Dear Members and Friends of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod,
In the Third Article of the Creed, regarding the Holy Spirit, we confess that we believe in “the Holy Christian Church.” Often when speaking of the Church we use feminine pronouns, because she is called in Scripture to be the Bride of Christ and there are many comparisons of the Church with motherhood itself. Consider the following connections:
“Newborns need mothers. … The church acts like a mother. Paul hints at this in Galatians chapter 4. … Mothers give life and nurture, and that is exactly what the church does. … [God] uses women in particular to carry out the grand task of giving birth to human beings. It is quite an honor. We see God’s modus operandi again, using the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary. So it is when he rebirths. It is through mother church. He uses ordinary means once again. She baptizes. She teaches. She nurtures. She gathers the chicks as a hen. She worries. She protects. She serves. She welcomes back prodigal children like only a mother can. She provides a home. She fills the home with song and decoration. She sends out children into the world. No Nicodemus, you cannot re-enter your mother’s womb, but you do emerge reborn from the preaching of the gospel. Baptized and born again, from the womb of the font. No longer dead in sin but reborn into life. This life comes from God through the church, and then God uses the church to nurture and care for the reborn in Baptism.” (The Baptismal Life, by Michael Berg, NPH, 2022, pp. 114-115)
So as we celebrate Mother’s Day and the Festival Pentecost this month rejoice in these images concerning God’s gracious working among us with His Spirit through the Church.
Glenn Obenberger
Installation
The Rev. Andrew Burmeister was installed at Our Savior and Faith Lutheran Churches in Grants Pass/Medford, Oregon.
Our Bethany Lutheran College
The 2024 Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, May 10, at 10:30 a.m., in the Ronald Younge Gymnasium on the BLC campus. Reverend Alexander Ring of Port St. Lucie, Florida, will deliver the 2024 commencement address.
Ring is a 1986 Bethany Lutheran College associate in arts graduate. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a master’s of divinity degree from Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary. He teaches at Christ Lutheran School in Port St. Lucie, and also serves Christ Lutheran Church as an assistant pastor. Ring has been a member of the Bethany Lutheran College and Seminary Board of Regents since 2020.
Joining Ring on the commencement stage will be Dr. Gene R. Pfeifer, President of Bethany Lutheran College, Dr. Jason Lowrey, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Rev. Donald Moldstad, College Chaplain.
Crucifix
We have purchased a brass crucifix standard to be placed next to the podium at the annual convention and otherwise in the synod conference room in memory of Pres. John Arthur Moldstad. This will keep before us that all our synodical work supports the preaching of Christ and Him crucified. The crucifix will be dedicated at the beginning of 2024 convention. Rev. M. Moldstad will officiate, and Rev. D. Moldstad will serve as lector.
Pastoral Conferences
ELS pastors from Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois met for the Great Lakes Pastoral Conference April 9–10 at Trinity Lutheran Church near West Bend, Wisconsin.
ELS pastors from Arizona, Washington, and Oregon met April 10–11 at Parkland Lutheran Church, Tacoma, Washington for the ELS West Coast Pastor’s Conference.
Emmaus Conference
ELS president Rev. Glenn Obenberger, WELS president Rev. Mark Schroeder and LCMS president Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison participated in the Emmaus Conference, a Lutheran free conference, at Parkland Lutheran Church in Tacoma, Washington, on April 11–12.
Mission Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, we pray for the pastors and mission workers who serve our mission efforts in South Korea. Open the eyes of these servants to the plentiful harvest that awaits them as they reach out with the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, Savior of all nations. Bless Rev. Sam Choi as he serves Seoul Lutheran Church, bringing them the Word and Sacraments. Bless Rev. David Choi as he continues to develop new and exciting ways of outreach. Bless his work with Rev. J.W. Kim as they work with people in the Anyang area of greater Seoul. And bless Rev. David Choi as he works with Doug Tabor, a Friends Network mission worker who helps with English language outreach and friendship evangelism. May all these efforts be blessed by you to bring your saving gospel to the people of South Korea. Bless all these efforts to your glory and to the glory of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Upcoming Events
May 6-7 – Board of Regents
May 8 – Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary Commencement (4:00 p.m.)
May 9 – Board of Trustees
May 10 – Bethany Lutheran College Commencement (10:30 a.m.)
June 16–20 – Synod Convention
View current vacancies and calls in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
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