English District of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
| |
Living Our Baptized Life in Christ
Galatians 2:20
| | Bishop Jeff Miskus preached the Easter Sunday services at The Church of St. Mark Lutheran, sharing the joy of our Lord's Resurrection with his home congregation. Pictured above with Bishop Miskus are Rev. Dr. Matthias Benfey and Rev. Philip Gai who also serve at St. Mark's. | | |
Calls Received
The Rev. Daniel K. Greg has received a Divine Call to serve as Sole Pastor of Our Father’s, Greenfield, WI (South Wisconsin District).
Miss Amy J. Heuer (Texas District) has received a Divine Call to serve as Director of Youth and Family Ministry of Fairlawn, Fairlawn, OH.
Call Received and Accepted
Ministerial Candidate Glenn A. Mertz has received and accepted a Divine Call to serve as Specific Ministry Pastor of Grace, Elyria, OH.
Call Returned
The Rev. Anthony J. Oliphant has returned the Divine Call to serve as Associate Pastor of Immanuel, Grand Forks, ND (North Dakota District).
| | |
Rev. Dr. Ronald R. Farah (Emeritus)
February 8, 1938 to April 21, 2025
Rev. Dr. Ronald R. Farah (Emeritus) was called to his heavenly home on Monday, April 21, 2025. He served at Zion, Tawas City; Our Shepherd, Birmingham; and Ascension of Christ, Beverly Hills. After retirement from full-time ministry, he served for almost six years as Assistant to the Bishop of the English District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and chaired the English District's Ministerial Health Commission for many years. Read his full obituary here.
Visitation will take place on Friday, April 25, from 4-8 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 1800 W. Maple, Birmingham. The funeral will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 26. Friends may visit at church beginning at 10 a.m. A reception will follow at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2225 W. 14 Mile Road, Birmingham.
Pastors are welcome to process; please wear red stole.
Please keep Rev. Farah's wife, Talitha, and family in your prayers.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!' (Revelation 14:13 ESV)
| | Seminary Call Day Services | | | |
April 28-30 | Ft. Wayne and St. Louis
On Monday, April 28, 2025, at 7:00 PM (EDT), Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN will hold its vicarage and deaconess internship assignment service. Pastoral candidates and deaconesses will receive their calls on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 7:00 PM (ET). You can watch the service here.
Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO will hold two services on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Second-year students will receive their vicarage or deaconess internship assignments at 3:00 PM (CDT) and concluding students will receive their pastoral and diaconal calls at 7;00 PM (CDT). You can watch the services here.
| | English District Missions | | | |
Our desire in the English District is to see churches planted “from the bottom up, not from the top down.” The article "De-centralized Church Planting in the LCMS (and the English District)" from the Mission Action Team explains more. Click here to read the full article.
| | We encourage congregations to reproduce and share the following message with your members. Click here for Lifeline's "Octave of Easter 2025" reproducible file in .pdf format. Click here for more information on Lifeline. | | Church Worker (Student Loan) Debt Reduction Grants Available | | | |
The purpose of the English District Endowment Fund is to provide God's people with a unique opportunity to participate in a perpetual fund. This fund shall assist congregations and rostered workers alike. One aspect of the Endowment Fund currently being offered to Rostered Church Workers is a grant for financial assistance with their student loans. Those rostered workers who are currently serving (called workers) in an English District LCMS congregation or school are eligible to apply for this education indebtedness grant.
For a Church Worker (Student Loan) Debt Reduction Grant we ask that you complete an Application for Church Worker Transitional Assistance. These forms are available on our District website. If you would like to donate to the English District Endowment Fund, click here.
If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Derek Mathers at 1-800-755-9335. Deadline for applications is May 12, 2025.
| | 2024 Congregational Statistics and Lay Leader Reports -- Deadline Extended | | | |
The deadline for congregation statistics and lay leader updates has been extended to Friday, May 2, 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.
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.
| | |
"How can you not be joyful when you consider the words of the angel to the women who had come to anoint Jesus' body? Those words usher in the new beginning of this broken creation: 'He has risen; he is not here' (Mk. 16:6 ESV). Because our Lord has been raised from the dead, we know that the full payment for the world's sin has been accepted by God the Father. And we are His children, people with an eternal future in the blessed courts of heaven. So, we exclaim: Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!"
Read our March-April newsletter here.
Thank you for your prayers and support,
Rev. Dale and Suzanne Kaster
| | |
We ask for God's healing hand upon Robert Morris, that He may provide comfort during this time of need.
District daily prayers for May 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.
| | Roger D. Pittelko Ille Dilexit Ecclesiam Award | | | |
Nominations are requested for the fifth annual Roger D. Pittelko Ille Dilexit Ecclesiam* Award (*He loved the Church).
The English District has created this award to recognize and celebrate pastors who have served God’s people well in the English District.
