Human care

Make plans today to attend the annual Church Workers Golf Outing this summer on August 13! Once again it will be held at the Rock River Hills Golf Club, 3000 Main Street in Horicon.

Ashkan, on the left, enjoyed a camping trip last fall with his newfound American friends.

The international student ministry at Luther Memorial, Shorewood, is a ministry of friendship and hospitality that welcomes internationals to the Milwaukee area. This gives them the privilege of sharing the gospel message.

Ashkan, a University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee student from Iran, shared some of his experiences of how the Luther Memorial family has made him feel welcome.

National Severe Weather/Tornado Awareness Week will be observed April 16-20. During that week the media and local authorities will emphasize the seriousness of tornados and what we can do to protect our lives and our property. Children will practice going to shelters and local tornado sirens will be tested. Are you and your congregation prepared? Once you have a plan, then what?

The first allocation of a $9,000 grant from LCMS World Relief and Human Care has been given to the South Wisconsin District’s French African Immigrant Mercy and Evangelism (FAIME) project. This ministry is under the direction of Rev. Gui Kasongo, pastor of a newly chartered congregation, International Lutheran Church of Zion, Milwaukee.

The SWD parish nurse network meeting will be held Tuesday, April 17, at Trinity, 300 Broad St., Menasha. Jill Rasmussen, program center director at the Apple Creek YMCA, will present "Healthy living—it’s a journey.” Some of the topics for discussion and practical experience will include fitness suggestions, Tai Chi easy movements, posture improvement, relaxing breath practice and stress management techniques.

Reserve the date on your spring calendar for this year’s gathering at Cedar Valley in West Bend! The District’s older adult task force welcomes all to come for a day of fellowship and learning under the topic, “Understanding the Future of the Church.”

Information & registration brochure 

Road to Emmaus, written and produced by an LCMS filmmaker, is back by popular request this year, at the greatly reduced price of $150 for a case of 100 DVDs (that’s just $1.50 each). This acclaimed Easter film offers a dynamic new opportunity to reach people with the story of Jesus, especially during the season of Lent and Easter.

Ordering information

The SWD Parish Nurse meeting will be held February 21, 2012 (snow date February 28) from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1019 North 7th Street, Sheboygan, WI. The speaker will be Mai from Safe Harbor, a women's shelter in Sheboygan. She will give a presentation on domestic abuse and what we as parish nurses can do in those situations.

RSVP to Carolyn Eiden at deiden@excel.net or phone 920-457-8627 or 920-980-1382.

Becky King (left) studies with Deloris Erlandson, member of Our Savior Deaf, Madison.

Becky King is deaf. It is difficult for people who can hear to really understand what it is like to be completely deaf. Even reading is a challenge. English is a language of words; sign language is a language of pictures. For Becky, a Christian, it is difficult to read and understand the concepts of the Bible and theological words like “justification”, “righteousness” or “sanctification.” They are meaningful words, but are terrible to sign! But that was not the only challenge in Becky’s life.

Ramona	Ramona	Junior
Stefani	Moises	Randy

What beautiful faces! These are the children living in our Dominican Republic group home! All of these developmentally challenged kids have grown and changed so much since they came to live in the group home early this year. Living as family with Christian caregivers, actively participating in a community, and becoming part of the Body of Christ has been life changing for these 6 children. We would love to give you the opportunity to get to know them better and to help them continue to grow and prosper in their new life.

Rev. Yia Vang plays his "xemxo" (pronounced "see-saw") instrument at the 2011 ethnic folk fair.

LCMS members representing many of the world's cultures gathered together on Saturday, Oct. 8, at Pilgrim, Wauwatosa for the fourth annual “Lutheran Ethnic Folk Fair.” The gym was alive with activity, ethnic foods, music and displays that told of the ministry at work in the South Wisconsin District. Young and old enjoyed learning more about our cultural differences and our oneness in Jesus Christ.

