IDE Early Childhood Conference

We almost did not have our District early Childhood Conference because of a snowstorm.  However, 55 preschool directors, teachers, and staff were able to make to Zion, Hiawatha on Saturday, February 21. Pastor Daird Korth the Assistant to the President for preschools began the day with devotions and observations concerning early childhood education in the LC-MS. Our keynote speaker was Rachel Bausch. She is currently the Early Childhood Director as well as part-time Jr. Kindergarten teacher at St. John Lutheran School in Ellisville, MO. Rachel has presented at workshops in the Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri Districts and at Concordia University in Seward, NE. She currently teaches workshops at Early Childhood centers throughout the St. Louis area and instructs Early Childhood education classes through the Community College. She is also the writer for the LCMS Early Childhood Devotions publication. Her theme was “Trash Transformed into Treasures.” The attendees were moved by Rachel’s first presentation, “Treasures of the Heart”, where she urged them to get rid of the trash that interferes with their ministry. In the afternoon, Rachel gave practical advice for the classroom.  Our second presenter was Teri Stuckey, "Music Together" instructor from the Cedar Rapids Symphony School. She involved the group in interactive music, rhythm and movement activities as she shared ideas on how to integrate music into the curriculum. As part of her presentation, Teri also included some of her favorite Bible songs and thematic ideas that she has used with preschoolers in the past. Mary Becker presented “Today’s Kindergarten - Skipping into the 21st Century.” She has taught at Trinity Lutheran School, Cedar Rapids since l982. The participants gave many positive evaluations of the day’s events. The event ended with the presentation of the Early Childhood Educator of the Year to Becky McKinney. Becky is the preschool teacher at Central Lutheran School in Newhall. A special thanks is due to Peggy Seeber, our District Early Childhood Consultant and her staff at Little Lambs Christian Preschool for all the work they did to make it an enjoyable experience.

Immanuel Lutheran Church in Charlotte

The Rev. Terrance Ellis has served as Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Charlotte for 20 years. Pastor Ellis was surprised on Sunday January 18  by the Sunday School children with cards, gifts and banners. After the morning worship service Pastor was presented with a new Pastoral robe and his wife Sandy received a bouquet of flowers. The Rev. was installed at Immanuel on January 15, 1989. 

Bethany Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids

The annual Epiphany Concert at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa took place on Sunday, January 4, 2009.  Invitations were sent out to the area and we were pleased to embrace 8 different churches that joined us in a community choir.  This was a rare opportunity to nurture and enrich our community in a large choir setting. 

 Many talented individuals came together to share their God given talents with our community, including a 40 member choir, a professional brass quintet, liturgical artists and dancers, and several soloists.  There were 250 people in attendance for the concert entitled “Father Of Light” and a soup supper was provided after the concert.  With the help of Thrivent, a freewill offering was collected and totaled $7,617.  All proceeds raised were donated to the Muhlbach family to defray the cost of medical bills as they recently lost their son to cancer.  

 Steven Moore, Minister of Music, lead the choir in heartwarming music to celebrate the Epiphany season.  It was an inspirational event to reflect on the meaning of Epiphany through a spirited blend of Word, art, dance, prayer and music.

 Linda Patten

Bethany Lutheran Church

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Brammer Student Center in Cedar Falls

ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL WEEKEND AT CHLC/BSC

 

Lutheran Student Fellowship at Brammer Student Center, College Hill Lutheran Church, and Cedar Falls hosted its annual high school weekend in January welcoming fifteen students and counselors from three congregations.

The students arrived Saturday and after a tour of the site enjoyed getting acquainted, playing game challenges and Bible study. Pastor John Wegener created a “Law or Gospel” question and answer game to be handled by respective teams. As an aside, Pastor posed the same set of questions to the Adult Bible Class and the participants there were equally challenged for responses.

The high school students and their seventeen LSF hosts and hostesses toured the campus, enjoying a bit of the UNI Women’s Basket Ball game at McCloud Center while doing so.

After dinner and more Bible Study challenges, the students went over to the Health and Wellness Center which was reserved for their exclusive use: swimming pool, ball courts, and climbing wall.

None of the students will admit as to the number of hours slept that night; but they were up and ready for Bible Study the next morning. Following worship service, the students were guests at the monthly potluck hosted by the congregation members.

It is hoped many will choose to attend UNI and be active with their LCMS campus ministry, College Hill Lutheran Church and Brammer Student Center.

Camp IO-DIS-E-CA

Slushball!

With temperatures approaching 60 degrees, the planned Broomball game for the IDE Jr High Youth Retreat turned into Slushball. Pastor Stephen Henderson, Risen Christ, Davenport led the participants in a lively study about the nature and work of Jesus Christ. Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca Program Director, Daniel Sanchez served as pizza chef and host for the event. A fantastic time was had by all as friendships were renewed and new friendships created. Retreat participants are already looking forward to next year's event and wishing there were more events like these each year.

"Forgiven."

Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca is accepting registrations now for their summer programs under the theme "Forgiven." Horse Camp, Wilderness Camp, Sports Camp, Adventure Camp, the Canoe Trip and Bike Trip are some of the specialty camps offered in addition to the regular age-based camps: Explorer, Discovery, Pathfinder, and Trailblazer. Registrations received prior to April 20 qualify for a $10 "Early Bird" registration discount. Campers have an opportunity to climb the 37' climbing tower, canoe, hike, swim, frolic on the 70 foot long slip and slide, play a life-sized game of Foosball, learn to shoot a bow and arrow or air rifle, ride a horse, and much more. New this summer is an exciting crafts program under the guidance of a dedicated Craft Director. Bible studies will be led by a summer vicar and focus upon the forgiveness we receive in Jesus Christ. Campers will hear the comforting news that forgiveness does not depend on our works or attitudes, but solely upon Jesus Christ and his works, his 
attitudes, his life, death, and resurrection for us and delivered through His chosen means. Campers may chose their cabin mates, too. 
Register today online at www.campiodiseca.org or call 319.848.4187 to receive a brochure.

