| JESUS CALLING: ENJOYING PEACE IN HIS PRESENCE By Sarah Young MY FACE IS SHINING UPON YOU, beaming out Peace that transcends understanding. You are surrounded by a sea of problems, but you are face to Face with Me, your Peace. As long as you focus on Me, you are safe. If you gaze too long at the myriad problems around you, you will sink under the weight of your burdens. When you start to sink, simply call out "Help me, Jesus!" and I will lift you up. The closer you live to Me, the safer you are. Circumstances around you are undulating, and there are treacherous-looking waves in the distance. Fix your eyes on Me, the One who never changes. By the time those waves reach you, they will have shrunk to proportions of My design. I am always beside you, helping you face today's  waves. The future is a phantom, seeking to spook you. Laugh at the future! Stay close to Me. Philippians 4:7; Matthew 14:30; Hebrews 12:2 "And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:7 |
OUR STEWARDSHIP OF HIS RESOURCES
District Mission Support Trends
2013 2014 2015
Total Budget
$1,100,000 $1,100,000 $ 900,000
Budgeted Income $ 1,100,000 $1,100,000
$ 900,000
through 12/31
Actual Income $ 972,002 $ 922,035 $ 911,618
through 12/31
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DATES FOR 2016
January 16
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Outreach Workshop
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Trinity Lutheran Church Monroe, LA |
January 30
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Outreach Workshop
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Bethany Lutheran Church Slidell, LA |
January 19-21, 2016
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Professional Church Workers' Conference
"Mosaic - Ministering in a Diverse Culture"
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The Mission Center Slidell, LA |
| January 22 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM |
Art Auction Benefit for Youth Ministry |
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church New Orleans, LA |
| February 20, 2016 9 AM to 3:15 PM |
Lands of the Bible Seminar Dr. Paul L. Maier |
Redeemer Lutheran Church Fairhope, AL |
| April 22, 23, & 24 |
LA-MS District LWML Convention |
Houma, LA |
| April 29, 30 & May 1, 2016 |
Gulf States District LWML Convention |
Courtyard by Marriott, Gulfport, MS |
July 9-14, 2016
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66th Synod Convention Upon This Rock: Repent, Confess, Rejoice Matthew 16:18 |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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| PROFESSIONAL CHURCHWORKERS' CONFERENCE Don't miss out on this opportunity to meet with your co-workers in Christ from throughout the Southern District! This three day conference provides learning, fellowship, and spiritual growth and renewal. The conference is on January 19, 20, and 21 at the Southern District Mission Center in Slidell, LA. It's not too late to register for this unique opportunity! Contact Rev. Jason Scheler or the Southern District office if you have questions. |
| IN TRANSITION: CALLING CONGREGATIONS Trinity - Gadsden, AL Christ the King - Natchitoches, LA St. Stephen - New Orleans, LA Lamb of God - Slidell, LA Trinity - Panama City, FL St. Paul's - Decatur, AL Immanuel - Bossier City, LA Ascension - Daphne, AL |
 ART AUCTION
Friday, January 22, 2016
6:30pm-8:30pm
Location: Gloria Dei Fellowship Hall
2021 South Dupre Street
New Orleans, LA 70125
Original paintings on canvas created by local artists, including adults and children of the summer camp program
Adults only, please
Admission: $10 at the door
Wine and beer with purchase of $10 glass
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| ~ CALLED TO SERVE ~ Calls - Commissioned Zeal Beale, DCE -- St. Paul, New Orleans, LA -- Accepted |
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Outreach Workshops
Scheduled on the following dates:
- January 16, Trinity - Monroe, LA.
- January 30, Bethany - Slidell, LA.
- Feb. 6, Good Shepherd - Gardendale, AL.
- Feb. 20, Jehovah - Pensacola, FL.
Workshop cost is $5 per person for lunch. All other materials are provided free of charge. Contact Rev. Eric Johnson (985.796.7175) for details.
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LWML LA - MS DISTRICT CONVENTION
Save the Date for the LA-MS District LWML 2016 Convention!
Houma,Louisiana
April 22, April 23, & April 24,2016
Hosted by the
New Orleans Zone
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LWML GULF STATES DISTRICT CONVENTION
The LWML Ladies of the Magnolia Zone will be hosting the
36th Biennial LWML Gulf States
District convention on April 29,30, & May 1, 2016 at the Courtyard by Marriott, Gulfport, MS. The theme is "Direct my footsteps according to your " Psalm 119:133
Ginny Hermetz of Gulfport is serving as Convention Chairman, Canaan Herkamp as Registrar, and Ellen Garnett, Treasurer.
Rev. Rudy Schaser, director of 'With God's Little Ones", is the keynote mission speaker. Jan Struck, Humorous Interrupter with "Struck with Laughter" will also be part of the program.
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500TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REFORMATION 
There are a lot of great resources for you to use with your congregation as we prepare for the 500th Anniversary celebrations of the Reformation in 2017. If you haven't already checked out this site, be sure to visit it!
Visit this site!
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2016 LCMS National Youth Gathering -- In Christ Alone
July 16-20, 2016
2016 will come more quickly than any of us realize! Be watching for important information regarding this opportunity for the Southern District Youth to come together with others as a community of God's people!
For additional information contact DCE Curtis Wiese -- Good Shepherd - Shalimar, FL, email: familylifeminister@gslcshalimar.org cell: 785-220-1512.
DCE Curtis is serving as the NYG Southern District Coordinator.
