Mission, Outreach, and More!

KAZAKHSTAN MISSION PRESENTATION
You are invited to a special mission presentation led by Pastor Gennadij Khonin of Almaty Kazakhstan, at 3:30pm on Sunday July 18th, in the fellowship hall of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Giddings.

Pastor Khonin is pastor of the German Lutheran Church in Almaty and head of Lutheran theological education there. He will speak about his life, his work in Kazakhstan, and the state of the Christian Church in Central Asia. He will also take your questions.

Pastor Khonin has appeared on television in Kazakhstan several times and is often called upon by government officials to speak regarding the state of religion in the country and to give his opinion on religious legislation. Pastor Khonin has a doctorate in physics, and received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. He has been active in HAM radio for years and received several awards during Soviet times for his radio work.

Please join us for refreshments beginning at 3:30 with the presentation to follow. The opportunity to meet a Lutheran pastor from Central Asia doesn't happen very often! Any questions can be directed to Rev. Philip Schielke, phisch2@mac.com, 979-773-4807.


LW HYMNALS AVAILABLE
Lutheran Worship Hymnals Available, great condition, 238 available from Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Flower Mound. Contact Altar Guild Chair, Charlotte Hughes at 940-241-2521.


CONFERENCE OPPORTUNITIES
It's time to register for the 2010 Professional Church Workers' Conference! The theme is "As You Love Yourself." You can register today at the the conference website.

Area A of the Texas District is opening up its Mission Summit (August 13-14) to all! Take a look at the excellent speakers and registration information by clicking on the 2010 Mission Summit Brochure link on the Area A website.

The Texas District Prayer and Spirituality Retreat is October 4-6, 2010. For information and registration, click on the retreat link under "News and Events" at the Texas District Website.




RIO GRANDE VALLEY DAYSTAR YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Presented by Camp Lone Star

Day Star Youth Leadership Retreat
When: Saturday, July 31, 4pm – Monday, August 2, 10 a.m.
Leadership skills will be practiced during Daystar Camp Aug. 2 - 6
Where: La Quinta Inn and Suites, South Padre Island
Who: High School Youth (recent freshman to 2010 graduates)
interested in Christian Leadership, Ages 14 – 18
What: Leadership training will include
1. How to lead a Bible Study
2. How to minister to various age groups
3. How to lead large/small group games/challenges
4. How to share your faith
5. How to maintain accountability
6. Child Protection Certification

Day Star Camp – Leadership Training Continued Aug. 2-6
Youth attending the Leadership retreat are encouraged to participate in the
Day Star Camp Event to be held in Brownsville August 2 – 6. Youth leadership
participants will meet with LOMT Counselors daily at 3:30p.m. in preparation
for the Camp Event from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Interested? Please contact: Sandra Morfitt (El Calvario- Brownsville)
email: sandmorf@aol.com
phone: 956-455-2037



MISSION TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS

It all happens from November 10-14, 2010.
(Wed. and Sun.—Travel; Thurs., Fri., Sat.—Work)

Help rebuild Trinity Lutheran Church in the Lower 9th Ward on Claiborne Ave.
under the supervision of The Rev. David Buss, LC-MS, Exec. Director of RAI Ministries.

The Rev. Dr. Robert C. Preece, Area B-VP, and The Rev. Ralph Hobratschk, Area D-VP, have led or participated in 10 work trips to the Gulf Coast and plan to return with yet another Texanic Work Crew. Yes, Katrina recovery continues 5 years later.
What’s involved? Construction work. Skilled, semi-skilled, and helpers needed,
using one’s own marked tools if preferred, but on-site tools will be available.
Cost: Your transportation to and from New Orleans, plus $35/day for 2 hot meals, a sack lunch, a shower, and a bunk bed at LCMS Camp Restore, 9301 Chef Menteur Hwy.
A detailed mailing to all Big State parishes will come at the end of July.

All four Texas District VPs, including VP-A Snyder and VP-C Schroder, are encouraging
participation with the blessing of our President, The Rev. Kenneth Hennings
of Austin, to recruit from the entire Texas District.

Interest/Questions? Call Pastor Preece at 214-477-9057.

An App, a Pew, a Getaway, and a Gathering

NEW PRAYER MINISTRY APP
A new prayer ministry app has been developed by LCMS member, John Kreiner, of Safe-t-Technologies. It's called PrayerSteward (or Promise2Pray), and will help believers remember and track prayer commitments. Check it out at http://www.prayersteward.com/.


AN HISTORIC PEW AVAILABLE
One refinished, church pew from the original Birkman Chapel formerly located on the old Concordia University Texas campus is for sale for your best offer! This pew is 53" long and has the Luther coat-of-arms carved into each end. It was one of the pews removed during the mid-to-late 1990's when the chapel was remodeled. If interested, please contact Ruth Gastler at (512) 929-3391.


GRACE PLACE RETREATS
A retreat for single church workers is happening September 1-5, 2010. To find out more info, go to: www.graceplaceretreats.org or call Grace Place at (314)842-3077.


WORSHIP CONFERENCE
"Rejoice, Give Thanks, And Sing: God’s Gift of Sacred Music to the Church" is happening at Lord of Life, Plano, October 11-12, 2010. Find out more at http://www.lol-plano.org/worshipconference.htm.

Summer Theological Workshop

You're invited! From August 3-5 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, there will be an outstanding opportunity for personal and theological enrichment for you, your church musician(s), and members of your congregations. Professor Richard Resch of Concordia Theological Seminary will be here to present a workshop on Theology and Church Music.

As a special added feature, the Evening Prayer service on Wednesday, August 4 will feature a hymn festival led by the collaborative efforts of Kantor Resch and other outstanding Lutheran church musicians—including Dr. Jon Eifert of Mt. Calvary, San Antonio and Kathy Achterberg of St. Paul, Austin—to be held in the visually and acoustically beautiful St Paul nave.

Registration will be handled directly by the seminary. You can register online at the Continuing Education Website link.

Contact Rev. Sherman Stenson for more details and information:
512-472-8301, ext. 108; sherman.stenson@stpaulaustin.org