Building on the Rock

Transcription

1 PassionateBelievers A publication of the South Wisconsin District of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Winter 2018 Building on the Rock What makes a church healthy? pg. 4 The Non-Silent Majority? pg. 6 Meet your new Mission Executive pg. 8 Everyone needs a Hero! pg. 10

2 Winter 2018 / South Wisconsin District LCMS Passionate Believers Volume 8, Issue 1 Winter 2018 In this issue: 3 From the President 4 What makes a church healthy? 6 The Non-Silent Majority? 8 Meet your new Mission Executive 10 Everyone needs a Hero! National Distinguished Principal award goes to Principal Yurk 12 District News 14 Around the District 16 Celebrations & Upcoming events Our Mission/Vision Building on the Rock On the cover: At the close of the State Youth Gathering worship service, 250 youth and youth leaders sang Abide with Me by candlelight. The service was held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Dells. We are "Building on the Rock" as we carry out the Commission of Jesus Christ, confessing Him to the next generation. (See story on page 10. Photo by Chris Cody.) Confessing Christ for the Next Generation 1. This is our time to be distinctly Lutheran. 2. This is our time to plant new congregations. 3. This is our time to honor our vocation. 4. This is our time to embrace our communities. Our core values Discipleship Community Excellence Integrity Passionate Believers is a quarterly publication of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregations within the South Wisconsin District. It shares stories about our partnership in the Gospel and how we work towards maximizing, magnifying, and multiplying the ministry that is done with and through local congregations. If you would like to submit ideas, stories or news for the next publication, please send them to editor@swd.lcms.org by March 1, Congregations receive specified quantities at no cost. An individual subscription sent to your address is $5 per year. To subscribe, call the District Office at ext. 744, or mail check to South Wisconsin District LCMS 8100 W. Capitol Drive Milwaukee, WI (Wisconsin only) Web site: swd.lcms.org. Save the date: January 27, 2018! That's when we'll get together for the Passionate Believers Conference at Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church N48 W31385 Hill Street, Hartland, WI Please follow swd.lcms.org and your church bulletin for updated information 2 Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation

3 From the President South Wisconsin District LCMS / Winter 2018 Building on the Rock Rev. Dr. John C. Wille, District President Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As I write this we are a few days from Christmas. By the time that this is printed another Christmas celebration will be over. We will have heard the angels sing of peace on earth, and good will toward men. Though the Prince of peace is born, there is little peace in this world; or so it might appear. And it is not merely in faraway place where war rages. It is in our homes and in our churches. We have all felt the sting of conflict in our lives. In anger, a fellow worker unleashes a tirade. We have said things for which we are later filled with regret. It happens at work. It happens between siblings. It happens with parents. It happens between husbands and wives. There are disagreements at church. As a district president, I am all too well acquainted with what conflict does to a congregation. Conflict and turmoil build walls that isolate. Hurtful words sting, cutting deep into a soul. Relationships suffer. What can be done? There is a new book out, Built on the Rock, written by Ted Kober, that talks about conflict prevention and reconciliation. It is published by CPH, and well worth the read. It ought surprise no one that conflict prevention and reconciliation begin with God s Word and at the cross where our Lord Jesus sets us free from our sin as He suffers sin s curse. Forgiveness comes to us through His Word and Sacrament. And it is not merely from Him for us; but from Him to us; and for others. Forgiveness is more than merely something for church. Forgiveness is a way of life. Forgiven, we are called to be forgiving. Forgiven by the grace of God, we not only see someone else s sin, we are able to see our own sin and our need for forgiveness. That takes us to the foot of the cross. Jesus is the only source of forgiveness. Forgiveness for us and forgiveness for others. Confessing their faults to each other, husbands and wives forgive, as do parents and children, friends and fellow workers. Several passages of Holy Scripture come to mind: James 5:16 - Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. 1 John If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Mark 9:50 - Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. Colossians 3:13ff - Put on then, as God s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Forgiveness for the sake of Christ is our greatest blessing from our heavenly Father. Forgiveness means we are at peace with God. Forgiveness is, then, to be lived and shared so that we can be at peace with each other. May our gracious Lord bless! Rev. Dr. John C. Wille SWD President maximizing, magnifying, multiplying ministries 3

