Feb2017
New bishop for Victoria and Tasmania
by LCA Communications
Pastor Lester Priebbenow is the new bishop of the Lutheran Church of Australia’s Victoria–Tasmania District. Bishop Priebbenow, who succeeds Pastor Greg Pietsch in the role, was installed by LCA Bishop John Henderson on Sunday 5 February. A congregation of more than 230 people witnessed the installation service at St John’s Southgate in Melbourne, with Bishop… Read more
Jan2017
Realising a mission possible
by Mike Steicke
It just jumped out and hit me. I was attending a conference for pastors and church workers in Melbourne in May 2016. LCA Church Planting Mentor and Mission Facilitator Dean Eaton was presenting. I heard him describe the role of lay evangelist and I thought, ‘We have just the person and certainly the opportunity’. I… Read more
Oct2016
Victoria elects new bishop
by Rosie Schefe
‘God is a God of surprises. At the beginning of this year I would never have envisaged this as my next call’, Pastor Lester Priebbenow told the LCA District of Victoria and Tasmania after the announcement of his election as bishop. ‘But God is also a God of provision, and when I was nominated I… Read more
Jul2016
Lunch first for young campers
by Andrea Cross
Ninety Victorians made history on 29 June, but it had nothing to do with the upcoming federal election or end of the financial year! They all participated in the first Longest Lutheran Lunch (LLLu) in the world for 2016! These people were campers, cooks and leaders at Christian Life Week (CLW), held at Tandara Lutheran… Read more
Jul2016
Bayer looks at Luther’s legacy
by Eleanor Long
The public lecture ‘Luther’s work is full of promise … [providing] an orientation for us today. But the promise of his work has not yet reached its fulfilment. Either we have not realised it, or we have lost it and need to recover it. In this sense, Luther is still ahead’. These are the words… Read more
Apr2016
Stewards of his earth
by LCA Communications
Being a farmer is never easy but making the commitment to farm organically can be an even tougher row to hoe – literally hoeing weeds. However, for the Reichenbach family of Victoria’s Wimmera district, they believe that decision is the right one in line with their Christian faith. The past couple of years have been… Read more
Apr2016
Planting a better future
by Paul Schlüter
Lutheran Landcare is a small group of dedicated individuals in Tasmania who plant trees in autumn, water and weed in summer, and propagate in spring. This year we’ll plant another 100 trees and probably care for another 100 we planted last year. It’s time-consuming and slow, but it’s rewarding. If everyone planted one sizable tree… Read more
Mar2016
Communion sets up international bond
by Junette Schoell
Our Saviour’s Lutheran congregation, at Knox in Melbourne’s east, has a new pottery communion set from Bethlehem. It is symbolic that, when we use it, we share in the body and blood of Christ, who was born in that part of the world where there is still so much human brokenness, but also much human… Read more
Mar2016
Half-century up for early amalgamator
by Keith Lockwood
Fifty years ago, Natimuk in western Victoria was one of the leaders in bringing together the two Lutheran churches in Australia – the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia (ELCA) and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Australia (UELCA). The two Natimuk congregations began worshipping together on 24 April 1966, eight months before the Lutheran Church… Read more
Feb2016
Love thy (new) neighbour
by Cecil and Jane Schmalkuche
Refugees have become our neighbours. Our loving Lord says, Love your neighbour as yourself. For Jesus the neighbour is the needy person near you.