Dear Lazarus Project Partners,

I hope that you have all bookmarked www.lazarusprojecthaiti.org and are reading the daily updates from Debbie Berquist from Haiti. She has been our rock in this disaster and has been able to help so many people. We are blessed to have her there.

Be sure to visit the website today to see the interview with Nick Dixon of CHCH News in Hamilton, Canada, Debbie’s home town!

Media attention is beginning to wane as time passes, but we will continue to serve the people of the Lazarus Project long after Haiti has left the news and the last reporters have gone home. We are in this for the long haul and we appreciate your participation with us to help the children, teachers and staff of the Lazarus Project rebuild their homes, communities and lives in Haiti!

Thank you for your continued prayers and donations.

Marni

Mission U on February 13
You won’t want to miss Session 4 of MISSION U. Join us as we discuss witnessing tactics and dialogue to avoid so we do not alienate those around us. We’ll learn to determine the proper time for sharing our faith. We’ll also learn what to do about missed opportunities and how to move forward after conversations gone wrong. And, crucial to gaining confidence in our witness, we will improve in the area of responding to objections. Session 4 will provide answers to tough questions, as well as an opportunity to practice responding to these questions. We will also learn to utilize apologetics towards deeper sharing.

We Reached the Goal!
Thank you for your partnership in the Ablaze! for God’s Mission Funding Campaign that has now surpassed the goal of $6,000,000. Your generosity will enable the work of the Gospel in more than 23 new communities. President Jon Diefenthaler shares his thanks in this video message.

Let Us Pray:
Rev. Paul Nelson, emeritus recovering from surgery
Rev. Ken Schwengel, emeritus, recovering from recent hospitalization
Rev. David Voss (Nazareth, Hopewell VA) tests and recovering
Eleanor Muhly, wife of the late Rev. Edward Muhly, was gathered into the Lord’s arms on Dec. 24.
Calls Accepted
+ Rev. Charles Long (New Hope, Chesterfield VA) to Grace, LaPlata MD
Installation
Rev. Dr. Frank Ciampa as associate Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Aiken on Sunday, February 14th

District Sponsored Events
Feb 5-6: LCMS Convention Pre-Meeting, Atlanta
Feb 6: Circuit 1 Disaster Preparedness Training
Feb 9: Mission U Web Office Hours (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
Feb 11-12: School Administrators Meeting, Virginia Beach VA
Feb. 13: TLO Broadcast: Mission U, part 4
Feb 23: Mission U Web Office Hours (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
Feb 25: Early Childhood Conference, Clayton NC
Feb 26: Early Childhood Conference, King George VA

Mar 5-6: SED Board of Directors
Mar 7-14: National Lutheran School Week
Mar 9: Mission U Web Office Hours (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
Mar 23: Mission U Web Office Hours (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)

Apr 12: Professional Church Workers Conference, Resurrection-Cary NC
Apr 13: Professional Church Workers Conference, St. Andrew – Silver Spring MD
Apr 13: Mission U Web Office Hours (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
Apr 16-17: Pastors Wives Retreat, Roslyn
Apr 29-30: Circuit Mission Advocate Meeting
Apr 29-30: Multicultural Task Force Meeting

May 5-6: Circuit Counselors
May 11: Mission U Web Office Hours (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
May 17-19: Funding Academy for Schools

June 4-5: SED Board of Directors

July 9-17: LCMS Convention
July 17-21: National Youth Gathering
July 30, 31, August 1: Tending the Flame, Living Letters

Mark your Calendars!  Tending The Flame July 30-August 1, 2010 in Richmond VA
The Tending the Flame conference features Reggie McNeal, author of Missional Renaissance, as well as workshops, missions fair, youth and children’s program and fellowship with people throughout our district. Registration Information ia available on line.

Please note: District Office Hours
Our current hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 P.M. We use the answering machine when we have a staff meeting, devotions (Wednesdays at 12:30) and during the lunch break (11:45-12:30)
The Southeastern District (SED)
is a regional district of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Connecting people with Christ, the 205 churches, 91 schools and 43 missions are located in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina. The SED office is located in Alexandria VA..

www.se.lcms.org

Sally J Hiller
Executive Director for Congregational Outreach and District Operations
Southeastern District, LCMS
6315 Grovedale Drive
Alexandria VA 22310-2501
voice: 703.971.9371, Ext. 205 or 800.637.5723, fax 703.922.6047
web:  www.se.lcms.org

Dear Mission Prayer Partners,

We continue to be in prayer for the people of Haiti and the work of response. Many have responded to the cry for help with donations of time, materials, and money. May God multiply these gifts so that those in most need will be blessed.

