Greetings

Last night the family of ESPN networks showed poker, a 15 year old football game and, I think, pool. This is the curse of nights without baseball. During the last major league strike I was forced to watch tennis. Now, I think tennis is very cool and the players are great examples of pushing yourself. Best of all, Tennis players make money when they win and they don’t when they play poorly -- baseball could learn from that model. But really, tennis is not baseball. A great pro player (send me your guesses) was once asked what he did when the season ended. His reply was, “I sit looking out the window waiting for spring.”

When the game shuts down my life is poorer.

It is the omnipresence of the game within the season is what makes it great -- but every season and every career ends.

The power of being a member of the Family of Christ is defined by its true everlasting nature. “Wait until next year” is hollow when compared to “for ever and ever.” In baseball we honor those who get 3 hits out of 10. In God’s Family we acknowledge that we have all fallen short. Still we are confident that the Christ who agreed to be our pinch hitter is powerful enough to settle the score with a single act.

Since the fall of man God has sat looking out the window, confident that as spring brings new life to the fields where we play, His plan of salvation offers new life to all humans. Each and every night as we reflect on the trials and challenges of the day we find peace and joy. God never moves away from us. His love knows no rain outs and certainly never anticipates an off season. And so we order our lives, confident that each day will brings us the promise of victory. Our lives are richer because He is always with us.

School News

This is “the big weekend”. This is a time to enjoy being a Bronco. Here is a list of the opportunities you have this weekend to come home. And when you come to the big game, bring your school spirit and a couple of canned food goods – the National Honor Society CAN QUEST ingathering takes place at this weekend's football game. Non-perishable items (or cash donations) will be accepted at the main gate.

Homecoming 2007

October 12 - Homecoming Royal Rally, 7 p.m.
October 12 - All Alumni Reception, 8:30 p.m.
October 13 - Homecoming Parade, 9 a.m.
October 13 - Alumni Reunion Classes Former Teachers Meet & Greet with School Lunch, 10 a.m.
October 13 - Homecoming Frosh/Soph Football Game, 10:45a.m.
October 13 - Homecoming Varsity Football Game, 1 p.m.
October 13 - Homecoming Dance, 7 p.m.
October 13 - Class of 1957 Reunion at Tom’s Steak House in Melrose Park, 5 p.m.
October 13 - Class of 1962 Reunion at The New Star Chinese Restaurant in Elmwood Park, 5:30 p.m.
October 13 - Class of 1967 Reunion at Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale, 6 p.m.
October 13 - Class of 1977 Reunion at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub in Forest Park, 6:30 p.m.
October 13 - Class of 1982 Reunion at Pompei in Oakbrook Terrace, 6:30 p.m.
October 13 - Class of 1987 Reunion at Arena Sports Grille in Elmhurst, 6:30 p.m.
October 13 - Class of 1992 Reunion at Seven Ten Lanes, 119 N. York St., in Elmhurst, 8 p.m.
October 13 - Class of 1997 Reunion at Rivals Sports Bar & Grill (formerly Champs Sports Bar & Grill), 17 W 517 Roosevelt Road in Oakbrook Terrace, 7 p.m.
October 13 - Class of 2002 Reunion at 7 p.m. at Kona Grill, 3051 Butterfield Road in Oakbrook., 7 p.m.
October 14 - All Alumni Worship at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Melrose Park, 9 a.m.
October 14 - All Alumni Brunch, 10 a.m.

Next week is full of activity at Walther…

On Tuesday, October 16, we “open our house” to prospective students. The doors open at 6:45 p.m. and the short program begins at 7:30 p.m. We would like to have you drop by or have you invite a family with middle school students to do so. Can you believe we are already looking to enroll the class of 2012?

On Thursday, October 18, the first board of the newly expanded Walther Association will be elected. You are welcome to attend. All people present will receive reports for the expanded ministries we have formalized this year. Mr. Rich Schubkegel, former Walther teacher and current Vice President of “The Pampered Chef,” will tell us about the Walther Foundation. Miss Emily Muther will report on the progress of our youth work project. Mr. Steve Zielke will provide a report on the operation of the Walther Lutheran Academy @Forest Park. Mr. James Craven, Walther’s new Director of Curriculum and Instruction will outline the effect our new Religion Curriculum on local congregations. This will be a great investment of your time.

Ask any girls’ tennis team member how their day went last Saturday and you'll get a big smile from them. Here's why…the varsity Broncos won the Private School League Conference championship! This is the first time in the history of the team that we've taken first place in this tough conference. Congratulations to all team members who were each a big part of the victory. Special mention should be made of 3rd place finishers juniors Louise Grant and Stephanie Garcia, and all-conference award winners sophomore Deanna Richardson in second place at the tough #1 singles position....seniors Emily Simpson and Jamie Washington winning first place at #1 doubles, and junior Allison Korenchan who took first place at #2 singles...CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to Luke Wilkening who earned All Conference honors for Walther in the Private School League on Saturday, September 29. The junior from Immanuel Lutheran School in Elmhurst posted a round of 82 to tie for seventh place in the PSL Conference golf meet at Fox Valley Country Club in North Aurora. Wilkening, who advanced to the state sectional meet as sophomore, displayed a solid short game to medal and earn the honor of all conference. Luke's round was quite an improvement for the junior who had shot a round of 93 earlier in the fall at Philips Park Golf Course in Aurora. "It was a significant improvement," said his Walther coach Kevin Charpentier. "He played really well under pressure. Luke had a lot of good up and downs from the holes I was able to watch. I have to give him credit for working hard and staying positive even when things were difficult during the season." The Broncos finished seventh in the team standings with a score of 383,

Often someone will say about a celebrity or sports star that he or she is their “HERO.” CLICK HERE to read the scholarship winning essays about REAL HEROES, submitted last spring by a current junior Eme Abbe and John Preto, Class of 2007 graduate, recently posted online at Walther.com.

Alumni News

Go to Walther.com to get a full schedule of events for Class Reunions. We want to offer a special invitation for our grads to be with us on Friday night after the Royal Rally. Sizable numbers of the classes of ’57 and ’67 have made reservations and those from other reunion classes will be with us as well. This is a good time for you to stop by and look for friends from the classes of your years at Walther. One highlight of this night is the memorabilia displays created by Coach Hoger.

On Saturday after the parade, faculty from Walther’s “days gone by” will be in their class rooms as grads go through a short school schedule including everything from chapel to retro school lunch. Join Warren Hoger, Gail Goodwin, Ralph Kirchenberg, Marv Schlichting, Mel Block, Rich Rose, Chuck Miller, Bill Koehne and others as we get “Back to School.”
Watch this space for photos and stories from Homecoming!

Our one time Regional Forensic Chapion Lorenzo Patrick ’07 is still using his speaking talents. Read the following update from his mom…

God’s blessings

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