PSD Outdoor Ministry

It was over 50 years ago that teachers and laymen from the old Southern California District (LCMS) started hosting “chief camp” in the San Bernardino mountains. For many summers teachers volunteered their time to provide a camp experience for the children of the district. Their hard work paved the way for many successful summers of swimming, crafts, hiking, archery, Bible study, and campfires at Arrowhead Lutheran Camp. The countless hours of volunteer labor that built the original dining hall and other facilities are a testament to the faith of those who desired to see Jesus at work in the mountains. Summer after summer many children and young adults came to camp and the stories that have been told about their experiences could fill many books.

Unfortunately, Arrowhead Lutheran Camp may be a casualty in the economic crisis that has hit many in our country. For the first time in well over 50 years the camp will be unable to run a full summer camp program. A group of camp alumni and friends got together early in 2009 to see what could be done. The result was the formation of the Pacific Southwest District-LCMS Outdoor Ministry team. This team is dedicated to bringing the message of Jesus Christ to the youth and adults of Southern California and beyond through summer camp ministry and other activities that take place in God's wonderful creation. We hope to continue the legacy of Arrowhead Lutheran Camp and expand upon the ministry opportunities that have been open to us.

This year we will be sponsoring a week of summer camp from August 2nd-7th using the facilities at Concordia Arrowhead Lutheran Camp. Space is limited and registrations will be taken on a first come, first served basis. Please visit the website for the Outdoor Ministry team for more info- www.outdoorministry.org. Questions can also be sent to info@outdoorministry.org. Please share this information with your families, using the linked flyer.

DISASTER RESPONSE
The Pacific Southwest District provides financial donations to our churches, schools, and parishioners who have been affected by disaster (hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes, etc).  If you would like to help in this effort, please send your donation, made payable to the Pacific Southwest District—LCMS, earmarked for Disaster Relief, and we will include it with the funds that we send.  We are aware that many people have been impacted by our current economic state, but we invite you to make a donation in any amount that you are comfortable with to help those who have lost so much.  If you would prefer to donate funds directly to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, you may do so on-line by clicking here: http://catalog.lcms.org/GiveNow/Gift_Catalog.asp, or mail donations to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, P.O. Box 68661, St. Louis , MO 63166-6861, or call the credit-card gift line at (888) 930-4438.  If you would like to volunteer in the cleanup efforts following a disaster or devastating incident, please contact the office of the district in which you would like to serve.  Contact information for LCMS districts is available online at www.lcmsdistricts.org.

Lutheran HAMS
If you are an amateur radio ham and have an active station, we could use your help. The Pacific Southwest District is very active in disaster response training and preparedness. Part of the program through I-LERT (Inter-Lutheran Emergency Response Team) is to establish a communication network that will be able to coordinate activities between the shelter churches in the event of a disaster. The network would also include a station to communicate through a network to stations outside the disaster area.  The concept is to have a 2 meter local network with a 40 meter station for DX out of the area. If you would be interested in participating in the network, please contact Jerry Reichman (K7AUN) at the Pacific Southwest District office in Irvine, CA at 949-854-3232, ext. 210 or e-mail jerry.reichman@psd-lcms.org.

It’s a New Day!
It's surprising that after all these years, people still mention The Southern California Lutheran Program, our District's radio program for 60 years. Pastor Richard Schumm was the director for the final 25 years of its radio time.  Unfortunately, after so many decades, Station KAIM (1390)  Long Beach, was sold in 2002.  Other stations were cost prohibitive and by 2004 it went off the air.  The Monday after the last radio broadcast, a new PSW District internet program began.  It was named ^"It^'s A New Day.^"  Pastor Schumm^'s 3-minute audio devotions are on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  It's nice that one can listen to the program at any time during a 24 hour period.  It changes at midnight every night.  It^'s easy to hear the devotion.  
If you want the program on your desktop, type in the following address:  
www.psd-lcms.org/audio/default.asp, go to the File command, select Send, then Shortcut to Desktop. If your congregation has a website, and you would like to access the program from there, they can simply add a link on their site to the above address.