Registrations for our National Conference are still coming in and it is not too late. We just got another eight registrations today. Because our meals are all being homemade, (except for the pizza that will be ordered the night of the banquet) we really do not need a final number until a day or two ahead of the conference when we go do our shopping for the freshest ingredients we can find.
The St. Louis pizzas have already arrived for one third of the great manly pizza debate. As previously posted, the banquet will include an opportunity to decide which is the best pizza according to the Brotherhood: St. Louis (search “Imo’s Pizza” for a description), Chicago deep dish or New York thin. With a mentor like the portly John the Steadfast, the Brotherhood certainly seems qualified to decide this important doctrinal matter. We thank our day school principal at Bethany – Naperville, Pam Mueller for picking up the St. Louis pizzas last weekend on her visit to the holy city. We are very blessed to have her organizing the entire conference. I just heard this evening that several of her teachers will be helping with registration and other chores. We are very blessed at Bethany with great relations between the church and school. It has taken us a while but we have developed a full team of some thirty plus staff members who all support our liturgical and confessional approach to our Lord’s church. Many of them are BJS readers and supporters.
In addition to the great pizza banquet, Pastor Rossow is hosting a “man’s breakfast” of protein, protein and more protein. We will also be having homemade sub sandwches for lunch on Saturday.
In addition to the great food at the conference, we invite you to come and enjoy:
- Pioneers of new Lutheran media: Pastor Todd Wilken (Issues Etc.) and Chris Rosebrough (Pirate Christian Radio).
- Joyful and reverent worship directed by Cantor Phillip Magness with a men’s choir (Vespers) and senior choir (Divine Service).
- Preaching featuring Bishop Dan Gilbert of the Northern Illinois District (Vespers) and pastor of one of the synod’s longest running confessional congregations, Rev. Ben Ball of St. Paul’s Brookfield, Illinois (Divine Service).
- “No Pietists Allowed Parties” including wine tasting with Chris Rosebrough, an intimate evening of classical guitar in a stunning Naperville home with Fred Baue and a trip to a local chocolate bar.
Our team has been throwing great parties at Bethany for the last fifteen years and these two days will be another great time and also a great opportunity for the Brothers to bond with each other. Membership is not required to attend the conference. It is open to all interested folks.