The world has been figuratively reduced to

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1 / MARCH 2019 INDIANA Rev. Dr. Daniel Brege President The world has been figuratively reduced to ashes, a condition of destruction and death. Fire reduces things to ashes, and our God is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29). Moses, who was an eyewitness of God s anger, confessed: For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. Ps. 90:7 Thus everyone is spiritually dust and ashes, and everyone is on the path to physical ashes and dust on the path to death. Dust and ashes Before we can know salvation, we must first know our condition. Because of Christ, the Spirit has moved people through the centuries to confess both the outward condition of ashes and, more importantly, the inward condition of ashes the condition of our ash-crusted hearts and souls. For example, by the Holy Spirit, godly Abraham, grasping the reality of his condition, confessed: I who am but dust and ashes (Gen. 18:27). And similarly, the outwardly righteous Job confessed: I repent in dust and ashes (Job 42:6). These godly men knew and confessed that they were dust and ashes poor miserable sinners, mourning that from the ashes of their sinful hearts, they had sinned in thought, word and deed and were unworthy to stand in God s perfect presence. In Christ, God gives us beauty Yet the faithful of every century have been brought to believe that God s work of fiery judgment is alien, relative to His greatest works and desires. God wants all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. The Lord God ultimately wants to give us beauty instead of ashes (Is. 61:3). So our God sent His eternal Son, who would absorb, as it were, the ashes of mankind s sinfulness and the ashes of our fallen, physical world. Thus, at the crosshairs of the world s history, God took aim upon His Son. There the consuming fire of God s wrath was spent upon the man made to be sin. He was reduced to ashes, made to repose in the dust and ashes of death. He became the destruction of sin and death, and was laid in the tomb. But, O glorious day, He rises from the dust and Continued on page 8 INDIANA MARCH 2019 / 1

2 CHURCH PLANTING DISTRICT GOAL: Ten new congregations There was a time when most people considered themselves Christians. But now statistics are showing a startling trend: Many people claim no religious affiliation at all. In Fort Wayne alone, 48 percent of people surveyed say they have no connection with any religious faith. In response, the Indiana District set a goal to start 10 new congregations in the next three years. The plan was developed by Rev. Geoffrey Robinson, district outreach executive, who submitted a strategic plan to Rev. Dr. Daniel Brege, district president for the triennium. Starting a new congregation can be accomplished two ways either through mother congregations or sponsoring circuits that want to move forward with a new church. When you begin a new start, you gain people and an energy level with a group that will help the church move forward, Rev. Robinson says. Although the Indiana District is open to ideas about where to start new congregations, the ideal location includes an area with a strong population and no LCMS presence. A prime example is Outreach Kentucky, an Indiana District mission in Richmond. Statistics from 2016 report that 61 percent of Madison County residents, where Richmond is located, are unaffiliated with any religious faith. Additionally, Richmond is home to Eastern Kentucky University, providing potential for a vibrant campus ministry. Other potential areas for church starts include the northwest or southwest side of Fort Wayne, which have both experienced tremendous growth in recent years. Additionally, Indianapolis and its surrounding communities, or even Louisville, Ky., could be possible locations for church starts. Funding is available for new congregations through budgeted grants of $30,000 or a non-budgeted $100,000 New Ministry Initiative matching grant. In addition to 10 new starts, the Indiana District has also set a goal of revitalizing 10 at-risk congregations in the next three years. Congregations interested in participating in the church revitalization initiative need to extend an invitation to the district in order to begin the process. With your support, we can share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those who have no religious affiliation as we expand the mission and reach of the Indiana District. INDIANA MARCH 2019 / 2

