treasured news
TREASURED NEWS Volume 2
SEPTEMBER 2013
Issue 1
STEWARDSHIP PRINCIPLE #1
I would suggest that there are at least five that you are the Holy One of God” principles we could look at that would (John 6:68-69). help us in our awareness of, and alertness to, the schemes of the devil, the world, What a blessing is ours that, through our and our sinful flesh as they Holy Spirit created and tempt us toward greed nurtured faith, we can with … believe that Jesus Christ is and covetousness. the boldness and confidence our only Savior … give His of St. Peter, and countless teachings priority in our life. The first principal would others saints who have gone call upon us through the before us, confess as he did in power and working of the Holy Spirit in Matthew 16:16, “You are the Christ, the Son our lives, through the Word and of the living God,” or in Mark 8:29, “You are Sacraments, to believe that Jesus Christ is the Christ.” our only Savior from all sin, and give His teachings priority in our life. Heavenly Father, I believe. I pray that You would help my unbelief, strengthening me With that desire in mind, we pray with through Your Holy Spirit to give Your Word Simon Peter when Jesus asked Him and and all that it teaches, as well as the blessed the other eleven if they wanted to follow Sacraments, priority in my life. In the name in the path of so many others and turn of Jesus. Amen! their back on Him looking for a new teacher: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You Rev. John Heckmann have the words of eternal life, and we LWML Sr. Pastoral Counselor have believed, and have come to know,
September 2013
Page 2
MITE REPORT BY DISTRICT — AUGUST 2013 DISTRICT
CURRENT
TOTAL
ATLANTIC
DISTRICT
CURRENT
TOTAL
1,323.21
NEBRASKA NORTH
1,068.45
3,259.12
5,802.50
NEBRASKA SOUTH
1,722.19
5,199.92
NEW ENGLAND
332.60
1,738.88
5,863.81
NEW JERSEY
181.97
651.84
2,182.72
NORTH DAKOTA
1,078.97
4,214.17
1,893.07
NORTH WISCONSIN
882.00
4,564.00
ENGLISH
2,134.23
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
1,341.30
5,384.22
FLORIDA-GEORGIA
7,168.48
OHIO
3,629.43
290.53
1,686.04
OKLAHOMA
4,697.33
INDIANA
2,918.36
4,654.17
OREGON
3,974.91
IOWA EAST
2,644.31
2,644.31
PACIFIC SW
IOWA WEST
2,527.78
6,971.95
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
3,853.68
SELC
507.35
507.35
438.70
3,032.18
CAL-NEV-HAWAII
1,325.20
CAROLINAS
999.99
CENTRAL ILLINOIS
1,943.85
CHESAPEAKE EASTERN
1,146.50
GULF STATES
KANSAS
1,658.76
8,490.62 3,134.52
LOUISIANA-MISSISSIPPI
2,882.22
2,882.22
SOUTH DAKOTA
MICHIGAN
2,033.22
8,625.21
SOUTH WISCONSIN
7,271.92
4,136.47,
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
1,798.94
MID-SOUTH MINNESOTA NORTH
1,073.13
5,510.97
TEXAS
MINNESOTA SOUTH
1,858.26
7,642.34
UTAH-IDAHO
MISSOURI
1,914.09
9,491.25
WASH-ALASKA
183.88
1,590.23
WYOMING
MONTANA
TOTAL
1,586.97
9,783.97
211.64
2,422.52
1,907.46
4,085.10
790.17
1,806.76
36,449.86
166,704.55
MITES FROM OTHER SOURCES Mite Donations
6,101.58
15,960.33
0
500.00
GoodSearch
Children’s Miss Adv
109.20
157.92
Thrivent Simply Giving
Conv. Offering #1
190.00
54,017.32
1,205.00
73,225.04
Golf Tournament
0
0
PayPal
0
1,988.00
Mite Donations Restricted
Mission Pledge Walk
Annual Appeal
140.00
875.06
0
0
40.00
200.00
Thrivent Choice Dollars
1,255.00
9,551.00
OTHER MITE TOTAL
9,040.378
156,474.67
GRAND TOTAL
45,490.64
323,179.22
All totals are unconfirmed pending verification from the accounting office.
