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The musical group Alabama made famous these words, “I'm in a hurry to get things done. Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun, All I really gotta do is live and die. But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.” Doesn’t it seem true in our own lives that we run ourselves ragged with busyness, but often for little purpose. We have do-to lists for the day, for the week, even for our lifetime. So much to do so, but so little time. The psalmist understood this well, that rushing to do this or that, or to get this or that done, with no consideration for God is rather pointless. It’s like a mouse running around on a wheel. He puts in a lot of effort to make him go faster, but that’s about all he accomplishes, spinning and spinning until he finally falls off the wheel. This month we are set to complete our new addition here at Peace. It is amazing to think of how our young congregation has been able to double the size of its current facility. We can easily think to ourselves, “Now we’re getting somewhere, with this new addition in place we can attract even more donors and imagine the next thing we can build…” But do we build to simply say “Look at us!, Look at what we accomplished”? If so, then there is no point to it. It is just a frivolous pursuit with no purpose. Frivolity is the way of the world, but God has freed us from the prideful pursuits of self-promotion. He has shown us all such things are a losing battle. He has shown us our true condition in our sin. But He has also shown us our Savior, Jesus Christ, who has forgiven all such sins, and bought us back to Himself that we might work for Him. We don’t build in vain, because we work, toil, and build under Him who is our head and for His purposes. Let our intent in building not be to build a big name for ourselves, but to do the work the Lord has given us to do while it is day. Let us build with a purpose, so that we may make disciples of all nations by teaching them everything the Lord has commanded. It is He who creates and strengthens faith through our work. It is He who builds his church. We are merely His lowly servants. And we work confident of the rest Jesus provides for His beloved, comfort in our forgiveness and certainty of eternal life. Amen. - Pastor Matt Moldstad Newsletter September 2017 Peace Lutheran Church 2090 Commerce Drive North Mankato MN 56003 The Peace Messenger Worship Schedule – begins 9/10 Sundays 8:30 & 10:45 a.m. Sunday School & Adult Bible Class at 9:45am Serving Peace Pastor Tim Hartwig Cell – 507-382-6826 [email protected] Pastor Matt Moldstad Cell – 507-382-0045 [email protected] Office - Karen Wold Phone – 507-385-1386 [email protected] Church Council President: Brad Wosmek Vice President: Nick Hauman Secretary: Greg Miller Spiritual Leadership: Paul Fries Christian Education: Bob Paulsen Property Management: Matt Bindert Stewardship: Jason Westman Gospel Outreach: Greg Vandermause Jesus’ Lambs Preschool Joslyn Moldstad – 507-385-7752 [email protected] Crossed - Youth Group www.peacemankato.org/crossed [email protected] Special Interest Dates Tuesdays Bible Study 9:00a 6 th Wednesday Divine Service 6:30p 8 th Family Night 6:00p 10 th Worship at 8:30 & 10:45a Sunday School & Bible Class 9:45a 12 th Council Meeting 6:30p 16 th Assemble New Playground 8a 23 rd Landscaping 8:00a 26 th Stewardship Meeting 6:30p The Lord Builds Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. (Psalm 127:1-2)

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The musical group Alabama made famous these words, “I'm in a hurry to get things done. Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun, All I really gotta do is live and die. But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.” Doesn’t it seem true in our own lives that we run ourselves ragged with busyness, but often for little purpose. We have do-to lists for the day, for the week, even for our lifetime. So much to do so, but so little time.

The psalmist understood this well, that rushing to do this or that, or to get this or that done, with no consideration for God is rather pointless. It’s like a mouse running around on a wheel. He puts in a lot of effort to make him go faster, but that’s about all he accomplishes, spinning and spinning until he finally falls off the wheel.

This month we are set to complete our new addition here at Peace. It is amazing to think of how our young congregation has been able to double the size of its current facility. We can easily think to ourselves, “Now we’re getting somewhere, with this new addition in place we can attract even more donors and imagine the next thing we can build…” But do we build to simply

say “Look at us!, Look at what we accomplished”? If so, then there is no point to it. It is just a frivolous pursuit with no purpose.

