St. John's Lutheran Church in Hubbard

This past September a group of 22 members of St. John’s Lutheran in Hubbard and 2 members of Trinity in Vinton went to Lithuania to work on the Church sponsored by IDE.

Our Lithuanian brothers and sisters have endured much. I’ve personally seen the foundations of Churches the Soviets bulldozed in an attempt to eliminate Christianity. I’ve seen bullet holes in paintings over altars where Soviet soldiers walked into Church Sunday morning and shot at Christ’s image. The Nazis also left their mark in Lithuania. There are mass graves with thousands of Jewish bodies at the outskirts of many of their cities. The people we met, talked with, and worked to help were people who have endured the cross for Christ in ways that we Americans cannot imagine.

Scattered around the Church property in Palanga, Soviet style buildings with their cold, grey, box-like architecture are seen in various stages of decay. The Church stands out as a beacon of hope and life in the midst of these monuments of death. Our visits there have revealed that the members of this parish are a people who need more than money; they need to know that their Christian brothers and sisters elsewhere in the world love them and want them to find joy in our shared life under Christ’s grace.

This was the 3^rd trip we have taken to Lithuania and each trip we come away humbled and thankful for the saving grace of Christ that upholds His people in their trials. Every trip there has brought comments from pastor Petkunis and his people saying they are amazed that we would give up our time and efforts for them. They have been pushed down for so long that acts of kindness and compassion from “outsiders” seem strange.

I write this article not so much to describe something good we did, but to tell you how important mercy is to these people. The project in Lithuania is a worthy one and the people there need our help to finish it. Consider giving a gift to help finish this project. Better yet, consider organizing a group of workers from your church or your circuit. Go into their world, sit with them, talk with them, let them see you giving your time and energy to help them. You will go away richer by far having witnessed firsthand what strength of faith God has given to His people.

Rev. Matthew Rueger

The Rev. Dr. Dean Rothchild, Assistant To The District President

St. Paul wrote: “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Meover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” I Corinthians 4:1-2. Thanks be to God for faithful shepherds who bring the gifts of God to Christ’s people through Word and Sacrament.

Conflict can occur in a congregation when either the Pastor or people are not faithful to the vows which were taken at the Pastor’s installation. In 1870, C. George Stoeckhardt was installed as Pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in St. Louis. The preacher at that service was Dr. C.F.W. Walther. Walther said: “Yet my beloved, when our text says by way of warning that one should seek “no more” in a pastor “than that he be found faithful,” the apostle desires at the same time that a congregation should seek no less than this in its pastor. As important as it is, that a pastor remain faithful in doctrine and life, so important it is that the congregation demand this of him. Woe to the congregation when its pastor wants to be faithful to the doctrine of God’s Word but it, the congregation, demands that publicly and privately that he teach something else than God’s pure Word! Woe to a congregation when its Pastor wants to remain faithful in refuting all error hurtful to the soul but it, the congregation demands of him that he remain silent for the sake of temporal peace! Woe to a congregation when its pastor wants to remain faithful in rebuking all ungodly living but it, the congregation demands of him as the Jew’s of Isaiah’s time demanded of their prophets: “speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions.” Woe to the congregation when its pastor wants to be faithful in the handling of church discipline described by Christ but it, the congregation wants to use only the loosing key and not the binding key.”

God calls us to repentance for an unwillingness to use the binding key to show the erring brother or sister their sin. To leave people wallowing in their sin and unrepentance is the most unloving thing a congregation can do. John says: “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 1:9, 7c. By God’s grace in Christ Jesus, may congregation and Pastor remain faithful to the vows which each have taken.

St. Paul's Lutheran Chaple in Iowa City

“Binging” on Fun and Fellowship

By the time you read this, the “21-Only” debate in Iowa City will have been decided once again by the voters. For those of you unfamiliar with this issue, it centers on keeping college students under the legal drinking age out of bars. In the midst of a campus culture which focuses on partying, binge drinking, and all the sins which accompany this lifestyle, St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel and University Center strives to offer a Christian environment for the students, enabling them to “binge” on safe, healthy, and fun activities in addition to the worship and Bible study times. These social events invite laughter, joy, and fellowship; a definite contrast to the usual secular weekend college agenda.

St. Paul’s student leadership team is comprised of undergraduates who meet to develop outreach events which are fun and positive alternatives to the campus environment. Two new events took center stage this fall: “Meat Night For the Guys” and “Ladies Afternoon High Tea.”

Sometimes, the guys just want to be guys, and Meat Night fits the description. Goofy things like vegetables were not allowed. There were no such things as tablecloths or fancy centerpieces. There was steak, baked potatoes, and pie. And of course, there was foosball. The chapel men did learn that they do need the ladies once in a while…if for no other reason than to point out where the steak knives are kept.

Unlike what was viewed as the rather barbarian event held by the guys, the ladies put on their finery for a high tea that would rival anything hosted across the pond. Fancy tablecloths, the church’s best dishes, and a borrowed silver tea service gave the chapel basement an unusually refined air. Finger sandwiches, cakes, cookies, and treats of all kinds were enjoyed. The only real issue was whether or not you are supposed to “keep your pinky finger out” when sipping your tea. Of course, the ladies also had to prank the guys’ Meat Night by hiding their baked potatoes.

