Atlantic District E-Communiqué

Engaging the World with the Gospel of Hope

April 2010  Issue
In This Issue
Letter from President David Benke
Haiti Earthquake
2010 Festival of Workshops
Ablaze Grants
LWML News
Stop, Drop & Pray
SonRise Events
LSA Events
Congregational News & Events
MLHS Auction
Lutheran Heritage Foundation
Mill Neck Foundation
Faith Aflame Workshop
Alpha Training Workshop
Mockingbird Conference
Cleaning for a Reason
Seminary Workshop
Seminary Workshop
Save the Date
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List!
 
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TopWelcome to the E-Communique, the official e-news magazine of the Atlantic District. 
 
Please forward this to a friend!
Letter from the President
Dr. David BenkeFormation 101

This edition of the Atlantic District Communiqué arrives just as our congregations prepare for the most holy three day period - the Triduum - in the Church's annual remembrance. From Washing of Feet through Last Supper to Betrayal to Judgment Hall to Pilate to the Via Dolorosa to the Cross and then finally to the Empty Tomb and the astonished reactions of the women and men who arrived there we walk with Jesus all the way. So that He might walk in front of us and behind us and with us and in us.

From Easter to Pentecost we are given wonderful examples of Spiritual Formation 101 in the flesh and blood stories of Doubting Thomas and Saul who became Paul, of Tabitha who was raised from the dead and Peter who preached, of Lydia the mother of all house churches and the Jailer at Philippi who asked "sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Click here to read full article.

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 DONATE ONLINE!
For your convenience, you may now make a gift to the Atlantic District online.

Donate
 
Please visit our website often for news about the Atlantic District and its ministries.
Haiti Earthquake Response - $36, 725 received to date!
The response to Dr. Benke's request to help in the Haiti relief efforts has been very generous. At the end of March, donations to the District's Haiti Earthquake Fund total $36, 725. 90. As our thoughts and prayers continue for the people of Haiti, disaster relief plans to reach out in the weeks and months ahead are currently in process.  As these plans are formalized, updates will be posted on the Atlantic District website homepage.

Click here to read about opportunities to partner with Orphan Grain Train.

Click here
to read an article in the Queens Chronicle about Duory Marin and Grace Lutheran - Queens Village.

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BE TRANSFORMED!  2010 Festival of Workshops
Festival of Workshops
On Saturday, March 6th, the Atlantic District hosted the 2010 Festival of Workshops on the campus of Concordia College, Bronxville. 300 people from congregations across the District attended the event as participants and presenters. 35 workshops were presented over the course of four, hour-long sessions. This year's theme, "Be Transformed!" was the focus of the keynote address given by Dr. Mary Hilgendorf, Professor and an Ambassador to the Women's Institute of Concordia University, Wisconsin.

Click here for full article and photos.

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2010 Ablaze Grants
ANNOUNCING THE 2010 ATLANTIC DISTRICT ABLAZE GRANT PROGRAM!

Attention Pastors, Church and Schools Administrators,

The District has announced the 2010 Ablaze Grant program, with grants in the range of $5,000 to $25,000.  Information about grant requirements, including eligibility, what to submit and important dates, as well as the 2010 Ablaze Grant Application Form, are available on the Atlantic District website.  Click here to learn more.

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ATLANTIC DISTRICT LUTHERAN WOMEN'S MISSIONARY LEAGUE
LWML
By the time you receive this issue of the E-Communiqué, the 2008-2010 biennium of the Atlantic District LWML will have come to a close.  The 19th Biennial Convention will be held April 24-25 at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center. At that time mission grants for the 2010-2012 biennium will selected by the delegates, new officers will be elected and a new mission goal will be adopted.

The Board of Directors thanks you for your continuing support of our mission grants and your contributions to mites. Please send all mite donations to Virginia Wirsing, Financial Secretary, 4 Garden Lane, Yaphank, NY 11980.

SAVE THE DATE...SAVE THE DATE...SAVE THE DATE...SAVE THE DATE

The Atlantic District LWML retreat will be held October 15-17, 2010 at Tuscarora Inn & Conference Center, Mt. Bethel, PA. The retreat leader is Dr. LuJuana R. Butts. Come join us for a fun-filled, spiritually uplifting weekend.
Stop, Drop &  Pray
The Atlantic District Mission Society is committed to prayer. We have a weekly prayer email that goes out listing outreach/mission prayer requests.  If you would like to email a prayer request or sign up to receive the prayer email, please contact Carol Mittelstaedt at carolmittel@aol.com (you can unsubscribe yourself at any time).
SonRise Upcoming Events
Click here to read about the upcoming events in March at SonRise, including:
  • Women's Wellness Weekend
  • Couple's Retreat
  • Daddy & Me
  • Women's Scrap & Stamp
Lutheran Schools Association Upcoming Fundraisers
LSA Join us for great family events that support the work of LSA as it assists our Lutheran schools, preschools, and early childhood centers! 

