Brammer Student Center in Cedar Falls

BRAMMER STUDENT CENTER HOSTS REV. TERRY

On Sunday, September 9th the Reverend Jerome Terry and his wife, Dora, from Bethel Lutheran Church in New Orleans paid a return visit to the members of the Lutheran Student Fellowship who had spent their spring break on a servant event assisting with cleanup resulting from Hurricane Katrina. What a time they had recalling their week together.

Rev. Terry and Dora arrived in Cedar Falls on Saturday and had a whirl wind stay as they shared their stories with many fellow Lutherans. It began with the Sunday worship service at College Hill Lutheran Church where Rev. Terry delivered the message followed by a congregational/student potluck. Members of sister congregations were invited to join the group for Rev. Terry’s informal presentation of pictures and information concerning cleanup, restoration of our LCMS churches in the area, as well as information about plans for outreach in New Orleans by the churches and Alabama Louisiana District. That evening the LSF hosted a meal for the Terrys and students.

Monday, Rev. Terry and Dora visited the students at our school in Clemons. The students there had sent monetary support to the Bethel Lutheran Church to assist with repair costs. Another fine opportunity to share information was afforded Rev. Terry when he was a presenter at a speaking event on campus at the University of Northern Iowa. Tuesday was another busy day with the Terrys sharing information at both the Waterloo and Westgate Circuit pastors’ monthly meetings. From there it was on to Iowa District West to share information with congregations there before the Terrys flew home on Thursday.

It was an additional pleasure when the Black Hawk County Thrivent Financial for Lutherans awarded the LSF a matching fund raising grant in the amount of $900.00. Through generation donations of over $1,000.00 Pastor Terry will have $2,000.00 to continue renovation work at his church.

It was a great week for Rev. Terry and Dora, a great week for the congregation at College Hill Lutheran Church and an even greater time for the students who had made the trip to LA last spring. There are whispered rumors about another trip in that direction, maybe as soon as the Christmas break.

Zion Lutheran Church in Wilton

In August,Zion Lutheran Church in Wilton celebrated its 150th anniversary. The theme was " Abiding in the Word" from John 8:31 " If you abide in My Word you are My disciples indeed."

There were two morning services conducted by 4 of the "Sons" of Zion" (Members that grew up in the congregation and went on into the ministry). The early service was conducted by Rev. Robert Alexander and Rev. Ray Salemink, and the late service by Rev. Randy Lett and Rev. John Moeller. The Leader for both services was our own Pastor Reimche.

430 members and guests attended the services and 320 people stayed for lunch and the afternoon program. In all, ten Pastors were present for this program.

The seven Pastors in the photo: Rev. Randy Lett (son), Rev. Robert Alexander (son), Rev. Brian Saunders (Pastor at Our Savior, Muscatine), Rev. John Moeller (son), Rev Dr. Ed Happel (son), Rev. Josh Reimche (our current Pastor, and our former Pastor Wayne Fredericksen. Absent for the photo were: Rev. Ray Salemink, son , Rev. Michael Salemink, son, and Rev. Chris Hinkle, (Pastor at Saint Paul, Wapello).

During the afternoon program, a video was shown on the History of Zion Lutheran church and school including high lights of its 13 Pastors over its 150 year history. The school has been an important part of of the church's 150 year history. In fact, from 1882-1892 the school building served as the church on Sundays, and, at different times during Zion's history, the Pastor has served as a teacher. Today, the Pastor conducts religion classes in the school.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage

Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage celebrated its 75th Anniversary on September 22nd.

Trintiy Luther Church in Osage had its beginnings when, over the years, members from rural St. John Lutheran Church, Osage, moved into town. Eventually, they organized into Trinity under the leadership of pastors from St. John.

Many faithful men have served the congregation over the years:
Rev. E. H. Yohr 1936-1951
Rev. David A Bergmann 1952-1956
Rev. Martin Russert 1957-1961
Rev. Ed Lange 1962-1973
Rev. Curtis Harper 1973-1976
Rev. Kit Belk 1977-1986
Rev. Roger Hubbard 1986-1994
Rev. Christian Gugel 1994-2004
Rev. Bruce Kaltwasser 2005 - present

Currently, Trinity has just over 300 members.

The oldest living member of Trinity is Wilma (Troge) Johnson, who is just a few years from the century mark. The youngest member is Ava Lynn Hennessey, born just this year, in March.

In addition to support for District Missions, Trinity takes pride in supporting Rev. Robert & Sue Pfeil, LCMS missionaries in Kyrgyzstan.

Grace Camp in DeWitt

Pre-Seminary students from Concordia, Chicago with their leader, Pastor Harry Thurwanger, spent the weekend of September 7, 8 and 9th at Grace Camp in DeWitt. It has become a tradition for many years for these students to come each Fall for a weekend at camp. The group spent Saturday morning helping camp board members stain the wood benches at the outdoor worship chapel, paint the Peter Retreat Center and lay flooring on the bridge to the Friendship Garden. After lunch, devotions, and rest time, the fourteen young men played their annual flag football game. Grace Camp ladies provied meals for the group and sack lunches for their return trip to Chicago on Sunday after attending 7:30 a.m. Worship Services at Grace Lutheran, DeWitt.

