Visual Storytelling

 This is the sanctuary of 

St. Stephen's Lutheran Church 

in Hickory, North Carolina.

Artist Diane Guelzow 
(her husband Rev. David Guelzow
 serves at St. Stephan)
made these banners to compliment 
the stained glass windows in the chancel.
These banners are made with paint on paper.
They make a festive enhancement 
for worship.
I was drawn in to the "story" 
they helped to create.

Donna Lee orchestrated 

this large display of all ages of "fisher people".

 This was in keeping with 

the Convention theme- "Let's Go Fishing!"

Students in their Lutheran School 

handmade origami fish for the net.

These banners also enhanced 

the entrance to the Convention Hall.

They were also made by Diane Guelzow.

It is paint on paper.

Absolutely stunning.

There were many 
effective images that helped us remember the
theme, the story, the prayers,
and the ministries of the SED.

We give thanks to all who made 
this gathering a blessing to all that attended.
May these visuals help us all to be better witnesses,
storytellers, and "fisher people."
May we earn to fish on the "other side."

University Christian High School

University Christian High School in 

Hickory, North Carolina

opened the doors to their 

new building in the Fall of 2017.

It is an innovative 

partnership of space and resources

with Lenoir Rhyne University 

and this LCMS Lutheran High School,

 as well as the

St. Andrew Lutheran Church 

campus next door.

We were blessed to tour the campus 

during the Convention days In May.

The painting inside the entrance to the 

University Lutheran High School campus.

The Lenoir- Rhyne Bear 

stands outside the school grounds on campus.

University Christian High School 

are the barracudas.

Principal Bill Unverfehrt 

has led with vision 

and a servant-leader heart.

We give thanks for his perseverance

 to bring this dream to life 

in Catawba County, North Carolina.

 To God Be the Glory!

Follow them on Instagram HERE:
universitychristianhighschool

Give them a LIKE and FOLLOW 
on Facebook HERE:
uchshickory

UCHS website HERE:
uchigh

A Lutheran School and Technology

   Danielle Altieri and Alison Nack

An Interview with 2 Technology Educators

1. What are some fun technology connections 

that you are seeing in your Lutheran school?

This year, the Robotics Club is available to our elementary school grades in addition to our Middle School students which gained a lot of interest. The students work together to program robots to complete tasks. The Middle School Robotics team competes in competitions in North Carolina.

In the classroom, our students use Google for Education to create websites, amazing presentations, digital art, and research papers. The students also learn how to touch type so they can be efficient when working on technology.

The second grade class used a really fun app on the iPad’s named ChatterPix Kids. We used it to bring U.S. symbols to life. The students draw a picture, then upload the picture of their drawing into the ChatterPix Kids app. Then, use the app to record the student voice giving factual information about the symbol. The app makes the symbol drawing look like it is speaking and has the student’s voice. The students enjoyed the entire process and especially once their symbol came to life.

There are also many educational websites to use in the classroom that provide virtual tours with in-depth information using videos, pictures, and maps. It is like going on a field trip without ever leaving your classroom. For example, to experience a virtual tour of the battles of the Civil War, go visit the following website: virtual-tour.civilwar

Virtural Reality is gaining popularity. Our school is planning to incorporate Google Expeditions in the near future.

2.  What is the greatest challenge for the integration 

of Technology practices in your school?

Finding time to teach teachers the new technology is the greatest challenge. We have found that making part of a teacher workday as a “technology training” time is helpful.

3.  How would it be most effective for parents and teachers

to work as a TEAM with technology usage in the school?

The school needs to select the best technology to use. Then offer training for the parents that is effective and easy to learn. For instance, we created Screencasts trainings for parents to watch at their leisure(while at soccer practice, at home, etc…) to learn our new school information system. We also sent Screencasts to teachers to explain specific topics. If parents or teachears needed more help, then additional in person training was offered.

Thanks to 

Danielle Altieri and Alison Nack

for this "field report"

from Resurrection Lutheran School 

in Cary, North Carolina.

Education and Technology

I came across this chart awhile back.

I would have to learn much 

to be back in the classroom as educator.

Even the educators I shared this 

with felt behind the learning curve.

When I shared this with a few Pastors 

who also serve as educators 

in their church community?

They just shook their heads.

It is pretty easy to feel that

 educational technology 

has simply passed us by.

But, there might be one or two 

that you could quickly 

learn the ins and outs.

Probably our children-

(or grandchildren) 

could help us out.

Maybe just check out the sites

 and see what they are about.

We have to start somewhere-

before they all change again.

Which ones are you familiar with?

Which ones are you proficient in?

 Perhaps a staff could each take one

 and share what they learn?

As the Southeastern District- LCMS 

looks at ways to "go fishing",

we just might need to get 

retooled and reschooled.