  • LSA at the NY Mets at Citi Field on Saturday, June 5 at 4:10pm (tickets are $20/ea)

  • LSA Spirit Day at the SI Yankees (Richmond County Stadium) against the Brooklyn Cyclones on Sunday, June 20 at 4pm (all-you-can-eat) Tickets are $20/ea.

  • One-day passes to Six Flags Great Adventure-Wild Safari in Jackson NJ - good all summer long (tickets are $30). 
Deadlines for games are almost here.  Join us and celebrate Lutheran school spirit!

LSA Annual Golf Outing
Date:            Monday, August 9 is the day
Location:   Towers Country Club of North Shore Towers, Floral Park NY

All proceeds support the Lutheran Schools Association.
For information on any of these events, please contact Debbie Cook at:
914-395-4787 or dcook@lutheranschoolsassociation.org

District Congregation News &  Events
Click here to view upcoming events sponsored by Atlantic District congregations, including:
  • Bethlehem, Delmar - Christmas in April concert
  • Our Saviour, Bronx - Luau on Friday, April 9th
  • Resurrection, Garden City - Meet Author Philip Yancey on April 10
  • Church For All Nations, Manhattan - 10th Anniversary Celebration
  • Village, Bronxville - Equipping to Share workshop & other upcoming events
  • St. Luke's, Dix Hills - Candlewood Christian Coffeehouse on April 17
MLHS Celebrate Kids Auction
Martin Luther High School will hold its 15th
Celebrate Kids Auction
Saturday, April 24th
Click here for detailed info.
 Lutheran Heritage Foundation
Lutheran Heritage FoundationDo you serve, or would you like to serve, Spanish-speaking people in your community with the Gospel? Or are you planning a mission trip to Central or South America? If so, the Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF) has a free resource that will soon be available to you:  the Spanish edition of the Holy Bible, bound with Luther's Small Catechism.  To pre-order copies, visit the LHF website at www.LHFmissions.org/Spanish_Bible_Poll, where you can also take a poll to help LHF decide how many copies of the Bible/catechism to print, in what version, in hardcover or soft cover.  LHF's materials are provided at no charge to those who need them.

Mill Neck Foundation - Rev. S.R.S. Sends an S.O.S on Deaf Ministry
Lutheran Friends of the Deaf Advocates for a Lost Congregation

The Rev. S. R. Schumacher, Mill Neck Foundation's Director of Deaf Ministry and advocate for its Lutheran Friends of the Deaf (LFD) mission, recounts his experiences traveling around the world in an effort to increase awareness and accessibility of Deaf ministry. 

Click here to read the full story.

 Faith Aflame Year One "Train the Trainer" Eastern Region Workshop
Faith AflameA Faith Aflame Year One  "Train the Trainer"
Eastern Region Workshop

will be held on April 24, 2010 from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM

at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 171 Closter Dock Road, Closter, NJ 07624.

The workshop will enable you to be trained as a workshop leader for Faith Aflame: Living with God's Word and will be led by Rev. Wayne Knolhoff, LCMS Director of Stewardship Ministry, and the Stewardship training team. 

Click here for more information and registration form.

 Alpha: Refresh, Equip and Training Day
Two tracks of teachings that will inspire, equip, train and motivate new and  experienced leaders; and an experience of the Holy Spirit through worship and prayer that will both model and empower.
 
Saturday May 15th 9AM-3PM

The Vineyard Church
251 Merrick Road
Rockville Centre, NY 11570
$25.00 breakfast and lunch included
Free Parking

Track 1:  Small Group Leader Training
This is the essential training for all people who have never done the Alpha course.  Topics include:  Principles of Alpha, Small Group Leadership, Practicalities/Admin on Alpha.  This set of teachings is also a wonderful refresher for Alpha veterans.
 
Track 2:  Taking your group to the next level
After everyone in your church has done the course, how do we reach those outside the four walls of your church with the Gospel?  This set of teachings include:  Reaching Seekers and Outsiders,  Attracting New people to your Course, What Happens After Alpha?  A Proven Way to Develop New leadership within the Local Church.