Frivolity is the way of the world, but God has freed us from the prideful pursuits of self-promotion. He has shown us all such things are a losing battle. He has shown us our true condition in our sin. But He has also shown us our Savior, Jesus Christ, who has forgiven all such sins, and bought us back to Himself that we

might work for Him.

We don’t build in vain, because we work, toil, and build under Him who is our head and for His purposes. Let our

intent in building not be to build a big name for ourselves, but to do the work the Lord has given us to do while it is day. Let us build with a purpose, so that we may make disciples of all nations by teaching them everything the Lord has commanded. It is He who creates and strengthens faith through our work. It is He who builds his church. We are merely His lowly servants. And we work confident of the rest Jesus provides for His beloved, comfort in our forgiveness and certainty of eternal life. Amen.

- Pastor Matt Moldstad

Newsletter September 2017

Peace Lutheran Church 2090 Commerce Drive North Mankato MN 56003

The Peace Messenger

Worship Schedule – begins 9/10 Sundays 8:30 & 10:45 a.m.

Sunday School & Adult Bible Class at 9:45am

Serving Peace Pastor Tim Hartwig Cell – 507-382-6826 [email protected]

Pastor Matt Moldstad Cell – 507-382-0045 [email protected]

Office - Karen Wold Phone – 507-385-1386 [email protected]

Church Council President: Brad Wosmek Vice President: Nick Hauman Secretary: Greg Miller Spiritual Leadership: Paul Fries Christian Education: Bob Paulsen Property Management: Matt Bindert Stewardship: Jason Westman Gospel Outreach: Greg Vandermause

Jesus’ Lambs Preschool Joslyn Moldstad – 507-385-7752 [email protected]

Crossed - Youth Group www.peacemankato.org/crossed [email protected]

Special Interest Dates

Tuesdays Bible Study 9:00a

6th Wednesday Divine Service 6:30p

8th Family Night 6:00p

10th Worship at 8:30 & 10:45a Sunday School & Bible Class 9:45a

12th Council Meeting 6:30p

16th Assemble New Playground 8a

23rd Landscaping 8:00a

26th Stewardship Meeting 6:30p

The Lord Builds Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. (Psalm 127:1-2)

The purpose of our congregation is to worship God, who gives life through Word and Sacrament; to serve one another in love and fellowship; and to proclaim forgiveness and salvation to all through Jesus Christ alone.

The Mission & Ministry Coordination Council (MMCC) meeting of Peace Lutheran Church was held on August 8, 2017. Council members present were: Pastor Hartwig, Pastor Moldstad, Brad Wosmek –President, Nick Hauman –Vice President, Jason Westman – Stewardship, Matt Bindert – Property Management, Greg Miller – Secretary. Absent and excused: Paul Fries – Spiritual Leadership, Greg Vandermause – Gospel Outreach, Bob Paulsen – Christian Education.

➢ Devotion: Pastor Hartwig.

➢ Announcements – None.

➢ Agenda – Approved

➢ Minutes of Previous Meeting – Approved

➢ Pastor’s Report (Pastor Hartwig) • Attendance at Wednesday night services is still strong. • August 20th will be the Installation of all officers, new and old. • Pastor Hartwig attended Camp Indianhead with 111 campers present. Bible Study was on Romans. • August 26th is the last day for Builders for Christ. • Pastor Hartwig will assist Mike Madson with some of the administrative tasks. • Sept. 6th is last Wed. evening service and Bible Study and Sunday School will reconvene on Sept. 10th. • The Board for Home Outreach has awarded a $10,000 grant for Peace to produce 40 videos and they are

petitioning the Schwan foundation for additional funds to produce more. These videos will be able to be used on Facebook and each one will present the Gospel while covering different topics of interest.

• Membership Changes: Loss: Kay Miller was released.

➢ Pastor’s Report (Pastor Moldstad) • Pastor Moldstad has met with Tammy about the “Group System”. • Creating a schedule of different fellowship events. They will typically have a potluck, some activity and

a devotion. • Catechism begins on Sept. 6th. • The Council viewed the first trial video that was produced. Discussion followed.