Page 3
September 2013
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY! LORD GOD ALMIGHTY Reginald Heber
And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 4:8 On April 21, 1783 in an English village , Reginald Heber was born to a minister and his wife. He enjoyed a happy childhood and was an excellent student. While enrolled at Oxford, excelling in poetry, he became a close friend with Sir Walter Scott. After graduation, he served as a vicar in his father’s parish and continued there for sixteen years as a shepherd of his flock. His love of poetry gave him a keen and growing interest in hymnody. He wanted to lift the literary quality of hymns and also dreamed of publishing high-caliber hymns. These hymns would then correspond to the church year and would fit in with the liturgical style of worship. Heber’s high hopes were dashed when the Bishop of London would not go along with his idea. Unable to put his love of hymn writing aside, he continued to write hymns for his own church. During these sixteen years in the obscure parish of Hodnet, Heber wrote all 57 of his hymns. Included in this collection of hymns was the great missionary hymn, “From Greenland’s Icy Mountains,” which urged missionaries to take the Gospel to faraway places like “Greenland’s icy mountains,” and “India’s coral strand.” From Greenland’s icy mountains, From India’s coral strand, Where Afric’s sunny fountains Roll down their golden sand;
From many an ancient river, From many a palmy plain, They call us to deliver Their land from error’s chain. The words of this hymn were written because of Reginald’s intense desire to become a missionary in “India’s coral strand.” He felt God was calling him into the mission field; his desire was fulfilled in 1822, at the age of 40, when he was appointed to oversee the Church of England’s ministries in India. In Calcutta he toured his diocese for 16 months. In 1826 during a later tour that took him to Trichinopoly, he preached to a large crowd in the hot sun. After the service, wanting to cool himself, he plunged into a pool of cool water. There he suffered a stroke and drowned. After his death, his widow found his 57 hymns in a trunk and was successful in publishing his Hymns Written and Adapted to the Weekly Service of the Church Year. In this publication was the great Trinitarian hymn based on Revelation 4:8-11, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.” Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee. Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, Blessed Trinity!
—Taken from Then Sings My Soul By Robert J. Morgan 2003 (Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
September 2013
Page 4
YOUR MITES ARE WORKING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA No Lutheran Bible storybooks for children have been translated and published in Southeast Asia. Even if there were, a child’s book would be an unaffordable luxury for many families. Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF) is helping to change this situation by translating and publishing A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories into Thai, Khmer (spoken in Cambodia) and Bahasa Indonesia. Families who are unable to afford a small charge for the book will receive it for free. A $72,000 grant was approved at the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League ‘s (LWML) Pittsburgh Convention in June 2013. Your mites will provide the needed resources for LHF to translate and print Lutheran Bible storybooks in these languages. What a wonderful gift you are helping to give God’s little children!
RETURNING GOD’S BLESSINGS How can your Christian estate plan be a blessing to family and the ministries you care about like LWML? Learn more about how your estate may encourage the faith of your family and loved ones by contacting Linda Gage, LWML Gift Planning Counselor. Linda will help you plan and direct your passion for giving to family and all ministries of the church. Contact her today at (800) 7414138 or at [email protected]. Consider inviting her to be an interest session leader at your next rally, retreat, or convention. More information can also be found on our LWML website: www.lwmlgiftplan.org.
Gifts of Love is an official ministry of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League .
September 2013
Page 5
GOODSEARCH
Are you a Goodsearch/Goodswipe supporter? Not only can you help the LWML’s mission goal by searching topics through Goodsearch, you can also do this by shopping online or in person by using your debit or credit card at the many merchants listed on their website. Some of the more popular ones are listed here. Go to www.goodsearch.com/goodswipe for more details. Champs Sports Eastbay/CCS Foot Locker Puritan’s Pride Vitamin World Kmart Sears Old Navy Burger King Outback Steakhouse
2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 1.5% 1.5% 3.0% 1.5% 3.0%
Arby’s Taco Bell Regal Cinemas Edwards Theatres United Artists Theatres 7-Eleven Red Robin Quiznos Dunkin’ Donuts
2.3% 2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 1.5% 2.4% 2.4% 0.6%
Have fun shopping, eating, or enjoying a movie and know that at the same time you are helping the mission work of the LWML!
CELEBRATING GRANDPARENTS Several sociological factors are affecting the grandparent’s role. Because families are spread out geographically, “long-distance grandparenting” is now common. On the other end of the spectrum, many grandparents are actually raising their grandchildren. Despite modern-day challenges and changes, grandparents are more important than ever for providing kids with a sense of history and heritage. Whether through social media and Skype or special outings and storytelling, the older generation has a variety of avenues for connecting with grandkids. In the process, grandparents can share their Christian faith. “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts” (Psalm 145:4, NIV).
