[m-m-online] M-M ONLINE UPDATE, June 16, 2006

[Minister to Minister online]

OUR CHRISTIAN LOVE AND SYMPATHY TO . . .

THE FAMILY OF MERLE BORCHELT (a member of Holy Cross, Dallas) who died on
June 12 from cancer at the age of 80.  Mr. Borchelt had been a member of the
Board of Directors of the Lutheran Foundation of Texas since 1999.  He
previously had served on the Board of Directors of Lutheran Social Services
of the South. He is survived by his wife, Ginny, and their children, Larry,
Mark and Linda.  A memorial service was held at Holy Cross, Dallas, on
Friday morning.

KENNETH AND MARIE WATSON (Trinity, Weatherford) on the death of Marie's
father, Edgar Zander, a member of St. Mark, Houston.

IN OUR PRAYERS . . . 

PATRICK MILLER (Water's Edge, Frisco) will undergo surgery next week to
repair a broken knee cap he suffered in a Wacky Olympics event.

Please keep the TEXAS DISTRICT CONVENTION which begins next Thursday in
Houston in your prayers.  Pray for safe travel for our professional church
workers and laypersons who will be traveling to Houston from across the
district.  We also pray for God's will in all proceedings at the convention
and for the strengthening of His Kingdom here on earth.


CONGRATULATIONS TO . . .
Leticia Sanchez Pierce,  a member of Cristo Rompió Las Cadenas Iglesia
Luterana, Fort Worth, TX, where she serves as Coordinator for Fuerza y
Esperanza, a faith-based recovery program. Leticia, representing  Radio
Cadena Univision in Fort Worth, is among the finalists for the American
Institute for Public Service's  National Jefferson Award for her work in her
community helping those who are fighting addiction.  The ceremony will be
held in Washington, DC.  (See the full story below.)

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MINISTRY CALLS

PASTORS

ACCEPTED

Walter Pohland, Mt. Calvary, Raymondville to Associate, Faith, Georgetown
Scott Heitshusen, Trinity, Athens, GA to Senior Pastor, St. Mark, Houston

NO DECISION

Brian Mosemann, Concordia University Austin to Evangelical Lutheran Church
of England, Tutor, Westfield House (seminary of the ELCE), Cambridge &
Assistant Pastor, Resurrection Lutheran Church, Cambridge, England

Steve Sohns, Senior Pastor, Resurrection, Spring to Grace, Modesto, CA

COMMISSIONED MINISTERS

ACCEPTED

Sara Camporeale, New York to Redeemer, Austin

Audrey Stoneburner, Faith, Sugarland to Faith, Sugarland

Steve Winkelman, Peace, Shelby Township, Michigan to Our Savior, McKinney

DECLINED

Richard Cohrs of Bay Port, Michigan to St. Paul, Mc Allen

Wayne Nelson, St. Paul, McAllen to St. Paul, Serbin

UNDECIDED

Bruce Wurdeman, MMF, Texas District to Director of Ministry, Alaska Mission
for Christ

Rachel Harris, Georgetown to Redeemer, Austin

Jenny Clifton, Austin to Redeemer, Austin

Wayne Nelson, St. Paul, Central Lutheran, St. Paul, Minnesota
 
DESIGNATED

Lauren Nietubicz, Concordia, Austin to DCE, Cross of Christ, DeSoto, TX

Adrienne Troemel, Concordia River Forest to Shepherd of the Hills, San
Antonio

Sarah Ganze, Concordia Austin to Our Savior, Houston

Mindy Elaine Brunkhardt, Concordia Seward to Epiphany, Houston


DESIGNATED - ACCEPTED

Joshua Duffy, Concordia, Austin to DCE, Salem, Tomball

Joseph Perry, Concordia, Austin to Trinity, Houston

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A SINCERE THANKS TO OUR TEXAS PEOPLE

As of this date, $89,978.63 has been sent by the Texas District directly to
the Southern District to assist them with their needs after hurricane
Katrina. $13,437.00 was sent by the Texas District to the five adopted
congregations assigned to the Texas District. The Texas District also sent
$19,940.00  to other individuals or churches who had requested assistance. 
This is a total of $123,355.03. 

That is a lot of money and a lot of love. As your District President, I am
so proud of you because I know that this was not easy to do with all of the
special needs you have in your families, congregations, and our District.
Rest assured that God will bless you in a special way for your love and
generosity.  Jim Linderman

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REMINDER-CONVENTION OFFERING

Brothers in Christ, don't forget to bring the anniversary offering to the
convention this next week.  The anniversary offering is to be divided
between our own mission work in the Texas District (Hispanic Institute in
Brownsville) and a mission start up in the Southern District
(Mississippi).   

If you forgot....you have this Sunday to include your congregation in this
100th anniversary celebration!  We'll see you all in Houston.

