New resources available for Lent

Concordia Publishing House, Lutheran Hour Ministries and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League are offering new Lenten resources for 2014.

Schmidt begins as associate director, School Ministry

Dr. Rebecca Schmidt has almost 36 years of experience in early-childhood education and school leadership.

Survey begins process of updating ‘Explanation’

Beginning Feb. 10, a survey spread over six months asks rostered LCMS workers for their input regarding the six chief parts of “Luther’s Small Catechism.”

Symposium: Relationships key to ’emerging adults’

The Youth Ministry 2014 Symposium focuses on the life stage known as “emerging adulthood” — young people ages 18 to 34.

Heise accepts call to top LHF post

Missionary Rev. Matthew Heise accepts a call to become executive director of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, effective April 1.

LCMS responds to Thrivent’s ‘Financial Neutrality Policy’

ST. LOUIS, February 7, 2014—The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) released today an initial response to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ “Financial Neutrality Policy.”

Commentary: Black History Month — a look back, forward

How did the LCMS begin its black ministry, and what lies ahead? The Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Gray Jr. shares his insights.

Seminary hosts symposia, ‘best time’ of year

Attendees from some 20 countries brave the cold to engage two themes at Concordia Theological Seminary’s theological symposia.

Nine educators to receive 2014 LEA awards

Dr. Ross Stueber of Cedarburg, Wis., recipient of the Christus Magister Award, heads the list of educators honored by Lutheran Education Association this year.

Pressure Points (February 2014)

Pastors with “compassion fatigue” — here’s help.

Feeding the hungry at Antsirabe blind school

See photographs from the Antsirabe blind school on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, in Madagascar. LCMS President Matthew C. Harrison visited the school, which was the recipient of an LCMS emergency grant after the Rev. Dr. Albert Collver, LCMS Director of Church Relations, learned that the children were malnourished due to budget cuts from European partners when he toured the school last October.

LCMS initial reaction to Thrivent’s ‘Financial Neutrality Policy’

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, guided by the Word of God, is unabashedly and actively pro-life. Thus we are deeply concerned by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ decision, announced Feb. 6, 2014, to adopt a “Financial Neutrality Policy” effective immediately to guide its decisions for outreach funding of charitable organizations.

President Harrison visits Madagascar

See photographs of LCMS President Matthew C. Harrison as he visits a Lutheran church near Antsirabe, Madagascar, on Feb. 5, 2014. Harrison addressed the opening of the Fiangonana Loterana Malagasy synodical convention.

Sem dedication a dream come true for Ghana church leader

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana Bishop Rev. Dr. Paul Kofi Fynn and some 700 others, including LCMS leaders, gather Feb. 2 for the dedication of that church body’s new seminary building.

Seminary dedication in Ghana

See photographs from the dedication of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in Greater Accra, Ghana. LCMS President Rev. Dr . Matthew C. Harrison and ELGC Bishop Paul Fynn lead the ceremony. Photographs by Erik M. Lunsford, staff photojournalist in LCMS Communications.

Feast of the Purification of Mary

Pastors, this is one of the feasts that (sadly!) tends to be mostly observed only when it falls on Sunday, as it does this year. That means that many are tempted to speak the unfamiliar Proper Preface. If you’d like a little practice learning to sing it, listen here to Pr. Sean Daenzer as he sings it for you.