Pastor Holly serves First Lutheran in Mitchell and Pastor Nick serves Salem Lutheran in Parkston.

Pastor Holly reports that the whole family is doing well!

Emily Lynn Neugebauer, daughter of Rev. Justin (Hope Lutheran, Summit) and Pamela Neugebauer, was born in Milbank on Feb 17, 2012 at 8:36 am.  She weighed 7 lbs 5.9 oz.

Both mother and baby are doing great.

God’s abundant grace and peace be with you as this year brings us all into another place in our life’s journey.  The Luther Center and its Campus Council invite you to the upcoming meal and silent auction at Trinity Lutheran Church (816 E Clark St) in Vermillion, SD on Friday, February 24^th.

Our Taste of Home theme dinner will begin with h’orderves, fellowship, and time to bid on silent auction items at 5:30pm. Live musical entertainment begins at 6:00pm as the Cherry Street Grille presents Slow cooked roast beef or marinated chicken breast in a portabella and sage cream sauce, baby baked potato cooked in dill butter, a Monte Carlo vegetable blend, with a spring salad  tossed with craisins, almonds, tomatoes, and balsamic vinaigrette and fresh baked rolls with butter.

Luther Center students will share insights regarding their 2011 mission trip to Peru while we enjoy an award-winning Carrot Cake dessert. And of course, the silent auction bids will be closed and distributed at that time.

We know you have previously supported the Luther Center students and ministry by prayer and through your financial resources. We invite you to come and eat with us, hear stories of faith strengthened, and support the Luther Center ministry at University of South Dakota in Vermillion. Tickets this year are $25 for adults and $15 for students (up through college). You may contact your local church office OR you may contact the Luther Center office at office@luthercenter.org or call 605-624-2834.

Thank you for your continued support of this incredible ministry. Your time and effort helps to change the lives of young people in school, and for many years after.

In God’s Grace,

Luther Center Campus Council and Students

Sponsored by St. Mark’s Youth Group.

Pancakes, sausage, ice cream with a host of toppings.  (Please bring an ice cream topping to share!)

• LIVE MUSIC
• MAGICIAN
• MAKING OUR OWN MASKS TO WEAR
• FELLOWSHIP AND FUN!

A free will offering will be taken to help with a mission trip to Pine Ridge and the Building Fund.

Letters of Love is a collection of sermons preached by Mark during his time at Augustana College with topics ranging from “What Happens After Death” to “Forgiveness” and “Roadblocks to Faith”. Following each sermon is Sandy’s own real-life reflections, stories and memories.

Sandy welcomes the opportunity to discuss the book, share her stories, and be a resource to you and your congregation. She is available for adult forums, temple talks, and special events.  If you are interested, please contact Sandy at 605-261-1044 or sij@sio.midco.net.

The book is available in Sioux Falls at Crossroads, Zandbroz and the Augustana College bookstore. You may also order the book from Sandy directly.

Watch: “Letters of Love” feature at Keloland.com.

We need your help! A web-based survey has been set up to collect data on who is being served, who is serving them, and how.  To provide information for your congregation, agency, or organization visit tinyurl.com/sdfoodsurvey.  (It will only take a few minutes!) The information collected will be used to help define the work that is already being done in South Dakota and to map out those gaps that need to be filled.

If you have already taken the survey, thank you for the information and for your ministry to the hungry!  If you have not, and have ways that you are feeding the hungry in your community, please take a few minutes and tell us about it.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Kevin Stillson at kstillson@sdsynod.org or 605-274-5035.

Thank you for joining with us in this collaboration to feed the hungry in South Dakota!

Please keep the Rupp family in your prayers during this difficult and stressful time.

Her full obituary may be found online.

Please join us in praying for the Davidson family during this difficult time.

You and your congregation are invited to participate in “The Big Read” by reading and discussing together the book Fearless: Imagine your Life Without Fear by Max Lucado.

You will find the book and small group study guide to be accessible and engaging as Pastor Lucado confronts the issue of fear and uncertainty with the straightforward good news of Jesus Christ.  The book is a quick read, and the Small Group Discussion guide comes complete with a Leader’s Guide, a Participant Book and an excellent DVD that introduces each of the six small group sessions.  It is simple to employ even with inexperienced small group leaders.  There are also sermon and newsletter resources that you can purchase to enhance the congregation-wide experience.

(Additional resources are available on the synod website.)

The book is perfect for use during the season of Lent.  The 6-week study fits nicely into the Lenten schedule, and the additional sermon and worship resources can be utilized on Wednesdays or Sundays or both.  We have researched the most cost-effective way for your congregation to purchase the books and study guides.  Order your materials through the synod office before January 29 to ensure that you receive them before Ash Wednesday.  All materials will be shipped to congregations at the same time.

What you need:

• One book per reader
• One DVD kit for each small group - The DVD kit includes one leader guide and one study guide for the small group participants. (NOTE: if your small groups do not meet on the same night, it may be possible to share)
• One small group study guide per small group participant

Prices:

• The book – $15.00
• DVD kit – $21.00
• Study Guide – $6.00