Grace Lutheran Church in DeWitt

Grace Lutheran Camp, DeWitt, hosted their annual Women’s Retreat on May 1st with noon and evening sessions. Twila Belk a popular speaker, humorist and radio personality presented the program at the retreat entitled “Bloom Where You’re Planted!” This was a May Day opportunity to celebrate spring and new life in the midst of where we are planted in our lives. Guests enjoyed a delicious salad meal at each session, devotions and group singing.

Grace Lutheran Church in DeWitt

From His Triumphal Entry to His rising from the dead, members of Grace Lutheran, DeWitt, shared with the community during Holy Week in a lighted display on the lawn of the church.

District President Gary Arp's May Article

Christ the Lord is Risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

When one looks around at events in the world—the situation in Iraq which never seems to improve, the massacre at Virginia Tech, skyrocketing gas prices...—it is easy to become discouraged and negative. In times such as this we need to focus on who we are in Christ and where we are going. We are pilgrims, sojourners, on our way to a new homeland. You can be certain of who you are where you are going because Christ the Lord is risen. Because He is risen we can live as triumphant, victorious people no matter what is going on around us—in good times and bad.

And there are plenty of good things going on! This is the season of new life in nature. Things are coming back to life (a reminder of our resurrection!). As I write this it is a cool, rainy day, but as I look out my living room window from the comfort of my recliner it is absolutely beautiful outside. You can almost see the grass growing before your eyes, the baby leaves on our maple tree are poking their heads out and the birds are singing! What a beautiful world God has given us through which to pilgrim!

Marjorie and I are looking forward to the confirmation of a granddaughter, the wedding of a grandson, and the birth of two great grandchildren (our first). How could anything dull the joy of such blessings from the hand of our gracious Lord and Savior?

I have been happy to hear that so many of our IDE congregations have purchased the new hymnal, Lutheran Service Book (LSB). For those who want a variety of services LSB has many. For those who want the familiar, the services from LW and TLH are there, and there are hymns new and old. Concordia Publishing House has announced that because of the continuing demand it is going extend the introductory discounted price for several more months.

July 13-19 are the dates for the next convention of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. At this writing, the workbook with the reports and overtures has not yet arrived so I cannot report on what might be coming before the convention. However, it is safe to say that “Funding the Mission” is going to receive a good deal of attention. I mentioned the financial concerns of District and Synod in the March edition of IDE TODAY. The convention floor committees are scheduled to meet May 18-21. I will be serving on the “Program and Finance Floor Committee.” Please put the convention delegates in your prayers.

Warmer weather has come to Lithuania and Pastor Petkunas reports that the work on the building project we have been supporting is progressing more rapidly now. The roof is on and work on the tower is headed toward completion. I haven’t heard from Pastor Petkunas for about three weeks, but I expect that perhaps some interior work has begun. Please continue to pray for Pastor Petkunas and the Palanga project.

I hope you have a wonderful, enjoyable summer.

Spring Professional Worker's Conference held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids

Guest Speaker Rev. Dr. Bryan Salinen and Rev. Dean Rothchild.
Conference Leader Rev. W. Max Mons and District President Gary Arp.
Dr. Salminen's topic was "Sixth Commandment Issues."
Rev. Dr. Bryan Salminen.
The staff and members of Bethany Lutheran Church were terrific hosts.
The conference was held April 30-may 1st.
Plenty of time to visit is always appreciated at a conference.

St. Stephan's Lutheran Church in Atkins

Confirmed on April 1
Left to Right:  Elisa Phipps, Kadie Woltemath, Anna Krug,
Reverend Douglas Woltemath,
Zachary Twedt, Catherine Steinfadt & Jordon Haerther.

ISM Traing At St. Paul's Chaple in Iowa City

Being a volunteer is a hard job. You have to sacrifice your time and energy for things which are time consuming and never get paid for it. Even more so—from time to time you get to go to some boring training…

We do our best to equip volunteers for their work with International students. Of course, we cannot be ready for every situation. Every meeting with International students is a new learning experience not only for them, but also for those who teach them.

On the first Saturday in March, St. Paul’s Chapel organized a retreat for volunteers involved in International student ministry. Rev. Max Mons and ISM Director Leonarda Decker provided volunteers with information and means to help them feel more comfortable approaching international students and sharing the Gospel.