Rev. Dr. Dean Rothchild's March Article

Privileged to be of Service

Webster’s dictionary offers a couple of interesting definitions for the word privilege: “a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage or favor,” “prerogative; esp: such a right to immunity attached specifically to a position or an office.” To summarize, privilege is that which is granted and is often tied to a particular position or office. To serve in the Pastoral Ministry is certainly a privilege. What a great joy a Pastor has in bringing forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation to God’s people through Word and Sacrament!

    Our Lutheran school teachers and our principals are called to serve in our schools. Other commissioned workers, DCEs, deaconesses, DCOs, etc. are called to serve in the ministry of a particular congregation. Teacher’s have the privilege to serve those children entrusted to them in their classrooms where God’s Word can be applied through a proper division of Law and Gospel.

    I have had the privilege to serve the congregations in Iowa District East in my present position for almost seven years.  That service has come in a variety of ways: Stewardship, conflict resolution, congregational self-evaluations, planning models, Witness Workshops, preaching and conducting services, and leading Bible class when asked. Time has flown by. When our family arrived here, we had two children in the nest, and now my wife and I are empty nesters. Our youngest is a freshman in college.

    When I think of service I can think of no better model than that of Christ Jesus. Jesus said: “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  As much as we would like to think that our service is meaningful, it is still tainted by our sin. We cannot and do not do things perfectly.

    Our comfort comes in the fact that Jesus has fulfilled all things for us. He has done all service completely and perfectly. He has gone to the cross with not only our imperfections and sins, but the guilt which that sin brings. In giving up His perfect life and shedding His holy and precious blood, He has earned forgiveness of sins for all people. That is service. Jesus continues to serve His Church by bringing His gifts of forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation to His people through His Word and Sacraments. What wonderful service Christ continues to render to His Church!

    I thank you that by God’s grace I have been privileged to be of service to you and will continue to serve you because I have been sacrificially served by Christ Jesus!

Central Lutheran School

When she pulled up to the school and saw the message, “Happy Birthday Mrs. D” written in the snow in blue spray paint, Principal Jan Doellinger knew it would be a day full of surprises, but she had no idea what staff and students at Central Lutheran School-Newhall had in store for her.

After Principal Doellinger finished reciting morning announcements in the gym Friday, Jan. 30, the staff filed in singing Happy Birthday and wearing the uniform of the day, a white T-shirt with a picture of Mrs. Doellinger from her teen years, complete with cat-eye glasses studded with rhinestones.    After the school day was underway, each class took its cue from the overhead PA system.  When they heard the tune “Happy Birthday,” the classes each took turns strolling through Mrs. D’s office with each student depositing a piece of chocolate onto her desk.  (Besides ice cream, chocolate is one of Mrs. D’s favorite things.)    

It all led up to the finale…a lunch that Doellinger will not soon forget.  When she walked into the cafeteria, she did so to the Happy Birthday song being pounded out on the piano, serenaded by the CLS student body, past and present.    

Benton Community Choir Director John Hayden, whose children attend CLS, put together a choir of CLS alumni who came back for lunch on this special day and sang a few original songs written by Mr. Hayden.  The humorous lyrics incorporated some of Mrs. D’s favorite and not-so-favorite things.    

Special surprise guests seated at the head table were Doellinger’s parents Ioleta and Gil Schanbacher and husband Rev. Jerry Doellinger.  The school cooks baked cake for the entire student body while parents and staff scooped ice cream.

IDE Convention Nomination Announcment - Updated

The following are the congregational nominations listed according to the number of nominations received.

The following are the congregational nominations listed according to the number of nominations received.

District President: 26 Brian Saunders, Matthew Reuger; 22 Dean Rothchild; 8 Timothy Zimmermann; 4 Dan Krueger; 3 Keith Piotter, Steven Rempfer; 2 Gary Sears, Terry Small, David Rempfer; 1 Jerry Doellinger, Mark Halvorson, Kristian Kincaid, Daniel S. Johnson, Donald Loesch, Randy McHone, David Splett.

First Vice President: 30 Matthew Reuger; 26 Brian Saunders; 7 Dan Krueger; 6 Michael Knox, Steven Rempfer; 4 Max Mons; 3 Jerry Doellinger; 2 Daniel S. Johnson, Keith Piotter, Joe Polzin, Dean Rothchild, Timothy Zimmermann; 1 Mark Halvorson, Kurt Larson, Mark Leckband, Terry Small, Michael Vokt, David
Weber.

Second Vice President: 20 Brian Saunders; 17 Michael Knox; 8 Matthew Reuger; 5 Daniel S. Johnson, Daniel Krueger, Steven Rempfer; 4 Michael Scudder; 3 Daird Korth; 2 Paul Beisel, Kurt Larson, Randy McHone, Doug Morton, Keith Piotter, Dean Rothchild, Victor Young, Bruce Zimmermann; 1 Karl Bollhagen, Dean Duncan, James Eggert, Terry Ellis, Larry Feldt, Clarke Frederick, Mark Halvorson, Bruce Kaltwasser, Donald Loesch, Max Mons, Tim Zimmermann.

Respectfully submitted,

Dean Duncan
IDE Secretary

Rev. Dean Duncan
Pastor, First Lutheran Church LCMS
Belle Plaine, IA 52208
flc@netins.net
(319) 444-2849 (office)
(319) 521-2596 (home)