College Hill Lutheran Church

On Friday and Saturday nights, February 20 and 21 the airwaves at College Hill Lutheran Church and Brammer Student Center were taken over by TV station CHLC Channel 3. Emcees for the evening presented a regular “Ed Sullivan “show as act after act entertained the audience and filled the room with laughter.

Yes, it was the annual Lutheran Student Fellowship Dinner Theater raising money for the student servant event trip to Houston, TX to work on cleanup from Hurricane Ike. Cooking and serving a great meal of salad, BBQ beef, mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans with fruit cup the students showed a skill and training. After the meal the TV broadcast began with humor and cleverness that had the crowd laughing and clapping. Intermission found the same actors and emcees serving brownies and ice cream to the guests. Second Act was a “get involved” rather like “Dancing with the Stars” but with lots jazzier music for the crowd to dance. And dance they did. Whether dancing or watching it was great fun. The students even created a video to share with the audience. Such creativity and talent was fun to experience.

Congregation and friends look forward each year to the dinner theater and are so pleased that the students create this project for financing their servant event travel. A special thanks to Black Hawk County Thrivent Financial for Lutherans for assisting with expenses.

Keep alert for news of the Trip to Houston.

St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins

St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, Atkins, confirmed two young people on April 5. They are as follows: Left to Right: Kenzie Woltemath, Pastor Doug Woltemath, Kayla Minkel.

College Hill Lutheran Church

The cast of reporters from TV Station CHLC has returned to College Hill Lutheran Church to resume their studies at the University of Northern Iowa. Having spent a week in Houston, Texas during spring break experiencing their servant event trip for 2009 they are excited to flood the media with their work and play endeavors as well as their impressions.

The crew of fourteen (14) left Cedar Falls on Friday evening in the fire red College Hill van and drove all night reaching Houston and their host church, Our Redeemer Lutheran, on Saturday. Grocery shopping and gazing around the wet, wet streets of Houston occupied the day and evening. Sunday the students attended church and were treated to supper and Bible study that evening. Another rainy day.

Okay. Time to get to work.
Work was directed through an organization called LINK. They had eighty (80) volunteers between two locations. There were forty at the site with the LSF crew. There were work crews from Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Washington, Canada and Texas.

Monday, the students planted trees and plants in a median. They raked and weeded to clean up the area and put down mulch. Tuesday found the crew working at a future nature preserve. The area had been designated as a park but now was badly in need of clean up of brush, weeds, debris and garbage. Wednesday, the work load was much the same, cleaning up a site littered with stick, branches, and leaves. This area was College Park Cemetery, a long established burial site where free blacks and their families were buried. There were also elaborate burial sites for important black members of society: first blacks on the City Council, members of the Armed Forces, etc. The last work day, Thursday, had arrived and the crew was put to work taking out garbage, tearing down dry wall, paneling and spraying disinfectant on the walls for a lady’s home in Houston.

The crew members are the first to admit that the trip wasn’t all work. They did enjoy the sites of Houston. The relaxation times included a trip to an aquarium, watching the NBA Houston Rockets basketball game at Toyota Center, walking the beach and swimming at Galveston, going out to eat and other site seeing.

Now, Thursday was the day of the UNI appearance in the NCAA tournament, so everyone worked especially hard so they could finish the work task early and make it to the nearest TV to watch the game. This was also the time to head home, again an over night drive. So it was clean up the church area, shower up and pack up. Checking to make certain there were no geckos or cockroaches planning to go along, everyone loaded into that comfortably, crowded red van for the trip home to Iowa.

Station CHLC Channel 3 has lost it’s analog and ceased broadcast until the next event at College Hill Lutheran Church and Brammer Student Center, Cedar Falls.
“Good night and God bless”.

Camp IO-DIS-E-CA

Awareness and Readiness Study

A very important decision was made by the camp’s board and was officially endorsed by the Iowa District East Board of Directors.

