LCA News

Hanna commences 20-year translation challenge
Hanna Schulz is no stranger to the love of God, disclipling, languages, hardship and exploring. Her life's journey has provided her with the skills and aptitude to survive situations like living and working at sea, or Bible translating in a remote... Read More

Generations unite at BuShed Blokes
‘Too often we separate people into age groups, but how brilliant it is to see 10-year-olds praying for 60-year-olds, and a 50-year-old preparing a cooked breakfast with an 8-year-old’, Pastor Peter Steicke said at the first BuShed Blokes weeke... Read More

BLACA advocates for aged and vulnerable
Lutheran aged-care providers were urged to be ‘remarkable’ and ‘conspicuously extraordinary’ by the keynote speaker at the eighth Board for Lutheran Aged Care Australia (BLACA) conference held in Adelaide 3-4 May under the theme ‘Positiv... Read More

Lutheran ePay: the LCA’s one-stop online shop
LCA members will soon be able to make LCA-related donations, pay LCA bills, subscriptions and school fees, and make REG (Regular Electronic Giving) payments from their bank account or credit card at a one-stop online shop. Lutheran ePay, which wil... Read More

History repeats itself at Jindera
The quaint village of Jindera located north of Albury NSW witnessed history repeating itself as the Bethlehem congregation celebrated 50 years of their church building’s opening and dedication on the exact date and day: Sunday, 13 May.   Fiftee... Read More

Erich Renner: 90 years young
Rev Dr Erich Renner remembers the text for the first sermon he ever gave (John 3:16), and that its high point was a favourite illustration used by his father. He was eleven years old at the time and the congregation was made up of his younger brot... Read More

In a league of their own
Over 90 Luther League past members from as far away as Parkes and Canberra gathered in Albury, NSW, on 6 May to meet up with friends from their youth days. Mainly from the 50s and 60s era, they gathered together to reminisce with old friends. Some... Read More

Wheel-life faith: Wendish descendants retrace wagon trek
Descendants of eight Wendish families have come together to retrace their ancestors’ physical and spiritual journey from South Australia to Victoria. In April 1852, eight Wendish migrant families—Deutscher, Petschel, Albert, Huf, Burger, Hundr... Read More

No longer Poles apart
When curator Anitta Maksymowicz began preparing the exhibition Between Fear and Hope in 2004 for the Museum of the Lubuska Land in Zielona Gora (Prussian Grünberg), Poland, she never imagined where it would lead her. The unknown story of the 19t... Read More

Pastor's blood worth bottling
Staff at Pastor Peter Ghalayini’s local Blood Bank know that his blood is worth bottling. The pastor of Good Shepherd, Ringwood, and Our Saviours, Knox (in suburban Melbourne) clocked up his 100th blood donation in late February, most of them ma... Read More

BLACA invests in aged-care pastoral care
The Board for Lutheran Aged Care Australia (BLACA) has announced a new national scholarship program to support the training of chaplains and support workers for specialised ministry to people living in Lutheran aged-care facilities. BLACA chairman... Read More

Consensus on women’s ordination on the drawing board
The Dialogue Group on the Ordination of Women, established at the direction of General Convention of Synod 2009, reports that it is making steady progress. Synod resolved to establish a group with balanced representation of positions on the ordina... Read More

Rain or shine, LORDS sets sail
Situated in the semi-rural districts of Ormeau and Pimpama between the Gold Coast and Brisbane is a brand new Lutheran School with the enviable acronym, LORDS. The Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School (LORDS) opened its doors for the first time... Read More

LCA says no to same-sex marriage
The Lutheran Church of Australia has expressed its opposition to proposed legislation that would equate same-sex partnerships with the traditional understanding of marriage, namely, between a woman and a man. In submissions to the Senate Standing ... Read More

The blessing of the blacksmith
Luke the blacksmith came as a blessing in disguise. When Luther Heights Youth Camp team needed to add 32 bunk beds to the Cross Ridge camp, they realised early on it wouldn’t be cheap. In the first place, the bunks had to meet rigorous Australi... Read More

Shepparton choir to sing at Victoria's Expo
The African choir of St Paul's Lutheran Church, Shepparton, Victoria, will be performing at Victoria's State Government Expo in April. The invitation came after the choir featured at a number of forums at the SheppARTon festival, most notably an a... Read More

Two is better than one: Australia/Canada lay leaders confer on training
Almost every aspect of church life—demographics, membership, levels of commitment, even what people perceive 'church' to be—has changed dramatically within a generation or so. That's just one of the reasons why the training of lay workers need... Read More

Hanna's call translates to 20 years far from home
At the commissioning service for a Bible translator, what could be more appropriate than hearing the Scriptures read in languages other than English? On Sunday, 18 March, Hanna Schulz was commissioned as a lay worker, called by the LCA’s Board ... Read More

Pathfinders and ponderers: schools history book launched
Great educators share many fine attributes, and one of the most important is a propensity to ponder. Indeed, pondering can be powerful, said lover of alliteration Dr Richard Hauser, at the launch of his second book about Lutheran schooling in Aust... Read More

Food Matters—and awareness matters
This year Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) is taking ‘Food Matters’ on the road to 16 venues and more than 80 schools Australia-wide, as part of their 2012 Awareness Week. ALWS has been running Awareness Week in Lutheran schools for t... Read More

Everyone's an artist: LWNSW retreat
What does the sound of ripping newspaper have to do with God? What do jelly babies floating in cups of jelly have to do with your spirituality? These were some of the questions tackled by more than 60 Lutheran women from New South Wales and the Au... Read More

A giant leap for lay ministry
Verena Johnson and Glenn Schultz have been installed by President Rev Dr Mike Semmler as the LCA’s first Lay Worker Formation Officers (LWFO). The Lay Worker Formation Program is designed to support the growth of lay ministry across the Luthe... Read More

African new arrivals a blessing for Toowoomba congregation
Last Sunday, 4 March, seven Acholi and Congolese children from two families were baptised at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Toowoomba. 'One of the positive things about Our Saviour's Africans is that their ethnic differences don't get in the ... Read More

