Star. Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran Disaster Response put faith in action

Transcription

1 Star Northeastern Iowa Evangelical January 2014 Volume 27, Issue 1 Lutheran Church in America Strengthened for Witness and Service Grassroots support drives Lutheran relief programs Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran Disaster Response put faith in action by Marcia Hahn Pastor Daniel Lee, vice president, External Relations for Lutheran World Relief (LWR), has a message for the congregations of the Northeastern Iowa Synod: Stop being so humble so we can thank you. In the past two years, 155 congregations from the Northeastern Iowa Synod have given some $350,000 in financial gifts to LWR, along with quilts, school kits, personal care kits, and more to improve the lives of those living in poverty around the world. Best known for its quilt and kits ministry, LWR distributed nearly 452,000 quilts, 261,000 school kits, and 151,000 personal care kits around the world in 2013 alone. Most of the quilts and personal care kits go to people living in long-term displacement, such as the 140,000 Burmese refugees in Thailand where 70,000 quilts from LWR were given away just last year. Lee says that these gifts bring a deep connection to the human community by helping people stay warm and clean. It shows a physical side of God s love, he explained. These gifts are made by hands and given to the hands of a woman in Syria or Afghanistan. It warms her and lifts her spirit. The grassroots efforts of local congregations make these gifts possible, and Lee wants to make sure that those who make the quilts and kits and coordinate their delivery to the LWR warehouses are recognized and properly thanked. He says that items often show up at the warehouses located in St. Paul, Minn., and New Windsor, Md. without the names of the congregations that >> Continued on page 2 In This Issue A pregnant woman from Peru shows the baby care kit she received through Lutheran World Relief. (Reprinted with permission from Lutheran World Relief) Grassroots support drives Lutheran relief programs Blessed Epiphany Teach children about stewardship 8 9 Congregations 10 Prayer Calendar What is a Tweetchat?

2 Grassroots support drives Lutheran relief programs << Continued from page 1 made and contributed the quilts. We want to know how many quilts were made, how long the group has been doing this, and who is coordinating the project, Lee said. If that leader leaves the congregation, we ve lost the connection to that quilting group. A new quilt and kit tracker on the LWR website (lwr.org/tracker) can help LWR track who their donors are and help the donors track where and when their gifts are being delivered. The online tracker provides each congregation with a donor ID number, which groups can use to print barcode labels and attach to the boxes of quilts and kits being donated. At the warehouse, the barcodes are scanned and information entered for donors and congregations to track online. The process from arrival at the warehouse to delivery can take from two to six months. Once distribution is complete, partners at the destination submit impact reports, usually with stories and photographs about how the gifts are being used. Lee recalls one story about how LWR gifts impacted an orphanage in Mali. The orphanage was started by a woman to help street children. She had 160 kids staying there with few resources, so she had to make everything go as far as possible. Three children could sleep under one blanket at night, two when older. Three could share a towel, and two could share a washcloth and toothbrush. The woman told Lee that all of that has changed because of LWR. Now, each child has a quilt to sleep under and a towel, bar of soap, washcloth, and toothbrush. It seems like such simple things to you, but to these children, these are the hand of God, she said. Lee added, We reach a million people a year through the quilt and kit ministry, and we have stories like that from all over the world. When Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in November, LWR already had nine people there and was able to respond the next day. The ELCA donated $1 million through LDR to help start relief efforts, such as repairs of homes and water filtration systems. Cash gifts helped put displaced residents to work with an opportunity to There are great needs in the world always more need than we can fill. earn small amounts of money so they could buy water and food and jump start their economy. Along with these initial relief components, LWR will also send four shipping containers carrying enough quilts, school kits, personal care kits and baby care kits to help 26,000 