Dear Fellow Workers:
There is a little story about a boy who was asked by a man, “How many brothers do you have?”  The boy replied, “I have two,” but then he added, “and I also have one in heaven.”  The boy’s mother was standing by and corrected him, “No, my son, you have no brother in heaven.”  “Yes, I have,” said the boy.  “Didn’t you tell me that God was my Father and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?  Then he must be my Brother in heaven.”  A Brother! – Yes, Hebrews explains it this way about Christ:  “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity, so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14, 15).  Christmas is all about God’s Son becoming human flesh so that through faith in him we sinners might be a part of the family of God, sharing the eternal inheritance won by our powerful, holy and gracious Brother.  May God grant each of you a spiritually uplifting Advent and Christmas season. 

Baptisms In North Bend
On November 11, 2008, Resurrection Lutheran Church, Rev. James Wilson, Pastor, was the site of the joyful occasion of the baptism of three young people. North Bend is located just north of Coos Bay, Oregon. We pray that God’s richest blessings bestowed in the holy sacrament upon Mason, Alisa and Adam, go with them throughout their lives.

Reception of New Members at KOG
Pastors Erwin Ekhoff and Rodney Flohr indicate that on a recent Sunday over forty people were received into membership at King of Grace Lutheran in Golden Valley, MN.

An Important Day for the Future Work of LSA
On November 13 our synod’s Board of Trustees met with representatives from the Board for Lutheran Schools of America and approved a grant request totaling $117,000. The grant will be used to fund two major concepts for the future of LSA: the development of a classical Lutheran school curriculum and financial support for providing consultation services to school interested in becoming an “LSA Model School.” Congregations and schools interested in learning more about the key elements in the strategic LSA model are encouraged to consult with: Rev Ed Bryant (elbryant50(at)comcast.net), the chairman of the Board for Lutheran Schools of America, and with LSA President Michael Butterfield (mbutterfield(at)LSAELS.org).

 

Good Shepherd
Rev. Robert Otto and his wife Ellen are pictured here at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Bloomer, WI. Pastor Otto has served the congregation since 2000.

GoodSearch
What if you could give a penny to our college or seminary every time you searched the internet? Or how about if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to support our schools?

GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up! GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 37 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Every time you place an order, you’ll be supporting your favorite cause.

Just go to www.goodsearch.com and enter “Bethany Lutheran College” or “Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary” as the charity you want to support and click verify. During part of 2007, over $50.00 has been raised for the college and $20.00 for the seminary!

To help even more, spread the word about GoodSearch to your family and friends.

 

On the way
The building project at Redeeming Grace Lutheran in Rogers, MN, is progressing. The congregation hopes to have services in its new facility by February 1, 2008.

 

In the north country
Our Savior's Lutheran in Hawley, MN, is served by Rev. Christopher Dale. Chris and his wife, Sarah and their two-year old son, Alex, posed for this picture right before light snow flakes began flying on November 18.

Frankenmuth Assistance
St. John’s Lutheran in Frankenmuth, Michigan, has requested that a member of their congregation, Rev. Jeffrey Luplow, become a member of our ELS clergy in order to assist with the pastoral work under Rev. Joel Willitz, the pastor of the congregation. Following the suggestion of the circuit visitor, the synod president recommends that Rev. Luplow be added to our synod’s clergy roster, subject to ratification at next year’s convention. Jeff is a graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wisconsin, and has served as a pastor in the WELS for a number of years. 
 
Circuit #8 Pastoral Conference
On Monday, November 19, the five pastors who serve our pastors in northern Minnesota gathered for their regular Winkel conference at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Audubon, MN. Pictured from left the right are: Rev. Joseph Abrahamson (Oklee, MN), Rev. Nile Merseth (East Grand Forks, MN), Rev. David Thompson (Audubon, MN), Pres. Moldstad, Rev. Shawn Stafford (Lengby, MN), and Rev. Chris Dale (Ulen, MN). Jenna Thompson and Mary Abrahamson served a delicious noon meal for the pastors.

Generous Gift
We give thanks to God for moving the hearts of a synod family to make a donation of $100,000. The gift comes also with the intention to increase the amount to $1,000,000 over the next years. Specifically the proceeds from the endowment will be used in three areas: ELS foreign missions; Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, in assisting students from our foreign missions to attend; and Bethany Lutheran College, a scholarship program.

For You and Your Children Offering
In 2006 the Evangelical Lutheran Synod began a two-year offering called “For You and Your Children.” The offering supports the vital work of Lutheran Schools of America. A gift already has been identified for covering administrative costs. This enables the special offering money to assist congregations in the establishment of LSA schools. If you would like to donate or would like more information on LSA, please address correspondence to:

 

Assistance from ELS & WELS
Mr. Kermit Traska from Thoughts of Faith is shown here presenting a gift of money on behalf of the members of both the ELS and WELS to Vicar Sasha Feschenko of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church. The money was used to buy a special device for his hearing impaired son. In expressing his gratitude, Sasha said the timing was right because his son is about to enter grade school and it would be very difficult for him there if he were unable to hear. Until now, his son has gotten by with an old hearing aid designed for a young child.

Peru
October 19-25, 2007, 10 volunteers from Living Word Church (WELS), Waukesha, WI, Rev. John Borgwardt, pastor, provided materials and labor (working beside volunteers from our Amazon congregations) for the construction of a stunningly beautiful wood chapel in the Tarapoto barrio of Nueva Amistad, Upper Amazon. To view an extraordinary 3 minute video of the church being built go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7jZfjn0nMI
 
Elections for the 5-Member Peru National Junta
November 25, 2008. 
For the first time in the history of the national church, the three outlying regions of Peru, the Sierra, the Jungle, and the Coast, were guaranteed seats on the highest governing body of the church, the National Junta.  The
other two seats were filled by representatives from Lima.  This is another significant step towards a truly democratic, indigenous, self-governing church body.   

Retirement
Rev. David Lillegard of Trinity Lutheran Church, Sebastian, Florida, has announced his retirement, which will be effective January 1, 2008. Pastor Lillegard has served Trinity for the past four years. We wish him and his wife Ione the Lord’s richest blessings in the years ahead.

Assignment Committee
On November 26, 2007, members of the synod’s Assignment Committee met and entertained the request of a candidate placement for Trinity Lutheran in Sebastian, Florida.  Candidate of Theology Timothy Schmeling has now been assigned to serve at Trinity.

Visitor Change
In Circuit #1, Rev. Herb Huhnerkoch, the alternate circuit visitor, will assume the duties of the circuit visitor position, following the announced resignation from the visitorship by Rev. C. Keeler.

Prayer Requests
Last Sunday Rev. Charles Keeler was admitted to the hospital in Winter Haven, Florida, where he received a stent implant in a coronary artery. We are happy to report at this time that he is now at home recovering. Let us ask our gracious Lord to grant him healing and also to be with his wife Yvonne.

Please include the following families in your prayers: the Kuster family, at the death of Rev. Arnold V. Kuster; the Kessel family, at the death of Lynne’s mother; the Mellon family, at the death of Pastor Ken’s mother.

Note from our Treasurer
Congregational receipts toward our 2007 budget of $735,000 have totaled $528,560 through the month of October.  This is $34,600 over last year at the same time, yet we need to recognize we are on a reduced budget this year.  The 2008 budget allocation for the Gospel work we do in our Evangelical Lutheran Synod is $796,000.  Please pray that the Lord provides our church body with the necessary resources to carry on his kingdom work. 

In the saving grace of the holy Christ-child,

John A. Moldstad