4 South Wisconsin District LCMS / Winter 2018 Building on the Rock What makes a church healthy? By Ted Kober, Senior Ambassador for Ambassadors of Reconciliation (AoR) evidences itself when they practice confession and forgiveness in their relationships with one another. As a reconciliation consultant, I have seen many churches ranging from very unhealthy to healthy. And yes, I know of churches that are spiritually healthy. How did you arrive at your conclusions? My initial conclusions were based on what the Scriptures teach and my observations from reconciliation work. But for my book, Built on the Rock: The Healthy Congregation, I wanted to also test my theories against research. "So, Ted, do you know of any healthy churches?" Someone recently asked me that after hearing about my new book, Built on the Rock: The Healthy Congregation. Before I answered, I first described what I believe makes a church healthy. Some describe a healthy church from a psychological viewpoint. They evaluate how well the congregation works together as a family system. This can be a useful way to evaluate any group of people in a system. Others might describe a healthy church by its organizational characteristics. Does it have a visionary leader? Are worship services inspirational? Has the church identified its mission statement? Is it growing numerically? One might assess a church s health based on how many healthy characteristics it possesses. Rather than defining health from a psychological or organizational approach, I identify congregational health from a spiritual perspective. Healthy churches are those whose leadership and membership are solidly grounded in Christ, nourished by God s Word, and apply the Word to their lives. Their spiritual maturity In the book, I draw conclusions based on four factors: What the Bible says (e.g., Matthew 7:24-27; John 15:5-8; Colossians 3:16). 25 years of reconciliation consulting with church leaders from around the world. A qualitative study of 11 churches deemed healthy by ecclesiastical supervisors. A quantitative survey of 157,000 people from 500 churches on what most helped them mature spiritually. What leads to spiritual illness? Biblical illiteracy has become epidemic in the American 21 st century church. Here is a sample of what our reconciliation teams have experienced in Lutheran congregations: In a meeting with a board of elders, four of the twelve could not find the Gospel of John. In one of the most notable churches in its district, not one of ten elders could locate the book of Romans. In a council meeting with 13 lay leaders, only 1 person could generally describe any of the Ten Commandments. A couple who worshiped regularly for 20 years did not realize that the Bible was divided by chapter and verse. Many in our seminars were unfamiliar with biblical stories about well-known biblical characters. 4 Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation

5 Building on the Rock South Wisconsin District LCMS / Winter 2018 When the majority in a church are unfamiliar with God s Word, especially the leadership, the congregation tends to develop idols false gods that become more important than God Himself. These idols often lay hidden until revealed in conflict. A church s organizational idols weaken its health and discredit its witness. If left unchecked, they can actually destroy a church. How can I assess the spiritual health of my church? In one article, I can t share everything from the book (you gotta read it for more!). But I have developed a rule of thumb for an initial assessment of a church s health. I divide the total number of adults who attend Bible study by the average worship attendance to come up with a comparative percentage. When churches have less than 20% of their average worship attendance in adult Bible study, I know that I will find a church that is spiritually immature as a group. If less than half of their elected leaders are in Bible study, I anticipate that their leaders will demonstrate sinful responses to conflict. The result? When major disagreements arise, many fight with power plays, name-calling, polarizing, attacking, and running away. Gossip will be a major force undermining the health and witness of the church. On the other hand, churches who have more than 20% of their average worship in Bible study, and especially those that have more than 75% of their leadership in Bible study, will respond more quickly to reconciliation consultation. There will still be some sinful responses to conflict, but as a whole, they will exhibit more spiritual health than weakness. them eleven questions to assess what makes their church healthy. You can ask yourselves the same questions about your church. Compare your answers to those from healthy churches in Chapter 2 of Built on the Rock for your own assessment. Then, discuss what you observed with other leaders of your church. Is spiritual illness curable? Great news spiritual illness caused by biblical illiteracy is curable! Healing begins with repenting of idolatry and neglect of God s Word (1 John 1:9). Getting people involved in the Bible more often than just during worship provides a cure for biblical illiteracy. Through this means of grace, God s people become equipped for Christian service (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Next, people need to be encouraged and taught how to confess and forgive, empowered by Christ s forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 2:24). Emphasizing God s grace through Christ compels us to live not just for ourselves, but for Him who died and rose again (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). very unhealthy unhealthy so-so healthy very healthy The last section of the book includes practical ideas for improving spiritual wellness many from the healthy churches I have encountered over the years. This book was written to encourage church leaders to reflect on what really makes a church healthy and to challenge them to improve the spiritual health of their churches. I conducted a qualitative survey of eleven churches deemed healthy by their district presidents. I asked So, my friend, do you know of a healthy congregation? maximizing, magnifying, multiplying ministries 5

