votes

I know of three votes for May.  St. Petri, Flanagan, will take its first vote on May 1.  Immanuel, Altona, will take its second vote on May 15.  St. John, Danforth, will take its second vote on May 22.  Please keep these congregations in your prayers.  I will report back when I get results.

Do you know of other votes in May?

Pr. Jim Lehmann Dean

Post Easter

Friends,

I trust you have celebrated with Joy the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ with renewed faith!  I pray you are getting a little renewal of the body this week.

Please keep the executive council in your prayers.  This week we meet in Christiana Lutheran Church, Salisbury, NC.  On Wednesday evening, we will meet with members of that congregation, as well as neighboring congregations who may wish to learn more about the North American Lutheran Church.  That is always a wonderful time.

The executive council meets on Thursday and Friday.  Items on the agenda include the 2011 Convocation (August 11-12) and further development on the structure of deaneries and the role of deans.  If you remember, the current deans are provisional.  We hope to have definitions more clearly delineated.  This will be a big help.  I think the deans and the deaneries are an important link between pastors and congregations and the North American Lutheran Church.

Pr. Jim Lehmann -- Dean

Holy Week

We are celebrating the Great Three Days -- the Holy Triduum.  The only Son of the Father, who took on our flesh and blood at the Holy Nativity, now pours out his Blood for the sake of all humanity, that all who believe in him may be saved.  We humbly and thankfully offer our praise. 

Last Easter, many of us were wondering if a new church would be formed and whether or not congregations and pastors would join.  Now, we see that God has blessed us.  This Easter, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are celebrating a resurrection of the church.  We give thanks that an ever growing stream of people are joining together for mission.  What a joy to serve our Savior.

May God bless you abundantly with hope and joy.  Dark days of pain and confusion give way to the light of Christ.

Pr. Jim Lehmann - Dean

Activity this week

Friends,

This week, we are accepting 10 more congregations and 5 pastors into the North American Lutheran Church.  In addition, one seminarian is approved for ordination and will become a mission director in Sioux Falls, SD.

Locally, we  welcome Pastor Heidi Punt and Pastor Preston Foster, as well as St. John Lutheran Church, Flanagan, IL.

May you all have a sacred Holy Week.

Rev. Jim Lehmann, Dean

This week in the NALC

Friends,

This week, we have added 5 new congregations and 12 new pastors to the NALC.  Included among the pastors is Rev. Jay Johnson, St. John, Royal.  Welcome!

Did you see the April newsletter of the NALC and Lutheran CORE?  The quote I found most challenging was from President Idossa of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus.  He reflected on the burning of 57 churches, the displacement of 3600 people from their homes including beatings and killings.  He said, "It has been granted to us not only to believe in Jesus Christ, but also to suffer for him." 

It has been "granted."  It is a gift of God that they were given the opportunity to literally lay their lives on the line for Jesus Christ.  For Americans, who do not like to suffer at all, for American Christians who so often are willing to compromise ("Can't we all just get along?"), this is foreign territory.  Yes, many of us have to endure hardship for our faith in less physical ways.  I am not seeking to downplay those experiences.  Instead, I find it encouraging and inspiring to interpret life through the Gospel.  "Whoever wants to follow me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me."

May we be found faithful!

Pr. Jim Lehmann