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GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD!
• Grace Lutheran in Vero Beach, FL, holding classes in its new preschool building.
• Redeeming Grace Mission Church in Rogers began services in their new building on Sunday, February 3.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
• Jean Goebel recovering from open heart surgery.
• Lois Halvorson undergoing experimental cancer treatment.
• Linda Marozick who will be undergoing open heart surgery on March 4.
• The family of Agnes Solli, who died at the age of 99. Agnes was the mother of Kathy Petersen and mother-in-law of Rev. Steven Petersen.
• The family of Heidi MacNeill who died suffering from a cardiac arrest due to a blood clot.
• Hope in Farmington, MN, conducting worship services each Sunday.
• Redeeming Grace in Rogers as they proceed with Kindergarten classes next fall.
• Hope Lutheran Church in West Jordan, Utah as it considers expanding preschool to a full-fledged Lutheran Elementary School (Hope Academy).
• Candidate of Theology Timothy Schmeling assigned to Trinity in Sebastian, FL, ordained and installed on Sunday, February 17.

TREASURER’S UPDATE: For the year 2007 a total of $739,577 was received from congregational offerings towards synod budget of $735,000. Thanks to the congregations and others for their support and gifts. The 2008 synod budget (reduced) has been set at $750,000.

LUTHERAN SCHOOLS of AMERICA UPDATE: The progress of Lutheran Schools of America (LSA) and its impact upon Christian education within the Evangelical Lutheran Synod is dramatic. Congregational leaders and their pastors have recognized the vital importance of the mission of LSA, namely to advance excellence and outreach in Lutheran education. Since the establishment of LSA in June 2005, thirteen ELS churches have either established a preschool, expanded an existing preschool program into upper grade levels, or are currently examining the possible start of a preschool program in the fall of 2008. In addition, three existing PK-8 ELS schools are considering adopting “the LSA School” model. Our synod’s Board of Trustees has recognized the importance of establishing LSA “model schools” within our synod and, in recent months, has established a fund supporting the establishment of such an educational concept model. As a result, Parkland Lutheran School and Church of Tacoma, WA, will become the first such model PK-8 school within the ELS. The administration of LSA is striving to establish similar models within expanding preschool programs and newly forming preschools. The Board for LSA continues to urge the prayers and gifts of the members of the ELS in support of excellence and outreach in Lutheran education. Thanks for everyone’s support and gifts.

KNOW YOUR SYNOD: For several years before 1957 the synod had been contemplating a change in its official name. It was felt by many that the name, “The Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church,” made it appear that we were a church body that was primarily interested in serving people of Norwegian descent. With a new generation of people born in America the language barrier had disappeared and Norwegian services were seldom conducted. In addition, with the growth of new missions and with the shifting of synodical loyalties many people joined the synod from many different nationalities and backgrounds. While the members of the synod were still proud of the heritage handed down by their Norwegian forefathers they wanted to make certain that nothing would hinder them from preaching the Gospel to every creature, and that persons of every nationality would feel at home in their midst. At the 1957 convention, held June 25-30, it was therefore officially resolved that the new name of our church body would be the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. It should now be abundantly clear that we are an American church body made up of people of every nationality and background.

“God’s work, done God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.”
-Hudson Taylor