New This Week

LCEF Fall Conference celebrates ministries that ‘Lead Boldly’

This year’s Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) Fall Leadership Conference, Nov. 16–18 in San Diego, continued its decades-long tradition of presenting the Gospel-inspired results and benefits of LCEF’s work.

LCMS presidential voter registration proceeds under new bylaws

Receipt of presidential election voter registration forms began on Oct. 25 and will continue until March 24, 2019.

Concordia University System schools develop new programs, partnerships

Several CUS schools are also reporting upturns in fall enrollment.

Year-end ‘Together as Synod’ gifts offer flexibility, cost-effectiveness

An undesignated “Together as Synod” gift to the LCMS enhances domestic and international efforts to witness and show mercy to others, and to live life together as children of God.

Movie review: ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’

“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” the second Harry Potter prequel in the Fantastic Beasts series, attempts but ultimately fails to conjure the magic of the original Harry Potter series.

December ‘Lutheran Witness’ celebrates — and possibly ruins? — Christmas

Among other topics, the issue considers how Christians’ observance of Christmas may sometimes serve to distract rather than enrich their celebration of Christ’s birth.

Volunteers needed to decorate Rose Parade float

Volunteer “Petal Pushers” will decorate the Lutheran Hour Ministries float and eight others in the annual New Year’s Day parade.

New wellness webpage offers resources for church workers

One of the seven mission priorities of the LCMS Board for National Mission is to “promote and nurture the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of pastors and professional church workers.”

Oldenettel named ‘National Distinguished Principal’

Dawn Oldenettel, principal of St. John’s Lutheran School in West Bend, Wis., received the award in October in Washington, D.C.

At 150 years old, CPH ‘very much alive’

On Sept. 11, Concordia Publishing House kicked off a yearlong celebration of its founding in 1869 by C.F.W. Walther.

New CTCR report highlights the priesthood of all believers

The report stresses the complementary relationship that exists between the priesthood of all believers and the Office of the Holy Ministry.

Share it! – Ideas for observing Thanksgiving

Answers to the question, “Does your church or school do anything special to observe Thanksgiving?”

Campus Clips – Butterflies, health and honors

News from the Concordia University System.

LCMS church lost to fast-moving California wildfire

The fast-moving “Camp Fire” in Northern California has engulfed some 90,000 acres, causing at least nine confirmed fatalities and the destruction of 6,713 structures in the approximately 27,000-resident town of Paradise.

From the Mission Field – Togo Mercy Medical Team

The Rev. Gary Schulte, area director for LCMS West Africa, shares a story from the Togo Mercy Medical Team clinic in September.

Lutheran Prayer Companion offers prayers for ‘almost any situation’

The new book, released by Concordia Publishing House, is the first English translation of a German prayer book from the 1800s.