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September 2025 (Pentecost)
Dear Friends,
<A Psalm of David.> Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless
his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who
redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and
tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth
is renewed like the eagle's. (Ps. 103:1-5 KJV)
During my convalescence from my recent back problems, I began praying this
Psalm. No one knows its occasion, and that is fitting as it applies in almost
any circumstance. It is in Hebrew that I read it, and it is very rich in the
terms employed as they are used in other parts of the Scripture. The word
translated “soul” is the same one used in Genesis 2:7 indicating that God’s
breath made Adam a living being. It is from the breath of God, the Spirit, that
the human being receives its spirit. Only the Spirit knows the things of God and
brings forth that understanding in our spirit. That Spirit is now dwelling in us
as the downpayment of the promise to be fulfilled for us at the consummation of
all things. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our
hearts. (2 Cor. 1:22 KJV) That Spirit also testifies that God is also in union
with us through Christ and richly blessing us in all things. Even the mystery
which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to
his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of
this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
(Col. 1:26-27 KJV) In the New Testament we understand the fullness to which
David was referring. All that is within us, our now reborn spirit together with
the Holy Spirit, blesses the Holy Name of God. The Spirit reminds us of all the
marvelous things God has done for us and continues to do for us. He forgives all
our iniquities in the name and blood of Jesus. He heals all our diseases. He
redeems us from destruction (the pit in Hebrew). He pours out His grace upon us
continually in Jesus Christ. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace
for grace. (or in Greek, grace upon grace in a steady stream) (Jn. 1:16 KJV) He
gives us every good thing all of our lives. He even renews our youth when we are
old. So many are His uncountable blessings to us that we do well to remember the
immense benefits that he has poured out upon us in His grace. In our human
frailty we may forget but the Spirit constantly reminds us and keeps us in tune
with the Psalmist. We too bless the Name of the Lord with all that is within us.
That is how we begin this new school year. We are mindful of how God has blessed
our seminary so richly through the years and we understand that God, through
Jesus Christ and by the power of His Holy Spirit, will continue to do so. You
have played such an important role in that blessing. You have graced us through
these many years with your prayers and financial support. We look forward with
great expectation to another marvelous year of His grace and we thank you for
your many kindnesses toward us.
God’s Peace,
Jay Weidner
DONATIONS RECEIVED.....
In memory of Jean Anderson
From Reuben & Anita Aho
In memory of Norma Sarver
From Reuben & Anita Aho
In honor of Ernest Bylkas
From Judith Bylkas
FALL SEMESTER BEGINS SOON
The Fall semester’s Monday night class will be on the Prison Epistles which
begins on September 8, 2025, at 7PM. It is a 15-week course that is available in
person at 916 Pine Street, Hancock or online using Zoom. If possible, we ask for
a $50 donation to attend the class.
The Prison Epistles is an exegetical study of the Apostle Paul’s letters to the
congregations in Ephesus, Colossae, Philippi and to Philemon.
If you are interested in taking this class, please contact the office at
906-482-3337 or email cilseminary@ilseminary.com. Also, for a complete class
schedule go to www.ilseminary.org/class schedule.htm or for class descriptions
go to www.ilseminary.org/acadinfo.htm, then Courses of Study.
We hope you can join us!!
ATTENTION: SUPPORTERS
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SEMINARY.
CHOICE DOLLARS DETAILS: Eligible clients with membership can recommend
where Thrivent distributes some of its charitable grant funds. These
recommendations are shared by directing Choice Dollars to enrolled nonprofit
organizations, including churches.
Eligibility requirements: To be eligible to direct Choice Dollars as part of
Thrivent Choice®, you must be a client with benefit membership. Individual
eligibility is also based on at least one of the following:
• Having $750 or more in annual billed premiums of qualifying life and health
insurance products.
• Having $20,000 or more in contract value of qualifying life insurance and
annuity products.
Eligibility is determined monthly and reevaluated on an annual basis.
Minimum and maximum Choice Dollars designations: Eligible clients will be
designated a minimum of 25 Choice Dollars and a maximum of 5,000 Choice Dollars
per eligibility period (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31).
Choice Dollars expiration date: Choice Dollars designated during the calendar
year can be directed until March 31 of the following year.
For more information about Choice Dollars, visit http://www.Thrivent.com/thriventchoice
or call 800-847-4836 or contact your local Thrivent Financial representative.
THRIVENT CHARITABLE IMPACT & INVESTINGTM
The Inter-Lutheran Seminary has established an Endowment Fund through Thrivent
Charitable Impact & InvestingTM (formerly InFaith Community Foundation). All
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. To learn more about this organization, go to
www.thriventcharitable.com.
We would love 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. For more additional information, please contact Kirk Otto,
Jr. at (715) 821-8574 or Cheryl Hendrickson at
(906) 482-3337.
ANOTHER OPTION FOR GIVING – PayPal
Online giving is as easy as clicking the DONATE button on our website: https://ilseminary.org.
Simply go to the How to Contribute tab and tap the yellow DONATE button to
begin. There are options for credit and debit card donations and even the option
to help the seminary cover the PayPal processing fee. (Note we are charged 1.99%
+ $.49/transaction fee). As always, we are thankful for your continued support!
**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