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Ash Wednesday Offering February 8, 2015 In the past, all congregations have been invited to support Kansas On Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2015, please bring an offering in District missions and ministry through the annual Ash Wednesday support of two special funds of the Kansas District: 1) the Scholarship offering. The Kansas District Board of Directors designated the 2015 Fund which supports students pursuing a career in professional church Ash Wednesday offering to be divided equally between the Scholarship work at LCMS universities and seminaries, and 2) the Education Loan and Education Loan Repayment Funds. Repayment Fund which helps professional church workers serving Kansas congregations and schools with the repayment of their student The Scholarship Fund supports students pursuing a career in loans. professional church work at an LCMS university or seminary. Over $34,750 was distributed to twenty-two students in 2014, with February 15, 2015 amounts varying from $1,000 for freshmen to $3,000 for seminary How can you assist Kansas congregations to raise up, retain and support students. professional church workers? By bringing a special offering to the Ash Wednesday service on February 18 to benefit the Kansas District We want to encourage more of our members to become church workers, Scholarship and Education Loan Repayment Funds. These funds help but the high cost of education can be overwhelming. The average cost of college students pursuing a career in professional church work and help tuition only at a Concordia university is about $25,000. School professional church workers with repayment of their education loans. scholarships may possibly cut that figure in half. Adding books and room and board leaves students with a significant amount to finance.

The Education Loan Repayment Fund supports professional church BULLETIN INSERT workers who carry indebtedness from their college and seminary education. In 2014, a total of $25,600 was awarded to thirty-two See the other side for a copy-ready insert. workers, with grants sent directly to the lender. These workers reported loans totaling over $834,000. Of the pastors, the average education loan debt was $31,246 (ranging from $1,333 to $94,029); of the teachers – $18,712 ($935 to $58,567); of the DCEs – $18,223 ($5,448 to $30,982). All of these materials are available on the Kansas District Congratulations to the three workers who paid off their loans during the website, www.kslcms.org – click on Publications-Resources at past year! the top of the page and scroll down to Ash Wednesday. Please make checks payable to the church. We will then forward the entire Ash Wednesday offering to the Kansas District for the Scholarship and Education Loan Repayment Funds.

Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Ash Wednesday Offering Ash Wednesday Offering

The Kansas District Board of Directors designated the Kansas District Ash The Kansas District Board of Directors designated the Wednesday offering to be divided equally between the District Kansas District Ash Wednesday offering to be Scholarship and Education Loan Repayment Funds to benefit Kansas divided equally between the District Scholarship and Education Loan students pursuing a career in professional church work and professional Repayment Funds to benefit Kansas students pursuing a career in church workers serving Kansas congregations and schools. professional church work and professional church workers serving Kansas congregations and schools. Scholarship & Education Loan Repayment Funds Scholarship & Education Loan Repayment Funds Students pursuing degrees in professional church work at LCMS universities or seminaries face yearly tuition costs averaging $25,000 – Students pursuing degrees in professional church work at LCMS this does not include room and board and books. In 2014, twenty-two universities or seminaries face yearly tuition costs averaging $25,000 – students received awards ranging from this does not include room and board and books. In 2014, twenty-two $1,000 to $3,000 depending on their year students received awards ranging from in school. $1,000 to $3,000 depending on their year in school. With the rising costs of education, many Kansas professional church workers can be With the rising costs of education, many saddled with large debt from student loans. Kansas professional church workers can be In 2014, thirty-two applicants received saddled with large debt from student loans. grants ranging from $200 to $900 to assist in repaying their education In 2014, thirty-two applicants received loans. The combined total of their education debt was over $834,000. grants ranging from $200 to $900 to assist in repaying their education loans. The combined total of their education debt was over $834,000. Words of Thanks from Grant Recipients Words of Thanks from Grant Recipients  I praise God for the financial aid you have given me. I am thrilled to be attending Concordia Nebraska. Thank you!  I praise God for the financial aid you have given me. I am thrilled to  Thank you very much for your continued support as I learn how to be attending Concordia Nebraska. Thank you! better serve God and others and to teach His children.  Thank you very much for your continued support as I learn how to  Thank you so much for the gift toward my student loans. Your better serve God and others and to teach His children. thoughtfulness and generosity is greatly appreciated. It is a joy to  Thank you so much for the gift toward my student loans. Your serve God’s people! thoughtfulness and generosity is greatly appreciated. It is a joy to serve God’s people! Please make checks payable to our church and write “Ash Wednesday” in the memo line. Thank you! Please make checks payable to our church and write “Ash Wednesday” in the memo line. Thank you!