“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!” (1 Chronicles 16:34 ESV)

I enjoy some simple things like fresh blacktop and clear ice cubes.

Old Testament Hannah was not concerned with life’s trivialities. Hannah did not even have a son. She cried. She prayed passionately and God answered. Hannah gave birth to Samuel. What did she do next? She kept her vow. She gave Samuel into the Lord’s service. Her vow was not to give him up for a summer or two when he turned eighteen. She promised, “I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11). After weaning Samuel, she brought him, the very son she received in answer to prayer, to the House of the LORD. Imagine giving up your three-year-old for special training away from home for a lifetime of service not knowing if you would see him more than once a year. Hannah gives thanks to the Lord by returning to Him the very thing for which she prayed.

There is a significant difference between simple things and family members. Ice cubes melt, pavement wears out, they cost money, and they do not care. My wife, children, and grandchildren love me, care about me, and I love them all. Nancy works hard and makes me laugh. For years I watched her willingly sacrifice sleep and never spend a dime on herself if it meant caring for our children and providing what she believed they needed. She enjoys our children and their families, prays for them every day, and keeps showing me how to enjoy what matters most. Recently, when I drove into our daughter's driveway, Nancy was holding a five-foot long blue hollow plastic tube at a 45-degree angle over a larger yellow Tonka dump truck.  Peter and Theo, two of our grandsons, were busy dropping walnut sized rocks one at a time into the top of the tube and watching them come out below. The dump truck was half-full, not ready yet for one of the boys to drive it away. It was so dear to see. How could Old Testament Hannah have given up little Samuel?

What are the names of the people God has given you to love and care about, and to thank Him for? For what else will you give Him thanks this month and throughout the year? As I type this Thanksgiving devotion, I am completing week fifteen in my role as district president. I thank the Lord for the privilege, and for aspects of ministry happening across our North Wisconsin District. Pastor Hanson, from Pilgrim, Green Bay, has agreed to lead our district missions team to help us expand our NWD national and international missions footprint. Meanwhile, the first group of congregations is working through a “church clarity” four-session process to form a ministry plan with reachable goals. Regarding the fostering of Lutheran education, DJ, from the district office, is leading our effort to support our Lutheran schools, classical education opportunities, and to expand our participation in and support for home-schooling cooperatives. Pastor Baye, from Hope, DePere, is completing his Doctor of Ministry studies regarding the role of fathers in shaping the faith of their children. We have asked him to chair our district’s Family Ministry emphasis. We aim to start with simple things, like providing pastors little note cards with a short prayer printed on them to hand to dads, and to ask them to kneel with their toddlers at bedtime to pray.

It all relates to Hannah. She gave up her son Samuel into a lifetime of service. Even more, our Father in heaven gave Jesus into a lifetime of holy service, and unto eternal damnation for us and for our salvation.

It seems silly to mention things like ice cubes and blacktop. Our heavenly Father is pleased to provide all things for us, simple pleasures too. Let us give thanks to God for all, for people to love and who love us, for food, for good work, important ministry, for simple pleasures, and above all, for His only Son, our Savior.

Oh give thanks unto the LORD for He is good, and His mercy endures forever. Amen.

I wish you a blessed and joyful Thanksgiving.

Pastor Shoup

Rev. Timothy J. Shoup

District President, North Wisconsin District LCMS

The annual NWD Lay Leader Training (for lay members serving on church boards) will be held on January 13, 6-8pm, at St. John Lutheran Church - Pulaski. Lay leaders will spend time with Pastor Shoup and his staff to explore leadership and other key areas to help lay leaders serve effectively in their role. Registration is open under Events and Info at nwdlcms.org or directly HERE.

This annual event is for ministry staff and will be held January 22 from 9am-3pm at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church - Wausau. The theme for the day will be family ministry. President Shoup has designated building families and children of faith and character as an emphasis in the NWD triennial ministry plan. The event will be led by Rev. Dr. Todd Biermann, Executive Director at Concordia Center for the Family. Pastor Biermann will help explain an effective family ministry framework for our world today, as well as explore tools and resources available to support your ministry to families. Pastors, DCE/DCO/DCM/DFLM, Deaconesses, and principals are encouraged to attend, but even teams of one can participate in this valuable event. Registration is open under Events and Info at nwdlcms.org or directly HERE.

Lutheran Bible Translators is an RSO of the LCMS that has created resources for your HFJ campaign. Our NWD goal is $5000. Every $20 provides a translated Bible.

Many resources are available to help promote HFJ. A welcome letter was emailed to churches and schools. It includes links to the chapel resources + an RSVP form for churches/schools to use if they plan to participate. This allows LBT to send student resources + custom parent letters for February.

A District fundraising page can be found HERE. This has a launch video as well as a way to give digitally. It is best to send your donation to the North WI District LCMS with HFJ on the memo line – this allows us to better track the success of the campaign. 100% of your gift will go to LBT.

