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 "Peace Prize" - A Daily Devotion
By: Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
The list of names is an impressive one.
Let's see, there's the U.S. General George Marshall, and the organist-doctor from Africa, Albert Schweitzer. The Quakers are there as an organization, and John Raleigh Mott, chairman of the YMCA was not forgotten. Teddy Roosevelt would have been pleased to see his name wasn't left off the role call. Yes, Teddy is there, as is Jean Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross.
Now President Obama has had his name inscribed with the others who have also won the Noble Peace Prize.
The reaction to that news has been mixed.
There are those who say, "He doesn't deserve it," and others who reply, "Not yet."
As far as I'm concerned, the only important part of that news story is this: it pointed me back to the passage from Isaiah, the one that serves as our text for today's Daily Devotion.
Centuries before the Christ's birth in Bethlehem, Isaiah prophesied Jesus would be the heaven-sent Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.
That's the part I want to zero in on: Jesus is the Prince of Peace -- the only Prince of Peace.
Truly, the Savior is unique. While these other individuals and organizations may dedicate their lives trying to bring about world peace, the results of their efforts have not proven to be successful in the long term.
On the other hand, the peace that comes to sinners through faith in Jesus' life, suffering, sacrifice, death, and resurrection is unique.
The forgiveness the Christ gives to troubled minds, the contentment He brings to hurting hearts is permanent, complete, and it is total.
And no other person on that list of Peace Prize winners -- not even the greatest -- will ever be able to lay claim to that prize. Jesus is -- and will always remain -- the one, the only, the divine Prince of Peace. |
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Petal Pushers Get Ready to do it Again!
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 (Click on image to go to official website.)
It's that time of year! The Petal Pushers are currently recruiting volunteers for the 2010 Rose Parade Floats. The theme for the Lutheran Hour Ministry 2010 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade is "2010: A Cut Above the Rest" and this year's float theme is "The Ten Commandments - Jesus Fulfilled." 2010 marks our 60th year of participation in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. The Lutheran Hour Float stands as the only Christian float participating in the world's most famous media event. An event that will be seen by more than 450 million people around the world.
The Petal Pushers will be decorating 6 floats and assisting with floral preparations in the flower tent. Decorating starts Saturday, December 5th. All volunteers must be 13 years and older (for insurance purposes).
Please email reservations@petalpushers.org any updated volunteer counts. |
Make Plans Now to be with Phyllis Wallace - November 7, 2009
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Phyllis Wallace http://www.womantowomanradio.com/ comes to Lancaster, CA, on Saturday, 11/7/09! Her program is aired on 291 stations weekly and the majority of her listeners tune in on the web: 5,000 each week! Lutheran Hour Ministries will celebrate the day with Phyllis at Grace Lutheran Church, 856 W Newgrove St, Lancaster, CA 93534. $40.00 registration includes complimentary lunch plus 4:30 PM banquet. Complimentary continental breakfast starts at 9 AM followed by exhilarating morning session by Phyllis. Afternoon workshops on a number of topics of interest to all Kingdom workers.
Room reservations: Oxford Suites 1651 W. Ave. K Lancaster, CA 93534. Call 661-949-3423, or 800-522-3050 and ask for Lutheran Ministries rate.
Event reservations: Cliff Shout castax.consultant@verizon.net 43831 58th St. W, Lancaster, CA, 93536 661-943-2146, or 661-713-3118.
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| The Mt. Cross JAM Retreat - January 22-24, 2010
Winter Confirmation/Jr. High Retreat |
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(Click on image for online information and registration.)
The theme for the weekend is . . . Organic Mess
JAM (Jesus and Me) focuses on group building, Bible Study, challenge course, games, music, inspirational talks, relationships and absolute excitement. Fee: $104/youth; $44/adult if postmarked or paid by December 15, 2009. $114/youth after December 15, 2009 Who: Confirmation and/or Jr. High Youth Groups How to Register: Send in a $35 non-refundable deposit for each person, youth and adults, along with a list of participants, church name, and information (address, phone, email). An official registration form will be posted on our website soon. Once received, you will receive a confirmation letter along with further instructions. Contact the office for the official brochure (mtcross@mtcross.org or phone 831-336-5179)
Housing and Adult Leaders: All participants will be housed in Evergreen/Redwood dorms and Madrone cabins. These buildings have bunk beds and shared bathroom facilities. Adult leaders stay with youth from their church and youth from other churches. Every group must have at least one adult leader for each gender and one adult per 7 youth.
