The Canadian Lutheran - January/February 2016

The

CANADIAN

LUTHERAN

www.canadianlutheran.ca

Volume 31 Number 1

Healing Broken Families

Contents Features www.canadianlutheran.ca Volume 31 Number 1 January/February 2016

Prodigal Sons & Daughters Till Death Do You Part: When Your Marriage

is in Trouble, What Do You Do?

6 9

Departments Re-Forming Our Church

A Letter to the Church

4

Table Talk

Rebelling against the Father

5

In Review

Relationships in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

35

Saints of the Reformation

Johann von Staupitz

39

Presidential Perspective

Have We Forgotten How to Repent

42

News Section International News

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Scandinavian Lutherans prepare to join ILC • Nicaraguan Lutherans re-elect President • Sudanese Anglicans consider Lutheranism

National News T h e C a n a d i a n L u t h e r a n is the national publication of Lutheran Church–Canada, published in Winnipeg six times per year: January/ February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/ October, November/December under the auspices of the Board of Directors (Committee for Communication and Technology).

ISSN #0383-4247 Member: Canadian Church Press Editor: Mathew Block Advertising: Iris Barta District News Layout: Marion Hollinger Subscriptions: $20/yr E-mail: bcs@lutheranchurch.ca

All material and advertising should be in the office of The Canadian Lutheran five weeks prior to publication date. Advertising rate card available upon request.

The Canadian Lutheran 3074 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3K 0Y2 Telephone: 204-895-3433 FAX: 204-832-3018 E-mail: communications@lutheranchurch.ca

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LCC Releases National Survey on Restructuring

ABC District

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Youth encourage persecuted Christians • ABC District Board of Directors releases letter to members • Response to School Guidelines

Central District

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Christmas outreach • Cozy Tree serves others • Holy Cross welcomes a new pastor • New dining hall for Camp Lutherland

East District

23

Family Events for Nicaragua • Hats and Mats reach the homeless • WECLO BIble Class • Christmas parades

Mission Update

27

Seminary studies in Ukraine • Odessa church marks 20 years

Education Report

29

Concordia University of Edmonton no longer a Christian institute • Rev. Krestick gives Timothy Lecture • Australian scholar visits CLTS

Materials published in The Canadian Lutheran, with the exception of Letters to the Editor, news reports, and advertising, receive doctrinal review and approval before publication. Contents of supplements are the responsibility of the organization purchasing the space.

Classifieds

37

Daily Bible Reading

41

©2016 Lutheran Church–Canada. Reproduction of a single article or column for parish use does not require the permission of The Canadian Lutheran. Such reproductions, however, should credit The Canadian Lutheran as the source.

Supplement

31

Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada Missionaries Rev Mike and Kara Kuhn Return to Cameroon

S c r i pt u r e t a ke n f ro m t h e H O LY B I B L E , N E W INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Mission Update for 2016

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

Rev. Mike and Kara Kuhn,

with their children Tobias,

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Re-Forming Our Church

A Letter to the Church

by William Ney

Please Join Us in Charting a Path Forward for Lutheran Church–Canada

O

n February 1, 2016 an online and paper copy of the National Survey on Restructuring was made available to all members of Lutheran Church– Canada (LCC), lay, clergy, and deacon. The Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure (CCMS) is committed to offering a completely new structure for Lutheran Church–Canada at our 2017 National Convention. But the CCMS is equally committed to making sure that the proposed structure is in line with Holy Scripture, in line with our Lutheran Confessions, and also in line with the will of the people of LCC. Therefore your participation in completing the Survey is very much needed! The deadline for submission is February 29, 2016 but we would request that you complete your Survey as soon as possible. We will be compiling all the results and sharing this information with the whole church. We will then be hosting many meetings across Canada in all three Districts to discuss the results of the Survey, and to get further input on what our new structure should look like. We are determined to let this be a grassroots effort and not a top-down project. Our goal

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

is to present to the Convention in 2017 a structure that reflects the will of the majority of the members of LCC, not just of a few in leadership positions.

You can obtain a paper copy of the National Survey from your pastor, congregational chairman, or secretary.

The same people can provide you with a web-address and password to complete the survey online.

I cannot stress enough the importance of the CCMS receiving as many responses as possible from you, the members of Lutheran Church–Canada. The structure that emerges from your responses will lay the groundwork for how we will do national and international missions and ministry for many decades, and perhaps even generations, to come.

Thank you for participating!

Rev. William Ney is Chairman of Lutheran Church–Canada’s Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure.

More information on the National Survey is available on page 14.

Table Talk

Rebelling against the Father

by Mathew Block Editor, The Canadian Lutheran

I

n the days leading up to His crucifixion, Jesus makes a particularly angry speech against the religious leaders in Jerusalem (Matthew 23:1-39). There Jesus condemns the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, pronouncing “Seven Woes” and condemning these men as “snakes” and “vipers.” He even suggests that, had they been alive, they would have joined in the murder of those Old Testament prophets who died violent deaths. Jesus’ anger at their sin is palpable, and his declaration of coming judgment nigh unbearable. “Upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth,” He warns.

“I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.”

They are sobering words. We may not be the Pharisees and teachers of the Law to whom this address was originally given, but we are all of us sinners. Such words should cut us to the heart—for the sins recounted here are too often our own.

We are hypocrites. We expect mercy for ourselves while wishing others punished. We reject the God who created us and ignore the Word He gave us. In this text, we see Christ as Judge—and it is terrible in our eyes.

It is striking, therefore, to hear the cry of anguish that follows Jesus’ anger. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,” He laments. “But you were not willing” (Matthew 23:37).

You were not willing. God calls out to us, like a mother seeking the safe return of her children. But we do not come. We do not gather beneath the wings of safety. We do not press ourselves to the bosom of the One who loves us. No, we are not willing.

Instead, we flee the God and Father of us all.

There is more than an echo in Jesus’ words of the cry of King David for his son Absalom. 2 Samuel records the story of how Absalom once led a rebellion against his father David. “He stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (15:6), we read, and took the throne for himself. David was forced to flee Jerusalem in fear for his life.

Eventually, the forces of Absalom would meet the forces of David in battle—and there Absalom’s rebellion would come to an end.

When told of the victory, however, David has only one question: “Is the young man Absalom safe?” (18:29).

He does not ask for details of the battle. He does not congratulate his soldiers on their victory. He only wants to know whether his son—his rebellious, patricidal son—is alive.

But Absalom is dead. Told the news, David breaks down weeping. “O my son Abasalom!” David cries aloud.

“My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!” (18:33).

What grief there is in these words. We might expect righteous indignation, relief even, to hear that the traitor who led an insurrection is no more. Instead we hear the

terrible sorrow of a father whose child is dead.

“O Absalom, O Absalom,” David cries out. And Jesus cries out, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem.” It is the twinsorrow of fathers weeping for their lost children.

“If only I had died instead of you,” David wept. But Jesus will do more than weep. Indeed, to “die instead of you,” was his ultimate goal. “Upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth,” Jesus warned in His tirade against the Pharisees. But perhaps we can read it also as a promise of mercy. For the blood of the Righteous One will indeed be poured out upon sinners. It is for this very reason He has come to Jerusalem: He will die for those who have rejected Him, crying out forgiveness even as He is murdered.

The chicks who would not take refuge beneath the hen’s wings have instead been covered with her blood.

The Son of God died that you and I, children in rebellion against our heavenly Father, might have our rebellion ended. And He lives again that we might be sons of God with Him—children together of the same Heavenly Father.

The estrangement is ended. The relationship is restored. God help us live in the light of that knowledge.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

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Prodigal Sons & Daughters

by Kurt Lantz

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

T

he little wisps of steam have ceased swirling around the cooling cups of coffee as moms corral their tots into winter coats and impatient teenagers drag their dawdling parents away with the rolling of their eyes. There are only a few left finishing their refreshments in the fellowship hall after the service. With just the right blend of privacy and unobtrusiveness, Irene asks her Sunday School friend of sixty-two years, “How's Evan doing? I haven't seen him for a while.”

Ruth knows that no one has seen her son in church since she pleaded with him to have the grandchildren baptized. Nevertheless she answers Irene's question with a glowing report. “Evan's been promoted to Accounts Manager. Shirley, his wife, is now teaching computer science at the high school. They are going to Bermuda for the March Break. It's been quite the hassle to get passports for the children.”

That is the extent of the spoken conversation on this topic for these two old gals confirmed together so many years ago.

Yet, the exchange has been more telling than what either of them is willing to discuss out loud. One of Irene's daughters no longer goes to church either.

Her story is the same as Evan's. She's too busy with her career in order to pay for their luxury home and exotic vacations.

Somewhere along the way, not just the church, but the Christian faith got left behind as the world beckoned Irene and Ruth's children away. For some inexplicable reason, the seed sown in their children from infancy fell among the thorns, and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choked the Word (Matthew 13:22).

Irene and Ruth are heart broken, but what can they do? Talking to their grown children about their departure from the church doesn't seem to go anywhere.

In fact it seems that phone calls and visits become more infrequent after any attempted conversations about the church. And if they should mention Jesus or God the Father, they get that look that says, “You're so deluded.

I can't believe you still cling to that stuff.” There doesn't seem any point in pushing it.

Irene and Ruth sit staring at their half-drunk coffees, cooled to the point where it is now unpleasant to swallow. Their shallow repartee is all they can stand as they bear one another's burdens in mutual consolation. All seems lost. They know their children are lost to Jesus and they themselves have become lost in their grief.

In his gospel, Luke devotes a whole chapter to Jesus' parables about the lost. There is the lost sheep (15:1-7), the lost coin (8-10), and yes, the child lost when he has grown up and followed the deceitfulness of riches (11-32). It is an extended commentary that gets summed up in chapter 19 where Jesus speaks of Zaccheaus and says, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

In the intervening chapters we see Jesus doing just that.

He draws tax collectors and sinners to Himself. He praises the dishonest manager who pours out mercy on those indebted. He warns the Pharisees and the rich who would neglect and ignore the lost and the outcast. He teaches of the effectiveness of the widow's persistent prayer. He declares the kingdom wide open to any who would come as children, and as difficult to enter for the rich as passing through the eye of a needle. Yet, “What is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:27).

And approaching Jerusalem, He said, “Everything written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging Him, they will kill Him, and on the third day He will rise” (Luke 18:3133). And this for the express purpose “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

It is right for Irene and Ruth to grieve the loss of their children to the saving faith in Jesus. It is right for them to turn to each other for consolation. And they are not the only ones grieving the loss. Their pastor also shares their grief—the pastor who baptized their children, catechized them, and tossed and turned all night long on the basement floor with them at a youth retreat.

But their pastor has words for Irene and Ruth, words that he has had to turn to himself. He has the promise of Jesus who said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” The Son of Man endured mocking and shame and spit. He was flogged and killed and raised again to seek and to save those lost to the faith, and those lost in grief over them. He was forsaken

by His heavenly Father in order that prodigals might be welcomed back.

There is no sin that our lost children have committed for which Jesus did not die. There is no path down which they have gone that He cannot bridge back to the Father. He is ready to run to meet them and embrace them and clothe them with His righteousness so that they may enter the eternal banquet with the whole family of God (Luke 15:20-24).

Somewhere along the way, not just the church, but the Christian faith got left behind as the world beckoned our children away.

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“What is impossible with men is possible with God.” They are the lost, but in no way a lost cause. They are the cause of the loving sacrifice of God's Son, as we all were when we too were “dead in our trespasses and sins, in which you once walked, following the course of this world... But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:1-5).

Pastors, parents, and prodigals are all saved by the One who came to seek and to save the lost. That good news strengthens our hope and allows us to share our burdens with the whole body of Christ. We grieve together and we find s t re n g t h t o g e t h e r as we gather under the cross where our heavenly Father's love was poured out, where we always find His waiting arms open for us to come home.

That is what our prodigal children need to witness.

They need to see us in humble repentance going home to the Father to be embraced in His love. That is what they truly desire as well. Once they have gone astray they need to know that they can come back. Prodigals live in a fear that they have gone too far. When they see the humble repentance of their parents, they see the path that leads home to the Father.

Likewise our prodigal children need to witness the love of the heavenly Father flowing through us. If they don't feel they can come to their earthly parents, they won't ever feel they can come to the God and Father of us all. A parent's love continually reaches out. Through

visits and phone calls, cards, and letters we let them know that we still want them in our lives, even if we cannot approve of their prodigal living. It is the same way that our heavenly Father is always reaching out to us through His preached word, never condoning our sin, but always calling us home. It is a real authentic love when it flows from His love for us out to our children.

There is something in their lives for us to work with. The ground is not completely barren. The seeds sown in their childhood still remain scattered around them, perhaps covered up by the debris of life, or fallen on a hard path or rocky ground. But the sower has sown liberally, and scattered the seed with reckless abandon, and you never know when the Holy Spirit, blowing where He wills (John 3:8), might uncover that seed and toss it into fertile ground.

Prodigals who have returned to the church confess that everything taught them in their childhood comes back.

In the moments of silence passed between Irene and Ruth after their brief conversation, the fellowship hall has almost completely emptied. The clean-up is well under way. Neither of them are sure that they will get down the last swallow of cold coffee that they are staring at in the bottom of their cups. They look up as someone approaches. It is their pastor trying to empty the last pot on his way to the kitchen. He stops and offers, “Can I warm that up for you?”

Pastors, parents, and prodigals are all saved by the One who came to seek and to save the lost. That good news strengthens our hope and allows us to share our burdens with the whole body of Christ.

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Rev. Kurt A. Lantz is pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church (St. Catharines, Ontario) and associate chaplain at Brock University.

Till Death Do You Part When Your Marriage is in Trouble, What Do You Do?

by David Faerber

J

ust over two decades ago I resigned from the pastoral ministry. Why? I ended up getting divorced.

Some suggested I might be a better pastor for the experience—better able to speak to the challenges of others in similar situations. That may have been true. But I personally did not feel, on the basis of Scripture, that I should continue as a pastor.

As I have seen for myself, as well as in the lives of others, to lead a truly Christian life—not a perfect life, which is impossible—requires a willingness to be humble and repent of your sins every day. As Lutherans we correctly believe that each morning we should again drown our old Adam in the promise given to us in our Baptism. That, along with Luther’s Morning and Evening prayers and the grace of God, have gotten me through to face each day even all these years later.

