LEDYARD, N.Y. (RNS) — The town clerk in Ledyard, N.Y. — who drew national attention after refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples — won re-election on Nov. 8. Incumbent Rose Marie Belforti, a Republican, defeated Ed Easter, of Aurora,…

Note: Reporter cannot accept notices about items offered for sale or that people wish to purchase. Items described as “Wanted” or “Available” are sought or may be obtained for shipping costs only. Notices may be sent to Karen Higgins at…

The audits and summary budgets of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Foundation have been completed and are available upon written request. Please direct your request to: Lutheran Church Extension Fund Sunset Corporate Center 10733 Sunset Office…

The following institutions of the Concordia University System are seeking candidates for positions: Concordia College — New York, Bronxville, N.Y., seeks to fill faculty positions in business; communications (part-time). Concordia University, Irvine, Calif., seeks to fill faculty positions in theology…

HENRY ROBERT SCHRIEVER, New Hyde Park, N.Y., and ROLF D. PREUS, Mayville, N.D., have applied for reinstatement to the Ministers of Religion — Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. LAURIE (SCHELCHT) PIERINI, Palatine, Ill., and LARRY L. FINKE, Winona,…

The Rev. Dr. Steven L. Dreher of Salida, Colo., a missionary pilot with the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots (LAMP) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, was killed when his 337 Cessna airplane crashed shortly after takeoff Nov. 10 in Alamosa,…

The practical application of theology to youth ministry will be the focus of “Youth Ministry 2012” (YM 2012) — LCMS Office of National Mission — Youth Ministry’s yearly symposium for lay and professional youth workers. It is planned for Jan.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…