St. Paul's Chapel and University Center in Iowa City

Advent at St. Paul’s

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

You may ask yourself: “Why is the girl in the picture wearing a wreath and candles on her head?” No, in spite of the costume you have not been transported into a C.S. Lewis or J.R.R Tolkeinesque fantasy world, you’re in St. Paul’s Chapel the morning of December 13th celebrating the Feast of Saint Lucia. St. Lucia Day is a Swedish holiday that celebrates the life of the Italian martyr, Lucia (Italian for “light”), who was tortured and killed for her faith when she refused to marry an unbeliever so that she could dedicate her life to serving others for Christ. To honor this day our sister LCMS congregations in Iowa City partnered with us in celebration by making the Swedish food for breakfast and joining us at the Chapel as American and International Students alike gathered during this Advent season –where we look for the coming of the Light of the World – to celebrate the life of a woman who serves as a reminder to let our light shine wherever God places us.

College Hill Lutheran Church

It’s the holiday season and heavy duty study time for the students at the University of Northern Iowa who attend Lutheran Student Fellowship at College Hill Lutheran Church and Brammer Student Center.

However, as you can see, the students take time for service to the church by decorating the nave and other areas of the building for the holidays.
Students also take some social time to enjoy one another while baking and frosting cookies to be delivered to the shut-ins of the congregation.
What a great way to share their time with others to the benefit of the entire congregation.

Thank you, students. Have a great holiday. See you in January for next semester.

New Email Address and Deadline Reminder

There is a new address to send your IDE pictures, articles, and announcments:

IdeToday@lcmside.org

The old address will work for awhile.

The next deadline is January 1, 2009.

IDE Youth Committee

A Time for Fellowship

The Iowa District East had two more activities that provided a chance for fellowship and spiritual growth for our youth.

The 5^th & 6^th Grade Retreat at Williamsburg has been an event where the youth can do a variety of activities like swim, bowl, play basketball or volleyball in the gym, and play games. The local school, bowling alley, grocery store, and pizza restaurant have been great supporters of this event. The Lutheran Interparish School of Williamsburg has also been wonderful for letting us hold this popular event for the past several years.

The Senior High Retreat (pictures at the left) was held at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca in November this year. The high school students had a chance to meet others, play games, eat pizza and s’mores, and learn more about witnessing and college campus ministry. This year we added a servant event. What a wonderful group of youth we have in this district.

The next events:

• Feb. 6^th & 7^th, 2009 - Junior High Retreat: This has always been a blast.
• March 21^st and possibly other dates, 2009 - Youth Leadership Listening Posts

Our next District Youth Committee meeting will be Jan. 17^th from 12:00-5:00. If you have any suggestions for future events, please contact Rev. Rothchild at the District Office (319-373-2112). Youth leaders may also consider getting on the list at the District Office to receive the professional packet which will have the youth activities and any registration forms. It is sent electronically.

Current Youth Committee Members are:

Chair - Rev. Ronnie Koch; Youth – Stephen Hoffman and Kristin Pipho; Other Members – Leon Kroemer, Leon Miles, Renee Moravec, Rev. Tom and Asunta Shumaker; District Youth Executive – Rev. Dean Rothchild; Camp Contact – Daniel Sanchez

St. Paul's Chapel in Iowa City

Kenya Mission Team – An Amazing Experience!

“Wazungus!” This surprise comment greeted the Kenyan mission team from St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel several times, as they spent a week and a half in May serving and living on the eastern side of the African continent. “Wazungus” translates to “white people” – an uncommon site in the remote areas of Kenya. Fair skin, blonde and red hair, and blue eyes were fascinating especially to the children, who clamored to touch team members in an attempt to see if, indeed, their skin and hair were “real.” And yet, looking and sounding different gave the mission team the opportunity to meet and form relationships with the people of the village they served.

For 10 days after classes ended last spring, a team of students from St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel in Iowa City traveled to Kenya to serve in the village of fellow chapelite, Martin Mwangi-Thuo. The team stayed with Martin’s family in Nyacaba, which is about 90 minutes northwest of Nairobi. Martin’s mother hosted the students and did an outstanding job of organizing the team’s responsibilities and service while in Kenya. While in Nyacaba, the mission team taught religion classes at the local primary schools. Using songs, skits, and simple lesson materials, the team focused on the three Persons of the Trinity, highlighting Jesus’ death and resurrection. The team also delivered donations which they had collected, including books for the school, shoes, pens, and other needed supplies.

In addition to long hours of serving, the team was able to enjoy the remarkable beauty of Kenya. They visited The Fourteen Falls, stood on the equator, and spent time sightseeing in Nairobi. The college students were also able to go on safari just before heading back to the States, observing elephants, gazelles, zebras, impalas, and many other amazing creatures in their natural habitat.

The trip to Kenya was the experience of a lifetime, and the mission team wants to extend heartfelt gratitude once again to all the people who helped them. Many, many thanks are extended to the congregations and LWML’s of both IDE and IDW, Thrivent Financial, and the families and friends who supported this mission trip with their donations and prayers.

