The Rev. Ted Engelbrecht, who started the Synod’s humanitarian work in Vietnam and served there for 15 years, has received the Peace and Friendship Award from the Vietnamese government. Engelbrecht, who relocated to the Portland, Ore., area in July, received…

Concordia Seminary (St. Louis) Press has released a six-part Advent sermon series titled “Savior of the Nations, Come.” Written by the Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, associate professor and director of the Graduate School at the seminary, the sermon series is…

According to Reformer Martin Luther, “Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.” Now the Kantorei of Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS), Fort Wayne, Ind., is adding to that treasure with their…

Randy H. Einem, principal of St. John’s Lutheran School, Orange, Calif., since 2008, is among 61 “2011 National Distinguished Principals” named by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP).Einem is a 1976 graduate…

By Emily Barlean Every day, 900,000 people in 120 countries take five minutes out of their day to open their copy of Portals of Prayer and read a quick devotion, according to Concordia Publishing House. In fact, during the last 75 years…

On Oct. 31, the Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) office in Beirut, Lebanon, began broadcasting Arabic-language Christian programming that will reach predominantly young-adult audiences in Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, the Palestinian Territories and northern Sudan. LHM–Lebanon,…

LONDON (RNS) — The British government said Nov. 2 that same-sex couples will be allowed for the first time to use churches to seal their civil partnership vows, starting in December. But the directive added that no religious group will be…

By Linda C. Hoops The third dialogue between The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), held Oct. 27-28 on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS), Fort Wayne, Ind., addressed “Contemporary Issues Facing the Church in…

Lutheran-school educators and administrators are invited to join in a free live webcast to help with their schools’ branding efforts Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 4 p.m. Central time. This 50-minute webcast episode — the first of four to be offered in…

By Adriane Dorr LCMS leaders met with representatives on Capitol Hill Oct. 27 and took part in the first-ever Lutheran Services in America Day at the White House Oct. 28. On the first day of their visit to Washington, D.C., the group…

Resources are available to help congregations recognize LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR-HC) Sunday on Nov. 20.  Available for free downloading from WR-HC’s website — at www.lcms.org/worldrelief — are black-and-white and color versions of a bulletin insert, a four-part…

Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) opened an exhibit Oct. 24 on the Synod’s first president. “To God Alone the Glory: The Life of C.F.W. Walther” will remain on display through 2012. The new exhibit highlights the life and ministry of Carl Ferdinand…

By Glenn Fluegge Yesterday morning I sat at my desk and wept. I do not cry often, but I could not help myself. I had just received news that Rev. Dr. Wilbert Kreiss had died during the night while attending the…

Many caught in the worst monsoon-fed flooding to hit Southeast Asia in 50 years will receive relief supplies made possible through collaborative efforts of LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR-HC) and Lutheran partners in Thailand and Cambodia. Two initial emergency-relief…

In his third and final monthly video message supporting the Synod’s What a Way initiative, LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison urges pastors, teachers and other rostered LCMS church workers to use that initiative’s resources for their well-being.  …

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Catholic and other Christian health care providers got their day in Congress Nov. 2 at a hearing Republicans called to denounce an Obama administration rule that requires insurers to cover contraception. The rule, part of the health care…