Rev. James W. Rassbach April 8, 1932 – July 30, 2020 Asleep in Jesus on July 30, 2020. Beloved husband of Sharon Rassbach (nee Gall); loving father of Timothy (Susan) Rassbach and the late Steven Rassbach; cherished grandfather of Kirby Rassbach; our dear brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend....
Three or four years ago, Rev. Brandon Froiland of Christ Lutheran Church in Platte City received a request to share their church building with a group of recent immigrants from Ethiopia. These individuals, members of the Oromo tribe, came to the United States as refugees, fleeing persecution. They were specifically...
There’s a rising trend of using Comfort Dogs to help people deal with stress and trauma. The benefits of petting a dog on blood pressure and soothing a troubled mind are well documented. What separates the Lutheran Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministries from other programs is that in addition to...
When Todd Barnes, an active member and former president of Zion Lutheran Church, needed a new model for his work with the homeless, he looked at the success of many areas in the country. Lancaster, PA in particular had a model he thought would work in the areas he serves....
This year, Rev. Michael Tanney of St. Johns Lutheran Church in St. Louis led Pentecost worship services in the midst of two baptisms and twenty-seven confirmations. Every individual confirmed and baptized came from a close-knit Nepalese Christian community that was worshipping nearby. Many people in this group were already Christian,...
Who am I? How do I define myself? How does being created by a loving God impact my identity? The kids at Hodiamont Identity Camp will be tackling these questions, under the guidance of Cyril Loum, a vicar at St. Timothy Lutheran Church in St. Louis. At the end of...
Last summer, Rev. Kevin Golden and then deaconess intern Laura Jostes led lay people in the Every One His Witness training at Village Lutheran Church in Ladue. Rev. Golden likes this resource because of its strong biblical and theological foundation, but also because it offered his congregation very practical applications.Rev....
Every fall, millions of high school graduates start their journey into higher education. They pile into their parents’ car with laundry baskets, a few suitcases and so many questions. Will I get along with my roommate? What if I never figure out what my major should be? Will I make...
News of an impending blizzard seemed to hit everyone’s phones at once. While the storm had been predicted, it had gathered speed and was barreling down on Concordia, MO earlier than expected. Some of the mourners who had been attending a funeral at Saint Paul Lutheran Church chose to leave...
On Feb. 8, 2019, cameras flashed on red carpets across the country, as people walked through crowds of cheering fans. These were not celebrities, but people with special needs who were honored guests for an event called Night to Shine, a prom night experience for people with special needs. Night...