Your camp is approaching its fiftieth anniversary. Over the years our needs have changed and our facilities have aged. Recent evaluations by retreat groups have noted the sad condition of our buildings and furnishings. The pavement on road has crumbled. There are limited family housing spaces for retreats benefiting the entire family. The climbing tower is near the end of its life cycle. Our Program
Director lives with his family in a small trailer. The well needs major repairs. The air conditioner in Alpha Lodge needs to be replaced. The list is long. The need for capital improvements is great. Our mission has expanded, and we have plans for the future reflecting these priorities. With this in mind the camp is launching an Awareness and Readiness Study to test our constituency for a major capital campaign. You will hear more about our plans in upcoming weeks.

One of the ideas we will be testing has the potential of a direct benefit to your congregation. We maybe offering “Partnership Campaigns” to congregations which would like to raise funds to meet a specific need. Through a Partnership Campaign, your congregation would designate a portion of their campaign proceeds to Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca while raising new funds to meet its own needs. This would be offered for minimal expense to you with the guidance and assistance of professional stewardship consultation.

Your camp has hired Cornerstone Stewardship Ministry, a Lutheran stewardship consulting firm to facilitate the Awareness and Readiness Study. The study will offer about one thousand people the opportunity to provide feedback via written surveys and personal interviews. The Cornerstone consultants will analyze all the surveys to provide the camp board the information needed to make an informed decision whether this is the time to proceed with a capital campaign and if so, whether the camp will offer a partnership campaign. The consultants will present their report to the board on June 1st.

Opportunity

Is Your Congregation Interested in International Missions?

MOST Ministries (Mission Opportunities Short Term) Can Help!

Our short-term mission trips provide opportunities for everyone to be involved in missions in a meaningful way. By joining a team, you can touch people’s lives and share the Gospel in unique and exciting ways. Dental Teams provide dental care and pain relief to hundreds of people who can't afford to go to a dentist.Eyeglass Teams provide vision testing and eyeglasses to people who do not have access to or the resources for glasses. Medical Teams distribute much needed medications and help patients understand their illnesses. English as a Second Language Teams spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the teaching of basic English skills.Construction / VBS Teams work side-by-side with the nationals building churches, schools and homes and providing VBS to the children living in the area. Outreach Teams take many forms such as puppet ministry, drama, music, sports camps, prayer walking and gender specific Bible studies. The results of ministries like these have been hundreds of people coming to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Presently we are looking for churches to fill our Cambodia Eyeglass, Costa Rica ESL / VBS, Nicaragua Construction / Men’s Fellowship, Mexico Eyeglass and Dominican Republic Dental teams.

For additional information, please contact Debby Suchyta at 734.994.7909 X11, dsuchyta@mostministries.org or visit our website at www.mostministries.org. The fields are white and the harvest is waiting. MOST Ministries is a Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

IO-DIS-E-CA Spring Work Day

Richard Oehlerich staining the woodwork in the lobby of Alpha Lodge.

Dick Wallerich  installing pine paneling in Alpha Cabin.

Chris Swales cutting paneling in Alpha Cabin.

Chris Swales, Jim Swales, and Carl Gloe attach siding to the new well house with the supervision of Site Manager, Luke Fischer.

Cindi Oehlerich painting the lobby of Alpha Lodge.

@Spring Work Day   

Volunteers braving the threat of 2-4 inches of spring snow began arriving Friday evening for the annual Spring Cleanup. Morning broke with snow and ice pellets sprinkling the grounds, but the volunteers disregarded the below normal temperatures. Armed with paint brushes, hammers, miter saws, work gloves and their other favorite tools, 10 volunteers came prepared to help ready the camp for its summer season. Site Manager Luke Fischer directed the eager volunteers to tasks they would enjoy. Some painted and stained the entry way of Alpha Lodge. Others made sawdust fly in the cabins as they installed trim around the new windows, installed new doors and pine paneling, insulated the ceiling and installed ceiling fans, and installed new aluminum soffits and facia.  Some installed the exterior paneling on the new well house, while others installed picture frames on the High Comfort Room doors to hold emergency instructions. Some washed windows throughout Alpha and Omega Lodges.   Feasting on corn chowder and chili, scrumptious sub sandwiches, lasagna, salad and cherry pie, the volunteers ignored the Winter Storm Warning with its threat of 4-8 inches of snow and eagerly returned to work completing the many projects Luke had waiting for them.   Thanks to our hardy volunteers:               

