Thank you for your ongoing support of Ablaze! for God’s Mission

Already 63% of pledges for Ablaze! for God’s Mission have been fulfilled. Thank you for this support of ministry, which enables new efforts to continue. As this newsletter is being prepared, LINC Baltimore is at work gathering school supplies for inner-city youth who are in need of these basic tools for education. Crossways Mission in Norfolk VA, who is in a corner storefront in Downtown Norfolk, has filled a prayer window with the petitions of people who both worship at Crossway and travel the downtown sidewalk. University Christian High School will open the school year with a new principal and a commitment to be accredited within two years.

Yet, this is the beginning, already Mission Developer Glenn Lucas is working with congregations, mission committees, and circuits to begin work in 5 new areas, such as Zion Praise Tabernacle an African Immigrant Ministry seeking to plant in the Bowie MD area. Currently, the creative partnership of the Southeastern District has begun 57 new ministries toward the goal of 100. Again, thank you for your contributions that are making this possible.

From LCMS President Rev. Dr. Gerald Kieschnick
to the members of the Southeastern District:

Dear President Diefenthaler, Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Grace and peace be with you, from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

On behalf of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, I express sincere congratulations and thanks for your generous response to the Ablaze for God’s Mission campaign. Along with those of many others in our Synod, your gifts help fuel the fires of our Synod’s effort to reach lost people for Christ.

Through the generosity of many individuals and congregations, the Southeastern District has been and will continue to be able to support mission development in those local and regional locations most needful of such mission endeavors. In addition, LCMS World Mission will be able to support new mission endeavors across our nation throughout the world. Your gifts will not only help plant congregations and train and support leaders, but they will also encourage personal witness opportunities as people share their faith with those who have not yet heard the Good News of God’s love in Christ.

It is my prayer that your generosity will help inspire others throughout The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod to make sacrificial gifts to support mission outreach. It is evident that you have taken to heart St. Paul’s counsel to Timothy to …”fan into flame the gift of God…” (2 Tim 1:6a).

It gives me great joy to add a word of sincere appreciation for the efforts of the Southeastern District staff, especially District President Jon Diefenthaler, for tireless commitment to this worthy cause. Without such leadership the campaign simply would not have achieved the success which resulted from much prayer and selfless expenditure of time and energy.

Once again, thank you for your commitment and dedication to the Ablaze for God’s Mission effort. May our gracious Heavenly Father bless your gifts to extend His Kingdom and bless you richly for your participation in His mission.

Sincerely, in Christian love,
Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod

Two Southeastern District Congregations Recognized at Synod Convention

At the 64th regular convention of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, three congregations were recognized for participation in Fan into Flame (Ablaze! for God’s Mission). Two of the three were from the Southeastern District: Mountainside Lutheran in Linnville NC and Prince of Peace in Springfield VA.

Mountainside Lutheran Church: The congregation, with 54 baptized members, was formed only five years ago and uses a church building at Camp Linn Haven. Members far exceeded a Fan into Flame goal by raising $279,000, Zehnder said.

Together with its own funds, Mountainside recently received a $900 grant from the Fan into Flame campaign to help purchase a refrigerator/freezer for Volunteer Avery, a social-service agency that provides food to needy people in Avery County, according to the congregation’s website.  Donors can now provide perishable items for distribution through the ministry items it could not accept before.

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church: Members established a goal for themselves that each member should aim for seven critical events each year.  A critical event occurs when one member witnesses about Jesus, and the hope that is within him or her, to another person, so that person may encounter Christ. In Phase I of its Ablaze! fundraising effort, Prince of Peace reported it had recorded more 600 critical events and exceeded its goal of raising $185,000 to support Ablaze!

Phase 2 placed more emphasis on mission to our neighbors. To date, the congregation has raised $410,000 for Fan into Flame, and has focused on church planting, including an Ethiopian community,



Shalom!

Wow! What a Summer.  the Lord has provided many opportunities for
mission. I have been blogging regularly at www.aohe-dc.org but
newsletters have fallen between the cracks.  I have now caught up.  You
can read the newsletters by going to the blog and then to the
newsletters page, or by clicking on the links provided below.