In an episode of the well-known TV show Seinfeld, the three friends spontaneously decide one day that they want to be volunteers. One of the volunteers went to visit an elderly lady with a goiter; the other two friends went to visit a couple of elderly gentlemen. None of them gave a great deal of thought or planning as to what their responsibilities would be a volunteers. What would be the needs of those they would be visiting, and would they be able to provide the services? It is much the same situation with people wanting to respond to a disaster.

Donations of quilts and kits will be loaded on to box cars to begin their trip to people who need them all over the world. This will take place on Saturday, October 8, from 8:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at 12th Street and Mt. Vernon, Milwaukee. Click here for more information about these items and where the quilts and kits went last year.

Because of the back's complexity and its weight-bearing responsibility, it's not surprising that back pain is one of the most common medical problems in the country. In fact, back pain--especially lower back pain in this case--can be caused by underlying physical problems, or it may also result from lifestyle habits.

The Parish Nurse Network meeting on Tuesday, October 18, will feature Patti Michels, APNP from Fond du Lac, who will present "Managing Low Back Pain."

Have you ever wanted to go on a short-term mission trip? All the needy faces we see in the Lutheran Witness and other media tug at our hearts and beg us to open our arms to them. Here is a chance for you to reach out and turn that desire into reality!

The LCMS parish nurse district representatives met at Concordia University, Mequon, May 31 and June 1. The theme was “Commitment to Serve”. The 19th annual Concordia conference for Parish nurse and congregational health ministries was held following the district representative meeting. “Trust in the Lord” was the theme for this two day conference. Nearly 80 parish nurses from 20 states attended.

The South Wisconsin networking group meets three times yearly. The next meeting will be hosted by Jean Lange at Hope, Fond du Lac on Oct. 18, 2011.

Plan for a day of great golf and fellowship with LCMS church workers from around the District on Aug. 8, 2011. It will be held at Rock River Hills Golf Club in Horicon. 

For the low cost of just $40 per golfer you will play 18 holes of golf, and that includes a cart and lunch! Thanks once again to LCEF and Church Mutual for providing lunch and prizes.Please register by no later than July 30! Information and registration form.

The next meeting of the Parish Nurse Network will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, and hosted by Jean Lange at Hope, 260 Vincent St., Fond du Lac, WI 54935. You may contact her at mjlange0301@att.net if you have any questions or would like to RSVP.

A little over 50 people enjoyed a spring gathering at Cedar Valley, just west of West Bend, on May 18 under the theme “Living Responsibly as 21st Century Christians.” Twenty-four came for the afternoon and evening fireside chat the day before as well.

Natural disasters are occurring in unprecedented numbers this season. Wild land fires, droughts, flooding, and tornados are causing great anguish throughout the country. Thousands of people are suffering devastating losses of family and property. LCMS President Matt Harrison recently addressed SWD pastors at their spring conference about his vision for the Synod, with an emphasis on "Witness, Mercy, and Life Together." When disasters like these occur we have great opportunities to show acts of mercy to those in need!

Rev. John Freitag from Our Savior, Morristown, Tenn., has asked for volunteers willing to help with tornado assistance with the people of the LCMS Mid-South District.

"Volunteers are needed in Greene County in East Tennessee at Camp Creek this Thursday, May 19, thru Sunday. They plan on this Saturday and Sunday being another huge work weekend," Freitag said. "The need was a little understated earlier. They have 400+ homes destroyed and when I left Sunday there was still a huge need for help. We are hoping for a tremendous response again this coming weekend. They are looking for chain saw crews, debris removal help, construction crews, and distribution center help.

Here’s a great way to stretch your mission dollars to our ministry in the Dominican Republic! Earlier this year, the Seibert Lutheran Foundation granted the South Wisconsin District a matching gifts grant for the support of Brian and Jeanette Keller's three-year mission there. The matching gifts grant will provide up to $25,000 toward the field travel, housing and program support services for the short-term mission volunteers coming from the United States. Already three volunteer groups have served or are currently serving, and a fourth group is slated to arrive this summer.

