Missouri District congregants attended the 2016 National Rural & Small Town Mission Conference, held Nov. 3-5 in Wichita, Kan. The theme was: "Mission at Home: Standing Where You Are Planted." Read more . . .

Lutheran High School of St. Charles County is proud to announce that Concordia University Wisconsin will bestow Mr. Edmund Staude with its 2016-17 Master Educator Award for Secondary Education. This award recognizes outstanding Lutheran educators and administrators who have displayed dedication, excellence, and distinction during their years of service while imparting a love for learning that inspires students toward Lutheran higher education. Read more . . .

The comment has been made numerous times, “Well, they’re just college kids, what do you expect?” I ask myself what that really means. I am of the mindset that people often live up to what your expectations are of them. I’ve had many student workers work for me while they were in college, and I expected them to be honest, to do the absolute best job they were able to do, to respect authority, to show up on time and to be of good character. College is a practice ground for their professional world. If they can’t live up to these standards now, I most likely wouldn’t hire them when they graduate. Read more . . .

Congregations often spend a great deal of time and attention looking at how they can increase attendance and get new members. This is certainly a good thing to address. Reaching out to those in and around our communities who have not heard the Gospel is a vital part of who and what the Church is. However, an often ignored (purposefully or unintentionally) segment of our population in desperate need of outreach is the group often referred to as inactives, delinquents or wanderers. They need to hear the Word of God and be brought to the fellowship of the Body of Christ. Read more. . . 

Celebrate the season of Christmas with the 12th Annual Christmas Country Church Tour on December 15 & 16, 2016 from 2-9 p.m. This event has become a favorite for hundreds. Voted in 2015 by AAA Travel Magazine as a “Travel Treasure”, hundreds of people have journeyed to the three county church tour to be inspired, delighted and rejuvenated with the true holiday spirit. Read more. . . 

Click below for more information and to register.

• Saturday, November 12 Faith Lutheran Church in Springfield

WHO: Children up to 8th grade are invited to shop.

WHEN: Saturday, November 19, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. - Noon

WHERE: Immanuel Lutheran Church - Fellowship Hall
9733 Olive Blvd.
Olivette, MO 63132
(314) 993-2394
Website: www.immanuelolivette.org

At the Children's Christmas Gift Shop, young shoppers will be delighted to select their own special holiday gifts for their family and friends. Volunteers will be available to assist young children with shopping. Purchased gifts will be wrapped and tagged. Gifts are priced up to $5, with most items ranging from $2 to $3. Cash only payment is due at the time of purchase.

How Your Child Can Prepare:
Each child should make a shopping list.
Each child should come with a budget for spending.
Each child should bring cash only. Cash payment is due at the time of purchase.

A fun shop for kids to buy gifts for their families at kid-friendly prices!

Mid-Missouri Lutheran Hospital Ministries

ATTENTION PASTORS With inclement weather ahead, you may not be able to make the trip to Columbia to provide pastoral care while your member is hospitalized at one of the seven Columbia hospitals. This is where Mid-Missouri Lutheran Hospital Ministry, supported by our Lutheran congregations in mid Missouri, will be of assistance to you with the pastoral services of Chaplain Richard Ingmire. He will visit your member with pastoral care and concern. You can request his services by calling him at 573-231-1424 (cell) or by email at ingmire67@hotmail.com. Your member may also contact him prior to the hospitalization, or register as Lutheran when being admitted.

Music at St. Paul's Presents: Art and Song
Sacred Art by Kelly Schumacher and Traditional Hymns by Erin Bode

Music at St. Paul's invites the community to Art and Song on Sunday, November 20, featuring Kelly Schumacher and Erin Bode.

Exhibit: 9:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Concert: 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Reception to Follow

A unique visual and musical offering, Art and Song features original liturgical art by Kelly Schumacher, Master of Fine Arts, and a concert of sacred song by St. Louis-based vocalist Erin Bode. Both ladies are members of St. Paul's, Des Peres.

For more about Erin Bode, visit www.erinbode.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/erinbodeband

For more about Kelly Schumacher, visit www.agnusdeiarts.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/agnusdeiarts

Additional Exhibit Hours*
Nov. 15, 9am - 12pm; 5pm - 8:30pm
Nov. 16, 10am - 5pm
Nov. 17, 9am - 12pm; 3pm - 5pm
Nov. 18, 10am - 1pm
Nov. 19, 4pm - 7pm

*The liturgical art exhibit will be located in the church lounge.

Click here for additional information.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church is located at 12345 Manchester Road in Des Peres, at the corner of Manchester and Ballas Roads, across from West County Shopping Center. 

Lutheran Early Response Training (L.E.R.T.) Training Workshop
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 401 S. Main St., Concordia, MO 64020 will be hosting a Lutheran Early Response Training (L.E.R.T.) Training Workshop on December 10 in the east room of the Parish Office. Registration will begin at 7:30 am with class from 8 am-4 pm. Lunch will be provided. Training will be provided by Rev. Michael Myer, Manger Disaster Response Office of National Mission of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

The core areas covered in the training are:
• Ministry Opportunities
• Chainsaw Safety - All LERT members will receive the chain saw safety training. If you are want to serve on the team as a chain saw operator you must also be chain saw certified. Only certified trained volunteers may operate chainsaws or be within 6' of a running saw. For those individuals, chainsaw operation certification will take place at a separate time and location to be announced.
• Clean Up & Debris Removal
• Trap & Patch Safety
• Muck Out Training
• Flood & Storm Surge Training
• 3 Phases of Disaster Work
• 4 Phases of Emotions
• National Credentialing

Registration is $35 and helps cover the cost of the training materials, and the L.E.R.T. vest, which is required to be worn in a disaster response situation. Registration can be at time of registration by cash or check at the door.

In order to better manage volunteers and resources, FEMA has finalized a guideline on credentialing volunteers for large-scale disasters. The federal guidelines indicate that volunteers responding to a disaster should be trained and certified. This training will prepare team member for credentialing and will focus on the safety, work, and ministry of Lutherans as Early Responders.

To register, please call St. Paul’s Church Office at 660-463-2291. For questions about the training please call Kent Kunkel at 660-422-0367.