College Hills Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls

College Hill Lutheran Church and students hosted their annual Fall Fling Study Weekend on October 23^rd and 24^th. The weekend began Friday evening with students gathering together at the local horse barn for some square and line dancing followed by s’mores around the bonfire.

The following morning it was time for study as guest speaker, Dr. Lawrence Rast from Concordia Theological Seminary—Fort Wayne, gave a presentation titled “Making Sense of American Lutheranism.” Dr. Rast brought history to life as he spoke about key people and events influencing the spread of Lutheranism in America. Over the lunch hour, students and guests enjoyed pizza and played elbow tag. The day’s activities concluded with Vespers.

IDE Youth Summer Stretch

Summer Stretch 2009

Over 25 middle-school IDE youth joined together in four fantastic days of service and fun this past summer. This district middle-school ministry called Summer Stretch, involved kids from St. Paul in Mt. Vernon; Zion in Hiawatha; Concordia, Bethany, and Trinity in Cedar Rapids; Our Redeemer in Iowa City; St. Paul in Williamsburg; and St. John in Homestead. Summer Stretch mornings were full of varied service and ministry projects and the afternoons brought fellowship time for the youth. Host churches provided lunch and arranged the service and work projects and the fellowship activities.

June 17 was hosted by Bethany Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids and organized by Ben Venteicher, DCE. Work groups helped with landscaping and gardening at the Brucemoore Estate, assisted residents with rehabilitation activities at a care facility, and worked with Aid to Women (a Christian crisis pregnancy center) in Cedar Rapids. One volunteer observed, “I liked helping and serving the people that really needed it.” In the afternoon, the youth were treated with a trip to the theater for a movie!

July 1 was dedicated to helping King of Glory, amission church established by African refugees in Iowa City. The founders of the church had come to the U.S., learned about Christ, and eventually started a mission church. Some of the youth made sandwiches at King of Glory to distribute to the needy. Others served by cleaning and sorting at the Salvation Army in Iowa City. They all had a blast with water games on the church lawn in the afternoon. One participant commented, “I liked folding the boxes and sorting out food at the Salvation Army.” The host church was Our Redeemer in Iowa City, and the event was organized by Kaja Mueller, Director of Youth Ministry.

On July 22, youth prepared and served lunch at Mission of Hope, a soup kitchen in Cedar Rapids. They also tied a number of fleece blankets for area children. Afterward, they enjoyed games in the youth room at our host church, Concordia Lutheran in Cedar Rapids. The day’s events were organized by Leah Welter, DCE.

On August 12, youth tied quilts for Lutheran World Relief, assisted with His Hands Medical Clinic, and helped local nursing home residents with exercises and Bingo. “I learned about a cool ministry in Cedar Rapids that helps families without health insurance,” a youth shared. The afternoon was filled with games back at the church that included Jello!? The host church was Zion in Hiawatha, organized by Brittany Newton, DCE intern.

IDE Summer Stretch was an awesome program and the kids look forward to doing it again next year!!

Ann Rackow, Director of Youth Ministry

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Williamsburg, IA

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

College football has her sacred ground and storied games, but for the chapelites of St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel no ground is more sacred and no game more storied than Willow Creek Park and the game called Luther Bowl.

Now in its ninth year, Luther Bowl invites chapelites, permanent congregation members, and alumni to divide into teams, strap on the flags, throw caution to the November wind, and compete in the greatest of all collegiate football games. It’s a game filled with brilliant plays and shouts of “NOOOOOOO!” It’s a game of bumps and bruises and the occasional trip to the emergency room (Relax mom – this has only happened once in the last nine years). Most of all it’s a game filled with pride and tradition as the will forever be able to tell spouse and children, family and friends, “I Survived Luther Bowl.”

IDE Camp IO-DIS-E-CA

What a Day!

