Encourage Newsletter
Rev. Dr. R. Lee Hagan 

Facing our Days with Prayer

Luther’s morning and evening prayers give us a wonderful model for each day. As Christians, from our earliest moments of the day to the last waking thoughts of the night, we frame our day with prayer. Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “The morning prayer determines the day. Squandered time of which we are ashamed, temptations to which we succumb, weaknesses and lack of courage in work, disorganization and lack of discipline in our thoughts and in our conversation with other men, all have their origin most often in the neglect of morning prayer.” Luther’s prayers are models for a life lived out in prayer. Prayer changes how you look at your day, your work, your spouse, your problems, and your fears. By beginning your day in prayer, it is a reminder of your baptism that all things come from God’s gracious providing and that you look to him for all good and the grace to endure the evil things of this world.

Prayer is this wonderful blessing and gift of God. But like so many other gifts, it gathers dust on shelf or at the bottom of the cabinet. The cares and pressures of this world always seems so important, it is easy for prayer to be neglected or even forgotten. Yet, too often, when Lutheran ears, steeped in Lutheran guilt, hear a word of encouragement to pray, it simply becomes a source of shame for all of the times that we have neglected the gift and blessing of prayer.

John Kleinig, a Lutheran pastor in Australia, writes concerning prayer, “More than anything else, I would like to be good at praying. That’s what I have been called to do as a disciple of Christ…I truly believe that much more is accomplished by prayer than anything else I do. Yet I must admit that I have been anything but a man of prayer. This has been, in part, the story of my spiritual life, a story of disappointment with myself and my performance, a story that, from my point of view, is marked by much more failure than success. But over the years, I have also learned a different story from the Scriptures and my own experience about the gift of prayer. I learned a story of reliance on Christ…a story of His success with me in my failures…I now no longer regard prayer as an obligation, a duty that I must fulfill, but as something that is given to me, something that I receive from the triune God. The main thing in prayer is a trustful, receptive heart that takes in what God has to offer.” It is a gracious and merciful gift that God hears the prayers of sinners for the sake of Christ. It is the sign of a broken relationship restored.

St. Paul’s encouraging word to the Philippians is we face everything by prayer. What a blessing it is to pray for your spouse when you are angry at them. What a precious gift given to the community of believers to be able to pray for someone with whom you are in conflict. And such prayers are not – O Lord, show them the error of their ways and lead them to see that I am right. Rather facing everything by prayer means turning over conflicts to God, even when it means that I must confess my own sin. It means praying that God would create in me a clean heart in place of the proud and hard heart I have.
Prayer is not a burden, but a blessing and gift, but even more, it is a tool for Christians as we face this slippery little thing called life. The primary way that we understand God is in terms of His gifts – physical blessings such as spouse, children, family, daily bread, sunshine and rain, shelter and clothing. These all come from God. But God also gives His gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation, baptism, absolution and Lord’s Supper. And thanks be to God, he enables us to face each day, each joy, each challenge, each hurdle, with prayer. There is nothing more intimate than for the child of God to bear their soul to God in humble and heartfelt prayer. What a joy to know that the almighty God of heaven and earth invites humble sinners such as us to pray to Him and for the sake of His beloved Son, Jesus, He hears our prayers. May God strengthen you to avail yourself of this blessing and gift from God that is daily prayer.

Fraternally in Christ,

President Lee Hagan

Events and Information

LESA's 6th Annual "Brew in the Lou" Festival Returns to Francis Park
October 13

LESA's 6th Annual "Brew in the Lou" Festival Returns to Francis Park
October 13.

The St. Louis-based Lutheran Elementary School Association's (LESA) sixth annual “Brew in the Lou” festival will return to the Lily Pond at Francis Park, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, from 1-5 pm.

