Concordia, Austin, announces new nursing program

Concordia University Texas, Austin, is developing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program to help meet the need for nurses in Texas. Pending approval from the Texas Board of Nursing, the LCMS university expects to begin admitting students to…

Lutheran Heritage publishes Spanish Bible-catechism

The Holy Bible and Luther’s Small Catechism  in Spanish have been published by Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF) in one book to help Lutherans reach Hispanics with the Gospel — in predominantly Spanish-speaking countries and in communities throughout the United States and…

CPH offers new Bible study for women

New from Concordia Publishing House is A New Song: Planted by Streams of Water — Psalms of Divine Wisdom, a six-week Bible study written by women, for women.  It is the first release in the A New Song series. The new book, says…

Judge: Mission society can distribute tracts at 'gay pride' event

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against the City of St. Louis June 24, paving the way for volunteers with The Apple of His Eye, a St. Louis-based LCMS mission society, to hand out Christian literature during a “gay…

Positions (July)

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, has a current opening for a communications specialist.  This staff member will assist the director of Communications in the production of print and Web resources that communicate the mission and vision of Concordia Seminary to the…

Kieschnick addresses same-sex marriage ruling

Synod President Gerald B. Kieschnick issued a statement June 24 expressing disagreement with the California Supreme Court’s May 15 ruling that overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. “The 4-3 ruling declared that the state Constitution protects a fundamental ‘right…

Kieschnick, NICL issue reconciliation statement

By Roland Lovstad In a statement titled “Steps Toward Reconciliation,” issued in early June, LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick and representatives of a group called Northern Illinois Confessional Lutherans (NICL) list two points of agreement and encourage that doctrine and…

Reopened church holds first VBS since Katrina

By Paula Schlueter Ross Christ Lutheran Church, Chalmette, La., member Kathy Wendling has helped out at more than a dozen vacation Bible school programs at the church, which took on 10 feet of water as a result of Hurricane Katrina…

International students study, share faith at retreat

By Paula Schlueter Ross DITTMER, Mo. — Born and raised in China, Weiqin Gu always thought of Christianity as “a foreign people’s religion.” Even when she moved to the United States in 2004 with her husband, a graduate student, and the…

100 worship, praise songs approved

After considering the praise and worship songs most frequently used by LCMS congregations, the Synod’s Commission on Worship submitted 87 songs that were subsequently approved over the past six months through the church body’s doctrinal review process. Another 13 previously…

Commentary: Today's economy and stewardship

By Allen Helms I just filled my car’s gas tank at the price of $3.82 per gallon.  By the time you read this, that price may seem like one from the “good old days” for where you may be. Who…

Pressure Points (July)

With Dr. Bruce Hartung The flow of correspondence into my mailbag has been quite active concerning recent columns about two very different subjects — domestic violence and seminary student funding. I’d like to share a few readers’ responses (in bold) through…

Items wanted, available (July)

Note:  Reporter cannot accept notices about items offered for sale or that people wish to purchase.  Items described as “Wanted” or “Available” are sought or may be obtained for shipping costs only. Available Joyful Sounds — The New Children’s Hymnal (CPH,…

Midwest still reeling from floods as clean-up begins

By Linda C. Hoops With 83 of 99 counties in Iowa having been declared state disaster areas and estimates of damages surpassing $1.5 billion, some are calling 10 days of flooding in the state “the Katrina of the Midwest.” In…

Wheat Ridge offers 'Health, Hope' grants

Wheat Ridge Ministries is inviting congregations to submit applications from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 for its “Congregation Health and Hope Grant” program. The grants are intended to help congregations develop health and wellness ministries.  All Lutheran congregations — individually or…

Sales of art goods benefit Kenyan women

LCMS World Relief and Human Care is offering a number of items handmade by members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK). Sales of the necklaces, bookmarks, and cards — which are produced mostly by women — benefit artisans in…