➢ Spiritual Leadership (Coordinator ~ Paul Fries) • No report.

➢ Gospel Outreach (Coordinator ~ Greg Vandermause) • No report.

➢ Christian Education (Coordinator ~ Bob Paulsen) • No report.

➢ Stewardship (Coordinator ~ Jason Westman) • The board has not met yet but Jason has met with the Treasurer. • Alisha Schuck has agreed to help with the personnel documents. • There was a discussion about attempting to report accurate numbers each month to the congregation.

There is the feeling that we should communicate these more often. Presenting the offering and the budget numbers would be more doable.

Council Meeting Minutes – August 8, 2017

Our Mission

➢ Property Management (Coordinator ~ Matt Bindert) • The furnace filters were installed, some lights were replaced and all the sanctuary lights have been

changed to LED. • Tim Paulsen is checking on the parking lot lights.

➢ MMSP to approve all reports.

➢ Old Business • Installation of Councilmen on August 20th at both services.

➢ New Business • Construction Committee Update (Pastor Hartwig): The time schedule has been moved up. There has

been savings due to donations of materials and labor. The question is what to do with the savings. Decisions on this will be made toward the end of the year. The goal is to have the addition ready for advent services. Pastor Hartwig met with the sign company and they said the current electrical and foundation are ok but a couple of trees should be moved. Now would be the time to rework the church’s logo. Transplanting some oak trees from the Lime Creek Church would be appropriate.

• Choosing a theme for 2017-2018: Pastor Moldstad presented some ideas.

o MMSP to approve “Built on the Rock” as our theme.

• Goal setting for 2017-2018: Brainstorming session with goals in three different categories.

1.) Goals to Start: Expand social media footprint, volunteering- improving communication in the Groups, Learning who other members are, membership directory, text and give, community outreach and broaden stewardship campaign.

2.) Goals to Continue: Improving music plan, navigator program, VBS, the momentum of the recent campaigns and more classes like “Financial Peace” (e.g.: marriage seminar, etc.).

3.) Goals to Stop: Two services in the Summer.

▪ Chairman Brad Wosmek will clarify and organize these ideas.

➢ Next council meeting – Tuesday, September 12, 2017 @ 6:30 pm.

➢ Motion made to adjourn with the Lord’s Prayer. MMSP.

Respectfully Submitted, Greg Miller

Family Night - Backyard Games - Come one, come all to our first family night event at Peace Lutheran! This fun evening will include a meal, devotion, and games outside (including a wheelbarrow race, a sack race, tug o’ war, and more). Come to play or come to watch, everyone's invited. Date: Friday, Sept. 8th. Time: 6pm. Hotdogs and hamburgers will be provided. Please bring a side to share for the meal. We are in need of grillers, servers, and activity helpers. If you are able to help, please sign-up in the church entryway.

Membership Directory is Now in the Cloud - Recently the church updated its records management software enabling us to utilize the cloud. Included in this new upgrade are advanced features permitting members to update their family information and view our church directory via the cloud. An email was sent to our members entitled: “Peace Lutheran Church Member Portal Access”. You can

enroll through the link provided in the email. If you did not receive an email and would like to have access, please email our secretary at [email protected]. The member portal can be accessed at: https://servantkeeper.com/member-portal/plcnm/ Our online church directory is available at: https://servantkeeper.com/directory/plcnm/

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE!!

Builders for Christ will have a few workers on site through early September, working on the Bathroom Tile and Acoustical Ceiling.

The following items are scheduled for the addition in September: Finish Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC, Sprinkler, Data & Low Voltage, Siding, Flooring, Millwork, Wall Partitions, Cabinets, Countertops.

