News

Though late, the August issue of the IDE TODAY is arriving at the congregations at this time--still within the month of August!

The next issue is in November and should reach everyone before Thanksgiving. Start sending in your articles and pictures now so I can blog them immediately and prepare them for print.

Editor

Helpful Hint: When sending in pictures, don't crop or otherwise change the pictures before passing them on to us. We need the full information contained in the files right out of the camera. Also, turn off the date-stamp feature and double check that your camera is set to take the highest quality pictures it can.

News

By now the August issue of the IDE TODAY should have arrived at each of the congregations. It has not. Due to problems at the printers... the issue is delayed. We have every hope that it will be printed shortly and shipped to the congregations.

IDE LLL

Sometimes The Idea Of Change Hurts Like Pulling Teeth

But we are ready -The executive Board of Iowa East Lutheran Laymen’s League met Saturday August 6 and the main topic was the - rebuilding of our Zone leadership. IDE Intl. LLL has five Zones which encompasses 2 or 3 LCMS circuits. It is through these Zone leaders, that each member /donor has representation within the League structure. The members came prepared to announce a new program titled: “On The Road Again” And they would like to visit your congregation in the near future. The main focus of the League is helping congregations in their evangelism efforts and supporting the Lutheran Hour. The new focus is to bring some Workshops to a central zone church, and explain the benefits of having a LHM Ambassador in your congregation.

The board would also like to remind you of the new family Regional Outreach Conferences started this year. The next ROC will be in St. Charles, Illinois (Chicago) . Everyone is invited, say’s our information, and your family may use free time to enjoy the evening at the resort. RESORT - FAMILY - Do you see a picture coming together here? That’s September 9- 10. Registration at 4:00 PM  Friday till 7:30 PM Saturday. The family is then free to go home, or spend Sunday in the Chicago area. Here is a new melding of LCMS and LHM speakers who’s main focus is to encourage or explain to LCMS members how to reach those neighbors looking for a church home and why you are LCMS Lutheran.

If you are computer savvy go here:

http://www.lhm.org/roc/roc.asp?id=17291 Or come to one of the meetings to find new tools to rebuild the memberships of our LCMS congregations and the member/donor base of the Lutheran Hour Ministries.

John T. Moeller - Pres. IDE Intl. LLL

St. John Lutheran Church in Waverly

St. John Garden Club members at work to beautify the church grounds. Also work on the preschool playground equipment.

August in Color

The black and white August edition will arrive in a couple of weeks. But why wait? The color edition is available for viewing and downloading at  https://sites.google.com/site/idetoday/home.

Editor

The August Edition

The next edition of the IDE TODAY has gone to the printer and should be arriving in two weeks. Thank you to everyone who submitted articles and pictures. This marks my 57th issue as Editor.

My favorite picture is on page 15, a companion to the front cover. It shows four or five young campers watching as the horses they are about to ride are prepared. Though you can't see their faces, you can feel their excitement and trepidation rising. The horses must have looked much bigger to them in person then what they were expecting. The good news is that, despite some last moment changes of heart, all went for their ride and all had a great time. (Some day I too hope to ride a horse at Camp IO-DIS-E-CA.)

The color edition will be available on line in a couple of days.

The next issue will be in November.

In Christ,

Rev. Otto, Editor

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Coralville

On August 3rd, a very pleasant evening, 6 riders left Prince of Peace in Coralville and road 8 miles of trails to Napoleon Park on the south side of Iowa City. Picking up another 8 riders, the riding members continued 7 miles south to Hills where they enjoyed a Mexican meal. About half the riders made the return trip.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church In Marion

SAVE THE DATE:

Saturday, October 29^th, 2011  6-8:00pm

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church,

915 – 27^th Street, Marion, Iowa

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Marion, Iowa is inviting families of all ages, to a Fall Family Festival Event on October 29 at 6:00 - 8:00 PM. This event will include kid friendly activities like: Bouncy House, a Maze, crafts and other fun activities.

This event will also include a presentation by nationally recognized author and speaker Dr. Mary Manz Simon. The topic will be Pop Culture Parenting – Parenting in Today’s Digital Society.  The presentation will begin promptly at 6:45 PM.