Since my divorce I have been given countless opportunities to share in the burdens of many men and women. St. Paul says we are to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). These men and women have sought me out looking for both understanding and wisdom. Over the years the guilt that the “innocent” parties—and I use this term loosely—have felt is deeply burdening to their souls. It plagues their waking hours. Some have shared how their spouse no longer wears their ring. Other individuals have shared how they sleep alone, either in the matrimonial bed or in another room weeping, like King David describes in Psalm 6:6. I, too, have understood the depths of such sorrow. It is deeply frustrating and difficult to face such sin in this world and nevertheless attempt to remain faithful.

Where do I start?

Recently an acquaintance asked me for marriage advice.

As always, I advised the person that they should talk to their pastor—and that’s the advice I offer here too. But my

acquaintance wanted my personal advice too, so I listened and shared with them what wisdom I could. I use plural pronouns here to protect this person’s identity: they are aware I am using their story, in broad-terms, as an example in the hopes it might possibly help someone else’s marriage.

I listened intently as my acquaintance explained how frustrating and challenging things had become in their marriage, only asking clarification when needed and letting other things pass by. Once they had explained everything, I proceeded the only way I could: using sin and grace as my guide. When it comes to addressing a marriage in trouble, the first step begins with approaching your spouse with a humble and repentant heart, apologizing for whatever known or unknown sins you have committed that have brought things to this point and asking for forgiveness— however humbling it may be. This is the way it should be in all relationships, whether with a spouse, a friend, a family member, or even God Himself.

I n t h e c a s e o f my acquaintance, such humble repentance had been offered and was rejected; the spouse said no wrongs had been committed against them which needed forgiveness. That response means one of two things: the first is that the one seeking forgiveness truly hasn’t done anything grievously wrong in the spouse’s eyes to create marital discord. The alternate possibility is that the spouse has become hard-hearted and simply has no desire to forgive. The latter becomes a faith issue as one spouse sins against the other. Such difficulties, if left unaddressed, can cause significant strains to the faith of both spouses.

If a failure to repent and forgive is not the source of marital difficulties, then we are left with more difficult questions. What is your family’s faith life like? Is your spouse Christian? Could they be having a crisis of faith or even be walking away from it completely? The challenges facing families with only one believing parent are wellknown; it’s one of the reasons we take so seriously St. Paul’s admonition to not deliberately become “unequally yoked” (2 Corinthians 6:14) with an unbeliever.

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When faith falters, then confidence in God’s Word and commitment to marriage vows made before God can lose their meaning. In that kind of instance, we can begin to rationalize away our vows in favour of personal desires.

Someone saying today, “I no longer feel in love,” or “I don’t want to work at it anymore” is attempting to rationalize away their commitments—to justify sin. And rationalizing away your sins before your spouse, or worse, against God, isn’t new. Our original parents Adam and Eve did it in the Garden of Eden. We have learned well what they did to each other and to God! In this kind of situation, we might ask—as my acquaintance indeed asked—what do I do? The answer is a difficult one. In the face of a faithless spouse, we are called to humbly live as a repentant child of God, to trust in Him, and to be as faithful a spouse as God gives you the strength to be.

Most of the world would call us doormats or fools to follow this kind of advice. The whole world seems to be telling us the opposite. In movies and television, as well as in real life with celebrities, we see couples staying together only so long as they feel “in love.” Likewise, songs on the radio suggest everything but fidelity. And so it is that separation and divorce are common occurrences, not exceptions.

Of course, Satan is not one-dimensional in leading us and others into sin. Probably more effective than the media are our own Christian friends, who readily share poor, non-biblical advice on matters of marriage. Worse still, an increasing number of church bodies, whether deliberately or by inaction, seem to condone or even approve divorce for non-biblical reasons.

In the face of such messages all around us, trusting in God and His Word isn’t easy. But it is nevertheless the only right option for a Christian.

as the Apostle Paul reminds us, an image of Christ and the Church: Christ the second Adam and the Church His Eve, taken from His wounded side in the water and the blood.

In an ideal marriage, both partners will constantly focus on their vows. That means being patient with your spouse’s shortcomings which lead them to sin and always being ready to forgive them. It also means living humbly yourself, always being ready to repent when you sin against your spouse.

You can begin strengthening your own part in that equation by also focusing on your relationship with God. Find focus in your worship life. Try some simple things, like starting and ending your days with Luther’s Morning and Evening Prayers. Read your Bible daily. Spend time in the Psalms. Just as people can make themselves sick by never eating what’s good for them, so neglecting the Word will weaken you. Satan’s goal is to get you to stop believing any way he can and he is remarkably good at his work. So spend time with God in His Word, even if it’s just for 10-20 minutes a day.

I would like to say that, for my acquaintance, everything is better now. In truth, the struggle for their marriage is still ongoing. In my experience, sometimes the commitment of one partner will be enough to spur the other into recommitting to their vows. Sadly, sometimes the other spouse walks away anyhow.

Fo rg i ve n e s s o f sins is available to all, because Jesus Christ died for all on the cross. His sacrifice was sufficient to pay the price for everyone’s sins, once and for always—and that includes the divorced. That is good news for the suffering and comfort for the broken-hearted. It is mercy for the penitent.

Repentance is not just a matter of words or feeling sad because you will be punished for your misdeeds. It is also the clean heart and right spirit that we, like King David, ask God to give us. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” It is the desire to live a new life with our whole heart each and every day—a desire that is awakened when the Holy Spirit touches our hearts through the preaching of God’s Law. Only then does the Gospel have fertile soil to work.

In the Christian marriage—whether healthy or working back from a rocky place—must begin, continue, and end looking to the cross. May God grant every Christian couple a loving marriage until death do you part.

Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to pay the price for everyone’s sins, once and for always—and that includes the divorced.

What about divorce?

While we can seek to live in humility before God ourselves, we can’t make our spouse live that way if they choose not to. So my acquaintance wanted to know—and perhaps you want to know—what happens if their spouse seeks a divorce. What will God say?

Divorce is sin. It’s an unpopular statement, but it’s true.

It has been said that no legal document can undo the “one flesh” created in marriage. There is a reason we call it a “holy” institution and bless it. We have all kinds of warm, bonded, close, committed relationships in our lives: family, friends, and the like. But marriage—the union of a man and a woman—is a unique relationship that is blessed and set apart, that is the union of a man and a woman. It is the means by which God continues the human race. It is also,

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David Faerber is a Deacon (teacher) in Lutheran Church–Canada currently on the call list. He is a member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Petawawa, Ontario.

International News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Scandinavian Lutherans prepare to join International Lutheran Council

Participants in the January 2016 meeting in Sweden between the Nordic Lutheran Dioceses and the International Lutheran Council.

SWEDEN - The executive committee of the International Lutheran Council (ILC) and the Nordic Lutheran Dioceses met January 20, 2016 to discuss future opportunities for collaboration.

The three Nordic Dioceses—the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of Finland, the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese in Norway, and the Mission Province in Sweden—all formed in response to the secularization of the National/State churches in their respective countries involving matters of both Christian doctrine and ethics.

These new, independent Dioceses were formed in Sweden (6 September 2003), in Finland (16 March 2013), and in Norway (20 April 2013). On November 7, 2015 the three Dioceses declared altar and pulpit fellowship with one another and formed the Communion of Nordic Dioceses, which then quickly approached the ILC about possible membership.

Roland Gustafsson, Bishop of the Mission Province in Sweden, said membership in the ILC is important

because “being in a rather small environment in the Nordic countries, we need the global fellowship of the Church of Christ. The ILC represents a Lutheran community, where we do think our Nordic Dioceses belong.”

The Nordic Dioceses hosted the representatives of the ILC, which includes 37 member churches, in Gothenburg, Sweden. On the eve of the meeting, Gothenburg, which typically enjoys a temperate climate, experienced a freak snow storm that slightly delayed the meetings.

Rev. Dr. Hans-Jörg Voigt, Bishop of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany and Chairman of the International Lutheran Council, was glad to hear the confession of the Nordic Dioceses. He said, “While we experienced the outside of Gothenburg as very cold with lots of snow, we experienced from our hosts a very warm and close confessional brotherhood during this conference.

It enables us to look forward to deeper connections between the Nordic

church bodies and the International Lutheran Council.”

After heartfelt, serious, and collegial discussions related to the belief, confession, and practice of the Nordic Dioceses, the executive committee of the International Lutheran Council invited each church body of the Nordic Dioceses to submit an application for membership, which will then be considered at the next scheduled World Conference of the International Lutheran Council.

Dr. Albert Collver, Executive Secretary of the ILC, noted that “despite the challenges the Lutheran church faces around the world in this day and age, the Lord has opened tremendous opportunities for the proclamation of the Gospel and for the encouragement of brothers and sisters in Christ.

The discussions with the Nordic Dioceses were incredibly heartening and we look forward to continuing these conversations.”

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

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International News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Nicaraguan Lutherans re-elect President, confirm ILC membership t o t h e assembly and emphasized how deeply impressed he was over the ILSN’s development since the late Rev. Sandor Argüello first arrived to begin missions there. Bishop Vo i g t w a s ILSN President Marvin Donaire addresses the convention. especially glad to see how ILSN President Marvin has NICARAGUA - The 5th Convention already become involved in the ILC’s of the Lutheran Church Synod Latin America world region, and felt of Nicaragua (Iglesia Luterano that the Nicaraguans have much to Sínodo de Nicaragua – ILSN) met teach other churches, particularly in in Chinandega January 9-10, 2016. their intensive use of deaconesses as Rev. Marvin Donaire was elected to the “front line” teachers of children his second 4-year term as President in local congregations. on the first ballot of the convention’s Confessional Lutheran work opening day. In addition, the in Nicaragua was sponsored by ILSN received three new member Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC), congregations, bringing the total to which called Pastor Argüello as a lone 25, and grappled with an unfulfilled missionary in 1997. LCC pastors and resolution from the last convention seminary professors have provided to open a new mission in the national pastoral and diaconal training since capital, Managua. that time, with significant growth Delegates met under the theme of leading to the ILSN’s founding 1 Peter 2:2—“Like newborn babies, convention in early 2008. Since then, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it the ILSN has also begun mission you may grow up in your salvation.” work in the neighbouring countries Various reports from the Synod’s life of Honduras and Costa Rica. LCC in the past biennium showed gradual continues to support ILSN pastors growth and maturing taking place. active as new mission developers In addition to the reception of new until their stations are received as local churches, the Synod’s treasurer full-fledged congregations. reported that financial support to the LCC was represented at the recent ILSN by its congregations increased convention by President Robert about 70% in 2015 in comparison to Bugbee, who also served as a Bible the previous year. study leader on the convention’s Among the guests at the convention chosen theme and preached at the was Rev. Dr. Hans-Jörg Voigt, Bishop closing service of Holy Communion of the Independent Evangelical on Sunday morning. “I am overjoyed Lutheran Church of Germany and at seeing the Nicaraguans take their Chairman of the International place among the ILC’s member Lutheran Council (ILC). The ILC churches,” he said, “and am glad that voted in September 2015 to receive their work is an encouragement to the Nicaraguans as a member church others, just as they are grateful for body, and delegates in Chinandega the support and encouragement they unanimously resolved to ratify this have received from Canada. To be action. Bishop Voigt brought greetings

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sure, the growth of God’s church is never easy or without pain. We know that from the book of Acts and from Paul’s letters in the New Testament.

But the Lord is doing His work in the real world, with all its challenges and weaknesses, and the story of our beloved Nicaraguans shows just how true that is!”

A number of Canadian partners attended Sunday worship at the convention, including a large team under the supervision of Mrs. Lisa Jackson of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waterloo, Ontario. Team members began their work with children, largely in areas in and around the city of León, the day after the convention closed. Parishes like Redeemer and St. Paul’s (Elmira, Ontario) have sent people to Nicaragua to help with teaching and practical projects like construction and agricultural support for many years.

ADVERTISE HERE! The Canadian Lutheran sells advertising space to help offset the cost of printing and shipping the magazine to congregations and subscribers.

Classified space is sold at $0.45 per word, minimum 50 words ($22.50).

To purchase classified space, or to receive a rate card for other advertising opportunities with The Canadian Lutheran, please email pres_sec@ lutheranchurch.ca or call 1-800-588-4226.

International News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Million-member Sudanese Anglican church considers becoming Lutheran Catechism S O U T H and expressed SUDAN - In interest in December 2015, becoming a officials from the Lutheran church Anglican Church body. To that of South Sudan end, members of (ACSS) led by the ACSS have Bishop Elijah sought out closer Arok visited the ties with the headquarters of LCMS, desiring The Lutheran to gain a deeper C h u r c h — understanding Missouri Synod of Lutheran (LCMS) in St. theology through Louis, Missouri the study of the to discuss the Book of Concord. possibility “ T h e n ex t of becoming step for the a Lutheran Back: Dr. Curtis Peters, John Ater Deng, Rev. Larry Vogel, Abraham, and Rev. Roosevelt Gray.

LCMS is to visit church.

Front: Dr. Albert Collver, Dr. John Loum, and Bishop Elijah Arok.

Juba, South T h e Sudan, and see the church in person,” significant portion of bishops, clergy, Anglican Church of South Sudan explained Rev. Dr. Albert B. Collver and congregations—perhaps nearly (formerly the Anglican Church of (LCMS Director of Church Relations).

50 percent—left the Episcopal Church Sudan) formed in 2004 as a breakaway “The goal would be to establish over these and other issues. Today from the Episcopal Church of Sudan theological education in the Lutheran the ACSS counts approximately one because of moves in that church body Confessions and Lutheran Doctrine. million members. and the wider Anglican Communion May the Lord grant guidance and Since that time, the ACSS has to approve same-sex marriage and the blessing to this endeavor.” discovered Martin Luther’s Small ordination of homosexual clergy. A

LCMS, WELS, and ELS leaders report significant doctrinal agreement USA - The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod (LCMS), the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) have released a report noting significant doctrinal agreement following three years of informal dialogue.

