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 Jeffrey Miskus recently visited with members of Christus Rex Lutheran Church, Rio Rico, AZ with Pastor M. Todd Zill. | |
Bishop Miskus recently preached at Faith Lutheran Church and School's morning chapel service and visited with members of the church and students. Also pictured here is Pastor Nick Wirtz with his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, "Midnight." | |
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Calls Received
The Rev. Christopher J. Kolupa (Northern Illinois District) has received a Divine Call to serve as Sole Pastor of Concordia, Berwyn, IL.
The Rev. John W. T. Rapp (Lutheran Church—Canada) has received a Divine Call to serve as Sole Pastor of St. John’s, Pembroke, ON, Canada.
Call Accepted
The Rev. Theodore A. Hoham (Indiana District) has accepted the Divine Call to serve as Associate Pastor of Immanuel, Alexandria, VA.
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We encourage congregations to reproduce and share the following message with your members. Click here for Lifeline's "The Temptation of Jesus, the Sanctity of Life, and You" reproducible file in .pdf format. Click here for Lifeline's 2025 Coming Events, a list of upcoming sanctity of life learning opportunities. Click here for more information on Lifeline. | |
If your loved one was a Christian who chose Medical Aid in Dying, or euthanasia, out of despair, know that he/she was known by our Good Shepherd, and that you may rest in His mercy. For more on suicide, we commend Rev. Peter Preus, Permission to Grieve for the Suicide, which may be downloaded here. | |
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"High-Speed Evangelism"
Pastor Robb Ring serves as the senior pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church and School of Orange in California and as adjunct faculty of Theology and Philosophy at Concordia University Irvine. Pastor Ring has found an interesting way to combine evangelism and outreach with his passion for race car driving. Pastor Ring received his novice open-wheel formula racing license in 2024 and his professional competition license in 2025. When he has available time, he competes in Formula Atlantic racing at tracks such as Willow Springs, Buttonwillow, and Laguna Seca. Pastor Ring drives a "Pro Formula Mazda" race car which has long been a preparation level for Indy and F1 drivers. This car is extremely fast, very complex and very challenging to drive at extreme speeds under the pressure of very high g-forces during a race.
In addition to finding great relaxation from the sport, Pastor Ring has found it to be a wonderful way to reach out with the Gospel and bring attention to his congregation at Immanuel and Concordia Irvine whose logos are featured prominently on the car. At every race, during downtime in the pits, he is amazed at how many drivers, crew, or spectators see that he is a pastor and come up to discuss their faith and ask about the church or the university. In addition, Pastor Ring has found that his fast pastime has greatly increased the amount of engagement and connection with a lot of the men in the church who often were the first to head for their cars after a worship service or dropping off a child at school. While Pastor Ring has yet to convince the congregation to add race car driving into the budget, the church and school enjoy identifying him as the Immanuel Lutheran Church Racing Team.
While we're pretty sure that Pastor Ring knows that Hebrews 12 has nothing to do with race cars, the text reminds him that our Lord desires to use us in all things, vocation or vacation, to share His precious Gospel, even if we're having fun doing it: "and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:1–2).
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2024 Congregational Statistics and Lay Leaders Reports-Deadline Extended | | |
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The deadline to submit your 2024 year-end congregation statistics and lay leader updates has been extended to Monday, March 31, 2025. Click here to log in.
If you cannot remember the username and/or password you created previously for your congregation, follow the on-screen helps on the login page to recover your credentials.
As was the case last year, do not include online engagements or views in average weekly attendance. Average attendance includes only those who were physically present. If your congregation hosted any part of its worship services online during 2024, whether live or recorded, a separate online form will be available to provide that information once your regular 2024 statistics are submitted.
Up-to-date statistical information is essential for the Synod as it plans current and future ministry efforts. Such information is also critical for determining proper voting representation at conventions.
The lay leader list is used to send free copies of Reporter, the official newspaper of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and other LCMS ministry-related mailings to congregation leaders.
Thank you for providing your information. It assists a wide variety of ministry efforts at both the national and district level.
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District daily prayers for March 2025 are located on our website.
Please pray for the family of Rev. Dr. Walter Maier, former LCMS vice president, who was called to glory on October 24, 2024.
We lift in prayer the family of Paul Hoehner (St. Paul, St. Clair Shores, MI) who was called to his eternal rest on February 21, 2025.
Please lift in prayer the family of Rev. Dr. Martin Marty who passed away on February 25, 2025.
We pray for the family of Dr. Viji George who recently passed away.
We lift in prayer those who have been unchurched or from countries hostile to Christianity but are considering baptism.
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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Shepherd of the Canyon, Gold Canyon, AZ
An additional welcome to Shepherd of the Canyon Lutheran Church as a new congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and a member of the English District. Shepherd of the Canyon is served by Pastor Mark Wood.
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Blessed Sacrament, Hayden, ID
The saints at Blessed Sacrament Lutheran Church welcomed little Aelred Edward through the waters of baptism. We join in their joy and pray for many blessings on his faith journey.
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Peace, Palm Desert, CA
For Pastor's Wife Appreciation Month, Peace Lutheran Church of the Desert celebrated Pastor James' beautiful wife Lauren Bowes and Sonnie Faga, whose husband Robert was a Lutheran pastor for more than 40 years. Both are such wonderful sisters in Christ. Pastors' wives are extra special blessings indeed! To God be the Glory✝️.
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Redeemer, Oakmont, PA
Members of Redeemer Lutheran Church and School coordinated a gift to a mission in Uganda to aid the construction of a clean water station for the community.
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National Lutheran Schools Week is March 17th - 21st! Let us know how your school celebrates. Submit photos and brief descriptions to be considered for Servant to Servant here. Your stories inspire others 🙂!
Click here for resources from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
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The Committee for Convention Nominations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) requests nominations of qualified members of Synod member congregations for positions to be filled by the Synod convention, which will meet July 18–23, 2026. Officers, agencies, ordained and commissioned ministers, and member congregations of the Synod and their lay members are all invited to submit nominations, to be received preferably before August 18, 2025, and no later than October 18, 2025. Click here for more information. For general information on the upcoming convention, click here. | |
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LAST CALL for LSM 2025! Enrollment for this summer is over 80% full, but there’s still time for young musicians to apply, and for you to nominate students. Lutheran Summer Music is the nation’s premier faith-based music academy for high school musicians. Students come together from around the country for a joyful summer of music-making through large ensembles (band, choir, orchestra), chamber music, private lessons, elective classes (conducting, composition, jazz, musical theatre, handbells, pipe organ) and use their musical gifts in performance, and in worship.
LSM 2025 | Valparaiso University, IN | June 22-July 20 | Grades 8-12 | Click here to learn more.
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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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