Group aims to help reclaim 'missing generation'

By Joe Isenhower Jr. A newly formed advisory committee of young adults wants to help Synod congregations reclaim what has been called “a missing generation” among church rolls nationwide and in the Missouri Synod — young adults in their 20s and…

Record number of Servant Events set (Part 2)

July  2-12 — Camp Dixie Lutheran Outdoor Ministry, Esparza, Costa Rica; Pura Vida!; director@campdixieministries.org. 5-10 — Camp Luther, Three Lakes, Wis.; “Serving Sawyer”; quik@campluther.com. 5-10 — Camp Lutherhaven, Albion, Ind.; “Noble Servants ’09”; don@lutherhaven.org. 5-10 — Lutherwood Camp, Bellingham, Wash.; “Cha-Choosen (I): Serving…

Record number of Servant Events set (Part 1)

A record 100-plus LCMS Servant Events will take place over the coming months, through next summer. LCMS Youth Ministry co-sponsors Servant Events — as it has for more than 1,000 such events since 1981 — along with Synod congregations and schools,…

Oregon church to move worship from 'little brown Quonset hut'

At first glance, Faith Lutheran Church in La Pine, Ore., reminded Laborers For Christ (LFC) Vice President/Director Dan Baker of a temporary military facility – not the center of a longtime, now growing ministry. “It looks like a barracks,” Baker…

School more important than world record, says coach

By Paula Schlueter Ross It’s official: “The longest basketball marathon is 77 hours, 7 minutes, 7 seconds, set by students of Heartland Lutheran High School in their gymnasium, Nebraska, United States, from 4 to 7 July 2008.” So reads the…

CPH offers children's book gift set

Concordia Publishing House is offering at a special price a first-ever gift set that includes five of its seasonal children’s books for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  A $40 value, the set is priced at $9.99, plus shipping. The gift set includes:…

LCMS Salary Information

The Synod’s policy of full financial disclosure provides for making available to members of the Synod (congregations, pastors, teachers, and others on the roster), on written request, the salary grid scales of all synodical and district officials, staff and faculty…

Commentary: What's troubling about organ transplants?

By Gilbert Meilaender Longer waiting lists for organ transplants have revived proposals that our society establish a market in organs — at least for sellers, if not also for buyers.  It might work; that is, it might succeed in diminishing the…

Pressure Points (November)

With Dr. Bruce Hartung Several readers have recently pointed out to me the need for our professional church workers to examine their work ethic.  I have chosen a particularly poignant communication on this theme to share in this month’s column.…

Kieschnick acts in support of biblical, natural marriage

LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick has been emphasizing the Synod’s strong support for natural marriage in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 4 national election. Particular emphasis is being given to states with marriage amendments on the ballot — Arizona,…

More volunteer opportunities

In addition to opportunities to lend a hand with Hurricane Ike cleanup efforts, coordinators also are looking for volunteers to help with disaster recovery in these areas: Iowa tornado and flood cleanup and rebuilding: Iowa District East, 319-373-0584, flood@lcmside.org. Greensburg,…

Items wanted, available (November)

Note: Reporter cannot accept notices about items offered for sale or that people wish to purchase.  Items described as “Wanted” or “Available” are sought or may be obtained for shipping costs only. Wanted Stoles; paraments for altar, pulpit and lectern;…

Positions (November)

The following institutions of the Concordia University System (CUS) are seeking candidates for positions described below: Concordia College-New York, Bronxville, N.Y., seeks to fill the following faculty positions: business, English, psychology. Concordia University, Portland, Ore., seeks to fill the following…

Synod execs: Entities stay course during turbulent times

By Roland Lovstad Executives of LCMS corporate entities express confidence that well-defined investment policies, expert advice, and advance planning will stay their course on the stormy financial seas of 2008. Interviewed during mid-October as the U.S. stock market tottered from…

After Ike: Needs, fear of being forgotten continue

By Kim Plummer Krull While the economic crisis and presidential candidates’ campaigns dominate headlines, little news is heard about Texans who still struggle to clean up their homes and try to get their lives back on track more than one…

Too early to determine effects on contributions

Synod leaders say that it may be too early to measure how the stock market downturn will affect contributions to LCMS congregations or district and national work. “This has happened so quickly,” said Dr. Thomas Kuchta, LCMS vice president-finance/treasurer. “My…