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2013-14 Seminary Year
Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary enrollment this year numbers twelve. There is one vicar, three seniors, five middlers, and three juniors. The vicar is Paul Webber at Mt. Olive Lutheran (Mankato, Minnesota). Also we have one student in the Master of Arts in Lutheran Theological Studies program.
Pictured from left to right: Michael Lilienthal, Matthew Behmer, David Covell, Daniel Ruiz, Aaron Ferkenstad, Andrew Soule, Josh Mayer, Michael Willitz, Kurtis Freimuth, Paul Lange, Jeff Hendrix (Not pictured: Paul Webber)
Resignation and Appointment
Mr. Marlin Goebel has resigned from the Board for World Outreach. We thank Marlin for his many years of service, and we appreciate his being willing to continue to advise the board. Rev. Thomas Heyn has been appointed to serve in the vacated position on the BWO until next year's convention.
BLC Women's Auxiliary
Women from churches around our synod came together on our Bethany Lutheran College campus, September 23, 2013, for the annual Auxiliary Day. Many non-budgeted items are supported by the efforts of the auxiliary organization. One of the presentations this year was given by Mr. Don Westphal, who now serves as the new BLC Athletic Director. The synod, college and seminary truly are grateful for the annual support and prayers by the faithful members of the Bethany Auxiliary!
Praising the Lord at Hillman 
The Sunday school children at Faith Lutheran in Hillman, Michigan, sang for the worship service on September 15, 2013. The synod president preached the sermon and presented on the work we are doing together in the ELS. Rev. Jeff Londgren serves Faith as the pastor, and also shepherds two other congregations in northern Michigan (Rogers City and East Jordan).
Trinity Lutheran, Rogers City, Michigan
Pastor Londgren serves at Trinity which was formed in 1995 and also joined the synod that same year.
Christ the King, Green Bay, Wisconsin
On September 8, 2013, Rev. Leonard Buelow announced the conclusion of his ministry at Christ the King Lutheran in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Pastor Buelow was instrumental in organizing the congregation in 1992 and having the church join the ELS in 1995.
Reformation Lectures at Bethany
Bethany Lutheran College & Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, Mankato, Minnesota, are once again sponsoring the B. W. Teigen Reformation Lectures for 2013: October 31 and November 1: "The Christian's Vocation in the Three Estates: Family, Church and Society" by Prof. M. Harstad, "The Christian Faces Contemporary Challenges" by Dr. H. Senkbeil.
ELS Circuit Visitors
The 2013 conference for our synod's Circuit Visitors occurred on September 19-20 at the AmericInn in Bloomington, Minnesota. One of the items for discussion centered around a presentation given by Rev. Steven Sparley called "Networking our Laity." The idea is to have a way of sharing valuable information between the laity of each congregation throughout the synod, a grassroots way to do a kind of "Craigslisting" that can benefit our often far-flung congregations.
Parish Picnic 
Faith Lutheran, Clara City, Minnesota, hosted the first annual 3-parish picnic on September 22. Faith Lutheran, English Lutheran (Cottonwood, Minnesota) and Rock Dell Lutheran/Our Savior's Lutheran (Belview, Minnesota) were all represented. Sixty-five people were in attendance. There was a hayride, outside games, BBQ hamburgers and hotdogs and all the trimmings, including root-beer floats for dessert. The Belview parish has already offered to host a similar picnic next year!
Northern Circuit Women's Guild
 The Northern Circuit Women's Guild (Northern Minnesota, Circuit 8) held it's annual meeting at Calvary Lutheran Church Ulen, Minnesota, on 28 September 2013. Twenty-three ladies and five pastors attended the get-together filled with fine presentations, singing of hymns, gathering around Scripture and coffee/luncheon furnished by the Calvary Ladies Aid. Rev. Paul Fries, ELS Communications Director, gave a presentation for world missions entitled "Bringing His Word to the World." Rev. Boyd Longshore, pastor of Calvary, gave the opening devotion based on Acts 26:26-29 and led the closing prayer. Mrs. Macel Klemetson (a 94-year-old member of Calvary) played the hymns. The guild provided more than $2,250 for use in world missions and youth education.
Encouraging Gospel Work in Oregon
 Mr. David Sparley, member of the ELS Board for Home Outreach, presents a check for $3,808 for advertising to the chairman of the Grace Lutheran congregation of Redmond, Oregon. The congregation, pastored by Rev. Randy VanMehren, recently moved into a newly leased building located in the Eagle Crest development, just outside and west of Redmond. If you would like more information, please contact Pastor VanMehren: 541-728-4193.
 New Headquarters for WELS
The Doctrine Committee from the ELS and the Committee for Inter-Church Relations from WELS met on September 27 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Among items discussed were two presentations on the subject of interpreting Holy Scripture in light of the Lutheran Confessions. After the meeting, WELS Pres Mark Schroeder gave ELS representatives a tour of the new WELS headquarters building.
Prayers Requested
Linda Teigen, wife of Prof. Erling Teigen, is very ill and under hospice care. Linda has battled MS for many years. We pray that God keeps her in his care and grants the solid confidence of her heavenly home as prepared by the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.
We pray for 10-year old Shalem in India. He needs a liver transplant that has been delayed due to a lingering fever.
President's Schedule
October 2-4 - ELS General Pastoral Conference, Bloomington, MN
October 7 - Board for Christian Service
October 17 - Address ELS teachers, ELS/WELS Conf., New Ulm, MN
October 19 - Presentation at IA Women's Mission Rally, Thornton, Iowa
October 20 - Installation at new church, Grace Lutheran, Lincoln, IL
October 22 - Preach at BLC Chapel
October 24 - Synod Review Committee
October 25 - "Christ in Media" - Bethany College, Mankato, MN
October 27 - preach at St. John's Frankenmuth, MI
October 31 - Reformation Lectures, Mankato, MN
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