Hi,

I hope this edition of the Encourager e-news finds you well.

It’s been a busy time in the office here in North Adelaide, partly because we haven’t been in the office much!  We’ve all been out and about in the last few weeks.

In late May Erika and I headed up to Loxton to attend the SA/NT District Synod.  The next week Verena, Glenn and I were able to spend varying amounts of time in Victoria attending the Continuing Education for Pastors and Lay Workers Conference and other meetings.  The week after that Verena, Glenn and I headed up to Caloundra to attend the Queensland District Synod.  It has been fantastic getting out to meet people and more trips are planned for other districts soon.

This busy time has made me think about the importance and value of my time.  As a wife, a mum of teenagers, a daughter and daughter-in-law, congregation member, etc., etc., etc., who also works it is hard to fit everything in sometimes.  There are times when not everything does get done…   It can be exhausting keeping all the balls in the air sometimes.  Work-life balance someone says….   There’s plenty of balance – the scales are often just overloaded on both sides!!  How wonderful to know that God has a plan so that we don’t need to try to be in control of everything!

My Bible study group are working through a study helping us learn to make wise decisions about our time so that we can say, “Yes!” to the things God wants us to say yes to, and no to some other things.  Sometimes the best thing we can do with our time is to do less, and to slow down.  To just sit and soak in our surroundings, listen to the birds, smell the rain, walk on the beach / in the hills / along a river / around the block, or to play with a child can bring powerful peace, and bring us closer to God.

So… make a cup of tea or coffee, and just sit for the time it takes to drink it.  Daydream, pray, listen to the noises you can hear, savour your cuppa and breathe. Then keep reading and I hope you are encouraged by this newsletter.

May the peace of the Lord be with you,

Chris

The reuslts are in...

Thak you to the 93 Lay Workers and 54 Employers who completed the recent survey.

We are currently examining the results to help us better understand what is happening currently accross the LCA.  This will inform future planning and ensure that appropriate resources can be developed and help get the right support to the people who need it most.  We are working with consultants who administered the survey to ensure we get the most out of the information you provided.

Here are two snapshots which begin to describe the profile of people working in Lay Ministry across the church.

Ministry Type
Ministry Support               20%
Pastoral Care                   13%
Mission & Outreach          10%
Child & Family                  16%
Youth & Young Adult        11%
School Ministry                   5%
Chaplaincy                          6%
Camping                             6%
Parish Nursing                    1%
Worship & Music                 5%
Cultural Specific                  2%
Aged Care                          1%
Other                                  4%

District of Service
National Office                                     7%
Queensland                                       27%
South Australia / Northern Territory   40%
Victoria / Tasmania                            10%
Western Australia                                4%
New South Wales                              11%
New Zealand                                       1%

We are delighted to announce that Adam Morris will be joining the team at the National Office as Church Worker Support Officer in mid/late-August. 

Adam is currently serving, and is a member of, St John’s Lutheran Church, Unley.  We are excited that he is joining the team and will introduce him more fully once he’s on deck.

As you know Glenn is retiring having served for 36 years within Lay Ministryin the LCA.  We will really miss Glenn and we wish him only the best for the future.  We are sure the Lord has wonderful plans for Glenn and his wife Wendy as they begin this new chapter in their lives.

Verena is heading off on a Lutheran Study Tour (as you read this probably) and is also having some well deserved Long Service Leave.  She will be back in the office in late August.

Erika and Chris will be in the office and looking forward to receiving postcards from everyone who is travelling!

New Lay Workers
Luminate Interns – Queensland
Alaina Brinkmann
Hannah Fuller
Lachlan McLean
Lawrence Outridge
Sarah Turner
Kimberly Wagenknecht

Rochelle Denton – Worship Ministry Team Leader, Para Vista Good Shepherd Congregation, Vic
Margaret Graetz – Manager, Calvary Retirement Village, Greensborough, Vic
Erin Kerber - Program Officer, LCA International Mission with responsibility for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar and the School Service-learning and Congregations Partnership Programs
Steve Liebelt - Outreach & Pastoral Care Coordinator, Hamilton Lutheran Parish, Vic
Benjamin Lyons – Youth, Children & Family Ministry Coach, Buderim Immanuel Congregation, Qld
Kathleen Mills – Child, Youth & Family Ministry Deaconess, Goulburn Murray Parish, Vic
Sharon Minge – Office Manager, Tea Tree Gully St Johns Congregation, SA
Doris Mortimer – Qld Hospital Chaplaincy, Princess Alexandra/Redland Hospital, Qld
Matthew Schubert – Coordinator Youth Ministries, Rockingham Mandurah Congregation, WA
Chris Scott – Office Secretary, Ringwood Good Shepherd Congregation, Vic
Suzanne Zelenak – Youth & Young Adults Worker, Wyndham Hobson Bay Congregation, Vic

Finished in Role
Catherine Boyce – Aged Care Chaplain Woodridge Trinder Park Residential Aged Care, Qld
Ruth Olsen – Office Manager, Tea Tree Gully St Johns Congregation, SA
Carol Voigt – Ministry Assistant, Nuriootpa St Petri Congregation, SA

Accreditation
Kathy Mildred – Chaplain, Pakenham Lakeside Lutheran College, Vic

It’s good to be able to communicate with fellow Lay Workers again!