Reserve the date of May 18 on your calendar for this year’s Gathering at Cedar Valley near West Bend. The District’s older adult task force welcomes all to hear Dr. Richard Eyer, retired bioethics professor, and Dr. Jeffery Walz, associate professor of political science at CUW, who will present topics that have spiritual, physical and social insights into living life as Christians in today’s world. There will be dinner and a “fireside chat” at Cedar Valley (May 17) for those who like to stay over the night before the gathering.

Register by using the form inside the brochure (PDF), or online. Please call Peg Raabe at (414) 464-8101 if you have any questions.

The ladies of Trinity-Friestadt will host the spring meeting of the Parish Nurse Network on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. The church is located at 10729 W. Freistadt Rd., Mequon. Please meet for coffee in the gathering room at 9:45 a.m. The program will begin at 10:30, and will feature Patricia Dolhun, M.D., discussing "Women's Heart Secrets" and women's health information in general.

If you are involved in making quilts or assembling kits for Lutheran World Relief, you will want to know about some changes that have been made in the directions. The items you have already prepared will be fine for sending this year, but please take note of these changes, especially for 2012. You can order the new booklet from lwr.org or call (800) 597-5792. Ask for the booklet called LWR Quilt & Kit Ministry Guide 2011.

Bin and her daughter, Tian Yi, arrived in Milwaukee on Christmas Eve 2009. Her husband, Ming had arrived a month earlier as a visiting scholar at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee (UWM). He picked up the family at the airport with the help of a Chinese Christian who provided the car for transportation. That was the first hurdle they got through, and also their first encounter with a Christian.

Bin (left), daughter Tian Yi and husband Ming have learned that Christians have a big heart for helping others.

April 11-15, 2011, is “Severe Weather/Tornado Awareness Week.” Tornados occur in every state in the U.S. This special week gives us the opportunity to review disaster plans for our schools and congregations, and to practice them. Families and congregations can take steps to protect themselves and their property. It can begin by learning about the risks of flooding. For more information about disaster preparedness for your congregation and members, please consider inviting  the District disaster response team to present our preparedness training at your church.

Houses afire amid tsunami debris in Natori City

As more details emerge surrounding the 9.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the eastern coast of Japan on March 11, LCMS missionaries and members and Japan Lutheran Church (JLC) leaders are sharing news and thankful for the prayers and support that have already been offered.

Ongoing updates are being shared through the LCMS website at lcms.org/help.

On Dec. 23, 2010, 55 ex-offenders and their families worshiped together at Mission of Christ, Milwaukee, celebrating their Savior’s birth. It was a pre-Christmas gathering for worship, dinner, gift giving and sharing of support and encouragement.

Attending the "Free at Last" Christmas celebration at Mission of Christ, a former inmate receives gifts of new clothes.

This beautiful Luther rose was created by one of the first members of the Licey mission plant in the Dominican Republic. Ivon is producing them in a limited quantity and offering them for a donation of $50 which will support the Dominican mission to the developmentally handicapped youth.

District Mission Executive Rev. Dan McMiller recently returned home from a mission trip he and his family took to the Dominican Republic the week after Christmas. As a family they spent their time building relationships with the Dominicans while observing the many fruits of faith growing in the hearts of the people they met.

The next parish nurse network meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011, at Christ Memorial, 2833 Raritan Rd., Fitchburg, WI 53711. The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. Host Sara Peters has a great speaker lined up for you! Dannie Jaeger is a member of Christ Memorial and owns Primo Solutions, LLC.

Coffee, tea and lunch will be provided. Please bring greeting cards for the inmates at Taycheeda or school supplies for Sherman Park Lutheran, Milwaukee, as part of ongoing service projects. 

