New School Year Blessings

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!" Psalm 98:4

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year in the LCMS Northern Illinois District! We have so much to be thankful for and to make a joyful news about, as our schools begin a new year in Jesus. Families have brought their children to our preschools, elementary schools, high schools, and university to learn, grow, and be fed by the Word of God each day.

Along with academics, athletics, music, and the arts, each child will discover the many gifts given to them by God. May they be nurtured daily by their caring teachers and pastors. It is a joy to walk the halls of our schools and hear the sound of laughter, singing, and the beautiful sounds of joy!

Begin each day with Jesus and walk with Him as your Guide. Receive from Him daily and listen. As children saved by grace through faith, we hold tightly to the Master’s hand. When we fall short, we are forgiven and reassured of the great love God has for us through Jesus, our Savior.

Be filled with joy this year and sing praises each day!

Serving the Master Teacher,

Lois Stewart

Mission Facilitator for Schools

Chapel Talks

Please find below the weekly information for Chapel Talks for the 2025-2026 school year.

Giving Thanks for Lutheran Education

What a joy and blessing to gather on August 6, 2025 at Immanuel, East Dundee for our annual Back-to-School Worship and Keynote address. We give thanks to Immanuel for hosting our gathering. Many thanks also to Rev. Dr. Ryan Peterson, Senior Director and Church Relations Officer, Donor Relations at Concordia University St. Paul, Minnesota for his inspiring keynote about "Being Filled with Joy." We are also very thankful for the many musicians, vocalists, and pastor choir sharing their joy in worship. 

Installed into Position

We give thanks to God for leading Sue Domeier to become our Northern Illinois District National Lutheran Schools Accreditation Consultant. She was installed at Back-to-School worship. 

Welcome to new NID workers

To God be the glory for all workers in the NID! We welcome new school administrators, teachers, Director of Parish Music, and Pastors. We pray God’s richest blessings upon each as they serve with us here in Northern Illinois. Here are many of the new NID teachers and a Director of Parish Music. They attended an informational meeting after the Back-to-School worship service to learn more about the District. 

Learning Together in Wisconsin

On Friday, August 8, 2025, several educators from the NID attended the Education Summit at Concordia University Wisconsin. We are thankful for the invitation to attend. 

Congratulations 

The NID is thankful for all of our schools from small to large who teach Jesus each day. I continue to lift them all up in prayer as plans for the coming school year are started and they focus on Word, Wellness, and Witness.

Congratulations to: St. John’s, Lombard; Immanuel, Palatine; and Rockford Lutheran, Rockford for completing their reaccreditation. To God be the glory for their faithful work and dedication!

School Advisory Cabinet

Please meet the NID School Advisory Cabinet. These are the lead principals in each of the five regions (Andy DeWitt, Donna Laughlin, Julie Messina, and Donna Tennis), our National Lutheran Schools Accreditation Commissioner/Consultant (Sue Domeier), and Early Childhood Consultant Coordinator (Cathy Gruenwald). I give thanks for each one and their willingness to serve. 

Curriculum Mapping



Several NID teachers attended the Curriculum Mapping workshop on August 6 that was offered collaboratively by the NID Education Office and Concordia University Chicago College of Education. It was a terrific afternoon of learning as curriculum updating is an on-going process in our schools. Many thanks to Dr. Anne Thies and Professor Jared Stiek from CUC for leading this great session. 

Lutheran Annual Request Form

All Rostered Workers in the Northern Illinois District should have received an email from Rosters and Statistics in St. Louis with the form to update your information that goes in the "Lutheran Annual." Please complete and submit that form by September 1, 2025 to be included in that publication. The Education Office does not have individual worker passwords. If you do not have that, please contact Rosters and Statistics. 

School Administrators



Watch your email for your reminder to complete for annual Statistical Report for Rosters and Statistics. This is your annual reporting form. The information that you share is very helpful in research for our District and across the LCMS. Last year we had 97% reported. That was great, but I know we can get 100%!!

Early Childhood, Elementary and High School Administrators

The new school year brings so many opportunities to serve, learn, and grow together. We are blessed with conference opportunities where we come together as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

The first Early Childhood Educator Zoom will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. This Zoom is to bring everyone together for devotion, reintroductions, and an update on the exciting things planned for this school year. 

The first Elementary and High School conference will take place on Monday, September 29, 2025 at Concordia University Chicago. The on-line registration email was sent out in August. All registration will be done on-line. If you are using Title finds to cover the cost, please let me know (lois.stewart@nidlcms.org). The September 29, 2025 topics will focus on risk management in our schools and positive communication. You will also have the opportunity to meet the new NID administrators and reconnect with friends. Please plan to stay for lunch.

Please print the parking pass below and display it in your front window.

Lutheran Education Association

Does your school value Discipleship, Service, Leadership, and Academics? Then Lutheran Junior Honor Society is for you. LJHA can assist your school’s ministry by

• Nurturing the qualities that you value.

• Assisting you as you give students opportunities to grow outside of the classroom.

• Allowing you to join with Lutheran schools across the nation as you inspire leadership, build character, and recognize excellence.

Student members are saying the following:

• The Lutheran Junior Honor Association has had a big impact on my life this year. It has taught me how to be a servant and leader, while motivating me to strive at excellence in academics.”

• Being a part of LJHA for the past two years has helped build my faith in so many ways. It has encouraged me to continue God's work in my everyday life and to do so even when I am no longer a part of LJHA.

• “Lutheran Junior Honor Association has inspired me to lead with the qualities of discipleship and servanthood. It has helped be grow in my faith. A favorite phrase of mine is “Soli deo Gloria” meaning Glory to God alone. Through Him I can do all things.”

LJHA is easy to implement and has easy to access support from LEA staff, and it was designed by teachers across the country for schools of all sizes for the uniqueness of all Lutheran schools. 

Want to know more? Go to LEA.org or contact Denise Rice at denise.rice@lea.org

Parish Professionals

To God be the glory for the Parish Professionals that serve in the NID (Directors of Christian Education, Deaconesses, Parish Musicians, just to name a few). This group meets monthly for various activities and growth opportunities. We give thanks that Alex Brice serves as the group coordinator. Watch for emails each month with event information. If you have any questions, please reach out to Alex (alex.brice@stmarkslife.org) or me (lois.stewart@nidlcms.org). There is a plan to do a book read together again this year. Watch for details.

Parish Nurses



The Parish Nurses serve in a variety of ways in their own congregations and across the NID. If you have a Parish Nurse in your congregation, please encourage them to connect with this group. Have them contact me (lois.stewart@nidlcms.org) for more information.

The next gathering will be via Zoom. The date is September 13, 2025 and it is a six-hour meeting with Parish Nurses across the country. 

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