Trivia To Support Lutheran Education

A Trivia Contest will be held on Friday, September 21, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 115 W. 12th Ave., Milan, IL. The contest will begin at 7:00 and feature a wide variety of interesting categories of questions. Pizza Joynt pizza will be available for delivery, as will beverages, or you may bring your own food and beverages. Up to eight players are allowed on each team, with an entry fee of $10 per person. First and second place prizes will be awarded, and door prizes will be given away during the contest. Call St. Matthew (787-4295) or Christ Lutheran High School (391-2190) by Thursday, September 20, to register your team. Proceeds will go to the work of CLHS.


Christ Lutheran High School "A Different Kind of School" Rev. Steven L. Anderson, Administrator, 1020 W. Central Park Ave. Davenport, IA 52804www.clhsqc.org

563-391-2190

Trinity Lutheran Church in Davenport

The Installation and Ordination of Rev. Merle Warnsholz.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids

Trinity Lutheran School’s Fine Arts Teacher To Be An Honored Guest Of The Japanese Government

Cedar Rapids, Ia. 9/12/07 – This October, Judith Schroeder will depart for Tokyo as a participant in the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund (JFMF) Teacher Program. Mrs. Schroeder, from Trinity Lutheran School in Cedar Rapids, Ia., was selected from a national pool of over 1,700 applicants by a panel of educators to earn this honor. This program allows distinguished primary and secondary school educators in the U.S. to travel to Japan for three weeks in an effort to promote greater intercultural understanding between the two nations.

Her trip will begin in Tokyo with a practical orientation on Japanese life and culture and meetings with Japanese government officials and educators. She will then travel in a smaller group to selected host cities where she will have direct contact with Japanese teachers and students during visits to primary and secondary schools as well as a teachers college. Schroeder and her group with also visit cultural sites and local industries in addition to a brief homestay with a Japanese family.

The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund, based in Tokyo, oversees all aspects of the Teacher Program. The program is sponsored by the Government of Japan and was launched in 1997 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. government Fulbright Program, which has enabled more than 6,000 Japanese citizens to study in the U.S. on Fulbright fellowships for graduate education and research.

Schroeder will be among 200 educators visiting Japan in October. She currently serves Trinity Lutheran School as the 1st-8th grade art instructor, 7th and 8th grade Life Skills teacher, and 8th grade Literature instructor. Mrs. Schroeder is honored to have been selected for this cultural immersion experience. She plans to incorporate Japanese culture into her Art, Life Skills and Literature instruction upon her return.

Primary and secondary educators throughout the United States can apply to take part in one of the two trips to Japan scheduled for 2008. Teachers of all disciplines are encouraged to apply. Applicants are not required or expected to have previous knowledge of Japanese or Japan. The application deadline for both 2008 trips is December 10, 2007. For more information please refer to http://www.fulbrightmemorialfund.jp/ or contact 1-888-527-2636 or jfmf@iie.org. All applications must be completed online.

Lutheran Laymens League at the State Fair

Two-By-Two

Those of you who have volunteered at the LUTHERAN LAYMEN’S LEAGUE booth at the Iowa State Fair know how much fun it can be. Our booth has been a joint venture between the LCMS East and West Iowa districts for many years.

This year, the congregations of Iowa East were invited to make thousands of Jesus or Salvation Bracelets to give away to children as they pass in front of the booth. Each bracelet was a potential “point of contact” and an opportunity to talk to thousands of families at the Fair. Because this was the first year that Iowa East had been asked to make them, we can be proud of our participation and fellowship in keeping ABLAZE our efforts to ask people to “Come And Worship With Us.” Several IDE congregations made 300 bracelets.

The biggest challenge in having a booth at the Fair is attracting attention. Since exhibitors are not allowed to give away items in the main aisles, how do you get people’s attention from twenty feet away when there is so much to look at? If you just sit in your booth and visit, waiting for fair-goers to come to you, the people will be polite, not interrupt your conversation, and continue to walk on by unconcerned.

You want to know our secret in drawing attention to our booth? The secret is working in pairs. We have found that two people working together can give a bracelet to almost every child walking past our booth. The first person chirps and whistles like a little bird to catch little children’s attention. When a child looks up and sees that they can have a free bracelet, they will often pull their parents right over to our booth. Then a second person hands them the bracelet and explains its meaning to the parents and the child. Meanwhile, the first person is back attracting another family over to the booth. Pretty simple.

We have learned that if our Fair booth is active the fair-goers passing by will be drawn to us. It also helps when people leave our booth with a smile on their faces. Often, when a child has missed seeing our booth and then spots other children with their bracelets they will look back, see us, and return with their family for theirs.

Please join the fair booth movement that is such a simple way to say LCMS Lutherans would like you to “Come and worship with us.”

Pictured: Marlyn Grunder, League Services Zone 3; Keith Schmidt, District President of Intl. LLL Iowa East; David Grantz, IDE Intl. LLL Ambassador of the Year for 2006 from Zone 3; and Shirley Grunder, Treasurer for the Intl LLL District board. This year, Marlyn scroll-sawed over 300 wooden fish with “Jesus” cut into the side. Half of the fish were sent to the Mississippi Valley Fair, and the other half went to the Iowa State Fair. There are many “labors of love” and ways to tell un-churched families you care in Iowa District East. If you know of one, share it on the IDE blogspot.com