people with long-term recovery. With 100 local partners and a presence in 19 countries, LWR works to improve harvests, health and education in some 35 countries each year. LWR partners train local women and men to produce local foods, dig low-cost wells, and protect and restore their local environments so they can be more resilient when the next disaster strikes. There are great needs in the world always more need than we can fill, Lee said. It is an act of faith every year that gifts show up, and they do. I want to reiterate our extreme thanks to the congregations and the ways they put their faith in action to support this ministry. Lutheran Disaster Response focuses on long-term recovery Long after the media and other groups have moved on, Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) remains in communities around the world to help rebuild after a disaster. Pastor Michael Stadie and volunteers from Lutheran Disaster Response-U.S. recently concluded their primary work in Minot, N.D., some two and a half years after floods devastated that community. While some home rebuilding work continues, and will for many years to come, LDR has turned over its leadership role. Our primary work is long-term recovery, said Stadie, program director for Lutheran Disaster Response- U.S. We come into a community when we are asked. When the local needs are greater than what the community can handle, they ask us, through our local affiliate, for assistance. Recovery and rebuilding efforts following floods normally take two to three years, and a year and a half for an area impacted by a tornado. LDR staff and volunteers are still working on the East Coast coordinating clean up and rebuilding ef- >> Continued on page 3 2 Northeastern Iowa Synod

3 Bishop Blessed Epiphany She stood in front of the group of legislators and college administrators in her nursing student white clothes. I was a ward of the state until I was 16. I was emancipated and got married. At 28 my husband decided to divorce me and I got laid off from work all in the same year. I knew that I needed to go to school in order to get a job that would support my family and me. Epiphany light, Epiphany manifestations come in many ways. Through Allen College, I received financial aid that made college possible for me. Part of the aid package was the Iowa Tuition Grant. I am doing well with my grade point average and plan to continue on to earn my master s degree. I may even continue to work on a doctorate. This was all made possible by people like those in this room. Without you, I would not have had this opportunity. Thank you. Epiphany light comes in many ways. Christ is revealed to the Magi and at the wedding at Cana and in the faithful work of legislators and college administrators who bring light into the darkness of despair. Martin Luther s emphasis on vocation transformed the church s understanding of what it means to be called by God. Vocations had meant work within the church s structure. For Luther, and for us, vocations are the daily callings of all of the baptized. Legislators who create opportunities for those without much hope, and administrators who judiciously offer those opportunities are fulfilling their God-given callings. This is not simply politics and paperwork. These are baptismal vocations. This is true for you, as well. When confirmation classes visit our office to hear about the ministry of our synod, I begin by talking with them about the variety of vocations that God calls people to throughout the world. It is true that the waiter or waitress provides excellent service in order to keep the boss happy and to get a nice tip. That person also provides the finest care possible because God has called him or her to be a servant to others. Teachers teach and farmers feed the world because God has called them to those vocations. In retirement, those vocations become volunteer opportunities, yet also a new calling. Residents in care centers receive a call to encourage and support others and those who care for them daily. All of these callings create Epiphanies for others to see the love and grace of Jesus Christ. That is why they are so holy and such a joy. Blessed Epiphany! Steven L. Ullestad Bishop, Northeastern Iowa Synod Grassroots support drives Lutheran relief programs << Continued from page 2 forts in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy, which hit in In Maryland, more than 130 volunteers have worked with Diakon Social Ministries to serve 81 households, rehab 52 homes, and help construct eight homes. LDR has partnered with Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey to help families with hurricane-related expenses not covered by FEMA or