September and October will be a time of rapid transition with many opportunities for volunteers from the church to accomplish all that we have to do:

Week Of: On 9/16 Assemble New Playground Equipment. On 9/23 Landscaping. Will need a volunteer crew to work under the direction of the

landscaper. 9/25 Move new Tables into new storage closets in the addition. 9/25 Delivery of New Chairs and move into storage closets. 9/25 Cleaning of Addition/Move the preschool & offices to their new locations. 9/25 Disassemble and Remove Old Playground Equipment. Anyone interested in this equipment please contact Todd Olsen or Bob Paulsen. On 10/8 Empty Sanctuary/Setup Multipurpose as temporary area for Services. On 10/9 Begin demo and remodel of sanctuary/narthex areas. TBD Dedication Service for the new addition.

GOLF CART for sale!!! 2010 EZ-GO RXV STANDARD, GAS, WHITE w/COVER. If anyone is interested in purchasing the Golf Cart used by Builders for Christ, please contact Todd Olsen at 507-304-1366 or [email protected]. If interested, please inquire no later than September 10th. Estimated value $3,250.

The Building Funds Raised are on track to our goals. Here is a summary:

Aug. 31, 2017 Funds Received $174,655.27 Aug 31, 2017 Funds Committed $210,539.78 September 30, 2017 Goal $162,500.00 Dec 31, 2017 Goal $200,000.00 + $ 12,155.27 + $ 10,539.78 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR ASSEMBLING NEW PLAYGROUND - Sept.16th We are organizing a crew of volunteers to help assemble our new preschool playground. We will have a special work day for this on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th, STARTING AT 8 A.M. If you have a power drill, please bring it along. Please sign up in the narthex if you are planning to help that day. For more information contact Matt Bindert – [email protected]. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR LANDSCAPING – ALL DAY WORKDAY SEPT. 23RD, LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED We are having a landscaping work day on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd, STARTING at 8 A.M. We are looking for 20+ volunteers to assist Smith Lawn and Landscape to rake landscape areas, install weed barrier, install plants, place rock and lay sod. All volunteer labor will directly reduce the cost of the project. All materials and tools needed will be provided. Skid loaders and operators from Smith Lawn and Landscape will be there as well as crew foremen to give directions. Please sign up on the signup sheet in the narthex to give us an idea of how much equipment, tools and food to plan for.

“UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS THE HOUSE, ITS BUILDERS LABOR IN VAIN.” - PSALM 127:1.

Serving the month of September: Altar/Communion preparation

10th Nick/Amanda Hauman & Joni Wiederhoeft

24th Emily Peters & Amanda Madson

Communion Assistants 8:30am 10:00am

10th Pastor Pastor

24th Pastor Pastor

Ushers

8:30am 10:00am

3rd Marc Flygare Corey Olsen

Eric Woller Mark Zenk

8:30am 10:45am

10th Mike Oliver Bob Paulsen

Al Clennon Terry Field

17th Rob Paulsen Tim Paulsen

Adie Harstad Chris Harstad

24th Pete Schuch Ton Schulz

Derek Harstad Nick Hauman

Counters 1st Sunday: Norman Madson & Todd Olsen

2nd Sunday: Jon Stadler & Brad Wosmek 3rd Sunday: Brian Koch & Chris Harstad 4th Sunday: Amanda Hauman & Brian Koch

5th Sunday: Ernie Geistfeld & Karen Wold

Destiny Meyers 9/15 15 years old Brevinn Vandermause 9/16 9 years old Rylee Woller 9/19 14 years old Lauren Paulsen 9/20 17 years old Jade Ohotto 9/21 16 years old Victoria Ringen 9/23 8 years old

Also – Ruth Olsen, Jesse Hinkel, Julio Garcia, Samantha Kammerer, Jerrid Michels,

Jon Moldstad, Abby Merritt, Travis Townsend, Lori Pipal, Hillary Chopp, Adolph Harstad,

Jason DeWitt, Rhonda Geving, Gina Kammer, Julie Ewert, Peter Londgren, Derick Lyngholm,

Eric Harstad, Carolyn Storlie, Lawrence Wentzlaff, Gaylin Schmeling,

Kjerstin Wold, Matthew Lukasek, Tara Meyers

May the Lord bless you, today and always.

Happy Birthday!