Carl Gloe             

Ann Hinkhouse             

Richard Oehlerich             

Cindi Oehlerich             

Glenn Staudinger             

Chris Swales             

Jim Swales             

Bob Vesely             

Peggy Veseley             

Dick Wallerich   

If this sounds like a good day of service among friends,  we invite you to attend our next work day, April 25. Plan to arrive Saturday at 8:00 am. Bring your favorite tools and be prepared to enjoy a day filled with good work, laughter, friends, and great food. Please call Luke Fischer at 319.848.4187 to let him know you can come.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church In Marion

MISSION FAIR 2009

Sunday, April 19^th     11:30am - 2:00pm

You are invited to attend a Mission Fair at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 915 – 27^th Street in Marion. A Mission Fair is like a home and garden show where booths are set up by various mission groups. Some of the participants are the Boy Scouts of America, American Red Cross, Lutheran Hour Ministries, Lutheran Church Extension Fund, Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca, Lutheran Bible Translators, Food for the Poor, Diana's Angels, Lutheran High School Council, Apple of His Eye Ministry, St. Paul's Lutheran Chapel and University Center, Mission Central and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. This is the place to gather information so you can make an informed decision about your giving and be a good steward. Walking tacos and beverages will be served so you can munch as you look check out each display. 

Concordia Lutheran Church in Waterloo

On February 8, Concordia Lutheran Church in Waterloo held a benefit for Austin Deitrick. Members prepared a pancake breakfast that was attended by area churches and people from the community. Money was raised to help defray expenses incurred when Austin needed extended care after an automobile accident last July.

Austin was in a coma for almost three months following the accident. Because of this accident, the family would have to make numerous sacrifices.   

Because of his good attitude after the accident, Austin has made remarkable progress. He has also influenced many who have had an opportunity to meet him. The Apostle Paul tells us, That we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose. Life has such events that are hard to explain. Yet in this case, Austin, through the Spirit of the Lord, has taught many the gift of life.  

Austin is now receiving catechesis and is looking forward to being confirmed and receiving the Lord's Supper. On the day of the benefit, Austin's two nieces were baptized. The picture shows the family at the benefit after the baptisms. Austin sits in the wheelchair holding his nephew. 

If you are interested in helping with his progress a trust has been set up in Austin's name with Veridian Credit Union in Waterloo. 

St. John's Lutheran Church in Marengo

New Confessional Lutheran School In Need Of Books for Library
The Institute of Lutheran Theology (http://www.instituteoflutherantheology.org/) is an independent confessional Lutheran School that seeks to reach Lutheran congregations and pastors beyond the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.  While it is an independent school, it does have on its Board two LCMS  Educators:  Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto, Director of the Center for Lutheran Theology and Public Life at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and the Rev. Dr. J.A.O. Preus III, President of Concordia University – Irvine.  Another LCMS Educator, the Rev. Dr. Charles Manske, founder and first president of Concordia University – Irvine, is a consultant for the school.  The school is in need of Theological books in order to build a working library for professors and students.  A plea is being sent out to all Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod pastors to consider donating books from their libraries that could be of use to the school.  Retired pastors are being asked if they might consider donating much of, or even their entire libraries, to the school.  The Institute is willing to help make arrangements for shipping costs, and in the case of large donations, to arrange for picking up the books from the donor.  Donors should not worry about possibly duplicating books since duplicate books can always be used in the Institute's various Designating Teaching Centersacross the country, or sold to help raise money for more books.  Donating books is one way, we as clergy in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, can help fellow confessional Lutherans make an impact on the various Lutheran and Christian groups in North America.
 For more information contact: 
 The Rev. Douglas V. Morton, Pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church (LCMS), 780 Court Avenue, Marengo, Iowa (319-642-5452; dmluther@msn.com)  or Institute of Lutheran Theology, 910 4^thStreet, Brooking, SD  57006, Phone:  605-692-9337, Email:  admin@instituteoflutherantheology.org

St. Paul's Chapel in Iowa City

Conversation Partners Needed!