We set and reviewed goals for the ISM program, emphasizing that our ultimate aim is to spread the Gospel.

The work that we do is important at many levels. English Conversation classes improve
students’ English skills, which also positively affects their social life in the USA. As a Church we welcome to the Chapel’s community everyone who is looking for a familiar place, a second home, which is open for them and their families.

Guest speaker Gilsun Lim introduced volunteers to the Korean culture and talked about many ways in which it differs from American culture. It was fascinating to learn of things which are important in Oriental culture but are disregarded in the USA. This raised awareness among the volunteers to be aware of certain things that we might say and do with people from Korean culture—and with other International students. The volunteers then had a opportunity to ask questions about traditions in Korea and learn “first hand” instead of reading about it in books or on the Internet.

Also, the volunteers had the opportunity to listen to the ISM Director present on Oriental religions (Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and others) and compare them to Christianity. The presentation helped the volunteers to see the differences: that all religions in the world are Law based, and only Christ offers the Gospel by fulfilling the Law for His people.

The last part of the training aimed at giving providing tips on how to share the Gospel with people who are not familiar with or know very little about Christianity. Pastor Mons introduced devotions and prayers which are easy to use and explained how to present them in the way that could reflect the essence of Christian teaching. He also shared a list of recommended literature which will help volunteers to prepare for devotions and Bible lessons with the international students.

The retreat ended with a potluck which crowned the long morning. It might be true that training is not always fun, but the knowledge gained was priceless.

It is amazing to see the willingness with which the ISM volunteers ask questions and wish to learn more. Training cannot increase the faith in our students, but certainly can improve our knowledge about good news. Spreading the Gospel is not only about sharing something what we know, but it is an opportunity to tell people about God’s love which leads us from death to life. Faith is the question of life and death. The answer is Jesus Christ. His love is the motivation which drives our volunteers and the foundation which our ministry stands on.

Christian Care and Mental Health

Christian Care and Mental Health
A series of articles designed to help Christians understand the various components of mental health and to support those with mental health needs.
© February, 2007 by Rev. Daniel Krueger ~ author of “Gospel Therapy”
www.Gospeltherapy.com
_____________________________________
The Apostle Paul writes: “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” Romans 7:14-15. In dealing with depression and other mental health issues, what you want to do, and what you choose to do, are often at odds with each other. Unfortunately, we often fail to recognize this distinction and its impact on mental health.

In an experiment where people were placed into a sad or happy mood and then shown a series of slides which could be viewed at their own pace, happy people spent more time looking at happy scenes, whereas sad people spent more time looking at sad scenes. Another experiment had depressed and non-depressed students interact socially, frequently switching partners, and then rating how much they liked the other individual. The old proverb “misery loves company” turned out to be true. Depressed people preferred the company of other depressed people, whereas happy people preferred the company of other happy people.

In the classes I teach on depression and anxiety one activity is recording, for several weeks, what I refer to as UPPERS and DOWNERS. Uppers and Downers are not the things we want to do or don’t want to do. Uppers and Downers are determined by how we feel after doing a specific task. For instance, you may want to stay in bed all day because you are feeling depressed. After a particularly stressful day you may feel like sitting down and eating a bucket of strawberry ice cream. The question is, how do you feel after these activities? While these are choices you may want to make, they are also choices that are designed to make you feel even more negative about yourself, and tend to perpetuate depression.

Frequently people are not fully aware of the impact of their daily choices. I remember vividly the reaction of one class member who, on her list of downers (things that make you feel depressed after doing it), wrote: “Calling my Mother!” This woman’s mother happened to be very judgmental and negative. Shortly afterward I asked this same woman what was one of the first things she did when started to feel depressed. At first she gasped, then in a tone expressing amazement she uttered, “I call my Mother!” Prior to that moment she was oblivious to the connection between this particular choice and her daily battle with depression.

I believe it was Albert Einstein who defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Improving mental health involves a thorough examination of the daily choices we make and the discipline to make new choices. One positive choice that may impact your life, is starting your day out with Scripture and Prayer. Before you consider everything you think you must do, refresh yourself with all the things that God has promised to do for you in Christ, and a reminder that at the end of day, no matter where you have failed, you will still be perfect through Christ. It may be just the medicine you need to make you WANT to get out of bed!