"Brew in the Lou" offers one-stop tasting of St. Louis’ best beer, wine, spirits, coffee and good eats. Last year's festival raised a record $92,000 for Lutheran schools and showcased more than 40 local and regional craft breweries, along with unlimited tastings from The Stellar Hog, Gobble Stop Smokehouse, Volpi, Dogtown Pizza, Nothing Bundt Cakes and many more. Festivities include live entertainment, arts and craft vendors, a “People’s Choice” Home Brew Competition, a "Battle of the Bratwurst" and our annual Brew Chili Contest.

Wristbands are available now at special pre-sale price of just $30 through June 30, 2018 – a $20 savings over same-day admission. On July 1, tickets will increase to $40 advance/$50 day-of-event. To purchase at the special pre-sale rate, call (314) 200-0797 by 4 pm on Friday June 29, 2018, or purchase online by midnight June 30, 2018, on the event website by clicking here. Wristband purchases include a commemorative glass.

More than 8,800 children attend LESA member Lutheran schools in the St. Louis Metro Area, making Lutheran schools the second-largest private school system in the Bi-State area. A Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, LESA represents 35 elementary and high schools and five related agencies. For more information, visit www.LESAstl.org.

Don’t miss this year’s “Brew in the Lou!” We hope to see you October 13 at Francis Park in the St. Louis Hills - 5399 Donovan Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109.

Save the Date - Sr. High District Youth Gathering
November 16-18

Save the date for the Missouri District Sr. High Youth Gathering. It will be at Cross Pointe Retreat Center in Rocky Mount, Mo., November 16-18, 2018.

Watch for more information, including a registration link, coming soon.

Third Annual St. Louis Area Winkel
August 29

All pastors who attend St. Louis and St. Charles Winkels are invited to the St. Louis Area Winkel on Wednesday, August 29th at Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, Clayton, MO  63105.

Registration is online only:  Click here to register. We will not be able to take registrations over the phone or by email.

There is no cost to attend the Winkel, but you must register online as space is limited. Lunch will be provided.  The deadline to register is August 20 (or when space is filled). Last year’s gathering had a waiting list, so if you register and then need to cancel, please send an email to Sue.Thompson@mo.lcms.org. 

The Winkel provides a great opportunity for pastors from all over the city and across circuit boundaries to come together for the mutual consolation and conversation of the brethren.  

Tentative Schedule:

8:30     Refreshments (Chapel Plaza)

9:15      Welcome (Chapel Plaza)

9:30     Chapel – (Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus)

10:15     Text Study (Koburg Hall)

11:15      Confessions Study (Koburg Hall)

12:00    Lunch (Koburg Hall)

12:45     Announcements

1:00      Plenary Presentation (Koburg Hall)  “Engaging Millennials”  Rev. Mark  
              Kiessling, Director of LCMS Youth Ministry 

1:45       Table Talk – (Koburg Hall)

2:30      Closing

Volunteers Needed for International Student Ministry

Don’t get rid of that bed in the guest room, and don’t throw away your old dishes … donate them! The International Student Ministry (ISM) is hosting a furniture giveaway for international students in the St. Louis area and will pick up your furniture or household items on August 17, the day before the furniture giveaway event.

If you have items to donate, you can:  

• Call Ann or leave a message at 636-273-6239 (St. Paul’s, Wildwood)
• Email Ann at:  annismstl@gmail.com

Show an international student the kindness and generosity of American Christians by donating furniture or other household items. As a volunteer driven ministry, the ISM has many ways for interested Christians to get involved with international students. To find out more about the ISM, visit their website at https://ismstl.org/.

Volunteers Needed for LEA Convocation 

The Missouri District is looking for volunteers to help out at the Lutheran Educators' Association (LEA) Convocation October 10-12 at the Americas Center in St. Louis.

Volunteers will be needed to welcome and direct participants, run errands and assist with registration and hospitality. This is the perfect opportunity for retirees, especially retired educators, so that current educators can attend events rather than serve in volunteer roles.

There are many opportunities available, so everyone is sure to find a fit for their skills, talents and desire. Whether you can be there for a few hours, half a day, or multiple days, we'd love to have your help.

If interested, please send an email with your name, phone number, email address and availability to Alan Freeman at alan.freeman@mo.lcms.org.