Jan. 11-12, 2010, is the date for the pastors' pre-Lenten retreat to be held at the Best Western Lakefront Hotel in Manitowoc.  The theme this year will be "Jonah: The Survivor Series,"  presented by Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. The series will include sermon and worship resources for the six weeks of Lent, Passion Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  Deadline for registrations is Dec. 4, 2009. 

Register online • Flyer/mail in registration 

Struggling financially, Camp LuWiSoMo is shutting down during the winter months. In a recent letter one of the Camp board members wrote, “Rather than have President Wille act alone, the camp board decided that it was necessary to suspend operations at the camp for a period of six months.”

The suspension of day to day operations will begin Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 and continue through April 30, 2010.

The SWD’s new adopt-a-student program gives you an opportunity to assist and encourage students to continue in their studies for the ministry. Your charitable gift will make a difference by providing immediate debt relief for students and their families. You may offer a one-time gift or provide support over a defined period of time. It is a meaningful and wonderful way to support spreading the Gospel. Your gift will benefit a student based on financial need, commitment to the ministry and academic eligibility. For more information, please contact Chuck Kiehl, mission advocate, 8100 W. Capitol Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53222 Phone: 414-464-8100 or e-mail kiehl@swd.lcms.org.

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.

Gathering under the theme "With Unveiled Faces: Reflecting the Lord's Glory," based on 2 Cor. 3:18, South Wisconsin District delegates voted to:

• adopt a goal of 50 mission starts in five years based on five priorities -- focus the Gospel on the unchurched; be locally supported and supervised; partner with other congregations, the district, and the Synod for additional support and accountability; not require high financial investment of any one entity; and be self-supporting in a short period.

Convention election results for president, vice presidents, secretary, board of directors, covention nominations, Concordia University Wisconsin board of regents and Camp LuWiSoMo board of directors.

Rev. Dr. John Wille was re-elected as LCMS-South Wisconsin District President on June 7, 2009 at the District convention. Wille has served as president for the past three years and was elected for a second term in office.

Pictured left to right are Rev. Mark Meier, Rev. Daniel Torkelson, SWD President John Wille, LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick, Rev. Randy Raasch and Rev. David Paape.

My good friend Earl Bleke used to ask, “What good things are happening?” Sometimes we can get wrapped up in the day to day tasks, the things that have to be done, that we take for granted the really good things that are going on. Good things are happening in SWD.

1. Dominican Republic
2. Specific ministry pastor
3. Search for new SWD school superintendent begins