Rev. Dean Rothchild's May IDE Article

St. Peter writes: “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to every one who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” I Peter 3:15.
_____________________

On Saturday, April 21st, I had the privilege of presenting a Witness Workshop at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Davenport. The workshop is based on “The Christian Doctrine of Vocation and Informed by the Distinction Between the Two Kinds of Righteousness.” At one point in the presentation I paused and asked, “Have any of you ever been called on by either the Mormons or the Jehovah Witnesses?” Just about every hand in the room went up.

Going home for lunch the following Tuesday, who did I catch in the act of sticking a Watchtower in my door but a pair of Jehovah Witnesses. We talked a little, but the lady didn’t leave any material as they went on their way. The Jehovah Witnesses have been working my neighborhood quite hard the last couple of years.

Trying to give the best witness I could, and later wondering how well I did, Peter’s words came to mind. He says, always be ready. Be ready because who knows when the opportunity will come to share Christ with those who are lost? Maybe at lunch time today.

It is good to know that in Christ Jesus we are ready, we are even prepared to do this because we are forgiven. As forgiven saints, Jesus prepares us to be His witness when the opportunity arises.

Peter says to be prepared to make a defense. I believe that in the midst of the rise of false religions and the loss of the clear proclamation of the Gospel in so many churches, along with the many other “isms” around us, we have to be able to defend what we believe, teach, and confess. But how? It would behoove all of us Christians to prepare as best we can, asking our Pastors, for example, to train us in what the Bible and the Lutheran Confessions teach. Now is not the time for us to settle for “light” catechesis. After all, if we don’t know what we believe how can we possibly be ready to defend it?

For who knows who is going to ask? It might be the person at the lunch table in the break room at work. It might be the neighbor two doors down. It might be the person who sits next to us on an airplane. It might even be the new seed salesman who is just beginning to work our area. We never know who, but know people will ask!

To give an account means to be able to say this is what the Bible teaches about God’s love and His plan of salvation through Jesus, this is what I believe and confess about Jesus, and this is why Jesus came had to come into the world. Because I am a poor miserable sinner, without Jesus, I would spend eternity in hell because of my sins. I have hope in heaven because Jesus earned the forgiveness of sins for all people, including me, through His perfect life, His innocent suffering and death on the cross, and by His glorious Easter resurrection. And that He has given all this to me freely, in the water and Word of Holy Baptism.

What is the hope that is in us? It is the sure and certain hope of eternal life because Jesus has done it all and has given His victory to me as a gift. We can tell others what Jesus has done for them because we can tell them what He has done for each of us. By the Holy Spirit’s guiding, we can do this with gentleness and reverence.
________________________

If you wish to hear more about this Witness Workshop, or would like to host one, please contact me.

deanrothchild@lcmside.org

IDE Thrivent Check

Thrivent Financial Supports IDE Events

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is very pleased to provide $6,875 to assist in the funding of the following 2007 IDE sponsored events:

Early Childhood Conference: January 27th
Spring Professional Workers Conference: April 30-May 1
Pastors Golf Outing & Luncheon: June 25th
Fall Pastors Conference: October 1-2
Church Secretary’s Conference: TBD
Singles Retreat: TBD

Thrivent Financial Representatives Chuck Zadow (member of Concordia, C.R.) and Kari Kibby (member of Zion, Hiawatha) presented the check to Rev. Dean Rothchild.

St. John's Lutheran Church in Waverly, Grace Lutheran Church in Artesian, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo

The human care committees of St. John's Lutheran Church in Waverly, and Grace Lutheran, Artesian, and Immanuel Lutheran Church of Waterloo, along with the Black Hawk Chapter of Lutherans For Life worked together to raise diapers and other needed supplies for four local agencies that serve new mothers in need. The donations given included baby formula, bibs, towels, and a total of 1,845 diapers! The diapers and other supplies will be donated to House of Hope, a transitional housing program for new mothers, Alternatives Pregnancy Center, a crisis pregnancy center, the Salvation Army, a homeless shelter, and Cedar Valley Friends of the Family, a battered women's shelter. The multi-church effort was designed to witness to mothers and families who have chosen life in the midst of some difficult circumstances as well as educate congregation members of the agencies in the community that are working to support these new families. One of the agencies, Alternatives Pregnancy Center, saw 649 individuals from May-October 2006 who heard the gospel message, discussed spiritual matters and prayed with a staff member. Mary Collins, Executive Director of Alternatives, had this to say about the people they serve, "Many of the young women who come to us have been involved in abusive and broken families. They have seldom, if ever, been to church. They know little about our Savior, but it is our hope and prayer that when they leave the Center, they have received a glimpse of His love and abundant life!" Those involved with the diaper drive wish to thank all of the congregation members who supported this effort through their donations and prayers.

