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Hello! My name is Mitchell Watts. I am from Athens, IL and currently attending Lincoln Land Community College where I will be starting my sophomore year in the fall. I plan to continue at the University of Illinois – Springfield and then attend Palmer to get my doctorate in chiropractic medicine. This will be my first summer as a camp counselor. I spent the summer of 2024 volunteering my time at Camp CILCA and fell in love with the people and camp life! My favorite things to do at camp are swimming at the lake, singing songs and dancing, and playing games. The best part of being a counselor is being able to spread the joy of our Lord through the activities and interactions I have with campers. I can’t wait to have a blast this summer! See ya’ there!
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 Howdy Hi! My name is Grace Drews, I am a sophomore at Concordia University Nebraska, in the DCE Program with a double major of Christian Education Leadership and Theology. I ring Handbells in the Concordia Ringers choir, I sing in Cantamus (CUNE’s women’s choir), and I’m a part of Bulldogs for Life. My favorite ministry groups on campus are Concordia Youth Ministry, and Ministry Ties. When I’m home I attend my home church: Bethel Lutheran Ministries in Morton, IL. This will be my second summer as a counselor! I love all of the things associated with summer camp: hiking, swimming, creek walking, morning/evening chapel… and I can’t wait to do all of those at CILCA this summer!
 My name is Nicole Crank. I work at Zion Lutheran School as a 1st and 2nd grade teacher. I love the beach and warm weather. I love to travel. I also love teaching and singing about the word of God. I love meeting new people.
 Hey y’all, I am Sicily Dinardo from Trinity Lutheran church in Auburn IL. I will be a freshman in college at Lincoln Land Community College. In high school, I did band, theater, and FFA. I have my CNA and my EMT-B. I have been going to camp as a camper and as a JC since 2018. As a day camp counselor of 2025, I am excited to get to know the kids and spread my love of Jesus with all!
 Hi, my name is Adam Homann, and this will be my fourth year on staff, but my 10th year going to camp. My favorite thing about camp is Chapel and UC. In the summer, I will have completed my sophomore year at Concordia University Wisconsin in the Director of Church Ministries program. After college I hope to be serving in a church or camp. I am super excited for camp and can't wait to see you there!
 Hey My name is Maximus Fritsche, yes as in the gladiator or the horse from tangled!! I come from the Great ol' city of St. Louis. I am a sophomore in college and am looking forward to getting to know everyone this summer! I love to write music, sing, go on walks, fish, work out and hang out with anyone who wants to get to know me better. Fun fact about me. I'm Russian. Yippeee!!!!
My name is Kelsie Gerhardt. This will be my fourth summer as a counselor at Camp CILCA. I love many different camp activities especially swimming, creek walking, mud volleyball, chapel, and UC. In the fall, I started at Concordia, Wisconsin, to become a Director of Church Ministries. I am from Decatur, Illinois, and am a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Decatur.  Hey y’all! My name’s Lindsey, but at camp everyone knows me as Fletcher. I grew up in Earlville, IL, and now live in South Dakota. I’ve been immersed in camp my whole life in various roles and I’m excited for my first official summer working at CILCA heading up Day Camp! I love anything outdoors, but my favorite camp activities are swimming, cookouts, and
campfire chapels. I’m stoked for the adventures to come this summer and hope to see you there!! My name is Ethan Theilen. I currently attend Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, where I will be a junior next academic year. I am a member at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sherman, Illinois. This summer will be my fourth year as a counselor and my seventh year on staff. Before becoming a counselor, I was a camper for four years and a junior counselor for a year. My favorite parts of camp are getting to meet and interact with the campers, and helping them to grow in their faith. Matthew 2:1-12
2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. “Jesus Christ is Lord.” The Magi come to Herod looking for a king, but they find an impostor. Yes, technically Herod was the monarch, ruling under the authority of Caesar, the emperor. But he was not the king these wise men sought. His kingdom extended over several million acres of land. But they were searching for the King of the Earth. Herod (and Caesar for that matter) is a pretender to the throne. They can beat their chests and puff themselves up all they want, but the rulers of this world are, at very best, underlings. Jesus is not. He is the absolute monarch of Israel, but of an Israel without borders. Jesus was born to rule all that was promised to Abraham. He is the King whose Kingdom extends to the four corners of the universe. Recall that Abraham was promised, not that he would be the father of a single son, but the father of many nations, and that all nations of the earth would be blessed by his offspring. To this, Saint Paul adds that it is those who believe in Jesus Christ who are the heirs of Abraham. (Romans 4:16-22) As the Son of David, Jesus could lay claim to the throne of Israel. He could have asserted His rights, gathered an army, and taken up his ancestral claim. Jesus took a pass, however, not because He was too humble to sit on the throne, but because it was too small of a thing. Jesus seeks to sit on the throne of the universe. He will rule all creation or nothing. The Son of David bypasses the palace in Jerusalem for the cross just outside its gates. There, under the banner “King of the Jews”, He hangs exalted, drawing all men to Himself. (John 12:32) There, with His divine blood, He purchases-redeems!-the entire creation. Jesus Christ is Lord of the Universe. This is He whom the Magi seek out. Jesus is the King, even of these foreign idolaters. And Jesus is the King whose reign transcends time. Risen from the dead, He has no expiration date. He is the Emperor of your life. Like the Magi, we are led by the Word of God, by God’s miraculous intervention, by the nose, to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. This eternal, all-powerful Lord rules His creation for your good. (Romans 8:28) He is not merely working things out to the end that He arbitrarily desires, but to the end that is best for you and for everyone that He has called to be His own. All of the rules, the suffering, the disasters, the hardships, all the joy and grace and forgiveness and love, is guiding us with one purpose: eternal bliss with God in His new creation. A Merry Christmas to you all, and a blessed Epiphany. |
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