Wednesday, May 30, 2012

St. John Lutheran Church in Waverly

 Elder John Heckman speaking to the graduates and presenting a gift from the congregation.
Sr. Youth serving at the reception. April Sherburne, Micah Versemann, Cassie Rottink, Nathan & Kelsey Platte
Pastor Versemann with High School graduates. Drew Rasmussen, Cory Sullivan, and Tanner Steere


On Sunday, May 27 was High school graduation for three of the congregation's youth. St. John's was proud to recognize them in the worship service with a reaffirmation of their confirmation vows and then a reception in the Fellowship Hall following the service.

St. John Lutheran Church in Waverly

Ms. Melissa Haugo, preschool teacher, with the new raised gardens put in especially for the preschool.

Wednesday, May 09, 2012

May 2012 Edition

The latest black and white edition of the IDE TODAY is off to the printer and the color edition is posted at https://sites.google.com/site/theidetoday/home.


Sunday, May 06, 2012

IDE Youth Gathering




The 5th/6th Grade IDE Gathering was a great success again this year. There were 30+ students who came out to enjoy fun, fellowship, and bible studies. They spent the evening studying God’s Word through bible studies led by Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca’s very own, Daniel Sanchez. At midnight we broke the youth into 3 groups to do gym games, group building initiatives, and pool time. At the end of that time the youth had a little free time until breakfast. At breakfast everybody filled out a survey about the evening and everyone, youth and adults alike, had good things to say. Thank you to Leon Miles and Kaja Mueller for overseeing this event as well as to all the parents and volunteers who helped make this event what it was, we could not do it without you.

St Paul's Chapel in Iowa City







Baptisms don’t just happen every day. Okay, maybe they do, but certainly not on college campuses.

Unless you’re at St Paul’s Lutheran Chapel and University Center in Iowa City. Over the course of the school year, three University of Iowa college students became your brother and sisters in Christ through Holy Baptism, confessing Christ alongside you and joining with you in receiving all the gifts that God bestows on His children.

This sort of thing just isn’t common on college campuses. College is a time when many young people fall away from the faith rather than boldly confess it. However, the Lutheran students at St Paul’s had a desire to share their faith with others, and so brought their friends, roommates and acquaintances with them to the events, Bible studies and worship at the chapel. And boy does God love to work through them to share His Gospel.

Kristina (left) was invited by her roommate, Brooke, to St Paul’s and quickly became a part of the chapel family. She was baptized and confirmed on April 29th.

Bailey (center) is a Freshman at U of I, and through tutoring by Chris, a member of St Paul’s, she began coming to the chapel for worship, and her parents also attended with her. Bailey was baptized and confirmed on November 20th, 2011 and her father also was received as a member of St Paul’s.

Jacob (right) came to chapel at the invitation of his roommate, Caleb, and has been faithful in attendance at both events and worship ever since. Following catechesis, he was baptized and confirmed on March 25th.

We give thanks to God for extending His kingdom and using these bright, devoted students to carry out His work of sharing the Gospel. One baptism at a time.

Saturday, May 05, 2012

North Liberty Mission


We’re Planting a Church in North Liberty!

No doubt you’ve been hearing a bit of buzz lately about the new church that we – the congregations of Iowa District East – are planting in North Liberty, Iowa.  And no doubt you’d love to know a little more about this new opportunity and the new pastor who will be serving this budding congregation.

So that we can continue to walk together and support each other as a district, and as brothers and sisters in Christ, here are a few questions and answers to give you the full scoop on all things North Liberty:

Why Bother to Plant a Church?
Our Lord tells us in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Also, research shows it is the most effective and biblical way to do evangelism, all centered on Word and Sacrament.

Why North Liberty?
Located in the heart of Johnson County, North Liberty is a young and vibrant community, and is one of the fastest growing cities in Iowa with over 13,000 residents. The median age is just 29 years old, yet 62% of Johnson County is un-churched. North Liberty is a community ripe for harvest and in need of God’s Word and Sacraments.

Who Will be Planting the Church?
You are!  But for the sake of decency and good order, St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel in Iowa City will be serving as the “mother church.” As such, she will be facilitating resources and support as well as providing encouragement to the church planter, his family, and the new congregation. However, while St. Paul’s will be serving as mother, she will need help and support from her 119 sister congregations.

Who is the Church Planter?
Pastoral Candidate Andrew Richard, of Sterling Heights, Michigan, was recently assigned to St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel as Assistant Pastor for Church Planting.  This summer, Candidate Richard will be ordained and installed and will begin his work in North Liberty.  He received his Bachelor’s degree from Oakland University in Rochester, MI before going on to study at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Candidate Richard has specialized training in church planting, having studied also at the Church Planter Assessment Center in Chicago.  He is married to Renae, who is trained as a deaconess, and together they have a ten-month old daughter, Alexandria

A Number of Denominations have Planted Churches in North Liberty. How will this one be Different?
This church will be distinctively Lutheran. To that end, she will be biblical and confessional, liturgical, sacramental, Christ-centered and when conflict arises, she would be committed to the practice of biblical reconciliation. In other words, she will look like her mother and her sisters!

How Can I Help?
St. Paul’s pastor, Rev. W. Max Mons, notes, “We need our sister congregations to help us and Candidate Richard in nearly every way imaginable. To be sure, we will need financial support. But we also need people, especially those who are willing to help us reach out to the community of North Liberty. Perhaps there are people in our district who would be willing to be “deployed” to North Liberty to help this congregation get started.” Those wishing to help should contact Pastor Mons at 319-337-3652.

