President’s Newsletter

June 2006

Dear Fellow Workers:

Before you head to our convention in a few weeks, we would like to give an update once again on some of the news items on our synodical scene. May God give you safe travels, as we also pray that his blessings would rest upon our 89^th ELS convention.

ELS Bright Spots

Four seniors from our Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary were assigned their vicarages on May 11. The four are: Dale Jaech assigned to Bethany Lutheran Church, Port Orchard, Washington; Michael Muehlenhardt assigned to St. Paul Lutheran Church, North Mankato, Minnesota; Daniel Oberer assigned to Heritage Lutheran Church, Apple Valley, Minnesota; and Andrew Schmidt assigned to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Vicars from left to right: Dale Jaech, Dan Oberer, Andrew Schmidt, and Mike Muehlenhardt

Teachers assigned

On May 11, 2006, two recent graduates of our Bethany Lutheran College received calls to teach in two of our synod’s Lutheran elementary schools. Sarah Gullixson was assigned to Bethany Lutheran, Port Orchard, WA. Sarah Wright was assigned to Our Saviour Lutheran, Lake Havasu City, AZ.

Pictured form left to right: Prof. Silas Born (BLC Coordinator of Christian Education), Mr. & Mrs. James Gullixson, Sarah Gullixson (newly assigned teacher), Sarah Wright (newly assigned teacher), Mr. and Mrs. Wright, and Prof. Polly Brown (BLC, Elem. Ed.)

Convention Presentations

Monday evening (June 19) Cross-stitch will host a presentation in the Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center Theater at 7 p.m. Missionary Timothy Erickson will be the speaker.

Two special presentations are being scheduled for the Tuesday evening (June 20). Both presentations will take place in Meyer Hall at 7:30 p.m. One will be a presentation of the ten-year master plan for the campus of our Bethany Lutheran College. Also, our Board for Christian Service will hold a discussion session on the subject of health insurance, led by Mr. Joel Petersen. A reception hosted by BLC will take place in Meyer Hall at 8:30 p.m.

2006 Convention Plans

Dates: June 18–22, 2006

Theme: “For You and Your Children” (Acts 2:39)

Essayist: Rev. Edward Bryant

Kickoff for the For You and Your Children special two-year offering

Synod Sunday preacher: Rev. Bradley Kerkow

Synod Sunday liturgist: Rev. John Petersen

Synod Sunday Service: 3 p.m. in the Bethany College Chapel

Seminary Anniversary Service: Sunday 7:00 p.m.

Seminary anniversary preacher: Pres. Gaylin Schmeling

Convention Chaplain: Rev. Timothy Zenda

Anniversary Service (Tuesday, 5 p.m.) speaker: Rev. Charles Keeler

Memorial Service (Wednesday, 5 p.m.) speaker: Rev. Glenn Obenberger

Communion service preacher: Rev. Timothy Erickson

Communion service liturgist: Prof. Mark Harstad

Tuesday evening – Spaghetti Supper at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church

Wednesday evening – Sloppy Joe Supper in the Bethany Dining Center hosted by Peace Lutheran Church

Convention Painting: Rev. Donald Moldstad

Monday night, 7:00 p.m. – Cross-stitch presentation

Tuesday night, 7:30 p.m. – Bethany Lutheran College Campus Master Plan

– Christian Service Board presentation on Health Insurance

Order of Service arrangements, Synod Sunday and Communion Services: Prof. D. Marzolf

Devotion speakers: Rev. Matthew Crick, Rev. Kurt Kluge, Rev. William Mack, and Rev. Thomas Westendorf

Organist for convention: John Baumann

Anniversary Service

The Anniversary Service will be held on Tuesday, June 20, at 5:00 p.m. in Trinity Chapel on the Bethany Lutheran College campus. The following anniversaries of ordination will be observed:

The Rev. John Krueger 50 years

The Rev. Harold Vetter 50 years

The Rev. Wayne Halvorson 40 years

The Rev. Thomas Kuster 40 years

The Rev. Erling Teigen 40 years

The Rev. Richard Wiechmann 40 years

The Rev. Daniel Faugstad 25 years

The Rev. Steven Reagles 25 years

The Rev. Carlton Sielaff 25 years

The Rev. Paul Zager 25 years

Memorial Service at Convention

The Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, June 21, at 5:00 p.m. in Trinity Chapel on the Bethany Lutheran College campus. The following pastors and pastors’ wives will be remembered:

The Rev. Milton Tweit (1908–2005)

Mrs. Bergit Runholt (1910–2005)

Mrs. Emma Rusch (1904–2005)

The Rev. Walther Gullixson (1913–2006)

The Rev. Lewis Gerbhardt (1917–2006)

Seminary Anniversary

The sixtieth anniversary of Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary will be celebrated in a festive service on June 18, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at Trinity Chapel with Professor Adolph Harstad as liturgist and President Gaylin Schmeling as preacher. Also in this service the Rev. Michael Smith will be installed as a professor of the seminary with the Rev. Kincaid Smith, representing the Board of Regents, conducting the rite of installation.

ELS Historical Society – Saturday, June 17, 2006

The Tenth Annual Meeting will take place this year at Norseland Lutheran Church, St. Peter, MN (located about 10 miles NW of St. Peter on Hwy 22). The theme is: “A Legacy of Christian Ministry: Pastor M. E. Tweit.” The opening service is at 10:00 a.m. Three panel presentations are scheduled. Please visit the website for all the needed information:

http://www.evangelicallutheransynod.org/history/activities

To the Top of Everest!

Julie Smith, an ELS member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Yelm, WA, has successfully climbed the mountain of mountains on her third (and she said final) attempt. Check it out: http://www.mounteverest.net/news.php?id=2090

Turkey Trip

In the month of May a group of twenty-nine people from WELS/ELS, including faculty from Bethany College and Seminary and three seminarians, retraced the steps of the apostle Paul on his missionary journeys and visited the sites of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation.

Turkey tourists at a ruined church near Pisidian Antioch

Ephesus: BLTS Seminarian Brian Klebig is here pictured delivering a devotion, with the famous theatre of Ephesus in the background. Earlier the 29-member group of travelers to Turkey sang with gusto “Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow” in the very theatre where the apostle Paul had to hear the shout, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19)

VBS Theater

During our convention week (June 19-23), Bethany Lutheran College and neighboring Mt. Olive Lutheran Church will sponsor Vacation Bible School for children. The times are from 9:00-11:30 a.m. Lois Jaeger writes:

“This exciting and energetic summer program is for kids entering grades 4-8 in the fall of 2006. We will meet in the YFAC (Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center) at BLC for the week. After a daily devotional and song, we will divide into our small groups, rehearse and learn the lines from our short Biblical story plays, build and design our costumes and props...all in just 3 days! On

Thursday and Friday we will be performing our plays to children in the community. On Thursday evening (June 22) we will be on the stage at the YFAC performing for our parents and the community. ALL children in grades 4-8 are invited, (friends are welcome also). You do NOT have to have any theatre experience, and you do NOT even have to have a speaking role. There are many opportunities to be part of summer TBS program, and many talents are

required!”

Please contact Lois Jaeger at 1-800-944-3066 ext 365 or email

ljaeger(at)blc.edu if you have children who would like to attend.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for the recovery of Jim Behr, brother of Dennis Behr (member of the Planning and Coordinating Committee and the Committee for Integrating Technology). Dennis’ brother fell from scaffolding and was seriously injured on May 23.

Also keep in your prayers the family of Pastor Dan and Lisa Basel. Lisa’s mother, Leona Campbell, died recently.

Pastor Larry Wentzlaff has been ill with kidney stone trouble. He has been awaiting treatment in New Mexico. Please pray for him.

President’s Activities

June 4––preach at Elk Mound, WI (WELS)

June 7––presentation at Frankenmuth, MI

June 18–22—ELS Synod Convention

July 27­–30—ELS Youth Convention (Salt Lake City, UT)

In Christ’s saving grace,

John A. Moldstad