'Just like Acts': amazing growth in Cambodian mission church
'It's like stepping into Acts! It's just like you'd imagine the first-century church to be.' The LCA Board for Mission's project officer, Glenice Hartwich, just back from a visit to Cambodia, has been amazed and inspired by the growth of the two-y... Read More

'Growing' is still growing!
For some people, whether teens or adults, confirmation lessons might as well be double Dutch. Some aspects of theology can be hard enough to get your head around, even in your mother tongue, but it’s all the harder when you have to struggle also... Read More

LLL celebrates 90 years
On Friday evening, 2 March, LCA leaders joined with board members and staff of the Lutheran Laypeople's League (LLL) to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the formation of the LLL. Fittingly, the service of thanksgiving was held in the chapel of Co... Read More

Ringing true: Strehlow book sets mission record straight
On Sunday afternoon 12 February the book, The Tale of Frieda Keysser by John Strehlow was launched at Australian Lutheran College by Ms Alison Anderson, Member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. Her electorate of Macdonnell in Central... Read More

Made with love: how the humble pastie serves a community
'How many pasties did you bake last year?' That’s a strange question, we know, but it’s a question that may well be asked in the Adelaide Hills town of Lobethal. In 2011 the Lutheran Reception Centre committee and volunteers baked 22,000 pasti... Read More

Reconciliation director a world first
The Lutheran Church of Australia is the first church in the world to create a full-time position to promote biblical conflict-resolution and peacemaking. This is the claim of Rev Bruce Zagel who was installed into the role of LCA Director of Reco... Read More

'It's a real baby!' Lobethal's Living Nativity scoops a real award
'It’s a real baby!' cried the girls sitting in the front row of the audience at Lobethal’s Living Nativity performance. At the start of the show, it dawned on the audience that the real camel smell came from a real camel and that real bleatin... Read More

LCNZ installs home-grown president
Home-grown pastor Mark Whitfield was installed yesterday as president of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand (LCNZ). This is the first time that the office has been filled by a pastor born in New Zealand. Another New Zealand-born pastor, John Davis... Read More

OAM for Yalata church and community leader
Maureen (Mima) Smart’s life, dedicated to serving others, has been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours. She was awarded a medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to indigenous community in South Australia. Mima was born ... Read More

New director appointment 'new phase' for Faith Inkubators
Faith Inkubators Australia has appointed Jodi Brook to the newly created position of National Director, commencing on 23 January this year. Chairman of the Faith Inkubators Management Team Pastor Mark Schultz said that the appointment marked a new... Read More

Sudanese pastor-in-training already working in mission field
This June will mark another milestone in the life of James Hoth Luk, when he is due to complete a Diploma of Theology at Australian Lutheran College (ALC). James, together with his wife Sarah and seven children, arrived in Melbourne in February 20... Read More

Bach to worship: Southgate’s cantatas entice music-lovers
Theologian Karl Barth once mused whether the angels in heaven, when praising God, played Bach. He wasn’t sure, though. Melbourne's inner-city residents and visitors, however, can be certain of hearing the great composer’s choral music regularl... Read More

No vegging out! Lutheran Community Care SA/NT digs in
The scorching summer heat did not deter Lutheran Community Care's (SA/NT) dedicated volunteers from cultivating a local area garden this season. Around 23 determined team members braved the soaring mercury to till the petite but fertile strip of... Read More

Young Lutheran receives justice award
A young Australian Lutheran woman and her husband have been awarded for their work in leadership and justice in Africa. Kim Findlay and her Baptist husband Michael received the inaugural Future Justice International Medal for 2011 for their effort... Read More

Bigger and better: Thailand mission trip
The Board for Mission's Thailand mission team has tested the 'bigger is better' theory with its biggest-ever contingent: 19 people. They ranged in age from 14 to 66, and represented six Lutheran congregations and one congregation of another Christ... Read More

Retired Lutheran principal is SA Citizen of the Year
Retired school principal Ophie Renner is the 2012 South Australian Citizen of the Year. He received his award from Governor Kevin Scarce at Government House yesterday, Australia Day, in recognition of his tireless community service. Ophie can trac... Read More

Alice Springs Lutheran students win national song competition
Yirara College and Living Waters Lutheran School, both based in Alice Springs, were recently announced as the winners of the GenerationOne ‘Hands Across Australia’ song competition. GenerationOne is a not-for-profit organisation that works to ... Read More

'Horses for courses': ALC announces VET program for 2012
Vocational Education and Training (VET), which Australian Lutheran College welcomed to its stable of courses in 2010, is here to stay, according to ALC Principal Rev John Henderson. In 2012 two accredited VET courses will be offered by ALC: a Cer... Read More

LFL secretary encourages LCA to engage in social debate
A three-month opportunity to live in community, sharing opportunities to learn, pray and delve deep into the Bible and other texts underpinning western civilisation has been invaluable, Lutherans For Life secretary Chelsea Pietsch says. Chelsea, a... Read More

FRM appoints new executive officer
A new era for Finke River Mission (FRM) begins with the recent appointment of new Executive Officer Brenton Schild. He has commenced his duties and will be based in Alice Springs. Brenton brings considerable experience to his role, along with a pe... Read More

Missionary reunion cements lasting bond
Whether it was one year ago or 60 years ago, time spent in God’s mission in Papua New Guinea has made an incredible impact on the lives of people who served there. It has also created a lasting bond among them. On Sunday, 8 January, more than 60... Read More

Christchurch Lutherans okay but shaken after latest quake
Christchurch Lutherans appear to be unharmed, but are shaken, after a 5.8-magnitude quake hit just before 1.00 pm this afternoon. An aftershock of similar magnitude occurred around 3.20 pm. Pastor Mark Whitfield, President-Elect of the Lutheran Ch... Read More

