Fill… Spill… Thrill…

Bishop Dave deFreese
Nebraska Synod, ELCA

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Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ!

Scholars have counted 365 times that God says to His people in the Bible: “Do not be afraid.” I think that is a fascinating number, which is most appropriate for the living of our days and years.

I believe “Do not be afraid” is Christ’s Word to His very own Body. As we enter into a new time, decisions made at the recent Churchwide Assembly have caused many to fear … that the church has gone “soft on sin,” that the Bible is not being honored, or that moral teaching has been lost. There are others who believe that the church has recognized Jesus’ calling to live in love, that Christ’s desire for justice for His people has been advanced, and that the Bible’s teaching of commitment and covenant has been enacted. Many others find themselves somewhere between these two responses. Wherever you find yourself on this scale, I would invite you to see once again the wonder of Christ’s power to hold people together even when they disagree.

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Churchwide Assembly 2009 will be remembered for dealing with tough issues and stormy weather.

In all, there were 1,045 voting members registered at the Churchwide Assembly. The members tackled the difficult subject of human sexuality as they voted 676-338 to adopt a Social Statement on Human Sexuality. Later in the week, they voted to adopt four task force recommendations regarding ordination of individuals involved in same-gender, publicly accountable, monogamous relationships.

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Bishop Dave deFreese
Nebraska Synod, ELCA

“If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:1-8)

Having returned from the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans, my heart is filled with gratitude! Thankful to be a part of an event that was saturated with purpose and hope. Thirty-seven thousand youth and adult sponsors attended the five-day event which focused on our Christ, on our response to His gracious love, and on service. Eleven hundred seventy-three youth and their sponsors, plus about 30 other volunteers and workers came from Nebraska. The days were full, from early morning worship and launching to work sites, to Superdome events and devotions at the end of the day. Crowds were everywhere and good spirits were expressed as people waited in lines and enjoyed conversations.

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Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

Dear colleagues in ministry,

As we approach the churchwide assembly, I am thankful for the thoughtful and respectful discussion at synod assemblies of the proposed social statement on human sexuality and the ministry policy recommendations. I am mindful, however, that we remain a church body that is not of one mind about these decisions, and that these continuing differences have raised concerns among some about whether we are headed toward a church-dividing decision.

I am writing to express my shared, heartfelt commitment to the church’s unity, and, even more, my deep confidence that this unity will not be lost. For this reason please join me in reflecting on the unity of Christ’s church that is the foundation both for our life together in the ELCA and our relationships with other Christians throughout the world.

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It was a small group that met on a particular Tuesday morning at St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Omaha.

That’s not all bad, according to Verne Sandhurst, the church’s administrative executive. Three of the group’s members had received potential job offers during the previous week.

And so it goes for St. Thomas’ job transition ministry - an ebb and flow of participants entering into small group conversations and informative workshops as they attempt to remain or reenter the workforce.

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Lisa Kramme
Director of Faith Formation
Nebraska Synod, ELCA

“We’ve helped this much,” the man with small, gold hoop earrings said, “but there’s this much to do to make things better.”

The man gestured as he spoke, holding up two index fingers about an inch apart during the first part of his statement. Along with the latter part of his statement, his arms flung open wide, away from the center of his body in exaggerated arcs to show that the tasks needing done seemed infinite.

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During this year’s Synod Assembly, Bishop deFreese asked mission  centers/congregations to share what they do in ministry with and among the poor. Below is just one of the many responses the Bishop has received so far.

From Grace Lutheran Church in Ceresco (submitted by Glenda Ferguson, PMA):

“The Sunday school children (seven children) of Grace collected almost $300 for God’s Global Barnyard for 2009. The congregation at Grace gives generously to the local food pantry on a regular basis and donates to World Hunger.

“The president of Grace’s council has been to El Salvador to help build houses with Habitat for Humanity. A group of adults/young adults from Grace will be joining the effort in El Salvador again in 2010.

“In 2010, the congregation will use land around the church to provide a space for a community garden. People who are not members of Grace will be offered a garden plot along with those who are members. Each gardener will be asked to donate a portion of their harvest to assist one of the groups in Lincoln who feed the poor.”

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March 2010

March 7

• The Rev. Margaret Olson, on leave from call
• The Rev. Michael Ostrom and Sinai Lutheran Church, Fremont
• The Rev. Gary Panko and Adullam and Immanuel Lutheran Churches, Bertrand
• The Rev. Travis Panning and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wymore
• And for those in their ministry who are orthopedic doctors
• The Fontenelle Ministry in Omaha

March 14

• The Rev. Lynn Parsons, intentional interim
• The Rev. William Pavuk and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Grand Island
• The Rev. Keith Pearson, retired in Lincoln
• The Rev. Kelley Pedersen and Niobrara and Good Shepherd Lutheran churches, Niobrara
• And for those in their ministry who are mayors
• Lutheran World Relief

March 21

• The Rev. Steven Peeler and Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Hastings
• The Rev. Paul Petersen, retired in Lincoln
• The Rev. Doniver Peterson, retired in Greeley, Colorado
• The Rev. Herbert Peterson, retired in Omaha
• And for those in their ministry who are tow truck drivers
• The Sudanese Outreach Ministries in Lincoln and Omaha

March 28

• The Rev. Janice Peterson and Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Omaha
• The Rev. Brenda Pfeifly and Salem Lutheran Church, Stromsburg
• The Rev. Frank Philipp and First Lutheran Church, Blair
• The Rev. Evelyn Phillips and Bethany Lutheran Church, Ruskin
• And for those in their ministry who are drug and alcohol counselors
• The colleges of the ELCA

February 2010

February 7

• The Rev. John Nielsen, retired in Blair
• The Rev. Phillip Nielsen and Peace Lutheran Church, Deshler
• The Rev. Terry Nielsen and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bellevue
• The Rev. Clayton Nietfeld, retired in Greeley, Colorado
• And for those in their ministry who are electricians
• The Cristo Rey Ministry in Omaha

February 14

• The Rev. Jack Nitz, retired in Norfolk
• The Rev. David Nordstrand and St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Omaha
• The Rev. David Nordstrom, retired in Kearney
• The Rev. Robert Novak, on leave from call
• And for those in their ministry who are windshield repairmen
• The ELCA’s Good Gifts Ministry

February 21

• The Rev. Judy Nuss and Zion Lutheran Church, Sutton
• The Rev. Nancy Nyland and St. John and St. Peter Lutheran Churches, Bassett
• The Rev. David Nystrom, retired in Lincoln
• The Rev. Michelle Oetken and Thabor Lutheran Church, Wausa
• And for those in their ministry who are carpet cleaners
• The United Asian Ministry in Dakota City

February 28

• The Rev. Rollin Olesen, retired in Norfolk
• The Rev. Robert Oleson, intentional interim
• The Rev. Donald Olson, retired in Pender
• The Rev. Gregory Olson and Southwood Lutheran Church, Lincoln
• And for those in their ministry who are physical therapists
• The Seminaries of the ELCA

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