When Pastor Teber O. Hill arrived in 1953 to organize the congregation, a lady came to him asking if she could teach Sunday school. She felt if she would take an active role, her son would go to Sunday school with her. The Sunday school superintendent felt this was a bit risky, knowing the reputation this woman had. Pastor Hill preached a very passionate sermon the following Sunday.

He used the Gospel of John, 4^th chapter, as his text. Jesus was traveling through Samaria and came to Jacob's well near the town of Sychar to rest. A Samaritan woman of shady character came to the well to draw water. Jesus asked her for a drink. She was startled, and this started their dialogue. She found the “Living Water” and rushed back to the village forgetting her water pot to tell everyone about her encounter. “Can this be the Messiah?” she asked. And the towns people went out to see for themselves. Many of the Samaritans from that village committed themselves to Him because of the woman's witness.

That's why we have the name Sychar. We invite people of all races, all ages, and social status to come to the Well where they will taste the “Living Water” and go to bring others who are thirsty to that same Well.

                                                ---Vallie

Some have asked about the sound system progress.  We are finally moving ahead with phase 2 right now.  We hope to have it completed during the middle of July, before leaving for the SonShine Music Festival.  Phase 2 generally includes the new main speakers and sub, along with a strong amplifier to run them.  Phase 2 also includes a new desk/cabinet to hold the sound board and equipment.  Jon Morris is working on the cabinet, while he heals from his leg surgery. 

On Tuesday, June 17th, the equipment arrived.  We are hoping to take the equipment out of the boxes and do an initial inspection, as well as perform an initial operational check between 7 and 9pm on Friday the  20th.  Anybody that is interested is invited to come.  We will, to fulfill all righteousness, turn the speakers and amplifiers up (almost) all the way, to make sure they are free of defects and perform adequately.  It will be loud, and consist of a variety of spoken word from speakers with different voice profiles, as well as various music genres.  

The ReClaim Lutheran Hymnal is a name you might recognize.  It seems that our entire staff has become involved with it.  Between mailings, administrative tasks, and technical/computer issues,

Quoting ReClaim's website:

Reclaim is an organization and a hymnal project to help Lutherans reclaim our heritage, our purpose, our future, and our passion as Christians.

Reclaim is an organization made up of concerned pastors, seminary professors, and laypersons whose backgrounds are in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Reclaim’s purpose is to offer a hymnal that reclaims the insights of the Reformation for use in congregations and homes. Reclaim’s language and content are in but not of the 21st century. The crucial need for an alternative, theologically sound hymnal was first recognized in the growing movement calling for reform within the ELCA. Reclaim Resources is an independent, non-profit corporation.

The Reclaim, Introductory Edition, is available NOW. It was published in June of 2006. A complete hymnal resource will be offered approximately in the fall of 2007.

This is also a theological movement related to the Word Alone Network.  

Men’s Ministry Update:

The vision of Lutheran Men in Mission is for every man to have a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through an effective men’s ministry in every congregation.

Check out what Lutheran Men in Mission is doing to help you make that happen:

Coming of Age Lutheran Men’s Gathering, August 1-3: It’s not too late to register for this historic event! We will have the top speakers and musicians such as Tom Osborne, Dick Hardel, Ernie Hinojosa, Larry Clark, David Anderson, Paul Hill, the Peter Mayer Band and Dakota Road in Omaha- but just as important you’ll be joining men of all ages from throughout North America. Register soon as rooms are filling up. For more information, and to register, go to www.elca.org/lmm. Register soon! Rooms are filling up!

Two new events have been added to Gathering week:

One Year to Live: This is a very challenging retreat that Lutheran Men in Mission has been working on with Lyman Coleman for the past two years in the Rocky Mountain Synod and now we are ready to introduce it to the rest of the country. The retreat will take place three days before the Gathering- from 5 PM Wednesday, July 30 through 3 PM Friday, August 1 at Camp Carol Joy Holling just west of Omaha. Go to www.elca.org/lmm and click on the latest issue of “foundations” to learn more about the retreat. To register, go to the link under the “Coming of Age” logo. We are limited to the first 32 registrants this time– so don’t wait. Those registering after the retreat is at capacity will be put on a waiting list for when we take the retreat to your synod.

Coming of Age/Building for the Future celebration dinner: We are oh so close to meeting our goal to add $1.5 million goal, and confident we will meet it by August 1, that we are planning a celebration dinner just before the Gathering starts. The celebration dinner will be held in the ballroom of the Hilton Hotel at 5 PM (two hours before the Gathering starts) on Friday, August 1. Renowned author and speaker Richard Jensen will be our special speaker and Peter Mayer will provide a brief, private concert. Richard Jensen was a featured speaker at the constituting convention of LMM 20 years ago so it is most fitting that he joins us we celebrate this great step of growth. Dinner will include your choice of marinated flat iron steak paired with herb marinated chicken breast or rosemary (Atlantic) salmon. Tickets for the dinner are $35 and can be purchased by going to www.elca.org/lmm and scrolling down to “Dinner at the Coming of Age Gathering”. The deadline to by tickets for the dinner is July 9.

Mission Investment Fund Challenge

We are helping to build and renovate ELCA congregations through our support of a challenge to purchase investments from the Mission Investment Fund (MIF). To meet the challenge, we must purchase 100 new MIF investments before June 30, 2008. In return, MIF will provide a generous grant to support the Lutheran Men’s Gathering in Omaha. The invested funds will be used by MIF to make loans to ELCA congregations for renovation, expansion and relocation projects. To be a part of challenge, simply use one of the attached forms. Be sure to write “LMM challenge” challenge across the top.

Building for the Future: As stated above- we are nearing our goal with just 9 weeks left. In 10 weeks we will be a completely self-funding incorporated ministry of the church. Would you prayerfully consider a gift that would help to put us “over the top”? You can do so by sending a gift to the address below or going to www.elca.org/lmm and clicking “Lutheran Men in Mission Endowment Fund”.

Men of Prayer: Every week, we send out a scripture/prayer note focusing on praying for spiritual revival for men in the church. Many of us pause for a few moments at Wednesday noon each week to unite in prayer- others pray at various times throughout the week. Drop a note to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you would like to be added to this list.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! (Ephesians 3:20)

God bless you!

Doug Haugen, Director