May Newsletter

June Newsletter

July Newsletter

I seek your prayers, your participation, and your support.

In His name

Jerry Lucas
Mission Advocate, Apple of His Eye-DC
PO Box 351
Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121

www.aohe-dc.org
www.appleofhiseye.org
jerry@aohe-dc.org
On Twitter: @aohe_dc
On Facebook: aohe-dc

One of the already frequently asked questions I am receiving in the aftermath of the 2010 LCMS Convention in Houston is , “Will Ablaze continue?” The answer is a resounding “yes.” The Convention, in fact, adopted a solid resolution to this effect.

Under the Ablaze! banner, the Southeastern District is being richly blessed by God. The number of faith-sharing moments that have been tabulated to date is approaching 600,000, and we are more than halfway toward our goal of 100 new mission starts. Surrounding these missions are more than 2000 mission prayer partners.

My proudest moment at the Convention, moreover, was the fact that two out the three congregations that received special recognition for their participation in the Ablaze! fundraising effort were from the SED. (pictured above)

Even more encouraging was the Convention’s overwhelming endorsement (1080-33) of the Lutheran Malaria Initiative (LMI). LMI not only aims to mobilize all Lutherans in the US in the global fight against a disease that kills one million people worldwide each year. It provides a unique opportunity for us to bear witness to the Jesus that so many in our culture long to see.

In my view, the uncertainty and the challenges created by the sweeping leadership and structural changes of the Convention dare not distract us. The Lord of the Church, after all, is Jesus Christ. The mission opportunities that God has given to our congregations must remain our focus.

Dr. Jon Diefenthaler, President
Southeastern District, LCMS

18 May, 2010

Dear Mission Prayer Partners,

On Sunday, May 23 we will celebrated Pentecost Day. On this day we recognize that in the coming of the Holy Spirit, the gifts of God were made available to all people, all nations. For these next days, I have included the names of many of our ethnic ministries – and invite you to pray for them, by name as in each ministry, leaders, pastors, moms and dads are striving by the power of the Holy Spirit to share Jesus with others.

Jesus First Korean Church, Springfield VA
Mt. Zion Korean, Midlothian VA
Greater Hickory Hmong, Newton NC
Mt. Airy Hmong, Mt. Airy NC
Chinese Ministry, Falls Church VA
Chinese Ministry, Rockville MD
Ascension Charlotte Hmong, Charlotte NC
Cristo Señor de la Vida, Rockville MD
Hispanic Mission of Northern VA, Franconia VA
The Bridge Hispanic Mission, Hickory NC
Hispanic Outreach, Rehoboth Beach MD
Our Savior Hispanic, Arlington VA
Hispanic Outreach, Woodbridge VA
Hispanic Outreach, Landover Hills MD
Hispanic Outreach, Baltimore MD
Bethany African Immigrant Ministry, Alexandria VA
Grace Ethiopian Lutheran Fellowship, Springfield VA
New Hope International Lutheran, Laurel MD
Eritrean Ministry, Arlington VA
Lamb of God, Landover Hills MD
New AIM Mission, Bowie MD
Muslim Outreach POBLO, Springfield VA
Bosnian Outreach, Roanoke VA
Muslim Outreach, LINC Baltimore MD
Lutheran Campus Ministry, Gallaudet, Silver Spring MD
Christ Deaf Ministry, Silver Spring MD
Virginia Deaf Ministry, Springfield VA

Almighty God, who on this day did open the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of Your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Heavenly Father, bless the work of proclaiming Your one message of salvation into many languages. Guide those individuals and organizations who endeavor to translate Your Holy Word into the foreign languages. By their efforts, bring more people to knowledge of Your salvation. Grant us Your Spirit, O Lord. In Your Name, we are bold to pray. Amen.

