In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities and the world. | E-newsletter: June 15, 2022 | |
From the President.......... | |
Make Sure It’s Warm in Your Church This Sunday
It looks like God will be doing His part in warming things up this weekend, both “West River” and “East River.” But I want to encourage you to do some things in your church to ensure that folks (especially guests and visitors) will say, “My, is it ever warm here!” I’m referring to how folks are welcomed and made to feel comfortable and at home in your worship services.
The Evangelism Committee chairperson of a church I once served had a great idea. She told our members, “After services, don’t rush off to that good friend of yours and start chatting with him or her; talk to someone you don’t know so well first.”
What a great idea! Get to know that guest or visitor or that church member you really don’t know so well. Get to know that person who appears to be a newcomer. Talk to that person from Yankton or Hartford (or wherever!) who is in your city for a weekend soccer or softball tournament.
This is something I’ve learned over the years as a parish pastor: people will visit a particular church the first time out of some felt need –They need a friend. They need to get to know the Lord better. They need to get their spouse off their back concerning going to church. They desire forgiveness. They need direction in life. They need the predictably good theology from an LCMS church. Etc.
They will return if they have felt welcomed and valued.
Now, the best way we welcome and value them is to bring them the truth of God’s Word – His Law and His Gospel – in a faithful way. But the little things you do (yes, you!) make a huge impact, too.
So, park your car in a space a little farther away from the main entrance of the church. Slide over to the middle of the pew to make room for others. And take a stab at this new way of welcoming others: talk to someone you don’t know first after the service this Sunday. Then, move on to someone you do know.
If you take those little steps, you might feel the warmth of your church increase. Better yet, that newcomer will too.
May you say this coming Sunday: “Whew, Lord! Sure is warm here…and I’m glad!”
--Rev. Scott Sailer
District President
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Call and Vacancy Information
Click the picture below
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We lift up in prayer......
This month's congregations and schools: Congregations: Our Savior, Aberdeen; St. John, Aberdeen; St. Paul, Aberdeen; Zion, Andover; St. John, Britton; St. John, Columbia; Concordia, Cresbard; Redeemer, Doland; St. Paul, Ferney; St. John, Groton Schools: Lighthouse Preschool, Aberdeen; Divine Shepherd Lutheran School, Black Hawk; Blessed Redeemer Pre-School, Brandon; Peace ECC and Elementary School, Brookings; Zion Pre-School, Canistota
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MAIN STREET LIVING
Programming Information
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IN OUR CONGREGATIONS.......
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Messiah-St. Paul-Zion Lutheran Churches of Murdo-Draper and Presho, SD celebrated Pastor Ray Greenseth's 40th Ordination Anniversary. Click here for all the festivities.
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St. John-Zion Lutheran Churches of Groton-Andover, SD welcomes their new pastor, Reverend Jeremy Yeadon. Here's the informtion!
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Immanuel Lutheran Church of rural Dimock will celebrate 140 years as a congregation and 175 years of the Missouri Synod at its annual Mission Festival on August 21. Morning preacher (10am) will be Rev. Benjamin Ball, 6th Vice President of the LCMS. Afternoon preacher (2pm) will be Rev. Ken Soyk of Faith - Parkston and St. Peter - Clayton. Those who would like to come to the noon meal are kindly asked to RSVP at (605) 770-2003. All current and former members and friends of Immanuel are invited to celebrate with us.
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Camp Minneboji, June 19 – 25
Camp Minneboji, our District’s camp for 4th – 9th graders, begins this coming Sunday, June 19. Around 200 campers have registered! Please keep the kids, counselors, and camp staff in your prayers. Pray that the campers will get to know their Lord and Savior better in the safe, fun, and beautiful environment that this camp provides. Camp Minneboji is located at Camp Okoboji, the Iowa West District—LCMS camp on the shores of West Lake Okoboji in northwest Iowa (about 100 miles from Sioux Falls).
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Join us at Ironwood Springs!
ag October 3-7, 2022 Lutherhostel
Stewartville, MN
Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch
Click the picture for all you need to know!
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PRAYERS REQUESTED FOR PRO-LIFE AGENCIES
from our District Life Coordinator
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This week, I have spoken with our friends and partners in Life Ministry at the Alpha Center and South Dakota Right to Life. Both have requested that we pray in our homes and churches for their safety and the success of their work. Over the last 2 weeks, 20 more Pro Life facilities in America have been vandalized. The sign at SD Right to Life in Rapid City was wrecked, for example, and a Pro Life outreach in Oregon was firebombed. Abortion advocates have threatened violence in a summer of rage. Your help is greatly needed.