Following a fourth meeting held December 2, 2015, leaders of the three synods agreed to the publication of A Report on the Meetings of ELS, LCMS, and WELS Leaders 20122015. Among the representatives present for the event were LCMS President Matthew C. Harrison, WELS President Mark Schroeder, and ELS President John A. Moldstad.

Primary among the contents of the report is an assessment of the doctrinal agreement already shared by the three synods. “We agree that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God and the

only source of authority for doctrine and practice,” the report notes. “We agree that the chief message of the Bible is justification by grace through faith in the merits of Jesus Christ, and that the entire Bible is Christcentered. All of us also confess without reservation (quia) that the Lutheran Confessions are a correct exposition of the Holy Scriptures.”

The LCMS previously enjoyed fellowship with the ELS and the WELS until 1955 and 1961, the document notes, before fellowship was broken as a result of doctrinal controversies in the LCMS that peaked in the 1970s. Today, the three synods share such a level of doctrinal agreement that there is strong desire for further discussion “with the hope that we may be able to come to full agreement under the guidance and blessing of the Holy Spirit.”

They note, however, that a number of issues still need to be resolved, writing, “All of us are convinced that church fellowship requires complete agreement in doctrine.”

“It has been a joy to meet with and talk with faithful Lutherans from the WELS and ELS,” said Rev. Dr. Albert B. Collver III, Director of LCMS Church Relations. “We pray that the Lord would continue to bless this endeavor and, Deo volente [God willing], grant a restoration of fellowship between the three synods at some point in the future.”

The LCMS (2.1 million members) is a member of the International Lutheran Council. The WELS (400 thousand members) and the ELS (20 thousand members) are American churches in full fellowship together and are members of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

13

National News www.canadianlutheran.ca

LCC Releases National Survey on Restructuring CANADA - On February 1, 2016, Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) released a church-wide survey, asking all members of LCC—lay, clergy, and deacons—for their input on the restructuring of our church body. “ Yo u r p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n completing the Survey is very much needed!” explains Rev. William Ney, Chairman of LCC’s Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure in a newlyreleased letter to the church (see page four of this issue). “Our goal is to present to the Convention in 2017 a structure that will reflect the will of the majority of the members of LCC, not just a few in leadership positions.”

“The structure that emerges from your responses will lay the groundwork for how we will do national and international missions and ministry for many decades, and perhaps even generations, to come,” he continues.

The Commission is anticipating at least 2,000 responses to the survey in order for the results to reflect the perceptions of the whole church.

The summary of all the responses together with all comments will be made available to every member of every LCC congregation together with an analysis of the data by the restructuring consultant.

“The results of this survey and your comments will be read by thousands of members of LCC congregations and will form the basis of the discussions across LCC in the coming year,” an introduction to the survey notes. “The Commission will use the survey results and Synodwide consultations to form the recommendations for review by the Board of Directors prior to bringing them to the 2017 Convention.”

The survey, which is restricted to LCC members only, can be completed either online or in print and is completely anonymous.

You can obtain a paper copy of the National Survey from your pastor, congregational chairman, or secretary.

The same people can provide you with a web-address and password to complete the survey online.

The online version of the LCC National Survey will close at midnight February 29, 2016. The complete results, comments, tables, graphs, and analysis of the survey will be made available to all LCC members before the end of March 2016.

Yo u c a n r e a d c o l l e c t e d information on the Restructuring Process at www.canadianlutheran. ca/lcc-restructuring-process/.

“Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His steadfast love endures forever.”

- Psalm 136:26 A message from

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Great the glory theHis Lord!

Thank theisLord and of Sing Praise

14

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

Partnering with you in HIS mission

from our Project Connect series…

NEW

Contentment

Contentment – who does not want that – yet who wants the label ‘ingrate’? Contentment is elusive – even with our necessities met and a few perks thrown in for good measure – it can feel like something is missing. Using the book of Philippians, the author helps drill down to the source of true peace and satisfaction in this life (6BE163).

reaching out to children…

Do you know who Jesus is?

Children everywhere need to hear the Good News of their Saviour Jesus Christ. The four-line stanzas and charming artwork of this 40page, pocket-sized booklet will click with kids as they discover God and His love for them (6BE162).

Copies of these and other LHM booklets may be available in your congregation’s tract rack – otherwise contact us for a free copy.

Phone 1-800-555-6236 or e-mail info@LLL.ca.

Listen to The Lutheran Hour www.lutheranhour.ca Now available as an App Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada 270 Lawrence Ave., Kitchener, ON, N2M 1Y4 www.LLL.ca LutheranHourMinistriesCanada

ABC District News News ABC District

Alberta and Britishand Columbia, Jon Teschke, editor Alberta British Columbia

Alberta pastor certified in thanatology AIRDRIE, Alta. - Rev. Darren Dressler, pastor of Shepherd of the Hills in Airdrie, Alberta has received certification in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement. The Certificate in Thanatology is awarded by the Association for Death Education and Counseling.

Certification requires a certain level of education, professional experience, and an exam. Rev. Dressler may be the first person in Lutheran Church– Canada with this designation.

Rev. Dressler and Rev. Michael Keith (St. Matthew’s Lutheran, Stony Plain, Alberta), who has also taken a number of course in thanatology, offer a variety of workshops and

sessions related to death, dying, and bereavement.

They offer the following seminars/ sessions: • Introducing Grief Companioning— Walking Along with People Who Need You • Introduction to Rev. Darren Dressler Counseling Skills for Bereavement Caregivers Fo r m o re i n f o r m a t i o n o n • Let’s Talk about Funerals t h e s e c o u r s e s , v i s i t w w w.

• Introduction to Complicated shepherdofthehills.360unite.com/ Mourning grief-support/.

Youth encourage persecuted Christians CALGARY - From November 6-8, 2015, 58 youth, leaders, and volunteers from Alberta and British Columbia gathered at Foothills Lutheran Church for an annual fall youth retreat. This year’s speaker was Lutheran Church– Canada President Robert Bugbee, and he presented an indepth look at the entire book of 1 Peter. There were small group discussions, chapel time, games and swimming, good food, and fellowship.

The youth also participated in writing letters to Christians in other parts of the world who are in prison because of their faith in Jesus. An organization called Voice of the Martyrs maintains a list of these people, and supports information and awareness about the persecuted church. Over 60 letters were sent directly to imprisoned Christians in other parts of the world.

Organizers thank everyone who attended and assisted in any way. This year’s retreat will be November 4-6, 2016. The planning committee is very pleased to announce that Regina’s Rev. Ted Giese will be the speaker.

Watch www.lutheranyouthretreat.ca for registration information coming this Spring.

The fall youth retreat committee is: Heather Demers, Rev. Scott

Youth from Alberta and British Columbia gathered in Calgary for the 2015 Fall Youth Retreat.

L et te r s o f encouragement ready to be sent to persecuted Christians around the world.

Gamble, Heather Graham-Navis, Michelle Heumann, Trevor

Heumann, Rev. Eric Moffett, Kayla Moffett, and Miriam Winstanley

The Lutheran January/February2016 201615 1 THECanadian CANADIAN L UTHERAN January/February

ABC District News

Alberta and Britishand Columbia, Jon Teschke, editor Alberta British Columbia

2016 Mission and Ministry Plan EDMONTON - The ABC District Board of Directors ratified a 2016 ABC District Mission and Ministry Program. Based on congregational mission remittances in 2015 the projected income for 2016 is $630,000.00. The primary source of income, accounting for about 94% of the $630,000.00, is the mission remittances provided by the congregations. The remainder of the income comes from private donations and special mission offerings. Being largely dependent on congregational

mission remittances will require that we monitor cash flow projections and adjust our spending accordingly.

The congregations’ mission remittances are used to support congregations, schools, and church workers in their work of sharing the Gospel of Jesus with people who do not yet believe in Jesus as their Saviour. For example, the following ministries are receiving funding in 2016 to enable them to do the Lord’s work in their respective communities: Shepherd of the Hills

Some Good News!

I

had lunch in Edmonton recently with a friend who told me, “We really need to hear some good news.” He was referring to our church body, both at the national and district level and perhaps also to life in his congregation. To be sure, it’s been a rough time for us in Lutheran

Church–Canada recently; there seems to be more than enough bad news. I wondered for a day or two what I might find to talk about that might fall under the heading of good news. Then I realized I did not have to look too far to find some very good news; it was in fact sitting right in front of me.

On my last trip to Western Canada I spent almost the entire time in the Edmonton area and in the mornings I had the opportunity to teach at our Edmonton seminary. This is where I found some very good news. Right in front of me for ten mornings were seven students who God has led to enter our seminary and begin preparing to become pastors someday. Five of those students were in their second year, another is in his fourth year, and one is preparing to return to Ukraine. In addition there are five students in their first year of study and several more who have indicated they are planning to enroll in the seminary in the not too distant future. This is good news—very good news indeed!

One of the sometimes celebrated feasts of the Epiphany season is the conversion of St. Paul. We don’t always make a big fuss about the day, but it focussed on a very good event. Saul a Pharisee who hated Christians was on his way to Damascus to arrest followers of Jesus and bring them to Jerusalem for trial. The Lord Jesus intervenes and you probably know the rest of

2 The Canadian Lutheran January/February 2016 16 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

Lutheran Church (Airdrie, Alberta); Trinity Lutheran (Deaf) Church (Vancouver, British Columbia); Glorious Chinese Christian Church (White Rock, British Columbia) which is a sister ministry church of White Rock Lutheran Mission; Faith Lutheran Church (Surrey, British Columbia), Trinity Lutheran Church (Richmond, British Columbia), and the BC Mission Boat (Parksville, British Columbia).

the story. Saul is blinded for a time, then restored to sight, baptised, and commissioned by Christ to be an apostle. (All the details are in Acts 9.) It’s a remarkable story and it’s great good news for us today.

The same Jesus who called Paul is still at work among us, even with all our problems and all the bad news. He is at work among us to lead men to consider service to the Lord and to the church as pastors. It’s remarkable, really. In the world around us, when a company runs into trouble, especially if it’s financial trouble, it can be nearly impossible to find any workers, let alone folks who have strong skills and a heart to serve. Yet this is what the Lord has continued to do in our midst, not because we deserve it, but by His grace and love alone.

Paul reflects on his conversion and calling a few times in the New Testament, but in the Letter to the Galatians he captures the Good News in a unique way.

He reflects on how God actually had set him apart to serve before he was born and how his election was not due to anything he did but purely the work of God’s grace. At the end of that reflection Paul says the early church glorified God because of him (Galatians 1:11-24).

We too glorify God for Paul and for all that He did through this amazing man. We glorify God because He still continues to call men to proclaim the message Paul proclaimed—Christ and Him crucified. We glorify God because in the midst of all the bad news we have heard about our church body in the last year, God is still at work, still doing what He promised to do. We glorify God because the Gospel is still at work in the hearts of our people and in spite of all our woes the Good News has not been taken from us!

Rev. Nolan Astley, Interim Pastoral Leader

ABC District News News ABC District

Alberta and Britishand Columbia, Jon Teschke, editor Alberta British Columbia

ABC District Board of Directors releases letter to members EDMONTON - In mid-December 2015, the Board of Directors of the Alberta-British Columbia District released a letter to the district at large, updating members on the status of their work since their installation this past fall. “On behalf of the board of ABC District, I would like to communicate what we have been doing on your behalf since we first took up our responsibilities on September 1, 2015, and where we plan to go from here,” writes Rev. Roland Kubke, Chairman of the ABC District Board of Directors.

“We have not had the luxury of a normal course of events when there is a fair degree of overlap in the termritys of various board members,” Chairman Kubke explains. “Some of our members are new to governance board experience. Those of us who have had previous board experience are accustomed to operating from a position of institutional stability.

We are in a steep learning curve not only in regard to the basics of board management, but in regard to providing governance at a time when much has changed and continues to change.” Nevertheless, he writes, the board is committed to “carying out what convention determines in a way that meets our obligations to our Lord Jesus Christ, the members of the district, and the governments that rule over us.”

Chairman Kubke goes on to detail the work of the board so far, including orienting new members, determining lines of authority (given the current division of labours between the District President and synod’s Interim Pastoral Leader), oversight of committees and task forces, and rebuilding trust between congregations, church workers, pastors, and synodical officials.

The letter goes on to say that that the board is committed to communicating with district members “on a steady basis from this time forward,” noting that the board had been working to gain a firmer grasp of the situation before

communicating directly with the church. “We are committed to doing as much as is prudent when it comes to explaining at least the process being followed in leading the district in service to the Convention. If we cannot communicate something with a reasonable degree of certainty, then we will let you know as much as we can at the time and keep you informed as we learn more ourselves. We are also committed to communicating to our circuit counsellors and through our circuit counsellors as much as possible so that may be kept up to date and that the board has as good an understanding as possible as to the ongoing needs of our congregations and people.”

Chairman Kubke goes on to provide additional information regarding district finances and budgeting for 2016, as well as the work undertaken thus far to normalize district services.

The letter concludes as follows: Once the issues relating to the funds crisis have been cleared, there will be no more Church Extension Fund on the ABC District Board list of responsibilities. (The District Investment Ltd. funds were managed by a separate board.) The small staff that our resources will be able to make available going forward also means that congregations, pastors, and church workers cannot expect the same level of service to which we were accustomed.

All three districts have asked the synod to do a thorough review of its structure with a possible restructuring to be decided upon at the synod convention in 2017. Whether or not we return to a more familiar role for our district president by then, we are determined to serve you as a board as well as we are able to in the face of the circumstances presented to us.

The ABC District Board does not function from an “us and them” mentality. The congregations, pastors, and other church workers; the office staff, the district president, and the vicepresidents, and we, the board, are all

together “us.” We are walking together voluntarily as sinners redeemed in Christ. By this walking together, we are involved in the same basic task: to gather around God’s Word and Sacraments by God’s grace for faith and life so that we may reach out to each other and the world with the precious, holy Gospel. We have different roles and responsibilities, but that doesn’t change the fact that we are “us.”