insurance. Working with Lutheran Social Services of New York, LDR is providing case management to assist more than 260 families with their unmet needs. We will be working in those areas for at least four or five more years, Stadie said. Disaster case managers from LDR are also assisting individual families affected by this year s floods and fires in Colorado. Other LDR january 2014 volunteers are helping families affected by Hurricane Isaac along the Gulf Coast. Isaac hit a month before Hurricane Sandy in places previously hit by Katrina, Stadie said. Those families were affected twice. People forget about that. Volunteer groups come from all over the country to help, usually for a week, and local churches provide >> Continued on page 6 3

4 Make a date to fight hunger Feb. 15, 2014 St. Paul s, Waverly 2-8 p.m. Congregation members of all ages are invited to put on their dancing shoes and help fight hunger at the synodsponsored Stomp Out Hunger dance Saturday, Feb. 15. The event will be from 2 to 8 p.m. at St. Paul s Lutheran, Waverly, with a live performance by Christian rap artist Agape. Congregations are encouraged to form dance teams and raise money leading up to the event. All donations will go to ELCA World Hunger. This dance is sponsored by the Northeastern Iowa Synod Hunger Network and Lutheran Youth Organization Board. Registration forms and more information will be available on the synod website the week of Jan. 6. Safeguarding God s Children Three sessions of the Safeguarding God s Children training program are scheduled in the next few months. The training provides information to help church staff and volunteers learn how to protect the children they know and care for in their personal lives and in their church ministries. Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014 St. Peter, Denver, 2-5 p.m. Call to register. Sunday, March 16, 2014 Trinity, New Hampton, Iowa, 2-5 p.m. Call to register. Sunday, March 30, 2014 Zion St. John, Sheffield, Iowa, 2-5 p.m. Call to register IRS Mileage Rates The Internal Revenue Service has issued the 2014 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2014, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be: 56 cents per mile for business miles driven 23.5 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations The business, medical, and moving expense rates decrease one-half cent from the 2013 rates. The charitable rate is based on statute. The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs. Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates. To learn more, visit Northeastern Iowa Synod Bishop Rev. Dr. Steven L. Ullestad ullestads@neiasynod.org Assistants to the Bishop Rev. Mark A. Anderson andersonm@neiasynod.org Rev. Darrel W. Gerrietts gerriettsd@neiasynod.org Linda J. Hudgins hudginsl@neiasynod.org ELCA Director for Evangelical Mission Rev. Joelle Colville-Hanson colville-hansonj@neiasynod.org Star Editor Marcia Hahn hahnm@neiasynod.org The Star is published 11 times a year by the Northeastern Iowa Synod, th Street SW, PO Box 804, Waverly, IA ; phone , FAX Send news for the February issue to Marcia Hahn by Jan. 13. We welcome story ideas related to the 2014 theme, Strengthened for Witness and Service. Articles in this newsletter may be duplicated for use in synod congregations and organizations, with credit to the Star newsletter. Please notify the synod office with name and address changes. To receive an electronic version of the Star, rather than paper, send your request to hahnm@neiasynod.org. 4 Northeastern Iowa Synod

5 LYO Leadership Games Saturday, Jan. 18 Zion Lutheran, Waterloo 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Registration forms are available online to sign up for the LYO Leadership Games set for Saturday, Jan. 18, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Zion Lutheran, Waterloo. Pastors and youth leaders are invited to bring two high school youth from their congregations to develop their leadership skills and to inspire them to become better leaders in their congregations. The agenda will include opening devotions, a catered lunch, short workshops led by the LYO Leadership Team, a separate time for adults with Pastor Mark Anderson and Deb Bachman, and a wrap-up time for adults and youth to talk about what they have learned. The registration fee is $25, with $20 refunded upon arrival. The other $5 will be given to the Young Adults in Global Mission program. Download the registration for at youth. Tri-State Forum Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014 Vibrant Small Churches in the Post-Modern Age In an age when the institutional church is losing credibility in the public sphere, and when more than half of all congregations