- First, please pray. Perhaps you could include this collect in your time of worship:
Almighty and living God, you are the Lord of life itself for you have sent your only Son who laid down his own life to take it up again for our salvation. As You have given us that gift of life to share in the ministry of your church on earth, guard and protect us and everyone who works to defeat the darkness of abortion and euthinasia, so that every form of violence may be stopped and Your Kingdom be made manifest, through Jesus Christ who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever. Amen
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Third, you can support our upcoming Bike for Life event happening on July 16th now called "Bike for the Alpha." We need riders, rest stop hosts, and transportation for riders who bike to Sioux Falls and need a ride back to Brookings. With the added social stress, your partnership is greatly needed to ensure the safety and success of our ride. We missed a couple years because of pandemic threats, but here is our chance - let's work together in this effort to overcome threats against life at every stage. To help with the ride, or get more information, email pcnavurskis@gmail.com
Peace
Pastor Chris Navurskis (Mt Calvary - Huron)
SD LC-MS District Life Coordinator
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Whatever you have planned for this summer, consider these two things when you start getting active. Click here for more information!
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Lutheran Family Service (LFS) had a display at the recent District LWML Convention in Yankton. Rev. Mick Wolfram, Congregational Services Representative for LFS, and Mrs. Lindy Hinckley, an LFS counselor in South Dakota, greeted many convention-goers. Click here for more!
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IRS CHANGES......
Beginning on 7/1/2020, IRS has increased the standard business mileage rate to 62.5¢ per mile (from 58¢ in effect since 1/1/2022). The standard medical mileage rate has likewise increased to 22¢ per mile (from 18¢). These new rates apply to mileage reimbursements paid to an employee on or after July 1, 2022 with respect to transportation expenses paid or incurred by the employee on or after July 1, 2022.
Due to the recent gasoline price increases, the IRS made this special adjustment for the final
months of 2022.
The rate used for charitable deduction purposes, set by statute rather than IRS, remains at
14¢ per mile.
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BIKE FOR LIFE RETURNS!
Our SD District Bike for Life ride to benefit the Alpha Center in Sioux Falls will return July 16!
Please mark this date and let your congregations know the ride will roll between Brookings and Sioux Falls. Details are still being worked out, but please consider the following:
Invite congregation members to RIDE
Host a rest stop the day of the ride
Provide rider transport after ride
Sponsor riders as they raise funds
More information will be comiong, but if you would like to connect in the meantime please email Pastor Navurskis at: pcnavurskis@gmail.com.
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COLLEGE BOUND??
By now, most of your graduating high school seniors have decided where they'll be in the fall. If they will be attending one of the institutions of higher learning in South Dakota, please share their name and cell # with the local pastor(s). If neither you nor their parents give us their name and contact information, and if they don't come to church on their own, we don't know they exist and can't reach out to them.
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SDSU: Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Brookings. Rev. Micah Bauer: (812) 431-5490, pastormicahbauer@gmail.com
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USD: Concordia Lutheran Church, Vermillion. Rev. Matthew Bless (641) 832-7253, pastor@lcmsvermillion.org
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Northern State University or Presentation College: Our Savior Lutheran Church, Aberdeen. Rev. Jordon Andreasen: (605) 290-5442, revandreasen@gmail.com
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Dakota State University: Our Savior Lutheran Church, Madison. Rev. Clint Thorson: (605) 270-0059, revthorson@gmail.com
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Other colleges: Here.
Thanks for your help with this vital ministry!
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LCMS International Mission has launched a new podcast, 5 Minutes with a Missionary. It’s a window into missionary life. As our missionaries talk about their experiences, savor the uniqueness of the places in which God has called them to serve — while finding common ground with your own role and service. Each episode features an unfiltered take on life abroad for the sake of the Gospel in the time it takes to pick up your drive-thru order or empty the dishwasher. It’s fun. It’s personal. It’s real. And it’s always an adventure.
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SELF CARE IS NOT SELFISH!
Taking care of yourself like you take care of others is not selfish. It means giving attention to YOUR emotional well-being so you can give to others. Click here for ideas and resources for support from Concordia Plans!
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10 TIPS TO HANDLE LIFE'S CHANGES
Church workers’ transitions run the gamut of exciting, joyful, frightening and stressful. In addition to the usual church year transitions, there are transitions from one call to another and one home to another. For Lutheran school teachers, the transition is growing one class of students, saying goodbye, then welcoming another class a few months later. Preparation can be helpful in handling life’s changes to reduce stress and expedite adjustment.
Read the article for 10 tips to handle life’s changes.
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Dr. Jeffrey Pulse Set to Present at
Concordia University, St. Paul
June 27-29, 2022
Click here for information.
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Please share your congregation's or school's unique ministries with the rest of the District. Send pictures and stories for consideration to jpike@midco.net by Monday, June 27 at 12:00 Noon for the July 1st edition. 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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Click here for the latest information from Reverend Daniel Jastram our Together in Mission Missionary!
Click here for the latest information from Reverend Cory Rajek our Together in Mission Missionary!
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PASS IT ON! We have been asked if the recipients of this email newsletter may forward it to others. YES! Please share it with whomever you wish, including your church's group email list. Simply click on the button below for sharing! | | | | |
