planned for everyone, from lay person to pastor, student to teacher! Adult registration for the conference is $200/person. Rates are available for couples, meals only, and groups. Contact our office with questions or regarding group rates. Hotel reservations must be made separately from conference registration. The Kansas City Airport Marriott is offering an $88/night rate for our group. More information and online registration can be found at lcms.org/rstm/ conference and at facebook.com/LCMSrstm.
Index
New Beginnings by Executive Chaplain Rocky Mease
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1).These words come to mind as I consider the new beginning our District is making this summer, the power of beginnings. When Jesus came into the world it was a new beginning. To hear this new beginning being equated to the Word, a Word with God and in fact a Word which was God is more than merely powerful. God is Omnipotent, so this was an all-powerful beginning. While not that powerful, beginning the first term of a new District President is very powerful. It changes things. It doesn’t change everything, but there will be new ideas and new opportunities for ministry. Change always is powerful. Change always produces anxiety. For some this anxiety causes great fear. For some it causes great hope. If our response is fear and fear becomes our way of being with one another, we will soon find our power diminished. Fear takes so much of our energy. If we allow our anxiety to be hopeful, we will discover it to be empowering. This week it is my privilege to pray for those who have accepted new calls within the District. I am sure there is some anxiety accompanying all those new beginnings. As I just wrote, that anxiety can either work for you or against you. It can either excite you or it can paralyze you. My prayer is that it will excite you. For most of us in ministry summer is a time of transition. It is the green season, a season of the church year where we focus on our growth as God’s children. For many it is a time of planning for the year to come. John’s Gospel gave us a great example when being in the midst of new beginnings. John could have simply said, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” Or “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Or “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us.” All of these being great ways to begin a Gospel. John began with the Word. As we make new beginnings, may we also begin with the Word, hearing God speak to us, through his Word. Let’s begin all our tasks with the Word. who is Jesus, who is with God and who was God. In doing so, we claim the power of the Gospel, allowing change to energize us rather than paralyzing us.
Index
Be Well 2015 by Executive Chaplain Rocky Mease
We are over 1/2 through the program year for the Concordia Health Plan’s Be Well Program. Did you know that you (and your spouse if you are both enrolled in the CPS Health Plan) are eligible to receive $250 each just for participating and reporting wellness activities? This is up to $500 you and your wife can spend any way you choose. The money comes on a prepaid Visa Card. And, if you and your spouse both reach the maximum amount, your church or school could also receive up to $500. That is $500 for congregations with one worker enrolled and considerably more for congregations/schools with multiple staff enrolled. So it is to a congregations/schools advantage to encourage workers and their spouses to participate. It is also to a workers advantage to begin reporting wellness activities soon. The end of the program year is November 30, 2015. You receive cash for reporting the following activities:
$50 for completing Health Questionnaire
$100 max for completing and reporting certain Physical Activity $100 max for completing and reporting eating fruits and veggies (5 days a week for 6 weeks) $25 for one preventative, age-appropriate health screening $50 max for attending a Spiritual Retreat (including Grace Place, Doxology or Shepherd’s Canyon) $10 for sharing your journey of wellness $25 for participating in a weight loss program (Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem)
Index
CPS Employer Health Elections Materials Sent
CHP Employer Election Packets were sent to employers in mid-July. The packets include the following information:
2016 rate information Health plan option election forms Information highlighting the new tools and resources available for CHP members Flyer with a sneak preview of the wellness initiative for 2016 – exciting changes to their program and
opportunities for employers to cap their rate increase in 2017. What is staying the same? There will be no health plan design changes in 2016. The co-payments, if any, deductibles, coinsurance maximum and out-of-pocket maximums will be the same as in 2015. What’s New? CPS is excited to introduce innovative health care consumer tools and wellness resources. These new features are designed to help members get healthy, stay healthy, and become better consumers of health care. This leads to savings and good health all around. More details will follow. Key dates:
July 8, 9, 14, 16 & 21st – CPS will host webinars which help employers to maximize health care dollars and explain 2016 employer elections. To participate in a webinar pre-register on their registration page at: http://www.concordiaplans.org/ministry-resources/webinars.html
September 8, 2015 – Deadline for submitting Employer Election forms to CPS September 14 – October 16, 2015 – Annual open enrollment for workers and their dependents
and worker choice election period. January 1, 2016 – Effective day of new health care elections.