Anniversaries: George & Brittany Otto 9/03/11 6 years Julio & Britleigh Garcia 9/05/15 2 years Kyle & Abbie Smith 9/05/04 13 years Dave & Julie Ewert 9/09/78 39 years Kerri & Brad Simmons 9/09/00 17 years Jon & Terri Michaletz 9/10/11 6 years Wayne & Jes Salem 9/19/15 2 years Matt & Joanna Bindert 9/22/12 5 years Rob & Lori Pipal 9/22/79 38 years Josh & Alison Wierschke 9/28/12 5 years Warren & Megan Kassuelke 9/29/90 27 years

Congratulations! May the Lord continue to bless you

and may your Christian marriage serve as an inspiration to others.

To watch our services live, go to: www.peacemankato.com/livestreaming or our Facebook page. The service will start automatically when it is live (8:30AM).

For recorded services, go to www.vimeo.com/peacemankato and you can choose which service you wish to watch. We are currently only streaming and recording during the 8:30 service.

The following was taken from ‘Martin Luther’s Little Instruction Book’:

A BELIEVER’S DUTY

“To serve God properly means that everyone stay in his calling, however

humble it may be, and first heed the Word of God in church, then the word

of the government, superiors, or parents, and then live accordingly.”

† † †

Don’t know what to do with the kids during the summer? Bring them to the park! The Moms On a Mission (M.O.M.s) group has set up park playdates on Wednesday mornings for the summer months. All are welcome (even dads). Join us Wednesdays, starting June 7, from 9:30am-noon, bring a picnic lunch if you like. Come and go as you please. We will be rotating a different park each month. August is Sibley Park. If weather is rainy, playdate is cancelled. Come when you can! Questions? Contact Heidi Graham at [email protected].

Jesus’ Lambs at Peace Preschool thanks all our great volunteers who helped with our Back-To-School Registration and Picnic. We also thank Thrivent Financial who supported our effort in such a generous way, with some money going to t-shirts, supplies and playground equipment. If you would like to give to our Playground Equipment Fund, please put your gift into the offering basket and label it.

We currently have 53 students enrolled in our preschool, filling 54 spots. If you would like a Christian Education for your preschooler, aged 33 months-5 years, please call Joslyn at 385-7752. We have a few spots left in the M/W/F afternoon class.

We also thank our parents for enrolling their children in our preschool. (It was wonderful to see all of you out on the lawn, eating, playing and getting to know one another.) Mrs. Stephanie Wentzlaff and I will do our best, with God’s help, to prepare your child for Kindergarten with Bible stories, hymns, prayers, reading readiness, math, science, crafts, games and creative play. We do understand as God explains in Psalm 127:1 – “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” We ask for your prayers as we begin our 14th year as Jesus’ Lambs at Peace Preschool.

We especially thank our pastors and wives, Pastor and Katie Hartwig, Pastor and Joni Moldstad for help with our Back-To-School Night. We thank Karen Wold and Keith Wiederhoeft for taking tuition, to Pastor and Stephanie Wentzlaff, Marilyn and Bob Paulsen, Marc and Kris Flygare, Terri, Jessie and Hannah Fries. We thank Greg Miller, Jeannie and Ron Lorensberg, Elisa Londgren, Dani Merritt, Michele Wiederich, John and Rachel Moldstad.

Special thanks to the Builders for Christ and volunteers who worked so hard to make our classrooms look lovely so that God’s word is able to pass to the next generation.

Peace Lutheran’s

Fall Bake Sale

To be held on

Sunday, October 1st In the kitchen after both services

All funds will be donated to the

E.L.S. Missions

Bring your items to Peace on, or before, Sunday, October 1st. Bring anything you like to make: muffins, breads, cookies, pies, cakes, bars, candy, jam... Package them any way you like and we will offer them for a free-will offering.

Don’t like to bake? Come and buy some of the best goodies around AND help support our missions.

The ELS Missions (and your tummy!) thanks you!