Beautiful Quilts + Tasty Treats +

Great Crowds = Fantastic Fall Festival

Camp guests were greeted by the aroma of bratwurst, Italian sausage, and hot dogs grilling over hickory charcoal. As they entered the Dining Hall, the sweet smell of pumpkin pie welcomed them. Thirty two quilts were hanging in the Activity Room awaiting Auctioneer Jason Knapp to open bidding on those beautiful creations, crafted by loving hands in thousands of hours. Every 15 minutes a Fall Festival participant received a door prize. Some received wooden quilt racks, another a quilt purchased by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and donated as a door prize, another received a $250 scholarship for the 2010 summer camp programs. Snuggled in warm blankets and surrounded by blazing fall colors, guests enjoyed hay rack rides around the 100 acre complex while others climbed the tower, tossed a bean bag, or honed their archery skills. When the last quilts and gifts had been auctioned, the camp cooks served a delicious chili supper with homemade rolls and scrumptious pies. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans donated one dollar for every three raised during the day. Over $7,800 were raised. It was a fantastic Fall Festival! IDE

St Paul Lutheran Church in Eldora

THE SEVENTH PLAGUE

by Rev. David Splett

In Exodus 9, Moses stretches his staff toward heaven and the Lord sends thunder and lightning and hail upon Pharaoh and the land of Egypt. As the hail rains down, the Bible says, IT WAS THE WORST STORM IN ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT SINCE IT HAD BECOME A NATION (9:24). It may not have been for the same reason, but the citizens of Eldora and the area around got to experience their own worst hail storm in the history of Hardin County.

On August 9, as I was shaking hands following the worship service at 10:30 a.m., an unforcasted hail storm struck. Hail the size of tennis balls was blown along by 80 mph straightline winds. In 20 minutes, two inches of rain also came down. A few of the members had made it home, some were struck on their way, most were still at church. It wasn't a fun experience for anyone no matter where they were caught at the time.

When the storm had passed, the damage it left behind was incredible. Eldora is a town of 3000 people and almost every house and building in town lost windows and roofs and siding and had all sorts of other water and wind and hail damage inside. The estimate was 1500 vehicles with dents and smashed windows. Outside of town, corn which was ten feet tall was fortunate if it was ten inches tall. Sheds were blown down and corn bins were rolled across fields, hundreds of trees were shredded of all their leaves and needles. In reviewing the membership roster, approximately 80% of St. Paul's 500 members either had hail damage themselves or had family who needed assistance with clean-up. No lives were lost, however, in a great act of God's mercy!

As recovery began, help also arrived. Rev. Glenn Merritt and Rev. Carlos Hernandez of LC-MS World Relief and Human Care came to town with our new District President Rev. Brian Saunders and Rev. Dean Rothchild who co-ordinates disaster relief in our District. All four met with various members of St. Paul to hear their stories and find out their needs and offer the Lord's hope and encouragement. Pastors Merritt and Hernandez then met with various members of St. Paul to help them organize for assisting members and others in the community.

Using LC-MS World Relief's theme of "Mercy Forever", St. Paul's committee went to work. A priority was to show mercy to needy and uninsured folks by helping them take advantage of a State disaster program which reimburses people for certain repair bills they have paid. The challenge for many needy people was not having the funds to pay these bills and this is where the church helped. Monies from World Relief and IDE were combined with money St. Paul took out of an LCEF investment we had plus some of our first insurance check which we hadn't spent yet plus the local Ministerial Association funneled several thousand dollars into St. Paul's hail fund and other gifts came from individuals and other churches. Additionally, bedding and furniture also was donated and distributed. As the local newspaper noted, "All the area churches have played a role, but by some act of Providence and happenstance St. Paul Lutheran in Eldora has become storm recovery central in recent weeks." So far almost $25,000 has been used and close to 100 people aided.

The seventh plague in Exodus brought God's wrath to some but also His mercy to others. The members at St. Paul haven't been too concerned about the wrath part but they have seen and been part of an abundance of God's mercy. And more is coming. As people are being reimbursed, more funds are becoming available to help even more people put their homes back together. A guiding verse for the days to come is Galatians 6:9 where Paul writes, LET US NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD, FOR AT THE PROPER TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP. We will keep praying for the harvest and God's "Mercy Forever!" IDE

Trinity Lutheran School In Cedar Rapids

Trinity Lutheran School in Cedar Rapids hosted their first Walk-A-Thon on October 21st, raising $7695. A new walking trail, created through the hard work of Trinity's 8th grade class, made the event a success. The trail will be open to all and will also be beneficial to students during Phys. Ed class furthering a healthy lifestyle. Trinity Lutheran is a PK-8, private school open to all denominations. The school currently serves 175 students. Trinity offers sports, fine arts, small class sizes, and the opportunity to grow in faith. Congrats to Trinity Lutheran for a job well done!

LCEF in IDE

LCEF INVESTMENTS AT WORK IN IDE

When Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Coralville was ready to open their preschool, Lutheran Church Extension Fund was blessed to partner with the ministry and fund the startup loan.

