In the new Concordia Publishing House book in a word — quiet little thoughts about God, author Heidi Floyd reflects on being diagnosed with breast cancer when she was pregnant with her fourth child. Each chapter begins with a single word…
LWML hits $100 million milestone
The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League announced Oct. 26 that it has received $100 million in mites since the organization’s founding in 1942. The milestone includes funds from the 40 LWML districts nationwide as well as those received on the national…
Asia conference emphasizes Christian education, service
A record number of some 280 educators from a dozen countries gathered in Hong Kong Oct. 20-21 for the Asia Lutheran Education Association’s (ALEA) fourth conference, under a theme that emphasized the importance of Christian service connected with Christian education. Among…
Higher Things schedules four 2012 conferences
Registration is open for four Higher Things youth conferences next summer — June 26-29 at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.; July 3-6 at Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Mo.; July 10-13 at Concordia University, Irvine, Calif.; and July 17-20…
Conference informs, encourages mission-minded students
By Paula Schlueter Ross “How beautiful … are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation” (Isaiah 52:7). Students from six of the Synod’s 10 colleges and universities nationwide attended this…
LHM launches radio program in Middle East
On Oct. 31, the Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) office in Beirut, Lebanon, began broadcasting Arabic-language Christian programming that will reach predominantly young-adult audiences in Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, the Palestinian Territories and northern Sudan. LHM–Lebanon,…
New book marks 75 years of 'Portals of Prayer'
By Emily Barlean Every day, 900,000 people in 120 countries take five minutes out of their day to open their copy of Portals of Prayer and read a quick devotion, according to Concordia Publishing House. In fact, during the last 75 years…
Seminary offers Advent sermon series
Concordia Seminary (St. Louis) Press has released a six-part Advent sermon series titled “Savior of the Nations, Come.” Written by the Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, associate professor and director of the Graduate School at the seminary, the sermon series is…
CTS Kantorei releases CD of sacred music
According to Reformer Martin Luther, “Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.” Now the Kantorei of Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS), Fort Wayne, Ind., is adding to that treasure with their…
LCMS staffer honored by Vietnamese government
The Rev. Ted Engelbrecht, who started the Synod’s humanitarian work in Vietnam and served there for 15 years, has received the Peace and Friendship Award from the Vietnamese government. Engelbrecht, who relocated to the Portland, Ore., area in July, received…
Einem receives 2011 award for 'distinguished principals'
Randy H. Einem, principal of St. John’s Lutheran School, Orange, Calif., since 2008, is among 61 “2011 National Distinguished Principals” named by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP).Einem is a 1976 graduate…
Congress considers conscience rights in health care
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Catholic and other Christian health care providers got their day in Congress Nov. 2 at a hearing Republicans called to denounce an Obama administration rule that requires insurers to cover contraception. The rule, part of the health care…
Anglicans won't allow civil partnerships in churches
LONDON (RNS) — The British government said Nov. 2 that same-sex couples will be allowed for the first time to use churches to seal their civil partnership vows, starting in December. But the directive added that no religious group will be…
Partnerships to aid Asian flood victims
Many caught in the worst monsoon-fed flooding to hit Southeast Asia in 50 years will receive relief supplies made possible through collaborative efforts of LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR-HC) and Lutheran partners in Thailand and Cambodia. Two initial emergency-relief…
Resources available for LCMS World Relief Sunday
Resources are available to help congregations recognize LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR-HC) Sunday on Nov. 20. Available for free downloading from WR-HC’s website — at www.lcms.org/worldrelief — are black-and-white and color versions of a bulletin insert, a four-part…
Harrison urges workers’ well-being in new video
In his third and final monthly video message supporting the Synod’s What a Way initiative, LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison urges pastors, teachers and other rostered LCMS church workers to use that initiative’s resources for their well-being. …