If you have questions call Stephanie Wentzlaff at 320-905-4864

All are cordially invited to the 35th Annual

Women’s Missionary Society Rally

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church Clara City, Minnesota

As we recognize the 500th anniversary of the

Lutheran Reformation, Becky DeGarmeaux will give a presentation on

Katie Luther: A Historical Perspective

More information along with additional presenters will be coming this month.

We hope you can join us.

Who’s in My Group? Have you wanted to know who’s in your service group at Peace, but lost your list. Here’s one way you can find that information using the new online directory:

1. Log on to the church directory: https://servantkeeper.com/directory/plcnm/login

2. Enter the directory password, previously provided by Peace. 3. Select “Individual” from the top left corner. 4. Select “Filter" from the top right corner. 5. Under “Filter By”, select “Small Group” and pick your group from the list. 6. Click on the magnifying glass at the top right corner.

Volunteers are the reason that New 2 You Family Thrift is able to make quarterly donations for Christian Education to MVL and New 2 You association churches (we are one of five churches).

Volunteers can be anyone high school age and older. Normal Volunteer time slots are 9:00am-1:00pm & 1:00-5:00pm weekdays, 5:00-7:00pm Mondays and Saturdays 10:00am-12:30pm & 12:30-3:00pm (other times can be arranged). Additionally, Peace is responsible for staffing when there is a 5th Saturday in a month. You can volunteer once or twice a month or weekly if you wish! If you are able to volunteer, please either stop by the store at 1838 Commerce Drive or call them at 385-1455. The New 2 You Board of Directors and the store staff thank you!

Also, remember that donating items to the store and shopping at New 2 You are additional ways that you can help support New 2 You's donations for Christian Education.

FIGHT FOR ALZHEIMER’S FIRST SURVIVOR

Saturday, September 9, 2017 9:30 AM Sibley Park

Please consider contributing and/or walking in support of Duane and Brenda Garbers (Mount Olive members) as they are the Honorary Family selected to raise hope and awareness for the 2017 FIGHT FOR ALZHEIMERS FIRST SURVIVOR.

Any brother or sister-in-Christ that can pray for them, rally behind them the day of the event, or contribute financially would be incredibly appreciated.

If you are interested in donating to support Duane and Brenda Garbers in the FIGHT FOR ALZHEIMERS FIRST SURVIVOR:

Checks of any amount (payable to the Alzheimer's Association) may be given or sent to Duane & Brenda Garbers, 213 Gull Path, Mankato MN 56001, or donated online at http://bit.ly/AlzheimersWalkPapasTeam

MVL Celebration - Today, I share with you a very special blessing. MVL is now debt-free! At their last meeting, our Board of Directors voted to pay off the last of our individual loans, thereby eliminating our debt! What an unbelievable blessing from our Lord. Consider that

in January of 2009, our debt stood at $1.8 million. We join together in thanking our gracious God for the blessings that He has showered on us in so many ways.

On Sunday, August 27, we will take a few minutes after our opening service to recognize this milestone. The opening service is scheduled to begin at 1:30 pm in the MVL gymnasium. Refreshments will be served afterwards. Please join us!

May God continue to bless all of us as we work together "training students for Christian lives on earth and for eternity!"

-Principal Tim Plath

Are you unable to care for your feet? Your church home is offering a service to help you care for your feet and toenails. By appointment, a registered nurse, using sanitary equipment, will soak and wash your feet, trim toenails, and finish with a lotion foot massage. If the nurse feels further medical attention is needed, she may suggest an appointment with your health care provider. This service is free; however, donations will be accepted to go to a church cause. For more information, or to set up an appointment, please call Amy Jo Reiner at 507-340-2061.

Just a reminder of the option you have of using “electronic giving” for making your regular church offerings or special fund offerings. Contributions can be debited automatically from your checking or savings account or processed using your credit (Peace is charged a percentage) or debit card. The electronic giving program offers convenience for you and much needed donation consistency for our congregation.

If you are currently giving on a weekly basis, you will no longer need to write out 52 checks a year or prepare 52 envelopes. And, when travel, illness or other circumstances prevent you from attending services, this program will allow your weekly offerings to continue in an uninterrupted basis.

