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"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up,
just as you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
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For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for
Jesus' sake.
2 Corinthians 4:5
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Dr. Luther described sin as being essentially being man curved in on oneself, drawing from St.
Augustine. There is also a tendency for congregations to have a similar inward curvature as well. On occasion, congregation leaders have resisted their pastors assisting other congregations during pastoral vacancy. “What’s in it for us?” has been the question
asked.
There is a great danger for the attitude in the Church to think only in terms of being served. May
we never forget that it is the Lord Jesus Christ, who serves us. It is Jesus who got up from the table and washed the disciples feet. It is still Jesus, who presides at table and serves as the host as He gives to us His own body and blood. But since Jesus
has served us, we are then to called to serve others individually and corporately.
The last few editions of
Encourage have been focused on how congregations can see that they share in a common ministry of Word and Sacrament so that together they may labor for the sake of the kingdom. As we approach the end of the first quarter of the Twenty-First Century,
we see the number of multi-point congregations increasing across the Synod. North and South Dakota districts now have approximately 70% of their congregations in dual parishes (or tri-point or four-point). That number has increased to nearly 20% in Missouri
District and is on the rise.
Rather than viewing other congregations as competition or turning away from them during a need,
it is my prayer that our congregations will not turn in on ourselves, but will look outward for ways to serve others and reach the lost with the Gospel. Churches engaged in multi-point congregations are not failures. They are congregations looking for ways
in which they can grow together in Christ and serve together for the sake of Christ’s kingdom. I invite all of our congregation leaders to pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in considering ways in which their congregation might serve others and proclaim Jesus
Christ as Lord.
Prayer –
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, You have knit together Your chosen people. By Your Holy Spirit, enable us to walk together in faith, love and service that Your name be praised and Your kingdom would come among us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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Keep Scrolling for District News and Events
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Professor Workshops This Summer
We are excited to have two learning opportunities this summer from our seminaries! July 8–10, join
Dr. Grobien, from
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, present
on "Law, Virtue, and Life in Christ" at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kansas City. Then stop by Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield July 29–31 and hear Dr. Golden, from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, present "It Stand Written: The New Testament Appropriation
of the Old Testament".
Click
here for more information and registration.
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Transformational Leadership
Summer Administrators' Conference
Administrators of Missouri, we are excited to join with you this July at the summer conference,
"Transformational Leadership: Strong & Courageous". We are once again hosted at the lovely Campus Lutheran in Columbia. We can't wait to gather with you this summer!
Click
for registration, lodging, schedule, and speaker information.
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While our 2023–2024 Webinar Series has drawn to a close, did you know that you can access these
great resources at any time? Topics to aid in your ministry include "Reaching & Engaging Your Community", "Successful Blended Budget Planning", "4 Steps Towards Faith Formation in the Home", "I Have a Prodigal, Now What?", and more.
Simply visit
mo.lcms.org/webinars
to access these at any time.
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