In this issue from LCMS’ Stewardship Ministry, the importance of seeing stewardship within congregations as not only a financial matter, but also as pastoral care for the souls of members is discussed. When stewardship is viewed in this holistic manner, great things can happen with the Church.
In this issue from LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission (RSTM), ways that congregations can properly welcome their new pastor and his family are discussed and provided. Being patient, offering forgiveness and being there for them are just some of the steps church members can take to help make their transition less difficult.
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod suggests the following reading of The Passion of Our Lord, according to St. Mark in chapters 14 and 15.
The LCMS' Specialized Pastoral Ministry hosted a “Pastoral Care in Pluralistic Contexts” conference Oct. 28-30, 2014, in St. Louis.
In this issue from LCMS’ Life Ministry, highlights from this past January’s Life Conference in Washington, D.C., is shared. In addition, information about an upcoming ultrasound video project and news from Y4Life (Lutherans for Life) is provided. Lastly, readers are provided updates and overviews of various conferences, activities and resources related to all sanctity of life issues.
In this issue, you will find articles written by parish nurses and others that share ideas and resources for promoting health of body and soul in congregations and communities, both here in the United States and throughout the world.
The LCMS Life Ministry offers audio presentations from our 2015 LCMS Life Conference.
In this issue from LCMS’ Stewardship Ministry, the role of storytelling in the area of stewardship is discussed. Using this very powerful communication tool must be done with caution because the story itself can be idolized. This does not mean, however, that story should be avoided. It can actually be a rich blessing in a congregation’s stewardship life. To achieve this, the pastor must seek out and strategically use stories of faithful stewardship to help alter the congregation’s stewardship culture.
Each month, LCMS’ Stewardship Ministry creates bulletin sentences and newsletter articles that can be included in congregational church bulletins and monthly newsletters, respectively.
In this issue from LCMS’ Rural & Small Town Mission (RSTM), the ministry partnership (“joining”) created between Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Creston, Iowa, and First Lutheran Church, Mount Ayr, Iowa, is highlighted. This combined congregation (under the name of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church) is a great example of the possibilities for ministry partnerships that exist for all congregations, especially those in rural and small towns.
Given the recent and growing number of Christians killed for the sake of Christ, a congregation might wish to receive the comfort of a Divine Service that specifically meditates upon and intercedes for those persecuted brothers and sisters. LCMS Worship offers the following propers as an aid toward that end.
In this issue from LCMS’ Stewardship Ministry, the relationship between sound biblical stewardship and fundraising is discussed. The reality is that the overuse of and reliance upon fundraisers can damage corporate and individual stewardship. Resolving this issue requires an answer to the following question: Why is fundraising done and who are we doing it for?
Each month, LCMS’ Stewardship Ministry creates bulletin sentences and newsletter articles that can be included in congregational church bulletins and monthly newsletters, respectively.
This issue of the Journal of Lutheran Mission focuses on the topic of mercy. Most of the papers found in this issue were presented at the International Disaster Conference held at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., in September 2014.
These selections can serve for midweek Vespers, Evening Prayer, or Service of Prayer and Preaching during Lent.