3 OUTREACH & EVENTS 100 years of Trinity, Hammond On Nov. 18, 1918, a small band of members from St. Paul s Lutheran Church, Hammond, were given a peaceful release to form Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran Church. These founding members felt it was important to worship and teach in the language of the community that surrounded them English. At the same time, members of St. Paul s could continue their ministry to German speakers, especially to German refugees after World War I. On Nov. 18, 2018, the congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church celebrated its 100th anniversary. Calendar of Events The special anniversary worship service had Trinity s rich history in mind: The Collect of the Day was from the LCMS English hymnal that was first published about the time of Trinity s founding. The Introit from Psalm 100 served as the inspiration for Edward H. Plumptre ( ) as he wrote the text for Trinity s anniversary hymn, Rejoice, O Pilgrim Throng (LSB #813). The Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving was from the 100-year celebration in 1982 of St. Paul s, Munster, Trinity s mother congregation. The readings were for the second to last Sunday of the Church Year, describing tumultuous times, not unlike the war years of 1918 when Trinity was founded. The Hymn of Praise, How Great Thou Art, reminds of the years Trinity s worship was broadcast throughout the area on WJOB. Each broadcast began with that hymn. The Service of Preparation and the Service of the Word were based on Creative Worship a style of worship introduced by its most recent pastor, Rev. Kevin Olson, who served Trinity from 2013 to The service of Holy Communion was similar to the communion liturgy followed at Trinity the vast majority of its history. The celebrant for the day was Rev. Dr. Thomas Feiertag, who retired last year as professor of theology at Concordia University Wisconsin, and the guest preacher was Rev. Dr. Dale A. Meyer, president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. The service was followed by a dinner at a banquet hall, where guests from several states celebrated with the congregation. March 1 Deadline for vicarage and call documents to district president for spring placement March 12 Seminary Guild, CTS, Fort Wayne March Prayerfully Consider Campus Visit, CTS, Fort Wayne March 20 Lecture/Recital Convocation, CTS, Fort Wayne April 9 Seminary Guild, CTS, Fort Wayne April 28 Easter Evening Prayer, CTS, Fort Wayne April 29 Vicarage Assignments, CTS, Fort Wayne April 30 Call Service, CTS, Fort Wayne May 1 Vicarage and Call Services, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis May 6-8 Southern Pastors Conference, Camp Lakeview May Northern Pastors Conference, Oakwood Resort May 17 Graduation Day, CTS, Fort Wayne, and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis June Christ Academy: Timothy School, CTS, Fort Wayne June Christ Academy: Phoebe School, CTS, Fort Wayne June Organist Workshop (Primer Level), CTS, Fort Wayne June Organist Workshop (Intermediate Level), CTS, Fort Wayne July National Youth Gathering, Minneapolis July LCMS Convention, Tampa INDIANA MARCH 2019 / 3

4 DISTRICT NEWS Our Saviour blesses Ascension O n Sunday, Jan. 6 (Epiphany), Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Gary, held a Service of Thanksgiving for its ministry over the last 68 years. The congregation formally closed last year, but in so doing has opened the doors for ministry at Ascension Lutheran Christian School. The congregation was blessed to have Rev. Dr. Daniel Brege, Indiana District president; Rev. Dr. D. Richard Stuckwisch, district third vice-president; Rev. Richard Boshoven, circuit visitor; Rev. John Albers; Rev. Delwyn Campbell; Rev. Richard Ungrodt; and Rev. James Wetzstein participate in the service. Although bittersweet, it is a joyous occasion when ministry can continue in the same place and provide growth and open doors to the Gospel of Christ in the community. A s we look at congregations that are closing or perhaps are about to close, we are bound to ask: Who failed? Did the pastor fail? Did the leaders fail? Did the voters fail? Did Jesus fail? Of course, Jesus never fails. And though it is true that when dealing with sinful people there will be failure, asking who failed