RSVP to Sara Peters by e-mail or phone 608-225-2662. Directions

It’s finally time to get moving—literally! Thanks to the generous donations from many donors and the hard work of Brian and Jeanette Keller, a 40-foot container is waiting to be loaded with all the needed items bound for the Dominican Republic. Your help will be greatly appreciated to get things moving on Jan. 8, 2011, at 9 a.m. What greater way to start out the new year than to gather some friends together and help load all these necessities for a special kind of ministry to the Dominican Republic!

Are you prepared? Does your home have an emergency supply kit of water, first aid, energy bars, flashlight, whistle, and a battery-powered radio to sustain your family for 72 hours after a disaster? The number of emergency personnel that can respond in a disaster is limited, so we need to be able to take care of ourselves until help can arrive. Surveys tell us that only 21 percnt of Wisconsin residents have a disaster plan. Even more troublesome is that 59 percent of our residents haven’t heard that they need a plan. Remember that winter storm disasters can be just as dangerous as summer floods. Be prepared!

Through Lutheran Social Services (LSS) Refugee and Immigrant Services, Trinity-Freistadt, Mequon took a leap into a new ministry, and "adopted" a Karenni family in 2008. Originally from Burma (Myanmar), the Karreni were persecuted by their government and they fled to Thailand's refugee camps. Trinity helped that first family to find an apartment, navigate the government's social service systems, and begin learning a new language and culture. But the Lord had much more in mind.

To create an awareness of how we can best utilize resources and be prepared for disasaters in our District's homes and congregations, Sunday, Oct. 17, has been designated as Disaster Awareness Sunday. (Any other Sunday is also acceptable.) And to help congregations prepare for this observance, the CISM/disaster response team has prepared a Bible study, order of service, and suggested sermon. These can be downloaded and used in any way the congregation sees fit.

Bible study  •   Suggestions for liturgy  •  Sermon

If you prefer any of these files in Word format, please e-mail Peg Raabe to have them sent it to you.

The SWD's spring gathering at Cedar Valley was so well attended that the senior gathering committee decided to offer it again in a new venue with a “Fall Gathering in Reedsburg” at the Voyageur Inn Oct. 4, 2010. The theme is the same, "God’s Gifted Seniors—Yesterday and Today."

At the spring gathering a capacity crowd enjoyed hearing Rev. Mark Jeske of Time of Grace ministry share his insights about what’s happening with Lutherans today. He will do this again in Reedsburg after the morning devotional Bible study with Rev. Mark Meier of Emmaus, Poy Sippi. After lunch, Rev. Ron Riemer will coax you into filling in the blank space in his "God’s __?__ servants" presentation. Some good Lutheran-style singing (that would make Garrison Keillor smile) will be a prelude to Jeske’s afternoon chat about God’s gifted seniors.

Brochure  ♦ Flyer  ♦ Bulletin insert ♦ Online Registration

The Kellers have become globally engaged in outreach in DR

Recently, the LCMS mission team in the Dominican Republic received the good news of their government’s permission for them to establish a group home for the physical and spiritual care of those who are developmentally challenged. Brian and Jeanette Keller, members of Brookfield Lutheran Church in the South Wisconsin District, have begun serving the Lord as missionaries in this venture to the Dominican Republic.

On Monday, June 21, 2010, at about 9:15 p.m., the village of Eagle was hit with tornado that resulted in the complete destruction of six homes and damaging about 100 others of which some may result in total losses. Eagle is located in Waukesha County. St. John, North Prairie, reported that two members who live in Eagle suffered substantial damage. They are assessing the damages and have found temporary places to stay.

Carl Pellegrin, left, of the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries and Tom Kimmel of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service get ready to net an oil-covered pelican June 5 im Barataria Bay, La. They took the bird to a facility to be stabilized before cleaning. (Photo by U.S. Coast Guard/John Miller)

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod's World Relief and Human Care (LCMS WR-HC) is very much aware and concerned about the welfare of those affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the four states that the LCMS serves in its Southern District. They are ready to help when and where the help is needed. For now they are on stand-by alert.