Christmas Greetings from Faith Inkubators Australia!
Thank you incubating faith in 2011. We’d love to partner with you (again or for the first time in 2012). You can order resources for 2012 online at www.faithink.com.au In 2012 look for Faith Ink on YouTube, further updates for H2H, new products... Read More

Children's Christmas Television
The Australian Christian Channel will broadcast The City that Forgot about Christmas at 4.00 pm on Friday, 23 December and Red Boots for Christmas at 6.30 am on Saturday, 24 December on AUSTAR DIGITAL 182, FOXTEL DIGITAL 182, OPTUS 49 / Digital 18... Read More

Lutherans and Roman Catholics converge on Tradition
Lutherans and Roman Catholics joined together in worship at Adelaide’s St Francis Xavier Cathedral on Thursday, 1 December to launch the latest document in a 36-year history of discussion between the two churches. Living Word, Living Tradition i... Read More

President's Christmas Message
If the angels announced the birth of Christ in our time, who would the shepherds be? How would they be contacted with the gospel, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours’? Would they connect via soci... Read More

LCA welcomes seven new pastors
The Lutheran Church of Australia has welcomed seven new pastors, with the ordination of the 2011 graduating class from Australian Lutheran College on Sunday, 4 December at Concordia College, Highgate. LCA President Rev Dr Mike Semmler was assisted... Read More

Japanese visitors bring gifts of grace
A tsunami-disrupted visit to Asian and Australian Lutheran churches by leaders of Japan’s tiny Kinki Evangelical Lutheran Church was finally able to go ahead in December, when Adelaide hosted the group for three 'days of discovery and grace'. O... Read More

Church leaders affirm traditional marriage definition
LCA President Rev Dr Mike Semmler was one of 19 Australian church leaders who, on the eve of Labor's historic vote on marriage, called on the party to keep Australia's definition of marriage intact. In the statement signed 2 December 2011, the lea... Read More

Strehlow book sets Hermannsburg record straight
A book by the grandson of legendary Hermannsburg missionary Carl Strehlow sets straight the relationship between the Lutheran missionaries and the Aboriginal people under their care. The Tale of Frieda Keysser, written by John Strehlow, was launch... Read More

Servants of Christ focus on community
'It’s my God-given job, to encourage others.' Rex Hinz is a man of few words, the kind of person who deserves to be heard when he chooses to speak. A farmer all his life – first at Clifton in Queensland, then at Brookstead, Queensland, Rex is ... Read More

ALC graduands on 'adventure of faith'
'You do not know what you do not know', Australian Lutheran College (ALC) principal Pastor John Henderson told students and guests at the ALC valedictory service on Friday, 25 November. 'This sounds like a truism', he said. 'In the church, it can ... Read More

The footprints of Jesus: PNG missionaries relive memories
In mid October around 80 former missionaries to Papua New Guinea (PNG) and other supporters gathered for a weekend reunion and mission celebration at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pasadena, Adelaide. Visitors came from as far afield as Western Austral... Read More

LCA's Asian partners rally to support flood victims
The Board for Mission is continuing to monitor the flood situation in Thailand and Cambodia, particularly as it affects the LCA's partner church and mission areas in those countries. The board has asked LCA members to pray for flood-affected peopl... Read More

LWF to stay in Dadaab despite security threats
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) will continue its humanitarian work at the world’s biggest refugee camp despite recent security threats in the Horn of Africa region, the LWF Department for World Service (DWS) director Rev Eberhard Hitzler ha... Read More

Lunch in the footy club: a community-friendly event
The Pinnaroo congregation in South Australia's south-east hired the local footy club for their Longest Lutheran Lunch. It would have been cheaper and probably easier to hold it in their church hall but the congregation had something else in mind -... Read More

600 'God stories' at Big Shed Happens
Brisbane Lions champion Simon Black headed a long stream of speakers at Big Shed Happens on 29 October. ‘It’s the choices we make, not the chances we take, that determine our destiny’, he said. Meeting in the Big Shed at Grace Lutheran Colle... Read More

Hundreds flock to mega community event
Aberfoyle Park's mega Longest Lutheran Lunch barbecue, held on their school's oval, attracted a whopping 450 eager sausage sizzlers! There was a good mix of people from the school, church and general communities, who munched their way through a fr... Read More

Faith Inkubators training puts spring into family ministry
How is your congregation making a difference for God’s family? That was the challenge for the Faith Inkubators at this year’s spring training event on the Gold Coast in October. Around 25 ministry leaders from Western Australia, Victoria, Sou... Read More

A crackling good time at Port Lincoln
In terms of length of planning time, Port Lincoln's Longest Lutheran Lunch is the winner by far. It's been a long time coming - over ten years! The dream of such an event was already there, in Mark and Sue Thiel's minds, long before the LCA launch... Read More

'It would be amazing': Students already dreaming of next year's lunch
'Wouldn't it be amazing if the whole school got involved? Imagine how long the table would be!' With the lunch boxes not yet empty, Year 6 and 7 students at Nuriootpa's Redeemer Lutheran School in the Barossa Valley were already imagining what nex... Read More

First family feast to become a Longest Lutheran Lunch
The Neldner clan in and around Brisbane gathers bi-monthly to celebrate birthdays, successes and celebrations. The next family gathering was due to fall on 30 October, and since most of the Neldners are Lutheran, are married to Lutherans or teach ... Read More

Hats off for school's fundraising lunch
At Prince of Peace Lutheran College (Senior Campus), Everton Hills, Brisbane, the Longest Lunch Lunch was also a late Lutheran lunch, held on Tuesday, 1 November -- Melbourne Cup Day. Students and staff were invited to dress up in a fancy hat or ... Read More

A lunch engagement
There was plenty to celebrate at the Longest Lutheran Lunch at St Luke’s Parkwood, Western Australia -- including the pastor's engagement! Members celebrated the engagement of their pastor Paul Hannola and Karen Martin when dessert was rolled ou... Read More