6 South Wisconsin District LCMS / Winter 2018 Building on the Rock By Rev. William Kilps, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Two Rivers The Non-Silent Majority? An Eighth Commandment Application This article is addressed primarily to members of any congregation. That is not to say that pastors are not guilty of breaking the Eighth Commandment they most certainly are, and can do great damage to the body of Christ by failing to uphold God s command for righteousness regarding their thoughts and especially in their words. But, as a pastor with 35 years of parish experience, and having served as a Circuit Counselor (as they used to be called), and also as a Synodical Reconciler since the inception of the process, I have seen (and experienced) more than my share of situations wherein the pastor has been on the receiving end of Eighth Commandment transgressions. And at the risk of being called out for violating the very same Commandment simply by asserting that such situations exist, I will venture forth with what I hope will cause both clergy and laity to rethink their relationship together as part of the body of Christ. First, a little Catechetical refresher You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest possible way. Perhaps you ve witnessed the following scene transpire: rather than picking a more private moment, one of the members of the congregation chooses to confront the pastor with a pointed question in the company of a large group of parishioners. Only it s evident that there is more behind the inquiry than simply a request for information. You can hear it in his or her tone of voice an accusation is what it is. The accuser has rehearsed what to say and when to say it. During the time prior to this, there has been no personal conversation with the pastor on this matter; there s been no attempt to explain everything in the kindest possible way. Instead, there seems to be intent on playing the game of Gotcha. And now, everyone else holds their collective breath as they pray that God will grant their pastor the wisdom to defuse the matter in a cordial, patient way. A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger, (Proverbs 15:1). Now, all by itself, the incident is damaging enough. The assailant is intent on inflicting harm upon one who is part of the body of Christ namely, of their own body forgetting how St. Paul reminds us that if one members suffers, all suffer together (1 Corinthians 12:26). But that harm is exacerbated when the rest of the members of the body leave the pastor to have to go it alone. They don t want to get mixed up in it. Quietly, 6 Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation

7 Building on the Rock South Wisconsin District LCMS / Winter 2018 they think that it s a shame that something like this should happen. And, chances are, this isn t the first time that they ve seen this particular individual in action; the congregation is quite familiar with his or her tactics. (Perhaps it s because no one has ever had the nerve to stand up to the bully. ) But in doing so, they give the impression, by their silence, that either they agree with the accusation or that they have given permission to the antagonist to continue with the assault. I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, please, don t let that happen. Speak up! You don t have to lower yourself to that other person s level and be mean-spirited in your own words. On the contrary, Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:1,2). Granted, no one likes to be dragged into a conflict. Nevertheless, too many folks simply wring their hands and shake their heads over such an unpleasant situation but they fail to say anything. You must defend your pastor and speak well of him. You must point out that the Eighth Commandment is inviolable. You must encourage Christian reconciliation in the recognition that love covers a multitude of sins yours and mine. And, coming from a fellow layperson, such admonition and encouragement could very well carry more impact than if it came from the mouth of the pastor alone, especially when the initial criticism has been directed toward the pastor. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all (Romans 12:18). But, here comes the hard part the contingency that no one wants to hear, yet, regrettably, must be acknowledged and that is, As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned (Titus 3:10,11). in celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, confirmations, and graduations. And all the while, he also attends to the responsibilities of his own family. The breadth of his vocation can be deceiving to the eye. It might appear to some that he is unassailable in the difficulties that he encounters after all, he s supposed to be a stalwart man of God. But as the apostle Paul reveals, We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us (2 Corinthians 4:7). In the fragility of his own personal struggles with sin and temptations of the devil, your pastor shouldn t have to fear the criticism or the silence, as the case may be of the flock of which he is the overseer. Pray for your pastor. Remember him with an unsolicited note of encouragement. Surprise him with some token of appreciation. Above all, show forgiveness and patience when his sinful nature is on display. But, please, please, also vocally defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest possible way, never assuming that someone else will take up that duty for you. So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:1-5). Your pastor deals with a mind-boggling variety of concerns in his ministry. He sits at the bedside of those who are dying. He visits the sick in the hospital. He joyfully administers the Sacrament of Baptism to the newborn. He joins members of the congregation maximizing, magnifying, multiplying ministries 7