Empty Bowls- a Way to bless your Neighborhood

Two hundred bowls, handmade by the community

 surrounding Melinda Reidy’s home and pottery studio. 

Two hundred bowls, carefully molded, fired, and glazed,

 wrapped in newspapers and packed into boxes

 for the trip just down the road to 

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

 in Springfield, Virginia.

It’s overwhelming, really, 

seeing stacks and stacks of boxes,

 and thinking of the many hands and hearts

 that went into creating the pottery within. 

All for an Empty Bowls fundraiser, 

to raise money for our local food pantry

 and social service agency, ECHO

Melinda has been welcoming neighbors and friends

 and church members into her pottery studio

 for nearly 10 months, 

teaching people from 4 to 85 years old

 how to form red-brown clay into bowls 

of all shapes and sizes. 

How to make beauty out of dust.

All of those bowls, wrapped in newspaper,

 look the same. 

Just a box, just a dish wrapped in paper. 

Until we start unwrapping. 

“Oh! Look at THIS one!” Melinda exclaims. 

She carefully places the treasure on the table, 

then reaches for the next anonymous package.

 “Oh! Look at THIS one!” 

Each bowl, 

shaped and colored and designed differently. 

Each bowl, wholly itself, 

cannot be mistaken for another.

“Isn’t that how God works?” says Melinda. 

Yes, indeed. 

We can think of the parade of people 

entering and exiting her pottery studio—

or entering and exiting our churches, 

our food pantries, our homes, our lives—as just groups,

 just numbers, just bowls wrapped in newspaper. 

One looks very much like another, 

stacked together in boxes, 

touching but not really touching, 

covered in protective wrapping. 

We can cover ourselves in our own protective wrapping—

the pleasant mask we show the world, 

the carefully styled hair, the neutral smile. 

We can choose to protect our real selves, 

to cultivate shallow relationships,

 to “never let them see you sweat.” 

Or we can shed that layer of protection 

and let our full, unique beauty shine.

For God does not stamp out people like factory-made bowls,

 every one alike. God molds us from the dust. 

God designs our minds, our bodies, our families, just so. 

Each dip of glaze, each brushstroke, each moment in the fire,

 all designed so that we come out shining, 

beautiful, ready to serve. 

“Oh! Look at THIS one!” 

God delights in us, in each one of us. 

Not only that, but He delights

 in the beauty of all of us together, 

of individuals sharing their 

hearts and hands and passions

 with each other, and in so doing, 

sharing the work of the kingdom. 

And in God’s kingdom, 

every person is fearfully and wonderfully made, 

and every empty bowl gets filled to the brim.  

Lifting up Visionary Idea leaders-

for iNeighborhood,

 Melinda and Michael Reidy.

 They were willing to tackle a BIG Project

 that brought a great blessing.

So it was a neighborhood affair when neighbors

 met for the Empty Bowls event 

on April 22, 2018 at Prince of Peace. 

Friendships were made from 

all walks of life while beautiful,

 hand crafted bowls were selected and tasty treats

 were served by neighborhood restaurants.
* $15,019 & 187 canned goods donated to ECHO!
We especially thank:
* the 70+ neighbor volunteers who made the bowls
* the 30+ POP volunteers who helped to set up,

 tear down, serve, and pick up food.
* Afghan Kabob, Trader Joes, Milano’s, Malek’s, Panera Bread, 

Hannah’s Catering and Arepas Bees 

for their food donations!
We thank God for the way He moved all 

of us to accomplish 

something bigger than ourselves for others
and the betterment of His kingdom.

Thank you to Jennifer Gross-
contributing writer for Journeys of Faith.

Visual Prayer with a MOPS group

Today I was blessed to join the MOPS group 

that meets at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

 in Springfield, Virginia.

I was sharing a follow-up to last year's 

basic introduction to 

Visual Faith tools and practices.

So today, on the National Day of Prayer-

we spent time learning aboutVisual Prayer.

 Time to gather small snippets of time

 as busy moms to see how God 

might write a new prayer story in our lives. 

We also talked about how we 

just might be able to 

bless others with our prayer time.

A prayer for someone 

on a prayer heart.

Time to put this in the mail- 

sending it right to them.

This card is "ready to go" 

to finish as a prayer.

This is the theme verse for 

MOPS International this year. 

Perhaps they will give it to a 

table mate as a prayer.

FREE Indeed.

The group gathered for a photo

 for another purpose today,

but I still was able to capture a shot 

of the young moms and mentors.

May they be blessed with tools and resources

 on the Visual Faith Ministry website.

visualfaithministry

 Always a blessing to support 

the hard work of the leaders

 and to encourage these sisters in faith.

May we boldly proclaim together- 

I will not be shaken.