The heart of the Alpha ministry is praying and believing in the work of the Holy Spirit.  We will pray and minister to one another in small groups.

To register,  contact Tony Kaiser by email: tk18269@aol.com or by cell phone 917-287-2140

 Mockingbird Conference: "Guilt, Forgiveness & Freedom"
mockingbird nycApril 15-17th, 2010
St. George's Church
  New York City
sponsored by Mockingbird Ministries

Guilt, Forgiveness and Freedom are three words which carry enormous weight and power. They color our relationships (to put it mildly), they drive our decision-making, they inform many/most of our problems. And that's just a start. Please join us this Spring in NYC as we explore what Christianity has to say about these three deeply important realities, their dynamics and their implications. In other words, as we look at the mechanics of change (and the lack thereof) - personally, culturally and most crucial, theologically.

Click here for more information and to register.

 "Cleaning for a Reason"

If you know anyone currently undergoing chemo, please pass the word that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning -- 1 time per month for 4 months while she/he is in treatment. All that person has to do is sign up and have the doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service.

http://www.cleaningforareason.org/

SEMINARY TO HOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT CHAPLAINCY WORKSHOP
ST. LOUIS-Concordia Seminary, together with Peace Officer Ministries, Inc. (POM), will host "Christian Law Enforcement Chaplaincy-Theology and Practice," on May 24-28 on the Seminary campus. The workshop offers unique accredited training for chaplains, peace officers, and pastors, focusing on effective Christian ministry to and through law enforcement.

Key principles that participants can expect to take away with them after attending the workshop include: understanding law enforcement as vocation (God's calling); distinguishing and properly applying Law and Gospel and God's Two Kingdoms within a law enforcement context; addressing practical, legal, historical, cultural, and missiological considerations; employing Christian stress management and officer spiritual survival strategies; and identifying characteristics of a competent Christian chaplain. The Department of Homeland Security Course Component fulfills DHS Guidelines.

Rev. Steve Lee, founding chaplain of POM, will serve as the introductory speaker on Monday morning. Other presenters include: William J. Becker Jr., Esq., Becker Law Firm, Los Angeles, Calif.; Michael D. Dahmer, former officer and current licensed professional engineer with expertise in national security, counterterrorism, and homeland security, Jerome, Idaho; Maj. Daniel Dusseau, Commander of District 1 for the Prince George's County Police Department, Dunkirk, Md., and Chairman of POM Board of Directors; William G. Jones, Assistant Chief, Perryville Police Department, Mo.; Rev. Glenn F. Merritt, former officer and current Director of Disaster Response at LCMS World Relief and Human Care, St. Louis, Mo.; Dr. Tomas C. Mijares, former Detroit Police SWAT sergeant and current professor of criminal justice, Texas State University, Austin, Texas; Rev. Frank Ruffatto, retired detective and current executive director and chaplain, Peace Officer Ministries, Inc., Cornelius, N.C.; Steven Ruffatto, retired detective and current adjunct professor in criminal justice at Elizabethtown College, University of Phoenix, and Harrisburg Area Community College, York, Penn.; Dr. John J. South, Vietnam and police veteran, L.E. and Army Chaplain, Critical Point Solutions LLC, Phoenix, Ariz.; and Bob Vernon, former Assistant Chief, Los Angeles Police Department (ret'd).

Registration cost is $340. This includes four breakfasts, five lunches and three dinners, plus CEUs for full participation. Limited on-campus housing is available on a first-come first-served basis. Housing is dormitory style with shared bathrooms and showers. Rooms are on the second floor and are not handicapped accessible. Rates are $30 per night for single or couple and $17.50 per night for a shared room.

For more information, contact the Office of Continuing Education and Parish Services at 314-505-7486, ce@csl.edu; or visit the Seminary's Web site at www.csl.edu for a downloadable brochure.

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Vocatio Event for High School Youth at Concordia Seminary
Vocatio - Jun. 19-24

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will host a visitation event in June for high school youth. On June 19-24, the 12th annual Vocatio will be held on the Seminary campus. The event is designed to identify, inform, and encourage youth with respect to church work vocations.

Click here to learn more and register.

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Save the Date

~ Check the calendar on the Atlantic District website for the latest events ~

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Sponsored in part by:

 
Thrivent
 

This is an e-mail from the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

 

If you would like to submit an article for publication in the E-Communique, please send it via email to Kristen Schulz @

Thank you and God's Blessings!

 

Atlantic District LCMS

171 White Plains Road

Bronxville, NY 10708

www.ad-lcms.org