“The First Rosa: Teacher, Confessor, Church Planter” — the 42-minute film that tells the story of famed LCMS educator-missionary Dr. Rosa Young, “the mother of black Lutheranism in central Alabama” — is being shown at various sites around The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod this year, prior to its official release in early 2016.
Here’s the current schedule of 2015 screenings that are free and open to the public (all times are local):
- Oct. 9 — 7 p.m., Sihler Auditorium, Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW), Fort Wayne, Ind. CTSFW President Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast Jr. will share remarks prior to the showing. For information, contact the seminary at info@ctsfw.edu or 260-452-2250.
- Oct. 24 — 6 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, Mobile, Ala.
- Nov. 6 — 7 p.m., Werner Auditorium, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (reception to follow). Seating is limited; reserve your ticket via email by Nov. 2 here.
- Nov. 6 — 6 p.m., Calvary Lutheran Church and School, Baltimore.
- Nov. 6 — 7 p.m., Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Dearborn, Mich., fellowship hall.
- Nov. 14 — 2 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church, Troy, Mich.
Showings of the film also are scheduled for the Lutheran Church Extension Fund Fall Leadership Conference, Nov. 20-22 in Atlanta, and during a number of LCMS district conferences — those are not open to the public, but only to registrants.
Additional showings are being arranged for congregations in Chicago; Concord, N.C.; Indianapolis; New York; Richfield, Minn.; San Diego; and St. Paul, Minn., as well as Concordia University System schools in Chicago; Irvine, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Selma, Ala.; and St. Paul, Minn.
To see a schedule, click here and then on “Premiere locations and dates” at right.
Other resources for “The First Rosa” also are available on the website, including a poster, tips for hosting a showing, a sample invitation, newsletter text, an information sheet, a response card, bulletin inserts and bookmarks.
A free DVD of the film is expected to be sent to each LCMS congregation in January.
Congregations interested in hosting a pre-release showing of “The First Rosa” this year may contact the Rev. Roosevelt Gray via email at roosevelt.gray@lcms.org for information.
Posted Oct. 7, 2015