Apple of His Eye is a Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.  It’s purpose is to bring the gospel to all, to the Jew first, and also to Gentiles.  Don’t forget to check for AOHE Newsletters from time – to – time.  A new newsletter for Apple Of His Eye -DC and for the Central Apple of His Eye  organization have been posted to their respective sites.

_______________________________________

The information about the AOHE-DC newsletter is :

AOHE-DC April Newsletter

A busy month: Circuit 9 Mission Seed Grant, Demographics to support the need for outreach to Jewish people in the area, Washington Cherry Blossom Festival outreach summary, What’s Next – Passport – DC, A few words about the Mission Advocate position,  General Apple of His Eye Mission Society meeting, Schedule a Tea Party with Nancy Cohen, First Lucas family update

_______________________________________

The Information about the Apple of His Eye Mission Society newsletter is:

May 2010 Newsletter

Request for support.  A personal faith sharing story from Steve Cohen.  Short term mission opportunity in St. Louis this summer with AOHE. A new way to support AOHE missions thanks to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  Israel’s geographic position and Biblical reasons for Christians to support it.  Report from Alan Butterworth based on his son’s experience  in Afghanistan and Alan’s personal witness to a Jewish neighbor. News from Brian & Kim Borcherding, Missionary Candidates in Illinois.  News from Jerry Lucas, Mission Advocate in the Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland area. News from Alexy Sherpelev, AOHE Internet Radio in Moscow.

Some of you will be getting these in your personal email, or they will be sent to your church if I have the contact information.

To get your own copy by email  so you don’t have to remember to check of the AOHE-DC newsletter, email me jerry@aohe-dc.org and I will set it up for you, or you can add the blog http://www.aohe-dc.org to your RSS newsfeed if you are technical, and that way you will be notified through your RSS feed of all updates.

To get your own copy of the central Apple of His Eye Mission Society newsletters, email Steve Cohen at steve.cohen@appleofhiseye.org.  You can also look for electronic copies on the AOHE-DC blog, or at the central Apple of His Eye web site, http://www.appleofhiseye.org

Shalom!

jerry

April 28, 2010

Wellspring – A Center for Wellness and Christ-Centered Leadership
With a foundation grounded in the vision of former SED President Rich Hinz, and an agenda designed to support the growth and nurture of servant leaders facing a future of challenge and hope, The Wellspring Center at St Andrew, Silver Spring, Maryland announces it first offering.

Finding Grace in the Pastor-Parish Dance
Saturday, June 26, 2010 from 9am – 2pm
What does a healthy, God-honoring relationship between a pastor and congregation look like? The foundation of a contagiously joyful and effective congregational ministry is rooted in a good and grace-filled relationship between parish members, staff, and pastoral leaders, but how does that happen?  In this seminar, Concordia Seminary’s Dr. Bruce Hartung will lead participants through presentation, discussion and group activities to discover where and how pastors and their “flocks” can grow in relationship to build a stronger, holistic and more mission-driven community of faith.  For pastors, staff and lay leaders – bring your team and save!

Wellspring is a District partnership with St. Andrew.  Visit  Wellspring Center for details and to register.

Prayer Requests
Let Us Pray:

- with Thanksgiving to God for the gift of 95 years of life that Pastor Ed Coyner will celebrate on Thursday, April 29.

- with Thanksgiving for the life witness of Rev. Dr. Richard C. Dickinson, a longtime Black ministry leader in The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, who entered eternal glory on April 17. Dr. Dickinson served the Synod for more than 50 years, retiring from ministry in 1990. He served from 1977 to 1990 as executive director of the LCMS Commission on Black Ministry, predecessor of the Board for Black Ministry Services. Dr. Dickinson came out of retirement to serve LCMS World Mission as its global partner church strategy coordinator from 1997-1998.
Official Acts

Calls Pending
+ Principal Dan Cluver to Calvary Lutheran School, Baltimore MD.
+ Rev. Aaron Kangas (Beloit WI) to Holy Trinity, Bristol VA
+ Rev. Wendell Willsea (Atlanta GA) to Grace, Summerville SC
+ Rev. Kent Schaaf  (All Saints, Charlotte NC) to Trinity, Gardnerville NV

Calls Declined
+ Rev. John Denninger (Prince of Peace, Springfield VA) to Atonement, Metairie LA
+ Rev. Kent Schaaf (All Saints, Charlotte NC)  to Our Savior, Escanaba MI

Transfer Out
+ Rev. Raymond W. Cage, to Southern District

District Calendar 2010

April 29-30
Multi-Cultural Task Force Fredericksburg
Circuit Mission Advocate Meeting Fredericksburg

May 5-6
Circuit Counselor Meeting Virginia Beach

May 11
Mission U Office Hours On-Line

May 17-19
Lutheran School Funding Academy

May 21-24
LCMS Convention Floor Committees St. Louis MO

May 22
MDA: On-Line

May 25-26
Spiritual Life Task Force Richmond VA

June 4-5
SED Board of Directors Alexandria VA

June 6 – 14
LCMS Convention

July 9-17
Houston TX

July 17-21
National Youth Gathering     New Orleans LA

July 30-Aug 1
Tending the Flame Richmond VA

Sept. 16-19
SED Board of Directors Retreat

Sept. 16-19
Carolinas District LWML

Sept 18
AIM Festival Concordia Upper Marlboro

Sept 19
AIM Mission Sunday

Sept. 24-26
Chesapeake District LWML

Sept. 29-Oct.1
Circuit Counselor Meeting

Oct. 3
SED Mission Sunday

Oct. 5-6
Spiritual Life Team Richmond VA

Oct. 10
SED Mission Sunday

Oct. 14
Regional Teachers Conference Conover NC

Oct. 15
Regional Teachers Conference Glen Burnie MD

Oct. 17
SED Mission Sunday

Oct. 18-19
New Worker Richmond VA

Oct. 19-21
Fall PCW Conference Richmond VA

Oct. 24
SED Mission Sunday

Dec. 3-4
SED Board of Directors Alexandria VA

Dec. 23
Office closes at 4:30 for Christmas Alexandria VA

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

LCMS Convention: April Prayer
Reflect on The Two Blue Ribbon Task Forces

Blue Ribbon Task Forces on Structure and Funding the Mission have been at work praying, studying, interviewing, and struggling to discern God’s will for the mission and work of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Their work is being presented to this Convention and from it, a series of resolutions are being formed to address future and direction.

Acts 6: 1-7 What is God teaching you about the church? What is the role of Synod structure in the mission of the church?

We are grateful, loving Father, for the ways You have led our beloved Synod since its establishment. Over the years You have provided faithful and gifted workers, dedicated leaders, and clarity of mission to build Your Kingdom through and among us. As we contemplate a new and different way of structuring Your church as it is represented by our Synod, may it remain faithful to Your Word, give You the glory, and boldly carry out the mission to reach the lost. Help us to risk, to not be bound by our traditions and comfort, but to listen to Your voice in the way we structure the mission of our Synod.

Into your hands we place ourselves; our minds to know You, our hearts to love You, our wills to serve You, for we are Yours. Enliven and empower us by Your Spirit so that we may serve You faithfully as we obey Your call to “make disciples of all peoples.” In the most precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Tending the Flame Conference

July 30 – August 1, 2010
Holiday Inn Koger Center
Richmond VA

A truly intergenerational family friendly event with something for every age:

Speaker Reggie McNeal will present Living Letters – being the letters of Christ in a world seeking hope and Good News.
Workshops
Prayer Breakfast
Music
Echelon for the teens.
A VBS style children’s program.

Early registration is $60 per person.

Conference information packets are in the mail.  Registration information is also on the SED website.

Southeastern District, LCMS
6315 Grovedale Drive
Alexandria, Virginia 22310
800-637-5723

April 13, 2010

Professional Church Workers Conference

As this is being sent out, the second of the two regional Professional Church Workers is under way at Lutheran Church of the St. Andrew in Silver Spring MD with about 130 workers in our congregations and missions. Yesterday more than 100 gathered at Resurrection, Cary NC. Together we are learning from Dr. Dale Meyer, President of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis speak on Living Lutheran Theology in a Post-Church Culture. He reminds us that we have a rich and real theology to heal the hurts of the world.