when a congregation closes is the wrong question. Through the centuries congregations have closed for many reasons. As we read about the seven congregations addressed by Jesus in Revelation, we realize none of them are around they all closed. Thus it has happened from the beginning. A better question to ask would be: Through this congregation that is now closing, what has our Lord accomplished? In every case, whenever a congregation closes, we can say without hesitation that the Lord of the Church has accomplished great things through this congregation. For He has promised that His Word will not return to Him void; it will accomplish His work (Isaiah 55). And so it has been the case in every congregation that has had our Lord s Word the Word that was read, the Word that was preached and the Word connected to the Holy Sacraments that He has in this place accomplished miracles linked to Christ s death and resurrection. People born in the domain of darkness have here been reborn into the bright kingdom of God s Son. People have here continually received the nourishment of forgiveness and the faith-creating and faith-sustaining Spirit. People here have heard God s Word on special occasions, and uniquely at funerals they have been Continued on page 6 INDIANA MARCH 2019 / 4

5 Who s helping whom? Ken Schilf Council of Resources It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35b R ecently a church was having a food drive for the poor in their community. Everyone was to bring canned or boxed goods to the church. So a mom looked through her shelves and found some asparagus, Raisin Bran and ravioli. There we are, she said to her little daughter. That will do. We won t miss these things. Nobody in our family likes them anyways. Thinking for a moment, the 7-year-old nicely asked, Mom, if we give only what we don t eat, aren t they helping us? With this in mind, let s see what God says in Mal. 3:10: Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. And thereby put Me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. During this season of Lent, many Christian folks make promises to the Lord to either give up something or take up something for the Lord. How opportune a time this would STEWARDSHIP be to do what Prov. 3:9 says: Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce. It is tempting to give God our leftovers as opposed to our firstfruits. Out of the mouth of babes in the little story above, the girl has the right idea in the Lord s eyes. We even sing that belief in the following hymn: We give Thee but Thine own, Whate er the gift may be; All that we have is Thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from Thee (LSB #781). To summarize: It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20: 35b St. Paul LWML Quilters, Kouts, make 35 quilts in 2018 From left are Karen Kent, Marlene Haman, Diane Hanson, Marti Glinski, Alice Kroft and Deb Molnar. Missing from the photo are Darlene Tratebas, Phyllis Misch, Carol Jensen, Sandy Brown, Gail Jensen and Karen Coyner. Seminary presents Laudamus tour Laudamus, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis select choir of seminarians, will perform for audiences across Michigan and Indiana as part of its spring 2019 tour. Spring 2019 tour dates are: March 15, 7 p.m., Cornerstone Lutheran Church, Fishers, Ind. March 16, 10:30 a.m., Lutheran Life Villages, Fort Wayne, Ind. March 16, 5:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, Utica, Mich. March 17, 8 a.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, Macomb, Mich. March 17, 11 a.m., St. John Lutheran Church, Rochester, Mich. March 17, 3 p.m., Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, Detroit, Mich. March 18, 7 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, Saginaw, Mich. March 19, 7 p.m., Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. March 20, 10 a.m., Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. The concerts are free and open to the public. Freewill offerings will be collected to support musical arts programs at the seminary. To learn more about Laudamus and the tour, visit csl.edu/laudamus. INDIANA MARCH 2019 / 5