Dr Manz Simon is an award-winning author, national speaker and media personality. Having sold more than 3 million books, written hundreds of magazine articles, conducted numerous media interviews, and since 1994 hosted a short-format radio program, which airs daily on 180 stations, Simon stays on the edge of issues which impact children and their families.  Content for her Saturday evening presentation, "Pop Culture Parenting," will be drawn from her professional training as an early childhood educator, insights as a corporate consultant and experiences as a children's market analyst. Dr. Manz Simon has also presented at several LWML National Conventions.  

The children’s fun activities will be available the entire duration of the event. There will be a child-care room for parents who wish to attend Dr. Manz Simon’s presentation.

There is no cost for this event or Dr. Manz Simon’s presentation. Children may wish to dress up in their Halloween Costumes.

If you have any questions about this event email office@mystpauls.org or call St. Paul’s church office at 319-377-4687.

IDE at Christ Acadamy

A picture of the young men from IDE who attended Christ Academy—High School 2011 at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, June 19-July 2.

(l-r) Peter Klinge, St. John Lutheran Church, State Center, 

Rev. Andrew Yeager, CTS Admission Counselor/Director, Christ Academy—High School 2011.

Stephen Nus,  Trinity Lutheran Church, Millersburg.

New Worship for the Deaf in Muscatine

Word of God Lutheran Church for the Deaf rejoices to announce progress in our work in Muscatine. On May 28, three new members were received into the church by profession of faith and confirmation. Evelyn Powell was confirmed years ago while attending the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs, but in the ensuing years has had little opportunity to participate in church. Shirley Green and Lorri Green were newly confirmed into the Lutheran church. All three have been attending monthly Bible studies at Our Savior, Muscatine, which provided the room in which to meet. Rev. Tim Eckert, one of two district missionaries to the deaf, began leading the studies in Oct., 2007. Now that there are confirmed members, deaf worship services with communion will be held every month.

This type of schedule is typical in deaf ministry. The fact that the deaf are scattered throughout numerous communities necessitates a “circuit rider” type of ministry. In Iowa, Rev. Mark Anderson leads Bible study and worship in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and Mason City. Rev. Eckert has groups in Davenport, Burlington, Muscatine, and Dubuque. If you know of deaf in any other community who may be interested in Bible study or worship, please contact your missionaries for the deaf at iowaeastdeaf@yahoo.com to inform them of the opportunity.

St. John’s Lutheran Church In Homestead

A joint service was held June 12, 2011 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Homestead with her sister congregation, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wellman, to bid farewell to our pastor, Reverend Wayne Woolery. Vacation Bible School closing was also held in the morning service with an inspiring and joy filled presentation. A bountiful potluck dinner was served to a large number, with an open house and an entertaining program in the afternoon. Special guests included Rev. Woolery’s fiancé Ann Kurth, family members, as well as pastors, members, and friends from the IDE Circuit. An Amana wall clock was presented to him by the congregation in appreciation of his faithful work among us for over ten years. Pastor is retiring from fulltime ministry. He and his bride have settled in Aurora, CO where he is exploring opportunities for ministry with the Hispanic population.

Assistant to the District President - Schools

Introducing Lois Warnsholz – 

Assistant to the District President - Schools

Lutheran education is my passion! This is the result of attending Ebenezer Lutheran School and Lutheran High School Central, St. Louis, and Concordia (when it was RF). In addition to teaching in Lutheran schools in Colorado Springs, CO and Rolla, MO, I was on the Dubuque Lutheran School start up committee, assisted  schools as NLSA consultant, worked at the LCMS International Center in the school ministry department, and served as interim principal at Trinity, Davenport. Presently, I am also the Iowa Lutheran School Tuition Organization program manager, a position that has allowed me to get to know the principals and some staff and boards of most of our IDE schools.

My family includes my husband Merle, in his 5th year as a second career pastor, and two married daughters (a CPA and an early childhood teacher at Trinity) who each have two daughters.

I look forward to visiting each of our schools and becoming better acquainted with their triumphs and struggles. We’ll be having principals’ meeting with IDW and a teachers’ conference on October 20-21 in DesMoines.

Please pray for our schools and their staffs that they may become stronger mission outreachers in our communities.

