Proclamation

2014 NATIONAL LUTHERAN SCHOOLS WEEK

Whereas, Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. (Luke 18:15-17 ESV); and Whereas, our Lord Jesus Christ gave His Church this joyful mission: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matt. 28:1920 ESV); and Whereas, the Apostle Paul declared, Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His (Rom. 6:3, 5 ESV); and Whereas, Martin Luther was a bold advocate of Christian schools and the training of young people for honorable vocations and wrote, Consider Christ himself, how he draws little children to him, how urgently in Matthew 18 he commends them to us and praises the angels who wait upon them, in order to show us how great a service it is when we train the young properly (To the Councilmen That They May Establish Schools, 1524; Luthers Works 45:347 78); and

Whereas, children are Gods precious gifts to us, and He has placed in our hands the responsibility for their spiritual as well as temporal welfare; and Whereas, one of the objectives of The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod is to aid congregations to develop processes of thorough Christian education and nurture and to establish agencies of Christian education such as elementary and secondary schools (LCMS Constitution, Article III); and Whereas, the 2,400 Lutheran early childhood centers, elementary schools and high schools of The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod are served by dedicated and caring teachers who assist Christian parents in rearing and training their children to believe in Jesus Christ and to love their neighbor; and Whereas, the theme Witness Always is based on the words of Holy Scripture where St. John declares: For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree (1 John 5:78 ESV); therefore be it Resolved, That Jan. 26Feb. 1, 2014, be officially proclaimed as National Lutheran Schools Week in The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod, in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison

President, The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod