Trinty Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids

Jan Basemann, Linda Knoll, Jonathon Knoll, Aaron Nord and Irene Reinking, all members of Trinity Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, taught VBS in Healy, Alaska, July 2006

Healy is a coal mining town located on a spur road (lumpy, bumpy and dusty) near the entrance to Denali Park. Approximately 1,000, middle class people with jobs and nice homes live there. Their problem is they have no Lutheran Church and no Pastor. We held VBS in the small Catholic Church. More than 30 children ages 3-13 attended every day. That kept “The Trinity Five” very busy.

The high light of the week was the 47 Bibles we presented to all the VBS children and other children in the community who were unable to attend VBS. These NIV, Old and New Testament, hard cover, picture Bibles were provided by the Trinity Lutheran School Children. These Trinity children brought offerings of pennies on Monday, nickels on Tuesday, dimes on Wednesday, quarters on Thursday and dollars on Friday. The total check they presented to our VBS Team was for $875.00. This covered the cost of the 47 Bibles and most all of the craft items. What a wonderful gift these young missionaries provided for the children of Healy. The VBS students proudly carried their new Bibles back and forth from VBS to home and back again. Daily they told us how someone had read to them from their Bible or how they had read to someone else. Sharing the Gospel message of “Jesus Love and Salvation For All People” is what mission work is all about.

Chaplain Harold Scheer's November Article

WHAT'S A CHAPLAIN DO WHEN HE GETS A HORRIBLE PAIN IN HIS ABDOMEN?

GET TO THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

However, I was at the Dairy Queen in Cedar Rapids at the time, with my brother, his wife, and one of their friends, and I had to take them home first. Then I went to my mother's home in Iowa City because I needed to clean two bird feeders and fill three more. Mom is 86 and has considerable pain from her osteoporosis in her back. As a result, watching the birds are a big past time for her.

After all of that, I went home, told my wife about my pain which, by then, had persisted for an hour or two. We called the emergency room. I prayed all the way to the hospital, grateful that I was not in need of an ambulance. I remember wondering, "What in the world is wrong inside my abdomen?"

The ER doctor made an exam, ordered a CAT scan, and contacted the surgeon on call. A blockage was discovered.

My wife called Pastor Timothy Zimmermann who came to my room and was there when the diagnosis was delivered. The surgeon was more serious than I expected. A surgical team was called in; it was a Sunday evening. But they did not take long and I was off to surgery.

The procedure went more quickly than expected, only an hour. Everything started working the way it should.

Thank the Lord! That horrible pain was gone! Of course, now I had some new pains, healing pains: staples to adorn my abdomen, and an incision that cried "I did not want to be cut in the first place, now I have to work to put this muscle and skin tissue back together again." I had the usual tube in my nose and down my throat. Some of you know what that is like.

I will spare you the details about the post-op recovery: Thank the Lord for nurses! I was really feeling miserable, my stomach was upset and my throat was sore from the tube. Being nauseated never has been a great feeling for anyone. On top of it all, I got a headache from all the stress! Some of you reading this might be thinking, "A chaplain under stress in a hospital?" Being sick is no fun for anyone.

Well, thanks be to our gracious God for healing power! For soon I was getting stronger and feeling grateful for all of the prayers of fellow chaplains, my circuit counselor, and my own Pastor Tim Zimmermann. I was humbled by the out-pouring of blessing of care from my sisters and brothers in Christ, and from our congregation. The Lord got my body back to working so I could go home, but not back to work right away.

During my recovery, I learned that Thrivent Financial for Lutherans wants to help the Iowa District East Chaplaincy Endowment Fund. They will give $1,000 if we raise $3,000. Sounds like a good blessing to me, and hopefully to most of you as well. The fund is now over $ 250,000 and someday, when it gets over $500,000, it may support our half time Deaconess/chaplain, or someday, when it gets over $ 1,000,000, it will support a full time chaplain at University Hospitals. As the amount in the fund gets bigger, the earnings will also be used to support our half time chaplain at Fort Madison.

