Meeting in Indian Wells, Calif., Nov. 17-19, the Synod’s Board for Mission Services appointed Dr. Thomas R. Zehnder of Baileys Harbor, Wis., as its interim executive director. Zehnder, 72, is expected to serve in the post until a permanent successor…

Concordia Theological Seminary will present its annual symposia on exegetical and confessional theology Jan. 20-23 on its campus in Fort Wayne, Ind. The four-day symposia includes: the 24th Annual Symposium on Exegetical Theology, Jan. 20-21, which will discuss “The Coherence…

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will host its winter 2009 Lay Bible Institute from 7 to 9 p.m. on consecutive Wednesday evenings — Jan. 7, 14, 21, and 28 — on its campus. The institute topic, “Woman and Man — According to God’s Plan,”…

New from Concordia Publishing House are two new Christmas resources: The “Away in a Manger Christmas Service” ($39.99, item no. 351344WEB) is designed to give children opportunities to experience the birth of Jesus through drama, music, and prayer.  Based on…

While the marriage amendment passed in California with 52 percent approval, those opposing it made their views known even before the votes were counted.  A window was broken at Messiah Lutheran Church, Downey, Calif., sometime between 10 p.m. on the…

Dr. Robert Roegner announced his resignation as executive director of the Synod’s Board for Mission Services, effective Nov. 16, citing his desire to return to “a more hands-on ministry.” The board appointed Nov. 19 Dr. Thomas R. Zehnder of Baileys…

Matthew Priem, a fourth-year student at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is this year’s winner in the Pamela Anne Prevallet Memorial Fund Annual Hymn Competition.  Priem is from Ocala, Fla. Priem’s winning hymn, “What Life Is This,” may be heard on…

LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick Nov. 5 congratulated the people of California, Arizona, and Florida for their successful efforts to preserve traditional marriage for the good of civil society and for the protection of children. Voters in all three states…

Arts and crafts, games, prizes, entertainment, and food and drink were all part of this year’s “Operation FUN” (For a United Neighborhood), a free family festival sponsored by Concordia Publishing House on its parking lot. The party, now in its…

Nearly 800 volunteers packed 200,000 meals for children in Haiti after a three-day service project at Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill. The Oct. 9-11 event was organized by Concordia Professor of Human Performance Bill Duey and students in his…

By Paula Schlueter Ross In their presentation on “Telling the Good News,” Kristy Grannis and Ida Mall shared lots of information with the nearly 200 women attending the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League’s Assembly of Leaders. Grannis, mission project administrator with…

The fifth annual “Needs and Resources Forum” sponsored by Lutherans in Medical Missions (LIMM) will be held March 20-21 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel — Airport, St. Louis, under the theme “Reaching Communities for Christ with Health and Education.” The event…

By Paula Schlueter Ross It’s official: “The longest basketball marathon is 77 hours, 7 minutes, 7 seconds, set by students of Heartland Lutheran High School in their gymnasium, Nebraska, United States, from 4 to 7 July 2008.” So reads the…

A record 100-plus LCMS Servant Events will take place over the coming months, through next summer. LCMS Youth Ministry co-sponsors Servant Events — as it has for more than 1,000 such events since 1981 — along with Synod congregations and schools,…

By Joe Isenhower Jr. A newly formed advisory committee of young adults wants to help Synod congregations reclaim what has been called “a missing generation” among church rolls nationwide and in the Missouri Synod — young adults in their 20s and…