Greetings

This has been a bad week for walkers. Imagine a fit and athletic dog, bred to pull carts on mountain paths in the Alps, slipping and taking a crash while rounding a corner in Maywood. When that happens you know the conditions are icy.

Global warming notwithstanding, this week presented us with a mini ice age on the streets of my neighborhood. The weather people gave us plenty of warning, warnings to the point of exaggeration. But it was tough to scrape the ice off the car, find salt in the stores or keep your balance in front of houses inhabited by older people who could not keep up with the shoveling or by people who just don’t understand the impact of their non action on others.

I have come to understand that people who live in corner houses have greater responsibilities than the rest of us. “The guy on the corner” impacts twice as many people as I do. We are more likely to form opinions about corner dwellers because we have twice as much info about them. Some are sure to clear their entire walk, some do one side of the house and others only make a path from the back door to the car. Each of these strategies communicates something about the corner guys.

Christians are doubly blessed too. What we’ve done impacts others and they evaluate us. For Christians we are reviewed on the basis of our humanity and also with an expectation that we should have higher standards. We should care more and we should be looking out for our neighbor.

The trouble for me personally with that thinking is that I’m kind of slothful and self centered. (You need not send it letters of support for this comment). It is bad enough that we mess things up for ourselves. We are God’s representatives on earth, here and now. We need to do the best we can at keeping our walk clean and presenting a good image for those who look to us for direction. And ultimately we need to have confidence that God will send the sun, the same way He sent His Son to clear away all the slippery nasty stuff in our lives.

School News

Last week, the members of Walther's chapter of the National Honor Society completed a project for shut-ins. 150 handwritten notes of cheer were written on greeting cards by the NHS students. These cards, with messages of Christmas love and joy, will be mailed to residential facilities in our neighboring communities.

Congratulations to Erica McLin who earned a 5th place ribbon in Verse Reading and Taniesha Prell who earned a 6th place ribbon in Humorous Interpretation at the Proviso East Tournament of Hugs on Saturday. With these results they have both reached the Degree of Honor in the National Forensics League. Team members Chelsea Volk, Louis McGhee, and Benjamin Lamey competed also and earned points toward their next degree in the National Forensics League too. Go Team!

In recent years we have asked alumni to return to Walther for Career Day, the highlight of Lutheran Schools Week. Luther speaks clearly about the doctrine of vocation, which clearly states that we are all called to serve the Lord. Young people need to learn about the many ways they can serve. We asked the students to tell us which careers they want to learn more about. Here is a partial list: account manager, accountant, entrepreneur, investment banker, office manager, personal finance planner, public relations specialist, real estate agent, sales representative, stock trader. If you are able to talk to kids about a career in one of these business related fields let us know. Mr. Gail Goodwin is the chief recruiter for the event.

This year Walther students will account for 10,000 hours of service. In their classes, in their homerooms, as groups and individuals they will find ways to touch the lives of others. Through this commitment we will spread the Word the God that transforms our lives and causes us to create communities.
Recently Ms. Lynn Korff took a number of computer students to the “library” at Bethel Lutheran Church in Chicago. Bethel operates a community outreach program and we have partnered with them by providing labor and leadership to help the people of Bethel impact their community. When the students returned their teacher asked them to comment on the experience. Here are a couple of the comments:

“Our trip to Bethel was a very inspiring one. It taught me how if we just contribute the smallest bit, it can go a very long way for those who aren’t as fortunate.” John Scatchell ’08.

“I look up to the women that we worked with yesterday. I wish we had more time to do things like this. . . it meant a lot to me.”. Rebekah Fields ‘08

“It was cool that we could do something for someone else.” Erik Desch ‘10

Our annual appeal is out. Often when we receive invitations to support ministries we have a hard time seeing where the money goes. I wanted to share three ways your yearend gift to Walther will impact our ability to touch kids:

1. New interior wooden doors -- $89 each (We need new doors all around the gym. A parent got us a discount rate. The full price would be over $200 each.)
2. One month of a copier service contract -- $776
3. One mailing for tuition billing -- $236

Alumni News

At the Christmas concert Richard Duzinskas ’03 was present to accept the thanks of the Walther Family for his service in the Middle East along with all of our military men and women. Richard’s buddy Mike Howland ’03 kept him company during the event and at the Cookie Walk.

Send us your Christmas pictures!

God’s blessings

NOTE: We encourage you to pass these eNews&Notes on to your friends and family. Remember that anyone can subscribe or unsubscribe to our eNews&Notes list by visiting our website. We respect your privacy and so we do not sell or give away our email list. It is used exclusively to help us communicate with you more efficiently and effectively. This newsletter is never sent with attachments. © 2007 Walther Lutheran High School • All rights reserved • eNews&Notes design by: MIS/BIRKEY.COM