You may also go to the Southern District web site at www.southernlcms.org or
LCMS at www.lcms.org for more information.
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| CANDIDATES AND VICARS FOR SPRING PLACEMENT
This spring St. Louis and Fort Wayne Seminaries will have candidates and vicars available for placement.
Candidates Vicars
St. Louis - 79 St. Louis - 65 Fort Wayne - 52 Fort Wayne - 41 |
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WE LIFT UP IN PRAYER. . .
Rev. Bernard Ansorge, Ascension-Huntsville, AL, and family at the passing of his wife, Grace. Further information is not currently available.
The family of Mr. David Reinhardt who passed away on Dec. 31, 2015, in Pensacola, FL. Mr. Reinhardt served on the Southern District Board of Directors. His grandfather, Rev. J. F. W. Reinhardt served as pastor of Immanuel-Pensacola, FL, and his son Rev. Frederick Reinhardt is currently an LCMS missionary in Africa.
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.
The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;..."
John 11:25 (NIV)
These brothers and sisters in Christ coping with cancer:
Rev. Jerry Conley (Emeritus - Marianna, FL)
Rev. Jack Betz (Emeritus - Miramar Beach, FL)
Mrs. Gloria Moritz, widow of Rev. Victor Moritz (Emeritus - Metairie, LA)
Rev. Sidney Ponseti (Emeritus - Baton Rouge, LA)
Rev. Ed Rogers (Emeritus - Ozark, AL)
Mrs. Doris Taglauer, wife of Rev. Jim Taglauer (Emeritus - Folsom, LA)
Rev. Bill Wise (Emeritus - Destin, FL)
These brothers and sisters in Christ coping with various health issues:
- Mrs. Melodie Rupp, wife of Rev. Bob Rupp (Emeritus - Pensacola, FL)
- Mrs. Rosemary Hollibaugh, mother of Rev. Karl Hollibaugh (Lamb of God - Slidell, LA)
- Mrs. June Ring, mother of Rev. Marcus Ring (St. Paul - Shreveport, LA)
- Rev. Rev. Michael Shannon (Faith - Shreveport, LA)
- Robert Aumann (Good Shepherd - Slidell, LA
- Rev. Rory Hermann (Good Shepherd - Gulf Breeze, FL)
- Rev. Brandon Simoneaux (Christ Our Savior - Harvey, LA)
- Mrs. Agnes Belknap, wife of Rev. Bob Belknap (Zion - New Orleans, LA)
- Mr. Gene Menzel (Emeritus - Huntsville, AL)
- Rev. Dr. James P. Brown (Emeritus - Pensacola, FL)
- Dr. J. B. Marshall (Concordia College Alabama Board of Regents member)
- Rev. Dr. Edgar Homrighausen (Emeritus - Lacombe, LA)
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed. Thessalonians 2: 16-17
(NIV)
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A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND IS LIFE-CHANGING.
You'll never read the Bible in the same way again. Its scenes will come alive
after you have bowed at the manger in Bethlehem, worshipped on the Sea of Galilee,
followed the Palm Sunday crowd down the Mount of Olives, knelt in the
Garden of Gethsemane, wept at Golgotha, and sung at the empty tomb.
Experience this spiritual pilgrimage of walking in our Lord's footsteps with
your friends and fellow Christians. Pastor Keith and Diana Ringers (St. Mark's - Elberta, AL)
will be joining a retired pastor and his wife, friends of theirs, who have spent 18 months in the Holy Land and have put together this customized itinerary that will include places where the standard tours don't go. We invite you to join us from March 28 - April 6, 2016. For more information, click on the link for a brochure or contact Keith Ringers at kringers@gulftel.com.
Click here If registering online, enter 'Ringers' as Tour Host and ID number 56112.
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| UPDATE!! THERE WILL BE A CHANGE IN THE DATE AND CRUISE! MORE INFORMATION WILL BE COMING SOON!  ANCHORS AWAY!
Time to hold your cabin on the next Southern District Cruise ~
Jan 22, 2017. At the request of many, we are sailing to Belize, Roatan and Cozumel. We realize it seems early, but an agreement was reached for smaller deposits with early registration. Further registration information is available online at
https://secure.jotform.us/form/50815449083155.
You may also contact Ginger Kramp with questions at
ginger@mcgeheecruise.com
or
618-662-2117.
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| Lands of the Bible Seminar presented by Dr. Paul L. Maier, Ph.D., Litt.D., LL.D. at Redeemer Lutheran Church 200 South Section Street; Fairhope, AL Saturday, February 20, 2016; 9:00 am ~ 3:15 pm $12 for adults; $8 for students (ages 12 and up) Limited seating - first come, first served. Register by Feb. 13, 2016. Contact Kim Clay at 251-279-9164 to register or for additional information. |
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THE GIFT OF GENEROSITY-Electronic Giving
A definition of generous includes this phrase:
Freely sharing valuable things.
Freely sharing
. . .no strings attached. . .no tit for tat. . .nothing expected in return.
Valuable things: your child. What is more valuable than a life of someone you love beyond measure? As we reflect on this message, remember
Those Who Don't Yet Know Jesus. Your continued support for the mission and ministry of the Southern District is requested.
If you need a convenient way to make regular offerings, we encourage you to look into our electronic online giving options.
Visit
here or contact Ronnie Giaise
at the Southern District office for more information --- r.giaise@southernlcms.org.
Illustration by Patti Miller, Member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fairhope, Alabama.
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