in the U.S. have fewer than 100 people in worship on an average Sunday, how can small-membership congregations continue to live the Gospel vibrantly, passionately and sustainably? The Rev. Elizabeth Dilley, a minister at the United Church of Christ national office, will lead a day-long exploration of the ways that small congregations contribute meaningfully to the building up of the Body of Christ. The cost to attend this Tri-State Forum s lectures is $65. Continuing education units are available. To register or for more information, call , lifelonglearners@wartburgseminary. edu, or visit Pastor Bolz-Weber to speak in Cedar Falls Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014 St. John Lutheran, 715 College St., Cedar Falls 6:30 p.m. Nadia Bolz-Weber will be featured at a special program at St. John Lutheran, Cedar Falls, Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 6:30 p.m. She will speak, take questions and answers, and sign copies of her book, Pastrix. Bolz-Weber is the founding pastor of House for All Sinners and Saints, an ELCA mission church in Denver, Colo. She is author of Salvation on the Small Screen? 24 Hours of Christian Television (Seabury 2008) The New York Times bestselling memoir, Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint, and the Sarcastic Lutheran blog. Bolz-Weber was also a keynote speaker at the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. The event is co-sponsored by St. John and the Lutheran Student Center at Cedar Falls and supported by a grant from the Northeastern Iowa Synod. Groups will be seated by 6 p.m. A $10 donation at the door will support the ELCA Malaria Campaign. january

6 Grassroots support drives Lutheran relief programs << Continued from page 3 a place to stay. Groups wanting to do mission trips should contact local Lutheran disaster affiliates in the affected area. Local LDR coordinators work with local agencies to assign people to tasks that match their skills. Volunteer opportunities are also posted on the LDR website. Outside the United States, Lutheran Disaster Response-International works with a global network of organizations and companion churches to respond to disasters, share resources, empower local communities in their own recovery, and reduce risks with future disasters. In 2013, LDR-International, through Global Mission, sent about $5 million for 23 emergency appeals in 20 countries. LDR works through its membership in the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to set up emergency hubs in vulnerable areas across the globe so that crucial resources will be close at hand when disaster strikes. LDR is providing relief supplies, protection and psychosocial support to vulnerable communities in CAR through both the LWF and the Lutheran Church of the Central Africa Republic. With the Churchwide offices in Chicago and a staff of three fulltime equivalents, Stadie says that the real work of LDR is done out in the field. We want to see first-hand what people are doing to help with the Immediately after Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, LDR committed $1 million to LWR to assist with recovery. LDR has contributed more than $1 million to help support the 2.5 million people affected by the violent conflict in Syria, particularly mothers and children and those in the Za atri refugee camp. In Angola and Namibia, where prolonged dry spells have led to a food and water crisis, LDR is working with companion synods and the LWF to provide grant money for basic food assistance and programs to reduce future disaster risks. In India, LDR is working with Lutheran World Service India Trust to provide emergency food, shelter and agricultural materials to those affected by the cyclone that hit the country s eastern coast. Lutheran Disaster Response volunteers are still cleaning up and rebuilding in Maryland, New Jersey and New York in response to Hurricane Sandy. Lutheran Disaster Response has also played an active role in responding to disasters caused by internal conflict. In October 2013, Vitaly Vorona, program director for Lutheran Disaster Response-International, was in Central African Republic (CAR) where he witnessed a catastrophic and forgotten humanitarian crisis, in which about one million people have been newly displaced due to violence. Vorona said that an unstable political and security situation has caused religious tensions between Christians and Muslims there, which will likely increase. It is difficult to begin a disaster response program in an unsafe location and in an atmosphere of increasing vulnerability and religious tensions, Vorona said. recovery efforts, he said. Without volunteers, most of these disaster areas could not be rebuilt. It is important for us to see how the recovery process is going and to provide support and encouragement to people working in those areas. 6 Northeastern Iowa Synod