Steve Sohns(Resurrection, Spring)

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EVENTS & DISPLAYS AT THE DISTRICT CONVENTION

OLAN MILLS PHOTOGRAPHER

Olan Mills will be at the Texas District Convention and will be located in
the Exhibit Hall of the Hyatt Regency.  We encourage everyone to stop by and
have a photo taken.  We will use the clergy photos to print a Photo
Directory for the District.

They will be open and taking photos on:

Thursday, June 22, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, June 23, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

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CONCORDIA AUSTIN DESSERT RECEPTION 

Concordia University at Austin is hosting a dessert reception on Friday
night in the Imperial Suite from 8:30 pm - 10pm.

Come by and say "hello" to Dr. and Mrs. Cedel.

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ATTENTION - DISTRICT CONVENTION ATTENDEES: 

The LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES Booth is featuring their newly created
CONGREGATIONAL TOOL KIT. This kit includes a wide variety of tools to help
your church or school reach out to your community. Stop by to say hello.
 
DAILY VIDEO PODCASTS FROM THE TEXAS DISTRICT CONVENTION

The Texas District will be utilizing the latest technology at the upcoming
District Convention in Houston. Daily video podcasts will be made available
directly from the Convention. Beginning on Thursday, June 22, the first of
four podcasts will be made available online via the Texas District
Centennial Celebration web site (http://www.texasdistrict100.org), with
subsequent podcasts following each day of the convention.

The podcasts will be short (approximately 5 minutes each) news-style, hosted
reports that will summarize through video and audio the events of that days
Texas District Convention. John Goeke, Director of Public Relations for the
Texas District, will provide audio commentary hosting for each episode.
Podcasts can be expected to include video highlights of things such as the
voting results from the floor of the convention, clips from Synodical
President Dr. Gerald Kieschnick's opening worship sermon, a peek into some
of the Centennial Celebration events and floor displays, and an interview
with the new Texas District President, among many other things.  Information
and updates as to the time of the posting of the podcasts will be made
available on the Centennial web site.

Plans are underway to promote the Texas District Convention podcasts via
Apple's iTunes and through Podcast Alley. You can access these video
podcasts through your personal computer, laptop, PDA or, of course, through
portable electronic MP3-style players, such as the video iPod.

Complete enhanced versions of the podcast videos will also be made available
post-convention for sale on DVD though the Texas District Centennial web
site.

As we heed the call to action of the Texas District's mission, the tools of
technology will play a key role as we "spread the Gospel, both locally and
globally". Indeed, through podcasting from our Texas District Convention we
may truly begin to understand how "global" our ability to reach out from
Texas truly is!

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME - June 18, 2006

A few tickets are still available for the Concordia Alumni and Friends Take
Me Out to the Ballgame, Round Rock Express/Dell Diamond Event THIS SUNDAY,
JUNE 18.  

The All-American Picnic begins at 2:30 p.m. under the shade trees of the
west parking lot followed by a 5:00 p.m. Express vs New Orleans Zephers
game.  The tickets are also good for the 7:05 p.m. game!  Children 12 and
under receive a promotion baseball glove!

Tickets for the Picnic, Game and Event Shirt are $15.00.  

Contact Suzanne Mueller, 517-4413 or

Suzanne.mueller at concordia.edu for tickets.

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JEFFERSON AWARDS HONORS UNSUNG HEROES

On Tuesday June 20, The American Institute for Public Service will hold the
33rd annual National Jefferson Awards Ceremony in East Hall at Union Station
located in Washington DC.  It is here that outstanding persons in public
service at the local level will be honored for their commitment to community
betterment.  Individuals representing over 32 states and 149 media partners
will be in attendance this June.  From this group, five recipients selected
to receive the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Outstanding Public
Service will be announced for their unparalleled dedication to volunteerism.
 

Representing Radio Cadena Univision in Fort Worth, TX is Leticia Sanchez
Pierce.  Leticia Sanchez Pierce is a person helping all members of the
community to fight addiction.  In her community she has implemented a
program that helps people focus on the 4th and 5th steps of Alcoholics
Anonymous' 12 step program.  Leticia dedicates her time, spirit, and money
to take people to the program to get them help and to help them find a
spiritual experience to connect to.  She also dedicates time to helping
prevent addiction and giving educational speeches to teens in churches.  In
addition she directs 100 other people in doing the same, helping others
overcome their addictions.   Leticia is a member of Cristo Rompió Las
Cadenas Iglesia Luterana, Fort Worth, TX, where she serves as Coordinator
for Fuerza y Esperanza, a faith-based recovery program.

Created in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft, Jr.
and Sam Beard, the Jefferson Awards are administered by the American
Institute fir Public Service.  The American Institute for Public Service is
501 (c) 3 national organization with contributions through public and
community service.  For more information visit the website at

 www.jeffersonawards.org. 




Claudetta Theiss
Office of President Jim Linderman
7900 E. Highway 290
Austin, TX 78724
1/800/951-3478
1/512/926-4272 
1/512/926-1006(Fax)