For more information contact Ellie Powers at ellie@mtcross.org or 831-336-5179. For details online click here. |
| The Sending Place - Summer 2010 Missions Trips Information |
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(Click on image for a bulletin insert for use in your Sunday Worship.)
Are you ready to set your fears aside, and grow in your faith, and follow Jesus where He leads you? We have mission trips planned for the summer of 2010 to go to Ukraine, Kenya, Ghana and Poland! They are incredible places to travel to, as well as great places to do ministry. If you choose to go to UKRAINE, June 15-29, you will travel through Kiev to the town of Bila Tserkva, where you will teach and work with diabetic and handicapped children at a week-long camp, then you will work with the wheel-chair ministry of your host, God's Hidden Treasures. Or you can go on a 2nd team here, July 8-22, where you will lead a Vacation Bible School at a Boys' House, and also work with the host ministry. Or if you choose to go to KENYA in East Africa, April 7-20, you will travel through Nairobi, and head to Kisumu, near Lake Victoria, where you will work with the street boys being helped by Capstone Ministries. You will also help teach church leadership at a seminar for church leaders. If you go to GHANA in West Africa, July 7-20, you will travel to Accra, right on the Atlantic Ocean, then on to a village north of there to build up the local church through sharing the Gospel and the love of Jesus in homes and through the church. If you go to POLAND, July 7-19, you will help lead an English Bible Camp at a host church, teaching English through Bible stories, and helping with crafts and activities. Training for all these teams will begin January 9, 2010 at 4764 Duckhorn Drive, Sacramento. Or you can train right where you live, with our training kit. For more information, see our website at: http://www.TheSendingPlace.com.
E-mail us at: thesendingplace@hotmail.com, or phone us toll free at (877) 3SENDING, or call 916-685-2331 for more information, and to request your registration form. , |
| LCMS Worlds Missions Remind Us . . .
October is Mission Month! |
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As the Global Gospel Outreach of the LCMS, we send and support a total global missionary force of more than 1,100 people-including 889 missionaries (career, GEO, short-term, international educators, and other volunteers) and 223 military chaplains. Together, through this team of mission servants, the LCMS supports mission work and relationships in 88 countries, including the United States. LCMS World Mission gives thanks for the more than 500 congregations and 800 individual households currently partnering with LCMS missionaries and missionary families. Congregations can learn more about adopting a missionary through the Together in Mission program.
Individuals and families can learn more about adopting a missionary through the Mission Senders program.
Some recommended resources for Mission Month:
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| Church Extension Fund - More Than A Lender
Issues for These Times
By: Adriene Iverson |
Having spent a large portion of my time the past couple of months analyzing financial situations of churches and schools, I thought I would revisit the topic of a cash flow statement. So, the question really is, "Why do I need a cash flow statement?"
One of the issues I addressed in detail in the March Congregational Newsletter was the cash flow statement, but you may ask, "Do I really need one?" In my view, the answer is a resounding "Yes!" The cash flow statement can be an invaluable tool for a congregation as it manages its funds, especially through the summer months, and in particular, if they run a school ministry. While the Income/Expense Statement tells the story of operations (how the financial piece of the ministry is running), and the Balance Sheet tells the story of capitalization (how well the ministry can weather financial challenges), the cash flow statement tells the story of dollar inflows and outflows.
Money is a resource for ministry, but it can oftentimes become a hindrance to ministry efforts when funds are tight and too much focus (and fear and worry) is centered around finances. The cash flow statement is a tool which enables one to look forward (generally a rolling 12 months) to see what the bottom line impact of dollar inflows and outflows is to bank account balances. Once set up, it is easy to update, and it can take a lot of the focus off of finances and place it back where it belongs...on ministry.