Grace Lutheran Church in DeWitt

APPRECIATION SHOWN FOR VETERANS

The Prayer Warriors joined together at the 2:00 P.M. Prayer Service in the sanctuary of Grace Lutheran Church in DeWitt on Thursday, November 6, 2008, to honor dedicated veterans who have served in the military of the United States of America over the years.
All veterans and their mates, all family members of deceased veterans and all loved ones of those presently serving in the military were invited to come to this special service where they heard the guest speaker, Chad Dohrmann, speak about his military experiences while serving in Iraq. At the end of his wonderful speech, he asked the audience to have a moment of silence for all veterans.

One of Grace Lutheran’s oldest veterans, Pastor Garland Gostoski, delivered an inspiring prayer in honor of all veterans followed by his wife accompanying the Prayer Warriors in singing, “Onward Christian Soldiers.”
The privilege of living in America with its freedoms should never be taken for granted by its citizens---especially reading the Bible, attending worship, and praying to a merciful and loving Triune God.

Immanuel Lutheran Church inGrand Mound

Pastor Arthur A. Rickman was Ordained and Installed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Grand Mound on July 13. Rev. Brian Saunders presided over the Ordination and Installation. Rev. Henry Witte was the preacher. Lectors were Vicar Brent Hartwig and Rev. Jon Vieker.

(Front Row) Rev.(s) Dennis Arndt, Arthur Rickman, Brian Saunders, Wayne Brinkmann and Henry Witte.

(Back Row) Vicar Brent Hartwig, Rev. (s) Jon Vieker, Brad Brown and Timothy Jones.

Central Lutheran School in Newhall

Central Lutheran School's 4th graders traveled to Bloomsbury Farm in October where they met up with their Williamsburg (Lutheran Interparish) penpals for a day of fall fun.


Even the teachers were smiling!

College Hills Lutheran Church in College Hills

Lutheran Student Fellowship and College Hill Lutheran Church members hosted the Black Hawk County Thrivent Financial for Lutherans annual dinner meeting. Sunday, September 28th, at 1 o’clock the students from Brammer Student Center in Cedar Falls were hosts and hostesses serving the two hundred Thrivent members as they enjoyed the sit-down dinner prepared by congregation members. The ham, turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, fruit cup, pie and ice cream with all the accompanying condiments traveled from the kitchen to the tables with speed and precision. Thrivent members enjoyed their food and fellowship. Attendance gifts provided by the Thrivent Chapter added to the fun. Oh, yes, the cleanup is something else, lots of dishes to do; but it seems a small effort to return a favor for the support that Thrivent provides for campus ministry. Whether it’s the matching funds grant for the dinner theater to fund the servant event during spring break or the home office support through the Giving Plus program, the support is greatly appreciated. Hosting this meal is one way to say “Thanks”.

Grace Lutheran Church in DeWitt

German Language Christmas Service

The members of Grace Lutheran Church of DeWitt are hosting a Traditional Christmas Service in the German tongue! On December 21st at 3:00 p.m. German speakers from all over eastern Iowa and western Illinois will gather for this authentic ethnic worship experience. The guest preacher is the Rev Otto A Brillinger who currently serves a German-speaking congregation in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The American Schleswig Holstein Heritage Society Chorus of Davenport, under the direction of Henry Storjohann, will provide special musical selections. After the service there will be a coffee and cake fellowship complete with a secular German Christmas sing-along in Grace Hall. All are most cordially invited to indulge in the sounds and tastes of the old country! Grace Church and Hall are located at 415 10th Street in DeWitt, Iowa. For more information please call the church at (563) 659-9153.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids

School accreditation Sept. 28th.

Installation service for Tyrone Brumwell. Sept. 28th .

IDE Youth Committee

IDE’s Youth Committee’s Goal: Provide opportunities and resources continually to the congregations of Iowa District East in the development of local programs.

We have been planning or helping plan the activities for the next few events and are excited about what is being offered. The 5^th & 6^th Grade Retreat has always been well received and the activities and fellowship help our youth meet other Christians in our district. Swimming and bowling have been a great source of fun in the past. Along with the activities we always have included a chance to learn about God by delving into his word.

The Senior High Retreat will still be at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca but the date has changed. As we look at the events each year we try to keep some of the same. However, we also like to look at what we can do to make the event something that will keep the youth wanting more. We are excited about the changes we are making. Hope to see you there.

The next events:

• Nov. 7^th & 8^th , 2008 – 5^th & 6^th Grade Retreat (Held in Williamsburg)
• Nov. 14^th & 15^th , 2008 – Senior High Retreat: Notice it is a new month.
• Feb. 6^th & 7^th , 2009 - Junior High Retreat: This has always been a blast.
• March 21^st and possibly other dates, 2009 - Youth Leadership Listening Posts

The youth booklets and posters should have arrived at your church. They contain the dates and details about the events. You may also check out the IDE website. If you have any questions, please contact any of the District Youth Committee members.

Current Youth Committee Members are:

Chair - Rev. Ronnie Koch; Youth – Stephen Hoffman and Kristin Pipho; Other Members – Leon Kroemer, Leon Miles, Renee Moravec, Rev. Tom and Asunta Shumaker; District Youth Executive – Rev. Dean Rothchild; Camp Contact – Daniel Sanchez

Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowden

Vicar Nickolas Huelsmen was installed this summer at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowden by the Rev. Victor Young. He is from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. wayne, IN, has a wife, Joy, and a young child.

A "Vicor" is a seminary student, still attending seminary, on assignment for one year to work with a congregation and Pastor.