Springfield Zone held their Fall Rally at Hope Lutheran in Republic, MO on Saturday, October 22nd. This was a great Rally, and much business was brought before the assembly and conducted. The best part of the day was our Zone Service Project.

For many years, the Springfield Zone rented a booth at the Ozark Empire Fair, spreading the good news of God’s Love and Grace, along with lamb pins, bracelets, trinkets, and Bible giveaways. This year, the cost of the booth increased beyond what the membership donates to the cause. It’s also gotten harder every year to staff the booth from 9 am to 10 pm for ten days in a row. Read more . . .

“We are at the beginning of the Advent Season, a time when there is great activity and preparation in our churches, and with that we can find ourselves dealing with stress. Rev. David Muench, from Concordia Plan Services, shares some thoughts and this article to help us consider how to beat that holiday stress. Advent Blessings!”

It's great to see Lutheran North students developing into strong Christian leaders and servants! Four Lutheran North High School students attended The Paul and Dorothy Lange Lutheran High School Leadership Retreat at Valparaiso University. The retreat is "designed to engage Lutheran high school students in a leadership community that witnesses to and embodies Christ's life of faithful service."



Stout Medals at Cross Country State

Lutheran Highs School North sophomore Isaac Stout placed 25th at the state cross country meet, with a finishing time of 17:36.09. His performance earned him All-State honors. Way to go, Isaac!

Share the blessings of Christmas and support children attending Lutheran schools by sending LESA Christmas cards to your friends and family this year.

The collection features four unique, full-color images created by Lutheran school students in the St. Louis area: Joy, The Greatest Gift, Baby Jesus and Christmas Stars. Each card includes a different seasonal message and Bible verse.

The cards are $10 for a pack of 10 cards and envelopes. To see the designs and place an order, visit www.LESAstl.org, or call LESA at 314-200-0797. Cards can be shipped or picked up from the LESA office. Proceeds will help fund the numerous programs and services LESA provides to students and teachers at 35 elementary schools, including tuition assistance, curriculum support, and professional development.

More than 8,500 students attend Lutheran schools in the St. Louis Metro Area, making it the second largest private school system in the Bi-State Region. A Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, LESA represents 35 elementary schools high schools, including three National Blue Ribbon Schools and three National Lutheran Exemplary Schools, and three related agencies. For more information, visit www.LESAstl.org.

Peer Ministry Training (PMT) is an opportunity to come together with high school youth and youth counselors who want to learn additional/intentional skills in counseling/discipleship to serve in their youth ministry, in their congregation, their school, their community and their family.

The Missouri District Family Life and Youth Board invite you and/or your youth to Peer Ministry Training February 17-19, at the Sojourn Retreat Center in Dittmer, Missouri.

More details on PMT can be found on the Missouri District web site by clicking here.
Your cost for the entire weekend is only $80 per person which includes staff, materials, housing and meals. Space is limited and fills up fast - early registration is encouraged.

Click Here to Register for this Event
The deadline to register online and send payment to the District Office is Monday, February 6, 2017.

Registration suggestion: A team of two or three youth and an adult leader is ideal. Individuals who come alone may find themselves missing the support needed to grow together and support one another at home.
Peer Ministry Training is an outstanding experience with great training/leadership teams and great youth and counselors coming together to learn, grow and serve. Please share this opportunity with everyone in your youth ministry.

When: Saturday, February 11, 2017
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Where: Trinity Lutheran Church
2201 Rollins Road
Columbia, MO 65203

Registration fee: $20 per person, lunch included

Mid-Missouri Lutheran Hospital Ministries extends Advent and Christmas greetings in the name of the Christ of our salvation.

If there is a time we do not want to be hospitalized it is during the Advent and Christmas seasons. Sometimes it is necessary. With winter weather and additional services and responsibilities, pastors may not be able to make all the pastoral calls they wish at the Columbia hospitals. Mid-Missouri Lutheran Hospital Ministries is ready to assist. This ministry has called Rev. Richard Ingmire to meet such needs. He can be reached at 573-231-2424 (cell); by email at ingmire67@hotmail.com.

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.