The South Wisconsin District disaster response team is trained and willing to help your congregation develop a plan for being prepared if a disaster strikes your church and/or community. Your congregation is invited to particpate in this free training. The next training is scheduled for Saturday, July 24, 2010, from 9 a.m to noon at Bethlehem (470 N. Oak Crest Dr., Wales, WI 53183). The same training will be offered again on Saturday, August 7, at St. John Lutheran Church (207 E. High St., Edgerton, WI 53534) from 9:00 a.m. until noon. For more information, please call Peg Raabe at the District office, (414) 464-8100.

Register online for July 24                Register online for August 7

Two opportunities for training to become a certified member of our district’s Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) have been scheduled. The first will be at Bethlehem, Wales (470 N. Oak Crest Dr., 53183), on Saturday, July 31, 2010, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The same workshop will also be held on Saturday, September 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church (207 E. High St., Edgerton, WI 53534). There is no cost to attend. Please register online or call Peg Raabe at the District office, (414) 464-8100.  

Online registration for July 31        Online registration for September 11

The date of this year’s annual golf outing for SWD church workers has been set for Aug. 2, 2010. Once again it will be held at the Rock River Hills Golf Club in Horicon. The registration cost of $40 per person includes a cart and lunch. Plan now to enjoy a day of fun and fellowship with your coworkers in our District.  Online registration • Mail in registration form

Rev. Ted Krey and his family from the LCMS mission in the Dominican Republic will be visiting the South Wisconsin District June 9-14, 2010. Our District is in mission partnership with this ministry.

"Sharing the Caring Christ" will be a celebration of God's work through LCMS World Mission, World Relief and Human Care, Bethesda Lutheran Communities, the Lutheran Church of Brazil and the South Wisconsin District to the people of the Dominican Republic at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 13, in the Bethesda Chapel, located at the Bethesda Lutheran Communities, Inc., 600 Hoffmann Drive, Watertown, WI 53094. Detailed map

Will you or someone in your congregation be receiving care at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.? Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester offers their TLCare ministry to out of town medical guests. They strive to serve people in many ways such as prayer support, a homemade meal, a visit from one of our caring members, free parking in their lot, a comfortable place to go between appointments and more. An apartment (no cost) within walking distance of the Mayo Clinic is also available on a first-come, first-served basis for LCMS congregation members. For further information, please contact Jennifer at  (507) 292-0439 or Pastor Otte at (507) 289-1531.

Fourteen members from South Wisconsin District congregations attended the first district Lutheran emergency response team (LERT) training held at Good Shepherd, Pleasant Prairie. The training prepares participants to respond to disaster scenes within the district and throughout the country.

'Art of the State' ex-offender/ inmate art show begins April 9, 2010

“Come experience the creativity and potential that has been all to easy to ignore.”

This display will include renderings from a variety of artists who have spent time within the walls of the Milwaukee County Correctional Facility – South (CCF-S), formerly known as the House of Correction. The show opens April 9 from 6-9 p.m. at Gallery 2622 in Wauwatosa and runs through April. Several of the artists will welcome questions about their art style and motivation. Statements will be posted from many of the inmates who currently use art as a venue for their release of emotional creativity.

As he traveled to Haiti to work on the continuing LCMS long-term earthquake response, LCMS World Relief and Human Care Director of Disaster Response Rev. Glenn F. Merritt monitored the aftermath of the magnitude 8.8-quake that hit Chile on Feb. 27, 2010. At least 700 people died and an estimated 2 million are homeless in this new disaster, which triggered tsunami warnings in 53 nations and territories, according to news reports.

