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Newsletter
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September 2020
Dear Friends,
5I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded
thee, though thou hast not known me:6That they may know from the rising of the
sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there
is none else.7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create
evil: I the LORD do all these things.8Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let
the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth
salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
(Isaiah 45:5-8 KJV)
These verses from Isaiah are part of one of the greatest discourses in Scripture
in which God distinguishes Himself from pagan idols. Chapters 44 -46 have the
prophet speaking for God to show that the calamity that will befall Israel and
its restoration both come from the hand of God. God is not at all like the gods
of the pagans who have a god for sunlight and a god for rain, a god for summer
and a god for winter, a god for triumph and a god for tribulation, etc. God
alone is God and He alone directs things upon the earth. God ordained the exile
of Israel because of their falling away years before it historically occurred
and had already given its restoration through Cyrus even before the exile had
come. Only God is God, there is no other.
These chapters are worth a good reading as they serve as a reminder that we are
not able to plumb the depth of God’s actions trying to reconcile them with our
thoughts and we are being foolish when we attempt to do so. In the middle of
anything like our current pandemic people try to speak for God and explain His
actions. They wind up sounding much like Job’s friends who seem to say many
things that sound quite correct while being entirely off the mark when it comes
to God. We do not know why God allows us to endure something like a pandemic,
but we know who to turn to for relief. We turn to God, through our Lord Jesus
Christ. The God who created all things reigns over all and vigilantly watches
over all His creation, even the sparrows and the lilies.
So, we start another school year where we ended the last, in the middle of a
pandemic. We never thought we would still be in this situation, but we are. Now
what do we do? We pray and give thanks to the God who gave His only-begotten Son
to suffer and die for us to redeem us through His sacrifice and cleanse us
through His blood, making us blameless in His sight and giving us life eternal.
We remember that the God who did such a wonderful thing for us will never leave
us or forsake us and we press on in the pathway He has given us to travel. We
continue to instruct our students in the Word of God and remain anchored in the
gospel as we always have whether in a pandemic or not. We continue to proclaim
the stunning and gracious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and lead our students
in the same. In all these things we praise God for His goodness and infinite
mercy and will see to it that He receives all glory and honor as He is due. We
will continue to do so even though for now we cannot have classes in any other
way than online. We thank God for His faithfulness in allowing this ministry to
continue. Thank you for your support through these many years, it means so much
to us. We pray for your continued good health and that God would end this plague
we are enduring by His grace.
God’s Peace,
Jay Weidner
DONATIONS RECEIVED...
IIn memory of Pastor Rodney Johnson
From Dennis & Janet Hietala
Mary Anne Storm
Bob & Gert Antioho
In memory of Judy Maki
From Eugene Maki
Mary Anne Storm
In memory of Rev. Andrew & Mrs. Mary B. Mickelsen
From Mary Anne Storm
In memory of Ed & Hilda Storm
From Mary Anne Storm
In memory of Sylvia Estola
From Mary Anne Storm
UPCOMING FALL CLASSES
See www.ilsemianry/classchedule
for complete class schedule for classes below being offered:
Daily classes offered in the fall begin, Wednesday, September 9, 2020:
History of the Ancient Church (3 credits) - A historical analysis of the major
people and events that shaped the Christian Church from the Apostolic Age to 600
AD.
Ministry to the World (2 credits) - The biblical basis for mission work along
with a history of the methods employed to carry out such work.
Ministry to the Aging (1 credit) - A study of the various facets of ministering
to senior citizens as vital members of the Body of Christ.
Christian Education (2 credits) – The principles of the theology of Christian
Education. Preparation for teaching Sunday School, Confirmation Class, Adult
Bible Classes, etc.
Ministy to the Youth (1 credit) - A study of philosophies and methodologies
involved in working with youth.
This fall the Monday night class in Hancock and originally the Thursday night
class in Negaunee will be incorporated into one class beginning, Monday,
September 14 at 7PM via Zoom. Jay will be teaching the class on
Ephesians/Colossians/Philippians. If you are interested in joining this online
class, please contact us by phone (906) 482-3337, email cilseminary@ilseminary.com
.
ATTENTION: SUPPORTERS
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SEMINARY.
Have you ever have used Amazon.com to do your shopping? Now AmazonSmile offers
the same products, same prices and same service and will also donate 0.5% of the
price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Inter-Lutheran Theological
Seminary whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.
Simply log use in by using this link….
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/41-0918317
which will bring you directly to smile.amazon.com in support of our
organization.
The Thrivent Choice® program offers a way members can recommend where Thrivent
Financial distributes some of its charitable outreach funds. As a benefit
member, your ownership of Thrivent Financial products and services help make
this support possible.
Remember….If you are an eligible member 16 and older you can recommend how to
distribute Thrivent Financial charitable grant funds thought Choice Dollars®.
Member eligibility and the Choice Dollars designated are based on:
• Holding a Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership position; or
• Having $750 or more in annual premiums of qualifying
insurance products; or
• Having $20,000 or more in contract value of qualifying products.
For more information about Choice Dollars, visit http://www.Thrivent.com/thriventchoice
or call 800-847-4836 or contact your local Thrivent Financial representative.
INFAITH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION:
Several years ago, the Seminary board of directors established the
Inter-Lutheran Seminary Endowment Fund. Funds contributed to the endowment are
not used for current day to day operations. Only the annual earnings of the
endowment will be used for the seminary’s needs thereby ensuring the continued
existence of this funding source. This is the preferred method used by many
non-profit entities, especially ongoing religiously focused organizations such
as seminaries.
While this is an excellent strategy, it has proven a challenge for us to
actually meet the minimum funding requirements. Until now, the fund has existed
but remained unfunded. By the Lord’s grace we have been blessed with a large
contribution to fund the Inter-Lutheran Seminary Endowment Fund. We would love
to build on this generous contribution to grow our endowment into a major source
of ongoing seminary support.
Although the seminary still needs the financial ongoing regular contributions of
our supporters, please consider the endowment fund for your planned giving
needs. The seminary has chosen the InFaith Community Endowment Fund (the renamed
Lutheran Brotherhood Foundation) to administer our endowment fund. They will
provide experienced legal advice to help guide you with any contribution
questions done through estate planning in addition to lump sum contributions,
IRAs, property and securities. For more additional information, please contact
Kirk Otto, Jr. at (715) 294-4343 or Cheryl Hendrickson at (906)482-3337.
**PLEASE NOTE**
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the mailing list, please complete the form below and mail to: P.O. Box 449,
Hancock, MI 49930.
Or call 906-482-3337 or email: cilseminary@ilseminary.com. Thank you!
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Inter-Lutheran
Theological Seminary
James Weidner, President
P.O. Box 449
Hancock, MI 49930
administrator@ilseminary.org
Phone: 906-482-3337
FAX: 906-482-0694