8 South Wisconsin District LCMS / Winter 2018 Building on the Rock By Rev. Jonah P. Burakowski, SWD Missions & Human Care Executive Meet your new Mission Executive! Greetings! A lot has transpired in the last four months and I have been overwhelmed by the care, concern and support of the many people I have met. Traveling around Wisconsin I am struck by how different, yet similar, everyone is. Rural, urban, suburban, inner-city, small town different needs, different settings, different approaches. Yet, our faith in Jesus Christ is what unifies all of us. With Jesus firmly ensconced at the center of our lives, we are unified as heirs in holy baptism, belonging to Him and then to each other. At the core of who we are is this truth that connects all our differences into a faith that isn t about self-promotion; but glorifying our Father in Heaven as we live the faith we have been given. As I begin this new opportunity for service in the Lord s Church, I thought I would have to refocus my efforts. I thought that moving from the role of a servant in a single parish to a servant of many parishes would require me to approach it all from a different angle or try to reimagine how to do it. Overwhelmed at first, I peeled back all the layers and found that it isn t too different from what I was doing before. I have the privilege of preaching Christ and Him crucified for the sins of mankind. I get to teach from the very Word of God in Bible studies. I am given the chance to share the grace and mercy of our heavenly Father to children in chapel services. I am afforded ample opportunity to encourage others to see their neighborhood as an unlimited mission field. I get to forge partnerships, create relationships, grow ideas and help build church leaders. Now I get to do it as a partner supporting you! How do I get to do it? Well, that is going to take some planning, lots of help from many different people, and by the grace of God, we will boldly confess Christ to the next generation. Working together it is our time: To be distinctly Lutheran To plant new congregations To honor our Christ-centered vocation To embrace our communities Rev. Jonah Burakowski with his daughters Kaijala, Olivia and Theresa, and his wife, Elizabeth. We must start somewhere, and over the next year the office of Mission and Human Care will work to support you in boldly confessing Christ in a variety of ways. Below you will find a few of the ways that we can partner with you: Everyone His Witness Workshops Utilizing this training module, individual parish and circuit wide 1-day workshops will be offered. These will focus on real-world context in which Lutherans find themselves as witnesses of Jesus Christ. It will put sound doctrine into practical action for sharing faith with the people whom God has placed congregations alongside as His witnesses in their everyday lives. re:vitality workshops In the language of 1 Cor. 3:5-9, revitalization is centered on planting and watering in anticipation of God providing the growth. re:vitality is a full-scale, 3 module program that addresses revitalization by providing congregations with resources to improve their ability to invite, welcome and receive people from outside the congregation. The South Wisconsin District will have 3 trainers and 3 coaches trained to conduct the workshops around the district. Three new church starts Discussions have begun regionally (West-central, Central and South-central regions of the State) to lay foundations and begin planning for three new churches. I will work closely with the congregations involved and Rev. Schave, from the Synod, will provide ongoing coaching and support for the three sites. This process will likely take 18 months 8 Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation

9 Building on the Rock South Wisconsin District LCMS / Winter 2018 to move from paper to reality, so your prayers are appreciated. Short term high school mission trip to the Dominican Republic (tentative Summer 2018) To encourage future church workers and/or missionminded individuals, a mission trip for ten 9-12 grade students will be offered. This first come-first serve trip will be intended for youth who may not otherwise have an opportunity to go on a mission trip with their congregation. Mercy mission trips to Texas Five subsidized trips (3 have gone so far) to Port Arthur, Texas, are scheduled, and we will be planning future trips. Strategic planning workshops using Holy Conversations, A Biblical Approach to Strategic Planning by Gil Rendle and Alice Mann (Alban Institute press) Workshops will be available to individual leadership teams at local parishes on a biblical process of planning for the future. A subsidy for the book will be offered and ongoing coaching will be made available to groups that participate. Chaplain conference Our district will offer a chaplain conference for our volunteer chaplains who serve at hospitals, nursing homes, police departments, fire departments, benevolent organizations or county jails. This will establish an annual opportunity for ongoing training and best practice sharing. Pre-seminary training module development and implementation We are in the early stages of developing a training and leadership initiative for those who wish to enroll in one of the alternate route ordination programs at our seminaries. With the help of Rev. Dr. Mudge, CUW, we will develop a structured plan to provide prospective students with a foundational understanding of Systematic Theology, biblical literacy and Historical Theology prior to seminary enrollment. SOS Center The board of the SOS center has agreed to do some significant strategic planning to restructure operationally. This will include facility upgrades, programmatic assessment and outreach training to increase the center's ability to conduct mercy work while continuing to be distinctly Lutheran in their practice. This process will begin in January and will end in a plan for partnerships, district support and long-range goals for reaching out with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Local congregations will be invited to partner in each of these steps with the end goal of creating a center that has a significant presence in Milwaukee. Our Lord is powerful and His Word works in ways that we cannot comprehend. If we are silent or limit that Word, how will they hear? There are more opportunities for partnership so give us a call at and I am confident we can point you in the right direction. I look forward to serving you while serving Him Rev. Jonah P. Burakowski Born: Southfield, Michigan Spouse: Elizabeth Burakowski Children: Theresa, Kaijala, and Olivia Lives: Hartford, Wisconsin Church: Divine Savior Lutheran Church, Hartford, Wis. Education: Central Michigan University, BS Family Science Emporia State University, MS Higher Education Administration and Counseling Education Concordia Seminary St. Louis, MDiv Vicarage: Church Plant Start Christ Lutheran Church, Ruther Glen, Va. (Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, Va.) Previous Parishes: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Marshall, Minn. St. John Lutheran Church and School, Beloit, Wis. Living Hope Lutheran Church and Child Development Center, Stafford, Va. After having been approximately 18 months vacant, our office of Mission Executive was filled by Rev. Burakowski who was called in June 2017 to serve the South Wisconsin District. Arriving in August and starting in September, He has worked to learn a new position while continuing our rich history and tradition of active mission and human care. We welcome Jonah and his family to Wisconsin and look forward to his service to the Lord and the South Wisconsin District. maximizing, magnifying, multiplying ministries 9

