In our churches

 

Sixty-year tradition

It is tradition for the members of Prince of Peace, Menomonee Falls, WI, to gather discarded live Christmas trees for an Epiphany service bonfire to mark the end of the Christmas season. Click

here to watch the news clip. (CT Kruger/Now News Group). The "Epiphany Tree Burning Service and Carols" is an outdoor singing festival. The attendees follow the Three Kings to sing praises to the Christ Child for the last time and burn remaining Christmas trees. Warm refreshments and fellowship follow the event, which is open to members and neighbors of Prince of Peace.

Installation services

Members of the leadership team at Fairlawn, Fairlawn, OH, were installed at the contemporary service on Sunday, January 7, 2018. Other team members were installed earlier at the traditional service.

#LoveThyNeighbor

 

Receiving blessings

In the past, the Servant to Servant eNewsletter has provided reports on how the Packages4Patriots ministry from Holy Spirit, Elk Grove Village, IL, blesses our military with wonderful care packages. This time, Packages4Patriots was on the receiving end of a blessing, as the Fox Valley Military Moms on a Mission filled their shelves. Check out the before and after photos. The first photo is of P4P's shelves after the September packing and the second photo was taken on January 9, 2018.

 

Christmas program

The Sunday school and the church choir from St. John's, Pembroke, ON, Canada, entertained guests with the Christmas program, From Heaven Above. It is a story told by angels, proclaiming the great news of the many wonderful gifts we receive through our Saviour Jesus Christ, who was born on that first Christmas morn.

 

Team China Preparation

The Lutheran Church of the Prince of Peace in Menomonee Falls, WI is sending eight of its members to Hong Kong, China for a two-week mission trip, March 5-19, 2018. The group has a wide variety of talents that God has blessed them with to use in making disciples of all nations. The mission team members from Prince of Peace are Mert & Star Troeger, Nancy Brandon, Elizabeth Jentz, Mary Droegkamp, Victoria Droegkamp, Roger Kautz, and Kyle Re. They ask that you keep them in your prayers as they await their assignment and prepare to deliver the Good News of the Gospel.

 

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Call Returned

The Rev. Timothy P. Kade, Epic, Shelby Township, MI, has returned the call to serve Zion, Lawrenceville, PA.

Get 2018 Life Sunday resources (bulletins, inserts, Bible studies, sermons, children's messages) here.

2018 Walk For Life Opportunities

Fort Wayne March For Life - Fort Wayne, Indiana

Saturday, January 27th 12:00 PM

Eyes of Life: Jean

Meet Jean, who mourns the death of her child but who is reminded daily that "Jesus is always with me, even when I was on the hard, cold, abortion table."

Write a Hymn

You are invited to write and submit a hymn to be considered as the Convention Hymn for the 56th Regular Convention of the English District LCMS. The convention will be held June 19-21, 2018 on the campus of Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI. The theme of the hymn: Love your neighbor as yourself. Deadline for all hymn submissions is Monday, January 22, 2018. Please email the lyrics and music to Bishop Jamison J. Hardy.

Free Webinar

Faith Formation in the Age of the Selfie - Part 1

The Michigan District LCMS is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 1:30 PM EST, to discuss the following:

What effect does constant engagement with social media, often through our personal devices, have on faith formation?

What are the challenges for faith formation in the Age of the Selfie?

This webinar will explore the nature of how social media and personal devices influence our lives in ways that deeply affect our faith. Part 1 will focus significantly on describing various cultural practices and habits that intersect with Christian spirituality in ways that are often perceived as benign but in fact may be detrimental. To participate, click here  to register.

February Prayer List

We encourage you to use the District prayer list for your daily personal,  congregational, school, classroom, staff, and circuit prayers. Please feel free to use this list in your weekend service folders, on the congregational website and in newsletters. 

February Prayer List

Calling a seminary candidate

Is your congregation interested in requesting a candidate from the seminary to fill a vacancy? If so, please contact Administrative Assistant Kathy Stanis at 248-476-0039 ext. 320 or email her to receive information needed to request a candidate and how to obtain call documents online. Deadline to make a request and submit call documents to the English District office is February 1, 2018.

L.E.R.T. Training - Two opportunities in February

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod has a history of responding to disasters throughout the world. Our response allows congregation members to confess Christ to their community, region, and world in the ways that they are willing to share the love of Christ. In February, there are two opportunities for adults of all ages and youth to participate in a training through Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT). The cost is $35/person and includes training materials, an LCMS volunteer vest, and lunch.

Click here to register for Saturday, February 3, 2018 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Adrian, MI .

Click here  to register for Saturday, February 10, 2018 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hillsdale, MI.

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2018 English District Convention

Preparations are well underway for the English District Convention to be held June 19-21, 2018 at Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI. Each congregation should be making preparations as well, and to facilitate communication regarding convention deadlines, we are emailing  convention e-notes to our congregations and pastors every month.

An informational letter and forms were mailed to every district congregation last fall from our District Secretary, Rev. Luke Zimmerman.  There is also a link to these forms on the English District website  2018 Convention page.  Official nomination forms for president and vice presidents were mailed in late November and are only available in printed format.  The nominations deadline is February 19, 2018. Please prayerfully consider pastors and laypersons who may serve well in the various elected positions.   If you are unable to locate your president and vice president nomination forms, please contact  Rev. Luke Zimmerman  ( [email protected]   or  717-636-1545) to receive another copy.

 

If you have questions, you may contact the District office ( [email protected] or 800-755-9335) or Rev. Luke Zimmerman ( [email protected]  or 717-636-1545).