More Information about 2016 CHP options: To access additional health care information go to www.concordiaplans.org to find:
2016 Employer Guide to the Concordia Health Plan 2016 Employer Guide to Personal Spending Accounts
Take time to review the contents of the mailing, get answers to your questions, and contact their team of Employer Resource Consultants and Employer Relations Specialists for more information and discussion. They are there for you and available to make the annual enrollment process quick and easy with a solution that meets the needs of your ministry.
Index
2016 Salary Guidelines Now Available
Kansas District LCMS Salary Guidelines have been finalized and are available now on the District website. The District Board of Directors just approved the base salary for 2016 in the amount of $31,903 to use with the guideline packet. To access the resource go to www.kslcms.org, click Publications-Resources at the top of the page, look under Business Office-District on the right side of the page, click on 2016 Salary Guidelines.
Index
2014 Audited Financial Statements
The 2014 Audited Financial Statements for the Kansas District are now available on the District website. We also have updated the income and expense pie charts that break down the 2014 District’s mission and ministry
program in the ministry areas. Please feel free to download the information and share with your congregation as desired.
Index
Lutheran Witness Renewal Packets
The 2015-2016 Lutheran Witness Renewal Packets have been sent to each congregation. The Kansas subscription year runs from November 1, 2015 – October 31, 2016. Lutheran Witness is the official publication of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. The cost will remain the same as last year. The “blanket” rate will be $15.25 (this rate applies when the church pays for a subscription to each home). The “individual” rate will be $17.00 (this rate applies when each individual or family pays their own subscription fee to the church). The subscription statements are sent in October, the church need only submit one check for all of its subscribers, blanket or individual. Please follow the Lutheran Witness renewal instructions on the first page of your packet, attach that first page, the packet with address corrections and cancellations, and the addition page(s) and return to: Kansas District LCMS Attn: Shannon Oldham 1000 SW 10th Avenue Topeka, Kansas, 66604 Changes can also be made via email or fax. If you would prefer one of these methods, please send emails to [email protected] or send a fax to 785-357-5071. If sending by email, please scan the forms; include church name, church city, and the CPH 5 digit district code found on the first page of the subscriptions. In order to guarantee timely changes with Concordia Publishing House all renewals are due in the District office NO LATER than August 31, 2015! If we do not receive changes by the August 31 due date, members may not receive all issues and your billing will reflect the current number of subscriptions listed in your renewal list. Please DO NOT send money now. Billing will be done in October and due by December 31, 2015. We wish to express our appreciation for the support of all congregations and subscribers and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by email, [email protected], or by phone at 1-800-357-4421 Ext. 202.
Index
LCEF Investment and Loan Rates
LCEF Interest Rates LCEF Loan Rates – Personal and Ministry Loans Personal Investments Ministry Investments
Index
Lutheran Church Extension Fund presents the Y.I. Club
Join the Y.I. Club with a Y.I. StewardAccount® With an investment of just $25 to open the Y.I. StewardAccount, your young investor becomes a Y.I. Club member with special fun activities that grow with them Infant-18 years old. Y.I. StewardAccount Features: *Minimum of $25 to open account *Premium interest rate of 3.5% on balances up to $1,000 *Savings grow with the child, but are accessible *Checks and debit card available to custodian *Debit card available at age 16 *Interest compounded and paid monthly *Make additional investments with checks or Y.I. Stamps
Index
A Very Special Thank You!
Since the very first day the Kansas District Retreat Center opened for business we have had a silent caregiver who has cleaned up our messes and prepared a clean place for our retreats. Her name is Charlotte Schultz. Charlotte has been our housekeeper since day one and has gone above and beyond the call of duty. Charlotte’s husband Jim has also served us faithful as a volunteer handyman, fixing what we have left broken much of the time. As of the end of June Charlotte has decided to hang up her Retreat Center mop. She will be missed. Beginning July 1, we welcomed Kimberly Reed as our new housekeeper. Kimberly, her husband Doug and their 3 boys live in Herington and are members of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Join us in welcoming Kimberly and thanking both of these ladies for all of their hard work & dedication at the Retreat Center.
