South Wisconsin District - LCMS 
Weekly Schools Notes
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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)
January 4, 2016
 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 cody@swd.lcms.org
"...though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;"
Isaiah 1:18

White as Snow
I woke up on Tuesday morning and began what would end up being a 2 hour snow blowing and shoveling job. As you might be able to attest, the snow was quite heavy. As I was finishing the front sidewalk, my wife opened the front door and asked if I was going to shovel Ceil's sidewalk. Ceil is a recently widowed elderly neighbor who lives by herself. I replied that I was planning on doing her shoveling when I got home from work that afternoon. What my wife said next took me aback, "Well the other neighbor just texted and said that she assumed you would be doing Ceil's shoveling this morning." My reaction: "WHAT?!"

First, why is this other neighbor telling me when and how I need to help? Didn't I just see her husband out snow blowing? If she was so concerned, why didn't she send him? Or better yet, why didn't she go do it herself? I was exhausted, late for work, and now I was just furious.
So, I started shoveling that morning, with anger in my heart and mind. As I shoveled my way up to Ceil's door, she opened the door. After a few pleasantries, she asked me if I had ever heard of the Catholic author Matthew Kelly. I had not. Ceil went on to explain that in his devotion she read that morning written by Matthew Kelly he spoke about seeing Christ in everyday people. She then thanked me for shoveling her sidewalk and that she had seen "Christ in me" that morning. I thanked her for the compliment, but walked away overcome with guilt and shame. She saw Christ in me? I was shoveling her sidewalk filled with anger and contempt for my other neighbor.

Needless to say, the Law showed me my sin that morning. Thanks be to God that he sent his Son, born in a lowly manger, to die for the sins of a selfish man like me. As I showered, the words of Isaiah 1:18 echoed in my ears, and couldn't have been more appropriate for the morning: "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."

Chris 
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.
 
CALLED SERVANTS "Miracle Workers" and Doers of Impossible Deeds - Dr. Beverly Yahnke, DOXOLOGY: Dr. Yahnke will offer just the right mix of wisdom, humor, data and spiritual encouragement for those of us who are eager to support our pastors and our teachers. Her presentation will feature reflections and insights regarding precisely what called workers require as they take on the hearty challenges of preaching, teaching and service. Dr. Yahnke will invite listeners to enhance their current awareness regarding the challenges of church service and will suggest specific strategies that church leaders can employ to ensure that their pastors and teachers are best-equipped to continue to serve the sheep and lambs entrusted to them, all the while inviting new souls into the fold.

MUSIC AND VITAL CONGREGATIONS - Rev. Stephen Rosebrock, Mt. Olive: Music plays an integral role in the life of every congregation, whether small or large; rural, suburban, or urban. This presentation is for congregational leadership and musicians together. Specific topics will include how to build or rebuild a music program, the relationship between music and preaching, the role of music in the day school, music as youth ministry, music as outreach, and developing a vision for your congregation. The principles presented can also be applied to other areas of program ministry in the congregation.

ESTATE PLANNING PANEL - ASK THE EXPERTS! - Diana Raasch, SWD: Providing for your family and other heirs, as well as protecting the estate for which you have saved your entire career, is essential. A panel of experts, which includes an estate attorney, a financial planner, and a CPA/tax expert, will provide information and will answer your questions during the breakout session that will prove to be very relevant to your planning. 

SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY AND RESOURCES - Rev. Randy Raasch, First Immanuel, Cedarburg: Acts 2:46 tells us that the early Christians met together, not only in the Temple, but also in their homes. It is important that Christians engage in both of these God-pleasing activities. Hear how your church can develop a small group ministry that strengthens members' faith, as well as the congregation's mission.


     

HFJHearts for Jesus
Recipient for 2015/2016
SOS Center, Milwaukee

If you would like someone to come to your school and talk to your students at chapel, please contact Chris or Robin.
totyTeacher of the Year
Congratulations to the following educators! 

Administrator - Sharon Wallace, Immanuel, Brookfield
Early Childhood Administrator - Sandra Ruback, St. Andrew, West Bend
High School - Richard Zeuner, Sheboygan Lutheran
Elementary - Katy Shields, First Immanuel, Cedarburg
Early Childhood - Candace Crass, St. John's, Glendale

These educators will be recognized at a dinner on Sunday, January 24.

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

 
CPSConcordia Plan Services - Vitality Program
As anticipated, Vitality is going live for all active Concordia Health Plan members and enrolled spouses on January 1st.  The staff at Concordia Plan Services has been testing the program during the past month, and we're expecting a smooth roll-out.
 
If you get questions on Vitality the following information should help:
  • Members can direct Vitality-specific questions to Vitality's Call Center at 877.224.7117 or wellness@powerofvitality.com. They are very well equipped to answer questions about the program and the website.
  • BeWellServeWell.com, as well as its subpages have all been updated - please go check them out so you can see all the information that is there! There is a link to Vitality, as well as Recipes and Fitness articles, the Concordia Total Health Team, and Employer Resources.
  • Links to Vitality instructional videos are also on this page in the middle section under "Understanding Vitality.  These short videos will be helpful to members who are looking for instructions on doing basic things within Vitality - they include:
  • Vitality Account Registration
  • Vitality Health Review
  • Personal Pathway
  • Navigation Overview
  • Using the Vitality Today App
  • Reporting a Workout
  • Setting Goals
Two more videos are coming soon - on the HealthyFood program and scheduling a biometric screening through Quest.
  • Member Education webinars are being scheduled for the end of January/beginning of February.  I'll send more information as soon as it is available.
  • Wellness champs can expect to get their first email with information and resources on January 11.
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.

WCRISWCRIS Leadership Conference


February 12, 2016
Country Springs Hotel, Pewaukee
LCEFLCEF Scholarship Application


prayerPrayer Request
Please keep the family of Mr. Ralph Kohrs, emeritus teacher and music director of Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, in your prayers.
 
Ralph was called home to his Lord suddenly on December 24, 2015.
He taught at Milwaukee Lutheran High School from 1958-1973
and at Mt. Olive Lutheran School, Milwaukee from 1973-2002.
 
A service of praise and thanksgiving was held on Thursday, December 31, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Milwaukee.
 
Ralph is survived by his wife, Carole, his three children, Stephen (Laura), Jonathan (Jennifer), and Laura (Aaron) Rohde.
whereischris

Monday, December 28
Lutheran High School Invitational Basketball Tournament
at Martin Luther High School

Participating schools:
  • Milwaukee Lutheran
  • Martin Luther
  • Lake Country Lutheran
  • Sheboygan Lutheran

 eventsUpcoming Events
2016
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
cody@swd.lcms.org

Robin Mueller
Administrative Assistant
mueller@swd.lcms.org

SWD School Ministry | 414-464-8100, ext. 3  |  FAX - 414-464-0602
8100 West Capitol Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53222
  
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