7 STEWARDSHIP Teach children about stewardship by Alison Northrop, Director of Youth and Family Ministries Zion, Sheffield When you hear the word stewardship, what goes through your head? Better yet, what goes through the minds of your children when they hear the word stewardship? Do they know what it means? Stewardship starts at home. Everything we have, our time, talents and treasures, come from God. One way we should honor Him is by sharing our gifts with others. Kids may not always listen, but they see everything you do. We need to let others see us being joyful and generous with our God-given gifts. So where do we start? Read the Bible together! Give regularly (I Corinthians 16:2) secretly (Matthew 6:1-2) sacrificially (Luke 21:1-4) based on your earnings (I Corinthians 16:2) purposefully (II Corinthians 9:7) cheerfully (II Corinthians 9:7) with God s priorities in mind (Matthew 6:19-21) We need to let others see us being joyful and generous with our God-given gifts. generously (Luke 6:38, II Corinthians 9:6) One simple and effective hands-on approach to teaching kids about financial giving is by using three jars. Create three containers to hold money. You can use jars, cans, envelopes, coin purses, boxes anything really. Let your kids decorate and label them. Each should be labeled as follows: Jar 1: Save The save jar is to put money away for the future. Talk about saving for college and saving for rainy days. Jar 2: Give This jar is for giving to others. Give to church, community projects, or your own project that helps someone. The important thing is for this jar to be used to give back to others in ways that make a difference. Jar 3: Spend This spend jar is for buying things you want. Encourage kids to work hard and earn what they want. Also encourage thinking before you spend. Is that really what you want or need? Is this item worth it? Each time your child receives money (allowance, extra chores, gifts, etc) they divide their money into these three jars. You decide what ratio to teach. At our house we like this ratio: Save 20 percent, Give 10 percent (tithing), and Spend the rest. You will be teaching the responsibility of saving, that hard work pays off, and the joy of giving and helping others! Men s Retreat One Year to Live Feb. 7-9, 2014 Camp Ewalu, Strawberry Point Those planning to attend the One Year to Live Men s Retreat should register by Tuesday, Jan. 7, for the discounted rate of $175. The cost after that date is $190. This weekend retreat is an opportunity for men of all ages to rethink how they set their priorities. The retreat centers on small group discussions led by men who have been to previous OYTL retreats and have rediscovered their faith in Christ. Men will leave the retreat with a new mission statement for life and a plan centered on how they would live their lives if they had only one year to live. All men are invited to attend the One Year to Live Retreat at Camp Ewalu, Strawberry Point, Feb To learn more or to download a registration brochure, visit www. neiasynod.org/mens_ministry. january

8 What is a Tweetchat? by Pastor Joelle Colville-Hanson Director for Evangelical Mission, ELCA Among the many ways to use social media for communication and resource sharing is the use of a Tweetchat on Twitter. A Tweetchat is a pre-arranged chat that happens on Twitter through the use of Twitter updates (called tweets) that include a predefined #hashtag to link those tweets together in a virtual conversation. You use the #hashtag to identify tweets during the chat and to find the conversation afterwards. Tweetchats are a great way to connect with other people around the country (and even world) who share your interests, to share resources and ideas. They are also a lot of fun. Recently our own Bishop Ullestad participated in a #Bishopchat Tweetchat. Sunday, Jan. 5, at 12 noon CST, the Northeastern Iowa Synod is going to host a Tweetchat for our Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) in Hungary. #HungaryY- AGM is the hashtag. Several of the YAGMs in Hungary will be on Twitter at that time to respond to questions about their mission and ways we can support their ministry. You can participate by going on to Twitter (you do need to have a twitter account to participate) and search for #HungaryYAGM at noon on Jan 5. There are some websites and apps that make it easier to follow Tweetchats. Currently the one used YAGM Tweet Chat Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, 12 Noon Join us on Twitter for a live conversation