Now in its fifth year, the Prince of Peace Christian Preschool is successfully providing a positive, Christian education to 3, 4, and 5 year olds including all kinds of fun field trips and unique experiences. “We had a speaker talk to the class during our forest unit and she brought both a live owl and a hawk. The kids loved it!” said Preschool Director Jenni Bounds.

Need funding for your LCMS school? Contact your District Vice President Carole White at 1-877-439-5233, or Carole.White@lcef.org.

2009 IDE Teacher of the Year

Elyse Wilde was presented the 2009 IDE Teacher of the Year award at the East West Teachers Conference on October 22-23. Rev. Wayne Woolery presenting.

Elyse graduated from Concordia, Seward in 1994. She has been teaching 8^th Grade at Lutheran Interparish School in Williamsburg since 2004. She and her husband, Shawn, have one son and are expecting their second in April.

Elyse brings a lot of energy to her classroom and is regularly looking for new ideas and approaches to integrate into her teaching. She shares the love of Christ with her students and colleagues in many ways. She also actively leads the youth group at Immanuel Lutheran in Williamsburg.

Congratulations and God’s continued blessings on your ministry!

Redeemer Lutheran Church in Ventura

Ventura's Redeemer Preschool

Marks 25th Anniversary

Redeemer Preschool in Ventura marked its 25th anniversary on October 11 with special music from its 2009 class during the worship service.

Redeemer Preschool opened its doors in 1984 with 17 children attending classes in two sessions two days each week. Over the years the class size has fluctuated between 35 and 50 children in two to three class sections.

The original goal for the preschool was to bring children into a Christian setting to serve the children in the community for school rediness with social and academic skills.

Redeemer added a day care program in June of 1998 to serve families with child care needs for full and half day needs. Parents utilizing the day care are relieved to know the preschool is in the same building and is available for their children.

The current director is Kari Markla and the assistant director is Carol Korth. The current staff numbers fourteen. The most recent development for the preschool is its partnership with Ventura and Clear Lake Public School Districts in the Voluntary Four Year Old Preschool Program through the State of Iowa.

Rev. Dr. Dean Rothchild, Assistant to the District President

Confessing Christ Jesus

The Church is called to “confess Christ Jesus.” St. Paul states: "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" Romans 10. Jesus said: “Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” Matthew 10.

Confessing Christ Jesus is what we do as the Church. Someone confessed for us at our Baptism. We made the confession of Christ Jesus at our confirmation which is a continuation of our Baptism. As I was working on this the idea of a “good confession” crossed my mind. Lo, and behold, I was led back to my confirmation verse given to me by Pastor Loren Vogler. It reads: “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses" I Timothy 6.

The Church confesses Christ Jesus through its preaching, teaching, the administration of the Holy Sacraments and as it gathers around the Divine Service to “receive” the gifts of God. What a privilege to be part of a confessing community of believers we call the “Church.”

As we are sent forth by the benediction, we are sent back into the world where our baptismal life is lived out in service to our neighbor through our various vocations. We enter the Divine Service with the “invocation,” we are sent forth with the Divine Service to a life lived through “vocation” and service to others.

When we fail (sin), we return to our Baptism, confessing our sins, drowning the old Adam and being assured that our sins are forgiven. St. John states it so eloquently and concisely: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” I John 1.

What a privilege to believe and confess and live in the newness of life which is ours in Christ Jesus. What a joy we have to tell that message of Christ Jesus to others!

Rev. Dr. Dean Rothchild

Assistant to the District President

2009 Fall Pastor's Conference

Camp IO-DIS-E-CA in late October.

The Rev. Brian Saunders, IDE District President.

Professor Dr. Andrew Steinmann presenting on Daniel.

The Rev. W. Max Mons, one of four IDE Pastors who presented a paper at the Conference.

Fall Pastor's Conference

In late October, the Pastors of IDE meet for their annual Fall Conference, hosted again this year by Camp IO-Dis-E-CA. This two-day event revolved around Dr. Andrew Steimann's presentation on the book of Daniel. Author of the CPH Concordia Commentary on this Old Testament work, Dr. Steinmann is a professor at Concordia College: Chicago and has several other CPH titles to his credit.

The Pastors also had the oportunity to hear papers presented by four of their IDE peers, had the priveledge of Hearing the Rev. Brian Saunders, IDE President, preach on a selection from Daniel, ad plenty of opportunities vist and catch-up with old friends.