Index
Wacky Science Fun at Beautiful Savior, Olathe
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Preschool, Olathe celebrated Week of the Young Child in a new way this year. They hosted a Wacky Science Day with Dr. White and Dr. Blue, the scientists. These scientists were actually Beautiful Savior’s own Pastor Joel Schultz and Pastor Mike Ada. Both pastors worked as high school science teachers before deciding to attend the seminary and become pastors. Their backgrounds in teaching chemistry, physics, biology, and physical science gave them all the tricks and tools to put on a fun and educational demonstration for the preschoolers. Sporting their blue and white wigs and lab coats, they showed the children the power of air with leaf blowers and toilet paper rolls. They explained and demonstrated how a potato can be a battery, a pickle can be a light bulb, and how an egg can get sucked into a bottle that it shouldn’t fit through! The children especially enjoyed seeing empty soda bottle rockets, and even a giant nerf ball rocket. Both pastors are talking about the fun demonstrations they can add next year for the 2nd annual Wacky Science Day!
Index
Faith, Sports, and Family: It’s Not Only About How to Say “No” to the Coach!
This time of year, many parents and families are winding down summer sporting activities. Summer is the season of individual camps, team camps, cheerleading camps, summer conditioning, volleyball, softball, basketball, soccer, and baseball games and tournaments. I did not even mention work for older kids! It is tiring even writing all of the above, let alone participating in it. This article will not go in the direction of condemning sports and activities that can be an important part of a young person’s physical, mental and even spiritual growth. It will not berate well-intentioned parents who make decisions about activities for their kids that my wife and I did not have to face. I as well as my sons participated in high school and college athletics. I value and appreciate sports. I will not offer simplistic solutions to the dilemmas families face. However, I do hope to offer some perspective.
Rhythm is an important sporting concept. Rhythm is important in a pitchers wind-up, a basketball shot, a football team’s offense, a batters swing, a tennis serve, and the list goes on. Rhythm allows the body parts to work together in an efficient and productive way; it benefits the entire body. It is based on repetition. God established a rhythm of life way back in the Garden of Eden, when in the perfect world the Lord rested on the seventh day after creating the world the previous six. Thereafter, a rhythm of life was established that was and is beneficial for humanity. The Sabbath was for rest, renewal, and remembering the works of God, all contributing to personal and community well-being. What is your family’s rhythm of life? Is there regular time for rest, renewal, and remembering the works of God? In our now broken world, we struggle to find the rhythm of the Garden. We avoid the legalistic “have to’s”, while battling our human nature that rebels against the disciplines of faith life. We live in grace and yet are condemned by the law. Rhythm is easily disrupted in our lives. But we know of its importance Balance is another important concept in sports. How many athletic techniques and fundamentals begin with establishing a solid base position where the body is balanced and ready for movement in any direction? Balance is often a key. An off-balance shot or swing is usually not effective. Balance in all of life is important as well. Has any part of life grown so large that it impedes growth in other areas? Is faith life starved because it lacks the nutrients to sustain it? Is a disportionate amount of family time, energy or financial resources spent on sports? Is life in balance? These are not only hard questions to answer; they are hard questions to ask. But I would hope that families who desire to put Christ in the center of their lives challenge themselves to ponder these questions in the light of God’s Word, struggle with the issues, make prayerful and careful decisions, communicate and model faithful and faith-filled choices, and then live rhythmic and balanced lives drenched in baptismal waters.
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New Haskell Facility Taking Shape
Stan Sneegas, Lutheran Indian Ministries Board Member from Lawrence, Kansas, shares the following construction update for Haskell LIGHT Campus Ministry’s new facility: The work on the building is progressing. We have a finished roof! The exterior East wall is up with only one coat of paint to go. The Laborers for Christ volunteers are finishing the other exterior walls. When we get the windows and doors installed, we will have a weatherproof facility. Then the fun will begin with the HVAC, plumbing and electrical contractors as they install the utilities in the interior walls. The HVAC contactor has already dropped off some of the duct work. Even if it rains, we can still finish framing the interior walls. Now that it is really taking shape, we have people already stopping by and wanting to have events in the building. Will Main (Dakota Sioux), co-director at Haskell LIGHT Campus Ministry, adds: I’m a tool guy, right? I like tools. That’s what this building is to me: a state-of-the-art tool to reach students with the Gospel. This building is truly incredible. It’s such a blessing to see that it’s real. Only God can accomplish this! People are saying, “Now, that’s a beautiful building!” They’re telling us that even before we can finish the exterior. Soon, the electricians will come in to begin installing lighting and our sound system. After that, we can start putting up dry wall and sheet rock on the inside. Before long, we should be getting the stone for the exterior. In the meantime, Patricia has been choosing appliances, cabinets, colors and other things for the interior. If you and your congregation would like to help with construction at Haskell LIGHT Campus Ministry, please call (785) 841-4809. Your hands-on help, prayers and support are greatly appreciated!
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