In the three months since I and the new ABC Board have come into the positions to which we were elected, I have sat at many tables and heard many people. I am very impressed with how the great majority truly seek to please our Lord in their response to this crisis and in their concern to not lose sight of the mission to which God has called each of us

by His Gospel. As a group walking together, our brothers and sisters in Christ truly seek to be gathered around God’s Word in the assurance of His forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

Despite the burdens of disappointment and embarrassment and shame so many members struggle with, there is a desire to recognize that Christ has not withdrawn Himself from us. He is patient and merciful and forgiving and can work blessing out of even our greatest sorrows. The Gospel is still among us all in the ABC District of Lutheran Church–Canada, and Christ has continued to entrust us to share this treasure with each other and with all those around us.

I will keep you informed as to what we, the board of the ABC District, are doing as we humbly seek God’s guidance and listen to the voices of His people in Lutheran Church–Canada’s ABC District.

The full letter is available from the District’s website here: www. lccabc.ca/blog/2015/12/16/boardcommunication-to-the-church-atlarge-in-abc-district/.

The Lutheran January/February2016 201617 3 THECanadian CANADIAN L UTHERAN January/February

ABC ABC District News

Alberta and Britishand Columbia, Jon Teschke, editor Alberta British Columbia

Response to Alberta Government’s Proposed School Guidelines EDMONTON - The Government of Alberta recently released proposed guidelines on sexual orientation that are to be adopted by all school districts in the province. AlbertaBritish Columbia District President Glenn Schaeffer has responded to the guidelines, encouraging ABC District members in Alberta to make their concerns known to elected officials, as well as to keep the situation in prayer.

President Schaeffer’s letter follows:

T

he Alberta NDP government is insisting that all school districts adopt proposed guidelines that “create learning environments that respect diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.” Schools should provide a welcoming, caring, respectful, and safe learning environment for all students regardless of the challenges they experience. But, in the name of fostering diversity and inclusion, the NDP government is imposing an extreme form of gender identity that is contrary to the expressed will of our Creator who created “man in his own image, in the image of God, he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).

The government’s proposed policies also fail to respect the privacy and rights of other students and their parents who think expressions of the LGBTQ lifestyle are immoral and who are uncomfortable having transgender students in their change rooms and bathrooms.

The Edmonton Metro (January 2931, 2016) observed that a “loophole in Alberta’s School Acts means private schools may not be bound by laws requiring schools to create new policies for LGBTQ students” but the same article quotes Jeremy Nolais, Minister Eggen’s press secretary as saying, “Private schools still need to be providing safe and caring settings that recognize the requirements and grounds for discrimination in the Alberta Humans Rights Act and other applicable legislation, like the

The cover of the Government of Alberta’s new gender identity guidelines for schools.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.” Private schools, like St. Matthew’s Lutheran Academy School in Stony Plain, are safe and caring settings for children, and yet these guidelines may have a significant impact on their future sustainability, especially if the government ties funding to these policies.

How might you respond to this government initiative?

1. You are encouraged to take a moment to read the proposed government’s “Best Practices” guidelines.

2. Pray for school board trustees, educators, and government leaders w h o a re re s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e development of policies related to this issue.

3. If you are inclined, please take a moment to sign a petition at Life Petitions (www.lifesitenews. com/petitions/i-stand-with-bishopsagainst-alberta-transgender-policy) that expresses your concern over the implementation of the proposed guidelines.

4. Send an email, write, or call your MLA and voice your opinion on the matter and copy the Premier and Minister of Education as well.

Minister of Education – Honourable David Eggen Constituency Office Unit A, 10212 127 Avenue Edmonton, AB Canada T5E 0B8 Phone: 780.451.2345 Email: edmonton.calder@ assembly.ab.ca

4 The Canadian Lutheran January/February 2016 18 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

Premier – Premier Rachel Notley Constituency Office Strathcona Professional Centre Suite 101, 10328 - 81 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB Canada T6E 1X2 Phone: 780.414.0702 Email: edmonton.strathcona@ assembly.ab.ca God’s grace and peace is yours in Christ, Rev. Dr. Glenn E. Schaeffer District President, ABC District 1 Timothy 6:12

Applying for a vicar or pastoral candidate NOTE: March 15, 2016, is the deadline for vicarage applications and for congregations to request the placement of a pastoral candidate. Applications are available from the ABC District w e b s i t e ( w w w. l c c a b c. c a / resources/) or by calling the district office at 780-474-0063 (toll free 1-888-474-0063).

Visit the ABC District website at www.lccabc.ca Send news, photos, articles and announcements six weeks prior to publication month.

District Editor 7040 Ada Boulevard, Edmonton, AB T5B 4E3 phone: 780-474-0063 communications@ lutheranchurch.ca

Next deadline: March 25, 2016

Central District District News Central News

Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Manitoba, NW NW Ontario Ontario Elaine Elaine Stanfel, Stanfel, editor editor

Nativity display outreach

Live nativity tradition continues

HUMBOLDT, Sask. - Members of St. John’s Lutheran Church erected a nativity display at the Humboldt Campground to share the Christmas story.

Learning and having fun at Christmas vbs

FROBISHER, Sask. - Once again, the members of St. Peter & St. John, Oxbow/Frobisher staged a live nativity for members of the community.

The children had fun acting out the Bible characters and interacting with the sheep brought in for the event.

Children help tell the story

OXBOW, Sask. - Some 60 children learned about The Tree that Points to Heaven at St. Peter & St. John Lutheran Parish during a one-day vacation Bible school event. They decorated a Christmas tree with symbols that tell the salvation story, sang songs, played games, made a craft, and had a pancake supper.

WARMAN, Sask. - Some 65 children from St. John’s Lutheran Early Learning Centre performed the Nativity, sang, and got to help Pastor Randy with his Christmas story on the big screen as part of the centre’s Christmas program.

Wilkie congregation celebrates anniversary WILKIE, Sask. - The members of Trinity Lutheran Church celebrated the congregation’s 75th anniversary on November 8, 2015.

Fo r m e r T r i n i t y m e m b e r s ( a n d c o u s i n s ) Re v s . Wa y n e Jensen of Edmonton, Alberta and David Jensen of Shell Lake, Saskatchewan were present for the occasion. Following the anniversary service, approximately 55 people enjoyed a delicious beef-on-a-bun lunch held at the New Horizons

Hall, where present and former members spent the afternoon socializing.

Joyce Karstens

The beautifully-decorated cake shows a picture of the present church building.

TheTCanadian Lutheran 2016w19 1 HE CANADIAN LUTHERANJanuary/February January/February 2016

Central District News News

Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Manitoba, NW NW Ontario Ontario Elaine Elaine Stanfel, Stanfel, editor editor

Group makes bags for children

MORDEN, Man. - Women of Zion LWMLC made “Katie Cares” gift bags for children in southern Manitoba hospitals. The bags, filled with crayons, pencils, colouring books, and other items were designed by 13-year-old Kaitlyn Reimer, a cancer patient who wanted kids to be comforted when sick.

Shirley Titchkosky

“Cozy Tree” serves others BRANDON, Man. - The ladies of Grace Lutheran Wo m e n ’ s M i s s i o n a r y League-Canada erect a “Cozy Tree” each Advent season in the church narthex. Everyone is encouraged to bring toques, mitts or neck warmers to be distributed to high needs schools and Westman Immigration Services. It is especially rewarding to see the children of the congregation bring items to share.

Joan Rodenbush via LWMLC News

More was being added to the tree each week!

Ponderings from the president

Precious blood s a person who suffers from chronic sinus problems, I just happen to live in a part of the country (the Prairies) that is not kind to my condition. Especially in the winter when temperatures are most frigid, the air is very dry here. As a result, the dry air I breathe in causes sinus havoc. If I don’t keep my nasal passages moist with saline solution, I can count on drawing blood when I blow my nose. And I’ve had some bloody noses in my time! Sometimes the blood keeps flowing to such an extent that I consider heading to the hospital for professional help. Thankfully, I have not had to resort to such measures.

Of course, we all know that blood is a very important component in our bodies. In my simple understanding, blood brings oxygen and nourishment to our tissues and removes carbon dioxide and other waste. Without blood, we die. If we lose too much blood, it can sometimes be replenished through transfusions, often from people with the same blood type. If we experience a bloody nose or a cut, the spilled blood can be quite a mess to clean up.

In my daily devotions, I’m currently reading God’s instructions to His chosen people about sacrifices for sin in the book of Leviticus. It’s quite a bloody mess!

As animals are sacrificed, blood is poured, sprinkled or applied to altar, priest and people in order to forgive sin.

The breaking of God’s Law and will bring deadly consequences that you and I cannot erase by our own

A

efforts. As we enter another Lenten season, we hear much about blood. Lent is all about the blood of Jesus that was shed for sinners by His death on a cross. And because Jesus was the sinless Lamb of God, His blood was shed as the complete payment for our sin. The apostle Paul writes, “In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses” (Ephesians 1:7). “We have been justified by his blood,” says Paul to the Romans (Romans 5:9). He also writes that “you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Yes, the season of Lent is a bloody mess. But because it’s Jesus’ blood given for our sin, it is a cleansing blood, blood that covers our sin, blood that gives life again. And so we sing during Lent: Not all the blood of beasts On Jewish altars slain Could give the guilty conscience peace Or wash away the stain.

But Christ, the heav’nly Lamb, Takes all our sins away; A sacrifice of nobler name And richer blood than they.

(LSB 431 vv.1-2) Rev.Tom Prachar

2 The 2016 20 THECanadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN January/February January/February 2016

Central District News News

Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Manitoba, NW NW Ontario Ontario Elaine Elaine Stanfel, Stanfel, editor editor

Congregation spearheads community Christmas program MELFORT, Sask. - The community Christmas Play began four years ago with a few members from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church coming up with the idea that it would be a wonderful witness to have a Christmas Play in the style that used to happen in the schools.

Tara Muntain, Larry Falk, Kim Hemstad-Falk, and Fran Tatlow brainstormed ideas. They approached the local Ministerial Board for support and contacted key members in church youth groups and at the high school drama club and the dance centre, trying to reach as many youth as possible in the community.

Kim and Tara took a few plays and melded them together to make one play that could be split into different scenes that each “group” could take, make their own, and then come together for one dress rehearsal before the performance.

An intermission was also planned, where people could leave their seats and share fellowship with some cookies and coffee.

The first year, the price of tickets

covered the facility rental and printing costs. A couple of local businesses covered other costs. The Performing Arts theatre seats 374 people, and the first performance drew even more than that! A little girl who was involved with the dancers asked more about this “Mary” girl and if she was a real person. It was enough to let organizers know they were on the right Sharing the Christmas story. track. $6,000 was raised and donated to The second, third, and fourth years the Stuart Eisner Christmas Fund involved more and more participation: for the Salvation Army Christmas local writers creating original Hampers—a wonderful way to teach scripts, song writers composing youth how to give back to their songs, conductors arranging music, a community. rhythmic gymnastics solo, and other The base committee has grown to dance solos. include a few other members from Every year the play’s title is different congregations, working “The Real Christmas Story,” but it together with the goal of spreading is told a different way each time. the true message of Christmas.

The performance has been picked up Organizers feel blessed to be able by the community cable station to air to be a part of this production and before Christmas, hopefully reaching encourage other community to even more people with the story. undertake similar projects!

This past December more than Tara Muntain

Pre-Christmas outreach activities in Regina REGINA Songs for Souls N ew B e g i n n i n g s L u t h e ra n Church hosted its annual fundraiser “Songs for Souls” just before Christmas. The worship group Ebenezer Stone provided a twohour concert of Christmas music and the ladies of NBLC hosted a bake sale and craft table with all proceeds of the evening going to provide monthly meals at Souls Harbour Rescue Mission in Regina.

A free-will offering raised $4,000 which will provide eight meals of shepherd’s pie to the 200 people who look nightly to Souls Harbour to help feed their families. The congregation is blessed to have about 25 members who volunteer each month to cook, serve, and clean up for the homeless and needy at Souls Harbour. The volunteers feel honoured to serve

the Lord in this way and thank God for blessing this fundraiser to help sustain this outreach mission.

offering gathered, as organizers wanted to symbolize the free gift God gave us in the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. The group had prayed that 25 ladies would receive their gift and were truly blessed threefold, with 75 ladies coming out to enjoy the morning. All enjoyed the food, fellowship, devotion time, games, and music provided by Jennifer Jade Kerr.

Ladies Christmas Breakfast The women’s Bible study group at New Beginnings Lutheran Church decided this year to host a Ladies Breakfast just before Christmas. The group wanted to give the ladies of both congregations (Grace Lutheran and New Beginnings, which share a building) the opportunity to take a few minutes out of the busy Christmas season and spend some time enjoying fellowship and food at a free breakfast. The theme of the event was “A Free Gift.” There was no charge or free-will The ladies enjoyed their free breakfast.

Dot Zwack

TheTCanadian Lutheran 2016w21 3 HE CANADIAN LUTHERANJanuary/February January/February 2016

Central District District News Central News

Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Manitoba, NW NW Ontario Ontario Elaine Elaine Stanfel, Stanfel, editor editor

Holy Cross welcomes a new pastor WINNIPEG - Rev. Dr. Harald Schoubye was installed at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, November 29. Central District President Tom Prachar officiated at the rite of installation and also preached the sermon. Many pastors from the Red River Circuit also participated in the afternoon service. A reception of cake and dainties followed the service in the Fellowship Level where the congregation had the opportunity to welcome Dr. Schoubye and his wife, Cynthia, personally.

Dr. Schoubye was born in Berlin, Germany in 1955. He grew up in Winnipeg and completed a degree at the University of Manitoba. He graduated from Luther Seminary, Minnesota in 1980 and was ordained the same year. In 1991, he received a Master of Theology Degree and in

1996 he received a Doctor of Theology from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Dr. Schoubye served as pastor in congregations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Minnesota and Missouri for many years.

H e s e r ve d a s vacancy pastor at Holy Cross for (front, l-r) Vicar Milton Lam, Revs. Alex Klages, Harald Schoubye, Brad m a ny m o n t h s Schollenberg; (back, l-r) Revs. Cam Schnarr, Richard Beinert, Tom before accepting Prachar, Jim Schnarr, Ward Yunker, Richard Kruesel the call to become the full time thanks Rev. Richard Kruesel who minister for the congregation. served as spiritual leader at Holy The congregation sincerely Cross for 39 years before retiring.

