Our Redeemer Lutheran in Cedar Falls

MEN’S RETREAT

Why do men stay away from Church?

How can the Church help men?

Why do so many Men’s groups fail?

What is Biblical Masculinity?

How can we encourage men to assume Christ-like leadership in the congregation and the home?

The Rev. Dr. Gary Zieroth, Senior Pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Chaska, MN will answer these and many other questions at an upcoming “Men’s Retreat” in the District. This one day conference will be held at Our Redeemer Lutheran in Cedar Falls on Saturday, November 9 from 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Pastor Zieroth will present materials similar to what he provided at the IDE Fall Pastors’ Conference in 2010. Pastors who found that information helpful will now have the opportunity to put this information into the hands, heads, and hearts of the men in their congregations.

Pastor Zieroth said about this conference, “In this retreat we will examine modern male leadership trends as we take a closer look at 3 Biblical figures - Adam, David, and Peter. In this section we look at the responsibilities God has given to men, and what a life lived under the cross means."

Pastors and laymen are encouraged to register. This Retreat would be excellent for Boards of Elders, Men’s Club leaders, Men’s Bible Study groups, or any man who would like to grow in his understanding of the significance of maleness in the Church of Jesus Christ. If 2 or more men register from a congregation, your pastor’s registration will be free! Bring your pastor with you!

Registration forms are available online at theforgivenessplace.org Simply click on the Men’s Retreat button and you will find registration information. Registration forms will also be available in the Professional Packet of the District in September and October.

The cost of the conference is $10. This will include refreshments, materials, and lunch.

The Schedule of the conference will be:
8:00 – Registration/Coffee
8:30 – Matins – District President Rev. Brian Saunders
9:00 – Session 1 Why do Men Stay Away from Church? The typical congregation in the U.S. draws an adult crowd that is 61% female and 39% male. As many as 90% of the boys being raised in the church today will abandon it by their 20th birthday. Many will never return. Of the world’s major religions, only western Christianity has a consistent nagging shortage of male practitioners. Why? This sessions examines these questions further and helps to answer the question of why modern Christianity seems to be driving men away from the church.
10:00 – Questions/Answers/Discussion
10:15 – Break
10:30 – Session 2 This will be a continuation of the 1st Session. During this session Pastor Zieroth will also discuss Biblical Masculinity and the relationship between men and women.
11:30 – Questions/Answers/Discussion
11:45 – Lunch
12:30 – Session 3 How Has the Church Been Identified with Femininity? Before the year 1200 A.D., men and women played an equal role (participation) in the life of the Church. Before this time, the relationship of the sexes showed no signs of imbalance. This session examines 3 trends that developed in the medieval Church that began to drive men away, and, how Martin Luther tried to bring men back.
1:15 – Questions/Answers/Discussion
1:30 – Break
1:45 – Session 4 In this final session Pastor Zieroth will draw some conclusions and provide guidance for congregational leaders as they answer the question, “How can the Church help men?”
2:30 – Questions/Answers/Discussion
3:00 – Vespers – Pastor Michael Knox

Rev. Dean Rothchild, Assistant To The District President

The Certainty of What You Are Receiving!

You may have joined the crowd which does much of its shopping online. A click here and a click there, a few numbers from a credit card, expiration date, and hit the buy button and you have made the purchase. Shortly after that in a day or two the items begin showing up. We have experienced that this summer as our youngest daughter was united in marriage and she had the presents which people bought on line shipped to our home.

After seeing how well that system worked my wife bought gifts online for the other three weddings we attended this summer. And we also know that those gifts were received as we got thank you notes from the bride and groom. It is truly amazing how that whole system works!

When it comes to the Divine Service we can be certain of the gifts which we are receiving. As we are assembled in the name of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, He begins to generously bestow His gifts upon us as we are gathered as beggars who are ready to receive.

We know that after we confess our sins we are going to receive the forgiveness of sins bestowed upon us through the words of Holy Absolution spoken by our Pastor. What a blessing that is. Through those words, Christ takes what He earned through His suffering and death and places it upon us. What the beggar needs to receive is given and bestowed in those words of Absolution.

The sermon should be a concrete place where the Holy Gospel is proclaimed along with the Law. While we hope the sermon would always hit in the middle of the bulls eye, splattering and splintering us with the bloody cross of Christ Jesus, sometimes it might miss. The Law must first kill me so that the Holy Gospel can resurrect me. I thank God for the good and faithful preachers we have serving here in Iowa District East.

In the Holy Supper I know for certain what I am receiving: forgiveness of sins. Jesus is both the Gift and the Giver in this Holy Meal. He gives us His own body and blood, in, with and under, the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins. That is so vital because I might have drifted off during the sermon or got distracted by a child and did not hear it preached. In this meal there is certainty. Jesus gives that which He says: His own body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. That is a meal of certainty. It reminds me of the certain words of I John 5:11-13, “And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Rev. Brian Saunders, District President

President's Piece for Peace

The 65th convention of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has convened, concurred, and concluded. Over 1500 men and women attended as delegates, advisors, district officials and synod leaders to carry out the business of the church. When that many people gather together from all over the country under Robert's Rules of Order it can be a bit chaotic as well as contentious.

