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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English District Board of Directors | | |
Installation of Vice President | | |
Pictured above: Bishop Jeffrey Miskus, Rev. Robert Kieselowsky, and Rev. Luke Zimmerman | |
Bishop Miskus installed Rev. Robert Kieselowsky as 4th Vice President over the Eastern Region during a worship service at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, served by Rev. Luke Zimmerman. We give thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ for the gifts Rev. Kieselowsky brings to the District and the Board of Directors. We pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as Rev. Kieselowsky assumes his new responsibilities.
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Rev. Richard L. Ingmire, Emeritus
January 29, 1940 to November 5, 2024
The Rev. Richard L. Ingmire, Emeritus, was called to glory on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, in Columbia, MO. During his pastoral ministry, Pastor Ingmire served St. James, Quincy, IL, Redeemer, Oakmont, PA, and St. John’s Hannibal, MO. He is survived by his wife, Hannah Ingmire (nee Hollister), two children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM, at Campus Lutheran Church, 304 North College Avenue, Columbia, MO 65201. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 AM with a meal to follow in the church hall.
Please keep the Ingmire family in your prayers.
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15
Click here to read Rev. Ingmire's obituary.
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Calling a Seminary Candidate/Requesting a Vicar | | |
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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 Friday, January 31, 2025. Please add this topic to your congregational voter’s meeting agenda for discussion in November or December. This will allow for the necessary paperwork to be completed in a timely manner. 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 at kstanis@englishdistrict.org for the login information.
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District Evangelism Leadership | | |
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Bishop Miskus is pleased to share that God has answered our prayers and provided new leadership for our District Evangelism Team. Rev. Brian Pratt has taken this opportunity to serve. His focus will be to promote a spirit of outreach and evangelism within our congregations and pastors by the Holy Spirit!
Pastor Pratt hopes to encourage and strengthen us so that we, in turn, will be able to encourage and strengthen others around us to fulfill our great commission: to seek and save the lost and make disciples of all peoples. He shares, "This sounds lofty, but with God ALL things are possible!" We welcome Pastor Pratt to this leadership position, and we commit ourselves to supporting him with prayer.
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1-1-1 A Dollar for Missions | | |
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Thank you to all those who joined in supporting our two 1-1-1 identified missions this past year. One dollar, placed into your congregation’s collection receptacle, gathered with all the dollars from individuals in other congregations across our district has raised $31,653.62.
This amount gathered has been distributed 50/50 between the Church of St. Mark – Lutheran: Nuer Congregation in Mississauga, ON and Eastern Washington University LCMS-U, connected to Blessed Sacrament Lutheran Church in Hayden, ID.
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Pastor Philip Gai serves at the Church of Saint Mark - Lutheran, Mississauga, ON. The following is his response when asked how the 1-1-1 ministry has helped him in his pastoral duties.
“The support we receive from the English District’s 1-1-1 ministry is a vital part of the success of our ethnic ministry at Saint Mark. Financial assistance from the 1-1-1 program helps offset travel expenses that would normally be paid by congregations that I visit, many of whom have limited resources.
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Financial support from the 1-1-1 ministry will allow me to work part-time in the coming year and dedicate more time to ministering to the Body of Christ. The assurance of receiving funding lifts a significant burden off my shoulders. As an added blessing, the 1-1-1 ministry has helped relieve the stress that can accompany financial concerns and has allowed me to manage my time more effectively. I see 1-1-1 as a gift to our churches that benefits various ministries, including new, multicultural, and ethnic ministries throughout the English District. | |
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I was very encouraged to see our own Nuer congregation members, with very limited means, contributing 1 dollar every Sunday. I see the excitement on their faces as they know that they are contributing to helping their pastors focus more on their ministry. I encouraged them to continue this ministry in partnership with our English congregation.”
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We encourage all congregations to participate in the 1-1-1 ministry.
Click here for a printable label for your 1-1-1 container, shared by Pastor Benjamin Janssen, pastor of a past 1-1-1 recipient mission.
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District daily prayers for December 2024 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.
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Lutheran Federal Credit Union | | |
For more information, please contact our Operations Department at 314-394-2790 | |
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Trinity, Ocala, FL
The congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church, partnered with their local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post to support hurricane victims in western North Carolina. They collected warm clothing, hygiene products, and other supplies for those who had lost much. We give thanks to God for all those whose hearts and hands came together to help those in need.
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Eternal Life, Mesa, AZ
We celebrate with the members of Eternal Life Lutheran Church who received Andrew into membership through the Rite of Confirmation on Reformation Sunday. May the Lord who has begun a good work in Andrew bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).
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Ascension of Christ, Beverly Hills, MI
Members of Ascension of Christ Lutheran Church welcomed two families and one adult child into the congregation. Mr. Andrew Seaver, active duty airman in the USAF, Rev. Todd A. (emeritus) and Jill Seaver, Rev. Peter (emeritus) and Susan Berg. Thanks be to God!
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Shepherd of the Mountains,
Pinetop, AZ
The congregation of Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church hosted approximately 400 adults and children at their annual Trunk or Treat Event. Members of the congregation lined up their vehicles in front of the church and decorated the trunks of their vehicles with a Harvest Theme. Dressed in various costumes, members handed out candy and bibles. Participants enjoyed free hotdogs and drinks. Pastor Michael Mathews, who serves Shepherd of the Mountains, decided to be a 'Smart Cookie' in his graduation cap, tassel, and cookie-decorated costume. All costumes were imaginative, and the size of the gathering has increased each year.
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Peace, Palm Desert, CA
Peace Lutheran Church of the Desert had a busy All Saints' Day. In addition to worship, the congregation celebrated a First Holy Communion and dedicated new paraments in memory of member Judie Wells, who was called home by the Lord in July of 2023. In addition, Pastor Bowes unveiled his new shirt! Thanks be to God for always blessing this congregation.
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West Portal, San Francisco, CA
West Portal Lutheran School recently celebrated Spanish Heritage by immersing in the culture and learning about the customs, history, and food of Spain! After a lively music and Flamenco dance performance, students attended workshops in classrooms hosted by their very own 8th-grade Spanish world language students!
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Center for Worship Leadership | | |
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The Songwriter Initiative - Resource for Worship
by Pastor Jon Gruen
Concordia University Irvine, through its Center for Worship Leadership (CWL), is training modern songwriters in theologically sound, Gospel-focused writing, and is a great blessing to the writers and the churches that use the songs. This group, called The Songwriter Initiative (TSI), is producing a growing catalog of songs that are suitable for worship in band-led services. These songs can be found on all streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and more). Check out a brand new Advent song, “Arise,” based on Isaiah chapters 40 and 60. It is hopeful, uplifting, and faithful. Here are the Official Video and the Lyric Video. Charts and lead sheets are free and are available on the TSI page. Note also that there are additional worship resources available on the CWL page, including another song project for singing the psalms, called The Psalm Library. If you have questions about CWL or its projects, feel free to reach out to Rev. Jon Gruen. God continues to bless His Church with beautiful salvation songs of all kinds!
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Please share the information from Servant to Servant with members of your congregation.
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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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