English District of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
| |
Living Our Baptized Life in Christ
Galatians 2:20
| | |
Call Accepted
The Rev. Curtis D. Stephens has accepted the Divine Call to serve as Sole Pastor of Peace, Cincinnati, OH (Ohio District).
Call Received
The Rev Colton J. LaMay has received a Divine Call to serve as Sole Pastor of Gethsemane, Windsor, ON, Canada.
| | We encourage congregations to reproduce and share the following message with your members. Click here for Lifeline's "Life Sunday 2026" reproducible file in .pdf format. | |
|
Have you considered that God might use your testimony to encourage others who are wrestling with issues related to the sanctity of life? The English District Lifeline Team encourages you to share your story with your brothers and sisters in our English District congregations! Please submit to Roni Grad here for future publication in Servant to Servant. Thank you so much in advance!
For congregations, we highly commend the Lutherans For Life free resources available for Life Sunday 2026 (January 18) and Life Week 2026 (January 18-24).
| | 1-1-1 Dollar for Missions | | | |
“...but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect...” 1 Peter 3:15
What better purpose for missionaries than what the inspired St. Peter conveys in the above Scripture! How well does what is written here fit the bio of our English District missionaries in Germany, Rev. Jeff and Deaconess Gina Teeple, the 2026 international recipients of our weekly 1-1-1 Dollar for Missions contributions?
The following are excerpts from the Teeples' LCMS website profile:
- The Rev. Jeffrey and Deaconess Gina Teeple serve the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as missionaries in Germany. Jeffrey serves as a missionary pastor to Trinity Lutheran Church in Frankfurt. Trinity is an English-speaking congregation that serves expat families from around the world. As communications project manager, Gina works with the Eurasia communication specialist, missionaries, and LCMS Communications to support projects in the region and facilitate communication to supporters and donors.
- Pray for Jeffrey and Gina as they serve in Frankfurt, Germany. Ask God to give them comfort, strength and guidance as they transition to a new location, language, and culture. In addition, ask God to bless them and their congregation, that they may proclaim boldly God’s love for all they meet. Let us give thanks that Jeffrey and Gina are serving His people in this part of the world.
While supporting Rev. Jeff and Deaconess Gina with our dollars, it seems that really getting to know who they are and what they are doing can help inform our prayers and help for them. If anyone should be led to further communication with these missionaries, please feel free to share what you learn with all of us in this space.
As Jesus says to all of His followers, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4: 19
| | |
Don't underestimate your ability, through God's grace, to encourage others. Your congregation's participation in the 1-1-1 Dollar for Missions effort can inspire others. Please email a picture of your congregation's 1-1-1 Dollar for Missions box. Tell us what lessons your church has experienced. We look forward to celebrating your stories in this space in Servant to Servant and on the English District website.
”And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds..." Hebrews 10:24. More Scripture and messages for Mission 1-1-1 are available on the district website. Lastly, if you have questions, reach out any time by email.
| | |
The year 2025 was a wonderful year here on the mission field. We have seen new growth, especially among young adults. Catechesis and Bible studies flourished this year, strengthening faith and building lasting connections within our community. We visited a lot of our supporters in the USA and have received many encouraging words and messages. We are blessed beyond words. Thank you for reading our newsletters and for offering prayers and gifts on behalf of the work here in Prague. Click here for our January 2026 newsletter.
In Him,
Pastor Dale and Suzanne Kaster
| | |
We pray for the family of Robert James Clegg, who entered eternal rest.
We pray for Joshua, grandson of Rev. Dr. Larry Vogel, who is hospitalized with a brain tumor and soon to receive radiation at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
District daily prayers for February 2026 are located on our website.
Your prayer concerns are important to the English District. If you have a prayer request you would like shared in this newsletter, email the district office.
| | |
The district office will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The office will reopen on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
| | Concordia Deaconess Conference | | | |
Synod President Rev. Dr. Matt Harrison encourages congregations in the district with a rostered deaconess to provide for her to attend the 2026 Concordia Deaconess Conference (CDC) planned for June 15–18, 2026, at St. John Lutheran Church in Dublin, Ohio. This year’s conference will encourage attendees to consider their devotional life in Christ, to treasure and meditate on His Word and to live under that Word in service to neighbor. The total estimated cost for the 2026 conference, which is being generously subsidized, is $764.
In a recent correspondence, President Harrison made several suggestions, summarized below:
- Consider providing scholarships for deaconess candidates or emeritus deaconesses to attend the conference.
- Grant the deaconess paid time off to attend
- Do not require the deaconess to pay for their substitute; schedule back-up coverage for their normal duties during their absence
- Provide funding, in part or full, for the deaconess to attend the conference
President Harrison reminds us that a portion of Article III, Objectives, of the Synod is to provide “… care for pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers of the Synod in the performance of their official duties.” Congregations agree to accept this objective as a member of Synod and should be encouraged to do so to the best of their ability.
For more information about the CDC or the upcoming conference, please reach out to CDC President Deaconess Jillene Houser.
| | Contact John Hoover, LCEF District Vice President, by email or phone 314-276-3370 for more information. | | Lutheran Federal Credit Union | | | For more information, please contact our Operations Department at 314-394-2790. | | |
Faith, Overgaard, AZ
Pastor Rodney Schmeltz and members of Faith Lutheran Church welcomed Dan and Tracy into membership by Profession of Faith.
| | |
Ascension, Atlanta, GA
Pastor David Miller and members of Lutheran Church of the Ascension were blessed to receive 22 new members in 2025. The congregation also rejoiced in welcoming 8 brothers and sisters to God's family through the waters of Holy Baptism (6 infants, 1 toddler, 1 adult). This is quite significant for a parish of under 100 members. Thanks be to God!
| | CSP Church Work Tuition Guarantee | | | |
Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP) is strengthening its commitment to the church through an expanded Church Work Tuition Guarantee, offering $0 tuition for all students preparing for full-time church work vocations. This initiative affirms CSP’s long-standing mission to prepare workers for the church wherever and however they are called to serve. CSP is now the most affordable church work option in the Concordia University System of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Learn more here.
| | English District Staff Excursion | | | The English District’s staff, and a few spouses, recently met to play a few friendly rounds of WhirlyBall. You may be asking, “What is WhirlyBall?” It is best described as a team sport that combines elements of basketball, lacrosse, hockey, and jai alai. WhirlyBall is played while riding in a bumper car (called a Whirlybug). In one hand, the player has a jai alai-style plastic scoop, and in the other hand, a steering crank. The ball being tossed around is a softball-sized Whiffle ball. At each end of the court, there are vertically hung backboards with a hole in the center. Behind the hole is a swing gate equipped with a buzzer to notify the referee when a score is made. Five rounds of WhirlyBall were played, with the men competing against the women. The women won, with the final score being 3-2. There was much laughter throughout, and smiles were on everyone’s faces. After playing WhirlyBall, the group went for lunch and enjoyed more fellowship time together. | | |
Please share the information from Servant to Servant with members of your congregation.
- All are invited to subscribe to this weekly publication.
- Forward the newsletter to members of your church.
- They can subscribe by clicking on the "Sign up for our emails" link at the bottom.
Thanks for spreading the word!
| |  | |
Please share the unique ministries of your school or congregation with the rest of the English District. Send pictures and stories for consideration to llinthicum@englishdistrict.org by Wednesday at 12:00 noon ET.
We want to see how YOUR congregation or school is showing the love of God to those in your community and around the world.
| | |
If you'd like to share our emails, please forward
using your email's forwarding option.
| | | | |
