PUBLISHED BY THE MISSOURI DISTRICT OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD August 12, 2016
Missouri District Welcomes New Pastors


The Missouri District hosted an orientation for ten recent seminary graduates who have been placed here in Missouri. The orientation was primarily presentations and discussions from recent graduates about many of the things that the new pastors can expect. There were also presentations from President Lee Hagan, Dr. Stu Brassie, and Rev. Gene Wyssmann on mission opportunities, church worker health and getting to know your congregation and community. The pastors from the field presented on a number of practical topics such as the devotional life of the pastor to his relationship with the Board of Elders. There were also table discussions among those serving in team ministry and those serving as sole pastors. Read more . . .

 
Missouri District Welcomes Eight New Vicars



















The Missouri District welcomed eight vicars and two deaconess interns for an orientation and “mission tour” of St. Louis. District staff members, Dr. Stu Brassie, Peter Krege and President Lee Hagan spent the day with those who will be serving in Missouri for the upcoming year as part of their professional internship. Read more . . .

 
Meet Missouri District Life Coordinator: Rev. Jacob Mueller

Rev. Jacob Mueller, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church, Stringtown, near Lohman, serves as the Missouri District Life Coordinator. Pastor Mueller participates in regular conference calls with the other LCMS District Life Coordinators and the director of Lutherans for Life. Pastor Mueller is a resource for congregations looking for information about issues related to the sanctity of life. Pastor Mueller is a native Missourian, having grown up in southeast Missouri and attended Concordia Ev. Lutheran, Sikeston, Mo. He and his wife Dalas have five children, two of which have special needs and are adopted from the Ukraine. If you have questions about how you can keep informed on these issues, contact Pastor Mueller at St. John in Stringtown.

 
Concordia Seminary’s Mission Shift

Concordia Seminary’s Mission Shift Institute is currently accepting registrations for the fall. Church members, pastors, and LCMS leaders who seek to make a gospel impact on their community in new and meaningful ways should reserve their spot today for the MissionShift fall 2016 class. Only 12 spots remain for Christians who seek to be equipped with tools that help them build and lead culture-crossing ministries. Mission Shift Institute starts on Tuesday September 6, 6:30 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church located at 2846 S Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63118 and runs until mid-February meeting on Monday nights.

This is a year like no other in that the entire curriculum will be condensed into 20 weeks running September through mid-February. There are a few spots left, make sure to register today.

For more information see our video: http://www.missionshiftstl.org/video/.

 
Announcements/Other News



The Missouri District will be offering five conferences this fall to support our congregations and lay leaders. The purpose of the conference will be to encourage, equip and connect volunteers in our congregations through practical presentations, partnerships and networking. 

Five dates & locations across the district! A wide variety of breakout sessions! Join us for a wide variety of interesting topics to assist your congregation and its leaders.

All location times are 8:00 a.m. – Noon and registration is only $10 per person.

Click on the date/location below for more information and to register.

Locations:


Grace Place Wellness Church Worker Retreat
October 17-21, Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale MO

The Missouri District is partnering with Grace Place Wellness to host a retreat for active church workers. It will be held at Big Cedar Lodge on Oct. 17 – 21, 2016. The 5-day, 4-night retreat will be held at Big Cedar Lodge, a grand wilderness resort, reminiscent of lavish, turn-of-the-century Adirondack hunting lodges, but with all the modern conveniences. The only cost for the participants is a $250 registration fee and transportation to and from the retreat facility. Meals and lodging included. There are seven spots open so first come, first serve. CLICK HERE to register.


2016 Missouri District Pastors’ Conference
District Pastors will meet at Tan-Tar-A in Osage Beach on October 31 - November 1 for the Missouri District Pastors’ conference “God’s Gift of Marriage in Troubled Times.” CLICK HERE for more information and to register.


Missouri District Junior High Fall Retreat Rescued

October 28 - 30

The Missouri District Lutheran Jr High Retreat is returning this fall around the theme, “Rescued”. Our focus this year is on baptism and the blessings we receive from this awesome gift of God.

Our presenter & worship leader is Rev. Joel Beyer, the pastor at Community Lutheran Church near San Diego, CA. And……The Relentless Project is returning to provide our music!

CLICK HERE for more information and to register!


Lutheran Student Fellowship Campus Ministry
Village Lutheran Church LCMS in Ladue, Missouri, is sponsoring Lutheran Student Fellowship Campus Ministry at Washington University for those attending. Do you have any students in your congregation that are going to Wash U in the fall and would benefit from weekly Bible Studies, rides to church, and Christian fellowship? We would love to receive names, email addresses, and phone numbers of these students so that we can reach out and invite them to all of the events that we are organizing. Please contact Deaconess Intern Rachel Fickenscher at rachel.fickenscher@ctsfw.edu or Village Lutheran directly at 314-993-1834. Thank you and God bless!"


Lutheran Hour Ministries In Need of an Organist
The Lutheran Hour Ministries is in need of an organist  to play during their chapel services each Thursday at 11 am. Location for the weekly services are held in the Lutheran Hour Ministries building at 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, St. Louis, Mo 63141. Please contact Rev. Jay A. DeBeir for more information at (314) 317-4103 or jay.debeir@lhm.org.



District and Church Events 
          (E2 Encourage and Equip Conferences, 2016 Missouri District Pastors' Conference and Junior High Retreats: Fall 2016 & Spring 2017) 
Installations and Ordinations
Personnel Changes and Calling Congregations
LCMS Missouri District News             
Obituaries