New dining hall for Camp Lutherland

(l to r) Camp board members Garnet Fry and Eugene Frank and contractor Lee Wilson prepare for the groundbreaking for the new dining hall.

money was raised to build the basic structure of the building and in October 2015 ground was broken on the site. Due to a long fall and late winter, construction proceeded quite rapidly and was expected to be complete before the end of December.

The Board is now embarking on the next phase of its fundraising in order to outfit the kitchen, washrooms and furnish the building, with the goal of having the dining hall completely operational in time for Lutherland’s 85th Anniversary in 2017.

Joel Beres

Visit the Central District website at www.lcccentral.ca

Right : The dining hall dur ing construction.

PASQUA LAKE, Sask. - In the spring of 2011, Camp Lutherland experienced extensive flooding due to a severe rise in the water levels along the Qu’Appelle Lakes chain.

There was extensive damage to parts of the camp, including the

long-standing dining hall. The camp Board has worked and prayed hard since that time to design and raise funds for a new camp dining hall.

As a result of God’s gracious working of the Holy Spirit via the camp Board and donors, enough

4 The 2016 22 THECanadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN January/February January/February 2016

Send news, photos, articles and announcements six weeks prior to publication month.

Elaine Stanfel, district editor, 509 Airport Road, Pembroke, ON K8A6W7 613-687-6620 elaine.stanfel@gmail.com

Next deadline March 25, 2016

East District News News East District

Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Ilene Fortin, editor Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Ilene Fortin, editor

Family events encourage Nicaraguans for Advent and their families together NICARAGUA - In November in worship. Pizza was served 2 01 5 , a m i s s i o n t e a m and then there was time for comprised of individuals from crafts and decorating t-shirts. four congregations in the East The president of ILSN Youth District travelled throughout attends this church.

Nicaragua sponsoring “family ILSN youth throughout events” in eight Lutheran Nicaragua are organizing Church Synod of Nicaragua to help their churches in (ILSN) churches. meaningful ways like playing The concept had been electric pianos for worship, tested in three churches in beautifying their churches, January 2015. With approval and remaining connected as from Rev. Dr. Leonardo a group to support their faith.

Neitzel, Lutheran Church– ILSN children enjoyed creating Advent crafts to take home.

One group in Jinotega planned C a n a d a ’ s E xe c u t i ve f o r to put out about 100 lunches in 15 to make jewelry boxes to sell at Missions and Social Ministry, as to 20 minutes. After this, the adults Christmas and piñatas at New Year’s well as the pastors of ILSN, the received a plastic dishpan filled with as a means to plant a garden around Canadians began raising funds in food and health items before heading their church. their respective congregations. home. It is estimated that more than For more information about Supporting Nicaraguan pastors 800 people participated in these forming a mission team to help and deaconesses in their local events and about 15-25 percent were Nicaraguan pastors, please contact ministries was the purpose of the non-Lutheran.

Rev. Dr. Neitzel at missions@ events. Each pastor received $125 in Another aspect of the trip was a lutheranchurch.ca or Jane Ford of advance to arrange meals and was youth night in Chichigalpa. Since the Faith Lutheran Church, Kitchener challenged to use this money in a Nicaraguans had just held their first at djford@sentex.net. way to best benefit their congregation.

Youth Convention a month earlier, Jane Ford Often they provided a full lunch made this activity brought about 30 youth by members of the congregation for the event and applied the remaining funds to buy extras like confirmation Help Hats and Mats reach the homeless gifts or to support other congregational GODERICH, Ont. -The Hats & programs like Bible studies or food Mats Project at Berea-by-the-Water programs.

Lutheran Church is going strong, The focus of the event was to with members from the congregation help families plan a Christ-centred and the community knitting hats and Advent and Christmas. Coached by mittens for the homeless of London the guest speaker Carmen Martinez and Toronto. From September to (who travelled with the team) and December 2015, the group knit local pastors, the adults learned how and donated more than 500 hats Lutherans prepared during Advent. and 90 pairs of mittens. Now the They were encouraged to initiate fun local Legion has asked for hats and activities during Advent like making mittens for homeless veterans, and crafts (chrismons and nativity scenes) the knitters are proud to help. to decorate their homes.

Much of the yarn used for these The events ran for about 3½ hours.

Top: Hats and mitts created by the projects has been purchased by the Following worship and a light snack, women at Bereaknitters themselves. If anyone in the adults and children were separated. by-the-Water. district would like to contribute bulk While the adults participated in Right: The Hats and acrylic yarn to this mission work, the seminar, the Canadians with Mitts project poster was designed and please collect your yarn and contact the help of ILSN music director, created by Berea Rev. John Trembulak of Berea-byMarco Antonio Mendoza, rotated the teen, Shelby Hamp. the-Water Lutheran Church who children through games, crafts, and will make arrangements for pick Participants thank and are grateful music sessions. up. The knitters meet each Monday for all those who assist in the project.

Then the Canadians and at the church from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m.

Heather Ball, Project Coordinator Nicaraguans formed an assembly line THE CANADIAN LUTHERANJanuary/February January/February 2016 The Canadian Lutheran 2016 23 1

East East District News

Ontario, Ontario, Quebec, Quebec, New New Brunswick, Brunswick, Nova Nova Scotia Scotia Ilene Ilene Fortin, Fortin, editor editor

WECLO Bible Class enthusiastically continues WINDSOR, Ont. - W i n d s o r Essex County Lutheran Outreach (WECLO) holds Bible class every Thursday at the Khan home or the home of another participant. The language barrier is broken with a Chinese/English Bible which helps greatly in understanding. The group has an added advantage of having Mary (the first participant) as an interpreter/translator.

The Jesus video in the Chinese language was shown over a number of study days with a keen interest shown by participants. Many questions were raised about the Reformation, so by Reformation Day, a separate Bible study began featuring the Martin Luther film coupled with the Catechism and Bible references. It was attended

with great enthusiasm and interest.

First Lutheran Christian Academy The story of Christmas and the (FLCA). Each member of the class true meaning of Christmas was will receive a Martin Luther Rose in avidly followed by the group through the form of lapel pins and key chains, videos, carols, New Testament as a Christmas gift.

Bible readings, and Old Testament Javed Khan, prophecies. Great interest was shown WECLO Lay Missionary in the more secular customs like giftgiving, Christmas tree decor, parties, and so forth. The group was invited to participate in decorating our Christmas tree, an event which they really enjoyed. They also attended the Christmas Pageant The WECLO Bible class joyfully gathered for Christmas tree p e r f o r m e d b y decorating at the Khan home.

From the president T h e r e i s p o we r i n p r aye r !

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). oneliness is often associated with the stillness and solitude of a quiet night when one is all alone. But you can be lonely even in the midst of a great number of people. A young man who had moved to a large city found himself one morning walking in the cold through a crowded city street on his way to the office in which he worked. Even amongst all the people that surrounded him, he felt very lonely. This was his regular morning commute and he had done it many, many times before.

But for one reason or other on this particular morning thoughts of home gripped him and the feeling of loneliness so engulfed him that he felt he could hardly bear it. “I wonder what Mom’s doing?” he thought. And then the answer came to him, “At home, it is time for morning devotions. I think I’ll join Mom in prayer.” All at once his loneliness melted away and he felt that power of prayer.

Prayer does do something! Something always happens when we turn our hearts to God. Prayer opens the gates to the understanding and love of our heavenly Father. It gives the Spirit of the Master the chance to fill our hearts with the things that are good

L

in life. It cleanses our minds of cheap and worthless thoughts. Prayers are meant to be sincere and loving.

Even the desire to ask God for help gives a person a different spirit and added hope. When we pray, we link ourselves with the power of our Lord and our God who has created us and who preserves and sustains us. It is His power that can meet and conquer any situation that the world might heap upon us. It is His power that is open to anyone who will tap its great source. It is this power that our Lord can breathe into our very soul. Each day our Lord calls upon us to abide with Him, so that His power might be ours.

During our Lord’s ministry upon this earth—and especially during those times when He was drawing closer to the day when He would go to the cross to die there for our sins—His life was constantly in tune with God through prayer. He would go to the quietness of a hilltop and talk in prayer to His Father in heaven. During those times of prayer He gained strength for the ordeals of His journey. He received power to walk steadfastly toward Jerusalem, and the courage to die upon the cross, all the while praying for the forgiveness of His enemies.

May we, too, in all circumstances and no matter where we might find ourselves in the journey of our life, in “prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made known unto God!” Rev. Paul Zabel

2 The January/February 2016 24 THECanadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN January/February 2016

East District News News East District

Ontario, Ontario, Quebec, Quebec, New New Brunswick, Brunswick, Nova Nova Scotia Scotia Ilene Ilene Fortin, Fortin, editor editor

Multicultural sharing for the sake of the Gospel “I have become all things to all Sunday School and participants people ...” (1 Corinthians 9:22) from the congregation’s Food ETOBICOKE, Ont. Bank were attired in traditional Christmas is a time for robes and costumes of the family reunions, rejoicing nativity in respective roles. and celebrating but for many, Carols were sung in Hindi/Urdu especially immigrants and new and English. Congregational Canadians, there is constant members and guests joined in, anxiety over loved ones left back adding to the celebration and home, oftentimes in troubling rejoicing. and dangerous circumstances.

Following the meal and Many experience homesickness nativity play, the work and which threatens to immobilize contribution of our many them. volunteers was acknowledged Children from the Sunday school and participants from the The Church has a mission Food Bank were attired in traditional robes and costumes with gifts—a reminder of how to bring the comfort of Jesus of the nativity.

God the Father shared the Christ to all. At Our Saviour Lutheran greatest gift of His Son with us that satisfaction that members were doing Church, members decided to make we could be redeemed from the what they could to make everyone guests feel more at home this year clutches of sin, death and the devil. feel at home. Congregation members by exchanging the traditional turkey Other outreach efforts included were following the lead of St. Paul dinner for a more multicultural meal. carol singing in Hindi/Urdu/Punjabi who became “all things to all people.”

Since turkey is unknown in many and a Christmas Day Hindi/Urdu In an environment meant to places of the world, this multicultural language worship service followed by bring comfort, the Gospel was clearly meal involved celebrating the lunch at both events. The church was proclaimed by children performing Christmas delicacies of different pleased to see that many friends of a four-scene depiction of the birth cultures prepared by participants other faiths attended. Another first of our Lord at Bethlehem. Scenes at home in their own traditional was the New Year’s Eve Service on included the angel Gabriel coming ways—spicy, hot, finger-licking, December 31, as the congregation in a dream to Mary first and later to hitherto unknown to some, yet began the New Year seeking the Joseph, the host of angels appearing delicious. While some menu items Lord’s blessing to guide them into to the shepherds in the field, and the may have been outside the comfort and through 2016. wise men being led to the manger by level of some, there was a tremendous Rev. Joseph Singh the star. Children from the church’s

Dual parish hosts floats in local Christmas parades

Above: Berea-by-the-Water float in the Goderich Christmas parade November 21, with the theme, “True love was born in a stable.”

Above: Zion, Dashwood enters a float in Zurich’s Christmas Old Fashioned night parades every year. This year’s parade was on December 6. The float theme was “The World Needs a Stable Influence.”

Right: Zion, Dashwood prepared a float for the Exeter Christmas parade on November 21. Photo courtesy of Ms. Mac Photography.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERANJanuary/February January/February 2016 The Canadian Lutheran 2016 25 3

East East District News

Ontario, Ontario, Quebec, Quebec, New New Brunswick, Brunswick, Nova Nova Scotia Scotia Ilene Ilene Fortin, Fortin, editor editor

Pastor installed in Tillsonburg TILLSONBURG, Ont. - Rev. Paul Schallhorn was welcomed and installed at Peace Lutheran Church on December 6. He had previously served Christ Lutheran Church (Sarnia, Ontario) since 1998.

Following his ordination in 1989, Rev. Schallhorn served in both the ABC and Central District before coming to the East District.

District President Paul Zabel performed the Rite of Installation.

Members of Peace invited all present to join them for supper and fellowship and meet Pastor Paul, Rosalie, and the rest of the Schallhorn family.

Participating pastors: (front, l-r) Revs. Siem Manna, Paul Zabel, Paul Schallhorn, Oscar Castillo, Dr. Kenneth Voege; (back) Revs. Dr. Dusan Tillinger, Gilvan de Azevedo, Don Schieman, Dan Abraham, John Obeda, James Scholz, Orland Welke.

Ladies Spa Day celebrates rejoicing in the Lord always DASHWOOD, Ont. - The Education Committee at Zion Lutheran Church held its annual Ladies Spa Day on November 1. Some 58 ladies attended the 2015 spa with the theme, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”

Opening and closing devotions included reflective musings

by Shirley Keller. Meet Some of the many participants. and greet games helped participants to get to know each other. Guest speaker, Paula Nowak-

Pastor installed as full-time chaplain PETAWAWA, Ont. - Rev. David Gallas was installed to full-time Canadian Forces Chaplaincy in a service at Christ Lutheran Church on December 13. He had previously served as a Reserve Chaplain-4th Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment (London/Stratford, Ontario) for several years. Participating pastors included Rev. Bill Stanfel (Christ,

Petawawa, Ontario) and Rev. Deane Detlefsen (emeritus). District President Paul Zabel preached the sermon and officiated over the Rite of Installation.

The Gallas family is presently located in Petawawa where Rev. Gallas serves as Chaplain at Garrison Petawawa. Previously Rev. Gallas served St. Peter’s (New Hamburg, Ontario) from 20072015 and Church of the Lutheran Hour (Fort Frances, Ontario) from 19972007. He received h i s M . D i v. f r o m Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (St. Catharines, Ontario) in 1997.

Participating in installation: (l-r) Rev. Dean Detlefsen, Rev. David Gallas, Rev. Paul Zabel, and Rev. Bill Stanfel.

4 The January/February 2016 26 THECanadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN January/February 2016

Droog, past principal of Precious Blood School in Exeter, spoke of her childhood and the challenges that she and her siblings faced growing up with an alcoholic father and a mentally ill mother—lots of ups and downs but through it all, she never lost her faith in Christ. She now focuses on “brain wellness” and demonstrated several exercises that can be done daily to relieve stress and anxieties. Meditation and prayer are also important to strengthen the mind and spirit.