with the Young Adults in Global Mission serving in Hungary. #HungaryYAGM most by church social media folk is Simply type in the hashtag #HungaryYAGM and you will find all the tweets under that hashtag. Tweetchat Tips: Remember you can only post 140 characters! One of the advantages is that this keeps us from getting to wordy! Whittle down what you want to ask or say to the bare essential. Let your Twitter followers know before the tweet chat that they ll be seeing a lot of messages from you. They ll appreciate the warning and won t be confused by your Twitter stream. You could even invite them to the Tweetchat if you think they may be interested in the topic. Example: For the next hour I will be joining NEIowa Synod TweetChat #HungaryYAGM with young adults in mission in Hungary. Feel free to join us! Make sure you add the Tweetchat hashtag to your tweets. If you are using Twubs, they will automatically be added. If you join in the middle of a chat, you do not need to announce or apologize that you are late. Nobody minds if you just jump in! Questions will be numbered Q1, Q2, etc. When responding to the question, include the number that you are responding to. There is a lot of conversation going on at once and it can be confusing and people might not know what you are talking about. Stay on topic! If the topic is mission in Hungary do not talk about your Christmas plans. Nobody cares. It is fine to engage in an off topic discussion with someone else, just take the hashtag out of it. If you have nothing to add but someone says something that impresses you, it is fine to retweet or favor their tweet. In fact retweets help people keep up. If you would like to practice taking part in a Tweetchat before Jan. 5 and learn more about church social media, there is a weekly Tweetchat on church social media on Tuesday evenings, 8 p.m. CST, under the hashtag #CHSOCM. Most of all have fun and we hope to see your handle on Sunday, Jan 5. Follow me on Follow the Synod on NEIowaSynodELCA Friend me on Facebook. I ll friend anyone. 8 Northeastern Iowa Synod

9 Events JANUARY EVENTS 1 Office Closed, New Year s Day Observance 2 Meeting, Interim Ministry Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m. 5 Tweet Chat, #HungaryYAGM, 12 noon 9 Meeting, Youth Ministry Network, Luther, Decorah, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 11 Meeting, LYO Leadership Team, Synod Office, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 11 Meeting, Congregation Presidents and Treasurers, Redeemer, Waverly, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 12 Event, Safeguarding God s Children, St. Peter, Denver, 2-5 p.m. 16 Conference Call, First Call Theological Education Executive Committee, 10:30-11:30 a.m. 16 Meeting, Ventures, Redeemer, Waverly 18 Meeting, Synodical Women s Organization, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 18 Event, LYO Leadership Games, Zion, Waterloo 20 Office Closed, Martin Luther King Day Observance 21 Conference Call, S.A.F.E. Team, 1:30-4:30 p.m. 22 Event, Nadia Bolz-Weber, St. John, Cedar Falls, 6:30 p.m. 25 Snow Date for Synodical Women s Organization 25 Meeting, Life-Long Learning for Lutherans, 10 a.m. 31-Feb 3 Event, ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza, St. Louis, Mo. FebruARY EVENTS 1 Conference Call, Compensation Committee, 10 a.m.-12 noon 4 Meeting, Conference D, Immanuel, Cresco, 1:30-4 p.m. 6 Meeting, Interim Ministry Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m. 6 Event, New to Synod, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 6 Meeting, Youth Ministry Network, St. John, Guttenberg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 7-8 Retreat, Candidacy Committee, American Martyrs, Cedar Falls 7-9 Men s Retreat, One Year to Live, Ewalu Camp & Retreat Center, Strawberry Point 8 Meeting, LYO Leadership Team, Synod Office, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 9 Assembly, Jubilee Conference, Immanuel, Independence, 2-4 p.m. 9 Assembly, Tree of Life Conference, Grace, Tripoli, 2-4 p.m. 11 Meeting, Assembly Planning, Wartburg College, Waverly, 4-6 p.m. 13 Event, Tri-State Forum, Wartburg Theological Seminary 15 Dance Marathon, Stomp Out Hunger, LYO & Hunger Networks, St. Paul, Waverly, 2-8 p.m. 16 Assembly, Three River Conference, St. John, Clarksville, 2 p.m. 19 Event, Shepherd of the Hills Confest, St. Paul, Postville, 6-8:30 p.m. 27 Meeting, Fall Conference Planning Committee, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Congregations INSTALLING Rev. William Nielsen, St. John, Nashua, pending CALL EXTENDED New Hampton, Trinity (staff) INTERVIEWING Clarksville, St. John, Rev. Irving Sandberg, interim Hawkeye, Trinity, Rev. David R. Nelson, interim