Filled with living hope in Christ,

Confessing, Praising, and

Advancing His Kingdom.

The Good Shepherd

“I am the Good Shepherd: I know My sheep and My sheep know me.” John 10:14 NIV

It is a blessing to visit schools throughout our NID and see the shepherds of the children in our schools at work, where they guide and lead the learners each day. I see examples of our NID shepherds at work in each of our schools. When a small child is lost in a big school, there is someone there to care for them. When a child is struggling with a subject, there is help and guidance. If one child is lonely on the playground, a shepherd offers their time and care. There are many examples of caring in our schools, through both the good and the struggles. 

As sinners, we struggle or wander down the wrong path often. Our Good Shepherd retrieves us and carries us back into the fold with forgiveness of our sins. 

Jesus suffered and died for our sins. He defeated sin, death, and the devil. Jesus rose victorious over it all. We have the promise of one day meeting the Good Shepherd and celebrating life eternal with Him in heaven! What a blessing to be called to share this Good News with the children in our schools each and every day. As we keep Jesus the main thing, let’s remember the awesome blessing it is to share that love of Jesus.

God has given us the gift of His WORD to learn and grow from. That gives us the opportunity to be WELL and then go out to WITNESS to others.

Serving the Master Teacher,

Lois Stewart

Mission Facilitator for Schools

School Statistical Update Report

On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, all school administrators (Principals and ECE Directors) received an email from the LCMS Office of Rosters and Statistics. Attached was a link to complete the annual School Statistical report. Please access that form and complete it as soon as possible. If you are a new leader in your school, I am hopeful that the previous leader’s emails have been forwarded to you. If not, please contact Rosters and Statistics.

For login assistance, the schools can email rosters.stats@lcms.org. Your username and password are confidential to you. The District does not have access to any of that information. Last year, we came close to 100% submitted. I know our schools can do it!! PLEASE NOTE: The deadline is November 1, 2025.

Save the Date

As school administrators start working on the 2026-2027 calendar, please include the Educator’s Conference on Friday, October 16, 2026. It will be held at Concordia University Chicago. The planning committee has begun their work to prepare for a wonderful conference.

Early Childhood, Elementary and High School Administrators

Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 7, 2025. Join the Early Childhood Consultants for a morning of learning and fellowship as we DIG DEEPER into PLAY. 

Preschool Teachers will gather to learn how to meet literacy standards through play and what small world play is all about. Kindergarten teachers will gather together to learn more about the state mandated play-based kindergarten requirements. Administrators will gather to learn more about play-based kindergarten and how to support the transition from preschool to kindergarten. 

Registration ($35 per person) will open on Monday, November 17, 2025 and will be available via the email you will receive. A light breakfast will be served, everyone will leave with a make 'n' take project, and there will be a lot of joyful noises as we fellowship! 

The second Elementary and High School conference will take place on Monday, February 9, 2025 at Concordia University Chicago. The on-line registration link will remain live on the NID website if you still need to register. Details will follow in the near future. 

Hearts for Jesus

We are blessed to be a blessing. It is with great joy that I am able to share that your dedication and support of the 2024-2025 "Hearts for Jesus" project blessed the Belize Mission Society with a contribution of over $15,000.00! That generosity has assisted in the building of the playground located right next to Christ Lutheran Church where the message of Jesus is proclaimed in Word and deed.

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.

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. 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.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. 

The October 18, 2025 meeting was held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in St. Charles, IL. Thanks again to our host, Alex Brice. 

SHINE 2026

April 2026 will arrive soon! The dates for our NID SHINE event this year are April 10-19, 202I. In previous years, our schools have done a great job reaching out into the community to serve. Plan ahead to get your groups involved this coming April. You are blessed to be a blessing!

Grant Writing Workshop

Puzzled about how to find funding for your church, school, or ministry? A FREE grant seeker workshop will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2025 from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church (1165 S. Westmore-Meyers Rd., Lombard, IL 60148). Learn about Mission Grant opportunities from Lutheran Women in Mission and Northern Illinois District grant programs. Please register below.

Lutheran Junior Honor 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

Chapel Talks

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

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