GARY A. SPIELER December 10, 1948 – February 13, 2023 Gary Albert Spieler, 74, of St. Louis, Missouri, died Monday, February 13, 2023 in Cape Girardeau Missouri. He was born December 10, 1948 in St. Louis, Missouri to Fred and Margaret Schwarz Spieler. Gary spent his adult life in ministry....

Lutheran Elementary Schools: Making Disciples for Life Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the...

Bringing Little Children to Jesus And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom...

Called to a Life of Purpose While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  Matthew 4:18-19 There...

MO Scholars Inaugural Year The inaugural year of MO Scholars—Missouri’s tax credit program providing scholarships to families of children attending private institutions—was a success…and we have you to thank for it! Your willingness to participate in this new endeavor has made an impact that will last an eternity, as children...

Thanks Be to God for Lutheran Schools As National Lutheran Schools Week comes to a close, please join me in giving thanks to God for the countless blessings that He has showered upon us through Lutheran Schools.  Below we will actually count some of those blessings for which we are...

Light for Those in Darkness And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea,...

Rev. Roy Bingenheimer June 30, 1933 – January 17, 2023 Rev. Roy William Bingenheimer, 89, of Concordia, Mo., died Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg. Born June 30, 1933, in Oak Ridge, Mo., he was the son of the late William Paulus Bingenheimer and Clara...

Developing Today's Child  2023 Missouri District Spring Early Childhood Conference As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace   1 Peter 4:10 ESV A conference designed for those serving as early childhood educators with children from infant/toddlers to second grade....

The Lamb of God The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  John 1:29 John the Baptist proclaims Jesus to be the Paschal Lamb, who takes away the sin of the world.  In a...

Installation Service will be held on Jan. 26, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. at Campus Lutheran Church in Columbia. The Missouri District is pleased to welcome Rev. Peter Kirby to the staff.  He will serve in a newly created position, Executive Director of Congregational Services.  In that role, Rev. Kirby will...

  School Administrators’ Conference February 10, 2023 Campus Lutheran Church – Columbia, Missouri Administrators across Missouri are invited to join us in Columbia on February 10 for an opportunity to grow professionally and fellowship together. We will be examining best practices for actionable feedback with educators, discussing curriculum guidelines for...

Jesus’ Baptism – The Joyous Exchange Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.  John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is...

Jesus She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.  Matthew 1:21 People choose names for their children for a variety of reasons.  There are family names and popular names.  Names are chosen because of how they go...

The Dark Side of Christmas Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he...

Waiting in Peace  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.  John 16:33 We live in a nation divided– by everything from demographic categories to personal preferences.  However, there...

Rev. Kenneth Young August 23, 1929–December 13, 2022 Rev. Kenneth Robert Young, 93, was born August 23, 1929 in Buffalo, New York, to Arthur C. Young and Viola Schmitt Young. He was their third child.  After his father died in May of 1935, his mother took the family to St....

The 2022 Annual Report is now available. You can read about all the great things that went on this year by either scrolling or clicking the PDF button below. 

Waiting with Joy And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  And why is this granted to me that the mother of my...

Waiting in Love In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to...

Rev. Dr. Alvin J. Schmidt September 28, 1932–November 28, 2022 Alvin John Schmidt was born on September 28, 1932, in Waldersee, Manitoba, and baptized on November 13, 1932, at Christ Lutheran Church, also in Waldersee. He spent the first three and half years with his parents in a primitive log...

Waiting with Hope For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.  Romans 8:24-25 The Church Year is like life.  Everyday is not a...

Lutherans for Life is offering three different contests for youth. From art posters to essays, with a variety of grades included, be sure to click below to check out this great opportunity! Grades 3–5 Grades 6–12 Click here for the essay rules/rubric.  Class of '23 Seniors

Missouri District Office Open House Come and see our new office space, meet with District Staff, and raise a mug of hot chocolate in celebration of the season. Dec 2, 2022    10am-1pm Missouri District Office 660 Mason Ridge Center Dr. Suite 100 St. Louis, MO 63141 Questions? Contact Sue...

MICHAEL ALEXANDER June 5, 1945 – October 15, 2022 Robert Michael (“Mike”) Alexander, 77, went to be with his Lord Jesus on October 15, 2022. After a long-fought and courageous battle with illness, Mike died at home, peacefully in his sleep, with his loving family at his side. Mike was...