10 South Wisconsin District LCMS / Winter 2018 Building on the Rock By Dr. Chris Cody, SWD Schools, Youth and Family Executive Everyone needs a! Everyone needs a hero. And yet, the older we get the more we realize that heroes aren t supernatural. The best hero stories are those of ordinary people doing extra-ordinary things. Scripture is filled with accounts like these. David, Esther, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These accounts aren t random. They aren t disconnected. They are part of a single narrative in which every hero points beyond itself to one who is greater, one who is better, one who is true. Over 250 high school youth and youth leaders attended the 2017 State Youth Gathering and learned about the greatest, better, truest hero of all Jesus. Jesus, our hero Who comes to save. The State Youth Gathering was held November 3-5, 2017 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. This was a joint gathering of youth from the North and South Wisconsin Districts. Highlights from the weekend included three mass events led by speakers from the National Youth Gathering, sectional breakouts, a waterpark lock-in, and most important, a gathering for worship on Saturday evening. On Saturday evening, participants gathered for worship at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Dells. The sanctuary was full with only a few seats to spare. The Rev. Matthew Gehrke presided over the service which included the Lord s Supper. The service concluded in candlelight as the worshipers joined in the hymn Abide with Me. Major events like these are not possible without the partnership of organizations who generously support our youth. A special thank you is in order for the sponsors of this event: Luther Sponsors CUW/AA, LCMS National Youth Ministry Solas Sponsor Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee Reformation Sponsors LCEF South Wisconsin District, LCEF North Wisconsin District, Concordia University - St. Paul. Over 250 high school youth and youth leaders ejoyed the 2017 State Youth Gathering, November 2-5, at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Jesus is their Hero Who comes to save! 10 Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation

11 Building on the Rock South Wisconsin District LCMS / Winter National Distinguished Principal award goes to Principal Yurk Mr. Michael Yurk, principal of St. Paul, Grafton Lutheran School in Grafton, was selected as a 2017 National Distinguished Principal. The National Association of Elementary School Principals established the program in 1984 to recognize and celebrate elementary and middle-level principals who set high standards for instruction, student achievement, character, and climate for the students, families and staffs in their learning communities. Mr. Yurk was nominated and selected by his fellow principals through a nationwide search process conducted by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), said Mr. Terry Schmidt, Director of Schools for the LCMS. A graduate of Concordia University Wisconsin, Mr. Yurk previously held the position of Assistant Principal, Dean of Students and Athletic Director at Luther High School North in Chicago, Ill. He has served as Principal of St. Paul Lutheran School since In October, Mr. Yurk and his wife traveled to Washington, D.C. for two days of activities planned to honor and bring well-deserved recognition to the elementary and middle-level educators chosen by the states, the District of Columbia, private and overseas schools. Criteria for selection of the principals require that the honorees are active principals of schools where programs Thanksgiving 2017 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry? Isaiah 58: 6-7a For the past seven years, South Wisconsin District congregations have made generous financial donations to help fund Thanksgiving baskets. This year 982 baskets were prepared and packed at Brookfield Lutheran Church. Most of them were delivered to Lutheran food pantries in the Milwaukee central city. A Place of Refuge, POBLO, and Christ for All Nations Hispanic Ministry also received baskets to support the people they serve. are designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students and where there are firmly established community ties with parents and local business organizations. During Mr. Yurk s tenure at St. Paul Lutheran School, St. Paul has been honored with National Lutheran School Exemplary Status. Mr. Yurk was named the South Wisconsin District Administrator of the Year and was a finalist for the Herb Kohl Excellence in Education Leadership Award in Mr. Yurk currently serves as member of the Board of Directors for Lutheran Educators Association (LEA). Since its inception, the LCMS School Ministry has served as a Lutheran School professional education association and now represents 2080 elementary school principals throughout the nation. The LCMS maintains close ties with the metropolitan Washington, D.C.-based National Association of Elementary School Principals and its 20,000 members worldwide. Dawn Sinur, Communications, St. Paul, Grafton Brookfield Lutheran appreciates the financial support received from congregations in our District. We thank Rev. Jonah Burakowski and the District staff for making this collaborative effort possible. To God be the glory great things He has done. Duane Tweeten, Brookfield Lutheran Church maximizing, magnifying, multiplying ministries 11