In the past 8 weeks I’ve been working as a project officer for LCA International Mission. The role is primarily responsible for PNG and Indonesia but also involves Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore. My particular focus is on looking after Australian volunteers and International scholarship holders who either study here, at ALC in Adelaide, or are sponsored by us to study in overseas seminaries.

Last month we visited Thailand and the Nan province, where we were blessed to meet some of the non-ordained local evangelists International Mission sponsor. Where Jesus is proclaimed, great things happen! We witnessed the work of the evangelists and spoke to the villagers whose lives had been relieved of fear as they came to know Jesus. Lives that had once been held tight by the fear of spirits and Spirit Doctors, now walked in peace and with smiles. Some of the Spirit Doctors, still powerfully present in the communities, who once pronounced fear and dread, now spoke of their love for Jesus. We were privileged to pray with and for people in their homes and churches and to feel part of the bigger family of God.

The visit gave me an even greater appreciation for the work that all Lay Workers do. Your work of bringing love and hope into people’s lives is priceless, an invaluable gift we have the joy of giving and receiving every day.

If you, or someone you know, would like to spend a few months volunteering in Asia working with local leaders to build their capacity to:
• teach basic English
• support children or people with special needs
• support unmarried mums
• help garden, building and mentoring
while learning as you share your love for Jesus, drop me an email. nevin.nitschke@lca.org.au

One of the great joys of volunteering with International Mission is that you can openly share your love of Jesus with the community you volunteer in. The Gospel and prayer are a very real part of the volunteer’s experience. If your congregation would like to partner with a church overseas in proclaiming the Gospel, I’m happy to give you more information.

Each day may you know that you are loved by our Father, walked beside by Jesus and encouraged by the Spirit. Love, freedom from fear, joy and hope are your blessings. May they give you strength to continue in His work as His followers.

Nevin

Planning for the Conference is again underway.

Faith Walk - "Bringing love to life in your world"

4th to 7th September 2017

Maroochy Waterfront Camp & Conference Centre, David Low Way, Diddilibah Qld

Right on the Maroochy River!!

Mark these dates in your dairies....watch this space for further updates!

“If today starts to get hectic, take five minutes to be alone with God. If your work gets interrupted, ask God for patience to deal with the interruption and for endurance to finish the task.”
― Max Lucado

“Biblical Reconciliation training is a requirement for all paid LCA lay workers. The workshops are a God given opportunity to grow in the basics of personally applying pastoral ministry skills. A time of refreshment in the Word and hope of the Gospel. A time for being better equipped to work in conflicted situations in ways that bring people face to face with Jesus, affirming them in their identity as God’s children so that they can live out their life in the freedom that only Jesus gives. I’m looking forward to you joining me in this exciting journey!” - Pastor Paul Kerber, Assistant to the Bishop, Reconciliation Ministry

Training Available

Adelaide: at ALC
Personal Peacemaking
•  Tuesday 5 July, 8.30am-5.00pm
•  Wednesday 6 July, 8.30am-5.00pm

Serving People in Conflict
•  Monday 5 September, 1pm to 6.00pm

Catering
•  Refreshments will be provided for morning and afternoon tea.

Participants, please bring your own
•  Bible
•  Pen and additional notepaper according to your individual needs
•  Optional - laptop or tablet if personally preferred for notetaking

Victoria: Tarrington Lutheran School
Personal Peacemaking - July 15 & 16
•  Friday 15 July, 7.30pm - 9.00pm
•  Saturday 16 July, 9.30am - 8.30pm including Lunch & Dinner

Cost
$75 – includes workshop manual, Confession & Forgiveness by Ted Kober, personal peacemaking resources

Serving People in Conflict – August 5 – 7

NOTE: People attending this workshop should have previously attended the personal Peacemaking workshop
•  Friday 5 August, 7.30 - 9.00pm
•  Saturday 6 August, 9.00 - 4.00 
•  Sunday 7 August,1.30 - 3.30 

Cost
$75 – includes workshop manual, the Peacemaker by Ken Sande

Tarrington Reconciliation Admin Team Contacts:

Kylie Linke

Russell Burn

We can help with:

• ministry plans
• setting up prayer/support teams
• training options
• developing a ministry team
• employment agreements
• a listening ear