| JESUS CALLING ~ ENJOYING PEACE IN HIS PRESENCE By Sarah Young
I AM INVOLVED in each moment of your life. I have carefully mapped out every inch of your journey through this day, even though much of it may feel haphazard. Because the world is in a fallen condition, things always seem to be unraveling around the edges. Expect to find trouble in this day. At the same time, trust that My way is perfect, even in the midst of such messy imperfection. Stay conscious of Me as you go through this day, remembering that I never leave your side. Let the Holy Spirit guide you step by step, protecting you from unnecessary trials and equipping you to get through whatever must be endured. As you trudge through the sludge of this fallen world, keep your mind in heavenly places with Me. Thus the Light of My Presence shines on you, giving you Peace and Joy that circumstances cannot touch. 
Psalm 18:30; Isaiah 41:13
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I will help you." Isaiah 41:13 RSV
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|  100 VOICES NEEDED!! The National Youth Gathering will feature a mass choir that will sing two songs on the opening night of the gathering. Approximately 100 voices are needed! Those who are interested or have questions should contact Pam Bornes at ptbornes@yahoo.com or 504-812-8483. |
OUR STEWARDSHIP OF HIS RESOURCES
District Mission Support Trends
2014 2015 2016
Total Budget
$1,100,000 $900,000 $ 900,000
Budgeted Income $458,333 $375,000
$ 375,000
through 5/31
Actual Income $ 368,254 $358,295 $ 340,380
through 5/31
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|  COMMUNICATION REQUEST! To all congregations: Please update your list of officers as soon as you have congregational elections. We need the name, office, phone number and email address. There is a form available if needed. Please email the information to s.laird@southernlcms.org. Thank you for your cooperation! |
| SPIRIT OF SOUTHERN  Our newly revised Spirit of Southern is now available on the Southern District website. Please share this information with your congregations so that members have an opportunity to visit the website and see this new version of SOS! The website is www.southernlcms.org. On the home page, look at the menu at the top. Click on "Connect" and scroll down to Spirit of Southern. Enjoy the new format! |
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DATES FOR 2016
| June 19 |
Installation of Rev. Meredith Jackson |
Holy Cross Lutheran Church Camden, AL |
June 26
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Ordination and Installation of James D'Entremont |
Good Shepherd Lutheran Gulf Breeze, FL |
July 9-14
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66th Synod Convention Upon This Rock: Repent, Confess, Rejoice Matthew 16:18 |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
July 17
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Installation of Rev. Logan Landes |
Grace Lutheran Church Destin, FL |
October 17-18
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Southern District Newcomers' Orientation
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Mission Center Slidell, LA |
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| IN TRANSITION: CALLING CONGREGATIONS 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 |
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE UPDATE 
SUMMER 2016
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow! (Doxology) The first day of summer is rapidly approaching as spring growth begins to produce summer harvests of fresh produce at roadside stands and community farmers markets. We are truly blessed with God's gifts of freedom and abundance.
The District Stewardship Committee is truly grateful for all the congregations that generously partner in this ministry that we share. We are also thankful for all that the Lord allows your congregation to give this summer and the rest of the calendar year. As we enter the summer season, our mission support continues to lag previous years (57 percent of congregations giving) and our percentage of partnership commitments (29 percent) remains relatively static.
Our challenge is to advocate stewardship participation, enhance stewardship awareness, and grow to be stewards of our congregations.
We welcome Pastor James Garnett as stewardship advocate for circuit 14. Additionally, we are blessed to have Pastors Randal Ehrichs and James Holowach serving as Synod trained resource pastors to the committee. A special welcome to Pastor McNair (Tony) Ramsey as he helps guide our stewardship of small congregations initiative.
Watch for a separate stewardship awareness page on the district website in the near future. The stewardship and finance committees are partnering to provide you with easy to understand information on topics like: What the District Does, Where Gifts Come From, How Gifts Are Used, Who We (Stewardship) Are, and How We (Stewardship) Can Help. In addition to graphics and tables, links to an expanded list of synod publications and products (e.g., StewardCAST, bulletin inserts) will supplement what is currently being forwarded to congregations and individuals.
