News & Events
Me? Church Work?
Our Lord said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). These words remain as applicable today as when Jesus first spoke them.
Ora et labora! We pray, and we work too.
CID’s Shelby, Effingham, and Altamont Circuits are doing just that. On Pentecost, Sunday, May 23, they will hold a joint Circuit Convocation at St. John Lutheran Church in Effingham from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. open to all.
The topic is church worker recruitment. Recruitment of pastors will be emphasized, but also including teachers, Directors of Christian Education, Deaconesses, and others.
The convocation’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Dale Meyer, former Lutheran Hour Speaker and recently retired President of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Representatives will be present from our Synod’s two seminaries and from the Concordia Universities in Chicago and Mequon, Wisconsin. Chaplain Craig Muehler from LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces and Pastor Josh Theilen from Camp CILCA will provide information on specialized ministries.
Here is a great opportunity for young people, even pre-teens, to come and learn about full-time church work, and for their parents to learn about the educational roads to such careers. The convocation also affords prospective second-career pastors a place to ask serious questions and get some answers.
Please help spread the word about the convocation! See the video at https://youtu.be/gpHT0EcWpAU
Please register for the convocation by May 7 at www.stjohnsLCMS.net/harvest
You can also find these links via our CID Facebook page to make the sharing process easier!
Responding to Idols - Book Discussion (Zoom format)
Identifying idols stands out as important in evangelism. When the church brings the Gospel to people around us, we should understand the idols we are up against. And we need to recognize the idols in our own hearts and lives. Idolatry lies at the heart of all sin, so our dealing with it cannot be superficial. For when we sinners fail to fear and love and trust in God, we all find substitutes. We look for substitutes not only for God as Creator, but also as Redeemer and Sanctifier.
As a theologian and a preacher, Martin Luther had much to say about idolatry. Even when he wasn’t using the word “idolatry,” he was engaging with the subject. He did so regularly as he expounded God’s Word in pulpit and classroom.
The book The Unholy Trinity: Martin Luther against the Idol of Me, Myself, and I by Michael Lockwood (CPH, 2016) lays out Luther’s multi-faceted case against idolatry and for the one saving God. This book applies the reformer’s biblical insights to our times today. For our idolatrous culture takes even good things and casts them as ultimate things. It coaxes us to do likewise. Against this, Dr. Luther provides stimulating spiritual help, centered on Christ.
Starting on Thursday, January 14, CID Evangelism Executive Ken Schurb will conduct one-hour Zoom discussions of this book every other week, with a break in February. Sessions will be live on Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. on: Jan. 14 (Introduction and chapter 1), Jan. 28 (chapters 2 & 3), Feb. 25 (chapter 4) Mar. 11 (chapter 5), Mar. 25 (chapter 6), Apr. 8 (chapter 7), Apr. 22 (chapter 8), May 6 (chapter 9). Any “make-up” session that proves necessary would occur on May 20. The sessions on the provided dates will be recorded. If you cannot participate live, you can view the session later.
These conversations are open to all members of CID churches. Pastors and other rostered church workers are especially encouraged to participate. To register, please fill out this form or email kschurb@cidlcms.org. We will use that as your registration, and reply with the appropriate Zoom link when the time comes.
There is no cost for the sessions. In fact, CID will provide the first 25 registrants for these sessions a gratis copy of the book The Unholy Trinity. (Please reimburse the District $3.00 for shipping costs.) If you register by January 3, 2021, we can mail a copy of the book early enough for you to read the introduction and chapter one before the first session on Jan. 14. If you have any questions, please email Ken at kschurb@cidlcms.org and he will respond accordingly.
Weekly Discussion Question Downloads:
| Week | Chapter(s) | Downloads | Video Discussions |
| Week 1 (Jan. 14) | Intro & Chap. 1 | .docx .doc | Week 1 Video |
| Week 2 (Jan. 28) | Chap. 2 & 3 | .docx .doc | Week 2 Video |
| Week 3 (Feb. 25) | Chap. 4 | .docx .doc | Week 3 Video |
| Week 4 (Mar. 11) | Chap. 5 | .docx .doc | Week 4 Video |
| Week 5 (Mar. 25) | Chap. 6 | .docx .doc | Week 5 Video |
| Week 6 (April 8) | Chap. 7 | .docx .doc | Week 6 Video |
| Week 7 (April 22) | Chap. 8 | .docx .doc | |
| Week 8 (May 6) | Chap. 9 | .docx .doc | |
| Week 9 (May 20) | Only if needed - no additional questions |
LERT Volunteer Training Events
Upcoming Training
St. John's Lutheran East Moline (1450 30th Ave, East Moline, IL 61244)
Saturday, April 24 from 9am-3pm (Sign in begins at 8:30am)
Please sign-up by April 10th.
Please join us for the Lutheran Early Response Team volunteer training program. 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. After the program, you will receive a completion card credential and a T-shirt.
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 to 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. This 6-hour training event will equip you to be an effective volunteer should a disaster strike your community. After a brief introduction regarding the goals and theological rationale of LCM Disaster Response, the LERT volunteer training will address the following:
- Christian care in times of disaster
- A Ministry of presence
- The LERT Program and how it works with other responders
- Introduction to Disaster Response
- At the work site: Debris clean up, tarp and patch, flood and mud clean up, chainsaw safety, and necessary paperwork.
Cost for the day is $35, which includes light breakfast, lunch, book/materials, t-shirt, and credential card. If you are repeating the session we ask that you contribute $15 if you need a new book and t-shirt to help defray the costs. 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).
This training event will equip you to be an effective volunteer should a disaster strike in your community.
LERT 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’ resurrection 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 theVideo Resources Tab.