 

The International Student Ministries Program at St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel in Iowa City is in need of more volunteers. There have been several new international students requesting English conversation partners recently; so if you’ve been toying with the idea of volunteering with the ISM program as an English conversation partner now is the time! You’ll meet some great people, get to learn about other cultures and have an amazing opportunity to share your faith. The commitment would only be an hour a week and you don’t need to buy any materials. Interested? Have Questions? Contact Deaconess Intern Angie Carriker at the Chapel. ismdirector@stpaulic.com (319)-337-3652.

Central Lutheran School in Newhall

Two Central Lutheran School (Newhall) students placed among the Top 10 essay writers in a contest sponsored by Barnes & Noble Booksellers.

    Fourth graders Amanda Ehr (Rich and Karla Ehr) and Jaelen Martin (Brooke and Josh Martin) placed in the Top 10 out of a field of 360 entries written by fourth and fifth grade students in and around the Cedar Rapids area.    

    Students were asked to submit a 2-5 page essay on the topic, How I Will Remember 2008.  

BN employees read all of the essays and narrowed the field to 40, which also included essays by CLS students Braden Bierschenk, Keegan McKibben and Ashley Kochuyt.  Those 40 essays were then forwarded to Diana Nollen and Dave Rasdal, writers at the Cedar Rapids Gazette.  Nollen and Rasdal then chose the Top 10 essays.  

    All of the Top 10 essayists received a BN gift certificate.

OAFC

Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ’s 40^th Anniversary

 

"Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ will celebrate its 40th anniversary in June of 2010 with its annual Summer Training and an alumni reunion.  A recognized service organization of the LCMS, OAFC has touched the lives of over 36,000 youth and adults who have learned to share Jesus in a simple way during its 40 year history.  Many have become pastors, teachers, DCEs and committed lay members of our local congregations because of their experiences in OAFC.  Now we need to find you!  OAFC alumni are encouraged to register on the Alumni page at  www.oafc.org/alumni.html.  Alumni interested in helping to plan the 2010 reunion may contact OAFC staff member Dan Barz and alumnae Tammy Granner Mackie at alumni@oafc.org or call Dan at 269/429-7521."

 

Please contact me by e-mail or phone if you have any questions.

 

Mr. Daniel Barz,  269/429-7521
Assistant to the Executive Director of Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ
"Bailout" - 2009 OAFC Summer Training
July 14-20, 2009 @ St. Mark, Omaha NE

St. Paul's Chaple in Iowa City

Dear Pastor:

"I remember speaking those words over my children when they were little and the ashes smudged their forehead. Little, vibrant, full of life - so they seemed - but they too were destined for the grave. Same with me. Same with you. 'All of us go down to the dust' as a beautiful Russian hymn has it."

I thought the same thing, watching my daughters at church last night.  The dichotomy was especially striking with my 3 month old, not yet at that age when deliberate sin is obvious.  Even so, she went to the font at 8 days old, because the sin is there from the beginning.  I was so struck by the sight I had to take a picture when we got home.

Parishioner at St. Paul's

St. Paul's Chaple in Iowa City

Theologian in Residence Explores American Evangelicalism 

St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel, Iowa City, Iowa     

Theologian in Residence, the annual in-house retreat at St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel and University Center, invites students from both IDE campus ministries to tackle challenging and controversial issues.  From February 27-March 1, 2009, students from College Hill and St. Paul’s gathered in Iowa City to learn about the impact of American Evangelicalism on the Lutheran Church.  This year’s theologian was Rev. Daniel Preus, Director of the Luther Academy and former 1st vice president of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.   

The weekend is not all work and study; fun is also high on the list.  The retreat weekend began on Friday night with an indoor campout.  Students gathered at St. Paul’s Chapel for food, games, and, to the general amusement of all, an attempt to make s’mores in the chapel fireplace.  The evening delivered all the hilarity of a campout without any annoying bugs or pesky critters.    