September 8
SEPTEMBER 2013
Issue 1
STEWARDSHIP PRINCIPLE #1
I would suggest that there are at least five that you are the Holy One of God” principles we could look at that would (John 6:68-69). help us in our awareness of, and alertness to, the schemes of the devil, the world, What a blessing is ours that, through our and our sinful flesh as they Holy Spirit created and tempt us toward greed nurtured faith, we can with … believe that Jesus Christ is and covetousness. the boldness and confidence our only Savior … give His of St. Peter, and countless teachings priority in our life. The first principal would others saints who have gone call upon us through the before us, confess as he did in power and working of the Holy Spirit in Matthew 16:16, “You are the Christ, the Son our lives, through the Word and of the living God,” or in Mark 8:29, “You are Sacraments, to believe that Jesus Christ is the Christ.” our only Savior from all sin, and give His teachings priority in our life. Heavenly Father, I believe. I pray that You would help my unbelief, strengthening me With that desire in mind, we pray with through Your Holy Spirit to give Your Word Simon Peter when Jesus asked Him and and all that it teaches, as well as the blessed the other eleven if they wanted to follow Sacraments, priority in my life. In the name in the path of so many others and turn of Jesus. Amen! their back on Him looking for a new teacher: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You Rev. John Heckmann have the words of eternal life, and we LWML Sr. Pastoral Counselor have believed, and have come to know,
September 2013
Page 2
MITE REPORT BY DISTRICT — AUGUST 2013 DISTRICT
CURRENT
TOTAL
ATLANTIC
DISTRICT
CURRENT
TOTAL
1,323.21
NEBRASKA NORTH
1,068.45
3,259.12
5,802.50
NEBRASKA SOUTH
1,722.19
5,199.92
NEW ENGLAND
332.60
1,738.88
5,863.81
NEW JERSEY
181.97
651.84
2,182.72
NORTH DAKOTA
1,078.97
4,214.17
1,893.07
NORTH WISCONSIN
882.00
4,564.00
ENGLISH
2,134.23
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
1,341.30
5,384.22
FLORIDA-GEORGIA
7,168.48
OHIO
3,629.43
290.53
1,686.04
OKLAHOMA
4,697.33
INDIANA
2,918.36
4,654.17
OREGON
3,974.91
IOWA EAST
2,644.31
2,644.31
PACIFIC SW
IOWA WEST
2,527.78
6,971.95
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
3,853.68
SELC
507.35
507.35
438.70
3,032.18
CAL-NEV-HAWAII
1,325.20
CAROLINAS
999.99
CENTRAL ILLINOIS
1,943.85
CHESAPEAKE EASTERN
1,146.50
GULF STATES
KANSAS
1,658.76
8,490.62 3,134.52
LOUISIANA-MISSISSIPPI
2,882.22
2,882.22
SOUTH DAKOTA
MICHIGAN
2,033.22
8,625.21
SOUTH WISCONSIN
7,271.92
4,136.47,
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
1,798.94
MID-SOUTH MINNESOTA NORTH
1,073.13
5,510.97
TEXAS
MINNESOTA SOUTH
1,858.26
7,642.34
UTAH-IDAHO
MISSOURI
1,914.09
9,491.25
WASH-ALASKA
183.88
1,590.23
WYOMING
MONTANA
TOTAL
1,586.97
9,783.97
211.64
2,422.52
1,907.46
4,085.10
790.17
1,806.76
36,449.86
166,704.55
MITES FROM OTHER SOURCES Mite Donations
6,101.58
15,960.33
0
500.00
GoodSearch
Children’s Miss Adv
109.20
157.92
Thrivent Simply Giving
Conv. Offering #1
190.00
54,017.32
1,205.00
73,225.04
Golf Tournament
0
0
PayPal
0
1,988.00
Mite Donations Restricted
Mission Pledge Walk
Annual Appeal
140.00
875.06
0
0
40.00
200.00
Thrivent Choice Dollars
1,255.00
9,551.00
OTHER MITE TOTAL
9,040.378
156,474.67
GRAND TOTAL
45,490.64
323,179.22
All totals are unconfirmed pending verification from the accounting office.