IDE Kickball Winners: College Hill















The Fifth Annual President’s Cup Kickball Game between the students of St. Paul Lutheran Chapel, Iowa City and College Hill Lutheran Church, Cedar Falls took place on Saturday, April 21st at Camp Iodiseca. College Hill won the game 8-2. Following the game the teams enjoyed delicious St. Louis pork steaks prepared by Rev. Max Mons. The President’s Cup will reside in Cedar Falls until next April when the two teams meet again.

Lutheran Interparish School in Williamsburg


Mr. Mark Grewe, Principal at Lutheran Interparish School in Williamsburg, Iowa, accepts a check for $50,000 from the U.S. Cellular Contest, "Calling All Communities". LIS was one of the top 18 school winners in the U.S. Cellular: 2011 Calling All Communities Campaign. Trinity Lutheran School, Cedar Rapids and Community Lutheran School, Readlyn also won $50,000 in the 2011 "Calling All Communities" Contest. Central Lutheran School in Newhall was a past winner! We are blessed to have had 4 of our Iowa-East Lutheran School benefit from this program supporting educational programming!

Lutheran Interparish School in Williamsburg

Students at Lutheran Interparish School, Williamsburg, participated in the Fun Run on Saturday, April 7th. 136 participants registered for the LIS annual race: 82 runners in the 5-K race and 54 participants in the Fun Run. LIS surpassed last year’s profits, raising $3,400 in this event. Proceeds will go toward building improvements in the school.

Lutheran Interparish School in Williamsburg


Mrs. Shelly Shaffer and the fifth graders at Lutheran Interparish School in Williamsburg, Iowa planted 5 trees on LIS property.The trees were donated by the Iowa County Conservation Board.

Thursday, May 03, 2012

IDE Mission Committee



Proclaiming Christ Jesus!
Luke 24:46-47

20 years. That is how long it had been since the last LCMS church was planted in Iowa District East.

In Luke 24, Christ tells us that God creates His Church and extends His kingdom through faithful preaching and the proper administration of His Sacraments. So in 2011, New Hope Lutheran Church was formed in Charles City, and we aren’t stopping there.

North Liberty, located in Johnson County, is the second fastest growing area in the state of Iowa and yet is 62% un-churched. This town is ripe for the harvest, and so the Mission Committee desires your support as we together plant a church in North Liberty in 2012.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel in Iowa City has agreed to be the “mother” congregation for this new start in North Liberty, and they have called an Assistant Pastor who will be serving as the “church planter”.

This is where you come in.

We are asking you to pray about giving a gift to support new church starts here in Iowa District East, giving thought to the impact your gift will have on people – right here in Iowa – living in the body of Christ and those dying apart from it.

Through the Proclaiming Christ Jesus campaign, our prayer is to secure a minimum of $600,000 over the next 5-7 years. This will help supply financial support for the new mission opportunities which we have been given, opportunities that allow all 120 congregations in Iowa District East to bring the Gospel to other places here in Iowa.

Will you help us? We know that you can. We pray that you will.

Camp IO-DIS-E-CA





Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca has had a busy spring preparing for the upcoming camp season. With resident camp program registrations up almost 30% year-to-date and camp facilities booked each weekend until November, it was a great relief that 46 volunteers came for our Spring Workdays April 14 and 21. These volunteers helped to prepare, clean, and improve camp’s facilities. Upper Cross was mulched, the Omega Lodge received landscaping work, and a new sign was installed at our Family Campground. Also at the campground, the women’s bathroom was painted. Other projects included splitting firewood and mulching trails all across camp. Thank you to all of our volunteers for making Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca look and stay beautiful for all of our guests!

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

St. Paul's Chapel in Iowa City


On April 28, the members of St. Paul's, students, and ISM volunteers and participants had the opportunity to learn first-hand about handgun and rifle safety and proper shooting technique. Chapel friend, Al Altmaier, whose credentials include NRA Rifle Instructor, NRA Shotgun Instructor, NRA Range Safety Officer, Howard H. Cherry Scout Reservation Shooting Sports Director, and Platoon and Company level Basic Rifle Marksmanship Instructor U.S. Army, offered a brief safety course and a trip to the rifle range in North Liberty for an afternoon of shooting. This was a remarkable experience and one the chapel crowd won't soon forget.


St. Paul's Chapel In Iowa City




These college students from St Paul's Lutheran Chapel in Iowa City clean up nice! Students enjoyed a Formal Dinner and Movie Night that included a fancy three-course dinner, served by the youth group at St Paul's Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon, and a viewing of the classic movie, Casablanca. Here's looking at you, kid.

Valley Lutheran School In Cedar Falls


On April 22, a spaghetti dinner and silent auction was held at Valley Lutheran School in Cedar Falls. 260 people were served spaghetti and 91 people bid on 74 various silent auction items. Churches of the Eastern Iowa Lutheran High School Association donated food, paper products and their time at the event. Funds raised will be used to provide scholarships for students attending the K-12 school. Anyone wishing to contribute to the scholarship fund, may send donations to Valley Lutheran School, 4520 Rownd St., Cedar Falls, IA 50613.

IDE Early Childhood Conference




The District Early Childhood Conference was held March 17 at Central Lutheran School in Newhall. Fifty-two preschool teachers, directors and staff were registered. The attendees represented fifteen preschools from across the district. The presenter was Prof. Annette Oliver from Concordia University, Nebraska. Continuing education certificates were given by Cocnordia University.. The units of study were:

The Image of the Child - Early childhood educators have inside of them an image of the child. This is reflected in how we relate to children and our roles as adults in their lives.

Approaches to Learning - How children learn. Working with emergent, project and play-based curriculums.

From Pictures to Words, The Child Development Institute - The art and literacy connection - Use it or lose it.

Engaging Parents as Partners - Parent involvement is the bedrock of student success in school.

Precious Teachers - Wrapping it up with a little fun!