On Saturday and Sunday Rev. Preus spoke on the topic of American Evangelicalism.  He began by explaining the major figures of the movement.  The students delved into the theology and John Wesley, Charles Finney, Dwight Moody, Billy Sunday, and Billy Graham.  The impact of each of these figures on American Christianity and Lutheranism  was both startling and revealing.  Rev. Preus then did a side by side comparison of American Evangelical theology and Lutheran theology on the topics of the sacraments and worship.    

No Theologian in Residence weekend would be complete without a huge feast on Sunday after church to close the event.  Theologian in Residence continues to be one of the highlights of spring semester each year.

St. Paul's Chaple in Iowa City

The Challenge… to Foos

 Foosball is defined as “a trademarked tabletop game of soccer with the players on rods that extend through the sides; also called table soccer.” 

 To the crowd at St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel, foosball is better known as the source for an all-out, double-elimination, take-no-prisoners tournament.  Beginning spring semester, students and permanent congregation members doubled up to form teams and, most importantly, select team names.  Teams were then seeded and the brackets were posted.  Play has been intense, as only foosball can be on a college campus.  To the entertainment of onlookers, first round action has seen teams such as “The Nambie Pambies” and “The Bassophones” advance, while teams such as the “Blue Barracudas” and the “Don’t Hurt Us Daisies” battle for survival in the elimination bracket.

 Some joke that foosball is the Lutheran definition of sport.  For the crowd at St. Paul’s, foosball is a time for students and permanent congregation members to enjoy the fun and fellowship of life together in campus ministry.

Central Lutheran School

Two Central Lutheran School (Newhall) students placed among the Top 10 winning essays in a contest sponsored by Barnes & Noble Booksellers.

Fourth graders Amanda Ehr (Rich and Karla Ehr) and Jaelen Martin (Brooke and Josh Martin) placed in the Top 10 out of a field of 360 entries written by fourth and fifth grade students in and around the Cedar Rapids area.   

Students were asked to submit a 2-5 page essay on the topic, How I Will Remember 2008. 

BN employees read all of the essays and narrowed the field to 40, which also included CLS students Braden Bierschenk, Keegan McKibben and Ashley Kochuyt.  Those 40 essays were then forwarded to Diana Nollen and Dave Rasdal, writers at the Cedar Rapids Gazette.  Nollen and Rasdal then chose the Top 10 essays. 

All of the Top 10 essayistsl received a BN gift certificate.  

District President Arp's March Article

To the Saints of Iowa District East:   

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father 

and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Focusing on Christ’s Mission 

    Christ has given His Church a two fold mission, to feed the faithful and find the lost. After His resurrection Jesus told Peter, “Feed my sheep, feed my lambs.” Jesus gives the so-called “Great Commission” in several different forms: “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” Matt. 28:19, “You will receive  power  when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and  you will be  my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and  Samaria, and  to the end of the earth” Acts 1:8. “Thus  it is written,  that the Christ should suffer and on the third day  rise from the dead, and that  repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” Luke 26:46-47.

    Of course, feeding the sheep in the pen is much easier than finding and rescuing the lost! It is important that we regularly re-evaluate how well we are doing in carrying out the mission our Savior has entrusted to us. Rev. Rothchild and I have developed a process we call “Focusing on Christ’s Mission” to help pastors and congregations evaluate their efforts to carry out the mission. If your congregation is interested in hearing about the process, call the District office and ask for either Rev. Rothchild or me.

Fan Into Flame 

    As I pointed out in a letter addressed to the congregations of Iowa District East, 2009 is the year IDE is scheduled to participate in Synod’s capital campaign called “Fan Into Flame.” Fifteen percent of the funds raised in the local congregation will come back to the congregation, fifteen percent will come back to the District and the rest will go to national and international mission work. In addition, it is our goal and prayer that through this campaign we will raise enough funds to complete the Palanga Lithuania Project. All gifts that are designated for the Palanga Project will go to the Palanga Project. 

The Palanga Lithuania Project 

    I asked Rev. Petkunas to break the total project down into small projects so that individuals, organizations or congregations can adopt a project, or several projects. The projects range from $28,799 for finishing the walls in the church nave to $107 for a fire alarm! Let’s get this thing finished so Christ’s mission can move forward in Palanga.