If you think you might be interested, please contact either Chris Harstad (507-351-9988) or Elizabeth Harstad (507-382-3743). It is now possible for you to set it up yourself by going to our website, www.peacemankato.com, clicking on the “Give now” box and putting in your information. You can choose how often you donate (weekly, monthly, certain date(s), etc.).

Bethany Seminary Begins a New School Year 2017–2018 Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary began its new school year with an opening service in Good Shepherd Chapel on August 21, 2017. Dr. Timothy Schmeling delivered the homily on Genesis 12:1–8, focusing on Father Abraham as a Model for Seminarians. Drawing on the life of Abraham, Prof. Schmeling illuminated the temptations to pride and doubt in the holy ministry. He noted that the continual swing of the pendulum between hubris and self-loathing marks human life ever after the fall. This spiritual disorder comes from our repeated attempts to anchor our being in the shifting sands of our own character and accomplishments. Only Christ and his righteousness, credited to us through his holy life and death, can bring calm and stillness. Not only that, only he can give us true confidence in the Lord and the power to do all things through him. Prof. Schmeling then explained that just as the Promised Messiah guided Abraham through his sojourn, Christ will do the same for us. He will be with us in all the trials of the public ministry and in the burdens of life. He, who alone could offer himself on the holy mount so that we might have life for all eternity, could never leave us nor forsake us in this present sin-stricken reality. Now, as in Abraham’s day, God claims you and me as his own so that other people may experience his blessings through us. As we go about our daily lives, we find people who are hurting. At such times, God calls us to pray on their behalf like Abraham prayed for Sodom and Gomorrah. He wants us to plant our altars in their midst and comfort them with the Gospel of forgiveness. The God of Abraham wants to befriend them and serve them through us. Abraham was indeed a blessing for all nations through the promised Messiah.

The teaching staff for the seminary this semester is as follows: Thomas Kuster, Nathan Nass, Timothy Schmeling, Michael Smith, and Gaylin Schmeling. Professor Kuster is teaching communication; Professor Nass is teaching multi-cultural studies; Professor Timothy Schmeling is teaching Old Testament, symbolics, and homiletics; Professor Smith is teaching in the areas of New Testament, hermeneutics, and homiletics; and Professor Gaylin Schmeling is teaching courses in dogmatics and homiletics.

The seminary enrollment this year numbers fourteen. There are two vicars, one senior, five middlers, five juniors, and one special student. The vicars are Noah Thompson at St. John’s Lutheran Church (Frankenmuth, Michigan) and Christian Walz at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Indianola, Iowa).

St. Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey & The Best of Greece

Hosted by: Prof. Adie Harstad & Dr. William Kessel May 13-23, 2018

Dear Friends:

This may be one of the most remarkable tours you will ever consider. Visualize the breadth and depth of your upcoming experience.

The Eastern Mediterranean gave birth to great civilizations. You will be able to walk among the ruins of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Greece and Turkey were ground zero for the earliest Christian mission work. Visit numerous biblical sites where St. Paul “labored in the Lord” after he entered Greece from Turkey. Gain great theological understanding as well as an appreciation of the political, economic and cultural context.

After the time of the Apostles, Christian churches developed locally. Explore three early Christian churches and monasteries to understand the joy, commitment and challenges of these early believers.

Imprint in your mind and memory the stunning geography of mountains and lowlands, islands and seas, cities and villages, relics and people. Sample modern life in this part of the world.

Please join us for this exhilarating and elevating experience in Greece as you travel with like-minded travelers on a common spiritual journey into a new dimension of understanding.

Please contact Prof. Adie Harstad for more information. [email protected]; cell: 507-351-9333

2018 Centennial Heritage Tour to Norway

Hosted by: Craig Ferkenstad and Adie Harstad May 28 - June 8, 2018 Some of the places that will be visited:

Oslo Seljord Valle Haugesund Avaldsnes Lofthus Stalheim Gudvangen Flåm Bergen

Please contact Prof. Adie Harstad for more information. [email protected]; cell: 507-351-9333