Moorabbin tucks into long food
The members of St James Moorabbin had anticipated a long-distance Longest Lutheran Lunch -- a progressive lunch covering several kilometres. But due to an unofficial long weekend in Melbourne and many members being away, the lunch was scaled down ... Read More

Kalgoorlie-Boulder hosts longest-from-anywhere lunch
While it is at least four hours from its nearest Lutheran-church neighbour, the congregation of St Pauls Kalgoorlie-Boulder was determined not to let its isolation be a barrier to participating in the inaugural Longest Lutheran Lunch. St Pauls, in... Read More

Pass the pasta and pizza please! - Ringwood/Knox serves up Italian
Defying tradition, Ringwood/Knox in Melbourne banned all things German for their Longest Lutheran Lunch, choosing instead to serve pasta, pizza and other Italian delights. Almost 100 members and visitors sat at four long tables adorned in green, r... Read More

Longest Lutheran sausage gets longer overnight
The buzz word in Lobethal was definitely ‘long’, with the longest assortment of long goodies seen in a long while. This array included the longest sausage made by the local butcher and cooked by parish volunteers. Some careful handling and co... Read More

Waikerie's German-inspired lunch a community affair
A beautiful, warm and sunny day provided the backdrop to a German-inspired feast of food and fun for the parish of Waikerie in South Australia's Riverland. The official opening of the local school oval by Pastor Richard Fox provided the opportunit... Read More

Lunch under the cross, thanks to Melbourne rain
'Connecting' can be a real challenge for city congregations, where members usually live not only far from their church but also far from each other. But never afraid of a challenge, St Johns Southbank in Melbourne city used the Longest Lutheran Lu... Read More

Kapunda oom-pahs through lunch
It was all things German for Kapunda's Longest Lutheran Lunch, held a week earlier than most - on 23 October. The three-congregation parish - Kapunda, Allen's Creek and Bethel - spared not a pretzel when it came to preparing the lavish spread, whi... Read More

70 metres - a long lunch by any measure
They took the ‘longest lunch’ theme literally in the Barossa. The Tanunda Lutheran churches combined to lay out a 70-metre long table and set up for four hours filled with fellowship on the last Sunday in October. Close to 200 people sat aroun... Read More

Lamingtons, Lutherans and lots of laughter at Rochedale
One of the quirkiest projects initiated for the cross-Tasman Longest Lutheran Lunch started as an idea that popped into David Spann’s head while he was philosophising in the shower one morning. The Longest Lutheran Lamington was a great success... Read More

Food and fellowship put the fun into FUNdraising
Members from St Mark’s Lutheran Church Mt Gravatt embraced the strong Asian presence within the congregation by enjoying a truly ethnic and delicious Longest Lutheran Lunch experience. Former Queensland Distict President Tim Jaensch explained th... Read More

Door-to-door invitations bring new friends to lunch
Christian community and friendship were on the menu at St John’s Lutheran Church, South Kilkerran, a church set amid the paddocks of central Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. 'Once upon a time everyone knew everyone at South Kilkerran, but tim... Read More

Angaston: proud hosts of the Wurst Lutheran Lunch
No one could doubt the commitment to tradition of the good people of Angaston, Eden Valley, Penrice and Keyneton and Springton. 'I’m wearing a replica of my great-grandmother’s dress for the occasion. The feathers are from my feather duster! I... Read More

Murray Bridge: true to its name - it connects
In South Australia, the Murray Bridge Lutheran community really took the principles of Operation Connect to heart when planning their Longest Lutheran Lunch. A group of eight enthusiastic volunteers, headed by Ron Jericho, took a big swing at the... Read More

Woodside bikes into their Longest Lutheran Lunch
Sundays are a gift. Every waking day is a gift, but this particular Sunday seemed to be wrapped up especially for those with the outdoors on their mind: sunny, 20 degrees, blue skies and a cool breeze – perfect cycling weather. People were busy... Read More

The banquet that lasts forever: you can't get longer than that!
On Sunday, 30 October, members of neighbouring Darling Downs parishes Pittsworth and Oakey gathered at St Peter’s in Pittsworth to celebrate the Longest Lutheran Lunch in true Lutheran style. There was a great turnout on the day, with 135 peopl... Read More

How many ingredients in a Reformation lunch? 95, of course!
Vicar Tat Tsui, minister to the Chinese congregation at Botany in Auckland, had been ecstatic with excitement in the build-up for the Longest Lutheran Lunch. He anticipated great creativity from his people as they brought dishes to share for lunch... Read More

New Zealand churches are world's first to lunch
Kicking off the LCA's inaugural Longest Lutheran Lunch were the congregations in the Lutheran Church of New Zealand. The honour of being the very first congregation to hold a Longest Lutheran Lunch was too close to call, however, as many fellowshi... Read More

NSW's oldest congregation celebrates long history at Longest Lutheran Lunch
When the people of St Peter’s, Gerogery, heard the call to honour their heritage, it didn’t take long for the troops to rally together to produce a celebration to remember. The small congregation of St Peter’s nestled in the outskirts of Al... Read More

Liberal lashings of lamb and lentils: Tuggeranong loves the letter L
If you like liberal lashings of lentil salad with your leg of lamb, you would have loved Tuggeranong’s Longest Lutheran Lunch. Good Shepherd Community Church, Tuggeranong,  lacked no creativity when deciding on a theme for their lunch. The sout... Read More

Lunch guests outnumber members at Narraweena
Community outreach can be daunting and disheartening, especially if no-one turns up. But for Redeemer Lutheran Church, Narraweena, guests outnumbered members at their Aussie barbeque lunch. Coordinator, Sally Bradford, said it was a huge success. ... Read More

Rain no dampener for Melbourne's Longest Lutheran Picnic
Melbournians always need to have a Plan B when planning any event in case of inclement weather, and Outer Eastern Lutheran Church’s Plan B for their Longest Lutheran Lunch certainly had to swing into action! Despite the cold and very wet condit... Read More