Secondly, a cash flow statement will spell out potential financial challenges well in advance of the problem, if the assumptions in it are based on current trends. Not only is it a forward-looking document, but it is also one that should represent present realities and trends, not just simply a plug for budget with no thought as to whether those numbers are attainable. Therefore, if offerings are trending under budget, that adjustment gets made in future months of the cash flow so that the impact can be measured and cash shortfalls addressed early on. If bottom line cash inflows is trending well above budget, it becomes an opportunity for leadership to begin to strategize on how to leverage those dollars for ministry impact or how to begin to build a working capital fund.
If your congregation or school needs some assistance in this area or any other financial area, please feel free to contact Adriene Iverson at 866-452-6739 or email cnhcef@pacbell.net. In the meantime, I will continue to focus on financial topics in these In Touch articles and our Congregational Newsletter (see the March newsletter on Cash versus Accrual accounting and developing a Cash Flow Statement).
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| Gift Planning Gems
By: Brian K. Hyde |
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Endowment Gifts are Gifts That Create Ministry Forever Many of us do not have a good grasp as to the value to each of us and to ministry that an endowment fund helps create. Endowment Funds give members the peace of mind in knowing how their gifts will be used and that those gifts will benefit ministry for years to come, in most cases even after God has called you home. I work with people that have thought about giving a gift to their church or some other ministry that has touched their hearts, but may not know how to do it. In many cases donors just don't realize how easy it is to be a benefit to their families, friends and also make a gift to God. The largest percentage of gifts that are made are gifts made through a will or trust. It does not take a big estate or lots of income to make a gift to God. A percentage of that IRA left through your beneficiary or part of the proceeds from your house after God has granted you a heavenly home are simple and significant gifts. We all have been touched by people and opportunities to share from the blessings that God has given us. I would like to help you make those a reality. God has welcomed us all into his forever family and all I suggest is that we don't turn around and disinherit Him when our days on earth are over. Please give me a call or drop me an email and we can make a time that I can come and see you. You can reach Brian by email, or phone: 925-245-4016, or 866-264-6079. |
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(For more events not listed here, please also see the CNH District Calendar located on the CNH District website.)
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October 23-25 Transforming for Mission, St. Luke, Santa Rosa, CA
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October 25, 2009 - Reformation Festival - Town & Country Lutheran, Sacramento, CA - 4:00 PM
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October 25-28 Church Workers Retreat, Camp Perkins, Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Stanley, ID
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October 25, 2009 - Oktoberfest, Arcata Lutheran, Arcata, CA
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November 1, 2009 - Inaugural Organ Concert, Redeemer, Chico, CA - 4:00 PM
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November 6-8, 2009 - Transforming for Mission, Bethel-Grace, San Francisco, CA
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November 7, 2009 - Equipping to Share Workshop - St. John - Napa, CA - 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
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November 13-15, 2009 - Transforming for Mission, Zion, San Francisco, CA
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November 14-14, 2009 - Beautiful Feet Mission Conference - Chicago, IL
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January 22-24, 2010 - JAM (Jr. High) Winter Retreat - Mt. Cross, Felton, CA
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February 5-7, 2010 - Pastors' wives retreat, St. Francis Retreat, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045
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February 13, 2010 - Reaching Out Together Conference - Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO.
Details of the above events can be found on the "Upcoming Events" section of the CNH District website.
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| Blurbs, Bumps & Bonus |
(NEW) National Memory Screening Day is Nov. 17. This is an annual initiative of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. Professionals and community organizations nationwide will provide free confidential memory screenings and educational materials to the public. To sign up as a screening center, contact www.nationalmemoryscreening.org.
(NEW) Pastors' wives retreat February 5-7, 2009 - speaker will be Mrs. Gerald Kieschnick. Location: St. Francis Retreat, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045. For more information, contact Bernita Brewer at 925 933-0876.
(NEW) Read the October issue of Keeping In Touch . . . a newsletter on aging for Lutheran leaders.
