St. Matthew's NALC Page: October 2013

Monday, October 7, 2013

Oct. 5, 2013 Great Plains Mission District Annual Convocation

The Great Plains Mission District met on October 5, 2013 at St. Matthew's. Elections were held for Board openings. The Board consists of 3 clergy and 3 non-clergy, as follows:

Clergy Members:
     Dennis Beckmann, Evangelical Lutheran, Mankato, KS
     Keith Falk, Peace Lutheran, Edmond, OK
     Bud Elliott, St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran, Riverside, MO

Non-Clergy Members:
     John Ross, Evangelical Lutheran, Mankato, KS
     Jill Schroeder, New Life, Paxton, NE
     Kirke Kickingbird, Peace Lutheran, Edmond, OK

The Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba, NALC Missions Director, presented an inspirational Bible Study on Acts.

Sharing with the convocation about various activities of their ministries included Pastor Jeff Cottingham (Trinity Lutheran, Gothenburg, NE), Pastor Keith Falk (Peace Lutheran, Edmond, OK), Pastor Fritz Brandenburg (St. John's Lutheran, Westboro, MO); Pastor Gerald Berggren (Freemount Lutheran, Lindsborg, KS); Pastor Tamara Keen (Good Shepherd Lutheran, Wichita, KS), Mr. John Ross (Evangelical Lutheran, Mankato, KS); and Pastor Bud Elliott (St. Matthew's, Riverside, MO), Pastor Mary Fast (Interim pastor for a LCMC church, Christ Lutheran Church in Blair, NE), and Pastor Richard Reumann. Faisa Atomsa (Oromo Evangelical Christian Church of KC) was also present and his ordination coming up the next day was discussed.

After a delicious meal served by the ladies of St. Matthew's, the convocation ended with worship, sermon by Pr. Russ Saltzman (Mission District Dean), and Holy Communion.

NALC Ordination of Faisa Atomsa

On October 6, 2013, Faisa Atomsa, of the Oromo Evangelical Church of KC, was ordained into the Holy Ministry of the North American Lutheran Church. The ceremony was held at St. Matthew's, with the Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba (NALC Missions Director) preaching and presiding over the ordination. Rev. Challa Baro, of the Ebenezer Oromo Evangelical Church in Minneapolis, MN baptized a little one from the KC Oromo congregation. There was music by the Oromo choir from Minneapolis and the Micronesian Evangelical Church that meets at St. Matthews. The service was followed with fellowship and Oromo food. Click on the pictures to enlarge and see pictures as a slide show.