Also sent to churches and schools was the LBT logo for promotion. Additional classroom activity resources and guided prayer activities from Visual Faith Ministry, customized for schools, will be available in January.

Rev. Dr. Dwayne & Cheryl Lueck recently traveled to Peru and represented the North WI District at the Peru FORO. Rev. Lueck shared the following...

Recently Cheryl and I had the opportunity to travel to Lima, Peru to see the mission work currently taking place and to encourage the workers who have been supported by the North Wisconsin District since 2013. On Friday we visited Castillo Fuerte (“a mighty fortress” in Spanish) where the children attend weekdays after school to receive a meal, have Bible time, do crafts, have time for recess and close with chapel. These children greeted our team with hugs and gifts and sang a song especially for us.

Read the full article HERE.

New pastors and their families gathered at Camp Luther, October 2-4, for the fall PALS conference. PALS, or Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support, is a continuing education program for pastors and their families in their first three years of ministry. For three days, pastors and their families gathered for worship services, study, and fellowship. The pastors learned about stewardship practices and the women studied the book of Ruth. President Shoup preached during the Divine Service and led a joint session on talking about stewardship within the congregation. The next PALS conference will be held in January.

Rev. Dr. Dan Paavola was the featured presenter at the annual Adult Gathering held at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Weston this fall.

The group of 150 focused on the Lord's Prayer based on Dr. Paavola's book Our Way Home: A Journey through the Lord's Prayer.

Congratulations to Ellie Gosa, an 8th grader from Zion Lutheran Wayside, who won the Wisconsin Lutheran School State Cross Country Meet at Concordia University on Saturday, October 11. 225 girls raced. She was also undefeated during her cross country season in the Lakeshore Lutheran League. She competed at the National Lutheran School Cross Country Race on Saturday, October 25, at Concordia University in Mequon and placed third.

Congratulations to 6th grader Emma Rank from St. Paul Bonduel who placed 18th at the same National Lutheran School Cross Country Meet.

Congratulations to St. James Shawano and Trinity Wausau on attending the WI State Volleyball Tournament. Trinity Wausau ended as Consolation Champions.

Whether you’re building a new facility, renovating your existing space or pursuing a specialized ministry project, LCEF provides solutions designed to support your congregation’s unique goals. With our expertise and commitment to serving LCMS ministries, we’re here to help you navigate every step of the journey toward achieving your mission.

Knowing that no two church bodies are exactly alike, we offer a variety of loans to help meet the specific needs of your congregation. Your LCEF DVP is equipped to guide you through each step of the process as you find the right loan to meet your goals:

• Secured Loans (new and refinanced)
• Construction Loans
• Bridge Loans
• Lines of Credit
• Short-Term Loans
• Specialized Ministry Loans
• Unsecured Loans
• Ministry Improvement Loans

Be sure to check out the details of each at https://lcef.org/church/lending/, and call your North Wisconsin DVP, Bill Jordan, for a specialized appointment to discuss your best option.

LCEF can also help with the financing of your congregation’s school with a School Association Loan. When it comes to financing a loan to purchase, construct or renovate a school property, you can trust our supportive and knowledgeable staff to help you continue Christ’s work while being fiscally responsible.

Enjoy competitive rates that are only available to our LCMS ministry partners, while supporting LCMS church work and workers in the process! That’s the unique “value add” with LCEF.

In His service,

Bill Jordan

District Vice President - LCEF

North Wisconsin District

bill.jordan@lcef.org - 715-845-8241 ext. 102

LCMS Worship – Advent Resources

As a new church year begins, LCMS Worship provides helpful resources for LCMS pastors, congregations, schools and individuals to recognize and celebrate Advent and Christmas. Find devotions, hymns, photos, media kits and Advent midweek services for use in the church and home, and for reaching out to your community in the Advent and Christmas seasons. View resources - HERE.

Set Apart to Serve - LCMS Church Work Recruitment

Set Apart to Serve is a culture of raising up boys and men to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as pastors, and raising up boys and girls, men and women to teach and share God’s Word in other full-time church work vocations.

SAS would like to bring the following resources to your attention:

• The 8 LCMS Church Work Vocations booklet
• Forming a Congregation Set Apart to Serve Focus Team
• For many other SAS resources for pastors, commissioned church workers, parents and laity, please see: https://www.lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve

God's Mission Here

The congregations and schools of the LCMS are teaching God’s Word and caring for souls every day. National Mission partners with districts to walk alongside, offering support. The monthly newsletter, God's Mission Here, will highlight several items each month. BECAUSE GOD’S MISSION IS RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.

• The Concordia Plans website contains a wealth of information.
• Stay informed with Connecting the Dots newsletters - HERE.
• Visit the Concordia Plans page of the NWD website listing the main contacts for churches using their services - HERE.