IDE ILLL Zone #3

Members of Zone # 3 from the International Lutheran Laymen’s League gathered at Holy Cross in Davenport to hear suggestions on how to help their congregations and their pastors keep the” Iowa Ablaze” movement alive. Keith Schmidt and Allen Schmid, (Zone # 3 President) encouraged their listeners to attend the League’s convention on April 20-21 at Camp IO-DIS-E-CA.

This Spring Rally was an attempt to make the driving time and possibly weather conditions a little more acceptable for driving several miles from other cities to enjoy the fellowship of our rallies. Some members have been attending these rallies for 20 years or more and it is the smiling faces and the handshakes that keep them coming back. The Rally started at 10:00 A M and was history shortly after the noon meal of Soup & Sandwiches. It was followed by a short presentation on making the bracelets.

Keith Schmidt our Intl.LLL President did an excellent job of presenting the many different programs of the League that are designed to help congregations in their outreach efforts. You may find the League’s website at www.LHM.org.

John Moeller ( Media and Young Adult ), told the attendees about Davenport’s “Mississippi Valley Youth And Young Adult Fair Booth venture.” This is a multi-church venture that wishes to identify and mentor the next generation of League and congregational leaders. Iowa Dist East LLL leaders are now asking all congregations in the district to help make 30,000 “salvation, or Jesus bracelets” like Iowa West brought to the Iowa State Fair last summer. If your congregation truly believes the phrase “Come Worship With Us” We could use your help in making some of these 30,000 bracelets and explain a program called “Prove His Grace” that can be used to fund the bracelet making and promoting of the LCMS in “Our half of Iowa”. Contact us at Terrajohn1@msn.com and just type LHM in the subject line.

2007 IDE Spelling Bee

2007 District Spelling Bee Held at Valley Lutheran

The annual Iowa District East Spelling Bee was held at Valley Lutheran School in Cedar Falls on March 10, 2007. Fifty-three students representing eight schools participated in the event. In the preliminary round, each contestant received seventy-five words to be written and six oral words. The top three contestants from each of the three age levels advanced to an oral spell down to determine who would take home the first, second, and third place trophies.

This year’s trophy winners are:

3^rd-4^th grade level:

1^st- Isaiah Armbrecht, LISWilliamsburg

2^nd-Anna Hage, Central Newhall

3^rd-Katharine Benya, Trinity Cedar Rapids

5^th-6^th grade level:

1^st-Zack Richardt, Trinity Cedar Rapids

2^nd-Kaitlyn Pegump, Central Newhall

3^rd-Harlan Owen, Trinity Cedar Rapids

7^th-8^th grade level:

1^st-Anthony Hardy, Trinity Cedar Rapids

2^nd-Mara Huebner, Community Readlyn

tie for 3^rd-Matthew Malm, Valley Lutheran, Cedar Falls

& Tyler Cook, Immanuel, Waterloo

A traveling plaque, presented each year to the school with the most overall school points, went to Central Lutheran of Newhall, with a total combined score of 422 points. Next in line was Trinity Lutheran-Cedar Rapids, then LIS-Williamsburg, Community Lutheran-Readlyn, Dubuque Lutheran, St. Paul’s-Latimer, Immanuel-Waterloo, and Valley Lutheran-Cedar Falls.

Thanks to all the contestants, school representatives, parents, and the many volunteers for all the hard work and time to make it a fun day for all. We would also like to thank Quota Club International, Blue Line-Cedar Falls, Pella Windows-Waterloo, Iowa Sports, and Bethany Bible Chapel for their support in sponsoring this event.

Valley Lutheran was proud to host the event and looks forward to other such events in the future. For more information contact VLS at (319) 266-4565 or visit www.valleylutheranhigh.com.

St. John Lutheran Church in State Center

Mrs. Inez Badger of St. John – State Center, commissioned this crucifix to be carved by Reverend Vitali Gavrilov, a Deacon of Tranfguration Lutheran Church – Touim, Khakassia, a city in south central Siberia, in the fall of 2005.