Pianist Shay Lynn Durand performed throughout the day. Lunch consisted of plenty of turkey kebobs, salads, and a variety of cheesecakes for dessert. Proceeds from tickets and the offering of $555 plus a FaithLife grant of $500 were dedicated to the Huron County Women’s Shelter.

Joanne Maguire

Visit the East District website at www.lcceastdistrict.ca Send news, photos, articles and announcements six weeks prior to publication month.

Ilene Fortin, district editor East District Office 275 Lawrence Avenue, Kitchener, Ontario N2M 1Y3 E-mail: ilene@lcceast.ca Fax: 519-578-3369

Next deadline: March 25, 2016

Mission Update Seminary studies in Ukraine going strong UKRAINE - The Winter semester of classes is well underway at Concordia Seminary in Odessa, Ukraine. The new year sees Professors Jonathan Kraemer and Stephen Chambers of Concordia Lutheran Seminary (Edmonton) teaching courses on Biblical Hermeneutics and the Gospel of John respectively.

Four students are studying for the pastoral ministry through the Odessa seminary in preparation for service in the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU), Lutheran Church–Canada’s (LCC) partner church in the region. They are the first new class at the Ukraine seminary since the graduating class of 2013. Plans to welcome a new class in 2014 were suspended due to political instability in the region.

Classes resumed in September 2015, with Rector Wilhelm Torgerson teaching three courses in the Fall semester: an Introduction to the New Testament, focusing on the Synoptic Gospels; an Introduction to the Lutheran Reformation; and an Introduction to the Lutheran Confessions, focusing on the Augsburg Confession and its Apology.

Rev. Oleg Schewtschenko, SELCU pastor in Odessa, also taught a course in late 2015. Entitled “God’s Plan of Salvation,” it provided a large-picture overview the Bible and was based on a program published by the Lutheran Church of Australia.

Dr. Torgerson is currently organizing a Theological Education

Dr. Torgerson (second from left) poses with students at the Ukraine seminary.

Experience for the students in the summer of 2016. Students will travel to Germany along with their rector to take an intensive course through the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Oberursel, which is affiliated with the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK) in Germany. Students will also visit Wittenberg and other Reformation sites, providing students with a better grasp of Lutheran history and theology in the lead-up to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

“It is my deep conviction that the seminary in Odessa is of immense benefit to the Ukrainian church, both theologically and personally” Dr. Torgerson writes. “Every investment LCC has made in this project has

shown a high return in terms of confessional Lutheranism and this will surely continue.”

“I can only encourage LCC and all its members to continue their assistance and support for this worthwhile Ukrainian ministry,” he continues. “And here, finances— as important as they are—take second place to persistent prayer and intercession for the ministry in southern Ukraine.”

For more information on LCC’s ministry in Ukraine and how you can support it, contact LCC’s Missions and Social Ministry executive Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel at missions@ lutheranchurch.ca or by calling 1-800588-4226 (ext. 2215).

GARY R. SCHMIDT President

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

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Mission Update Odessa church marks 20th anniversary, thanks God for LCC ties

Celebrating 20 years of congregational ministry in Odessa.

UKRAINE - The Odessa congregation of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches of Ukraine (SELCU) marked its 20th Anniversary on January 16 in a special celebration at Concordia Seminary, Usatovo, an Odessa suburb.

A young pastor from Kazakhstan, Rev. Dr. Viktor Gräfenstein, moved to Odessa in 1992 after his graduation from a Lutheran seminary in Riga, Latvia. At the same time he was named Superintendent (Bishop) of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine (DELKU), and spent his early years preaching and establishing congregations in various locations in the country. Challenges came as many people seemed more interested in establishing ties to Germany, either as a source of funds or as a way to ultimately emigrate. In addition, the Bible-critical theology of the German state churches began to make itself felt.

As a result, Dr. Gräfenstein resigned his post as DELKU Superintendent in late 1995 in order to devote himself fulltime to preaching and teaching.

Soon he received a call from a group of people in Odessa interested in launching a new, Biblically-oriented Lutheran congregation.

The theme for the Odessa congregation’s 20 th anniversary celebrations focused on God’s presence in the past, present, and future. Founding pastor and SELCU Bishop Emeritus Dr. Gräfenstein served as the first preacher for the

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event, highlighting the Lord’s help in the past and relating numerous stories of God’s guidance over the past two decades. The second segment saw current SELCU Bishop Aleksandr Yurchenko preach on the congregation’s present situation, including the challenges it faces today.

The congregation’s current pastor, Rev. Oleg Schewtschenko, preached for the third and final segment about the church’s future and the strengths God has given to provide for it.

Rev. Schewtschenko noted, “It was a wonderful way for the congregation and guests to look back and give thanks to the Lord, as well as to look at the present and ask forgiveness for things we neglected.”

The pastor also expressed gratitude for the presence of Professor Jonathan Kraemer of Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton, as a special guest at the celebration. Professor Kraemer wasin Odessa teaching as a part of the Ukranian seminary’s current semester.

During the event, Dr. Gräfenstein spoke at length about the partnership Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) has had with the Ukrainian church. He related how two LCC pastors, Revs.

Roland Syens and Keith Haberstock, came to Ukraine as missionaries in the early 1990s. Rev. Syens preached repeatedly in Odessa, and gave advice during the years when SELCU was first being established.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

Dr. Gräfenstein went on to relate the stories of his first contacts with then-LCC President, Rev. Dr. Edwin Lehman. On a visit to Germany, Drs. Lehman and Gräfenstein met at the Frankfurt airport for the first time.

Because of his initial experiences with church leaders from Germany, Dr. Gräfenstein approached this first encounter with some reluctance, but went on to say, “President Lehman was so humble, spiritual, and had the same values as ours. He asked me how LCC could support Lutheran work in Ukraine, and I asked him to help us train brothers for the ministry.” This meeting marked the beginning of a long partnership in Christ between LCC and SELCU, a partnership which continues to this day.

Dr. Gräfenstein went on to recall the many visits of Rev. Dr. Norman Threinen, first Rector (President) of the Ukranian seminary. Another faithful friend was Rev. Albert Schmidt, retired pastor of Edmonton, who came frequently and stayed for lengthy periods. Other partners included LCC President Robert Bugbee, as well as LCC mission directors Dr. Leonard Harms and Dr. Leonardo Neitzel.

“But this is not really just about those few people,” continued Dr. Gräfenstein. “It is about the missionminded heart of your church and people who love our country, our people and our church, and who have shown this love by supporting us with their prayers and their gifts.” He asked Professor Kraemer to communicate his thanks to LCC for its support and love. “It is not a long time,” the former Odessa pastor concluded, “only 20 years, but they were years of God’s love and grace. During this time, the Lord used this congregation to start three other churches in our Synod.

Thank you for being part of it, and for helping our pastor with his education.” LCC sponsored Odessa pastor Rev. Schewtschenko’s studies at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario from 2007-2010.]

Education Report Concordia University of Edmonton no longer a Christian institution E D M O N T O N - Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) no longer identifies itself as a Christian institution. The university’s Board of Governors made the decision on November 27, 2015 when it decided to remove all references to Lutheranism and the Christian faith from its mission and vision statements.

Prior to the action, Concordia’s Mission statement identified the institution as a “community of learning grounded in scholarship, freedom, and the Christian faith.” Among its Values Statements, it identified itself as an “excellent smaller Christian university true to its mission and vision,” that “maintains its mission as a Christian university serving the public.” Guiding Directional Statements professed that “Concordia will honour its Lutheran heritage” and “will provide a foundation of faith and intellectual integrity that supports a scholarly community.”All references to faith have now been deleted.

Previously, the introduction to Concordia’s previous Mission/Vision/ Values Framework read: “Throughout its history, Concordia has remained grounded in the belief that the Christian faith gives purpose to life and that success depends upon spiritual maturity. The entire educational experience at Concordia is built on a foundation of the Christian faith and intellectual integrity characteristic of a Lutheran university, where people of various beliefs and backgrounds are in dialogue in a common pursuit of understanding and truth that ultimately leads to wisdom. That is what is meant by our motto: Initium Sapientiae Timor Domini – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) was given no advance notice that such action was being contemplated.

As late as the end of August 2015, church officials had been assured in a letter from CUE’s Board of Governors that “all of the Board remains committed to Concordia’s Missions, Vision and Values.”

LCC President Robert Bugbee has

communicated his dismay to CUE President Gerald S. Krispin over the recent move by CUE, asking for clarity as to why the action was taken without consulting synod. He noted multiple assurances over the past years from Concordia’s leaders that such action was not being considered.

“Concordia was founded in 1921 as an educational ministry of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,” President Bugbee reflected. “It is with incredible grief that we see Concordia now silence any reference to the Christian mission for which it was originally founded.”

Concordia’s recent decision has put LCC in a difficult situation: a number of professors (including the University president) are ordained ministers of LCC and hold calls from the church body to serve as ministers at the institution. As Concordia no longer claims to be a Christian institution in its mission statement, it is doubtful whether service at the institution can continue to be considered a call in the church’s understanding, thereby jeopardizing the place of these colleagues on the Synod’s roster.

CUE leadership held a town hall December 15, 2015 to answer serious concerns from faculty regarding the abrupt change in the university’s mission statement. LCC was not invited to or informed of the meeting.

At the time, CUE President Krispin assured those present that the change would not alter the deeper identity of Concordia, and that the college and synod could continue to cooperate.

Concordia has taken a number of actions in recent years that have distanced it from the church. In 2010, Concordia notified LCC that it planned to alter its bylaws regarding the requirements for sitting on its Board of Governors. Previously all board members had been elected by LCC meeting in convention.

While synod raised concerns at the time, Concordia understood itself as able to make the decision with or without synod’s approval, arguing the 1978 Act of Incorporation that

instituted Concordia as an independent organization failed to make provision for synod’s continuing legal authority over the college. The college, however, continued to operate under bylaws relying on LCC in convention to appoint its Board of Governors. But in 2010, as noted above, Concordia informed LCC it planned to change its bylaws regarding governance.

Even so, President Krispin assured LCC leaders that any decisions the college made would “not only maintain, but strengthen the shared ecclesiastical bond” with Lutheran Church–Canada. At the time, President Krispin further explained that Concordia’s Mission, Vision, and Values Framework would ensure the college’s identity as a Christian institution would be maintained. “It is this distinction that gives us our raison d’être,” he wrote.

The actual change to a selfappointed (rather than LCCappointed) board occurred in recent years. Consequently, LCC at its 2014 convention updated its own bylaws to recognize the alteration that had already occurred. Despite the changes, President Krispin assured the convention that “every member who signs onto the board has a charter to uphold the mission, vision, and values of this institution.” Concordia had also taken steps to ensure representation of at least three members of Lutheran Church–Canada: the President of the ABC District, as well as two members from the general public.

In 2015, Concordia’s Board of Governors suspended the ABC District President’s ex officio position on the Board of Governors, citing uncertainty regarding the District’s corporate future. Despite this move, church leaders were assured by Concordia’s leadership that “all of the Board remains committed to Concordia’s Mission, Vision and Values.”

President Bugbee is arranging consultation with CUE’s leadership in determining what relationship the church body might have with the university going forward.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

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Education Report Robert Krestick gives annual Timothy Lecture EDMONTON - Rev. Robert Krestick gave the annual Timothy Lectures at Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) in Edmonton. Entitled “Key Things I've Learned,” Rev. Krestick's lecture addressed life lessons from three areas of his pastoral career: life in the parish, institutional ministry, and the vicar-supervisor relationship.

Each year, a seasoned and effective pastor shares his experience from pastoral life for the benefit of the seminary's students as well as the general public. The Lecture is intended to “provide sound, challenging, and practical insight to ministers-in-the-making.” The Timothy Lectures are sponsored through the annual gifts of an anonymous donor.

Rev. Krestick's ministry has seen him serve the church on the local, district, and national arenas in various capacities. He served his vicarage at Peace Lutheran (Spruce Grove, Alberta) and St. John’s Lutheran (Beach Corner, Alberta). He was ordained June 23, 1974 and served

at Trinity Lutheran (Gowanstown, Ontario) and St. John’s Lutheran (Mount Forest, Ontario) from 19741978; at St. Peter’s Lutheran (Port Colborne, Ontario) from 1978-1990; at Lutherwood (Waterloo, Ontario) as a chaplain from 1990-2000; and at Redeemer Lutheran (Waterloo, Ontario) from 2000-2014.

Rev. Krestick has served the East District as Director of Student Aid, Mission Department Member, Interim Director of the Task Force on Restructuring, District Secretary, and Second Vice President, District Lutheran Layman’s League Pastoral adviser, and Chairman of the K-W Lutheran School Society.

He also served as a Vice President of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) from 2002-2011 and on the first Board of Managers of LCC's Workers Benefit Plans. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Regents of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (St. Catharines, Ontario), and serves on the Board of Governors at Lutherwood.

Rev. Robert Krestick

Rev. Krestick served as vicarage supervisor for sixteen vicars: Tom Pracher, Kevin Walrath, David Bode, William Gillissie, Randy Nord, Stephen Grosch, Joel Humann, Don Hennig, Gerald Luck, Galen Purpura, Scott Lyons, Jeff Dul, Oscar Costillo, Derreck Pillay, Andrew Preus, and Basil Christi.

CLTS welcomes Australian scholar’s visit ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) played host to Rev. Dr. Andrew Pfeiffer in late January 2016.

Dr. Pfeiffer is a faculty member at the Australian Lutheran College in Adelaide, South Australia, where he works primarily with students preparing for pastoral ministry in the Australian Lutheran Church (ALC)—Lutheran Church– Canada’s (LCC) partner church in Australia. Enjoying temporary l e a v e, h e v i s i t e d n u m e r o u s theological and ecclesial meetings in North America, culminating with his trip to St. Catharines.

On January 25, the faculty of CLTS exchanged ideas and experiences with Dr. Pfeiffer in an unofficial but beneficial faculty meeting.

The following day saw Dr. Pfeiffer

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deliver a presentation f o r C LT S ’ students and staff about the Australian Lutheran Church and its seminary.

