The Lilly Endowment Inc. once again is offering awards to congregations of up to $45,000 each to allow pastors to take a sabbatical — to go on what the organization calls “journeys of renewal and refreshment for creative ministry.” More than…
LCEF names new CFS head
David Kuerschner of St. Charles, Mo., has been named to lead Capital Funding Services (CFS), a Synod fund-raising organization that is part of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF). He succeeds Rev. David P. Schmidt, who retired Jan. 3. Kuerschner, who…
Resources link Feb. 27 readings to Lutheran Blind Mission
The Bible readings on Sunday, Feb. 27, focus on how Jesus, in the first century, met the needs of blind people. A recent mailing of resources from Lutheran Blind Mission focuses on how Jesus — in the 21st century —…
2005 VBS program features 'Safari Adventure'
“Safari Adventure: Discover Jesus the King,” a new vacation Bible school program for 2005, is available now from Concordia Publishing House. In the new program, students go on a “safari” and make discoveries about Jesus the King. Along the way, they…
Pressure Points with Dr. Bruce Hartung
Q: I have received a call. The church that is calling me wants me to come for a visit. The visit includes bringing my family — wife and children. They say that while they have called me already, they want…
LWR urges Lutherans to voice support on tsunami issues
Lutheran World Relief (LWR), Baltimore, is urging Lutherans nationwide to contact their senators and President Bush to voice their support of two tsunami-related issues: Extending the charitable-deductions deadline for 2004 — The tsunamis struck on Dec. 26, giving donors just…
Kieschnick asks for donations, prayers for tsunami victims
LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick is urging Missouri Synod Lutherans to consider opportunities for donating toward disaster relief in the wake of the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami in South Asia, and to pray for “those so deeply devastated by this…
Rudolph Harm dies
Dr. Rudolph H. Harm, a professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, from 1975 until his retirement in 1989, died Dec. 8 in St. Clair, Mo. He was 81. A funeral service was held Dec. 13 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in…
Thrivent offers resource kit for `Luther` movie
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is offering a free kit of educational resources to be used with the DVD and VHS versions of the motion picture “Luther.” The 300-page kit — available free only to Lutheran congregations, schools, and educational ministries —…
Fort Wayne seminary offers preaching seminar
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, is offering a one-day Lenten Preaching Seminar from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 17. Dr. Daniel L. Gard, associate professor of exegetical theology, and Dr. Harold L. Senkbeil, associate professor of pastoral ministry and missions,…
`Good Samaritan` grant applications available Jan. 15
Starting Jan. 15, an application packet will be available for seed grants to help congregations develop support services for immigrants and refugees in their communities. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), Baltimore, and Wheat Ridge Ministries, Itasca, Ill., are offering the…
`Pressure Points` with Dr. Bruce Hartung
There were a number of responses to my December column about pastoral and parish responses to returning military personnel. With the permission of two of those who responded, I will let their observations speak for themselves. From a 20-year officer/veteran: “The…
Call for nominations – commission director
The Synod’s Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support (CMGS) is reissuing a call for nominations for an executive director. The executive director reports to the commission and to the Synod president, and is responsible for providing principal leadership in promoting the…
LIRS president says agency `on rebound` in resettlements
The president of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) says the agency has “much to be thankful for in our work with refugees and migrants,” with resettlement efforts “on the rebound” after they declined in the wake of the Sept.…
Congress includes 19 Lutherans
There are 19 Lutherans — 10 Democrats and nine Republicans — in the 109th Congress of the United States, according to the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs (LOGA) in Washington, D.C. LOGA is the public-policy office of the Evangelical Lutheran Church…
Jan. 9 registration deadline for Fort Wayne symposia
Jan. 9 is the registration deadline for the 2005 symposia series sponsored by Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. “Who Is Jesus? The Church’s Response to Christological Controversies” is the theme for the Jan. 18-19 exegetical-theology symposium. The Jan. 19-21 Lutheran Confessions…
