Mission Rally Meets in Marinette, Wisconsin

The 2007 ELS Women’s Mission Society of Wisconsin met at First Trinity Lutheran Church in Marinette, Wisconsin on October 20. Host pastor, the Rev. Fred Stubenvoll, opened the meeting with a devotion based on Isaiah 43:10-11.

Mrs. Sherri Duin, a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Port St. Lucie, Florida, spoke about the important work which ladies have done in their congregations. She encouraged women to continue meeting and helping with church activities.

Rev. Stubenvoll presented a short history of First Trinity, which was formed in 1931. During its 76 years, four pastors have served the congregation.

After lunch, members of the hand-bell choir played three hymns for the rally. The ladies resolved to distribute $4,096.37 to various mission activities of the synod. Next, Prof. Adolph Harstad presented a series of pictures which showed the mission work being done in foreign lands.

Pacific Northwest Rally Hears About Missions

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Yelm, Washington, hosted the 29th annual rally of the Women’s Mission Society, Pacific Northwest region on September 29. The Rev. James Braun, the host pastor, focused his devotion on giving salvation to the world through the blood of Christ. Sixty-seven women and pastors gathered around the theme “Missions Then and Now.”

Rev. Braun presented a history of mission work entitled, “Life in the Nigerian Mission Field,” which had been sent by former missionary, the Rev. Paul Anderson.

After lunch, the Rev. James Wilson detailed the history of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Oregon under the title, “Mission Work in the Least Churched County of the Least Churched State in the Union.”

The ladies at the rally elected LaVern Suhar Brown, Sutherlin, Oregon, as vice-president; Chana Smith, Myrtle Creek, Oregon, as treasurer, and Kathy Kahler, Hood River, Oregon, as Christian Growth Chairman. The mite offerings were designated to be sent to Peru Earthquake relief and to Cross-Stitch for the orphans in India.

Kathy Kahler encouraged the ladies to remember their “1 p.m. Mission Minute” to take time to pray about mission work each day.

Missions Counselor, the Rev. Steven Petersen, presented pictures of what mission gifts to the Lord have accomplished in the synod’s foreign missions.

Circuit 3 Mission Rally

The fall mission rally for Circuit 3 was held on October 13, 2007 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Saginaw, Michigan, with sixty in attendance. Host pastor, the Rev. Homer Mosely, delivered the opening devotion on Romans 10, entitled “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

The Rev. Steven Petersen, ELS Missions Counselor, presented pictures on the work being done in the various mission fields and spoke regarding how mission prospects become church members in home mission work.

After lunch, Mrs. Jennifer Louks from Gloria Dei played a number of hymns using handbells. In the business meeting, the ladies resolved to give their offerings to Faith Lutheran Church in Hilman, Michigan and to help ELS seminary students. Foreign mission offerings were given to Cross-Stitch for work with the Chayahuita tribe in Peru, orphaned children in India, and to the ESL teacher in Chile. St. John’s Lutheran Church from Frankenmuth, Michigan was welcomed into Circuit 3 and is the host of the 2008 mission rally.

Installation of the Rev. Glenn Smith

On Sunday, September 2, the Rev. Glenn Smith was installed as Pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in New Hampton, Iowa, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Calmar, Iowa. The installation took place in New Hampton. The Rev. Thomas Rank served as the preacher, with the Rev. Daniel Finn as the lector. The Rev. Wayne Halvorson performed the rite of installation in his role as Circuit Visitor.

Reformation Lectures Feature Gerhardt

The 40th annual Reformation Lecture series occurred on October 25 and 26 on the campus of Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minnesota. The lectures dealt with the theme “The Life and Word of Paul Gerhardt: 400th Anniversary.”

Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary President Gaylin Schmeling presented the first lecture entitled, “Paul Gerhardt: Pastor and Theologian” detailing the life, evil times, and theology of the poet/pastor. The Reverends Jerome Gernander and Thomas Rank, both ELS pastors, presented their response which emphasized the importance of Sacramental theology in Lutheran teaching.

Dr. Carlos R. Messerli, a retired Professor of Music at Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska, presented Gerhardt’s life as a poet and assessed several of Gerhardt’s hymns. The Bethany Lutheran Choir, directed by Prof. Dennis Marzolf, assisted in this presentation. Responders were Bethany Lutheran College professors Mark Harstad and Dennis Marzolf.

Arnold Vernon Kuster (1912-2007)

Rev. Arnold Kuster, of Golden Valley, Minnesota, passed to his eternal reward of grace on November 9, 2007, at the age of 95 years.

A funeral service was held on November 12 at King of Grace Lutheran Church, Golden Valley, with Rev. Rodney Flohr officiating. A memorial service of Scripture and hymns was held on November 13, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Madison, Wisconsin, with the Reverends Brad Homan and Nathan Krause officiating.

Rev. Kuster was born on June 30, 1912, in Chicago, Illinois, to Arthur F. and Laura Kuster, Sr., and was baptized into the Christian faith shortly after. He graduated from St. John’s College, Winfield, Kansas, in 1931 and from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1935. He served congregations in Ontario, Canada, and in the states of Iowa and Indiana. After joining the Evangelical Lutheran Synod in 1961, he served Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Madison, Wisconsin, until he retired in 1979. He also served on the ELS Board of Missions from 1965 to 1971. As Foreign Missions Field Secretary, he was instrumental in starting the ELS overseas mission program in Peru.

Rev. Kuster was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Leona; his second wife, Veta; and his younger brother, Arthur F. Kuster, Jr. He is survived by his son, Theodore F. Kuster, and his wife, Helga (Teigen); his son, Thomas A. Kuster, and his wife, Judy (Maginnis); his daughter, Ruthann Mickelson, and her husband, Robert; his step-daughter, Sandra (Deibert) Remde, and her husband, Richard; and his step-son, Larry Deibert, and his wife, Kathy (Bethke). He is also survived by 18 grandchildren, 8 step-grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews.