By Kim Plummer Krull When Hurricane Ike ravaged Texas three years ago, Dr. Lou Jander worked to help people whose lives were turned upside down by that storm. Today, the retired LCMS Texas District disaster-response coordinator and mission and ministry…
Central Texas wildfires ravage homes, communities
By Sarah Schafer and James Heine According to media reports, a series of central Texas wildfires this weekend has destroyed hundreds of homes in the Lone Star State. Among the most serious is a fire that forced the evacuation of…
Historic D.C. church caught between quake, hurricane
By Sarah Schafer A 150-year-old LCMS church and parish house located less than a mile from the White House were damaged in the 5.8-magnitude East Coast earthquake of Aug. 23. But the church, Mount Olivet in Washington, D.C. — which…
Urgent disaster needs on East Coast continue
By Kim Plummer Krull A few days after they were rescued by boat from their flooded home, Jan and Greg Wilsey say they are “overwhelmed.” But, surprisingly, the members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Delmar, N.Y., aren’t referring to their escape…
'PRAY 2011' set for Oct. 13-14
“PRAY 2011,” the latest LCMS gathering to focus solely on prayer, is planned for Oct. 13-14 at the Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel in St. Louis. Like similar events in 2009 and 2010, the event is open to those who consider…
CPH offers free choral, organ music for 9/11
In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Concordia Publishing House is providing complimentary sheet music for organists and choirs preparing to observe this solemn occasion. “Grant Peace, We Pray, in Mercy, Lord,” a fervent prayer for…
9/11 worship resources available on LCMS website
Worship resources are available on the LCMS website to assist congregations in observing the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Because congregations likely will observe this anniversary in a variety of ways, a complete service has not…
Reports of needs grow across weary Eastern Seaboard
By Kim Plummer Krull As he waits for the insurance company to assess damages, the Rev. Joel Kotila says he knows many people are dealing with far greater losses since Hurricane Irene. Still, the pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church,…
Why are American churches losing the less educated?
(RNS) — A new study reporting that white Americans without college degrees are dropping out of church faster than their higher-educated counterparts has several possible explanations, according to researchers. The study, by University of Virginia sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox, found…
'Koinonia' surfaces amid South Dakota floodwaters
By Kim Plummer Krull After a surprise visit from a Kenyan Lutheran friend, the Rev. Kevin Vogts now sees a blessing in the midst of those “enormous black columns” of mosquitoes swirling over floodwaters that forced about 70 percent of…
Damage assessments continue after Irene
By Kim Plummer Krull While many are giving thanks that Hurricane Irene packed less force than forecasters feared, LCMS leaders are learning about pockets of destruction as they check on congregations and communities along the battered Eastern Seaboard. By Tuesday…
Mailings begin for 2013 convention
The first of 18 different postcards updating congregations about their role in necessary procedures leading up to and including their 2012 district conventions and the 2013 Synod convention will be arriving in their mail early this month. The postcards from…
Lutheran college fairs planned for fall
Nine Lutheran college fairs are planned for Midwestern sites this fall. Representatives from Lutheran colleges and universities nationwide will be at the fairs to share information and answer questions. Sponsored by the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America (LECNA), the…
Official Notice — Colloquies (Sept. 2011)
REV. ERIC ASH, Monroeville, Pa., has submitted an application for the Pastoral Colloquy Program through The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Correspondence regarding his application should be directed within four weeks after publication of this notice to: Reverend Herbert C. Mueller Jr.,…
Requests for Reinstatement (Sept. 2011)
CHRISTOPHER JOHN IRELAN, Arlington Heights, Ill., has applied for reinstatement to the Ministers of Religion–Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. SARAH KATHERINE JOHNSON, Four Seasons, Mo.; RACHEL BRAUNERSREUTHER, Tomball, Texas; KIMBERLY A. NEWMAN, Sterling Heights, Mich.; and RHONDA A.…
Positions (Sept. 2011)
Lutheran Services of Georgia, a statewide social services agency with an annual budget of over $12 million, is searching for a chief executive officer (CEO) to succeed its retiring CEO. The ideal candidate should have a proven record of strategic…