Three-way celebration packs Stawell church
St Peter’s Lutheran Church in Stawell was almost filled to capacity for their combined Reformation, Confirmation and Longest Lutheran Lunch celebrations. Visitors from Adelaide, Melbourne and even as far away as Brisbane flocked to the little c... Read More

Lutheran Lunch hits new heights
With picnic baskets bulging, rugs at the ready and refreshments on hand, St Mark’s Lutheran congregation in Sydney’s north-west, overran their local park to celebrate their Longest Lutheran Lunch. Pastor Mark Simpfendorfer, the event coordinat... Read More

120 Longest Lutheran Lunches!
At least 120 congregations across Australia and New Zealand sat down to Longest Lutheran Lunches yesterday, with reports indicating that the innovative event has been a huge success. The Longest Lutheran Lunch is the first event to be run under th... Read More

Pray for Thailand partner church, LCA members urged
As the flood crisis in Thailand, including in its capital Bangkok, escalates, Lutherans across Australia and New Zealand have been urged to pray for the millions of people affected by the disaster. LCA Board for Mission Director Rev Neville Otto,... Read More

LCA DVD Worship Services reach far and wide
LCA DVD Worship Services are being distributed each week to a growing number of congregations and individuals. They are even reaching across the oceans. St Martin’s Lutheran Church in Marton, New Zealand, has been using them in its ministry t... Read More

Brisbane Lutherans walk first Pilgrimage of Grace
The congregation at St Paul's, Nundah, Brisbane, looked a little different on Sunday, 9 October. Scattered among the regular worshippers were 17 people dressed in walking attire and runners, with most carrying a back pack and hat. Many also smelle... Read More

A day's pay for Dadaab: a story that can save lives
It is the story of haunting images from a refugee camp somewhere in Kenya built to house around 90,000 people but currently catering for close to 450,000. It is the descriptive pictures that should haunt wealthy Australians more than the fear of r... Read More

Hermeneutics symposium: a new sense of hope in ordination discussion
At the conclusion of the LCA’s Hermeneutics Symposium, Finnish pastor Anssi Simojoki said, ‘In my experience, these things [discussions about the ordination of women] quickly turn into boxing matches. This is the first time in my life where I ... Read More

Home away from home: a quiet ministry of ALC
Australian Lutheran College (ALC) is on a mission to remind LCA members and friends about its boarding facilities — an often overlooked service provided by the college. ‘Many people in the LCA know that ALC provides training for church workers... Read More

Huge turnout for a little town: Trungley Hall celebrates centenary
The small rural town of Trungley Hall, with a population of only nine, came alive on Sunday, 2 October, when over 300 people attended the centenary service at Zion Lutheran Church. Past and current members, pastors, community and visitors from all... Read More

'Proud to be Lutheran': Redeemer Toowoomba invites friends to lunch
It’s been almost 500 years since a German monk put up his 95 theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, sparking a series of controversies that would change history. As a testament to the remarkable effect the actions of Martin Luthe... Read More

Federal government announces Africa 'donation-double' grant
The Australian government has announced a grant to match dollar-for-dollar public donations for the Africa famine crisis. That means that donations made to Australian Lutheran World Service's (ALWS) Africa Famine Appeal will be doubled. Foreign Mi... Read More

Perth couple 'fun runs' to raise $3000 for Somalia
On a crisp Sunday morning late in August a couple from St John’s Northbridge in Perth joined 42,000 people at the 12-kilometre Perth 'City to Surf' fundraiser. Harry and Heather Mithen walked ('and jogged a bit') in the annual City to Surf and... Read More

Mutitjulu woman installed as lay worker
Last month, in the shadow of Uluru, Lutherans from the Mutitjulu community gathered in the Good Shepherd church for the installation of Rita Okai as a lay worker. ‘To be chosen for such a role requires a person to have demonstrated exemplary be... Read More

Outer Eastern's long Lutheran picnic
With 30 October falling right in the middle of Melbourne Cup weekend, it seemed only natural for Outer Eastern Lutheran Church (OELC) to pick up the spring picnic theme for their Longest Lutheran Lunch. And the prayer groups are already onto the t... Read More

Mt Barker plans bowls of porridge for lunch
Besides being a big day on the Lutheran calendar and the date of the Longest Lutheran Lunch, 30 October also affords an opportunity to do something out of the ordinary, as it is also the rare, fifth Sunday of the month. St Mark’s Lutheran Churc... Read More

International parish nurses visit SA
Fourteen people - most of them parish nurses - spent a week in South Australia in September, as part of the second study tour organised through Lutheran Parish Nurses International (LPNI). Several others joined in various aspects of the tour prog... Read More

Record awards haul for Lutheran publications
Even before The Lutheran was declared the 2011 winner of the Gutenberg award (read the story), it had come within a whisker of equalling its highest Australasian Religious Press Association (ARPA) awards tally. This year the LCA’s national magaz... Read More

Longest Lutheran ... what?
The congregation at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale, Brisbane, is busily planning their Longest Lutheran Lunch. But they're also going to create another three Ls - the Longest Lutheran Lamington. Redeemer Lutheran College and Our Saviour pa... Read More

Bathurst-Orange takes global approach
Bathurst-Orange Lutheran Parish will take a global approach to its Longest Lutheran Lunch, celebrating the diverse heritage of its members and thinking of others in need. The central-west New South Wales parish has about 61 members from around ten... Read More

'The Lutheran' joins Christian publishing's roll of honour
Around 1440 a little man from Mainz changed the world. Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press is commemorated annually in the Australasian Religious Press Association’s (ARPA) premier award. The Gutenberg perpetual trophy is awar... Read More

In Auckland, a new interpretation of 'long'
Mountainside Lutheran Church in Auckland, New Zealand, is incorporating a fourth interpretation of 'long' in their Longest Lutheran Lunch: long food. 'We plan to serve long sausages and frankfurters in long rolls, along with potato salad and gree... Read More

West Australians prepare for last-but-not-least lunches
Members of St Paul’s in Albany, Western Australia, will emphasise the ‘long’ aspect of the Longest Lutheran Lunch on October 30 when they sit down to dine hours after plates at the first events in New Zealand have been emptied. Congregation ... Read More

