Dear Fellow Workers:

Hope to see all of you soon at our upcoming convention! It is a wonderful opportunity for us to gather for study of God’s Word and for deliberating on the work we do jointly as members of our synod. Our monthly newsletter will be brief this time, but there is some information to share:

Parkersburg Tornado

As you are no doubt aware, a tornado struck Parkersburg, IA, this past Sunday evening (May 25). It traveled west to east, following a line corresponding approximately to highway 57 on the south side of town, although it veered north a little bit as it went east. The tornado very narrowly missed the church building (by only 100 yards or so), which is very fortunate since everything that was in its path was completely destroyed. So, Faith's church building sustained only very minor damage. However, five homes of Faith's members were destroyed, including two young families with small children. However, we thank God endlessly that none of Faith's members were harmed. There were seven fatalities in Parkersburg and the surrounding communities, and in a small town such as this one, everyone knows some if not all of the ones who were killed. It was a very frightening experience from which the town will be recovering for months and years to come. It is definitely also a reminder to us all to cherish our heavenly treasures and to place our confidence in what is certain: the hope of heaven that we have through Christ our Savior, who has demonstrated God's love once and for all by redeeming us out of this world.
In His name,
Pastor Dan Finn

If people wish to contribute to a fund that will assist those affected by the Parkersburg tornado, we urge you to use either of the following avenues:

Parkersburg Tornado Relief
ELS Board for Christian Service
6 Browns Court
Mankato MN 56001

Hawkeye Chapter, American Red Cross
2530 University Ave
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319)234-6831
When donating to the Red Cross, please write "Parkersburg" in the memo line of the check.

Seminary Assignments

Please pray that the Lord's blessings rest upon the following seminary candidates and vicars as they received their assignments at the call service on May 15.
CANDIDATES

* Brian Klebig was assigned to serve as pastor at New Life Lutheran in Sebring, FL. Ordination date is set for July 6.
* Harvey Boyd Longshore III was assigned to serve as pastor at Forest and Zion Lutheran Parish, Forest City and Thompson, IA. Ordination date is set for July 13.
* Robert Oberg is to be assigned at a future date. Robert, Kathie and son Alec will reside in New Ulm, MN, until a call develops.

VICARS

* Christian Eisenbeis has been assigned as vicar to King of Grace, Waukon, IA, where Pastor Kincaid Smith will serve as his supervising bishop.
* Peter Faugstad is assigned to Parkland Lutheran, Tacoma, WA, where Pastor Glenn Obenberger will serve as his supervising bishop.
* Kyle Madson is assigned to St. John's Lutheran, Frankenmuth, MI, where Pastor Joel Willitz will serve as his supervising bishop.
* Luke Ulrich is assigned to Our Savior's Lutheran, Albert Lea, MN, where Pastor Wayne Halvorson will serve as his supervising bishop.

Hope Lutheran Ministry Center

Our newest mission, Hope Lutheran in Farmington, MN, uses a ministry center for mission outreach during the week. On Sundays the congregation gathers for worship (9:30 AM) in a local gymnasium (see left) located at the Farmington Elementary School (500 Maple Street). For more information, please contact Rev. Dan Oberer at 651-463-1055.
 

Gift from Thrivent to the ELS

On May 9, 2008, the synod received a grant of $70,000 from the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. Two representatives from Thrivent, Blake Hahn and Sue Van Boening, presented the check to President Moldstad. The grant will support three areas of work in the ELS: $36,000 for the Board for Home Missions to do educational outreach; $26,000 for the Board for Lutheran Schools of America to develop a “model schools” classical education curriculum; and $8,000 to encourage fraternal leadership in the synod. We express our thanks to Thrivent for this generous grant.

Appointments and Resignations

Rev. John Petersen has been appointed to the Committee on Archives and History. (This appointment will need to be ratified by the Board of Trustees.)

Mr. Tom Oswald has resigned from the Board for Stewardship. The Nominations Committee is taking note of the need to fill this position.

2008 Synod Convention

Dates: June 15-19
Location: Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, MN
Theme: “God’s Power for Salvation,” Romans 1:16-17
Essayist: Prof. Erling Teigen, Bethany Lutheran College and Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary
Synod Sunday preacher: Rev. Bernt Tweit, Holy Cross Lutheran, Madison, WI; liturgist: Rev. Matthew Brooks
Convention chaplain: Rev. Jeffrey Londgren, Faith Lutheran, East Jordan, MI
Devotion leaders: Rev. Micah Ernst, Rev. Matthew Luttman, Rev. Cory Hahnke, Rev. Dennis Schmidt
Tuesday evening: commemorating 40 years of mission work in Peru
Communion service (Wed.) preacher: Rev. Dan Larson, Saude & Jerico Lutheran Parish, Lawler, IA
Anniversary Service (Tues. afternoon) preacher: Rev. Ron Pederson, First Lutheran, Suttons Bay, MI
Memorial Service (Wed. afternoon) preacher: Rev. Carl Wosje, Our Savior Lutheran, Bishop, CA
Convention painting: Rev. Don Moldstad, chaplain at Bethany Lutheran College

Is it time to consider a Charitable Gift Annuity?

What is a charitable gift annuity?

•    A charitable gift annuity is a simple contract between you and the ELS.

•    In exchange for your irrevocable gift of cash, securities, or other assets, the ELS Synod Foundation agrees to pay one or two annuitants, whom you name, a fixed sum each year for life. The older a designated annuitant is at the time of the gift, the greater the fixed income the ELS Synod Foundation can agree to pay. In most cases, part of each payment is tax-free, increasing each payment’s after-tax value.

•    Should you fund your charitable gift annuity with appreciated assets, you also get an immediate break on capital gains taxes and the tax can be taken over a longer period of time.

The beauty of gift annuities is that you can reduce your estate and possible tax exposure, receive a guaranteed income for life, receive an immediate tax break and you can be sure your gift goes to the mission or ministry that you want it to go when you no longer need the income. Right now bank and insurance annuities and CD rates are very low. Yet with a gift annuity, especially if you are over 60, you can receive a decent rate for the rest of your life, guaranteed.

Some Rates for ELS Annuities:

Based on a two-life annuity and both ages are 75, you can receive a 6.6% annuity.

An annuitant 80 or over receives between an 8% and 11.5% annuity.

Now might be a great time to take out a Charitable Gift Annuity. It is worth looking into.

    As you prayerfully consider supporting our synod’s ministries and missions, please give your giving counselor a call. You’ll be glad you did.

Pastor Daniel A. Basel

507-344-7311

Bethany Lutheran College

Prayer Requests

Please keep the family of Martha Harstad in your prayers. Martha, wife of former ELS pastor Rev. Norman B. Harstad, died on May 26 at the age of 91. Martha will also be remembered at our convention memorial service. The service is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18, at 5:00 p.m.

President’s Activities

June 3-5 – CELC Convention in Kiev, Ukraine
June 14 – ELS Historical Society Annual Meeting at Saude Lutheran, Lawler, Iowa
June 15-19 – Synod Convention
June 19-20 – Board for Foreign Missions

God’s richest blessing to all of you in the redemptive work of our Savior,

John A. Moldstad