Living Our Baptized Life in Christ

Galatians 2:20

August 15, 2025

Aubrey Rathke, Director of Christian Education, was installed as Children’s Minister at Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church, Alpharetta, GA. DCE Rathke will also serve at Open Arms Lutheran Child Development Center.

Pictured: Senior Pastor Rev. Kevin Elseroad, DCE Rathke, and Bishop Jeff Miskus who officiated the service.

Congregation members of Fairlawn Lutheran Church and School, Fairlawn, OH, welcomed Director of Christian Education Amy Heuer. DCE Heuer was installed as their Director of Youth and Family. Rev. Jim Gau officiated the service.

Calls Received

Deaconess Gina K. Teeple has received a Divine Call to serve as Project Manager-Communications for the Office of International Mission, Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, St. Louis, MO (Missouri District).



The Rev. Jeffrey S. Teeple has received a Divine Call to serve as Missionary Pastor for the Office of International Mission, Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, St. Louis, MO (Missouri District).

The Rev. Robert A. Rogers has received a Divine Call to serve as Sole Pastor of Fountain of Life, Sun City, AZ (Pacific Southwest District).

Called to Glory – Rev. Henry V. Gerike

August 17, 1948 - August 6, 2025

The Rev. Henry V. Gerike (Emeritus) was called to glory on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Rev. Gerike began his ministry as a commissioned minister (teacher) at Grace English, Chicago, IL. He went on to attend Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO where he earned his Master of Divinity and served as the seminary’s music director. In addition, he served his congregation, Church of the Reformation, Afton, MO, as a cantor. His funeral service will be Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at the Concordia Seminary Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus, 801 Seminary Pl., St. Louis, MO 63105, at 9:35 AM. His internment will follow at Our Redeemer Cemetery, 8300 Mackenzie Rd., Afton, MO 63123.

Please keep the family and friends of Rev. Henry V. Gerike in your prayers.

Read Rev. Gerike's obituary here.

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15

We read in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.”

How does this verse from Scripture apply to our Mission 1-1-1 weekly giving?

We hope for the unbelievers and unchurched in our world that one day they might be saved by grace through faith and join us in the Holy Communion of the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven that evermore sing praises to our God.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, our dollars are meant to help expand God’s Kingdom on this side of heaven, anticipating its fulfillment in the new heaven and the new earth.

This is what our eyes of faith see...and why we continue to give.

For more information on 1-1-1 Dollar for Missions, click here.

District daily prayers for September 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.

Contact John Hoover, LCEF Vice President, by email or phone 314-276-3370 for more information.

Contact Ron Grimm, English District Gift Planning Counselor, 412-584-7039 or visit www.LCMSFoundation.org.

Iglesia Luterana Santa Trinidad

Iglesia Luterana Santa Trinidad, a satellite worship site in Tucson, AZ, recently held a Vacation Bible School (VBS), and 39 students and 22 volunteers from both Faith Lutheran Church and Santa Trinidad participated. One family signed up their children for First Communion classes. The community of Santa Trinidad also recently welcomed Vicar Sam Ledford who is working side-by-side with Pastor Nick Wirtz.

Janet Stechholz and Sue Boyle, co-chairs of the Greater Detroit Zone of the English District LWML, presented the Mission Grant check in the amount of $3,000 to Matthew Heise, Lutheran Heritage Foundation executive director (in blue), and Jeffrey Rahn, LHF assistant executive director (in red). The Mission Grant will be used for printing and distributing the book Spreading the Gospel in Muslim Nigeria. 

Does your church or school have families whose first language isn't English? Why not share a Lutheran book about Jesus with them in their heart language? Get FREE resources from the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, including children's Bible storybooks and Luther's Small Catechism in more than 180 languages! Click here for more information.

ENGLISH DISTRICT LCMS

248-476-0039

info@englishdistrict.org

www.englishdistrict.org

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