Little church with a big heart plans a caring Longest Lutheran Lunch
At Good News Lutheran Church, Albert Park in Adelaide, love is a part of everything the members try to do. ‘We are a small church, but we’re like a little family', says office secretary Cynthia Orr. ‘When new people come to our church, we lo... Read More

Vicars ascend the learning curve
Six new vicars have been commissioned and installed into congregations of the greater Adelaide area, where they will both learn and serve until Easter 2012. Australian Lutheran College (ALC) head of the School of Pastoral Theology Rev Dr Andrew Pf... Read More

The Ark’s Longest Lutheran Lunch: a mixed-up bunch!
Salisbury, in the northern suburbs of Adelaide is filled with people from all sorts of different backgrounds. So is the Salisbury Lutheran Church – affectionately known as 'The Ark'. At The Ark, on any day during the week, and particularly in th... Read More

Translators in it for the long haul
Bible translation is not as simple as it might first appear. There is not always a word-for-word match. For example, in the Manga Buang language spoken by a group of Papua New Guinean (PNG) people there are twelve words for the English word ‘ca... Read More

A long way from Stuttgart ... a German feast in the Mallee
Members of St John’s Buccleuch, in the heart of the Mallee in South Australia, are going to celebrate their Lutheran heritage with a Longest Lutheran (German Ploughman’s) Lunch on Reformation Day. The fifteen regular members from the rural, m... Read More

Eat Walk Ride: Woodside will make guests ride for their supper
‘We want to connect. Our church is here for the whole community – and not just on Sunday mornings’, said Pastor Steve Liersch of the Onkaparinga Lutheran Parish in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. The parish is taking the spirit of the L... Read More

What's cooking? LCA launches Longest Lutheran Lunch
The Salisbury congregation in Adelaide boasts members from China, Sudan, Ethiopia, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Latvia and Germany. So it’s no surprise that their Longest Lutheran Lunch will be a multi-cultural potluck smorgasbord. In the South A... Read More

Toowoomba service helps to heal 'damage to the heart'
As we watched the devastation unfold in January this year, particularly in Toowoomba and around Grantham, many of us were left asking, where was God? This the first question LCAQD President Rev Noel Noack put to the congregation during his sermon ... Read More

NSW Synod farewells Brian Elliott
Guiding people through the process of resolving end-of-life issues sits at the heart of Brian Elliott, recently retired chief executive officer of Lutheran Aged Care Albury. ‘Spirituality is where all things flow from’, he told NSW Convention ... Read More

Stunning generosity: ALWS Africa appeal tops $300,000
As they pull out all stops to respond to the worst famine in 60 years, Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) staff have reported some astonishing good news. Over $300,000 has been donated by Australian and New Zealand Lutherans since the emerge... Read More

Trans-Pacific districts strengthen unique relationship
The New South Wales District Convention welcomed Pastor Don Schiemann, President of the Alberta-British Columbia (ABC) District of the Lutheran Church-Canada (LCC) as its guest speaker. The LCA has a unique and significant relationship with the L... Read More

Small doesn’t mean powerless: NSW Synod challenged to embrace freedom in Christ
‘It would be quite inspiring if the leaders of our LCA could illustrate our Convention theme by imitating the actions of the two people on the logo’, who were jumping into the air, arms reaching for the sky. This is how New South Wales Distric... Read More

New LCA website waits in the wings
The sparkling new LCA website is waiting in the wings, with the stage curtains due to rise in September. LCA Business Manager Debbie Venz, who is project managing the enormous overhaul, says that the much-anticipated website will be a huge boost ... Read More

Shed Night men speak out against violence towards women
‘As a community of men, we can stand together and say No to all forms of domestic violence against women. We want to be a model to all men that women are to be treated with respect and honour.’ This is the message coming from the men of Centra... Read More

19-year-old becomes youngest ALWS board member
Morgan Brookes, an education student from Adelaide, is the newest board member for Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS). At 19 years of age and in her first year of a secondary teaching degree at Flinders University, Morgan has already travell... Read More

Red Centre church brought back to life
In the heart of Australia’s ‘Red Centre’, an abandoned and run-down church has been restored by the local Lutheran Aboriginal community, with the assistance of the Finke River Mission (FRM) and some enthusiastic Sydney school students. On S... Read More

Production of worship DVDs commences
Lutheran Media Ministry and the Commission on Worship have launched a resource that is likely to be quickly pounced upon by congregations without pastors. Every week a worship service will be filmed, edited and burnt onto DVDs. Director of Luthera... Read More

‘Say no to euthanasia’: CSBQ chair addresses nurses conference
In The Netherlands, where voluntary euthanasia has been legal since 1984, around 900 people each year are given lethal doses without consent, and close to 50 per cent of cases are not reported. The practice of euthanasia has been extended to newbo... Read More

'Wowed': NSW Twenty20 course receives thumbs up
As the first Twenty20 Vision 'LCA Administration' workshop hits the ground running, it's hailed as a real success by enthusiastic participants. Eight participants from across the Riverina travelled to Wagga Wagga,  New South Wales, in July to gai... Read More

Flood gift generates new hope
On 1 August employees and friends of David Stollznow, manager and part owner of Rocklea Diesel, gathered to give thanks for the recovery of his business. The event was marked with the 'blessing of the compressor' by Rev Noel Noack, President of th... Read More

Scholarships do their bit to change the church
How much money does it take to change a church? A surprisingly small amount, according to Dr Malcolm Bartsch, chair of the LCA’s Scholarship Committee. Each year the Scholarship Committee invests in change and growth by supporting a small number... Read More

Alcohol abuse an ‘unfolding tragedy’: pastors lobby governments for action
Twenty-four Central Australian Lutheran pastors have called on government leaders to take urgent action about alcohol abuse in Alice Springs. In a co-signed letter to federal government ministers (including the prime minister), shadow ministers, s... Read More