Today, there is a major event in Washington DC. This is the March for Life rally in DC. I invite you to remember the precious gift of life that God so richly bestows on us and especially those little ones who are being so wonderfully knitted and shaped within the wombs of their mothers.

I’m certain you have seen the email news earlier this week calling all SED members to a time of prayer for the work of the LCMS Convention this summer. There is much scheduled for this event that could distract us from the mission and ministry to which God calls us. Pray that we remain focused on the work of reaching the nations – one person at a time- with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

I know this is getting lengthy and I have not yet begun the prayers and thanks we want to lifting up for all that God is doing among us. I will send an updated list of mission next week. But note below, that the prayer goals reflect some of the changes we are planning to see in this new year.

Our Prayer Goals for 2010

Let us join our hearts and voices as we pray for:

1. Those who do not know Jesus Christ and the joy of His salvation for them.
2. The work of mission outreach teams, missionaries, and outreach efforts that will make a Gospel difference in our communities.
3. Boldness in each of our lives that we will regularly share the Good News of Jesus with others.
4. The continued growth in prayer partners for mission. (Our goal is 3000 pray-ers and a prayer team for each new mission.)
5. For 750,000 recorded faith-sharing events.
6. For the work and the people of the Convention of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.

New Prayer Resources
Check out the new prayer resources now available on the website.(http://se.lcms.org/prayer/prayer-ministry-resources.php)

Thank you for your mission prayers, they are making an eternal difference.

Not a prayer partner yet?  Sign Up today!
10:02 am Prayers for the Harvest and Workers
Don’t forget to set your cell phones alarm/alert to 10:02 a.m. and pray for the Harvest and Workers. Luke 10:2 Jesus told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Plan now to join Session 4 of Mission U on Saturday, February 13 with Lutheran Hour Ministry’s Sarah Guldalian, broadcast live from Trinity Lutheran Church, 2315 Parham Rd, Richmond, VA 23229.  It promises to be a very full morning, beginning at 9 am and concluding at noon.  Attached is a registration form which you can return to us or you can register by simply responding to this email.

“You won’t want to miss Session 4 of MISSION U. Join us as we discuss witnessing tactics and dialogue to avoid so we do not alienate those around us. We’ll learn to determine the proper time for sharing our faith. We’ll also learn what to do about missed opportunities and how to move forward after conversations gone wrong. And, crucial to gaining confidence in our witness, we will improve in the area of responding to objections. Session 4 will provide answers to tough questions, as well as an opportunity to practice responding to these questions. We will also learn to utilize apologetics towards deeper sharing.” Sarah Guldalian

If it is not convenient for you to attend the live session at Trinity in Richmond, the following congregations will be serving as webcast host sites:

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 8304 Old Keene Mill Rd, Springfield, VA 22152
St. Stephens Lutheran Church, 2304 Springs Road, Hickory, NC  28601
Messiah Lutheran Church, 13901 Clopper Road, Germantown, MD 20874

If you want to receive the webcast at your own congregation or at your home on Saturday, February 13, please contact me and let me know that you want to participate and I will provide you with log-on information.  If you had a group from your own congregation who participated in the program with you for the first three Mission U sessions, please get in touch with those people and invite them to the program on the 13th.

Sarah will be providing us with her PowerPoint presentation which we will post on our website a few days before the program so that you can print the handouts and have them available for distribution on Saturday morning.

If you have never participated in a webcast before, I encourage you to test your connection by clicking on the following link which will automatically run a quick test to see if your computer is ready to connect; this test should only take about a minute to complete.

http://breeze.lsportal.net/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

I look forward to hearing from you; if you are able to participate, I will be contacting you again the week of February 8th with additional information, including the website address.

Cathy Long
Southeastern District
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
6315 Grovedale Drive
Alexandria, VA  22310-2501
(703) 971-9371 ext.219
(800) 637-5723 ext.219
(703) 922-6047 (fax)
clong@se.lcms.org
Cathy Long
Database Manager, Ext. 207

New on website: In response to the Call for Prayer for the Work of the LCMS 2010 Convention, monthly prayers and a sample liturgy have been prepared by Rev. Art Umbach. You will find them at Prayer Resources in the column on the right side of the page.

Thank you for your partnership in sharing the Gospel message with so many who do not know and who have not heard. Faith sharing events that have been reported now number more than 362,000. Please take time to report your events and stories. The district Ablaze Task Force is at work preparing a daily devotional series (using these stories) during the days of Easter. If you have a faith-sharing story to share, please send it to Sally Hiller.