Dr. Pfeiffer p o i n t e d out the similarities between LCC and the ALC, Rev. Dr. Andrew Pfeiffer speaks at CLTS. both being small churches in geographically touching the ongoing debate in vast countries with a high level of the LCA concerning women’s urbanization. Many of the challenges ordination, Dr. Pfeiffer asked the and joys between the two are similar, prayers of Canadian Lutherans in providing plenty of opportunity preserving unity in the church based to learn from each other. Briefly on the truth of Scripture.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada Missionaries Rev Mike and Kara Kuhn Return to Cameroon

Mission Update for 2016

Rev. Mike and Kara Kuhn,

with their children Tobias, Gideon and Gloria, returned to Galim, Cameroon after an 18‐month furlough during which they criss‐crossed the country visiting donors, while Rev. Mike completed his M. A. in Linguistics at Trinity Western University.

Currently, the Kuhns are reconnecting with members of their Nizaa translation team, meeting with local officials, and setting up housekeeping in preparation for service in Cameroon. They wish to thank all their financial supporters and prayer warriors for their kindness and generosity while on furlough!

LBTC Missionaries Rev Mike and Kara Kuhn with Tobias and Gideon in Galim, Cameroon.

In their first year in Cameroon Mike and Kara made great progress toward completing translation of the New Testament in the Nizaa language. The work is exciting and rewarding, and the Kuhns have great passion for translation and love for those they serve. Here’s a little bit about them so that you can pray for them:

Born and raised in Alberta, mostly in Morinville and Red Deer, Mike is the son of Sid and Melanie Kuhn. He spent a year in France as part of an au pair (family caregiver) program and a year in Guinea West Africa as a volunteer missionary with LCMS World Mission before going to Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton. After ordination he served at Foothills Lutheran in Calgary and oversaw a church plant effort.

Kara was born in Saskatchewan and grew up in Winnipeg and Calgary. She is the daughter of Rev Laverne and Deanna Hautz, who are currently serving in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. After spending a year

at Capernwray Bible School in Sweden, Kara completed a university degree in French and Education at the University of Calgary. She’s also an accomplished pianist and has taught private piano lessons.

Kara’s father was the pastor at Foothills Lutheran Church where Mike was placed. Mike and Kara met and when they married, her dad became not only Mike’s brother pastor but also his father‐in‐law! They have three children, Tobias, Gideon, and Gloria. Passionate about sharing the Gospel, both Mike and Kara are highly motivated with every task they encounter.

The Kuhns follow two Norwegian missionaries who worked in the Nizaa language. Nizaa is a written language with a number of useful literacy materials already published. However, literacy classes have not been functioning regularly since 2006. Before the Kuhns returned to Canada for furlough Rev. … continued page 2

KUHNS RETURN continued from page 1 Mike met with Nizaa leaders, and found them to be ready and willing to re‐start the literacy program. One issue the Kuhns tried to address while on furlough was how to fund a literacy program in a sustainable way.

Now that they are back in the field the Kuhns will focus on helping Nizaa writers to publish more literature of all types, and how to motivate the population to learn to read and write in Nizaa, a necessary occurrence if a vibrant literacy program is to be relaunched. Of course their primary task is translation of the New Testament into Nizaa.

A possible solution to this challenge may be to adapt the Scriptures into recorded or sung formats that bring the truth of Godʹs Word that much closer to where the people are right now. There is much work to be done.







There are 10‐15,000 speakers with a majority Muslim population (90‐95%).

The literacy rate is one of the lowest in the country at 19%.

Rev. Kuhn and two members of the Nizaa translation team from Galim, Cameroon.

Interesting Facts about the Nizaa Language Project

The Nizaa language is tonal which means that if you say the same sound at different pitches it could have different meanings. It also has 27 vowel sounds (the English language has somewhere between 11 and 20, depending on your accent).

Cameroon

 Almost all Nizaa people also speak Fulfulde as a second language, which is used in the market. Those who have above a third grade education speak French.  The village of Galim (gah‐LEEM) is the central Nizaa village. In Galim, there is a mosque, Catholic church, Lutheran church, small weekly market, medical dispensary, and a few shops for basic needs. One must go to another village for mail, gas, and other household needs.  The Nizaa are very proud of their language and culture. They hold a festival in Galim every year to celebrate the strength of their group. It is attended by about 3,000 people from all over Cameroon and neighbouring Nigeria doubling the population of Galim.

Galim

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Ngaoundéré

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

 The Norwegian Missionary Society began literacy work among the Nizaa in the 1980s. An orthography was established as well as a Nizaa literature center. Various literature was produced, such as health pamphlets and primers, and Bible translation was begun. A draft of the Book of Mark was published and the other gospels nearly finished before the work was stopped around 2002.

Your Word is a Stone is an Egg

By Eshinee Veith

LBTC Translator, Botswana

This is also an example of why a translation from something other than original languages can create a problem, especially if it then gets retranslated into yet another language.

A Shiyeyi speaker who understands Setswana and translates into Shiyeyi from a Setswana Bible would have to choose which meaning of lentswe was intended in passages that contain that word.

An English translator from Shiyeyi would then have to select the correct meaning of ldiyi. Imagine the difference that would be created with just one wrong translation choice in the transition from Setswana to Shiyeyi to English in Psalm 29: ʺThe Lordʹs egg strikes with flaming fire!ʺ

Eshinee differentiates between sounds while chatting with Shiyeyi speakers. She is on her second assignment and admits it has taken that long for the language learning to be effective, so translation can advance

One of the challenges in translation is the fact that a word in one language can have multiple meanings in another. This is something that was highlighted last week during my language learning session with Bahiti. We were going Go ahead, read the whole chapter with through the Shiyeyi picture dictionary that was ʺeggʺ in it replacing the word ʺshoutʺ; itʹs published a few years back and he was good, clean fun! pointing out to me the definitions that werenʹt adequate.

For example, the Shiyeyi definition given to go with the picture + English word ʺeggʺ is the word ldiyi. Bahiti explained to me that, yes, ldiyi means ʺeggʺ.

But it also means ʺvoice/wordʺ. The Setswana definition for ʺeggʺ is lee but lee, unlike its Shiyeyi counterpart, does not also mean ʺvoice/wordʺ. The Setswana word for ʺvoice/wordʺ is Even when taking a break from work, Eshinee gains a fuller lentswe. But lentswe also meansʺstoneʺ. understanding of how the Shiyeyi language is used daily.

Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada 137 Queen St S Kitchener ON N2G 1W2 www.lbtc.ca info@lbtc.ca THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

33

LBTC signs agreement with Alliance Biblique du Cameroun

Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada presents

Dr Mike Rodewald, Executive Director of LBT‐USA as Guest Speaker for

LBTC Annual Meeting and Banquet Saturday May 14 2016

LBTC Missionary Martin Weber meets with the Dowayo translation team in Poli, Cameroon.

In June, LBTC Regional Director Rev. David Federwitz

First St. Paul's Lutheran Church

3620 Nafzinger Road, Wellesley, Ontario Annual Meeting begins at 4:30 pm Dinner at 5:30 For more information, please contact LBTC 1‐866‐518‐7071

and Alliance Biblique du Cameroun (ABC) General Director Dr Luc Gnowa signed an agreement that will see LBTC provide funding for a Junior Translation Consultant who will work on ABC translation projects in Cameroon, United Bible Society Translation Consultant Dr Yousouf Dembele will serve as the direct supervisor and mentor for ABCʹs projects in Cameroon, and in particular those projects funded by LBTC. LBTC is currently sponsoring two translation projects which will require significant and regular ABC training and follow‐up:

LBTC Translators work with Alliance Biblique au Cameroun (ABC)

the Dowayo Old Testament translation project (coordinators: LBTC missionaries Martin and Joan Weber), and the Nizaa Old Testament portions and New Testament translation project (coordinators: LBTC missionaries Rev Mike and Kara Kuhn).

Since it is vitally important to develop a strong relationship between the consultant and the translation team from the beginning stages of any translation project, LBTC are counting on strong and regular training and supervision of these two translation projects by ABC. Please pray that God grant all translators and consultants wisdom and energy.

Coming in March 2016: 3‐yr Lectionary in Kwanja for use in Kwanja‐language churches is published and dedicated: Rev Dr Jim Keller is travelling to Cameroon for the Dedication.

Thanks be to God!

.

Cameroonians are hungry for the Word of God! Consider supporting LBTC today!

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

In Review

Relationships in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

by Ted Giese

B

y downplaying Luke Skywalker in the trailers of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, director/writer J.J. Abrams created a clever diversion. Speculation swirled around the idea that a Luke Skywalker, fallen from grace, could be the new film’s villain Kylo Ren. This was just one distraction designed to keep the plot and major details of the film under wraps until fans could see it for themselves.

Respectfully, the Star Wars fans took up the task and participated to keep spoilers to a minimum and avoid talking about a major death in the film.

Upon viewing the film, it quickly becomes clear that the destruction of another planet-destroying super weapon is not the most important element of The Force Awakens. Nor

is it the simple plot of orphaned fugitives finding their way into an intergalactic band-of-resistance/ freedom-fighters to battle against the First Order. The film isn’t even about finding Luke Skywalker. This movie is about the death of Han Solo and its implications.

An integral part of Han Solo’s death is how he is killed, by whom, and what his death produces. He doesn’t die in a heroic blaze of glory as the Millennium Falcon explodes around him in the vacuum of space.

He doesn’t die going toe-to-toe with a bounty hunter like Boba-Fett. No, Han Solo is murdered by his son Ben, the product of Han’s relationship with Princess Leia Organa. Ben turns out to be the mysterious, masked villain Kylo Ren. There is a term for this kind of murder: it’s called patricide.

Sons and Fathers The Old Testament records a famous instance of patricide.

“After failing to capture Jerusalem, Sennacherib king of Assyria went home to Nineveh. As he worshipped in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat where Esarhaddon, his son, reigned in his place” (2 Kings 19:36-37).

On the whole, patricide is rare in Scripture. Perhaps a better example of patricide from the Bible, which may be worth contemplating after watching The Force Awakens, is a case of attempted patricide by King David’s son Absalom.

David’s family was complicated and filled with step-siblings from

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

35

multiple concurrent marriages. After Absalom’s half-brother Amnon raped Absalom’s sister Tamar, Absalom was unhappy with how their father David dealt with the tragic situation.

In his disappointment and anger, Absalom took justice into his own hands and plotted the death of his half-brother Amnon. That death sparked the seeds of revolt in Absalom who then openly worked to overthrow David. Had he succeeded in this endeavour, David would have died at Absalom’s own hands. For his part David did not want to see his son die and did everything he could to bring Absalom home and provide forgiveness even after he had turned against his family. In the end David even ordered his commanders to “deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom” (2 Samuel 18:5).

T h e disappointment of a son with his father is part of The Force Awakens.

While Kylo Ren interrogates the young scavenger, he provides some personal commentary on his family.

“Han Solo …

You feel like he’s the father you never had. He would’ve disappointed you.” Like Absalom, Kylo Ren is disappointed in his father, a man he later describes as “weak and foolish.”

The Son of Solo

Since Ben Solo/Kylo Ren’s childhood and early-adulthood falls within the 30-year gap between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, the nature and cause of this disappointment is a mystery.

Something happened in the past that resulted in Ben Solo becoming Kylo Ren. Without specifics Han

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Solo recounts to Rey how Luke Skywalker once had a young apprentice who turned on him and destroyed the Jedi school Luke was establishing. Lurking in the background of this betrayal is Supreme Leader Snoke who presumably tempted Ben Solo to the dark-side of the force and prompting his conversion to “Kylo Ren,” Master of the Knight of Ren. It is implied that this tragedy broke Han Solo’s and Leia Organa’s relationship. It also drove Luke Skywalker into self-imposed exile.

As Kylo Ren, the young Ben Solo wears a mask not because he needs to but rather out of misplaced devotion to Darth Vader. He seems either unaware of, or disbelieving

of Vader’s ultimate fate and the redemption of the man behind the mask which occurred at the end of Return of the Jedi. In one scene he sits piously before Darth Vader’s burnt and deformed iconic mask praying, “Forgive me. I feel it again… the call from the light. Supreme Leader senses it. Show me again the power of the darkness, and I’ll let nothing stand in our way. Show me, grandfather, and I will finish what you started.”

In part this establishes a nagging struggle within the character.

Perversely, where a Christian struggles against evil and its

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

temptations, Kylo Ren struggles against goodness and the light-side of the force. He struggles against where he came from and “the truth that is [his] family.” Even though Kylo Ren/Ben Solo claims his father “means nothing to [him],” Supreme Leader Snoke warns that facing his father again will be a test unlike any Ben has faced. At the apex of the film, over an infinitely deep pit of light, he meets his father on a narrow bridge: Han Solo: Ben! Kylo Ren: Han Solo. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.

Han Solo: Take off that mask.

You don’t need it.

Kylo Ren: What do you think you’ll see if I do?

Han Solo: The face of my son.

Kylo Ren: Yo u r s o n is gone. He wa s we a k and foolish like his father, so I destroyed him.

Han Solo: T h a t ’ s what Snoke wants you to believe, but it’s not true. My son is alive.

Kylo Ren: No. The Supreme Leader is wise.

Han Solo: Snoke is using you for your power. When he gets what he wants, he’ll crush you. You know it’s true.

Kylo Ren: It’s too late.

Han Solo: No, it’s not. Leave here with me. Come home.

We miss you.

Kylo Ren: I’m being torn apart. I want to be free of this pain. I know what I have to do but I don’t know

if I have the strength to do it. Will you help me?

Han Solo: Yes. Anything.

“Anything” tragically ends up being Han Solo’s death at the hand of his son.

The Prodigal Son?

In a way, when it comes to the character of Kylo Ren/Ben Solo, The Force Awakens is like cement setting.

Could something yet be written in that cement before it’s completely hardened? Did Han Solo’s death mark the moment when nothing more can be written? Did Han Solo’s death mark the true death of Ben Solo and the final birthing of Kylo Ren? Or, in light of the Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader character arch developed in the original trilogy, is there hope for grace and Ben Solo’s redemption?

Who could be the catalyst for this redemption? Could it be his uncle Luke Skywalker? Could it be the forgiveness and love of his mother Leia Organa? Could it be his new rival Rey? Might Kylo Ren/Ben Solo face an ignoble end like the Biblical Absalom similarly caught with his head and hair in the branches of treachery? Han Solo’s death raises many questions.