Give now to Chile earthquake relief

Message from Rev. Matthew Harrison, executive director, LCMS World Relief and Human Care

In the event of a local crisis or natural disaster, special consideration should be given to the needs of our congregational members with various types of disabilities. This is especially true in the event of evacuation operations. The elderly and people with disabilities may respond more slowly to a crisis and often don’t immediately comprehend the magnitude of the situation. In some instances, reaction time is decreased. Age related impairments may also affect their ability to hear and understand warnings and broadcasts concerning a disaster in their area. Our congregations need to know about the needs of their members and be prepared.

Families have been devastated by the earthquake.

Latin America responds — Haiti earthquake special issue 
Puertas: Open Doors in Latin America and the Caribbean
Bimonthly publication of LCMS World Mission LAC Regional Office, Panama

"In the days following the earthquake the Lutheran response came first through the hands of an extremely young church body; the Lutheran mission in the Dominican Republic. Gathering at their border with Haiti in a small dusty town named Jimani, the missionaries alongside a small team of Dominicans rushed to aid a quickly overflowing hospital...."

Dominican Republic missionaries Rev. Ted Krey and Danelle Putnam share some of their Haiti rescue and relief efforts following the earthquake of Jan. 12 in two YouTube videos.

The PBS program, Religion & Ethics News Weekly, will feature a story on their Jan. 29, 2010, show about the LCMS Haiti relief effort. A PBS film crew interviewed some members of the returning Haiti assessment, medical, and pastoral teams at Miami International Airport this past week. You can view the program online beginning Jan. 29 after 6 p.m. at pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics.

While you can watch the program online all week, audiences also may want to watch it on television. To check local listings for air dates, visit pbs.org.

In the event of a disaster, by federal mandate any volunteers responding to the disaster must be trained and certified or they will be turned away. Our Synod’s program complies with all of the federal government’s criteria for this certification. If you are interested in this kind of in-depth training to become a certified disaster team member, you may be interested in "Lutheran Early Response Training" (LERT) offered in the South Wisconsin District this spring at Good Shepherd, 4311 104th St., Pleasant Prairie, on April 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The LCMS assessment team coordinated by LCMS World Relief and Human Care and LCMS World Mission returned to the Dominican Republic from Haiti late on Jan. 23. James Neuendorf, a communications specialist missionary with LCMS World Mission in Latin America, provided photos today of Haitian people struggling to cope with the disastrous Jan. 12 earthquake. Go to LCMS World Mission's YouTube channel to view a video slideshow of images from Haiti, set to the music of a Haitian Lutheran congregation in Jacmel, Haiti, singing "How Great Thou Art," on Jan. 22, The LCMS assessment team was able to join this community of believers as they, despite the destruction and suffering surrounding them, offered up a spontaneous song of worship to the Lord. View photos from the assessment team at LCMS World Mission's Picasa album. Detailed updates from the assessment team and other disaster response updates are available from LCMS World Relief and Human Care.

Missionary Rev. Walter Ries, Missionary Danelle Putnam, Admin. Assistant Kisayris and Missionary Rev. Ted Krey

On Jan. 22, the LCMS missionary team in the Dominican Republic sent us an email with an update of their efforts to assist the victims of the Haitian earthquake. Please honor their requests for your prayers as they work to save lives—physically and spiritually—in the aftermath of this calamity.

The South Wisconsin District's parish nurse network will hold their next meeting Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010, at Good Shepherd, Watertown. Shirley Stevens RN, CHPN, Rainbow Hospice patient care coordinator, will be the guest speaker. Her topic will be hospice/palliative nursing. Please click below to download a full agenda an all the details.
 
Flyer

When January rolls around each year, many people want to make a fresh start at something in their life. The success of that new start depends on how highly that “something” is prioritized. For those who have recently been released from the Milwaukee County Correctional Facility-South (CCFS), getting a fresh start at life outside of prison is a very high priority.

When a natural disaster occurs of such magnitude as the earthquake that hit Haiti Jan. 12, it is heartwarming to see how many organizations come forward to help in whatever way they can. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is no exception. Likewise, closer to home, the South Wisconsin District has an opportunity to help in a most direct way.