Mason City, Our Saviour s Maynard, St. Paul, Rev. Jim Adix, interim Ossian, Stavanger Radcliffe, Our Savior, Rev. Tom Jones, interim SELF-STUDY Alta Vista, Zion and Lawler, Immanuel (Crane Creek), Rev. Vincent Fricke, interim Belmond, Trinity Calmar, Calmar and Decorah, Springfield, Rev. Phillip Olson, interim Castalia, Zion Cedar Falls, St. John (staff), Rev. Duane Miller, interim associate Decorah, Big Canoe and Highland, Rev. Kathy Wicks, interim Dubuque, Luther Manor Garner, Faith (Miller) Iowa Falls, Bethany, Rev. Kathryn Gerking & Rev. Jane Granzow, interims Lake Mills, Salem Mason City, St. James Mason City, Trinity (associate), Rev. Tom Dettmer, interim associate Stanhope, Our Savior Sumner, St. Peter (Richfield) & Waucoma, St. John (Stapleton) Tripoli, Grace & St. John (Crane Creek), Rev. Scott Duffus, interim Wellsburg, St. Paul, Rev. Burton Everist, interim West Union, Zion, Rev. Nancy Larson, interim ROSTER CHANGES Rev. Dena Stinson married Lee Gable, changed her name to Rev. Dena Gable march EVENTS 2-4 Conference, Rural Ministry, Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque 6 Meeting, Interim Ministry Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m. 6 Meeting, Youth Ministry Network, Decorah, Decorah, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 8 Meeting, LYO Leadership Team, Synod Office, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. 10 Event, Lutheran Day on The Hill, Des Moines >> Events continued on page 10 january

10 Prayer CALENDAR january 2014 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Ingham/Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp, Milford 5 Rev. Matthew L. Larson, Decorah Rev. Michael L. Sherer, Waverly 6 Rev. Ruth Ann Shriver, Allison 7 Sarah Andersen, Decorah Janet Benson, Cedar Falls 1 Rev. Gary C. Heidt-Johnson, Waterloo Rev. William Runaas, Jr., Sumner 8 Ewalu Camp & Retreat Center, Strawberry Point 2 Zion, Alta Vista 9 St. James, Allison 3 Rev. Eugene Ketterling, Waverly 10 Rev. Kathleen J. Graves, Mason City Rev. Robert C. Gremmels, Waverly 4 Lutheran Lakeside Camp Assoc., Spirit Lake 11 Immanuel (Crane Creek), Alta Vista 12 Riverside Bible Camp, Story City 13 ISU Lutheran Campus Ministry, Ames 20 UNI Lutheran Campus Ministry, Cedar Falls 27 Rev. Steven E. Winsor, Hampton 14 Rev. Luther H. Thoresen, Grundy Center 21 St. John Evangelical, Arlington 15 Camp Shalom, Davenport 16 Middle East St. Paul, Aurora 17 U of I Lutheran Campus Ministry, Iowa City 24 Grand View University, Des Moines 31 Rev. Adam T. Starrett, Roland 18 Rev. Kurt A. Hansen, Dubuque 19 Rev. Lois D. Knutson, Duluth 22 St. Olaf, Belmond 23 Rev. Nancy J. Larson, Waverly 25 St. John, Belmond 26 Trinity, Belmond 28 Christian Crusaders, Cedar Falls 29 Calmar, Calmar 30 Events << Continued from page 9 15 Meeting, Synod Council, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. 16 Event, Safeguarding God s Children, Trinity, New Hampton, 2-5 p.m. 20 Meeting, Deans and Chaplains, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 22 Meeting, Synodical Women s Organization, 9:30 a.m.-noon Assembly, Lutheran Youth Organization, Ewalu Camp & Retreat Center, Strawberry Point Retreat, First Call Theological Education, American Martyrs, Cedar Falls 30 Event, Safeguarding God s Children, Zion St. John, Sheffield, 2-5 p.m. APRIL EVENTS 3 Event, Day of Renewal, Nazareth, Cedar Falls, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. 3 Meeting, Interim Ministry Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m. 3 Meeting, Youth Ministry Network, Holy Trinity, Dubuque, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 8 Meeting, Assembly Planning, Wartburg College, Waverly, 4-6 p.m. 12 Meeting, LYO Leadership Team, Synod Office, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. 18 Office Closed, Good Friday Observance OBITUARY Pastor John Rotto died Nov. 29, 2013, at the age of 84. He was ordained on July 24, He served as pastor for the Forman-Rutland Parish, Forman, N.D.; Christ the Victor, Fairfax, Calif.; Trinity, Valley City, N.D.; United, Grand Forks, N.D.; and several interims in Badger and Solway, Minn.; St. Petersburg, Winter Park and Miami, Fla. and Trinity, Mason City and Faith, Garner, Iowa. He retired on March 15, Go paperless To receive an electronic version of the Star newsletter instead of a paper version, send an to hahnm@ neiasynod.org with the subject: Online Only. Northeastern Iowa Synod Assembly June 13-15, 2014 Wartburg College Waverly, Iowa A memorial service took place Dec. 8 at Good Shepherd Lutheran, Decorah. He is survived by his wife, Fern, and three sons. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to Fern Rotto, 1102 Nordic Dr., No. 213, Decorah IA