A large part of what makes The Force Awakens a legitimate Star Wars film is how it employs mystery in its storytelling, a sort of “how did we get here?” element absent in the prequels. Christian viewers of the original trilogy can contemplate the question “How does one honour their father when he turns out to be a villain?” But The Force Awakens sets the stage for a potential Prodigal Son story, complicated by patricide, which would make the return journey home even more bitter-sweet for a broken Ben Solo.

By murdering his father, Ben Solo fails to honour his parents. In the Large Catechism Luther writes that, “[children] should remember that however lowly, poor, frail,

and strange their parents may be, nevertheless, they are the father and mother given to them by God. Parents are not to be deprived of their honour because of their conduct or their failings. Therefore, we are not to consider who they are or how they may be, but the will of God, who has created and ordained parenthood.”

A l t h o u g h S t a r Wa r s i n general is pop-cultural fodder i t h a s t ra n s c e n d e d t h e p o p culture boundaries to occupy the imagination of generations of viewers. Like a good fairy t a l e, t h e t ro u b l e d f a t h e r / s o n

Did Han Solo’s death mark the true death of Ben Solo and the final birthing of Kylo Ren? Or is there hope for grace and redemption? relationships in these films can provide opportunities for deeper contemplation on the nature of fatherhood in modern culture. For a film franchise marketed towards families, viewers will find abundant occasions to talk about what it means to be a father/parent and what it means to be a son/child.

Ignoring these openings to talk about forgiveness within families, whatever the family dynamic, would be a missed chance to build stronger and better relationships. Christian viewers will want to draw that conversation back to a discussion about the ultimate and most virtuous

of Father/Son relationships—the relationship recorded in Scripture between Jesus and His Heavenly Father and what that means for the Christian who is now part of that divine family.

Amidst the droids and lights a b re s o f The Force Awakens, something else has re-awakened: a love for the Star Wars that many first enjoyed years ago. Director/ writer J.J. Abrams has delivered a good start to this new chapter in the Star Wars saga.

Rev. Ted Giese is associate pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. He is a contributor to The Canadian Lutheran, the LCMS Reporter, and KFUO Radio, as well as movie reviewer for Issues, Etc.

Transitions Rev. Jason Kouri, CFB, Valcartier, QC to Redeemer, Sarnia, ON (LCMS English District). Transfer: April 2016.

Classified We invite you to rejoice with us as we celebrate our 85th anniversary.

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Sunday May 1, 2016.

Divine Service is held at 10:00 a.m.

Celebration Worship Service at 3:00 p.m.

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“Britain Experience” June 14 - 28th, 2016 Hosts: Rev. Norm & Ruth Miller Ph: 1-604-556-7111 Email: ruthkm@telus.net Early Booking Discounts

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

37

500 Years of Reformation

2017

will mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation—five hundred years since Martin Luther first nailed the 95 Theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg. As we come ever nearer to 2017, it’s worth considering the history of this great movement anew. We’ve dedicated space in the September/October issue of The Canadian Lutheran over the past three years to discussing three of the most prominent figures of Reformation history: in 2015 we looked at Martin Luther, in 2014 Katie Luther, and in 2013 Philip Melanchthon. Throughout 2016, we’ll be looking at lesserknown “Saints of the Reformation,” beginning this issue with Johann von Staupitz.

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

Saints of the Reformation

Johann von Staupitz

by Richard Beinert

T

ucked away in the pages of Reformation history lies the figure of Johann von Staupitz.

He served as Martin Luther’s superior within the Augustinian Order and importantly also as his father confessor during the first decade of the 1500s.

Even though he remains a shadowy figure on the outskirts of Luther’s life, it is hard to imagine the Reformation without him. It is for this reason that he is commemorated within our saintscalendar on November 8 every year.

Born sometime between 1460 and 1469 in Motterwitz, Staupitz grew up as a childhood friend of Frederick the Wise, the man who would later become Elector of Saxony as well as Luther’s prince and benefactor. We know little about Stauptiz’s origins except that he was descended from Czech nobility—a fact which likely contributed to the direction of his later monastic career. From 1483 onwards, he studied Liberal Arts along the theological system of Thomas Aquinas in both Leipzig and Cologne, eventually receiving his Master of Arts in 1489. He then travelled to Munich were he began his monastic career as a member of the Augustinian Order.

In 1497, however, Staupitz left Munich for further studies at the University of Tübingen, where he eventually earned a doctorate in theology by 1500. Having been exposed to the various—and often, contradictory—schools of theological thought current within the medieval church, Staupitz found himself driven to the teachings of an earlier age as presented and defined by St. Augustine. This led him to re-evaluate many teachings and practices of the medieval church, returning to a time when theology was rooted in the study of Scripture and an evangelical concern for pastoral care.

Given this background, it is no surprise that Staupitz quickly rose to positions of leadership within the

Augustinian Order. From 1500-1502, he served as Prior at the Munich cloister until Duke Frederick invited him to move to Wittenberg and become Professor of Biblical Studies and Dean of Theology at his newly established university. This position was not to last; within a year, Staupitz was named Vicar-General of the Reformed branch of the Augustinian Order.

This group, while still part of the larger Augustinian Order, was locked in an internal dispute over governance and discipline within the Augustinian Order. The Reformed (or Observants, as they were called) advocated a stricter form of discipline and a closer reading of St. Augustine’s theology.

It was, incidentally, this Reformed branch of Augustinians which Luther joined when he entered the Black Cloister in Erfurt on July 17, 1505.

It was in this context that Luther became acquainted with Staupitz. As Luther’s superior and father confessor, Staupitz saw Luther through some of the darkest moments of his spiritual trials. Reflecting back on this time, Luther wrote: “If it had not been for Dr. Staupitz, I would have sunk in hell.” In fact, Luther credited Staupitz with introducing him to the Gospel—a discovery which would lead eventually to the Reformation.

Staupitz saw great promise in Luther and encouraged him to return to his university studies in order to earn his doctorate. He eventually recommended Luther as a suitable replacement for his own position as professor of bible and theology at the University of Wittenberg.

Following the posting of the 95 Theses, however, Staupitz found himself thrust into the position of having to mediate the conflict between Luther and Rome. When it became apparent that Rome’s only interest was to silence Luther and the Reformation, Staupitz released the young Reformer from his monastic vows, allowing

him to continue his work and calling.

Staupitz resigned as Vicar-General of the Augustinian order in 1520 and received a papal dispensation to leave the Augustinians and enter the Benedictine Monastery of St. Peter’s in Salzburg. There he became Prior in 1522, dying just two years later.

Luther maintained a deep debt of gratitude to Staupitz throughout his life. And while he questioned Stauptiz’s decision to distance himself from the Reformation, the two remained close friends. In Staupitz’s final letter to Luther, just months before his own death in 1524, Staupitz compared his love for Luther to that shared by David and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:26).

While thanking Luther for his labours to restore the Gospel to the Church, he also expressed his concerns that Luther may have gone too far. Whether this was Stauptiz’s true convictions or a result of political pressure is difficult to determine. We do know that Staupitz’ involvement with Luther and the Reformation remained a concern to Roman Catholics even after his death. In 1559, Pope Paul IV added his writings to the Roman Catholic Church’s list of prohibited books.

Without Staupitz, the Reformation might never have happened—and for this, we remember him with thanks and gratitude to God. Rev. Dr. Richard Beinert is pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church (Winnipeg) and Adjunct Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Lutheran Seminary (Edmonton).

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

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Daily Bible Reading

“He who has ears, let him hear”

W

e pass in this issue’s readings through the minor prophets. They end with Malachi, who prophesied the coming of John the Baptist and the Christ—a fitting transition as we move from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

In the Gospel of Matthew, our first foray into the New Testament, Jesus encourages His listeners to listen closely to Him: “He who has ears, let him hear” he says repeatedly. May God grant us ears that hear and understand what He is saying to us in His Word!

Find earlier readings in previous issues of The Canadian Lutheran, o r d ow n l o a d t h e m a t w w w. canadianlutheran.ca/biblereading/.

“It is God’s will that His Word should be heard, and that man’s ears should not be closed.

With this Word the Holy Ghost is present and opens hearts.”

- Martin Chemnitz

WEEK 65  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Ezk 35:1–36:38 Ezk 37:1–39:29 Ezk 40:1–42:20 Ezk 43:1–31 Ezk 44:1–31 Ezk 45:1–46:24

WEEK 69  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Jl 2:1–32 Jl 3:1–21 Am 1:1–2:16 Am 3:1–15 Am 4:1–5:27 Am 6:1–14

WEEK 73  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Zec 3:1–10 Zec 4:1–14 Zec 5:1–11 Zec 6:1–15 Zec 7:1–14 Zec 8:1–23

WEEK 66  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Ezk 47:1–48:35 Dn 1:1–21 Dn 2:1–49 Dn 3:1–4:37 Dn 5:1–31 Dn 6:1–28

WEEK 70  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Am 7:1–17 Am 8:1–14 Am 9:1–15 Ob 1–21 Jnh 1:1–2:10 Jnh 3:1–4:11

WEEK 74  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Zec 9:1–10:12 Zec 11:1–12:14 Zec 13:1–9 Zec 14:1–21 Mal 1:1–2:17 Mal 3:1–4:6

WEEK 67  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Dn 7:1–8:27 Dn 9:1–27 Dn 10:1–12:13 Hos 1:1–2:23 Hos 3:1–4:19 Hos 5:1–6:11

WEEK 71  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Mi 1:1–2:13 Mi 3:1–4:13 Mi 5:1–15 Mi 6:1–16 Mi 7:1–20 Na 1:1–3:19

WEEK 75  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Mt 1:1–2:23 Mt 3:1–4:25 Mt 5:1–7:29 Mt 8:1–9:38 Mt 10:1–11:30 Mt 12:1–13:58

WEEK 72  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Hab 1:1–2:20 Hab 3:1–19 Zep 1:1–2:15 Zep 3:1–20 Hg 1:1–2:23 Zec 1:1–2:13

WEEK 76  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Mt 14:1–15:39 Mt 16:1–17:27 Mt 18:1–19:30 Mt 20:1–21:46 Mt 22:1–23:39 Mt 24:1–25:46

WEEK 68  Mon Hos 7:1–8:14  Tues Hos 9:1–10:15  Wed Hos 11:1–12:14  Thurs Hos13:1–16  Fri Hos 14:1–9  Sat Jl 1:1–20

Readings for the above plan are from the Lutheran Study Bible © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used with permission. To purchase this resource or other Bible reading resources, please visit CPH at www.cph.org.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

41

Presidential Perspective

Have We Forgotten How to Repent?

President Robert Bugbee

P

icture a congregation experiencing discord because of deep-seated opposing opinions.

Which is more likely these days: That parties to the controversy would stand up and say, “I was wrong. I should never have done that. I had no right to speak like that. I repent of my sin, and I ask your forgiveness”... or that people will dig in their heels, point only at someone else’s wrongs, prepare for a show-down, or simply walk away, and let broken relationships remain broken for good? It strikes me that we’ve reached the point where almost anything seems more likely than frank repentance.

The same can happen in Christian marriages and family life, which is getting attention elsewhere in this issue of our magazine. How often does a husband or wife say straight up to a spouse, “I have been harsh and selfish toward you in this area or that; I repent of my wrong; please forgive me”? Does it happen much that parents repent without compromise to teenage children, or teenage children to fathers and mothers? Hasn’t it become much more usual to make excuses for conduct that grieves God and hurts other people, or to just let blow-ups go ahead and do their damage? Isn’t it too common that we decide to live with some sort of avoidance where concerns are suppressed and resentment digs in like a splinter, or let relationships appear healthy on the surface to the outside world, while we know those relationships have gone hollow?

It should not surprise us if stories of winners and losers, of broken relationships that never heal, or fake appearances of “getting along” are

42

typical in a world that doesn’t know Christ. That’s painful enough to watch. It is a greater sorrow when such things become characteristic—and almost expected—among those who confess Jesus as their Saviour. Have we forgotten how to repent?

You and I always stand in danger of forgetting. We hear preachers like John the Baptist and even Jesus Himself call out from the pages of Scripture, “Repent!” (Matthew 3:3; 4:17). We understand that repentance is an urgent thing from the Lord’s point of view. But the evil one waits for us at just this crossroads. He talks you and me into the notion that general expressions of regret, like “I know I’m not perfect” or “We all make mistakes” can substitute for crisp, specific repenting.

There has been a feeling among evangelicals in recent years that the generalities are simply not working.

I was reading about an effort to help men, for example, overcome addiction to internet pornography and other habits that weaken marriages. It wasn’t enough, the authors made clear, to simply feel general regret about such things. They advised finding an “accountability partner” or an “accountability group”— in other words, trusted, flesh-and-blood people to whom one names one’s sins quite specifically. A man struggling with these weaknesses understood that the “accountability partner” would ask again about this particular matter in a later conversation, so that concrete weaknesses get named, renounced, and wrestled with in a targeted way.

Lutheran Christians had this sort of accountability long before it became

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN January/February 2016

trendy. It’s in the Small Catechism under the section on “Confession” (that’s page 326 in the Lutheran Service Book). There Christian men and women are encouraged to name before their pastor—confidentially—the sins that keep burdening their consciences and causing them to stumble. This can be liberating, because the pastor can now include your struggles in his own prayers. He can ask about those inner battles the next time you, God’s dear child, come to confess. That real, fleshand-blood shepherd, standing beside you in your struggle with sin, can make it very concrete that it’s really Jesus standing beside you in that struggle. “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” He says (Hebrews 13:5).

The relief in all this goes far beyond just facing specific sins, which can be painful. The deepest joy comes when my pastor, with all the authority of Jesus Himself, absolves and sets me free with the Lord’s own pardon (John 20:21-23). Knowing that Christ still wants me is a potent force I can use in the struggle to face past wrongs honestly and begin to overcome them in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

That power never stays bottled up inside one’s own heart and thoughts.

It always spills over into relationships with others in a healing way very needed right now in Christian homes, marriages, and church families.

Have we forgotten how to repent?

It’s an urgent question for you to ask.

As you use these Lenten days for frequent worship to focus on the love that sent Jesus to the cross for your sake, the Lord stands ready to teach you—in this vital area—how to find your way back.

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