Let Us Pray:
+ Rev. Ken Schwengel (First, Bowie MD) who is hospitalized and recovering
+ Rev. Paul Nelson, emeritus, who is home recovering from surgery.
+ Deaconess Robie Hillhouse (LMS, Baltimore MD) and family who grieve the earthly loss of her sister, Audrey Sauer Wilson on January 7. Audrey celebrates her eternal victory in Jesus Christ.
+ Natalie Hartwig who gives thanks for the faithful witness of her husband, Rev. John Hartwig who was called to glory last week. Rev. John Hartwig, retired, lived in Salem VA.
+ Rev. Paul Lierseman (First, Huntington MD) and his family who remembers with thanksgiving the life of his father,  Frank P. Liersemann, Sr. who was gathered into the arms of the Lord last week.

Calls Accepted
+ Rev. Charles Long (New Hope, Chesterfield VA) to Grace, LaPlata MD

Installation
+ Director Lori Snyder to Open Arms child Development Center, Living Hope Stafford VA, 1/24/10

District Sponsored Events

Feb 5-6: LCMS Convention Pre-Meeting, Atlanta
Feb 6: Circuit 1 Disaster Preparedness Training
Feb 9: Mission U Web Office Hours (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
Feb 11-12: School Administrators Meeting, Virginia Beach VA
Feb. 13: TLO Broadcast: Mission U, part 4
Feb 23: Mission U Web Office Hours (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
Feb 25: Early Childhood Conference, Clayton NC
Feb 26: Early Childhood Conference, King George VA

Mar 5-6: SED Board of Directors
Mar 7-14: National Lutheran School Week
Mar 9: Mission U Web Office Hours (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
Mar 23: Mission U Web Office Hours (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)

Apr 12: Professional Church Workers Conference, Resurrection-Cary NC
Apr 13: Professional Church Workers Conference, St. Andrew – Silver Spring MD
Apr 13: Mission U Web Office Hours (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
Apr 16-17: Pastors Wives Retreat, Roslyn
Apr 29-30: Circuit Mission Advocate Meeting
Apr 29-30: Multicultural Task Force Meeting

May 5-6: Circuit Counselors
May 11: Mission U Web Office Hours (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
May 17-19: Funding Academy for Schools

June 4-5: SED Board of Directors

July 9-17: LCMS Convention
July 17-21: National Youth Gathering
July 30, 31, August 1: Tending the Flame, Living Letters

Please note: District Office Hours
Our current hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 P.M. We use the answering machine when we have a staff meeting, devotions (Wednesdays at 12:30) and during the lunch break (11:45-12:30).

The Southeastern District (SED)
is a regional district of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Connecting people with Christ, the 205 churches, 91 schools and 43 missions are located in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina. The SED office is located in Alexandria VA..

www.se.lcms.org

Mark Your Calendars! Tending The Flame July 30-August 1, 2010 in Richmond VA

This summers Tending the Flame conference features Reggie McNeal, author of Missional Renaissance, as well as workshops, missions fair, youth and children’s program and fellowship with people throughout our district. Registration Information

Sally J Hiller
Executive Director for Congregational Outreach and District Operations
Southeastern District, LCMS
6315 Grovedale Drive
Alexandria VA 22310-2501

voice: 703.971.9371, Ext. 205 or 800.637.5723, fax 703.922.6047
web:  www.se.lcms.org

On July 10-17, delegates from across the country will gather in Houston, Texas for the 64th Regular LCMS Convention. This meeting is the legislative assembly of our church body and in its gathering, will make decisions on mission, ministry, structure, governance, and funding that will have a tremendous impact on the future direction of the LCMS.

In preparation for the LCMS convention, the Southeastern District voted at its 2009 Convention to commit this year to prayer for discernment and guidance in our Synod in this time of preparation for the 2010 LCMS Convention.

To assist you in this process two special resources have been prepared by Rev. Art Umbach, Director of Spiritual Life.

The first is a series of prayers and Bible references for reflection for each month prior to the Convention. I have included the prayers for January in this email. You may download this complete resource from the Prayer Resources page on our website or click on the following link Prayers for the LCMS Convention.

The second resource is a worship liturgy that may be used for small group settings, prayer groups, or for a monthly prayer meeting. The purpose is to help us to prepare for the Convention and to turn to God through prayer the work and challenge that is before us. This resource is also available from the Prayer Resources page or by clicking the following Preparation of the LCMS Convention.

We encourage you to use these resources and to lift up the work and people of our Synod in prayer.

