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November 2020
Dear Friends,
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh
manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. (2 Corinthians 2:14
KJV)
There have been some people I have heard musing on this current year and saying
it offers little to be thankful about. Difficulties are not pleasant and often
they are hard to press through. Certainly, the current pandemic and its variety
of painful circumstances qualify as troubles unique to the experience of most of
us. The present time is filled with tribulation no doubt, but it is not
unprecedented in that regard. The Apostle Paul went through many such times of
trial and offered the words quoted above. Our victory is in Christ and nothing
can take that from us. We, of all people, always have much to be thankful for.
We are the children of God, robed in righteousness through the finished work of
our Savior, Jesus Christ. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ
Jesus. We have been brought from death into the kingdom of God’s own Son
enjoying a new life that continues into eternity. We have indeed been most
blessed. George Washington, the Father of Our Nation, so prayed:
Almighty God, and most merciful father, who didst command the children of
Israel to offer a daily sacrifice to thee, that thereby they might glorify and
praise thee for thy protection both night and day, receive, O Lord, my morning
sacrifice which I now offer up to thee; I yield thee humble and hearty thanks
that thou has preserved me from the danger of the night past, and brought me to
the light of the day, and the comforts thereof, a day which is consecrated to
thine own service and for thine own honor. Let my heart, therefore, Gracious
God, be so affected with the glory and majesty of it, that I may not do mine own
works, but wait on thee, and discharge those weighty duties thou requirest of
me, and since thou art a God of pure eyes, and wilt be sanctified in all who
draw near unto thee, who doest not regard the sacrifice of fools, nor hear
sinners who tread in thy courts, pardon, I beseech thee, my sins, remove them
from thy presence, as far as the east is from the west, and accept of me for the
merits of thy son Jesus Christ, that when I come into thy temple, and compass
thine altar, my prayers may come before thee as incense; and as thou wouldst
hear me calling upon thee in my prayers, so give me grace to hear thee calling
on me in thy word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and
peace to the saving of the soul in the day of the Lord Jesus. Grant that I may
hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, mingle it with faith, and that
it may accomplish in me, Gracious God, the good work for which thou has sent it.
Bless my family, kindred, friends and country, be our God & guide this day and
for ever for his sake, who lay down in the Grave and arose again for us, Jesus
Christ our Lord, Amen.
Let us persevere as he did keeping the words of thanksgiving ever in our hearts
and in our prayers. A most blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours! We are very
thankful to you for Your kindness towards us. Thanks be to God!
God’s Peace,
Jay Weidner
DONATIONS RECEIVED...
In memory of Joe & Carol Giachino
From Dennis & Janet Hietala
In memory of Larry & Harriet Rasaka
From Wayne and Anne Waldal
In memory of Robert Nominelli
From Norma Nominelli
In memory of Oscar & Ailie Sunnarborg
From Neil & Debra Sunnarborg
In memory of Ernest Sr. & Martha Bylkas
From Dale & Joanne Mattinen
In memory of Ernest Bylkas Jr.
From Dale & Joanne Mattinen
In honor & thank you to all Pastors of the Federation
From Neil & Debra Sunnarborg
MATCHING FUNDS PROGRAM
Recently we had a kind and generous donor come forward with a new matching fund
donation of $20,000.00. We are seeking additional donations above and beyond
normal giving that would be matched dollar for dollar within this program. The
program continues through December 31, 2020. If you are able to contribute to
this program, please earmark your contribution “matching funds” in the memo
section of your check.
Your continued support of the seminary is deeply appreciated and enables us to
continue to grow as a seminary and carry on the work of teaching and preparing
our students for ministry. God bless you again for your generosity!
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**
If you are receiving this newsletter in error or would prefer to be taken off
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!
Date:_________________
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Address:_____________________________________________________
I wish to be removed from the Inter-Lutheran Seminary’s mailing list.
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