[m-m-online] December 15, 2006

[Minister to Minister online]

OUR CHRISTIAN LOVE AND SYMPATHY TO...

THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM "BILL" WOLLENBURG (Emeritus) who passed away 
Thursday of this week after suffering a stroke. Pastor Wollenburg and 
his wife, Mary, have been members of Mt. Olive, Austin, TX since 1996. 
He is a 1944 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

Funeral Services will be held at Mt. Olive with Pastor Paul Meyer 
officiating on Monday, December 18, 2006 at 11 AM. Visitation begins at 
10 AM at Mt. Olive. Interment will be at Cook-Walden, William Cannon/Hwy 
290, Austin, followed by a luncheon at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. Please 
remember his wife, Mary, their 7 children, friends and family in your 
prayers.


THE FAMILY OF RAYMOND REICH (Emeritus) whose wife, Alene, was called 
home to our Lord and Savior in heaven Friday morning, December 15, 2006. 
She died peacefully in her home after a long illness. Funeral 
arrangements are as follows:

Sunday, December 17, 2006
8:00 am - Body available for viewing at Zoeller Funeral Home, 615 Landa 
Street, New Braunfels, TX.
5:00 - 7:00 pm - Family will receive friends at Zoeller Funeral Home.

Monday December 18, 2006
10:00 am - Funeral Service at Cross Lutheran Church, 2171 Common Street, 
New Braunfels, TX.
1:30 - 3:30 pm - Body is available for viewing at Trinity Lutheran 
Church, 762 North Getty, Uvalde, TX.
4:00 pm - Graveside service at Hillcrest Cemetery, Uvalde, TX

Please keep Pastor Reich and his family in your prayers as they mourn 
the loss of their beloved mother and "Oma".

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IN OUR PRAYERS...

PASTOR EDWIN "ED" KEIPER (Emeritus), currently in St. David's Hospital, 
Austin, TX, struggling with difficulties from pneumonia. Pastor Keiper 
is a member of Mt. Olive, Austin, TX and has served as Pastor with the 
LCMS for over 50 years. His wife, Gertrude "Gert", is at his side. 
Please remember Pastor Keiper in your prayers.

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MINISTRY CALLS

PASTORS

Accepted

Andrada, Edward (Ted), from Messiah, Boerne, TX to St. Peter, Arlington 
Heights, IL

Undecided

Brad Beckman, Grace, Arlington, TX to Faith Church & School, Lincoln, NE

Kent Heimbigner, Charity, Burleson, TX to Trinity, Creston IA and
Redeemer, Corning, IA

Jeffrey Schubert, LCMS Corporate, St. Louis, MO to Memorial, Katy, TX

James Sturgis, Jr., Faith, Aransas Pass, TX to First, Lufkin, TX

M. Alan Taylor, St. John, Galveston, TX to Concordia, Houston, TX

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Discernment for Intentional Interim Ministry

"Do I have the experience, the leadership gifts, and the calling to 
Intentional Interim Ministry?"

To assist in answering this question, the Texas District will sponsor a 
24 hour meeting for interested pastors to be held in Waco, TX in 
February, 2007. The gathering will begin at 1:00 pm on Monday, February 
12 and end at Noon on Tuesday, February 13.

This Discernment Event is specifically designed to identify personal and 
pastoral gifts needed for this rewarding ministry, and to help a pastor 
become aware of the professional and lifestyle challenges involved. In 
the process a pastor will also work with District staff to discern 
whether they can affirm and use his gifts for Intentional Interim Ministry.

The registration cost is $125.00 and may be completed online. Go to the 
Texas District home page (txdistlcms.org) and click Interim Ministry 
Discernment Event. This event will be held at the Fairfield Inn and 
Suites, 4257 North I-35 in Waco, TX. Reservations for accommodations at 
the hotel will be done by each participant by phoning 254-412-2535. Cost 
per person per room is $84/night plus tax.

Questions? Call John Hirsch at 1-800-951-3478 or (cell) 512-769-6736 or 
send e-mail to jhirsch at txdistlcms.org.

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Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) Unveils New Interactive Website Targeting 
Ages Two Through Six

Are you looking for new ways to entertain and educate your child during 
the holiday season? Then LHM encourages you to check out its new website 
for children, www.jcplayzone.com.

JCPlayZone.com is designed to engage children through interactive games, 
crafts, recipes, and other activities in a safe, Christian environment. 
Games, activities, and coloring pages will change often to encourage 
children to return and check out what’s new. Created especially for 
children ages 2 through 6, JCPlayZone will rapidly become one of your 
child’s favorites!

A companion website called “JC ParentZone” will offer parents access to 
relevant information on parenting from a Christian perspective. The 
articles and spiritual questions will be updated regularly to provide 
the most up-to-date information. For more information Click here.

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Listen Dec. 24, 'The Lutheran Hour' Christmas Sermon

Are you struggling with feelings of loneliness and desolation this 
holiday season? Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour, offers a 
Christmas message of encouragement and hope in the sermon entitled 
“Loneliness”. The message was recorded on location at the Greek island 
of Patmos, where the Apostle John spent several years in exile.

Tune into The Lutheran Hour on Sunday, Dec. 24 to hear about how Jesus 
can be born in your heart, and, by the Grace of God, you can have 
eternal life.

Click here to find what station airs The Lutheran Hour in your area, or 
call 1-800-442-0324.

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Organ For Sale

Lord of Life, Plano, TX, has an organ available for sale. Eminent 
Organs, 1996, DCS 370 (Digital Organ). Click here for more details and 
information or contact Benjamin Kolodziej in the Lord of Life Church 
office at 972-867-5588.

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Still Looking for the Perfect Christmas Gift?

There is still time to order a 100th Anniversary DVD or suncatcher. The 
cost, including shipping, is @ $11.00 for the DVD and $6.00 for the 
suncatcher. Please send all requests to John Goeke at 
jagdeepwater at yahoo.com. Make checks payable to Texas District-LCMS.

If you have any questions please call John at 325-203-0679 or email him 
at jagdeepwater at yahoo.com.

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Thank You Texas District!

The Texas District received a letter from Pastor Mark Buetow. Pastor 
Buetow was pastor at Gloria Dei, New Orleans, one of the churches 
adopted by the Texas District for support and aid following Hurricane 
Katrina. During his church and family's transition, funds were made 
available through the Texas District to continue their coverage in the 
Concordia Health Plan. Pastor Buetow and his family have since been 
called to serve at Bethel in Du Quoin, Illinois.

Pastor Buetow sends his appreciation in his letter:

"Please accept our most grateful thanks for your support throughout the 
time after the storm and most especially for your coverage of our health 
care plan during the last several months. We give thanks to our Father 
in Heaven, who has so richly provided for us through support from y'all 
in the Texas District! Please continue to pray for me and my family as 
we move and I begin the ministry of the Lord's Word and Sacraments in Du 
Quoin."

Our prayers continue with Pastor Buetow and his family as he continues 
to follow God's call in reaching those who need to hear God's message of 
love for them!