A special work of thanks and appreciation to the members of Resurrection, Cary and St. Andrew, Silver Spring for their gift of hospitality.

Prayer Requests
Let Us Pray:
For the work of the Holy Spirit throughout the communities of our District.
For the mission developers and new work that is taking shaped all around us.
For boldness in siezing opportunities to share Jesus.

Official Acts

Calls Pending
+ Rev. John Denninger (Prince of Peace, Springfield VA) to Atonement, Metairie LA
+ Rev. Timothy Schepman (Faith, Groton CT) to Calvary, Silver Spring MD

Calls Declined
+ Rev. Alan J. Flynn (Messiah, Citrus Heights CA) to Redeemer, Hyattsville MD
+ Rev. Eric Skovgaard (Elm Grove Lutheran), Elm Grove WI to Grace, Woodbridge VA
+ Rev. Duncan McLellan (Faith), Lincoln NE to Trinity, Norfolk VA

District Calendar 2010

April 12
Spring Regional PCW Meeting
Cary NC

April 13
Spring Regional PCW Meeting
Silver Spring MD

Mission U Office Hours
On-Line

April 16-18
Pastors Wives Retreat
Richmond VA

April 25
District-wide LCEF Sunday

April 29-30
Multi-Cultural Task Force

Circuit Mission Advocate Meeting

May 5-6
Circuit Counselor Meeting
Virginia Beach

May 11
Mission U Office Hours
On-Line

May 17-19
Lutheran School Funding Academy

May 21-24
LCMS Convention Floor Committees
St. Louis MO

May 21-22
MDA Retreat
Greensboro NC

May 25-26
Spiritual Life Task Force
Richmond VA

June 4-5
SED Board of Directors
Alexandria VA

June 6 – 14
District-wide Pre-Convention Meetings

July 9-17
LCMS Convention
Houston TX

July 17-21
National Youth Gathering
New Orleans LA

July 30-Aug 1
Tending the Flame
Richmond VA

Sept. 16-19
SED Board of Directors Retreat

Carolinas District LWML

Sept 18
AIM Festival
Concordia Upper Marlboro

Sept 19
AIM Mission Sunday

Sept. 24-26
Chesapeake District LWML

Sept. 29-Oct.1
Circuit Counselor Meeting

LCMS Convention: April Prayer
Reflect on The Two Blue Ribbon Task Forces

Blue Ribbon Task Forces on Structure and Funding the Mission have been at work praying, studying, interviewing, and struggling to discern God’s will for the mission and work of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Their work is being presented to this Convention and from it, a series of resolutions are being formed to address future and direction.

Acts 6: 1-7 What is God teaching you about the church? What is the role of Synod structure in the mission of the church?

We are grateful, loving Father, for the ways You have led our beloved Synod since its establishment. Over the years You have provided faithful and gifted workers, dedicated leaders, and clarity of mission to build Your Kingdom through and among us. As we contemplate a new and different way of structuring Your church as it is represented by our Synod, may it remain faithful to Your Word, give You the glory, and boldly carry out the mission to reach the lost. Help us to risk, to not be bound by our traditions and comfort, but to listen to Your voice in the way we structure the mission of our Synod.

Into your hands we place ourselves; our minds to know You, our hearts to love You, our wills to serve You, for we are Yours. Enliven and empower us by Your Spirit so that we may serve You faithfully as we obey Your call to “make disciples of all peoples.” In the most precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

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

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)

Blessed days in this week leading to the cross, the grave, and the resurrection victory.

A devotional booklet for the days of Easter has been prepared for you. Each day a faith-sharing devotion will be emailed. If you would like to receive these emails, click here to be sent to a site to sign up if you haven’t already done so.

Prayer Requests
Let Us Pray:

Karen, wife of Rev. Jim O’Connor, emeritus, invites you to join in prayers of thanksgiving. Her cancer is in remission.

