Each year the three and four year-olds from the preschool at Peace Lutheran Church in North Mankato, MN, visit the farm of members Nick and Emily Peters. This year the children learned about the raising of piglets, shucked corn and climbed into a combine and tractor.

There are three sessions at Jesus' Lambs at Peace Preschool, with a total of 39 students. Recently one of the children, Eva Huckabee, was baptized in a Sunday church service. Her parents are in a Bible information class and will be joining as communicant members soon.

Daily chapel opportunity

Did you know you can listen in on the    

Bethany Lutheran College chapel services

every weekday at 10:00 a.m. Central Time?  

Go to: http://www.blc.edu/chapelcast

Ordination in Sebring

On Sunday, September 2, 2012, Candidate of Theology Luke Willitz was ordained and installed as pastor of New Life Lutheran Church of Sebring, Florida. The candidate's seminary classmate Peter Heyn, who now serves as pastor of Peace Lutheran Church of Lakeland, Florida, was the liturgist. Another classmate, Matthew Moldstad, the pastor of Peace Lutheran Church of Kissimmee, Florida, served as lector. Rev. Joel Willitz, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Frankenmuth, Michigan, and father of the candidate, delivered the sermon. His text was 1 John 1:1 - 2:2 and his theme, "The Blood of Jesus Christ God's Son Cleanses us from All Sin." Rev. Herbert Huhnerkoch, Circuit 1 Visitor, conducted the ordination and installation. Additional pastors who participated in the laying on of hands were Reverends Michael Dale, Charles Keeler, Andrew Palmquist, and David Lillegard. Mrs. Ione Lillegard served as organist.  The women of New Life prepared and served a variety of delicious finger foods and refreshments.

Back row L to R: Pastor emeritus David Lilligard, pastor emeritus Herbert Huhnerkoch, Rev. Andrew Palmquist, Rev. Charles Keeler, Rev. Michael Dale.  Front row L to R: Rev. Peter Heyn, Rev. Luke Willitz, Rev. Joel Willitz, Rev. Matthew Moldstad

Oldest Correction

From a responder to an item in our last Newsletter: "I noted with interest the recent article about a member of the Synod who was 104 years of age.  Certainly, a noteworthy item. I would bring to your attention that there is a member of Our Savior's congregation who is 106.  Nora Hendrickson still resides in Albert Lea, MN and although she can't get to services, has maintained an active interest in her church."

Clergy Transfer to WELS

After many years of faithful service to our Bethany Lutheran College and the ELS, Dr. William Kessel and wife, Lynne, are now moving to Cottonwood, Arizona and joining the WELS congregation in that location. At his request, Bill has been granted a transfer of his clergy membership to the AZ/CA district of our sister synod.

Redeemer Lutheran, New Hampton, IA

On Monday, September 10, 2012, the congregation of Redeemer in New Hampton, Iowa, hosted the fall Circuit 7 Pastoral Conference. Redeemer's pastor, Rev. Glenn Smith, preached the sermon for the Communion service. The congregation was formally organized in 1941 and joined the ELS in 1942. This past year new stained glass windows were added in the sanctuary. Trinity Lutheran of Calmar, Iowa, also is part of the two-point parish.

Engage Others With Jesus Retreats

The Board for Home Outreach (BHO) is in the process of setting up regional retreats (8) throughout the synod. In September the BHO sent this note to all of our pastors:

"Our board has been hard at work for the past couple of years developing a retreat which we plan to offer to as many in the synod as possible. We will be offering the first "Engage Others With Jesus" retreat in November for the congregations of Circuit 9 (southern MN).

 Recently Larry Wentzlaff of our board sent an email to all the circuit visitors with some information about this retreat and a request for possible dates the retreat could be held in their respective circuits. You may have discussed possible dates in your circuits already. If you have, thank you very much. If you haven't, plan to do so soon. We appreciate greatly your cooperation."

Each scheduled retreat is intended for pastors and their wives and key leaders of the congregation and their wives. Each church is asked to select two key lay leaders from the congregation to attend with their wives. The leaders should be ones who are willing and able to bring information they learn from the retreat back to their congregations for wider dissemination. The participation of wives (pastors' and leaders') is also important so that a wider demographic is being reached. These retreats are an integral part of working toward attaining our adopted goals as a synod, including "every congregation viewed as a mission congregation." If you have questions, please contact Rev. Larry Wentzlaff (320-847-4302) or Rev. Tim Hartwig (507-385-1386).

BWO News  

Our synod's Board for World Outreach has identified a num ber of pro jects for Cross-stitch, one of which is the support of the Indian Orphan College Scholarship Fund. $750/year enables an identified student from our church (LMSI) in India  to attend college. One woman named Indira, who was burned as a child and then lost her father, ended up at a church orphanage in Rajahmundry. She is now a nursing student who is supported by the college fund. Five others are also in the program. The board is thankful to the many ELS Women's Mission Rallies which are promoting the Cross-stitch projects.

In our Chilean mission, three seminary students (Victor, Guillermo, and Mario) are studying under Missionary Tim Erickson. The hope is that, upon completion of their coursework, these men will become bi-vocational pastors in and around the Santiago area.

Zion Lutheran's 75 & 125

Our synod's congregation in Tracy, Minnesota, celebrated on September 16, 2012, two anniversaries: the 75th of the cornerstone laying for their present building, and the 125th of the founding of the congregation. Zion's pastor, Rev. Sam Schmeling, was the liturgist for the special service, Rev. Gaylin Schmeling (who also served at Tracy years ago) served as lector, and President Moldstad preached for the occasion. A catered dinner and program immediately followed the church service in the neighboring community of Garvin.

Appointment of Military Committee

Following a resolution from this year's convention, the president appointed an ad hoc committee to determine the feasibility of a military monument and also developing a military ministry. Members of the committee are: Rev. Cory Hahnke (Cold Spring, MN),

David Covell (Mt. Vernon, WA), Rev. Kincaid Smith (Mankato, MN), Ray Pederson (Cottonwood, MN), and Juel Merseth (Mankato, MN).

Appeals Commission

On August 14, 2012, the following members of the standing Board of Appeals were selected in a blind draw by the ELS Trustees to serve: Rev. David Russow, Rev. Theodore Gullixson, Rev. Ken Mellon, Mr. Kermit Traska, and Mr. Glen Hansen.

Financial Info

Through the month of August we are $11,400 above congregational contributions compared to last year at this time. Our synod has received $434,500 through the first eight months. For 2012, a $725,000 congregational contribution budget has been adopted.

President's schedule

October 1-2 - Board for Lutheran Schools of America

October 2-4 - ELS General Pastoral Conference, Bloomington, MN

October 4-5 - Board for Youth Outreach

October 12-13 - "Christ in Media" Institute at Bethany, Mankato, MN

October 18 - Committee for Communication (teleconference)

October 20 - MN Women's Mission Rally, Princeton, MN

October 21 - Preach for installation at Forest City, IA

October 22-23 - Hosting ELS/WELS Forum at seminary, Mankato, MN

October 25-26 - B.W. Teigen Reformation Lectures at BLC

October 27 - OH-MI Women's Mission Rally, Weston, Ohio

October 28 - Preach at Abiding Word, Bowling Green, OH