However, that was not what I observed at this convention. This was the gathering of the Church and I was very impressed by the churchmanship displayed by all in attendance. The elections were conducted with a convincing voice as to who this church body desires to lead us for the next three years. Matthew C. Harrison was re-elected as president and Herb Mueller granted another term as 1st vice president. This year there were five regional vice presidents elected. Our region, the Great Lakes, receives Dr. John Wohlrabe as VP. In the East it is Dr. Robert Kuhn, the West VP is Dr. Scott Murray, while the Great Plains welcomes Pastor Nabil Nour, and the Central region VP is Rev. Daniel Preus. All of these men are faithful to the Word of God and honor the Confessions of the Church. Their heartfelt desire is to feed the souls of God's children and move the LCMS out into our communities that the Word of God may seek and save those who have yet to know who Jesus is. The three-fold theme of this convention was Witness-Mercy-and Life Together.

The resolutions that were presented to the assembly were discussed on the floor with great respect for each other. Particular words were parsed so that there was great clarity as to what was being proposed. The highlight of the convention resolutions was the ratification of Fellowship with three Lutheran church bodies around the world. Brothers and Sisters in Siberia, Liberia, and Togo have joined our fellowship in the Lutheran Confessions. We rejoiced over this marvelous work of the Holy Spirit.

The worship was Christ centered and the sermons were faithful to the Word. Essays were presented that clearly proclaimed what the mission of the church is and where it is to be done. No one in attendance could have left the convention without realizing we are who we are by the Grace of God. We are the Body of Christ united in Him with a view toward one another that reflects love and consideration. Together we take heed as to the needs of our neighbor and meet their needs with quickened feet and capable hands.

What I observed was a church body that is growing in the Word and therefore growing together. Unity and harmony are gifts of God and not beyond the scope of His beloved children. I was impressed with what I observed and hopeful from what I experienced. I am very optimistic about the future and direction that our dear LCMS can and will go. In the hands of Christ or Lord, exhibited in the true and trustworthy Confessions of the Church, blessings are in abundance for us all. God bless His Church.

Brian Saunders, IDE President

St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Van Horne

Picture # 1
An extra special wedding day in Van Horne!
Organist Ev Wiebke had an extra special wedding ceremony at St. Andrew on June 14, 2013. Ev played at the wedding of Adam and Rebecca Duffy (pictured on the left). Ev also had played at the wedding of Adam's parents, Lisa and John Duffy (pictured on the right).



Picture # 2
The youth of St. Andrew, Van Horne spent a joyous afternoon on July 2, entertaining and playing music for the residents of the Vinton Lutheran Home.




Pictured are, back row (L to R); Desiree Kerkman, Gracie Jergens, Madison Knight, Hannah Williams, Ben Parmenter. Front row (L to R); Andrew Kerkman, Justice Kerkman, Dillon Kerkman, Matthew Parmenter.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Latimer

Pastor Marvin and Mary Lorenz were honored on their retirement from the ministry at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Latimer. Pastor delivered his farewell sermon on Sunday, July 28 and the worship service was followed by a potluck dinner and shop program. The Lorenz's were presented with a memory quilt planned and stitched by members of the LWML society. Pastor and Mary are shown in the picture holding up the quilt. At the May LWML meeting Pastor and Mary were honored with a housewarming shower. They received many gifts to be used in their newly built home.

CAMP IO-DIS-E-CA

SUMMER 2013

Another wonderful summer has come and gone at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca. Campers have enjoyed outdoor fun, made lasting friendships, and learned God’s Word under the theme Clothed With Christ.

In their short time here, campers learned about two kinds of clothes. The clothes we wear say something about who we are, what we’re doing, and where we’ve been. Campers learned about humanity’s very first clothes. Those first clothes of Adam and Eve have a lot to say about who each of us is and what we need. We all have inherited these clothes of sin. We need our sins to be covered by our Savior. In Jesus, God clothes himself in humanity to conquer sin.

God clothes us in the perfect life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In Baptism, we know our sins are washed away and that we have been made children of God. Our once sinful clothes have been made white in the blood of the Lamb. God no longer sees our sins. He sees us Clothed With Christ!

Camp IO-DIS-E-CA

50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Hundreds of people flocked out to Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca on July 13 to celebrate its 50th Anniversary. Many of Camp’s activities were available for guests to enjoy throughout the day and much of the Camp’s history was on display for guests to view. A celebration service was led by Pastor Andrew Gray of St. John, Marengo and IDE President Brian Saunders preached. The 50th Anniversary celebration was held in conjunction with Camp’s annual Summerfest Quilt Auction. The Summerfest auction and anniversary celebration raised over $11,000 for Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca!