The Canadian Lutheran May/June 2020

CANADIAN

The

LUTHERAN www.canadianlutheran.ca

Volume 35 Number 3 - May/June 2020

Finding Faith in Fiction

Contents Features www.canadianlutheran.ca Volume 35 Number 3

May/June 2020

The Good Shepherd Parables God’s Gift of Literature

6 9 12

Departments Table Talk

Seeing Jesus

5

From the Regional Pastors

West: I Need God with a Face!

Central: Godly Rituals East: For Us and for Our Salvation Presidential Perspective The Forgotten Festival Cover Art by Alex Steinke

The Canadian Lutheran 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 Design: Alex Steinke Advertising: Marlene Mohr Subscriptions: $20/yr E-mail: editor@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: 204-897-4319 E-mail: editor@lutheranchurch.ca 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. ©2020 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.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

22 26 30 42

News Section International News

15

LCC military chaplain conducts Religious Leader Engagement with Latvian archbishop • New Constituting Convention for Cambodian Lutherans • Lutherans around the world respond to COVID-19

National News

18

Lutheran Church–Canada: Financial Report 2019 and Budget 2020 • Resources to support pastor and worker wellness

West Region

21

Annual Calgary youth retreat • Building gingerbread houses • Overnight winter shelter program • Sanctuary dedication at Mount Calvary

Central Region

25

The “New Normal” • 2020 Higher Things retreat in Regina • Community food drive • Food banks continue to operate

East Region

29

EDLYA winter retreat • Confirmation retreat • Holy Week in Fisherville • LLLC and Crew Ministries announce new partnership

Mission News

33

Prayers requested for Nicaragua amid pandemic

Education News

34

First calls for graduating pastors • Vicarage placements • LCC seminaries announce first calls online • Joint CLS/CLTS Faculty Retreat at Bragg Creek

41

Announcements

Supplement

37

@thecanadianlutheran @lutheranchurchcanada THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

3

Charitable Bequests “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1 These are important words to remember as good stewards in Christ’s Church on earth. He has blessed us with everything we have, and we should remember His Church when He calls us home.

Bequests are an amount or percentage of your estate residual that can be left as a gift outlined in your will, (usually second to die) to your Church or any “Synodical Family” organizations affiliated with LCC. Leaving a percentage is optimum as it allows for flexibility as the value of your estate changes. It also renders a tax credit back to your estate lowering the amount owed on taxes.

This method of giving has no impact on your current income or lifestyle since the gift only happens after our Father in Heaven has called us home.

Imagine how a gift by Bequest in your will would leave a legacy to the continuation of the Great Commission.

Contact your Regional Gift Coordinator today for more information on this wonderful act of Stewardship.

www.lutheranfoundation.ca

4

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

Table Talk

Seeing Jesus

by Mathew Block

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” – John 12:24.

S

o says Jesus upon hearing the news that even Greeks were now seeking Him out. “We wish to see Jesus,” they had said to the disciples, and the disciples bring the request to Jesus. The Lord responds that His glory will indeed be revealed to the world—but not in a way the disciples might expect. It is a glory that will bear much fruit, a glory that will welcome Jews and non-Jews alike, but it is a glory that will be revealed only through His death and resurrection.

Jesus ends the lesson with the invitation to follow Him, even if it should cost His followers their lives.

They too like wheat must be sown into the earth, that a greater harvest might be reaped (12:24-26).

But what of the Greeks’ original request—the request to see Jesus?

We never are told whether they actually get to see Him or not. But they will inevitably have heard the report of Jesus’ answer. And what a curious answer it is: those who wish to “see” Jesus receive instead a story about wheat. What is more, they are commanded to follow One whom they have not necessarily even seen.

How can we follow Him whom we have not seen? That is our dilemma too. We also wish to see Jesus; but He is hidden from our eyes. We wish to behold Him face to face; but instead we receive a book—a story—in response.

And yet, perhaps, this is not so strange a response. God knows that

we humans “see” things in more than one way. When confronted with the Greeks’ request to “see Jesus,” he appeals not to their eyes but to their imaginations. He draws a lesson from the natural world (the planting of grain) to teach a supernatural reality (the death and resurrection of Christ). It is a story, yes, but it conceals a deeper truth—a truth that buries itself in the hearts of those who have ears to hear.

In a way, Jesus’ story is itself like a grain of wheat. On its own it is dead; but buried in the hearts of those who hear the story, it springs to life. It takes root in the imagination and grows to fill the mind’s eye, grows until at last the hearers “see” the crucified and risen One they have always longed to see.

Jesus often teaches in this way.

Sometimes he uses a brief analogy, as here. Other times He tells elaborate tales—the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), for example, or the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). Jesus understands that His listeners will be intrigued by these stories, wondering what they might mean.

This is Jesus’ way: He does not merely tell; He paints a picture. He does not simply say “I will care for you;” He calls Himself our Good Shepherd (see page six). He does not merely teach us theological truths; He wraps them up in parables (see page nine). He uses story to enchant us, to draw us deeper into His own story. He uses words on a page to bring the story to life inside of us— because it is alive. “For the Word of God is living and active,” we read in Hebrews, “sharper than any two-

edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit” (4:12).

The power of God’s Word at work through parable and fiction has encouraged Christians down through the centuries to trust Him to work also through their own feebler literary creations.

John Bunyan, in his classic tale The Pilgrim’s Progress, directly appeals to the parables of Jesus as an example of how fiction can convey truth. “Dark clouds bring waters,” he notes, “when the bright bring none.” So too, he says, “some men, by feign’d words, as dark as mine / