English District of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
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Living Our Baptized Life in Christ
Galatians 2:20
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Bishop Jeff Miskus visited members of All Saints Lutheran Church, Slippery Rock, PA. He celebrated the Lord’s Supper, met with the congregation after worship, and enjoyed an incredible potluck meal.
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Bishop Jeff Miskus spoke on the Epistle to James at the Pittsburgh area pastors' conference. While there, he had the opportunity to see the mural that traces the history of the area. A special aspect of the mural is that it includes an image of Holy Cross Evangelical-Lutheran Chapel, a satellite mission of First Trinity Lutheran Church.
Pictured here is Pastor Benjamin Janssen who serves both First Trinity and Holy Cross.
| | Members of English District congregations, Arizona-South Circuit congregations, and Pacific Southwest District congregations joined together to participate in the Tucson March for Life. Pastor Bruce von Hindenburg, who serves Catalina Lutheran Church and as the Arizona-South Circuit Visitor, led the opening prayers and devotions. Pastor Isaac Wirtz, who serves Mount Olive Lutheran Church, closed with a prayer and the Aaronic Blessing. | |
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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 | | | |
Jesus says in Matthew 16:25, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Is there any question that missionaries like Rev. Marcus in Idaho, and Rev. Jeff and Deaconess Gina in Germany have “lost” their lives to the call of the Gospel, as their chief, if not sole, reason for being where they are in this life is to win souls for Christ?
For the sake of motivation, it is well for us who have not been similarly called to remember to faithfully support those who have. While this notion may not consume our waking hours, as it likely does for our missionaries, there is an occasion for responding to our calling with constant prayer and our weekly dollar contributions to 1-1-1 Dollar for Missions.
The Epiphany season articulates the message clearly in John 1:29b, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!..." For others to receive this revealed wisdom of Christ’s identity is why we are doing what we do with Mission 1-1-1. Please reflect on the following questions with your Mission 1-1-1 lay owner:
- How is your congregation doing with Mission 1-1-1?
- In what ways is it strong?
- In what ways can it grow and develop?
| | More Scripture and messages for Mission 1-1-1 are available on the district website. | | |
A happy and blessed new year from our home to yours! May our Lord keep you safe in the palm of His hand throughout the whole of 2026! Click here for our January 2026 newsletter.
Yours in Jesus Christ, whom we serve,
Deaconess Cheryl & Pastor Jonathan
| | Calling a Seminary Candidate/Requesting a Vicar | | | |
If your congregation is interested in extending a divine call to a seminary candidate, or plans to make application for a vicar, the call documents and vicarage applications must be received no later than Saturday, January 31, 2026. Calling congregations must access the Call Documents for Ordained Ministers and the Vicarage Application using a web address/URL. Please contact Kathy Stanis, Administrative Assistant, at 248-476-0039 or by email for the login information.
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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.
We pray for the family of Albert Amling Sr., father of English District staff member Albert Amling, who was called to his eternal rest.
We pray for the family of Norman W. Schumm, father of English District staff member Kathy Stanis, who entered eternal life.
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.
| | 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 hosted an Arizona Origin Science Association (AZOSA) presentation. The AZOSA speaker presented interesting information about Continuous Environmental Tracking.
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New Life, San Francisco, CA
Pastor Charles Fox and members of New Life Lutheran Church celebrate God's grace in providing the congregation with three Baptisms (infant, child, and adult), two Confirmations, and two receptions into membership.
| | Concordia Seminary St. Louis's annual alumni basketball games are returning to Pederson Field House on February 6, 2026. Alumni interested in playing in an “Old School Showdown” have until January 31, 2026, to register to hit the hardwood. For more information, click here. | | |
Now is the time to nominate students for LSM 2026. Enrollment for next summer is filling quickly, and we expect most remaining spots to be filled by the March 1 Standard Enrollment deadline. At LSM, students connect advanced musical study with worship and the joy of Lutheran church music traditions. We welcome musicians on all instruments—brass, woodwinds, strings, percussion, piano, organ, voice, and harp—to study with nationally recognized faculty in a welcoming and supportive community.
LSM 2026 takes place at St. Olaf College from June 21–July 19. Know a young musician (grades 8–12) who would thrive at LSM? Nominate them today. For more information, please email.
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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!
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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.
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