Rev. Steve Sigmon (Grace, Greensboro NC) prayers of thanksgiving for healing following the June 20 accident. While complete healing is anticipated to take another 18 months, all broken parts of the body are healed and is free of the wheelchair and walker.

Barb, wife of Rev. Jim Roseman, emeritus, who is recovering from surgery.

Christa, daughter of Rev. Mark Drengler (Resurrection, Cary NC) who is recovering from illness

Rev. Ed Bertram, emeritus, recovering from knee surgery

We give God the glory for the gift of new life and new family members:
Henry David Voss, born on March 11 to Rev. David and Joy Voss (Nazareth, Hopewell VA)
Parker Alexander Spinosa, born on March 11, proud grandparents Chuck and Sally Hiller (SED Staff)
Eamonn Julius Luther Hull, born January 27, proud grandparents are Rev. Robert and Sue Hull (Prince of Peace, Charlotte NC)

We surround the family and friends of the following members of the SED who now reside with the Church Triumphant praising the Resurrection Lord.
Ralph Abernethy, Sr, father of Rev. Ralph Abernethy, Mt. Olive, Newton NC
Rev. Ed Birner, emeritus, Holy Cross, Greenbelt MD
Rev. John Costello, emeritus, Our Savior, Raleigh NC
Rev. Gerry Kuhn, emeritus, Good Shepherd, Herndon VA
Syd Rogers, wife of Rev. Ray Rogers, Our Shepherd, Cambridge MD
Florence Roock, wife of Rev. John Roock, emeritus, St. John’s, Dover DE
Official Acts

Calls Pending
+ Rev. Alan J. Flynn (Messiah, Citrus Heights CA) to Redeemer, Hyattsville MD
+ Rev. Eric Skovgaard (Elm Grove Lutheran), Elm Grove WI to Grace, Woodbridge VA
+ Rev. Duncan McLellan (Faith), Lincoln NE to Trinity, Norfolk VA
+ Rev. John Denninger (Prince of Peace, Springfield VA) to Atonement, Metairie LA

Calls Accepted
+ Director Jamie Wagner (Open Arms at Our Savior’s Way, Ashburn VA) has accepted a Call to Del Ray Beach FL.

Calls Declined
+ Rev. Kent Schaff (All Saints, Charlotte NC) to Our Savior, Escanaba MI
+ Rev. David Smith (Cross of Life), Antioch TN to Calvary, Silver Spring MD

Emeritus
+ Rev. H. Gene Reichel, Good Shepherd, York PA on 12/2/09

Installations
+ Rev. Charles McClean, visitation pastor at Immanuel, Alexandria VA on 3/14/10
+ Rev. Raymond H. Rohrs, Pastor, Faith, Baltimore MD on 4/18/10

District Calendar 2010

April 4 Easter
April 10 MDA: Developing A Mission On-Line
April 12 Spring Regional PCW Meeting Cary NC
April 13 Spring Regional PCW Meeting Silver Spring MD
April 13 Mission U Office Hours On-Line
April 16-18 Pastors Wives Retreat Richmond VA
April 23-24 MDA Retreat
April 25 District-wide LCEF Sunday
April 29-30 Multi-Cultural Task Force
April 29-30 Circuit Mission Advocate Meeting

May 4-5 Team Meeting Virginia Beach
May 5-6 Circuit Counselor Meeting Virginia Beach
May 11 Mission U Office Hours On-Line
May 17-19 Lutheran School Funding Academy Holy Cross, Greenbelt MD
May 21-24 LCMS Convention Floor Committees St. Louis MO
May 25-26 Spiritual Life Task Force Richmond VA

June 4-5 SED Board of Directors Alexandria VA
June 6 – 14 District-wide Pre-Convention Meetings

July 9-17 LCMS Convention Houston TX
July 17-21 National Youth Gathering New Orleans LA
July 30-Aug 1 Tending the Flame Richmond VA

Sept. 16-19 SED Board of Directors Retreat
Sept. 16-19 Carolinas District LWML
Sept 18 AIM Festival Concordia Upper Marlboro
Sept 19 AIM Mission Sunday
Sept. 24-26 Chesapeake District LWML
Sept. 29-Oct.1 Circuit Counselor Meeting

LCMS Convention: March Prayer

Reflect on All Who Have Been Nominated for Office

I Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9 What kind of leaders does God want us to elect? How might
we pray for discernment as our delegates elect those who will lead us?