Floor Committees at the Synod Convention in July will address our Overture on Stewardship of Small Congregations. Specific issues include: partnering small and large churches, encouraging the continuation of current alternate routes of theological education, and networking multiple congregations to share resources (e.g., programs and personnel). The biggest issue is establishing asense of partnership, i.e., a culture of participation, in congregations that comes from joining in with the rest of the District and Synod to do God's work. The Stewardship Committee believes that an understanding of these concerns is essential for our members who will be on various Floor Committees, as well as our elected delegates, all of whom may have opportunities, formal and informal, to address these issues to others.
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| ~MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES~ Celebrating the Ministry of Pastor and People
Anniversaries of Ordination
45th ~ Rev. Bruce Hanson - Emeritus, Mobile, AL
45th ~ Rev. Stephen Koenig - Emeritus, Clinton, MS
20th ~ Rev. James Endrihs - Christ the King, Enterprise, AL
15th ~ USF Rev. Patrick Poock - Eglin Air Force Base
10th ~ Rev. Douglas Davis - Messiah, Prattville, AL
10th ~ Rev. R. Thomas Wright - Candidate, Meigs, GA
5th ~ Rev. Jonathan Kern - St. James, Gonzales, LA
5th ~ Rev. Steven Mazzaferro - Ascension, Marianna, FL
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NEW OPPORTUNITY!!
for the Junior Youth Gatherings of the Southern District. This year there will be only ONE gathering in a central location.
November 11-13 @ Twin Lakes Camp and Conference Center
Registration will open September 5th.
Presenter will be the Rev. Tim Schutt.
Mark your calendars and begin to prepare for registration. Information will be continually updated on the Southern District website and through publications.
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2017 LCMS National Campus Ministry Conference 
"Liberty," the 2017 National LCMS Campus Ministry Conference, is planned for Jan. 4-6, 2017, at the University of Maryland in the Metro DC area.
The conference will provide a forum for college students and campus-ministry workers to address fundamental issues related to religious liberty, the First Amendment and cultivating Christian citizenship on campus.
To learn more, visit lcms.org/lcmsu.
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LAITY ARE WELCOME! CONTACT PASTOR TIM SCHUTT AT pastor@alcs.org FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE WORKSHOP, HOTEL AND RESTAURANT INFORMATION. |
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~ CALLED TO SERVE ~
Rev. Craig Boelke to Lamb of God, Slidell, LA - Pending
Rev. Blair Clark to Trinity, Summerfield, FL - Accepted
Rev. Stewart Marshall to Trinity, Pine Bluff, AR - Pending
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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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WE LIFT UP IN PRAYER. . .
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)
These brothers and sisters in Christ coping with various health issues:
- Mrs. Melodie Rupp, wife of Rev. Bob Rupp (Emeritus - Pensacola, FL)
- Mrs. June Ring, mother of Rev. Marcus Ring (St. Paul - Shreveport, LA)
- Rev. Rev. Michael Shannon (Faith - Shreveport, LA)
- Rev. Rory Hermann (Good Shepherd - Gulf Breeze, FL)
- Rev. Brandon Simoneaux (Christ Our Savior - Harvey, LA)
- 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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Dear Colleagues in Christ, Don't let time get away from you! Register now for the Zion XVI Triennial Conference, which will be held Sept. 15-18 in Belleville, IL at Our Lady of the Snows Retreat Center. Registration for "Lutheran Accents in Specialized Pastoral Ministry" is $100 for double occupancy, $125 for single occupancy, or $75 for the commuter day rate. Visit lcms.org/events/zionconf2016 to register or download the schedule, speaker biographies and other important information. the awards -- two each from the ELCA and the LCMS -- will be given to the honorees at the Zion XVI banquet. In Christ, Rev. Joel Hempel Interim director, LCMS Specialized Pastoral Ministry lcms.org/spm |
ANCHORS AWAY!!
Time to hold your cabin on the next Southern District Cruise ~ Jan. 30, 2017!!
Early reduced deposit deadline has now passed. A deposit of $300 per cabin now applies. Please register ASAP at this secure link mcgcruise.com/SDLCMS5night.
Please remember that the ship is controlled by capacity, so register now to assure a cabin. Also, remember that a single person can share a cabin with another. Just let Ginger know if you are interested in a cabin mate.
Ginger Kramp is happy to assist with any and all questions. You can contact Ginger with questions at ginger@mcgeheecruise.com or 618-662-2117.
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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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