(Click on photo for larger picture.)

Rev. Emeritus, Rodney A. Hilpert, was called to his eternal home on May 31. A funeral service was held at First Lutheran Church, Placerville, CA, last Saturday.

Rev. Hilpert served as pastor at Grace, Redford, Michigan; Grace, Pittsburg, California; and at First, Placerville, California.

We place before our Lord, who is the Resurrection and the Life, all the family members, former parishioners, and friends who mourn his death even as they give thanks for his faithful ministry.

So how can a church minister to college students, especially during the most stressful time in a college student's school year? Well, when thinking back to my own experience with taking Finals I remembered that I always needed two things (other than a passing grade). I always needed a place to do my work that wasn't my dorm, and I needed coffee. . .

The Bible teaches that in heaven people of every nation and tongue will be present. Well, come to the Ministry Center and see first-hand that kind of diversity; it is the keyword to the makeup of the CNH District administrative support staff.

As the photo shows (click for a larger version), CNH not only has a broad mission to many people groups but lives it out in its own staff: African American, Japanese, Chinese, Hispanic, and even a German American! Makes for a lot of fun.

In case you haven't gotten know these women who provide such invaluable service for the district, they are:

Upper Left, Denise Lo.
Denise, the business administrator, has been on staff for 10 years. She loves the good team support at CNH and the opportunity for interaction with Christian workers.

Upper Right, Rita Konda.
Rita, the administrive assistant to the President, has been on staff the longest--22 years. Rita says, "I never thought I'd be here that long." But, thank the Lord, she has been!

Middle Left, Laura Joe.
Laura serves as the bookkeeper and, also has been with the district for quite a few years.

Middle Right, Shelly Alba.
Shelly is the Administrative Assistant of Education and works closely with Joel Koerschen, principals and teachers. Shelly says, "I am at the place where God wants me to be. I love it here." She has been with the district for 9 years.

Lower Left, Joyce Bonnett.
Joyce is the newcomer--3 months at the CNH district office. She serves as Financial Administrative Assistant. Before serving at the district, she served as secretary at First Immanuel Lutheran Church, San Jose, for the past 15 years. She says, "What I like is the pleasant working environment among fellow Christians."

Lower Right, Charlotte Elliot.
Charlotte is often the first phone contact you will have with the CNH District. She serves as receptionist. Her smile that you can also detect on the phone tells us of her love in serving the Lord in this way.

Whether you have met one, some, or all of these people in person or by phone, I know you will join the executive staff in thanking the Lord for their ministry to the district and to the church at large.

Georgean Sawyer, LWML officer, writes: "The California-Nevada-Hawaii District LWML will be holding a Regional Event at Wailea Marriott Resort in Maui, Hawaii, from November 3-6, 2005. Zones 6.7.11.13.& 14 are hosting the event. The theme is 'Hands Across the Sea-A Cultural Experience.' Registration is $150.00 per person which includes a Thursday Evening Puupuu, 3 Continental Breakfasts and a 3-4 course Friday Night Dinner. The deadline for registration is 10/15/05."

Wailea Marriott Resort rate is $170.00 + 11.416% room tax for 2 people. Add $40.00 + tax for each additional person. They allow only 4 to a room. Youth under 17 are free. Aloha Airlines has a 10% discount for fares from the mainland to Maui (be sure to let them know your are with the LWML)."

Bible Studies will be given by CNH District President, Rev. Robert Newton, Rev. Robert Mitchell from Bozeman Mt., and Cindy Newkirk. There will be Holy Eucharist Service with Rev Newton, Mitchell and Pook on Saturday evening and on Sunday morning, Devotions with Rev Pook."

There will be plenty of free time to sightsee with your fellow sisters in Christ or family. Consider coming to this awesome Hawaiian event. Registration for the event and hotel are on the LWML District website."

For more information please contact Georgean Sawyer Zone 13 Publicity Chairman. E-mail georgean@cox. net.

(Click on photo for larger picture.)

The small group ministry of the Jackson Lutheran Mission began in the Pioneer/Pine Grove area in 2003 with 6 "saints" gathering for Bible study... sharing... fellowshipping... and... prayer. Today, this group is up to 10 people and considering splitting into two groups. Each family unit takes its turn in hosting this weekly ministry.

The group is called, "Up Country Grace" to remind themselves of God's love and presence with them. The group is led by Mr. James (Jim) Frerking of Red Corral, CA.

This small group ministry is part of an overall strategy for reaching the lost and enfolding them into faith communities along the Highway 49 corridor of the Mother Lode Country in the Foothill region of Central California.