12 South Wisconsin District LCMS / Winter 2018 District News 2018 South Wisconsin District Convention On June 10, 11 & 12, 2018, the 55th triennial convention of the South Wisconsin District LCMS will be held at the Concordia University Wisconsin campus in Mequon under the theme Sing His praise, His love declare. As God Himself tells us in 1 Peter 2:9-10, But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. All the information necessary to participate fully as a congregation or as an individual in the upcoming district convention can be found on our website, swd.lcms. org/2018-south-wisconsin-district-convention. Please note that these convention materials will only be posted online and not mailed. However, hard copies of these materials will be mailed upon request. Call the SWD office at to do so. Deadlines to keep in mind: January 30, Recommendations for all offices other than President and Vice-President. March 2, Nominations for President and Vice-President must be received at the SWD office. SLHS Students for Hurricane Relief In September, the students of Sheboygan Lutheran High School participated in a Jeans Day for Hurricane Harvey Relief for Lutheran South Academy in Houston, Texas. Students were able to wear jeans to school (otherwise not a part of the dress code) for a day by donating $5 to the cause. Donations were also received from parents and friends of SLHS who saw the effort posted on their Facebook page. Together they raised $1,700.00! Lutheran South Academy sent SLHS a very nice thank you letter saying, Great things are accomplished when God s people work together with a shared vision. We are blessed to have your support! Thank you friends! A second Jeans Day in late October helped residents in Puerto Rico who lost most everything to Hurricane Maria just weeks later. One SLHS student, David Blas, has a grandmother on the island who was left with only one change of clothing. His father, Vicar David Blas, who is leading our LCMS Sheboygan County Hispanic Ministry, is from Puerto Rico and received the free-will offering to help his mother recover. WFLAG Announces Annual Meeting The Wisconsin Federation of Lutheran Altar Guilds (WFLAG) will hold their annual meeting on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Appleton Wis. All LCMS Altar Guilds and pastors are invited to attend a day of worship, fellowship, and sharing. Our day begins at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast and tour of the host church, which includes the areas of altar, preparation, storage and banners a wonderful experience, enabling us to learn how other guilds function and prepare their altars. Then a worship service with Holy Communion will be celebrated. A short business meeting precedes lunch. The featured presentation begins the afternoon. This year The Message Behind the Image will provide a history of worship symbols. Finally, our pastoral advisor, Rev. Thomas Schmitt from St. John, Glendale, will conduct a question and answer period which allows any questions members may have to be addressed, plus a sharing of procedures and products. The day concludes at 3:00 p.m.. WFLAG is sustained with annual dues of $ Mark your calendar for April 21, 2018, and join us for a better biblical understanding of service in the Altar Guild. Check our website for the latest information. Gail Siewert, Beautiful Savior, Milwaukee 12 Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation

13 District News South Wisconsin District LCMS / Winter 2018 Good Shepherd, Oshkosh, celebrates Reformation Pastors who participated in the special service are L to R: (front row) B. Beardsley-Immanuel, Auroraville & Trinity, Borth; M. Meier-Emmaus, Poy Sippi; L. Sheppard-St. John, Oxford & Trinity, Packwaukee; K. Belter-Redeemer, Salt Lake City, Utah; K. Leary-Trinity, Oshkosh; S. Billings-Trinity, Menasha; (middle row) G. Koepsell-Good Shepherd, Oshkosh; D. Thews-Faith Appleton (NWD); M. Wilkins-Hope, Fond du Lac; M. Ahlborn-Appleton; R. Meier-Oshkosh; (back row) A. Bramstad-Divine Savior, North Fond du Lac; R. Erdman-St. James & St. Paul, Necedah; R. Bartholomew-Grace, Omro; and R. Schroeder-Peace, Neenah. October 29 th was a great celebration day in Oshkosh. The morning began by welcoming ten new adult members as well as an infant baptism in the 9:00 a.m. church service. What a wonderful way to start off a day long celebration of the 500 th Anniversary of the Reformation. And the excitement didn't stop there. A lunch was served at the Algoma Town Hall (brats of course), and games for both children and adults were enjoyed outside. A Thrivent Action Team Project was organized to collect non-perishable food items for area pantries and also to help support the cost of the lunch. Circuit congregations were invited; about 200 enjoyed the afternoon activities. The celebration continued back at Good Shepherd at a 3 p.m. service. The church filled with over 300 worshipers for the 500 th Reformation Anniversary service. Many circuit and District-wide pastors attended and participated in the service. Brass instruments accompanied the congregational hymns and the 45-member joint choir from various congregations. The roof was raised high with the joyous triumphant song of voices. The offerings from this service along with the food donations were all designated to the Fox Valley Food Pantries. This was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. It's still all about Jesus! maximizing, magnifying, multiplying ministries 13

14 South Wisconsin District LCMS / Winter 2018 Green paraments and stole available St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stevens Point, Wis. has a good set of green pulpit, lecturn and long altar paraments available to give to a congregation that would like them. Also included is a pastor's stole that is pictured. Sizes are: lecturn, 20" wide and 39" long; pulpit, 18 3/4" wide and 26" long; altar, 84" long, white top is 21" wide and green frontal is a 12" drop. Please call Mary Ann Bieno if you are interested at Around the District 50th Anniversary of "Voice of Immanuel" Schlicker organ for sale From 1967 until 2017 this instrument served the congregation of University Lutheran Church, West Lafayette, IN. That congregation is moving to a new building and the organ has now been temporarily relocated to Sihler Auditorium on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., where it may be inspected by interested parties on appointment. Inquiries may be directed to Keith Williams at Winter clothing donations Every year at this time, the need for warm clothing becomes a critical need in our urban communities. Please consider giving your unused winter coats, jackets, and clothing to your brothers and sisters in need. Our urban pastors will distribute these items, along with the message of God's saving grace and the Christian love that is shared by you! You may bring your items to the South Wisconsin District office, 8100 W. Capitol Dr., Milwaukee, weekdays between 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Please call first, From left to right, Tim Reinemann, Dave Roediger, Scott Rundhagen, Martha Bartz, Brian Nygaard and Brent Halverson. On Dec. 3, 2017, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sheboygan celebrated 50 years of broadcasting "The Voice of Immanuel." The radio program first aired on December 3, 1967 on Sheboygan radio station WKTS. Rev. Herbert Stelter was the speaker and Rev. Gary Heidi was the liturgist. Portions of the liturgy were spoken or sung by Immanuel's A Cappella Choir. The Voice of Immanuel serves a two-fold purpose: it gives shut-ins an opportunity to hear a worship service; and it is a opportunity to share the Gospel message with people all over the world. The program is financed by Immanuel and outside donations which are greatly appreciated. The members of Immanuel give thanks for all those who have helped this mission keep on going over the years. The "Voice of Immanuel" can be heard every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on radio station WJUB 1420 AM, or Immanuel's website, Rev. Nieman, ordained and installed On Sunday, June 25, David Nieman was ordained and installed at St. John's Lutheran, West Bend, Wis Men's Retreat " Grace Is Greater" is the theme for the February 9-11 Men's Retreat that will be held at the Holiday Inn in Manitowoc. Come and learn what God's grace can do for your spiritual life. The deadline for registering is January 16. Call Jim Berg as soon as possible if you are interested in registering at Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation L to R (Front row): Rev. Jeff Dorth, Rev. David Nieman, Rev. Tyler Poppen, District Vice President Rev. Robert Zick. (Back row) Rev. Cal Seban, Rev. Chris Bruskiewicz, Rev. Ron Oldenettel, Rev. Dave Kellerman and Rev. Jeff Hesse.