Adelaide could become 'euthanasia capital': SA Lutherans urged to lobby MPs
South Australian Lutherans are being urged to express their concerns to MPs following the state's lower house passing the second reading of Labor MP Steph Key's 'euthanasia bill' on 28 July. In March 2011 Ms Key tabled her Criminal Law Consolidati... Read More

Horn of Africa crisis: ALWS launches urgent appeal
Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) has launched an urgent appeal in response to the famine crisis on the Horn of Africa, where 3.2 million people urgently require life-saving aid. Each day 1300 people are arriving in refugee camps. On averag... Read More

LWA leads the way in mission support
Evidence of the hard work and generosity of Lutheran Women of Australia (LWA) was a highlight of the mid-triennium meeting of the recent LWA Council in Adelaide. Over the last twelve months LWA contributed almost $80,000 towards Board for Mission... Read More

Pilgrim's anniversary project supports refugee pilgrims
To mark its 40th anniversary Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Magill, Adelaide, has reached out to support newly arrived pilgrims in rural Victoria. The congregation will be forwarding proceeds from its fundraising endeavours to St Paul's Lutheran Churc... Read More

Sew good! Adelaide refugee women celebrate Sudan's big day
Good News Lutheran Church at Albert Park, Adelaide, was filled with emotion as Sudanese women joined in prayer on the eve of independence for the world’s newest nation. Members of the Lutheran Community Sewing Group, their teachers and supporter... Read More

Adelaide's Sudanese worship on independence day
Members of Adelaide's Lutheran Sudanese community were among hundreds of worshippers in St Peters Anglican Cathedral celebrating the birth of The Republic of South Sudan on Saturday, 9 July. Overseen by Archbishop of Adelaide the Most Reverend Dr ... Read More

Free at last: Sudanese Christians rejoice at new nation's birth
The woman had tears streaming down her face. ‘I can’t believe it, I just can’t believe it!’ she repeated. The service on 10 July at St Pauls Anglican Cathedral, Melbourne, to celebrate the independence of South Sudan had just finished, a... Read More

LCA Thailand partners struggling after flash floods
The LCA's missionary in Thailand, Rev Simon Mackenzie, has reported that he and his wife Oiy, together with friends and colleagues, have almost completed the arduous task of clearing out their rented home of ruined furniture, books, personal memen... Read More

Rapid response to ALWS's 'guinea worm' appeal
Only four weeks after the launch of its guinea-worm eradication fundraising campaign, Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) is delighted to report that the target amount has been reached already. Australian and New Zealand Lutherans were so mov... Read More

ALC scholarship 'a gift'
Sarah Dingle describes her Margaret Pech Scholarship as an answer to prayer: 'a great gift at a needy time'. A first-year Bachelor of Theology student at Australian Lutheran College (ALC), Sarah first became aware of the help when awardees for th... Read More

Escalating violence in Sudan: ALWS calls for prayers
Australian and New Zealand Lutherans are being asked to pray about the escalating violence in Sudan in the lead-up to 9 July, when Southern Sudan will officially achieve independence. Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) Executive Director Pe... Read More

Faithful servant of Aboriginal people awarded OAM
In June, Ceduna’s Dean Heyne was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his work with indigenous communities and his service to the Lutheran Church. After a career as a teacher and principal... Read More

'To have and to hold': Archives brings back the memories
The Lutheran Archives is exhibiting a display illustrating the traditions of Lutheran marriage. The story begins with G J Rechner’s marriage register written in a mixture of English and German: English for the civil requirements (occupation and... Read More

21st-century study guide launched in modern style
In what was probably a first for a publication launch in the LCA, the Connection study guide was christened via Skype, with popular Christian speaker and author Mark Sayers doing the honours on 15 June. Speaking from his home in Melbourne via a p... Read More

‘Respect and honour’: LEA executive director installed
Stephen Rudolph has been installed as executive director of Lutheran Education Australia (LEA) Ltd during a regular evening worship service at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide, on 27 June. He becomes only the third person to hold this office ov... Read More

Australian missionary caught up in Thailand floods
The Board for Mission has called for urgent prayer support for the LCA’s missionary serving in northern Thailand. Pastor Simon Mackenzie and his wife Oiy lost many of their possessions in a flash flood that devastated the area in which they are ... Read More

LCNZ elects new president
‘It is a great honour to be invited to serve in this way the church that has nurtured me from my youngest years’, said newly elected Lutheran Church of New Zealand (LCNZ) President Rev Mark Whitfield. In an emotional acceptance speech, he said... Read More

LLL: new look, same service
The Lutheran Laypeople’s League (LLL) is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year — which is as good a time as any for a facelift. Its new brand features bright, bold rainbow colours, representing the myriad ministries of the church. ‘As h... Read More

‘Better Blokes’ challenges men to stand up and be counted
On the evening of Pentecost Sunday, at the closing worship service for the ‘Better Blokes’ conference, over 100 men came forward to be anointed and blessed to be leaders of other men in their churches and communities.  ‘It was totally amaz... Read More

Nothing stationary about new LCA partner
The LCA’s newest business partner is anything but stationary. From its origins as an Australian stationer in 1969, OfficeMax has expanded to become one of the country’s leading suppliers of office and educational products, with offices and dis... Read More

Worship planning page a huge hit
The LCA Commission on Worship’s weekly worship planning page for lay leaders has had over 25,000 hits since its launch in November. The blog is being used extensively by members across the LCA/LCNZ and the world. Rev Greg Pietsch, chair of the C... Read More

Mission fundraiser bears fruit
Riverland farmer Lou Moss has found an innovative way to support God’s work in overseas communities — by selling his homegrown apricots. In 2004 Lou, a member of the New Residence congregation in the Barmera parish, South Australia, embarked o... Read More

School chaplains wired for caring
Participants in the biennial National Lutheran School Pastors and Chaplains Conference, held at Ipswich, Queensland, 25-27 May, were challenged technologically and theologically as they explored the theme ‘Serving in a Wired World’. Delivering... Read More

