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 Miskus and Rev. Daniel Gray | |
Bishop Miskus and Rev. Alfred Thiagarajan | |
Bishop Miskus and Rev. Steven Hicks | |
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Bishop Miskus and
Rev. Dr. Martin Erhardt
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Bishop Miskus and Rev. Ho-Jai Lee | |
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Bishop Jeffrey Miskus recently met with all of the pastors of the New York Circuit, as well as visited many of the New York Circuit congregations. While this has kept him very busy, it has allowed him to share the vision of the English District.
During a meeting with Rev. Steven Hicks of The English Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, St. Albans, NY, Rev. Hicks gave a tour of Redeemer, then accompanied Bishop Miskus to a meeting with Rev. Ho-Jai Lee who serves Immanuel Korean Lutheran Church, Flushing, NY. The following day included a visit to the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, Valley Stream, NY, served by Rev. Alfred Thiagarajan. The congregation of Our Saviour had a gathering in the fellowship hall where Bishop Miskus shared with them the vision of the English District and fielded questions on the district and the synod. Day three included a circuit meeting at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Palisades Park, NJ where Bishop Miskus spoke.
During a visit to Bethany Lutheran Church, Ewing, NJ, served by Rev. Howard Alexander, Bishop Miskus preached at a worship service and enjoyed breakfast and fellowship with congregation members. That same morning, he worshipped and preached at Messiah Lutheran Church, Princeton, NJ, served by Rev. Dr. Martin Erhardt, then assisted with distributing the Lord’s Supper. After worship, the members of Messiah provided an enjoyable lunch and great fellowship. In the afternoon, Bishop Miskus attended Vespers at Martin Luther Chapel, Pennsauken, NJ where Rev. Daniel Gray was the liturgist and Bishop Miskus preached. Following Vespers was a brief tour and dinner.
We give thanks to God for these opportunities to meet as brothers and sisters in Christ.
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Assistant to the Bishop Visit | | |
Rev. Derek Mathers, Assistant to the Bishop and Mission Executive, recently visited with Rev. Mark and Janet Menacher and the congregation of St. Luke's Lutheran Church, La Mesa, CA. During the visit, they shared a meal and the blessing of fellowship. | |
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Called to Glory - Rev. Robert L. Fitzpatrick, D.D., Emeritus
March 28, 1944 to November 21, 2024
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The Rev. Robert L. Fitzpatrick, D.D., was called to glory on Thursday, November 21, 2024, in North Ridgeville, OH.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Please keep the Fitzpatrick family in your prayers.
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15
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On Sunday, November 17, 2024, Rev. Christopher Harrison was installed as the Sole Pastor of St. John’s, Clarksburg, WV. Rev. Justin Schmidt officiated. | |
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Call Received and Accepted
The Rev. Winston P. A. Grieser has received and accepted a Divine Call to serve as Sole Pastor of St. Paul’s, Kewanee, IL (Central Illinois District).
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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 voters 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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Ministerial Health Commission | | |
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The Ministerial Health Commission is here for you. Like a picture on the wall of your home, we are a constant fixture. We are always ready to come alongside to assist you through life events and issues. You are not alone: we can support you with resources, time, and compassion. Communication with any member of the commission is 100% confidential. Click here for contact information.
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Ascension Lutheran Church is the only confessional Lutheran church building in Canada’s 2nd largest city. Planted in the 1930s, Ascension now ministers to the diverse population of the Parc-Extension neighbourhood. Within a fifteen-minute walk of the church’s door live over thirty thousand people, almost 90% of whom are immigrants or the children of immigrants. How will they hear the Good News of Jesus unless the Word is proclaimed among them?
The Montreal Forum is made up of individuals representing church bodies, districts, mission groups, and congregations that support the work going on at Ascension. They meet in person each fall to review what the Lord has been doing through Ascension, what work the mission team and congregation will engage in over the coming year, what financial and personnel needs exist, and to pray for the Lord of the Harvest to empower this work. Current Montreal Forum partners include Ascension, the SELC and English Districts of the LCMS, the Mission of Christ Network, Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, TX, and the Lutheran Church—Canada.
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We encourage congregations to reproduce and share the following message with your members. Click here for Lifeline's "Thanksgiving - Proclaiming the Sanctity of Life" reproducible file in .pdf format that includes references. Click here for more information on Lifeline. | |
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Closed for Thanksgiving
The English District office will be closed on Thursday, November 28, 2024, and Friday, November 29, 2024, in observance of Thanksgiving. The office will reopen on Monday, December 2, 2024. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
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Please keep our district parish nurses uplifted in prayer and our congregations mindful and supportive of the work they do as complementary and valued members of our churches.