15 Invest In The Church s Future 3.000% * ConnectPLUS StewardAccount 1.000% * Based upon a balance of $500 to $5,000 ConnectPLUS introduces new LCEF investors to the reward of supporting LCMS ministries without sacrificing competitive rates. Open to new investors 18 and older who have not had an LCEF investment in the past 24 months. One account per investor. Family Emergency The Family Emergency StewardAccount is designed to prepare you for those moments when you need funds outside of your monthly budget. Your investment builds over time and you can access your funds easily when you need them most. Based on a minimum balance of $ % * 2 years 2.500% * 4 years Based on a balance of $500 to $25,000 PartnerPLUS Empower Rostered Church Workers and ministries to continue their Kingdombuilding work by investing in LCEF s PartnerPLUS term note. Open to investors 18 and older only. One account per investor. Transfers from other LCEF investments are not accepted. Y.I. Club The Young Investors (Y.I.) Club makes saving money fun while teaching children to give thanks for God s blessings. Through newsletters, activities and the online Y.I. Activity Center, your child learns the value of saving, spending and sharing money while supporting ministries % * Based on a balance of $25 to $1,000 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (CT) lcef.org Diana Raasch District Vice President South Wisconsin District Diana.Raasch@lcef.org * Balance restrictions apply. Rates subject to change. Visit lcef.org for details. LCEF is a nonprofit religious organization; therefore, LCEF investments are not FDIC-insured bank deposit accounts. This is not an offer to sell investments, nor a solicitation to buy. LCEF will offer and sell its securities only in states where authorized. The offer is made solely by LCEF s Offering Circular. Investors should carefully read the Offering Circular, which more fully describes associated risks. ConnectPLUS is not available to investors in Ohio or Pennsylvania. StewardAccount access features are offered through UMB Bank n.a. The StewardAccount is not available to investors in South Carolina. The Family Emergency StewardAccount is known as the Family StewardAccount in Ohio.

16 SOUTH WISCONSIN DISTRICT LCMS 8100 W CAPITOL DRIVE MILWAUKEE, WI Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID Milwaukee, WI Permit No Celebrating... Send us names of people who will observe a noteworthy April, May or June birthday (90, 95, 100 or over 100) or wedding anniversary (50, 55, 60, 65 or over 65). Deadline is March 1, them to editor@swd.lcms.org, or mail to Passionate Believers, 8100 W. Capitol Dr., Milwaukee, WI Birthdays January 15 Rita Degen, 90, St. John, Plymouth 22 Marvin Feldmann, 95, St. John, Plymouth 27 Phyllis Kurth, 95, Elm Grove Luth., Elm Grove 30 Adela Hueppchen, 100, St. John, Plymouth 31 Peggy Griem, 90, Zion, New Holstein February 1 Doris Tischer, 100, Beautiful Savior, Milwaukee 3 Violet Foley, 102, St. John, Plymouth Wedding Anniversaries January 4 Jerry & Joann Rowland, 60, Our Redeemer, Delavan 4 Leonard & Darlene Hahn, 50, Our Redeemer, Delevan 19 Allen & Vivian Schaetz, 55, St. John's, West Bend 25 Erwin & Deanna Wergin, 60, St. John's, West Bend 26 James & Ruth Stecker, 66, Zion, New Holstein 5 Elvira Ehlenbeck, 90, St. John, Plymouth 6 Celeste Hoffman, 95, Shepherd of the Hills, Onalaska 10 Alva Heup, 103, Covenant, Milwaukee March 11 Pearl Zimmerman, 90, St. John's, West Bend 15 Donald Denman, 95, St. Stephen, Horicon 19 Marge Abresch, 95, Elm Grove Luth., Elm Grove 24 Wilhelm Hauer, 95, Our Redeemer, Delavan February 16 Calvin & Judy Held, 55, St. John's, West Bend 16 Don & Barb Leininger, 55, St. John's, West Bend 22 Chuck & Hazel Ewert, 60, Elm Grove Luth., Elm Grove March 7 Fred & Mary Yahr, 65, St. John's, West Bend Upcoming events... January 21 Teacher of the Year Dinner National Lutheran Schools Week 27 Passionate Believers Conf., Divine Redeemer, Hartland February 9 WCRIS Administrators' Conference, Country Inn and Springs, Pewaukee March Lutheran School Leadership Conference, Orlando, FL April Pastors Spring Conference, Holiday Inn-Manitowoc TBD Lutheran Schools Night at Miller Park May 4-5 Pastors' Wives Retreat, Comfort Suites-Johnson Creek 9 Spring Retreat for 55 & Up June SWD District Convention, CUW LWML-SWD Convention, Marriott West-Waukesha