(NEW) Concordia University Accelerated Baccalaureate Degree In Nursing Program receives accreditation: Concordia University Irvine is pleased to announce the full accreditation of their Second Degree Accelerated BSN program. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) announced that Concordia's Nursing program has fully met all accreditation standards. Concordia Executive Vice President and Provost Mary Scott commended the efforts of the Nursing program leading up to the accreditation: "The CCNE accreditation reflects the outstanding work of a qualified and very dedicated group of individuals. Program Director Dr. Mary Hobus did an outstanding job leading the faculty, staff and students through the arduous accreditation process. They worked diligently to prepare the university for the visit. We were very happy to hear about the final decision of the CCNE." Concordia began offering the Second Degree Accelerated BSN program in August 2008. The 12-month program is designed for graduates with a baccalaureate in any field who wish change their professional career to become a registered nurse. The program, offered through Concordia's School of Business and Professional Studies, prepares nurses for the California state RN-licensure exam. For more information about Concordia's Second Degree Accelerated BSN or the program accreditation, contact program director Mary Hobus, RN, MS, Ph.D., by email: mary.hobus@cui.edu
The September 2009 CNH Board of Director Minutes are now available online at the CNH District website.
H1N1 Flu: The Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has produced a guide entitled H1N1 Flu - A Guide for Community and Faith-Based Organizations. You may access and download this document by going to www.flu.gov. It can be an effective tool is helping our churches/schools get information out to people in their community. The guide provides specific action steps that can be taken to keep your community healthy by: Communicating health information effectively; supporting vaccination efforts; linking vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations to vital information and resources; and expanding and adjusting organizational activities to help people stay healthy.
LHM Advent Devotions Herald a New Beginning: The Christmas tradition wouldn't be complete without devotions specially designed as reflections on what Advent means. Lutheran Hour Ministries' two Advent Devotions www.adventdevotions.net series for 2009 herald a new beginning for human beings-made possible only through the gift of God's Son, Jesus Christ, as Savior of the world. LHM's traditional-theme selection for 2009 takes the reader alongside Joseph and Mary as they travel From Nazareth to Bethlehem where Jesus' birth will be only the beginning of His steady fulfillment of Messianic prophecies given about Him in the Hebrew Scriptures. Log in here: http://www.adventdevotions.net/printenglish_step2.asp to print customizable PDF versions in English or Spanish.
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| New Prayer Requests |
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Congregations: The CNH District office staff has a practice of remembering in prayer the congregations and ministries of our district during devotions on Wednesday mornings. This week the staff is praying over the following churches and we invite you to join us in remembering them in prayer: Christ the Life, San Jose, CA; First Immanuel, San Jose, CA; Shepherd of the Valley, San Jose, CA; Trinity, San Jose, CA; Resurrection, Santa Clara, CA; St. Mark, Sunnyvale, CA.
Calls:
Rev. Joseph Byrd, candidate, has been extended a call by Bethany, Lompoc, CA, as pastor.
Rev. David Groth, Good Shepherd, Watertown, WI, has been extended a call by Bethlehem, Carson City, NV.
Rev. Getabicha Dirasse, Concordia Theological Seminary, ordained and installed on October 18, at Trinity, Redding, CA, as Parish Ministry Consultant for the Northern Region of California, Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services.
People:
Rev. Chris Molnar and family, Zion, San Luis Obispo CA, on the passing away of his wife, Joy. Thanksgiving that the father of Rev. Terrence Chan, Bethel Grace, San Francisco, CA, has recovered enough from his head injuries to return home after an extended stay in medical facilities. ----- If you have a specific "district" prayer request that you wish to add to our weekly new prayer requests, please let us know by sending an email to Rita Konda at the district office: rita@cnh-lcms.org, or phone the District office at 925-245-4000. (Click here for Ongoing Prayer Concerns. . .) | |
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Contact Us We welcome your comments and article submissions. Please email In Touch Editor, Chris Fenske at newsletter@cnh-lcms.org, or phone 209-221-5715 for further information. | | |
