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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Call Received
The Rev. Sean C. Daenzer (Missouri District) has received a Divine Call to serve as Sole Pastor of Zion, Detroit, MI.
Call Received and Accepted
The Rev. Tyrel E. Bramwell has received and accepted a Divine Call to serve as Sole Pastor of St. John’s, Lovell, WY (Wyoming District).
| | Ministerial Health Commission | | | |
Rev. Timothy Holzerland has been appointed to serve as the new chair of our English District’s Ministerial Health Commission. Thanks be to God! Rev. Holzerland has been a long-time member of the committee and served as co-chair with Rev. Derek Mathers over the past few years; he has many God-given gifts that qualify him for the chair. We give thanks to God for the gifts and devotion of Rev. Mathers as he leaves the chair to assume other new responsibilities.
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The mission of the Ministerial Health Commission is to understand the issues of concern, envision the possibilities, strategies, and available support to enhance the well-being of English District workers and their families.
Its vision is to be an ever-present resource and support to a culture in which well-being strengthens workers of the English District and their families.
| | MinistryFocus Grants for Rostered Church Workers | | | |
Applications for church worker financial assistance in 2026 are now available. All rostered church workers of the LCMS are eligible for these grants. Since 2015, MinistryFocus has awarded more than $1.1 million in financial assistance grants to 392 LCMS church workers.
Additionally, in a partnership with LCEF and MinistryFocus through a matching fund from the Lilly Endowment, the English District is pleased to announce that applications for up to three (3) Ministry Excellence Fund grants are also now available at MinistryFocus.org for pastors and deaconesses in the district. These grants include an online financial education course from Concordia University Wisconsin in addition to a financial assistance grant. The application for all grant programs is the same and MinistryFocus will determine eligibility for the respective grants. Grant applications are due December 31st and award announcements will be made in late January 2026.
If you have any questions, please email Rev. Ken Krueger.
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District daily prayers for December 2025 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.
| | 1-1-1 Dollar for Missions | | | |
We read in James 1:18, "Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." This verse follows the one that begins “Every good and perfect gift comes from above…” a verse which we have used before in our 1-1-1 Dollar for Missions campaign. James 1:18 is fulfilled every time a church body is formed by the dispensing of the means of Grace: His Word and Sacrament. There is no clearer statement of why Mission 1-1-1 exists than this verse. God is the Giver and Grower of first fruits. We are in His plan first as recipients, then as participants. Through His grace, we merely pay it forward.
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
If your church is seeking some further encouragement or guidance regarding your 1-1-1 Dollar for Missions efforts, there is a ready source on the English District website.
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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.
Pictured: One of two 1-1-1 Dollar for Missions boxes at Crosspoint Lutheran Church (Sahuarita, Arizona) built by congregation member Earl H.
| | 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. 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 for the login information.
| | Contact John Hoover, LCEF 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. | | |
Calvary, Mechanicsburg, PA
Pastor Luke Zimmerman and the congregation of Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church recently hosted the Symphonic Band from Lutheran High School Northwest – Rochester Hills, MI, on its 2025 Fall Tour. The band made further tour stops in Philadelphia, PA; Wilmington, DE; Parma, OH; and Utica, MI.
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West Portal, San Francisco, CA
Pastor Curtis Binz, members of West Portal Lutheran Church, and their parents and grandfather welcomed Tobin & Gavin through the waters of baptism.
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Ascension of Christ, Beverly Hills, MI
Members of Ascension of Christ Lutheran Church, served by Pastor Larry Loree, again collected food items for the food pantry ministry at Peace Lutheran Church (Michigan District) on Detroit's east side to help provide 70 Thanksgiving dinners for families in need. The youth of Ascension of Christ joyfully participated in putting the dinner boxes together during their Sunday Fellowship Hour.
| | Student Laureate Award Recipient | | | |
Concordia University Chicago senior, and English District member, Lily Seifferlein was named a Student Laureate and honored by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois at a ceremony in Chicago this October.
Seifferlein joins a group of top students recognized for excellence in both academics and extracurricular activities. Every year, each of Illinois’ four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities can select one senior to receive the award.
“Lily is an outstanding student-leader—showing courage, offering empathy, and upholding a life of honesty and integrity,” said Vice President for Student Success and Dean of Students Kathy Gebhardt. “It’s been a joy to watch Lily blossom during her time at CUC and we look forward to seeing how God will work through her future vocations to serve and lead as well. She has a very bright future ahead of her!”
Read the full news release here.
| | Photo: Seifferlein with presenters Tom Skilling (left), meteorologist and 2023 Order of Lincoln award recipient, and Todd Shapiro (right), chancellor of the Academy. Photo by Zoey Duchene; courtesy of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. | | |
Concordia University Wisconsin is launching another cohort of Business Skills for Faith-Based Organizations. There are still some seats available. The deadline for applications is December 1, 2025; courses start in early January 2026.
Costs are covered through a partnership between CUW and LCEF. Click here for more information.
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"The Lutheran Advantage" is an e-journal of the latest news across the Concordia University System. Click here for more information or to sign up.
| | Lutheran Bible Translators | | | |
7,000+ languages are spoken in the world, but only 750 languages have the full Bible. Help raise awareness as a church advocate for Bible translation ministry.
Host a Bible Translation Sunday at your church to advocate for the mission of Lutheran Bible Translators. Engage your church with a call to action by inviting individuals and families to contribute $35 monthly to translate one verse of Scripture until the work is done (or set a total goal for your church). It’s a simple yet powerful way to gather in prayer, inspire generosity, and make a huge impact, translating entire chapters and books of the Bible. Join us in this mission to let the world know, “God speaks your language.” Ready to make a difference? Click here to take the next steps.
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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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