God of compassion, Your Son came among us not to be served but to serve. We give You thanks for the men and women who offer themselves for leadership among us. Help our delegates to discern those You have chosen and called to serve among us. Give them faith to serve You with gladness, sustain them with a living hope, especially in the time of despair, and kindle in them Your love, so that they live as Your disciples. May all of us boldly proclaim the Good News of Your Son in our words and actions, rejoicing always in Your powerful presence among us; through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior. Amen.

Please note: District Office Hours
Easter Hours: We will close at 3:00 on Thursday, April 1, 2010 and reopen on Monday, April 5 at 8:00 A.M..

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

When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among others, To make music in the heart.”

- Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman

Participating in God’s mission in the world, doesn’t have to lead to an ethnic quagmire over race, said the Rev. John Nunes of LCMS World Relief and Human Care. “Race is an artificial category; it is about grace and not race,” he said at the second annual multi-ethnic symposium.

Nunes told more than 120 clergy and lay leaders, who came from ethnic and urban missions from around the country, that it is important to reframe the conversation. Essentially the dialogue must move from “the hermeneutics of suspicion to the hermeneutics of understanding” or as Martin Luther would point out, “putting the best construction” on cross-cultural communication, Nunes said.

During the 2-day symposium at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, there were many opportunities for small-group discussions.

A few times, the table talk questions became more important than the answers. What holds us together? Overwhelmingly it is “our strong theological and biblical position,” many said again and again. What theological contributions come to our church from ethnic communities? “We think with our hearts and not so much our heads. Differences should be celebrated,” others said.

How is the message going to be locally expressed? There is not just one way to present the Gospel and worship our God. It’s a risk-taking task, we have ahead of us, said the Rev. John Schmidtke. “We must reach the lost and encourage the saints,” he said.

But there is avoidance to overcome. “Many times we fail at communication,” said the Rev. Dr. Samuel Gomez. The common ground becomes elusive in intercultural communication – the search remains for a path to meaning and truth. The disconnect still happens when there is a struggle for money and resources as ethnics are left on the back burner.

In fact, at the upcoming synodical convention in July, only two of the 120 ethnic minorities gathered would be delegates from their congregations. Perhaps this is the reason why the theory of inclusiveness is rarely lived out in culture and race. Yet our DNA only differs .012 in genetic material. “A cell attracts what it needs with many binding sites to nurture and grow,” said the Rev. Eloy Gonzalez.

“We must maximize our giftedness to reach our broken world,” said the Rev. Dr. Don Johnson in representing Native American missions. “We must give up on holding on to past paradigms, but transform and use them for a new purpose.”

Now is the time for a covenant of action at the synodical convention for strategic planning and significant support ethnic and urban missions. “We don’t know our neighbors,” said Janis McDaniel, a regional president of Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. By 2050, about 75-80 percent of the U.S. population will live in urban areas, which will consist of between 30 to 69 mega cities. “It is time to bring people together, pray and find resources for leadership,” she said.

There is a need for the ministry of reconciliation, said the Rev. James Wiggins. “Why are you all here? You are sons and daughters of God and love reigns.” With structural and systemic challenges and power-sharing issues inside the institution – synod’s days may be numbered. Author George Barna would estimate about three decades are left if mission planting fails. But it can succeed.

“God is doing a new thing,” Rev. Aurelio Magarino said. The president of the National Lutheran Hispanic Conference urged his listeners to take the risk and move beyond barriers. “Change yourself,” he said.

Yvette Moy

Chairman Hispanic Mission Development Board of Northern Virginia

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

2 Corinthians 3:2-3