Is your congregation ready for a disaster? What would you do first? Are you equipped to help others in such a situation? Everyone is fully aware that disasters can occur at any time, in any place. The South Wisconsin District disaster response team is trained and willing to take your congregation through the plan put in place by LCMS World Relief and Human Care. The next congregational training will be offered Saturday, March 20 at Elm Grove Lutheran, Elm Grove, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Register online

On the "Faith in the Dominican Republic" blog, Barb Below (director of social ministry at Lutheran World Relief and Human Care) spoke with Danelle Putnam, missionary in the Dominican. She writes, "I spoke with Danelle this morning and she told me that everyone there is okay. She explained that her, Rev. Krey, Rev. Ries, Willy and Joseph (vicars) and Ramon (theology student) were studying in the church building in Santiago when the earthquake hit.

LCMS World Mission asks you to join in prayer for the people of Haiti suffering from the affects of a 7.0-magnitude earthquake on January 12.

Members from St. John, Glendale, working in Port au Prince with a Lutheran mission team, have been reported safe. They are expected to return to Milwaukee later this week.

As news of what is being called the largest earthquake to hit Haiti in more than 200 years reached LCMS World Relief and Human Care (LCMS WR-HC) on Tuesday, the Synod’s mercy arm began preparing to reach out in the Caribbean nation with much needed assistance and working in cooperation with Lutheran partners.

James Jerome Farrelly, 75, passed away unexpectedly on Oct. 16, 2009 in Sheboygan, Wis.

Jim was born Jan. 28, 1934 in Dovrey, Minn., the son of William and Mary Farrelly. Jim attended grade school and high school in Wadena, Minn. He was president of the first graduating class of the lay ministry program at Concordia College in Milwaukee and was the first to receive a diploma from that program in 1963.

Every day we hear about the H1N1 flu virus on the news, in the paper or around the water cooler. But have you really given the possibility of the virus hitting your congregation any thought, and made contingency plans for dealing with it? Read further for some suggestions.

Kids who have experienced a traumatic event need to be assured that they are safe and supported. Often emergency service personnel will give these children a stuffed animal to provide some immediate comfort. Read how the VBS students at Prince of Peace, Racine, are reaching out to others with the "Kid-to-kid" project.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester, Minn., has a ministry called "TLCare" that offers hospitality to those receiving medical care at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. TLCare now has lodging to offer LCMS brothers and sisters at no cost. The small apartment is located on the edge of the Mayo campus and is available first come, first served. For more information, please contact Jennifer Jurgensen, tlcjennifer@charterinternet.com or call Trinity at (507) 289-1531.

Rev. Dr. Patrick Ferry

The annual retreat for retired pastors, wives and widows will be held at the Ramada Inn in Stevens Point. Organized by the South Wisconsin District, it will be a joint event with the North Wisconsin District. The date is set for Oct. 13 and 14, 2009, beginning Tuesday at 9:45 a.m. and ending with lunch at noon on Wednesday. Rev. Dr. Patrick Ferry will be the featured presenter.

Registration flyer

Recently a parish nurse sent an e-mail to the District Office thanking all of those people in our congregations who have contributed unused greeting cards to the women housed at the Taycheedah Correctional Institution (TCI). TCI is located just northeast of Fond du Lac. If anyone reading this has had a hand in the collection of these items, please know your efforts are appreciated! Perhaps more will read about this simple project and collect more cards for this act of mercy and outreach.  

A simple guide provided by Concordia Health Plan Services

1. Call Cigna Behavioral Health at (866) 726-5267 (24 hour toll-free hotline specifically for Concordia Plans).
2. Visit the Cigna Behavioral Health website at cignabehavioral.com.
3. Click on "Login to access your benefits."
4. Login with the word LCMS at the bottom left hand corner. This will help you understand the benefits and support available through Concordia Plans.
5. Click on "Find a provider" to find a therapist or psychiatrist in your area.