Alice Springs playgroup reaches out to town camps
Lutheran Community Care (LCC) SA/NT recently began supporting the Kwatja Etatha Playgroup at the Alice Springs Lutheran Church. ‘This program is a wonderful example of cooperative partnerships within the church’, says LCC Director Helen Lockw... Read More

Central Australian communities blessed by Soweto Choir
The two-time Grammy-Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir’s latest Australian tour began in Central Australia in early May with a visit to Areyonga. There they shared their South African song and dance with the local Pitjantjatjara people, who in t... Read More

LCNZ boards B10K as one
An entire district of the LCA, the Lutheran Church of New Zealand (LCNZ), has jumped on board B10K. Starting from May, non-subscribing members and contacts in all 17 congregations will receive three consecutive editions of The Lutheran, for free. ... Read More

Townsville wins LLL grant
The Townsville congregation has received a $20,000 mission stimulus grant from the Lutheran Laypeople’s League (LLL) to assist its mission endeavours. The presentation was made at the Queensland District Convention of Synod held 13-15 May at Bud... Read More

PSU director appointed
Mrs Liz Crawford has been appointed Director of the LCA Professional Standards Unit (PSU). She has been acting as Interim Director for the last six months after being seconded from the LCAQD where she was Professional Standards Director. She says... Read More

Flood funds not only for Lutherans: LCAQD president
In his report to the Queensland District Convention of Synod held 13-15 May at Buderim, President Noel Noack stressed that flood-relief funds will be not be distributed only to Lutherans. They will also be used to assist community members. ‘We w... Read More

LEA equips Christian Studies teachers
In April Lutheran Education Australia (LEA) reached another milestone with the launch of Equip, the in-service professional development program for Christian Studies teachers in Lutheran schools. Receiving a copy of the Equip manual on behalf of... Read More

Disaster appeal tops $880,000
Australian flood- and fire-affected congregations, communities and individuals will have up to $880,000 to assist their recovery, thanks to the generosity of people across Australia, New Zealand and the world. ‘It’s amazing how quickly Luthera... Read More

LCA revs up its buying power
LCA departments and agencies will soon start reaping cost savings under a contract with new business partner Church Resources. Under the agreement the LCA will be pooling its buying power with other churches and not-for-profit organisations and th... Read More

Lutheran schools: a new way of serving and learning
Lutheran schools are different from other schools. The chief task of Lutheran Education Australia (LEA) is to uphold and promote the gospel in the schools of the LCA. But in the day-to-day business of providing excellent education to over 36,500 s... Read More

New hymnbook for Aboriginal Lutherans
A new hymnbook published by Finke River Mission just in time for its 135th anniversary celebrations is enabling Lutherans in central Australia to sing songs in their own language. Entitled Nyiri Inmatjara Lutheran Uwankaraku, the 360-page hymn-boo... Read More

Grassroots Training meets grassroots members
Shannon Hood and Dan Sawade of Australian Lutheran College’s (ALC) Grassroots Training division went on the road in March to meet grassroots Lutherans in Western Australia and western South Australia. ‘There are some exciting things going on i... Read More

Australian Lutherans pray for Japan
On 11 March Rev Neville Otto and Mrs Heidi Smith joined with Lutherans from Japan and elsewhere in Asia to pray for the people of Japan. Mrs Smith and Pastor Otto were representing the LCA at the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Asian Church Leader... Read More

LCA celebrates 65 years of radio ministry
‘Devastating floods in Queensland, then a cyclone, and an earthquake in New Zealand … these disasters have reminded us how fragile life on earth is. But people facing the pressures of everyday life are fragile, too’, said Ian Liddell, chair ... Read More

'Loving Lord, have mercy': LCA prays for Christchurch
As emergency services workers race against the clock to rescue survivors from the rubble in Christchurch, the prayers of LCA members join with that of LCNZ President Robert Erickson’s petition: “Loving Lord, have mercy”. Just over 24 hours a... Read More

Thanks be to God: Yasi takes no lives
With thanks to God, the LCA rejoices that no lives were lost in the greatly feared Category 5 tropical cyclone Yasi, which crossed the coast around midnight last night. At the same time the church extends the love and compassion of God to the peop... Read More

Congregations will support victims for long haul
Across flood-devastated Queensland, Lutheran congregations and schools have rallied to help fellow members, as well as desperate people in their communities, to recover from the immediate impact of the disaster. They are committed also to caring f... Read More

Lives spared, but widespread loss and despair in Queensland
Despite a number of close calls, no Lutheran lives were lost in the devastating Queensland floods. Many of our members are suffering enormous heartache and hardship, however. Seven Lutheran families live in Grantham, the international headline-mak... Read More

Flood response 'miraculous': Qld president
Rev Noel Noack, president of the LCA Queensland District, has described as ‘miraculous’ the outpouring of compassion by church members to victims of the Queensland flood disaster. While the losses to members have been great, the compassionate ... Read More

Lutheran Winemakers support flood victims
The Lutheran Winemakers Club will donate the proceeds from their next release to the flood recovery effort. The Lutheran Winemakers Club comprises companies located mainly in South Australia. As such, they have not been affected by the flooding ex... Read More

Queensland president 'extremely thankful'
Rev Noel Noack, president of the Queensland District of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA), this afternoon expressed gratitude to God that the district offices had been spared major damage from the Brisbane flooding. Floodwaters almost complet... Read More

Queensland's Lutheran heartland devastated by 'inland tsunami'
The heartland of Queensland Lutherans – the Darling Downs, Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley – was yesterday ravaged by a freak flash flood described by the Queensland police minister as an ‘inland tsunami’. Nine people are confirmed dead a... Read More

Lutherans worldwide express solidarity
Following the disastrous floods in eastern Australia, expressions of solidarity and assurance of prayer have been streaming in from across the Lutheran world, in particular from the LCA’s partner churches. ‘In times of disaster it is humbling ... Read More