And there are other chaplaincy ministries that could be funded in our district too, especially in our larger cities with many of our Lord'Â’s people in long term care facilities who never see a minister during the course of a year. Now you know why some people are including this fund in their estate planning.

You, your congregation, or any group may send your gifts to: Walt Prem, Financial Director, Johnson Co. Chapter Thrivent for Lutherans, 227 Windsor Drive, Iowa City, Iowa 52245. PLEASE MAKE out your checks to Thrivent For Lutherans. PLEASE put on the memo line of the check: IDE Chaplaincy Endowment Fund.

Now, the good Lord willing, by the time you read this, I will be back to visiting patients at University Hospitals in Iowa City. Thank you for your prayers for our Savior’s Kingdom work in our District. Thank you for supporting our Pastors, chaplains, teachers, principals, and all of our lay leaders. Thank you for supporting all of the volunteers who make up out Lord's Kingdom come right where you are, as well as around the world. We thank our gracious God for loving us and for His only Son who suffered and died for our sins so that we might live and serve Him with the gifts He has given us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Rev. Dean Rothchild's November IDE TODAY Article

Dealing With Disappointments

When was the last time that you were disappointed with someone or something? Often in life, things do not always go as we had hoped or planned. My daughter was a football cheerleader this fall on a team that went 0-9. Disappointing? Certainly. How about when we have health concerns which send us off to the Doctor and we don'’t get the report that we had hoped for? Disappointing? Certainly! It can also be frightening.

I recently ran the Chicago Marathon (26.2 miles) as a fundraiser for our District'’s project in Palanga, Lithuania. I finished the race having to walk on and off from mile 17 or so to the finish. Disappointing? Certainly! But when the IT band on the left knee begins to hurt, you have no other option but to walk. However, many people supported my efforts and a few thousand dollars were raised for this project.

My youngest daughter recently had her cell phone stolen. Disappointing? Certainly! It is more of a hassle than anything else. In our disappointments we learn different lessons. Some of them teach us perseverance and others test our character in how we react to the situation.

Are we always tuned into the disappointments of those around us? Do we see the pains and hurts which our neighbor may be undergoing? Do we understand the struggles that our co-workers may be dealing with in their lives? We are called to "love our neighbor as ourselves" Matt. 22:39. We can be so focused in our own little worlds that we never see what is going on around us, sometimes even in our own families.

Disappointment can bring about a sense of grief and sorrow, pain and loss. How we deal with those things says a great deal about who we are "in Christ Jesus." God's call to us is always one of repentance. Many are the times when we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. John said: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" I John 1:9.

Jesus has already undertaken all of our disappointment and has come out victorious on our behalf. We read in Isaiah 53: "Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering."

What must have looked like defeat and disappointment to the disciples was shown to be the ultimate victory. We read in Acts 5:30-31, "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."

Disappointments are often some of the crosses which we bear in life as the "“baptized in Christ Jesus."” But Jesus has already borne and conquered all things on our behalf through His suffering, death and resurrection. Peter states: 1 Peter 2:6 "For it stands in Scripture:'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,a cornerstone chosen and precious,and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.'"

District President Gary Arp's November Article

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

In August I attended a Lutheran Free Conference in Riga, Latvia. The topic of the conference was the liturgy and featured speakers from several countries, including Dr. Petkunas, pastor of the Palanga Lithuania Parish. I will not bore you with a travel log, but I do want to mention a few things that might be of interest.

Unlike Lithuania, which is predominantly Roman Catholic, Latvia is predominantly Lutheran. LCMS is in "pulpit and altar fellowship" with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia.
We arrived in Riga on Saturday afternoon. We had not slept for nearly 24 hours so we “slept in” Sunday morning. We arrived at “Dom Cathedral” a few minutes before noon and, to our delight, we got there just in time for the Divine Service! Although we could not understand the words, we could follow the service since it was much the same as our liturgy and we recognized the tunes to all of the hymns!

I marveled that we could travel so many miles to a little known country, with a language so strange to our ears, and feel so at home in the Divine Service! I must say I was a bit saddened to think that there are children who are growing up in congregations that no longer use our traditional Lutheran hymns and liturgy and may never know that joy.

