Filled with living hope in Christ,

Confessing, Praising, and

Advancing His Kingdom.

Joy – Deep Down in the Heart

“The joy of the LORD is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10b

“I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy

Down in my heart (where?)

Down in my heart (where?)

Down in my heart

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy

Down in my heart (where?)

Down in my heart to stay.”

—by the Wonder Kids

Do you remember singing this song? I love it, and the tune often pops into my head which gets me humming. To me, the tune and lyrics just shout “joy!"

I am sure you have seen this acronym:

J – Jesus first

O – Others second

Y – You third

For such a tiny word, there are some big messages communicated. Each day is a new opportunity to share the joy that we have in our heart, because we are held by Jesus. Nehemiah "hit the nail on the head." No matter what, the Lord is our strength. In good or bad, happiness or sadness, challenges or successes, strength comes from God and gives us the reason to be filled with joy. It’s a joy He gives. As forgiven and redeemed children of God, we live joyfully! Joy does not depend on your circumstances, but His connection to you.

So, do we keep the joy we have buried? No. Let the joy shine throughout your life and give it away! This joy is a gift.

Praise and thanks to God for His great love for us to send His Son to save us. 

As we place our faith and trust in God, we can all be thankful that God holds us in the palm of His hand and gives us what He knows is best for us. So, as we walk through changes in our lives, let us step back and know God’s plan is perfect. Stay in the WORD. Take care of yourself to be WELL. Use your words and life as a WITNESS. 

Serving the Master Teacher,

Lois Stewart

Mission Facilitator for Schools

Parish Professionals

The Parish Professional gathered at Phil’s Friends in Wheaton for a Shine! project. It was a great day for fellowship, decorating boxes, coloring cards, and packing care packages. We give thanks for the opportunities to serve. We prayed and shed some tears of care.

Alex Brice serves as the group coordinator. Our final gathering of the year will be Thursday, May 21, 2026. We will meet at Trinity Lutheran Church in Burr Ridge (11500 German Church Road). Our book read for the year will also wrap up with discussion on Chapters 11 and 12. If you have any questions, please reach out to alex.brice@stmarkslife.org. 

Careers for Christ 



Concordia University Chicago is preparing to host the 2026 Careers for Christ weekend in October. Please see the attached flyer and watch for more information. 

CUC Direct Admission

Concordia University Chicago announces a direct admission program for high school students. Take a look at the information below. 

God’s Blessings

On Saturday, April 11, 2026, church work students were celebrated, prayed for, and found out where they will be interning next year. This sending service is a special part of their preparation to serve. Thank you to Nathaniel Clayton for these photos.

8th Grade Adventure Day

Thursday, April 16, 2026 was certainly a day to remember. CUC welcomed about 250 8th grade students to campus for NID 8th Grade Adventure Day! What a joy! Chapel, sectionals on areas of study, lunch in the cafeteria, and so much more was packed into the day. Thank you to the CUC friends that helped make this a reality. We look forward to next year. 

Non-Public School Recognition Renewal

If your school is recognized by the state of Illinois, you should have received notice to complete your recognition renewal application. It is due June 15, 2026. 

Early Childhood, Elementary and High School Administrators

It has been a great year of Early Childhood Educator events. Thank you to our NID Early Childhood Consultants (Cathy Gruenwald, Amy Cimarusti, and Doreen Peterson) for their faithful leading. Plans are being made for great events again next school year!

The spring Elementary and High School Winter Leadership Conference will take place on Monday, April 27, 2026 at Concordia University Chicago.

Our guest presenters will be Principal Donna Laughlin and Assistant Principal Penny Suydam (Immanuel, Batavia). Their presentation will focus on: mentoring new teachers, on-boarding new staff, and coaching teachers with best practices. Plan to join us for a great morning of learning. 

The online registration link will remain live on the NID website, if you still need to register for the Spring Conference on Monday, April 27, 2026. 

Wellness Corner

Supporting your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being—together.

We are grateful to introduce a new feature in our newsletter: Wellness Corner, provided by our Wellness Officer, Brandy McCoid. Through this space, Brandy will share practical insights, encouragement, and resources to support the well-being of church workers, lay leaders, and congregations across the LCMS Northern Illinois District.

You can expect simple, actionable ideas—grounded in care for the whole person—to help you grow in health and resilience as you serve.

A Wellness Resource You May Already Have

What if one of your most valuable wellness resources was already in your wallet?

Many insurance plans include wellness incentive programs designed to reward healthy habits. From walking and preventive care to educational activities, you may be able to earn points for things you’re already doing and redeem them for rewards like gift cards, discounts, and more.

The surprising part? Many people don’t realize these programs are available to them.

That’s why we’ve created a simple guide with questions you can ask your insurance provider to uncover what benefits you may be missing. A quick phone call could open the door to meaningful support for your mental, physical, and overall wellness.

If you’re enrolled in Concordia Plan Health Services, you may already have access to Vitality, a robust program that makes it easy to track healthy habits, complete challenges, and earn rewards (you even get points just for signing up!).

Sometimes, the first step toward better wellness isn’t something new. It’s discovering what you already have.

Stay tuned for more wellness resources and opportunities coming soon. In the meantime, we encourage you to take a few minutes to explore your benefits. You might be surprised by what you find!

Hearts for Jesus

The "Hearts for Jesus" focus this school year will be a starting point as donations are collected for the Vacation Bible School program. The program needs to be updated and given new energy. We get to be good neighbors and then speak the Living Hope we have in our Savior. We get to connect the community with the mission. Word,

Wellness, and Witness are all part of the daily walk in Seine Bight where Jesus is the center. The VBS team members love Jesus so much and share that love with all the children in Seine Bight. Let’s be prayerful to support this "Hearts of Jesus" endeavor. 

Walcamp

Are you ready for summer 2026 at Walcamp? 

Lay Leadership Summit 2026 - Save the Date

The 2026 Lay Leadership Summit will be held Saturday, August 22, 2026 at Walther Christian Academy, 900 Chicago Ave., Melrose Park, IL 60160.

Featured Speakers:

LCMS Northern Illinois District President Rev. Dr. Allan R. Buss

Keynote Speaker Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing

Save the date and join us for this enriching and empowering event. Let’s journey together towards a stronger and more encouraged tomorrow!

TEC21

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