News & Upcoming Events

Check out our Calender of Events Page to see the full schedule of CID events.

Study of Acts . . . Wherever You Are

                  To help pastors and their congregations during these busy times, Concordia Publishing House plans to make available online a six-lesson video Bible study on Paul’s Missionary Journeys. Taught by CID Mission Executive Ken Schurb, this is one of CPH’s video FaithCourses.

This free study will come out one lesson a week, starting on May 4. Each weekday for six weeks, a new short section of that week’s lesson will be released. To join this study from wherever you are, go to https://cphfaithcourses.com/dailypmj/

Also, Dr. Schurb will be doing Facebook live sessions from the Central Illinois District Facebook page on Saturdays, 9:30 to 10 a.m. CDT, starting May 9. These sessions will cap each week’s learning, and anticipate the following week. Be sure to "Like and Follow" us on Facebook (by clicking on the above Central Illinois District Facebook link) for the most up to date information. 

Listen in as Dr. Schurb discusses this study on Issues, Etc 

If you do NOT have a Facebook account, clicking on the Central Illinois District Facebook page will allow you to view the page and videos without signing in to an account. 

Financial Peace University

“Financial Peace University,” a rather well-known course by Dave Ramsey, is for a limited time available for free trial. This course might prove helpful to people who are or will be managing on tighter budgets. Find details at https://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/#in-progress=0 

Also, note that LCMS Stewardship has produced a “Preview and Review” of Financial Peace University. Find it online among the “Resources and Services” at https://www.lcms.org/how-we-serve/national/stewardship-ministry

Chaplain's Corner

These short devotions were written by Rev. Jeff Harter as a series aired on Facebook during the 2020 Covid-19 crisis. May you find in them peace, strength, meaning, confidence, and hope from our ever-present almighty and all-loving God. To God be the glory!

Living in His Presence (printable document) 

To view corresponding videos, join us on Facebook or YouTube. These videos will be released on Monday and Friday each week.

LERT (Lutheran Emergency Response Team)
Volunteer Training Events

Saturday, April 18, 2020
POSTPONED-Date TBD
St. John’s Lutheran Church

The registration fee ($35.00) includes your disaster response training manual, disaster response vest, Certificate of Completion, I.D. badge, breakfast, and lunch. Please register at least one week before the event, if at all possible. Walk-ins are welcome. Please pay with check made out to the host church. If you are already LERT certified, the event is considered continuing education (no charge).

Welcome to the Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) volunteer training program provided by the LCMS Office of National Mission. Together we will walk through a simple training program designed to help you serve as a trained Christian volunteer when a disaster strikes.

This training is part of a Synod-wide disaster response program, facilitated by a network of District Disaster Response Coordinators and Teams, under the direction of LCMS Disaster Response. At the close of the program, you will receive a certificate of participation and a LERT volunteer credential issued by LCMS Disaster Response.

In the chaos of disaster, it’s important to stay focused on the task at hand. This training will help you focus on the most important thing to remember as you prepare for or respond to a disaster in your community or beyond. At the center of our LERT volunteer training is one thing— MERCY! Christ’s mercy is the basis for everything we say and do.

LERT (Lutheran Emergency Response Training)
Chainsaw Training Event

(None scheduled at this time)

Welcome to the ADVANCED CHAINSAW volunteer training program provided by the Central Illinois District – LCMS. In order to attend this course, you MUST have completed the six hour Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) basic training.

This eight hour event will consist of an instructional and operational based training. Once certified in chainsaw disaster applications, you will be equipped to be an effective chainsaw volunteer should a disaster strike your community.

You will be required to bring hearing protection, eye protection, helmet, chaps, leather gloves, leather steel toe boots, chainsaw, bar oil, and fuel. If you do not have these items, we will provide them for you at the time of the training.

The cost is $35.00, which includes breakfast, lunch, manual, and certification.

Bring your LERT disaster response vest and your LERT I.D. certification badge.

Video Resources

Video/Commercial - Spread the Good News of Jesus’ birth on your congregation’s website, Facebook page, Local TV/Radio station, etc. This high resolution file can be sent to you from the CID office. You can see this video on the CID website (cidlcms.org) under the Evangelism tab.