Page 3
September 2013
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY! LORD GOD ALMIGHTY Reginald Heber
And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 4:8 On April 21, 1783 in an English village , Reginald Heber was born to a minister and his wife. He enjoyed a happy childhood and was an excellent student. While enrolled at Oxford, excelling in poetry, he became a close friend with Sir Walter Scott. After graduation, he served as a vicar in his father’s parish and continued there for sixteen years as a shepherd of his flock. His love of poetry gave him a keen and growing interest in hymnody. He wanted to lift the literary quality of hymns and also dreamed of publishing high-caliber hymns. These hymns would then correspond to the church year and would fit in with the liturgical style of worship. Heber’s high hopes were dashed when the Bishop of London would not go along with his idea. Unable to put his love of hymn writing aside, he continued to write hymns for his own church. During these sixteen years in the obscure parish of Hodnet, Heber wrote all 57 of his hymns. Included in this collection of hymns was the great missionary hymn, “From Greenland’s Icy Mountains,” which urged missionaries to take the Gospel to faraway places like “Greenland’s icy mountains,” and “India’s coral strand.” From Greenland’s icy mountains, From India’s coral strand, Where Afric’s sunny fountains Roll down their golden sand;
From many an ancient river, From many a palmy plain, They call us to deliver Their land from error’s chain. The words of this hymn were written because of Reginald’s intense desire to become a missionary in “India’s coral strand.” He felt God was calling him into the mission field; his desire was fulfilled in 1822, at the age of 40, when he was appointed to oversee the Church of England’s ministries in India. In Calcutta he toured his diocese for 16 months. In 1826 during a later tour that took him to Trichinopoly, he preached to a large crowd in the hot sun. After the service, wanting to cool himself, he plunged into a pool of cool water. There he suffered a stroke and drowned. After his death, his widow found his 57 hymns in a trunk and was successful in publishing his Hymns Written and Adapted to the Weekly Service of the Church Year. In this publication was the great Trinitarian hymn based on Revelation 4:8-11, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.” Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee. Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, Blessed Trinity!
—Taken from Then Sings My Soul By Robert J. Morgan 2003 (Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
September 2013
Page 4
YOUR MITES ARE WORKING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA No Lutheran Bible storybooks for children have been translated and published in Southeast Asia. Even if there were, a child’s book would be an unaffordable luxury for many families. Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF) is helping to change this situation by translating and publishing A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories into Thai, Khmer (spoken in Cambodia) and Bahasa Indonesia. Families who are unable to afford a small charge for the book will receive it for free. A $72,000 grant was approved at the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League ‘s (LWML) Pittsburgh Convention in June 2013. Your mites will provide the needed resources for LHF to translate and print Lutheran Bible storybooks in these languages. What a wonderful gift you are helping to give God’s little children!
RETURNING GOD’S BLESSINGS How can your Christian estate plan be a blessing to family and the ministries you care about like LWML? Learn more about how your estate may encourage the faith of your family and loved ones by contacting Linda Gage, LWML Gift Planning Counselor. Linda will help you plan and direct your passion for giving to family and all ministries of the church. Contact her today at (800) 7414138 or at [email protected]. Consider inviting her to be an interest session leader at your next rally, retreat, or convention. More information can also be found on our LWML website: www.lwmlgiftplan.org.
Gifts of Love is an official ministry of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League .
September 2013
Page 5
GOODSEARCH
Are you a Goodsearch/Goodswipe supporter? Not only can you help the LWML’s mission goal by searching topics through Goodsearch, you can also do this by shopping online or in person by using your debit or credit card at the many merchants listed on their website. Some of the more popular ones are listed here. Go to www.goodsearch.com/goodswipe for more details. Champs Sports Eastbay/CCS Foot Locker Puritan’s Pride Vitamin World Kmart Sears Old Navy Burger King Outback Steakhouse
2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 1.5% 1.5% 3.0% 1.5% 3.0%
Arby’s Taco Bell Regal Cinemas Edwards Theatres United Artists Theatres 7-Eleven Red Robin Quiznos Dunkin’ Donuts
2.3% 2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 1.5% 2.4% 2.4% 0.6%
Have fun shopping, eating, or enjoying a movie and know that at the same time you are helping the mission work of the LWML!
CELEBRATING GRANDPARENTS Several sociological factors are affecting the grandparent’s role. Because families are spread out geographically, “long-distance grandparenting” is now common. On the other end of the spectrum, many grandparents are actually raising their grandchildren. Despite modern-day challenges and changes, grandparents are more important than ever for providing kids with a sense of history and heritage. Whether through social media and Skype or special outings and storytelling, the older generation has a variety of avenues for connecting with grandkids. In the process, grandparents can share their Christian faith. “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts” (Psalm 145:4, NIV).
September 8