For January 2010:
REFLECT ON FORGIVENESS

Under the convention theme of “ONE PEOPLE – FORGIVEN”  (“Forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”  Ephesians 4:32 ESV) we are called to stand at the foot of the cross.  For us to be “one people-forgiven”, each of us needs to seek God’s forgiveness for the brokenness we may have caused and then to offer that forgiveness to each other.

What do we learn about God’s forgiveness through the parables of the lost coin, the lost son, and the lost sheep (Luke 15)?  How does Jesus model this for us?

Psalm 51 leads us into confession, while Matthew 18:15ff. and 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 guide us into living a life of forgiveness.  How might these help us as we deal with each other in the LCMS and our Convention?

PRAY

Loving Father, we come with grateful hearts for Your generous gift of forgiveness and reconciliation through Your Son, Jesus.   We seek Your forgiveness for the ways that we have hurt others, built barriers of anger and resentment, and willfully separated ourselves from those who disagree with us.  Help us to receive Your forgiveness and with an open heart to extend it to those we consider our adversaries.  May we listen for your voice in the midst of conflicted relationships.   By Your Spirit may our Convention be a time of healing and recommitment to the ministry of reconciliation.  As we gather, “restore to us the joy of Your salvation, and uphold us with a willing spirit.”  By the power of Your Spirit, help us to focus on You and the mission to which You have called us.

Loving Lord Jesus, the extent of Your love carried You to a cross, where in Your dying breath You begged Your father to forgive us. The extent of Your love reaches all people and does not cease to provide opportunities for all to come to Your loving arms. We pray Lord that our love for all Your children would model Your example. We pray that we would persevere as Your disciples and never cease to open our loving arms to all those who so desperately need to know You. Direct our hearts to love those who are hard to love, showing unconditional love and forgiveness at all times and at all cost, just as You have done for us.  In Your precious Name, we pray.  Amen.

Dear Friends,

With each miracle story of another person found alive in the rubble, I give thanks to God. Indeed we are seeing miracles unfolding before us. And just I rejoice with the latest good news, I am praying for those people who continue to hope that their loved one will be found, who cry for help, who struggle for the very essentials of life. These are difficult days – moments and our prayers are needed.

A brief update for you regarding the relief response.
Thrivent for Lutherans has announced a decision to match $1 for every $2 given by its members up to $250 per member. Go to Thrivent “Helping Haiti” for information.

Lutheran World Relief has announced a “text to give” program. Starting Sunday, January 17, to support LWR from your cell phone, just text the keyword “LWR” to 40579 to donate $10. Remember to reply YES to the confirmation. It’s quick and easy, and the donation will appear on your next cell phone bill. Standard messaging and data rates may apply.

Many have asked about where to send contributions. LCMS World Relief and Human Care is working cooperatively with LCMS World Mission, Haitian missionaries, and partner churches to provide relief in a timely fashion. To make a gift that shares Christ’s mercy and helps suffering Haitians, click on the link below, call toll free 888-930-4438, or mail donations marked “Haiti Earthquake Relief” to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-6861.

LCMS World Relief – Donate Please be cdertain that you designate funds for Haiti Earthquake Response

Lutheran World Relief – http://lwr.org

Lutheran Disaster Response – http://www.ldr.org/alert/index.html

From the Red Cross -To help, people can make an unrestricted donation to the International Response Fund at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). The public can also help by texting “Haiti” to 90999 to send a $10 donation to the Red Cross, through an effort backed by the U.S. State Department. Funds will go to support American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.

Each of these organizations have mobilized and are already involved in disaster response in Haiti. You can follow their work on their websites. Orphan Grain Train has also prepared to ship 513,216 “Kids Against Hunger” meals next week. Orphan Grain Train is shipping to Haiti both by air and by sea. They are also receiving cash donations to assist with this effort. You can learn more about it at their website.

I will continue to send updates your direction and urge you to continue to keep the people of Haiti, all the volunteers, and yes, even the process of response in your prayers.

In Christ,

Sally Hiller

Good evening,

Help package 100,000 meals for Haiti on Friday, Feb. 19, 7-9:30 p.m. or Saturday, Feb. 20, 9-11:30 a.m. at Prince of Peace.

Yvette

______________

Contact Info:

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
8304 Old Keene Mill Road
Springfield , VA 22152-1695
voice (703) 451-5855
fax  (703) 569-0978
e-mail: pastor.john@poplc.org

The 15th annual VIC (Ventures In Community) choir festival was held on Sunday, 17 January 2010 to celebrate community and the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  23 choirs and orchestras participated.  Bethany’s Trinity Handbell Choir lent their ringing skills and voices to the celebration.  See the videos below.

Video: Bethany’s Trinity Handbell Choir

Video: Mass Choir