6 DISTRICT NEWS Emmanuel spreads Christmas joy in Tell City W hen most people at the end of summer are anticipating the beginning of fall, members of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Tell City, were preparing a Christmas float to be used in local Christmas parades. The group of nine to 12 members met once a week to paint eight of the stained-glass panels that are predominant in the church. They began painting in July and actual construction in mid-october. There were about 300 man hours used in the construction of the float. The float actually floats above the vehicle driving it. Each panel was painted twice for a total of 16 panels to afford all parade goers an equal viewing opportunity. The float, which won two first place awards, was designed by Carly Jarboe. It featured stained glass panels depicting the life of Christ from the Nativity through the Resurrection. Sitting at the top was a glowing cross encased in a giant transparent bubble. The result is a snow globe complete with blowing snow and music from the Emmanuel choir. As the float traveled the parade route, it created conversation between the viewing public and the Emmanuel walkers who were happy to spread the message of Christ. WHO FAILED? (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) reminded that in Christ their loved one now possesses eternal life by sight. The seed of God s Word has been sown in this congregation, and though the congregation is closing, that faith-creating seed has not closed, for it has gone out to any number of locations as God s people have seen fit to move elsewhere. And these believers in Christ who have moved away not only owe their faith in Jesus to the seed sown at this congregation, but they are now elsewhere proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2). Indeed, though the world sees a closing congregation as a failure, from this closing congregation miracles never cease! March Prayer List Week of March 4 Wyoming District Circuit 12 Kokomo Christ, Anderson Emanuel, Arcadia St. Peter, Huntington Good Shepherd, Kokomo Our Redeemer, Kokomo Zion, Kokomo St. James, Marion Grace, Muncie St. John, Peru Emanuel, Tipton Zion, Wabash Mission: Hispanic Outreach, Trinity, Indianapolis RSO: Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis Week of March 11 Atlantic District Circuit 20 Aurora St. John, Aurora St. Paul (Clifty), Columbus Bethany, Connersville St. Paul, Cross Plains Trinity, Dillsboro St. John, Farmers Retreat Holy Trinity, Greensburg Faith, Madison Mission: Hispanic Outreach, St. Paul, Columbus RSO: Cranach Institute, Fort Wayne Week of March 18 California-Nevada-Hawaii District Circuit 5 South Bend St. Paul s, Bremen Trinity, Culver Trinity, Elkhart Prince of Peace, Goshen St. Peter, Mishawaka Calvary, Plymouth Emmaus, South Bend Our Redeemer, South Bend St. Paul, South Bend Redeemer, Warsaw St. Peter s, Warsaw St. Paul, Woodland Mission: Deaf Ministry, Peace Deaf, Indianapolis RSO: Cross Connections, Fort Wayne/Indianapolis Week of March 25 Central Illinois District Circuit 9, Fort Wayne East Ascension, Fort Wayne Concordia, Fort Wayne Gloria Dei, Fort Wayne Promise, Fort Wayne St. Peter, Fort Wayne Prince of Peace, Grabill Emanuel, New Haven Martini, New Haven St. Paul, New Haven Christ, Woodburn Zion, Woodburn Mission: Chinese Ministry, St. Paul, Evansville RSO: Hands of Mercy, Fort Wayne INDIANA MARCH 2019 / 6

7 CELEBRATIONS INSTALLATIONS The Rev. Thomas Sabel was installed as pastor of Living Water Lutheran Church, Wolf Lake, on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Participating in the service were, from left, Adam McDowell (seminarian), Revs. David Easterday, Patrick Kuhlman, Jerry Winegarden, Dr. Daniel Brege (district president), Sabel, Nabil Nour, David Mommens and Philip Rigdon. The Rev. Jeffrey Patterson was installed as associate pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church at Clifty, Columbus, on Sunday, Jan. 13. Participating in the service were, from left, Revs. Douglas Bauman (St. Paul senior pastor), Arthur Schwenk, Patterson, Dr. Daniel Brege, Don Wiley and William Stache. March Anniversaries March 1 Mr. and Mrs. John Lambert 51, Grace, New Albany Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Holton 50, Calvary, Indianapolis March 2 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fischer 56, Grace, New Albany Mr. and Mrs. James Bullard 51, Immanuel, Seymour Mr. and Mrs. Ron Heckman 51, Calvary, Indianapolis Mr. and Mrs. Norman Patrick 51, Emmanuel, Fort Wayne March 6 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Traub 54, Immanuel, Seymour March 7 Mr. and Mrs. Ed Herman 55, Emmanuel, Fort Wayne Mr. and Mrs. Jim Mulzer 