In front of us sat a mother with her son, who was about three years old. The mother was a remarkable example of Christian piety. She knelt on the bare wooden floor for the confession of sins, the Lord's Prayer and the words of institution. Most, but not all, of the congregation did the same. We also knelt for the confessions of sins, but that was about all my old knees could handle! The son was a typical, but well behaved, three year old and she did not insist that her son do the same. I thought to myself what a wonderful example this loving mother is for her son!

After the conference, we traveled to Palanga Lithuania to tour the building project we have been supporting the past three years. The work is progressing, but much slower than expected. Pastor Petkunas is working very hard to keep the cost as low as possible. By next spring the construction should be to the point where we could have some crews from IDE go over to do interior work. We need to continue receiving financial support for the project. Make your checks to “LCMS World Relief & Human Care – Palanga Project.” You may send your offerings here to the District office and we will make sure it gets credited to the Palanga account. Every penny will go to the project!

We did attend Sarka’s wedding, as I wrote in the last edition of IDE TODAY. Her husband’s name is Pavel. In the Czech Republic a civil officer conducts all weddings. The clergy are not authorized to conduct marriages, as they are here in the U.S. After we arrived Sarka asked me to do a “Christian blessing of their marriage.” Thankfully the order of service for “Blessing of A Civil Marriage” was available on the LCMS website. So all I had to do was modify it to fit the situation. Not very many of the wedding guests could understand English, but one lady who did understand English was so moved by the service she asked for a copy of it. I am going to send her a copy of the Luther’s Small Catechism and Augsburg Confession in Czech, also a copy of the CPH book For All Eternity, which is a devotion book centered around Luther’s Small Catechism.

The Czech translation of these confessional writings is done by The Lutheran Heritage Foundation. If you know someone who does not speak English and you would like to share the Faith with him/her, I suggest you check with The Lutheran Heritage Foundation to see if they have anything in that language. The Foundation will send the copies to you free of charge. They would, of course, appreciate a donation to their work. Lutheran Heritage Foundation phone number is (800) 554-0723. If you would like to learn more about the organization, go to www.lhfmissions.org.

St John's Lutheran Church in Reinbeck

St. John’s, Reinbeck celebrated Rev. Bruce A. Boyce and 25 years in the ministry.

On October 1, over 200 friends and family celebrated 25 years of God’s divine call into the ministry with an Open House honoring Rev. Bruce A. Boyce. St. Johns hosted the event and had great fun, food, and fellowship with all who attended.

We at St. Johns felt that this was a perfect opportunity to show Pastor Boyce our appreciation for his commitment to the congregations, the districts, and to the community of believers for his loyalty and service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A brief program was created by Laura Woebbeking and performed by the youth group called “The Rest of the Story”. It depicted the years of Pastors life with a humorous twist. Only God can use a child cookie thief for HIS glory!

We are so fortunate to have Pastor Boyce serving St. Johns. We greatly appreciate all he and his wife Brenda do for us within the congregation and as friends within the community. We pray that God will continue to pour out HIS blessings on them and their family and that Pastor continues to serve Christ and HIS ministry for many years to come. Congratulations once again to Rev. Bruce A. Boyce!

Concerts

IOWA EAST DISTRICT HOSTS CONCORDIA SEMINARY CHORUS

ST. LOUIS—The Concordia Seminary Chorus announces its 2006 Advent Tour. All of the presentations will include an expanded choral version of Evening Prayer that encourages the participation of the congregation in hymns and psalms. The Seminary Chorus will present choral music for the season of Advent in the Iowa East District on the following dates:

Saturday, December 9, at 7:00 p.m.—Grace Lutheran Church, Waterloo, Iowa
Sunday, December 10, at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m.—Trinity Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Sunday, December 10, at 3:30 p.m.—Faith Lutheran Church, Mount Pleasant, Iowa

The touring choir of the Concordia Seminary Chorus consists of students who are preparing to become pastors in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. They represent a portion of the full Concordia Seminary Chorus. Rev. Henry V. Gerike is the director of the choir.