Davidenas has begun a worshipping community at Jackson and also serves part-time in nearby Spring Valley, CA.

The Lutheran Annual forms have been mailed to the congregations, ordained ministers, commissioned ministers and non-rostered teachers. These forms are due back at Synod by July 1, 2005.

Church Workers can update their infomration on line at the following website: lcms.or g/churchworker. The CNH District Office would encourage each church worker to update their information on line.

Should you have any questions or if you need help, please contract Rosters & Statistics at 314- 996-1366 or Rosters.St ats@lcms.org

Now there's technology available that brings various internet sites to you...without surfing. It's called RSS which stands for "Really Simple Syndication" offering an incredibly efficient method of keeping up with current news that interests you, like our CNH webpage and e-news.

RSS allows you to select feeds containing the type of information you want. A feed is essentially a group of headlines, brief summaries, and links to full text.

To get started with RSS, all you need is an aggregator program and a way of finding feeds. See below for my recommendation.

For those of you who are adventurous, programs now exist whereby you can capture your sermons, lectures, documents, etc., and through RSS, have them received as documents, audio or video files that can be viewed on your computer or downloaded to your Ipod or other mp3 device.

So, here's your opportunity to get our website changes as they occur! Catch the latest e-news, prayers, and other changes when they happen with the Really Simple Syndication (RSS) technology. Don't know how? Click here.

Don't let new technology scare you. Give it a try. It'll save time and keep you in "the know."

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis is pleased to announce the continued availability of materials designed to enable Concordia Seminary Sunday observances in Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations. To date, 368 congregations have requested materials. Special bulletin inserts, Bible studies, sermon notes, videos and other worship resources are available. The suggested date for Concordia Seminary Sunday is June 12, the fourth Sunday after Pentecost. Yet the materials are not dated and may be used in a variety of ways throughout the year.

Concordia Seminary offers these materials as an annual opportunity for congregations to emphasize the importance of forming men for service in the pastoral ministry and to assist in the crucial process of identifying, informing and encouraging future pastors.

For more information or to order Concordia Seminary Sunday materials, contact the Communications Department, Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105; (314) 505-7374; communi cations@csl.edu.

Rick Warren, in his latest electronic publication, pastors.com, writes:

When you become a pastor, you become a leader. I'm often asked specifics about my administrative style, but I think it's more important to understand some basic concepts about leadership:

1. Nothing happens until someone provides leadership for it.
2. Leadership is influence.
3. The test of leadership is "Is anybody following?"
4. The foundation of leadership is character, not charisma.
5. Leadership can be learned.
6. The moment you stop learning, you stop leading.

Because of low enrollment, the CTS-FW course "Lutheran Ethics" taught by John Pless has been cancelled.

The Rev. Stewart D. Crown

New Prayer Requests:

Joel Koerschen, district education executive, seeks prayers upon diagnosis of heart damage.
(Read email from Carolyn)

Rev. Mitch Gowen, pastor at Our Savior, Aiea, Hawaii, has a call to Trinity Lutheran, Bowie, Maryland.

Rev. John Gross, pastor at St. Matthew, Roseville, CA, has a call to Mammoth Lakes Lutheran Church, Mammoth Lakes CA.

Rev. Paul Zimmermann, pastor at St. Peter, Lodi, California, has a call to First Lutheran, Clearwater, Florida.

If you have a specific "district" prayer request that you wish to add, please let us know (rita@cnh- lcms.org)

Upcoming events:

• Board of Directors, Ministry Center - - June 11
• Evangelism Committee, Ministry Center -- June 13
• Hispanic Task Force, Ministry Center -- June 16
• Sierra/Nevada Region Mission Action Council Conference Call, Friday, July 29, 10:00 - 11:00.
• Southern Region Mission Action Council meeting, Wednesday, July 20, 10:00 - 3:00, location to be determined.
• Northern Region Mission Action Council meeting, Thursday, August 18, 9:00 - 4:00, at First Lutheran Church, Willows, CA
• Pacific Region Mission Action Council meeting, Tuesday, August 30, 10:00 - 3:00, at the Ministry Center
• Sierra/Nevada Region Mission Action Council meeting, Friday, September 9, 2:00 - 8:00, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Sparks, NV
• Board of Directors, Ministry Center - - September 10
• Southern Mission Action Council meeting, Saturday, September 24, 10:00 - 3:00, at St. Paul, Merced, CA
• Fall Pastors' Conference, Fresno -- October 11-13