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December 1, 2013- Advent Begins
Rev. Dwayne Lueck
On the evening of December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, an African American, was arrested for disobeying an Alabama law requiring black passengers to relinquish seats to white passengers when the bus was full. Blacks also were required to sit at the back of the bus. Her arrest sparked a 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system and led to a 1956 Supreme Court decision banning segregation on public transportation.
Rosa said, "I did not get on the bus to get arrested; I got on the bus to go home."(From Rosa Parks with Gregory J. Reed, Quiet Strength [Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1994], 23.)
This year Sunday, December 1, 2013, marks the start of Advent. During Advent we prepare for the "coming" of the Savior. We sing "Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel" during Advent as we look forward to celebrating the birth of God's Son. The world around us is pushing us as consumers to buy, buy, buy. In fact, the mall in Wausau opened at 8pm on Thanksgiving Day for the first time, eagerly wanting the shoppers business. When you hear that it makes you want to use the outline of Rosa's statement to say:
I did not celebrate Advent to spend all I can; I celebrated Advent to prepare for the celebration of my Lord's birth.
May your Advent and Christmas celebration be blessed!
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On My Desk - Entry Events
DJ Schult
A recent article from Growth Points by Gary McIntosh, Ph.D. reviewed examples of Entry Events at your congregation. Entry Events are interesting to the unchurched community and easy for a member to use for inviting. Trinity Ironwood just had a hugely successful Trunk or Treat, as a great example. An opportunity is lost if we miss creating and developing relationships with these new friends. A preschool director in our district talked about a family in her center, paying for childcare for 2-4 years, but the church leadership still doesn't know them. What is your intentional plan for entry events, connecting, and follow-up? Below is a short list of entry event ideas that many of you use. Don't forget the impact of intentionally sharing God's Word in a connected relationship:
- Valentines Day father-daughter banquet
- Christmas children's worship
- Local Christian sports celebrity speaker
- Discipline for your child seminar
- Financial planning seminar
- Moms playgroup
- Community block party
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Leadership Meetings
It is almost time for the annual Leadership Meetings. These meetings are designed to equip and network lay leaders in the district. Topics this year include: healthy boards, healthy church workers, stewardship, and time with the President. Meeting times will be 7-9 pm at the locations listed below.
January 7 - St. Martin, Clintonville
January 9 - Faith United, Gillett
January 13 - Trinity, Merrill
January 14 - Salem, Barron
January 20 - Zion, Eleva
January 21 - St. John, Wisconsin Rapids
We Win! The Celebration Cry of a Healthy Board
Most boards/pastors/staff want to win the game, but often they don't know what winning looks like, how to keep score, who plays what position or if they have the right equipment. Come and explore these topics with the group and someone who has seen both the good and not so good. Plan to leave with a better understanding of the holy game of governing a church, taking back meaningful ideas and tools to equip your leaders.
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When the Lights Went Out
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Cedar Lake
It was Saturday evening, November 9th and the Church Council was having its regular meeting to prepare our 2014 budget. Suddenly the lights went out, came back on and then went out and stayed out. At first, we didn't know what to do - we thought we'd end the meeting right then and there. Soon a few of us pulled out flashlights or cell phones with flashlights, and proceeded to accomplish everything we wanted to and more.
It was now about 15 minutes until our Saturday evening service. We wondered what we would do? We counted up the number of flashlights we had and decided to give it a try. The church temperature was 58 degrees-leaving our jackets and sweaters on kept us warm. Nothing was going to stop us from worshiping. With no organ, music would be "a cappella." We planned to just sing the hymns, but as we started, we began singing the liturgy of Divine Service, Setting One, the regularly scheduled service for that evening. We did it all with hardly a hitch. Meanwhile our pastor held forth from the chancel and the pulpit with flashlight in hand.
Afterward many remarked how great it was to actually hear one another's voices; it created an atmosphere of oneness. Each of us was depending on the other for support. Isn't that what the Church is all about? We could have gone home with nothing, but we refused to give up in the face of many difficulties. As a result we were able to hear the Word of God, receive the absolution, confess our faith to one another, offer our prayers together, and receive the blessing of the Lord. I think the Lord was trying to teach us a lesson: Never give up hope, no matter what difficulties we face. He will see us through it.
Rev. Burt Harger
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DCE Grace Place Retreat
KINDLE is hosting a DCE Grace Place retreat January 20-24 at the Lake Geneva Lodge. Registration is open to both DCE's in the KINDLE program and others, spouses included. For more information and registration: Click here
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Bible Bowl 2014
Saturday, April 12
Perhaps you've been looking for more information on this year's Wisconsin State Wide Bible Bowl? Here it is!
