Dear Fellow Workers:
We pray that this new calendar year will bring many blessings as you labor in the Lord’s kingdom.  Once again, we provide an update on various activities throughout our synod.

Thanks to the Luttmans for their years in Plzen
In the latest newsletter from Thoughts of Faith appreciation is expressed to Pastor Matthew Luttman and his wife Nancy for serving in the mission in the Czech Republic since 1992.

The Luttmans are now moving to Vero Beach, FL, where Matthew has accepted the call to serve as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church.


Another thank you . . . to the Webbers
Pastor David J. Webber and his wife Carol have returned to the United States after having served at the seminary in the Ukraine for eight years. Pastor Webber now serves as pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Resignation
Prof. Daniel Metzger has resigned from Bethany Lutheran College and has accepted the call to serve as co-pastor at an ELCA church in Joliet, Illinois. The church is part of a group known as WordAlone. Rev. Metzger is longer on the clergy roster of our Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

ELS Bright Spots
In our ELS home missions: Rev. Jong-In Kim has reported the baptism of two adults at Asian Mission Church in Irvine, California, and Rev. Glenn Smith reported that in the community evangelism efforts at Beautiful Savior in Springboro, Ohio, more that 1800 pens with the church name were distributed during the Christmas Parade. In all of our home missions a total of 29 adults are under instruction towards membership.


Rev. Bruce Schwark serves Faith Lutheran Church in Hillman, MI. Faith is part of dual parish that also includes Faith Lutheran in Alpena, MI. The church building in Hillman was constructed in 1981. Pres. Moldstad preached and made a presentation at the churches on December 18.

Seminary Training in India
Approx. 25 men from the Lutheran Mission of Salvation—India (LMSI) will be attending seminary-level classes in Hyderabad from January 1–14. Professor Adolph Harstad from Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary will be teaching New Testament Isagogics and President Moldstad is scheduled to teach Pieper’s Christian Dogmatics, volume I.

Vice-President’s Assistance
Please contact Rev. Glenn Obenberger (253-537-5492 office or 253-531-0777 home) if there is a need for synodical administrative assistance during the two weeks that President Moldstad is in India.

ELS Historical Society
Memberships in the ELS Historical Society are $10/year for an individual or $15/year for husband & wife. Along with payment, send your full name and mailing address to receive Oak Leaves, the Historical Society’s quarterly publication, to ELS Historical Society, 6 Browns Court, Mankato MN 56001. Also visit the society’s website <www.evangelicallutheransynod.org/history>.

CELC Proceedings
2005 Proceedings from the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC), the 20-member church world-wide organization with which our ELS is in doctrinal fellowship, are now available online at www.celc.info.

Finances
The synod’s 2005 fiscal year will be closed on January 9, 2006. If you would like your congregational contributions to be recognized in 2005, please mail in your contribution to be received by that date. Any contributions received after January 9 will be entered into the 2006 fiscal year.

Through November of this year congregations have contributed $620,434.18 towards a goal of $765,000. We will need contributions of $144,565.82 in December to meet the synod’s 2005 budget for congregations’ contributions.

Address Changes
Rev. Charles Keeler: cjohnk(at)peoplepc.com

Rev. Jeff Londgren
08258 Shrigley Road
Charlevoix, MI 49720

Prayer Requests
Continue to pray for Lois Halvorson, the wife of Rev. Wayne Halvorson, Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Please pray for Henry Geischen as he continues to recover from his liver transplant.

We offer our congratulations as well as prayers of thanks for the birth of a healthy boy to Rev. Kurt and Susan Kluge. Their son Peter Richard was born on December 27.

President’s Activities
January 1–15—India
January 20—Board for Education and Youth
January 30—Trustees and Board for Home Missions
January 29—Indianola, IA
January 21—Board for Home Missions
February 1—Board for Foreign Missions
February 5—Norwegian Grove, Gaylord, MN
February 6—Board for Stewardship
February 7—Board for Christian Service
February 11—Historical Society
February 13–14—Board of Regents
February 19—Family of God, Fort Mohave, AZ
February 20—Board of Trustees
February 26—Board for Publications (LaCrosse, Wisconsin)

In Christ our Savior,

John A. Moldstad