College students need a peer group and social activities. The world is ready to offer one which includes underage drinking and a host of sinful choices. In the midst of an increasingly secular and amoral environment, St. Paul’s stands against the popular culture and reaches out to students with a Christian alternative. Lutheran campus ministry is blessed to be able to offer a positive social influence set in the midst of Word and Sacrament ministry.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wellmen

Installation of Rev. Wayne Woolery at Good Shepherd, Wellman on Oct 24th. Pastors in Front Row: Paul Nus, Dean Rothchild, Wayne Woolery, Nicholas Huelsman, Harold Scheer. Back Row: Peter Hoft, Richard Meyer, Carl Cloeter, Max Mons.

Lecture Series: Rev. Ed Killian

APOLOGIA LECTURE #2 – Nov. 7, 5:00 p.m. at Valley Lutheran High

On the first Sundays of each month, Pastor Ed Killian of Faith Lutheran Church, Waterloo, is leading a series of lectures on Apologetics. These lectures are entirely different from regular Bible studies or preaching. Historical, philosophical and legal argumentation that equips the Christian to engage in discussion with tough-minded skeptics is presented.

This is open to all at only $5.00 per session. The first session was well attended, but if you weren't there, you can still come this month.

Valley Lutheran Middle and High School, 4520 Rownd St., Cedar Falls

IDE Lutherans For Life

In August 2005, two young girls were moved by the story of the LFL crosses broken at a church. They went and asked their father, Tim Harris of Harris Cleaning in Waterloo, to do something about it. That winter Tim made 1000 new crosses. Using maple, he added steel posts in the bottom that make them easier to push into the ground.

It took three years for the local members of Lutherans For Life to get them painted. Last year the crosses were displayed for the first time in four years. Stored in the unfinished area of Valley Lutheran School for three years, last fall a fund-raiser was organized to purchase a trailer in which to keep them and transport them to different churches. When the Harris family became aware of our needs, they again came forward and donated a brand new deluxe trailer.

This year the crosses and new signs were displayed in Denver, Waverly and Waterloo. On October 10 they were at Faith Lutheran in Waterloo and Pastor Ed Killian led a Memorial Service for the victims of abortion. The Harris family was invited and is shown in the photo with the trailer.

The Cross display is available for loan to churches of eastern Iowa from Black Hawk Lutherans For Life. Call Kie at 319-231-5711, if you are interested in the witness of 1000 white crosses representing only 1/3 of the babies who lose their lives to abortion every day in the US.

College Hills Lutheran Church

The first two months of school are over! The students at CHLC have been keeping busy with many activities, inside and out. On September 12, a group of 11 College Hill students made the trip to Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca to go canoeing on the Cedar River. They floated down 8 miles of the river and had a lot of fun, minus the sore muscles! For the first servant event of the year, the students from College Hill decided to paint the game room in the Brammer Student Center. A UNI theme was decided on; yellow walls and purple accents. The painting went well and added some new life to the room. The annual volleyball tournament between campus ministries at UNI has begun! College Hill is the defending champion and would like to keep the trophy again this year. They are currently 3-0 for the season! To wrap up the College Hill activities thus far was the Thrivent Dinner. Around 200 Thrivent members came to College Hill for a meeting and some delicious food. Many members of the congregation and college students served and pulled off the meal smoothly. The year is off to a great start and we look forward to the next few months at College Hill!

IDE 2010 Fall Pastor's Conference at Camp IO-DIS-E-CA

The Rev. Dr. Gary Zieroth, Pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Chaska, MN, spoke to the IDE Pastors at their Fall Conference in late October, Hosted at Camp IO-DIS-E-CA, Rev. Zieroth spoke on the topic: Real men Follow Jesus!


Rev. Brian Saunders, IDE District President, addressed the Pastors at the Conference.

IDE Schools Committee

Pictures taken when the IDE Schools Committee met at Central Lutheran School in Newhall on Sep 24. The committee is touring the new gymnasium with Principal Jan Doellinger.

St. John Lutheran Church in Denver

The 8th Annual MACHO Men of St. John “Steak Fry” was held on Sunday, October 3.

More than 70 people enjoyed grilled 12oz. ribeye steaks with baked potatoes, green beans, corn and desert. Five men from the Lutheran Fraternity of Iowa State University, Beta Sigma Psi, served as the featured speakers. They offered information on the fraternity, its history, its uniqueness and its future. Alex Folkmann, Aaron Folkmann, Wes Schweer, Steve Quist, and John Baumgarten also answered many questions from those in attendance.

MACHO stands for Men Assisting, Caring for and Helping Others. The organization and its activities involve the “four Fs”; Faith, Fellowship, Fun and Fundraising. Funds that were raised at this event will be shared among the following missions; Seminarian support for David McCarthy at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Beta Sigma Psi, Valley Lutheran Middle and High School, Community Lutheran School, and other mission projects. The next MACHO event is the annual “Venison Feed” set for January 30, 2011.

St. John Lutheran Church – Denver, “Our faith in Jesus Christ leads to an unending cycle of praying, studying, witnessing, believing and growing.”

Grace Lutheran Church in DeWitt

Grace Lutheran Church, DeWitt, hosted their annual OctoberFeast on October 10th. Over 650 people from all over the community came to enjoy a great meal and fellowship time while also biddingon baskets at our silent auction. All proceeds from this community outreach activity will be used to assist with various mission projects. The OctoberFeast event was a great fellowship opportunity and fun was had by all.

Faith Lutheran Church in Waterloo

Faith Lutheran Church in Waterloo held their 10:30 service outside on October 10 in the area that is going to be their new sanctuary. A canopy was set up over part of the area where the new 44’ by 68’ sanctuary is going to be built in the near future. It was well attended and people were excited to think about a new larger sanctuary where they can all worship together in one service again.