CENTRAL STATES SYNOD

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Mission Interpreter Ministry

See the ELCA’s mission interpretation resources at www.elca.org/stewardship/interpreting.html
Mission Support – What Happens to My Dollar? A short summary of how your financial support translates into ministries. Set up as a bulletin insert. [1109]
Sermon Starters - www.elca.org/stewardship/sermon.asp

SERVING THE HUNGRY IN THE HEARTLAND

'Served By Salem' meals is the name the coordinating committee gave to its outreach program organized by Salem Lutheran Church (Axtell, Kan.) members. [0810]

Click the link below for the full story about some exciting ministries right here in Central States Synod:

Global Mission -- Walking with People of Faith Around the World	Evangelical Outreach -- Spreading the Good News
THE CHURCH IN MISSION Donna Hutchinson, a member at Advent Lutheran Church (Olathe) and a Physical Therapist, led a group of volunteer therapists on a mission to Haiti to work with and treat earthquake victims. They founded the GLOBAL THERAPY GROUP. For more information and to find out how you can help either financially or by volunteering, visit their blog: http://globaltherapygroup1.blogspot.com/, or search "Global Therapy Group" on facebook. To view a short video, "Donna's story" click here. [0610] YOUNG ADULTS IN GLOBAL MISSION – Blair Fingland, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Manchester, Mo. Shares Her Story while Serving in the United Kingdom [1208] INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS IN MISSION – Celebrating 34 years of reaching across borders of faith and culture on behalf of children, women, and youth to create partnerships that strengthen our world wide community. [0407] WALKING TOGETHER, as Companion Synod Partners, in Service in God’s Mission [0308] LINKED AROSS THE WORLD – Central States Companion Synod Relationship between two Congregations helps Orphan School in Russia [0308] 'LETTING GOD LEAD US' – Two Churches Linked in Mission Across the Pacific Ocean [0308]	HOW COULD WE NOT SAY YES? - Unity Lutheran Church, Bel Nor, Mo., Responds to the Needs of Another in the St. Louis Community During a Time of Loss. [1206] JONI AND FRIENDS/GATEWAY – In mission with individuals and churches in Central States Synod, ELCA, to reach out and touch the lives of those affected by a disability for Christ. [0407] BRINGING EASTER JOY TO THE YOUNG AT HEART – Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Independence, Mo., helps brighten the lives of nursing home residents through their annual Easter Basket ministry project. [0407] RESPONDING BY PROVIDING A PLACE for a prayer service, a new Sudanese worshiping community is formed. [0808]
Leadership -- Raising up Faithful Leaders	Service -- Responding to God's Faithfulness
TEEM THEOLOGICAL PROGRAM offering a new path to ordination: Amy Truhe of Scherer Memorial Lutheran Church, Chapman, Kan. tells her story [0908] TEEM ENABLES DEL STRECKER to accept God’s Call to Ministry [0908] MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE CHURCH in rural America through TEEM: A Theological Education Program [0908] MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE provides call for Quinn Gorges to enter Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. [0708] ACCEPTING GOD'S CALL TO MINISTRY – Seminary Student Mike Kern Shares his Faith Story CAMP TOMAH SHINGA -- A Place to Experience God [0608]	SERVICE SUNDAY AT LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE ATONEMENT ... Sent in Love to Serve! Over 200 members of the congregation lined the gymnasium in north St. Louis County, joined hands, prayed and then received Communion. It was October 4, 2009 -- a beautiful fall morning in Florissant, Missouri and this was Service Sunday. [1109] WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP? St. John Lutheran Church, Pittsburg, Kan., reaching out with others to provide Community Thanksgiving Dinner. [1008] AN ANSWER TO PRAYERS - Bethel Lutheran School in St. Louis, Mo., one of two ELCA Lutheran School located in Central States Synod, restores the “zest for learning” to a child who needed a place to heal. JUNE "BERGIE BUS TOUR' will take High School Youth to Two Service/Learning Sites in Kansas to Learn about Different Cultural Needs in the World. [0607] BETHANY COLLEGE – Journeying High School Youth Grateful for Opportunity to Serve Others through a Cultural Immersion and Service Learning Trip [1007] THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN A COMBAT ZONE – Rev. Peter Muschinske, St. Louis, Mo. Shares about his recent tour of duty in Iraq [0408] REFLECTIONS ON THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS AN AIR FORCE CHAPLAIN -- Rev. John Lundin, Hope Lutheran Church, St. Charles, Mo. [0408]
Congregations -- Building Up the Body of Christ	Hunger -- Your Gifts Fight Hunger