We ask that you join us in prayer for church workers who experience compassion fatigue that they be nourished, strengthened, and protected by the Holy Spirit.
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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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 | |
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All Saints, Slippery Rock, PA
Members of All Saints Lutheran Church and Student Center and Saints Peter and Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church held an appreciation dinner for Pastor Jacob Deal who serves both congregations. At the dinner, Pastor Deal and his family were recognized for their hard work in both congregations and received gifts of appreciation from Saints Peter and Paul Council President Jonathan Baisch and All Saints Council President Peter Rigney.
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Shepherd of the Mountains, Pinetop, AZ
Every year at this time, Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church fills boxes for veterans in the local communities. This year, congregation members filled thirty-four boxes of various food items for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Along with food, each box also contained an invitation to the church and literature on what it means to be a Christian. In addition to the boxes of food, $1000.00 in cash donations were collected that will supply fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat for the holidays. Church members delivered the donations to the local VFW for disbursement.
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Peace, Palm Desert, CA
During a recent LWML meeting at Peace of the Desert Lutheran Church, President Linda Kieft did a Bible study on "Sisters." As sisters in Christ, we will always have someone to look up and talk to, do activities with, and share our concerns and joys. Our project leader Arlene Blas had everyone make up a basket of baked goods to deliver to someone of their choosing as November is about "giving.".
You will be enriched in every way, to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God ✝️ 2 Corinthians 9:11
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New Life, San Francisco, CA
Members of New Life Chinese Lutheran Church have been busy assembling shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Shoeboxes include toys, stuffed animals, school supplies, and personal care items and are distributed around the world to share the Good News to the ends of the earth.
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Ascension of Christ, Beverly Hills, MI
The Human Care Team and Sunday school students from Ascension of Christ Lutheran Church assembled sixty Thanksgiving meal kits during Fellowship Hour for the Peace Lutheran Church pantry. The meal kits will be donated along with sixty frozen turkeys. This intergenerational service project was a success and modeled Christ's command to love our neighbors.
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. - 1 John 3:17-18
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St. John's, Pembroke, ON
St. John’s Lutheran Church recently celebrated Choir Director Debbie Bernard’s 10th anniversary with their choir. Fall 2024 also marked Debbie’s 10th anniversary as the organist at St. John’s. We give thanks to God for Debbie's talents and ask continued blessings upon her and the congregation.
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Advent, Zionsville, IN
Advent Lutheran Classical School recently hosted its third Fall Recitation Day. There were seventeen recitations featuring students from Kindergarten through eighth grade. Especially impressive were the 7th and 8th graders who memorized and recited the entirety of Matthew 5! Kudos to the students for doing a great job and to the teachers, parents, and all who support them in their endeavors.
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International Lutheran Council | | |
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Employment Opportunity
The International Lutheran Council (ILC) is seeking a Mission Advocate to help advance the strategic goals of the ILC. While not a requirement, this position is open to rostered individuals—ordained or commissioned—depending on the candidate's qualifications. To view the position description, click here.
For more information, email Rev. Dr. K. Detlev Schulz, ILC General Secretary.
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Lutheran Witness Renewals | | |
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The Lutheran Witness renewal forms were mailed to all subscribing churches. They are due back to the district by January 30, 2025.
The annual subscription rate for 2025-26 will remain at $20.65 U.S. and $29.65 (U.S. funds) for Canadian addresses. Email info@englishdistrict.org or call the district office at 800.755.9335 if you have any questions.
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Nominate Students for Lutheran Summer Music 2025!
Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) is a faith-based residential music academy for high school students (grades 8-12) who come together from all over the country to immerse themselves in musical excellence and build an intentional, supportive, and FUN community. LSM 2025 takes place at Valparaiso University in Indiana from June 22-July 20 (Full Session) or June 22-July 6 (Half Session). Priority Enrollment is open now through December 1. Click here to nominate students. Click here to learn more!
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Adult choir robes are available from the recently closed Grace Lutheran School at no cost. They are in good shape but have been in storage for a few years. Below is a listing of the sizes. Message Vicki for more information.
48” - 8 robes
51” - 8 robes
54” - 9 robes
57” - 13 robes
60” - 5 robes
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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.
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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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