Camp Io-DIS-E-CA

Fall Festival at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca is today, Sunday, October 22 beginning at 2:00.

Because of the cool weather many festival activities have been moved indoors. We'll have plenty of hot chocolate, coffee and good things to eat. So, come join us for an afternoon filled with fun and friends at your camp! The auction featuring quilts, redwood bird feeders and other crafts, and gift certificates from area businesses, restaurants and hotels will begin at 3:00.

Thrivent has graciously pledged matching funds to multiply the festival's proceeds."

Rev. Terry S. Small
Interim Director/Camp Pastor

St. Paul's Chapel and University Center in Iowa City

St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel Welcomes Deaconess Intern Leonarda Decker.

On Sunday, October 29, St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel will induct Deaconess Intern Leonarda Decker Intern Leonarad will serve as the chapel’s Director of International student Ministry and Parish Worker. She will begin her duties on November 1.

Intern Leonarda was born and raised in Kedainiai, Lithuania. She attended The School of Economics in Kaunas, Lithuania, and earned a diploma in Law. During her time in school and after graduation she worked as a consultant at a Notary Office in Kedainiai, Lithuania, and later in Kretinga, Lithuania.

In 1996 Intern Leondara entered Klaipeda University (in Klaipeda, Lithuania) and earned a Bachelor Degree in Theology in 2000. In the fall of the same year she began her studies at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN. Intern Leonarda graduated with a Master of Arts in church history in May of 2003. In the fall of 2003 she entered the colloquy program to receive Deaconess Certification. While waiting on her certification she worked as substitute teacher in Lutheran Schools, and was a family advocate at YWCA Woman’s Shelter in Fort Wayne. From 2005-2006 she lived in Lithuania and worked for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania as an Intern/Co-worker of the Consistory.

Intern Leonarda has been married to Robert Decker since 2001. God has blessed them with a son, Sebastian, who was born in 2003. Her hobbies include working out, especially jogging, crocheting, and reading/writing poetry.

Job Opening at Camp IO-DIS-E-CA

Need a part time job with flexible hours?
We are seeking a housekeeper for our two main lodges.
Work an average of 20 hours per week.
Need more details? Call Luke at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca (319) 848-4187.'

Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca
3271 Sandy Beach Road NE
Solon, IA 52333
(319) 848-4187

St. John Luthean Church in Waverly

Rev. Matthew Versemann was installed on July 6 at St. John Lutheran church in Waverly. Pastor Versemann was installed by the Westgate Circuit Pastors and by his Father in law, Pastor Ronald Hoehne of Sedalia, Missouri who also gave the installation sermon. Pictured: Front row: Rev. Jerry Markel, Rev. Keith Brustuen, Rev. Versemann, Rev. Ronald Hoehne, Rev. Larry Feldt, and Rev.Tom Wegener. Back row: Rev. George Volkert, Rev. Ed Parker, Rev. Tim Parker, Rev. Randy Russell and Rev. Ron Koch

Deaconess Carol Goldfish of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids

Congratulations to Deaconess Carol Goldfish on her recognition at the 2006 Waypoint Tribute to Women of Achievement on October 3 in Cedar Rapids. Carol was the Outstanding Award Winner in the Growth/Accomplishments in Personal Life category. This category recognized women who had demonstrated accomplishments and/or overcame obstacles that had significantly enhanced the honoree’s personal life and ability to help others.

Carol Goldfish was a wife and mother to three children, ages 14, 16, and 19, when her husband, a pastor, died suddenly of a massive heart attack in 1983. Faced with the responsibility of single parenthood, Carol was determined to put her three children through college and fulfill her own dream of finishing college to become a teacher. She completed her degree and became a teacher. During her first year of teaching, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Carol continued to teach and in 1992 began work on a Master's degree. By the time she graduated in May 1994, all three of her children had received their college degrees. Her son, Tim, is a Major in the US Army and both of her daughters, Stephanie and Paula, are teachers.

Carol continued to take classes in Clinical Pastoral Education. Carol is now Deaconess/Director of Human Care at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids and a part time Chaplain at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. Through these positions she has been able to touch many people's lives: patients and family at UIHC, grieving individuals and families, and individuals experiencing domestic violence.

She also leads support groups for unwed mothers and spouses of Alzheimer's patients, parenting and marriage classes and workshops on domestic violence.

Carol is a role model for women of all ages and a resource to schools, individuals and families.

Deadline For The Next Issue

The deadline for the next issue of the IDE TODAY, the newsletter of the Iowa District East of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, will be November 1st.

All IDE congregations, missions, and committees are encouraged to provide news, pictures, updates, and information concerning their activities and work so the rest of the District can rejoice with them.

Contributions can be emailed to IDETODAY@Juno.com or mailed to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, The IDE TODAY, 1701 8th Street, Coralville, Iowa 52241.

The November issue will arrive about Thanksgiving time.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel Bids Farewell and Godspeed to ISM Director Rebekah Thompson.

On Sunday, October 1, the American and international students of St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel, as well as the permanent congregation, gathered to bid farewell and Godspeed to outgoing Director of International Student Ministry and Parish Worker Rebekah Thompson.

Rebekah began working at St. Paul’s Chapel in August of 2002. Under Rebekah’s leadership the International Student Ministry program grew from a once a week get together to a program that involves numerous volunteers speaking the good news of Jesus Christ to students from all over the world in the context of one on one English conversation classes and social events. During her time at the chapel Rebekah taught countless English and TOFEL class, lead numerous social gatherings, and introduced many international students to Jesus.

Rebekah leaves St. Paul’s for a good reason. She is getting married to Dr. Vijay Golla on Saturday, October 14. Dr. and Mrs. Golla will make their home in Bowling Green Kentucky, where Dr. Golla works as an assistant professor in the school of public health at Western Kentucky University.

Grace Lutheran Church in DeWitt - Concordia River Forest

Concordia University-Chicago (River Forest. Illinois) students have been coming to Grace Lutheran Camp, DeWitt for a weekend in the spring and the fall the past several years. The group spends part of their time at the Camp doing "Servent Event Work" around the camp under the direction of the Grace Camp Board. Many worthwhile camp projects have received extra help during their visits. The balance of the weekend is spent in group study with visiting professors from both the Fort Wayne and St Louis Seminaries. The weekend of September 7th, 8th, and 9th this fall was no exception with fourteen students traveling to eastern Iowa with their advisor, Pastor Harry Therwanger. Pastor Therwanger remarks that this is an excellent experience for the students. Fellowship time is also enjoyed during meals prepared by ladies of Grace Church and Camp. The group always enjoyed the opportunities at Grace Camp for games of football, basketball and volleyball.

Christ Lutheran Church in Waterloo

On Sunday afternoon, September 25, in a 2:00 Vespers Service, the members of Christ-Waterloo celebrated their 50th Anniversary. Approximately 150 members, former members, and guests heard the Word of God proclaimed and joined their voices in giving thanks to God for His faithfulness throughout the congregation's 50 year history.

District President Gary Arp preached in the afternoon service on I Peter 2:1-9. He reminded all who were present that they were infants who need constantly to be fed on the pure spiritual milk of God's Word. Former Pastor Arno Melz, and former Vicars David Markworth and David Zimmer were also present and participated in the Service. Christ Lutheran is part of a joint parish with Our Redeemer-Cedar Falls and therefore many members of Our Redeemer, including their choir, also took part in this joyous occasion.

A reception was held following the Service in which letters and personal greetings were received from Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, Waterloo Mayor Tim Hurley, former pastors John Drosendahl and Fredrick Koehler, and former vicar Tony Bolen.

As they thank God for their past, the members of Christ Lutheran look to the future with great hope, trusting in the faithfulness of their merciful God. In Christ, they are the forgiven people of God, and they pray that the proclamation of Christ crucified will remain constant so that they may be built up in the faith and the message of salvation may be heard by all!