Recipients of this award must meet the following criteria:
- He is an ordained pastor who served in the English District.
- He has retired from full-time active parish ministry.
- Must not have received the award nor similar recognition from the District previously.
- He exhibited a lifetime of faithfulness to our God and service to God’s people through congregations and the wider field of the English District.
Download the nomination form from the English District website.
The deadline for submitting nominations is Thursday, May 1, 2025. The award will be presented at the 2025 English District Convention.
| | 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 | | |
Grace, Elyria, OH
The saints of Grace Lutheran Church celebrated the Confirmation of Emmy and Kody on Palm Sunday. We pray for continued blessings on these two and on all who support their faith journey.
| | |
Trinity, Erie, PA
Dr. Charles Gieschen from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, spoke at the recent spring retreat at Trinity Lutheran Church. "Meet the Thessalonians" was the title of his presentation.
The congregation was blessed to hear Dr. Gieschen speak on 1st and 2nd Thessalonians based upon his new commentary for Concordia Publishing House. Attendees included congregation members from three different LCMS congregations, four pastors, and three deaconesses.
| | |
Mount Olive, Tucson, AZ
This past week, members of Mount Olive Lutheran Church rejoiced at the legal adoption of Isabella Rose by a family that spent years of hard work to reach this point. On Palm Sunday, the congregation joyfully welcomed her into the Body of Christ through the waters of Baptism. We rejoice also and pray for God's blessings upon Isabella Rose, her family, and her church family.
| | |
Holy Spirit, Elk Grove Village, IL
Recently, at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, the Cooper family confirmed their Lutheran faith after a year of catechesis. Mom, Dad, and their oldest daughter rejoiced to receive Christ's Body and Blood for the first time.
| | |
St. John's, Pembroke, ON
The pastors from sister churches in the region got together for an Easter Vigil Service. In the photo are (from left to right): Pastor Paul Douglas, St. John's, Germanicus (LCMS); Jonathan Habermas (Acolyte); Pastor Matthew Habermas, Christ, Petawawa (LCC); Pastor Paul Williams, Grace, Eganville (LCC); Pastor Stephen Alles, St. John's, Pembroke (LCMS); and Frederich Zadow (Organist).
| | |
Trinity, Ocala, FL
Over the past few months, the congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church hosted an intern, Linda Linthicum, from Concordia's Director of Christian Ministry program. While the internship requirements have been completed, a significant bond has been established as both the congregation and Linda benefitted from the opportunities provided through the internship. Pictured (L-R) are Linda, Cathie Howe, and Pastor Dan Howe who serves Trinity.
| | |
Tree of Life, Inverness, FL
Members of Tree of Life enjoyed a fellowship breakfast prior to Easter worship. Goodies included homemade quiche, a variety of casseroles, and, of course, sweets. Outside the church, members displayed a beautiful "living cross" decorated with fresh flowers.
| | LAC Missionary Alumni Event | | | |
This year marks 125 years since The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) first began doing mission work in 1900 in Brazil — work that was soon expanded into Argentina. Today, the LCMS has partnerships with nine Latin American Lutheran church bodies and supports missions in an additional 10 countries in the LCMS Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC).
A yearlong celebration (May 2025–May 2026) under the theme “Remember, Repent, Rejoice” is planned to honor these five generations of mission work in the region. As one highlight of the festivities, all LCMS missionaries who have served in the LAC region (career, VYM, GEO) are invited to gather Aug. 7–8 at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, for an alumni event with current LAC missionaries.
Click here to learn more and register. Email questions here. Click here to read an article about the event that appeared in the Reporter.
| | |
Do you know a high-school-age student who may be interested in church work someday? Invite them to attend Vocatio High School, a weeklong summer retreat (June 21-June 27) that encourages 9th- through 12th-grade students to explore life at the Seminary, including worship and devotions, sessions with professors, and even some fun and recreation.
Registration is $200 and closes Saturday, May 31! Email for more information or call 800-822-9545.
| | Happy Easter from your friends at Lutheran Summer Music! Please enjoy this musical offering of Michael Boo’s Alleluia Tapestry, performed by the LSM 2024 Festival Band, conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler. Click here to learn more about LSM. | | Advent Lutheran Classical School in Zionsville, Indiana (suburb of Indianapolis) is in need of an elementary classroom teacher for the 2025/26 school year. This position is full-time with benefits. Ideal candidates would be classically minded with some Latin experience, have a teaching credential and be a member of an LCMS church. However, we welcome any faithful Lutheran with a willingness to grow in their understanding and practice of classical Lutheran education to apply. If you are interested, please email Rev. Aaron Schultz. | | |
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!
| |  | |
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.
| | |
If you'd like to share our emails, please forward
using your email's forwarding option.
| | | | |