Rev. Gavrilov began work in January 2006 and the corpus was completed in October 2006. The Reverends Daniel S. Johnson (Redeemer – Marshalltown) and Michael Scudder (Faith – Mt. Pleasant) brought the corpus back with them through airport security when they returned from their latest trip to Siberia in November 2006. Deacon Vitali Gavrilov learned this art of carving while serving a prison sentence in a Siberian prison in the 1990s. While he was in prison Pastor Pavel Zayakin - Abakan, Khakassia, visited him. After he was released from prison he was baptized and joined the Lutheran Church in Siberia. He now serves as an ordained Deacon (an assistant pastor in LCMS terminology) under Pastor Zayakin in the small city of Touim. The life story of Rev. Gavrilov can be read in the Siberian Lutheran Mission Society (SLMS) May 2005 newsletter, available as a “pdf” download at www.tslms.org. A recent article about life in Touim, Khakassia is published in the May 2007 SLMS newsletter.

Pictured: Pr. David Steege and Mrs. Inez Bager (St. John – State Center) stand next to a processional cross dedicated on Ash Wednesday.

Collage Hills Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls

Spring Break 2007: New Orleans

As thousands of people in Iowa were wondering when they were going to get their power back from the ice storm, 13 college students and 2 leaders from College Hill Lutheran Church and Brammer Student Center in Cedar Falls, IA had their eyes set on going down to New Orleans for spring break.

As we started our trip, we were blessed to stay with host families at St. Charles, MO and then at Jackson, MS. One of the amazing spots that we visited was Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg, Missouri. This history and beauty of this church and location was enjoyed by all.

As we traveled into New Orleans, we meet up with Rev. Jerome Terry and his wife, Dora. They showed us to our new home for the next three and half days.

We were soon off in the vans to the Ninth Ward and the Lower Ninth Ward to see the damage first hand. As we were driving, the van was silent with gasp of disbelief of what we were seeing. We then got a quick tour of the French Quarter as we would later spend a couple of nights there enjoying the atmosphere.

The work week started off early Monday morning. The original plan was to help with the clean up of the Bethel Lutheran Church building but the damage was too great. The church now is going to be destroyed and rebuilt. Instead we helped them clean up the grounds from other people dumping garbage on their lawn. We also had two groups helping at another church and a home with some painting that needed to be done. Later in the week, we had the opportunity to tear down some drywall from two homes so that they can start the rebuilding

This gave us an opportunity to help folks start getting their lives back. As the time down there came to a close, we got to worship with other volunteers. One of the students summarized the trip as: humility, reality and hope. We have given hope to the people in New Orleans and they have touched our lives forever.

College Hills Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls

College Hill Lutheran Church and Brammer Student Center was the site of the game night for the International Programs in the Cultural and Intensive English Program.
Foreign students attending the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. Students and staff involved in the program came to the Student Center for an evening of fun, fellowship and food. The program will also be having their graduation program at the Brammer Student Center for those students completing their English training and moving on to other University programs. Assistant program director, Chris Pesek, organizes the events with/for the students. The College Hill Lutheran Student Fellowship and congregation members are pleased to have the group utilizing the facility.

Grace Lutheran Church in DeWitt

Grace Lutheran Church, DeWitt – The Sunday School participants “Marched” into March by declaring it Brent Jurgersen Month. 1st Sgt Brent Jurgersen, a former Sunday School attendee and confirmed member (class of 1976), who served in Iraq, endured a number of injuries resulting in having a leg amputated. Because of the love and dedication to his soldiers and friends, and his desire to ride a motorcycle, his fellow soldiers wanted to surprise him with a Harley Davidson Trike. Thus the fundraiser began! Grace Sunday School (along with the congregation) hopped right on and rode along with four exciting Sundays – March 4th was bring a friend to Sunday School – after all, we were helping our friend Brent! March 11th was “Cool Dude” Sunday, complete with shades (sunglasses), funny hats and a Harley Davidson Jacket. March 18th was “Wearing of the Green” and March 25th was Patriot Sunday where the red, white and blue colors were displayed (see picture) and treats were enjoyed. The total amount forwarded to Texas to put towards the trike was $1674. 88. The trike (along with a trailer) is to be presented to Brent on April 14 in Texas where he is currently stationed.

The March issue of the IDE TODAY Is Arriving Right Now!

Thank you to everyone who submitted and article or picture.