STILL GATHERING, GROWING AND GOING - Shepherd of the Hills, Bridgeton, Mo. settles into fourth ministry location in its 42-year history. [1108] MOVING WITH THE SPIRIT – How is God changing us? Zion Lutheran Church, Phillipsburg, Kan. moves into Phase II of the Partnership for Missional Church (PMC) Process. [1008] GOD SPEAKS ALL LANGUAGES: The Story of the formation of Central States Synod’s Mandarin speaking congregation - The Chinese Lutheran Church of St. Louis. UNDERGROUNDS CAFE: A New Outreach Venue at Lord of Love Lutheran Church, Belton, MO, Offering a Youthful Approach to Care for their Community [1007] PARTNERSHIP FOR MISSIONAL CHURCH: Peace Lutheran Church, Washington, Mo., teams up with other congregations to begin a new Central States Synod ministry initiative [1207] DISCERNING TOGETHER GOD’S CALL TO MINISTRY - the Central States Synod Partnership for Missional Church (PMC) Cluster Continues its Journey of Faith [0508]	O.A.S.I.S. (Outreach Assistance Serving Individuals in St. Charles) – A Mission Offering Food Assistance Growing to Care for Those in Need. 30 HOUR FAMINE - Five St. Louis Church Youth Groups in the St. Louis, Mo. Region Team Up to Raise $6,000 to Fight World Hunger during 30 Hour Famine International Youth Movement. WHAT IS ALL THAT CLATTER? - Noisy Offering – Intergenerational Ministry Campaign Expands Trinity Lutheran Church’s (Kirkwood, Mo.) Efforts to Support Missional Projects. CONNECTING ABUNDANCE TO NEED - The Bread Ministry of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Manchester transforms baker's waste into a thriving ministry of feeding the poor in St. Louis, Mo. [0607] REACHING OUT: Peace Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Mo. Teams Up with Hosanna! Lutheran Church, Liberty, Mo. to Help Feed a Hungry World [1107] HARVEST OF HOPE: Planting prayers and seeds, churches team up with farmers to help feed a hungry world. [1107]
Disaster Response	Public Church -- Responding to God's Faithfulness
VOLUNTEERS STILL RESPONDING to Rebuild Gulf Coast Communities Affected by Hurricane Katrina of 2005 - College youth from Bethany College of Lindsborg, Kan. join with others to help rebuild Bayou La Batre, Alabama.[0607] HELPING TO REBUILD GREENSBURG - St. John’s Lutheran Church, Russell, Kansas - Work Project Touches Lives [1007] AN INVITATION to join others to help rebuild Biloxi, June 21–28, 2008 [0208] CONTINUING TO RESPOND to the Gulf Coast Hurricane Disaster – St. Thomas/Holy Spirit, Gethsemane, and Zion Lutheran Churches Team Up to Help Rebuild Biloxi [0208]	CONGREGATION MAKES SOCIAL JUSTICE A PRIORITY: Prince of Peace, in Springfield, Mo. -- through the ONE Campaign -- Helps to 'Make Poverty History' [0309] 'GIFTED BY GOD TO LIVE OUT LOUD' – Hollis Renewal Center, Bonner Springs, Kan. provides day camp experience for urban youth in need [0109] A CONGREGATION ON A MISSION AND A STORY OF PARTNERSHIPS - St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kan. [1108] ENERGIZED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE – Gethsemane Lutheran Church, St. Louis, MO helping to lead others to “Make Poverty History through the ONE Campaign” [0208] ONE: THE CAMPAIGN TO MAKE POVERTY HISTORY– Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Springfield, Mo., a ONE Congregation, Working to Raise Public Awareness about the Issues of Global Poverty [0208] BREAD FOR THE WORLD: Individuals and churches, working together to make a difference in the lives of those affected by hunger and poverty [0108] STIRRED TO ACTION: Global Concerns Group at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lawrence, KS Speaks Up for the Hungry and Poor [0108] MOVING TOWARD ADVOCACY– Trinity Lutheran Church, Chesterfield, MO is Identifying its call to do God’s Mission in the World [0208] FESTIVAL OF SHARING -- Gathering Resources, Sending Hope [0708]

Congregations are invited to share their own stories about how God is working through them to participate in Christ's mission in the world today. If you have a mission story to share, please contact Rev. Cynthia Schnaath at cschnaath@css-elca.org.

An Invitation to Connect with the Mission Interpreter Ministry

One of the most engaging ways we Make Christ Known is by telling stories of how people’s lives are changed through the missions and ministries of the ELCA. But, we don’t do this as often as we should. Quite simply, we don’t talk very much about the mission and ministry of the Lutheran Church that takes place beyond the walls of each congregation. Nor do we thank members as much as we should for their ongoing contributions to these ministries.

The Synod’s Mission Interpreter Project attempts to address these needs. It brings together lay leaders from throughout the Synod and equips them with the training and information they need go forth with temple talks, newsletter articles and other means to remind all of our congregations of how we are making a difference in the world through the work of the church. Mission Interpreters thank, inform, teach, inspire, tie together and invite through stories which illustrate how you make a difference in the lives of others through your giving.

In addition, all congregations are invited to share their own stories about how God is working through them to participate in Christ’s mission in the world today. If you have a story to tell, we would love hear from you in order that we may share it with others in the Central States Synod of the ELCA as well as with the wider ELCA community.

If you have a story to tell, please forward them to Pr. Cynthia.