President’s Newsletter
March 2006

Dear Fellow Workers:
Lenten greetings to all of you.  The sufferings of Christ on our behalf and in our place prove that even from eternity God our heavenly Father is favorably disposed to all of us, sinners though we are. Dr. Martin Luther, in a Good Friday message (“A Sermon on How to Contemplate Christ’s Holy Sufferings”) made this remark: “Ascend high through the heart of Christ, and see that Christ would not have been able to love you if God had not willed it in eternal love, to which Christ is obedient in his love toward you; there you will find the divine, good father heart, and, as Christ says, be thus drawn to the Father through Christ. Then you will understand the saying of Christ in John 3:16…” 

ELS Bright Spots
Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Madison, WI, recently purchased 12 acres of land on the east side of the city. The church is making plans in the future to relocate and enable itself the opportunity through evangelism to reach more people in newly developed neighborhoods.

The Board for Home Missions has decided to support the possibility of a vicar assignment to Heritage Lutheran, Apple Valley, MN. The intent is that the vicar would, among other duties, be involved in outreach efforts in the nearby area of Farmington, MN.

A seminar for our home missionaries is being planned for 2007.

ELS National Teachers’ Convention: August 3-7, 2006 at the Marriot Hotel & Conference Center in Crystal City (near Washington D.C.). The theme of the conference will be: “Blessed with Freedom.”  The major costs of the convention are being covered by a generous grant from the Schwan Foundation.

President Moldstad preached for a Founders' Day Service at Norwegian Grove Lutheran Church in Gaylord, Minnesota, commemorating the organization of the congregation 125 years ago. A festival celebration for the anniversary is planned for this coming June.  Norwegian Grove is served by Pastor Craig Ferkenstad.


Fort Mohave, AZ
On February 19, 2006, Pastor Larry Wentzlaff and Family of God Lutheran (Fort Mohave, AZ) hosted the synod’s Board of Trustees. The congregation has been enjoying its new sanctuary.  The old sanctuary now serves as a preschool classroom. Mrs. Linda Martin serves as the teacher.

New sanctuary for Family of God dedicated in 2004

 
Family of God’s preschool classroom


Lutheran Schools of America
A new logo has been selected. We thank Mr. Chad Bloedel, a BLC graduate, who has created the design. A slightly modified version of this logo will accompany the scheduled two-year special offering under the direction of our Board for Stewardship. The theme of the offering will be: “For You and Your Children.”

India
The Board for Foreign Missions is planning another training session for the twenty-five seminary students of the LMSI. The next session is scheduled for October in Rajahmundry. Two of our pastors, Rev. David Jay Webber and Rev. Steven Sparley, have been asked to be the instructors for this session.

News from Peru
Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Peru who have just experienced the earthly loss of one of the first national pastors, Rev. Roberto Berrospid. We ask God to bless the family.  We also pray that the Gospel work continues to move forward in the Lima and Amazon River regions.  One of our two American missionaries, Rev. Terry Schultz, currently is deliberating a call that he has received to teach at our Bethany Lutheran College. 

2006 Convention Plans
Dates: June 18–22, 2006
Theme: “For You and Your Children” (Acts 2:39)
Essayist: Rev. Edward Bryant
Kickoff for the Lutheran Schools of America special two-year offering
Synod Sunday preacher: Rev. Bradley Kerkow
Synod Sunday Service: 3 p.m. in the Bethany College Chapel
Sunday evening preacher: Pres. Gaylin Schmeling
Convention Chaplain: Rev. Timothy Zenda
Wednesday evening – Sloppy Joe Supper in the Bethany Dining Center hosted by Peace Lutheran Church
Convention Painting: Rev. Donald Moldstad
Monday night, 7:00 p.m. – Cross-stitch presentation
Order of Service arrangements, Synod Sunday and Communion Services: Prof. D. Marzolf
Devotion speakers: Rev. Matthew Crick . . .

Anniversary Service
The Anniversary Service will be held on Tuesday, June 20, at 5:00 p.m. in Trinity Chapel on the Bethany Lutheran College campus. The following anniversaries of ordination will be observed:
The Rev. Harold Vetter    50 years
The Rev. Daniel Faugstad    25 years
The Rev. Steven Reagles    25 years
The Rev. Carlton Sielaff    25 years
The Rev. Paul Zager    25 years

Memorial Service
The Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, June 21, at 5:00 p.m. in Trinity Chapel on the Bethany Lutheran College campus. The following pastors and pastors’ wives will be remembered:
The Rev. Milton Tweit (1908–2005)
Mrs. Bergit Runholt (1910–2005)
The Rev. Walther Gullixson (1913–2006)

Convention Registration
Registration materials for the convention will be emailed to pastors of the synod in early March. These materials should be returned to Denise Luehmann (6 Browns Court, Mankato MN 56001) by April 1.

Nesseth Funeral
BLESSED BE HER MEMORY – Valborg Nesseth was received into her heavenly home on Tuesday, February 28, at age 95. Val’s father was one of the founding 13 pastors of our ELS.

Retirement
Pastor Arlen Dethlefsen who serves First American Lutheran in Mayville, ND, has announced his retirement.  His last Sunday in Mayville will be March 12. We want to wish both Arlen and Elizabeth our most sincere thanks for the years of service.  Arlen served as pastor at Faith, Hillman, MI, and also Faith, Alpena, MI, before shepherding the flock at Mayville.

God's blessing to Arlen and Elizabeth in their retirement as they move back to California.

Membership Withdrawal
Rev. Paul Lehenbauer has resigned from the clergy roster of the ELS.

First Evanger Lutheran Church, Fertile, and Grace Lutheran Church, Crookston, Minnesota, have withdrawn their membership in the ELS.

Address Changes
Rev. David Thompson: immanuel180(at)arvig.net

Rev. Jeff Londgren: jlondgren(at)triton.net

Rev. and Mrs. Harold Vetter
Good Samaritan Health Care Center
Rm. 310
PO Box 970
Alliance NE 69301-0970

Website Changes
Our Savior's - Albert Lea has a new website. The link to it is: www.lutheransonline.com/oursaviorslutheranmn

Prayer Requests
Please remember Pastor Young Ha Kim and his family in your prayers. His son-in-law died suddenly in early February.

President’s Activities
March 5––4 p.m. installation of Rev. Rod Flohr at King of Grace, Golden Valley, MN
March 19––preaching at Plainfield, IL
March 19––4 p.m. installation of Rev. Phil Lepak at Hope Lutheran, Portage, IN
March 20–21—Doctrine Committee
March 26—preaching at First Trinity, Marinette, WI
March 28—Synod Review Committee
March 28––Board for Stewardship
March 31––CELC Planning Committee
April 3—Planning & Coordinating Committee
April 6–7—Thoughts of Faith (Madison, WI)
April 9—preaching at Abiding Word in Bowling Green, OH (10th anniversary)
April 18–19—LSI Committee meets
April 23—preaching at Brownsburg, Indiana
April 24–26—Great Lakes Conference in Brownsburg, IN
April 28—Board for Foreign Missions

Pray for our synod
We urge all members of our Evangelical Lutheran Synod to pray that God keeps us focused on our real purpose of adhering faithfully to his Word and spreading the Gospel of Christ to more souls in need of God’s gracious and free forgiveness. May the Lord grant us true unity always as we move forward with this essential mission.

In Christ’s abundant grace,

John A. Moldstad