With the recent mobilization of over 3,400 members of the 32nd Brigade and the 732nd in Tomah (with Pastors Doug Fleischfresser and Gene Henke, LCMS chaplains) the stress on military members is rising.

The military has resources available to all military members, whether they are active duty, National Guard or Reserve. To see some of these resources, visit militaryonesource.com. For emergency purposes, Military OneSource has a tollfree number that is operational 24/7, (800) 342-9647.

Plan for a day of great golf and fellowship with church workers from around the District.

Rock River Hills Golf Club, Horicon
July 13, 2009

18 holes of golf with cart and lunch included for just $35 per person!

Register now 

An outstanding group of volunteer students from Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) had to say “goodbye” to the kids they grew so fond of at the S.O.S (Strength of Savior) Center. Over the school year they served as mentors, teachers, friends and helpers, but most important they shared the Good News with everyone there.

Help for the summer is needed! Now that school is out and it is time for their summer program, the center is gearing up for one of the busiest times of the year. Please consider helping them out--it's so important to the kids!

On behalf of the flood victims from St. Peter, Reedsburg, Rev. Paul Crolius sent a letter of thanks for the prayers and gifts of God's people of the South Wisconsin District. "We praise God for the living hope that we have in Jesus and also for the love and encouragement from others," he wrote. " A great blessing that has come out of the flooding is that many people have assisted in helping and have come together to encourage and help one another. People also in faith have powerfully witnessed to the great hope we have in Jesus..."
 

Lutheran Social Services, an affiliate of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), is collecting furniture and other donations to set up over 30 apartments for refugee families from Burma arriving by the end of this summer. These families arrive with very few possessions, so donations will contribute significantly to their new lives in the United States. There is a need for twin/full size bed sets, dining tables with chairs, dressers, couches, coffee tables, lamps, vacuum cleaners and rice cookers.

In a continuing effort to provide direction, coordination, support and growth for the African immigrant ministry (AIM) food pantry program, the Metro Milwaukee Lutheran Mission Society (MMLMS) is seeking a food pantry and resource director.

Cities have become the next great “mission field.” No longer does the church need to look farther than across the street to find harvests waiting. The fields are ripe and time is running out!

In answer to this mission call, the SWD is in partnership with the new Metro Milwaukee Lutheran Mission Society (MMLMS). The MMLMS will become the vehicle in matching urban congregations in the “mission field” with mercy ministries and other congregations in the suburbs with corresponding abilities to help where help is needed. The MMLMS board of directors is looking for two individuals to fill the part-time roles of an executive director and a development director.

On Oct. 26, 2007, Milwaukee's SOS Center and Crossing-Over (ex-offender ministry) reached out to the inner city community and gave away needed coats and jackets for winter survival and, most important, the story of God’s love. The good news is that it was so successful they want to do it again in December. The bad news is that it was so successful they ran out of coats and jackets! Please read on to find out how your congregation can help.

Wheat Ridge Ministries invites professional church workers to be refreshed professionally and personally at a wellness day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, 2007, at the Brookfield Suites Hotel. The featured speaker is Rev. Dr. Dick Hardel, director of wellnes ministries at Youth and Family Institute, Bloomington, Minn. Presentations include "The healing power of laughter and play" and "You either have balance or you don't have life." Free health screenings will also be offered throughout the day.

To register for the wellness day, contact Gail Maher at Wheat Ridge Ministries at (800) 762-6748 or gail@wheatridge.org by Sept. 14, 2007. Space is limited; lunch is provided.  Flyer 

Rev. David Andrus, executive director for Lutheran Blind Ministry, will present an informational workshop for those interested in outreach to the blind community on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007, at Elm Grove Lutheran Church. It will be a one-hour presentation beginning at 2:00 p.m. in the church sanctuary.