South Wisconsin District - LCMS 
Weekly Schools Notes
LIFE TOGETHER
"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
I Corinthians 1:9 (ESV)
December 15, 2015
 In This Issue
    

LCEF south wisconsin district
Lutheran Church Extenstion Fund
Share Your Stories
Great things happen in the Lutheran schools of the South Wisconsin District and I want to be able to share these. If you have something you feel is worth sharing, email me at [email protected]
Do not be afraid....

The Biblical account of the birth of Jesus is quite familiar to all of us. The angels. The virgin Mary. The husband, Joseph. The manger. As Lutheran teachers and principals, there isn't much about the birth of Jesus that we haven't read or studied over the years. But, sometimes, when reading familiar passages, I catch on to phrases or themes that I haven't previously noticed. This was the case as I read through Luke 1-2 and the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. An angel of the Lord appears 3 separate times during this account:

"Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard." (Luke 1:11)

"Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God." (Luke 1:30)

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." (Luke 2:10, to the shepherds)

Do not be afraid. The words stood out clearly to me this time even though I have read the account an umpteen number of times in my life. We have much to be afraid of in this world. Terrorist attacks, economic uncertainty, family issues, and the list could go on. Yet, as I read and considered the Christmas account in Luke, I couldn't help but be assured. I couldn't help but to take the words of the angel to heart and make it my own: "Do not be afraid, Chris." And what reason do I have to not be afraid? It is THE reason that we celebrate Christmas. Our fears vanish with the birth of Jesus in the manger. That baby, the Son of God, was sent to earth to conquer our fears. He was sent to earth to live, die, and rise again for us. What a wonderful, sacrificial gift we celebrate this Christmas. 

Chris 

This will be the last Weekly Schools Notes for this year.
Have a very Merry Christmas!

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PassionatePassionate Believers Conference
Passionate Believers Conference
January 30, 2016

Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church and School, 
Hartland

We will be featuring some of the breakout sessions in the next three weekly notes.
 
NECESSARY ENDINGS IN THE CONGREGATION AND SCHOOL - Dr. Chris Cody, SWD
Endings are a part of life. "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot...(Ecclesiastes 3:1-2). Based on the book "Necessary Endings" by Dr. Henry Cloud, this presentation will explore the idea of "endings" within a congregation and/or school. If you have ever been told "this is how we've always done it," it may be time to reevaluate the process/program/etc. in question. Further, we will explore specific strategies on dealing with necessary endings in congregations and schools and the discomfort and pain that often accompanies an ending.

PREPARING OUR TEENAGERS FOR COLLEGE CHALLENGES TO THEIR FAITH - Rev. Dan Anderson, Mt. Calvary, Madison: Our college students are in a unique time and place in their lives. In many vital ways, our children are making decisions for the future in all areas of their lives from their future vocation, to potential future relationships, to their long-term spirituality. College students are challenged in their Christian faith from all directions including their peers, their professors and even the curriculum which often seeks to deny the existence of God and the need for salvation through Jesus Christ. Some questions that will be addressed are those that I have heard from parents, pastors and students themselves over the years such as: How can we best prepare our teenagers for the challenges to their faith in college life? What can we do to encourage them to remain connected to Jesus and the church during their college years? What can we do to stay connected to Jesus and the church during their college years? What can we do to stay connected to our college students while they are away at college?

LIVING ON MISSIONAL PURPOSE - Rev. Dr. Peter A Meier, Center for U.S. Missions: Do you have family, friends, and neighbors 
who are not Christian or not practicing their faith? Learn how you can live your faith out in the open, everyday, intentionally on mission to bless your neighbors and bring the Good News of Jesus into their lives.

RE: VITALITY - PRACTICAL STEPS FOR REVITALIZING CONGREGATIONS - Rev. Mark Wood, LCMS: Nearly 80% of LCMS
congregations have plateaued or are in decline. What can we do about this? What can you do about it if your congregation is
one of the 80%? This presentation provides an overview of the approach and the resources being developed by the LCMS
Office of National Mission to help congregations take the best steps to work toward lasting revitalization. These resources are
(or will be) available through the re:Vitality program at little to no cost to LCMS congregations. 

     
appealSWD Year  End Appeal
This year the South Wisconsin District is lifting up our Hispanic ministry. What an incredible opportunity to reach the hundreds of thousands of Spanish-speaking friends in our District. The Sheboygan area pastors and congregations in partnership with the South Wisconsin District office have researched the need of missional work for the many Hispanic communities in the Sheboygan area. Under the leadership of several local pastors the partnership has decided to move forward to plant an Hispanic congregation in Sheboygan. A vicar has been selected, and the work is slated to begin sometime in early 2016!! It is amazing! Wonderful! And if it can happen in Sheboygan (where there are so many Lutherans), it can happen anywhere!
NLSWNational Lutheran Schools Week

National Lutheran Schools Week
January 24-30, 2016

 
WCRISWCRIS Leadership Conference


February 12, 2016
Country Springs Hotel, Pewaukee
schoolvisitsSchool Visits

I would like to start scheduling school visits with the metro Milwaukee and Racine area schools in the next 2-3 months.

Please allow 1/2 hour to meet with you and your staff prior to the students arriving in the morning.

Please email Robin with some date options that would work best for you and she will get you on the schedule.

identityWhy I have an Identity Problem and You May Too

Why I have an Identity Problem and You May Too
Rev. Peter Kelm, SWD Mission Executive

Since being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, my God has taught me quite a few lessons. But one of those lessons is ongoing and painful. And I'm pretty sure you don't need a cancer diagnosis to get to the point.

The lesson is simply this: I have an identity problem. 
     

LCEFLCEF Scholarship Application


whereischris

 eventsUpcoming Events
2015

December 24-25 - District office closed - Have a Blessed Christmas

December 31 - District office closing at noon
  
2016

January 1 - District office closed - Happy New Year

January 24 - Teacher of the Year Dinner

January 24-30 - National Lutheran Schools Week

January 30 - Passionate Believers Conference, Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church and School, Hartland

February 5-6 - C-LECT, Concordia University Wisconsin

February 12 - Firm Foundations, Martin Luther High School, Greendale 

February 12 - WCRIS Leadership Conference

April 7-9 - LEA Administrators' Conference and Admissions Counselor Summit, Hilton City Center, Milwaukee
 
July 9-14 - Synod Convention, Milwaukee

July 16-20 - National Youth Gathering, New Orleans


Click on the link to
register for any of these events.  If the event is not open yet, we will communicate when it will be.

Passionate Believers...Confessing Christ for the Next Generation!

Chris Cody
Education Executive
[email protected]

Robin Mueller
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]

SWD School Ministry | 414-464-8100, ext. 3  |  FAX - 414-464-0602
8100 West Capitol Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53222
  
The South Wisconsin District does not endorse businesses that are not under the umbrella of
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
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