55, Emmanuel, Tell City March 8 Mr. and Mrs. John Allman 53, Immanuel, Seymour March 9 Mr. and Mrs. Loren Grabner 62, St. John, Monroeville March 11 Mr. and Mrs. James Reinking 52, St. Paul s, Fort Wayne March 13 Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kanning 54, March 15 Mr. and Mrs. Bill Fair 61, Cornerstone, Carmel March 16 Mr. and Mrs. Harold (Art) Messer 62, Calvary, Indianapolis Mr. and Mrs. Glen Rahe 62, Trinity, Dillsboro March 25 Mr. and Mrs. Duane Brown 58, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Weitgenant 58, St. Peter, North Judson March 26 Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Urbanovic 60, Our Shepherd, Avon Mr. and Mrs. Phil Juengel 53, Zion, Decatur March 28 Dr. and Mrs. William A. Kammeyer 54, St. Peter s, Fort Wayne March 29 Mr. and Mrs. Gene Emily 55, Immanuel, Seymour Mr. and Mrs. Louis Mensendiek 55, St. John s, White Creek Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Dornseif 50, Emmanuel, Fort Wayne March 30 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Runge 56, Immanuel, Seymour Feb. 8 Mr. and Mrs. Monteal Lepper 55, Immanuel, Avilla Feb. 23 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mundt 68, St. Paul s, Fort Wayne Jan. 31 Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Prentice 66, Immanuel, Avilla INDIANA MARCH 2019 / 7

8 CELEBRATIONS March Birthdays March 1 Neal Schueler, 93 Irene Cole, 92 Emmanuel, Tell City Don Herre, 92 Our Redeemer, Evansville March 4 Dorothy Koeneman, 93 Delmar Heckman, 91 Zion (Friedheim), Decatur Lois Kahre, 91 Trinity, Darmstadt March 5 Walt Somers, 93 Trinity, Darmstadt Marcille Karbach, 92 Roland Preuss, 92 Cornerstone, Carmel Robbie Robinson, 90 Bethlehem, Fort Wayne March 6 Flora Kleitz, 97 Our Redeemer, Evansville March 7 Calvin Hoffman, 91 St. John, Monroeville March 8 Effie Harris, 98 Redeemer, Louisville Edna Pieper, 95 Trinity, Dillsboro March 10 Maryanna Baker, 94 St. James, Lafayette Francis Mook, 91 Emmaus, Fort Wayne March 11 Lois Freese, 93 Norma Thomas, 92 Immanuel, Seymour March 12 Cecile Goodwin, 90 Our Redeemer, Evansville March 13 George Jones, 100 Redeemer, Louisville March 15 Eunice Fink, 91 Zion, Decatur March 16 Grace Muenich, 107 Trinity, Hammond Harold Kysar, 98 Immanuel, Seymour Lavon Graft, 95 Immanuel, Avilla Roy Weddle, 91 Epiphany, Westfield March 17 Dorothy Hussung, 92 St. John, Lanesville Bernice Barnickle, 90 St. John, Lanesville March 22 Marcie Kohlmeyer, 96 Emmanuel, Fort Wayne Richard Trautmann, 93 Epiphany, Westfield March 23 Buford Curry, 95 Cornerstone, Carmel Betty Gotshall, 92 St. James, Logansport March 26 Nina Harris, 98 Redeemer, Louisville March 27 Dorothy Allen, 104 St. James, Lafayette Gil Kahre, 97 Trinity, Darmstadt Byron Veath, 94 Grace, New Albany Margaret Rice, 93 St. John (Bingen), Decatur March 29 Walter Ostermeyer, 91 Zion, Fort Wayne Anita Graef, 90 Heritage, Valparaiso March 30 Ruth Wien, 96 St. James, Lafayette March 31 Verna Droege, 101 Grace, New Albany Helen Graf, 97 Immanuel, Seymour Joan Bredemeyer, 91 Charles Kersting, 90 St. Peter, North Judson Feb. 1 Grace Frederick, 92 St. Paul s, Fort Wayne Jan. 1 Virginia Grossman, 90 St. Paul s, Fort Wayne OVERCOMING ASHES (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) Share Your News! ashes! He rises, having overcome for us both the ashes of sin and all its resultant misery, pain, crying, dying, malevolence and violence. And now as we receive forgiveness and the certain hope of the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting, our God gives us beauty instead of ashes. Now join Abraham, Job and all other godly people, confessing you are dust and ashes. Yet even more so, join them realizing through Word and Sacrament you stand lifted from such dust and ashes by the freely flowing forgiveness founded upon Christ s death and resurrection. Do you have exciting news you d like to see published in the Indiana District Lutheran Witness? We d love to share your news and see photos of what s happening in our district! Be sure to send in your submissions. Please remember that photos sent electronically should be in hi-resolution,with a minimum of 300 dpi. Your stories and photos are welcomed and most appreciated. Please send all submissions to Jan Koenig at: jan.koenig@in.lcms.org or Lutheran Witness Editor Indiana District LCMS 1145 South Barr St. Fort Wayne, IN The deadline for the May issue is March 11. INDIANA MARCH 2019 / 8