It's the people

(ELCA, Retired; Maywood/LSTC, 1963; drphil.haus@gmail.com)

This month I will conclude a three-month interim ministry at St. Paul International Lutheran Church Tokyo, Japan.  After living and serving in Japan for several years some time ago as a teacher and UCLA/LCA missionary, I also served as interim at this Tokyo congregation for about three years from`07 - `09.  In August, this year, I was again asked to serve a short interim while they completed a call process for a pastor.  

St. Paul International Lutheran Church is a self-supporting Lutheran congregation which serves people from all over the world who come to Japan to work, to study, to visit, even to get married.  While the majority of the ministry, including worship, is conducted in English, I also perform some ministry in Japanese. [Read more]

LSTC student Vance Blackfox, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, contributed his perspective on the U.S. observance of Columbus Day to The Living Lutheran. His article provides ways Lutherans can support the healthy growth and self-determination that Native American and Alaska Native communities seek. Read the article.

"Exegesis for the Pulpit: What are scholars saying about the gospels?" is a one-month online conversation (Jan. 9-Feb. 6, 2012) that will explore the 2012 gospel lectionary for both preaching and adult education. Special attention will be given to the portrayal of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark. Final registration deadline is Dec. 16. However, for planning purposes, your response by Dec. 1 would be greatly appreciated. The conversation will be facilitated by Dr. Carol Schersten LaHurd, adjunct professor at LSTC, and former professor of biblical studies and Islam at St. Thomas University (Minn.), Wake Forest University, and Fordham University. Learn more.

Charles Featherstone, a senior in LSTC's master of divinity program, began to write songs based on scripture passages while on internship last year.

"My internship supervisor, Pastor Dennis Hearney at St. John's Lutheran Church, Somonauk, Ill., suggested the project - initially as a joke, I think," Featherstone says. "I wrote the songs for the confirmation class, trying to work in some of what they talked about and we used them to review the previous week's lessons."

He committed to writing one song a week. The project worked out better than he expected. Some weeks he wrote two songs, and one week he wrote three. At the suggestion of the worship director, the congregation used a few of my songs in worship. Featherstone's song based on Psalm 112 was requested for a funeral service.

Now back on campus, Featherstone is working on a seven-song collection on the theology of Martin Luther as a project for Kurt Hendel's class. Some of his songs have been performed on campus and used in worship at LSTC.

Featherstone hopes others will use these songs to tell the good news of God's love for humanity.

Listen to and watch videos  of Charles Featherstone performing his songs.

On Sunday, Jan. 8, at 4 p.m., hear Part 3 of Bach's Christmas Oratorio performed by Lutheran professional musicians at Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest, Ill, 7300 West Division.  

This annual benefit concert, directed by Dr. Mark Bangert, features the premiere of a Concerto for Contrabass by Douglas Johnson, the premiere of Epiphany Carol by Robert Hobby, carol and hymns, and the closing chorus of the rarely performed Christmas Oratorio by Heinrich von Herzogenberg for double chorus, children's choir, and orchestra. Tickets go on sale in December and will be available at the door. Call 773-256-0712 or email rdeppe@lstc.edu.