IOWA LUTHERAN SCHOOL TUITION ORGANIZATION
ASSISTS FAMILIES FINANCIALLY

Are our schools mission outposts? Just this past year in a first grade classroom: First grader comes up to the teacher with another boy. “Hey, Mr. J, we’ve gotta get this guy baptized.” About 3 months later “this guy” was baptized.

The Iowa Lutheran School Tuition Organization goal for 2011 is $483,700. For the 2011-12 school year more than 500 students are receiving aid from the $488,000 raised last year. Many of these are hearing about Christ as their Savior for the first time. Each year our schools minister to new families as a direct result of this financial aid. Our schools are our mission outposts for Christ – we see student and parent baptisms, new families worshiping with us. These funds come from giving people as you who see the value of a Christian Lutheran education.

A donor does not have to be a member of one of our churches or a Lutheran. They need to want to give so families might have the option of sending their children to a non-public school, and enjoy the benefits of a 65% state tax credit. Please let your friends and family in Iowa know of this opportunity.

You may contact Lois Warnsholz, ILSTO program manager, 563-391-1304 or Lois.Warnsholz@lsportal.net for additional information. To learn more and print a donor form you can also go to the website: www.iowalutheransto.org

Because of this 65% Iowa tax credit opportunity this becomes very helpful for some tax payers. If you are aware of tax accountants and/or businesses which are C corporations, please talk with them and/or provide Lois with contact information.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Guttenberg

Good Shepherd theme for the Shepherds

Volunteer Camp Nurse Helene Kuempel noticed that Room 7, the room in which the Pastor's and families stay when at Camp IoDisECa needed an update. She mentioned it to fellow Ladies Aid members from Trinity Lutheran Church-LCMS, Guttenberg, Iowa during the Iowa East District LWML Fall Retreat at the Camp in September 2010. Trinity Ladies Aid asked permission to adopt Room 7 and held their April meeting at the Camp this spring to gather ideas for the "Good Shepherd Room". Trinity ladies have worked hard to bring their ideas to fruition. Gertrude Brase made reversible covers for the four beds, Karen Riser sewed curtains for the windows, the group met to frame the 12 prints they have chosen to display Psalm 23 and a whimsical puzzle entitled "Jump for Joy" was glued to a backing to be hung on the wall. Helene and her husband Tom painted the ceiling in May.

June 6th, a contingent again made the trip to Camp IoDisECa, this time to complete the refurbishment. Five women on a mission armed with determination, paintbrushes, drop cloths and rags painted the walls of Room 7 and the adjoining bathroom. Two colors of blue and a complimentary green were chosen to bring out the colors in the curtains. After the paint was dry, the prints and the puzzle were hung. Sheep and shepherd's grace the walls with verses of the 23rd Psalm. The final touch was a framed picture hung in the bathroom with the words of John 10:14 - "I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me". Camp Counselors there for training as well as camp personnel were eager to see our finished product. At last they were invited to view the results. One person was heard to say: "If the pastor staying in this room can't sleep - he can count sheep!"

St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Van Horne

St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Van Horne held VBS on July 25-29.  Hometown Nazareth focused on Jesus’ boyhood with daily themes that included “nothing is impossible with God” (Jesus was part of a family and we are part of His family), “I have called you by name” (being named in your baptism), and “serve one another in love” (Jesus serves us at the cross).

Each day’s activities included Bible story time, craft, mission project, music, and snacks.  The craft project was a small wooden church that each child assembled and decorated.  The mission project was painting a book bag that will be sent to Lutheran school children at our adopted congregation in Migori, Kenya.  VBS offerings were directed to disaster relief in the US.

CAMP IO-DIS-E-CA

The Summer of 2011 has been a marvelous one at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca. So much fun has been had playing games, conquering fears, accomplishing goals, and experiencing joy. Though, in the midst all of the fun that was had, campers learned God’s Word is Living and Active! When God says something, it happens. When God speaks, He means what He says. Most importantly, campers learned that the Word made flesh, Jesus, was sent to take away the sins of the world. They learned how God’s Word comes to them today through hearing the Scriptures and receiving the sacraments. Lastly, campers learned that because of the works of Jesus and the gifts He gives, that God’s Word makes them holy and righteous in God’s eyes.  God’s Word creates, saves, and makes us holy.  You can see the Word of God hasn’t been sitting around, doing nothing. The Word of God is Living and Active!