The next issue will be in May. Please send us your news and pictures by May 1st--especially you congregations which were not featured in this past issue. We want to hear from you!

So far, the corrections to be made to the March issue include:

1. Of course, Rev. Scheer has retired from the University Hospitals and should not be contacted any longer concerning hospital visits.

2. The correct web address for College Hill Lutheran Church is www.college-hill.org.

Our apologies for any inconveniences these errors have cost our readers.

Rev. Harold Scheer's Retirement Open House at Our Redeemer in Iowa City on March 4th

District President Gary Arp

Work on the Palanga project progresses slowly now. Earlier this year, Lithuania also experienced a mild winter. However, in an e-mail from the end of January, Pastor Petkunas said that winter had finally arrived with plenty of cold weather and snow. Under these harsh conditions work has slowed but continues. It is expected that the roof will be completed soon. Please continue to keep Pastor Petkunas, his family and the Palanga project in your prayers. A few weeks ago I mailed a DVD on the Palanga Project to each congregation. If you haven’t had a chance to see it, ask your pastor.

Lutherans In Wittenburg

Did you know that there is no Lutheran Church in Wittenberg, the home of the Lutheran Reformation? That will change, however, this month. Rev. Torgerson, a pastor in SELK, a Lutheran Church in Germany with whom we are in fellowship, will be starting a mission in Wittenberg. The mission is a joint effort between LCMS World Relief and LCMS World Missions. The Central Illinois District contributed 25,000 euros to purchase a building. Here is another worthwhile mission we can support.

Fiscal Planning Conference

On February 8-9, Treasurer Lois Mulbrook, Rev. Vic Young, Rev. Dean Rothchild and I attended a Synodical Fiscal Planning Conference. In the coming months you will be hearing some specifics about the financial situation of District and Synod. Some very interesting things came to light in the conference. For example, over the past two decades membership in the LCMS has declined. During the same period offerings from God’s people for all purposes have gone up rather dramatically! However, some of the offerings have been given to specific projects, which means the money is restricted for that purpose. This has affected the amount of unrestricted dollars available to the congregations. In addition, many congregation are giving directly to specific mission projects, which in turn affects the amount that is sent on to the Districts. Here in IDE the amount received from congregations to fund District and Synod have remained about the same since 1980. According to a Web site I located through Google, from 1980 to 2006 the inflation rate was 148%! As a result, we have made several rather dramatic cuts in the District office and we have cut what we send on to Synod. The Synodical Fiscal Planning Conference was called because both Districts and Synod are reaching a crisis point.

A Seminary in Crisis

Concordia Publishing House has recently published a book entitled A Seminary in Crisis, by Dr. Paul A Zimmerman. I highly recommend this book to both pastors and lay people. It would be a great addition to a church library. Dr. Paul Zimmerman and Dr. Karl Barth are the only two surviving members of a task-force appointed by Synodical President J.A.O. Preus to investigate allegations of false doctrine at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in the 1970s. It is a remarkable part of LCMS history and holds some important lessons for us today. It is a great blessing that the LCMS survived that crisis as a confessional Lutheran Church and Concordia Seminary has recovered from that most difficult time.

IDE Early Childhood Conference

Our District Early Childhood Conference was held at Little Lambs Christian Preschool in Hiawatha on January 27. Pastor Daird Korth opened the day with devotions. Peggy Seeber and her staff did an outstanding job of planning and hosting the event. We had 62 directors, teachers and aides registered. God gave us a beautiful winter day. We had the following presenters:

Angela Naeve has been involved in a traveling music ministry for 15 years and writes and records original songs. She shared her ideas for teaching Bible verses through music. We all had a chance to sing the songs and do the actions. She had books and CD’s on display for sale.

The staff of Little Lambs had made several items out of boxes and paper-mache. We were told how to make the items and some things to watch out for. Everyone was amazed by the igloos made from plastic milk containers.

Dr. Kara Heying is a Fellowship trained Developmental Optometrist with the Children’s Eye Center in Cedar Rapids. She discussed the signs and symptoms to look for when suspecting a child may suffer from an undiagnosed vision related learning disorder. She explained various disorders and gave examples of what to look for.

We closed the day with a presentation by Karen McCaa, who is an inspirational speaker, life coach, and counselor. One of her current clients is the Nike Company. She shared stories from her own life and from the lives of various athletes.