Topic: "The Life of King David"
Scripture: 1 Samuel 16 - 1 Kings 2
Place: St. Mark's Lutheran Church
600 Stevens Drive
Wausau, WI 54401
For more information: click here
For registration: click here
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New Study LHM
The Men's Network is promoting their new study The Great Deceiver, putting mankind's archenemy front and center. This DVD study offers a free discussion guide through February 14 if using coupon code PCDEVIL13 at: lhmmen.org/greatdeceiver
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Congratulations!
Peace Lutheran Campus
Congrats to Pastor Weden and the students at Peace Lutheran Campus Center in St. Point. They were invited to stand with the Mayor at his annual holiday presentation; a special thanks for donating the city Christmas tree. The Mayors message was titled, "Putting Christ back in Christmas". The students from Peace even got to flip the switch for the lights on the tree. Thanks for your positive witness!
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2014 Men's Retreat
The 14th annual Men's Retreat will be held at the Holiday Inn in Manitowoc on the weekend of February 29-March 2, 2014. The theme for the retreat is "gods at war". We will be looking at how to defeat the idols that are battling for our hearts. For more information: Click here
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Hearts for Jesus
Owen's Mission
Are you prepared to promote and celebrate life through this years Hearts for Jesus? Talk about life, our partnership with SWD, and making a difference in schools throughout the United States! Is your school ready to share your model with the churches and Sunday schools in your circuit? An extra blessing!
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Worship Broadcasts
Immanuel Lutheran Church Marshfield
Immanuel Lutheran Church and School, Marshfield, has begun to provide its worship broadcasts to the deaf and hearing impaired through the services of a sign language interpreter. Immanuel's worship services are broadcast via Charter Cable throughout central Wisconsin. The services are also streamed live at http://www.marshfieldtv.com/. For more information, contact Marshfield Community Television, 715-207-0379, or Immanuel, 715-384-5121.
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National Lutheran Schools Week
Save the date: January 26-February 1, 2014
Theme: Witness Always
"For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree." 1 John 5:7-8 (ESV)
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| District Support to Synod
The NWD fiscal year 2013 support to the Synod totaled $780,790 or approximately 40% of the District budget. This is an increase of over $85,000 from the year previous. Walking together in mission and ministry is making a difference in the lives of people. Thank you for partnering in ministry locally, in the District, and in the world.
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NWD Financial Box Score
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November offering
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$ 181,306.97
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November budget
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$ 170,925.00
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Year-to-date total offerings
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$1,720,905.46
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Year-to-date budget
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$1,675,065.00
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COUNSELING CONNECTION
"X"POSED TO HELP!
It's called a "mouse." It has no tail...but there are sad tales that can be created through it. It's the connecting link to the world of cyber space...and cyber sex as well? Yes, just a "mouse" click away...24/7/365. Anytime--as long as you know the sex site you are looking for. Led into temptation...and one click away from sin! Isn't technology a marvel...and with a potential to satisfy our sinful hunger?!? It's an old problem with a greatly-expanded twist for today's pastors (and other church workers). It is sexual sin in newly revised versions including readily accessible pornography. Yes, now it's as close as a "mouse" click away!
The really bad news is that cyber sex is very habit forming! To make this point clear-pornography it is called the strongest addiction today. Those viewed images are fully available...any time. A person's memory becomes a part of the sin pattern. No new click needed. Defining the problem is important. Here is a definition for "addiction" that fits well here- "When a person's relationship to pornography jeopardizes other, key love relationships in this person's life." Problem defined...now what?
I chose to use the same process as outlined earlier...but for a different purpose. I went to the "mouse" after typing in "Pastors and Pornography" and did a web search. The opening screen revealed that there are 99,400 sites to choose from on this single theme. I must confess I did not look at all of them.
My search was for sites that addressed help for those with a problem. The really good news is there are lots of sites directing people to help! As an example I clicked on a "Focus on the Family" site entitled "I'm a Pastor Addicted to Internet Pornography." I'm glad it caught my attention as the content gave additional sites that specialize in helping the addict find help and hope. To make this real...and practical, Focus on the Family has its own counseling center. Just dial (855) 771-HELP. As an additional resource they recommended-Pure Intimacy (http://www.pureintimacy.org). And the list of additional resources was right at my finger tips...just another "mouse" click away. If you need more help, I'm also just a click away- revkohn@gmail.com.
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____________________________________________________________
The District office strives to keep you informed and provide easy access to information for your congregation, school, or for you personally. If there is something we can do to improve this publication, please feel free to drop us a note or give us a call and let us know. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Dwayne Lueck, President
LCMS North Wisconsin District
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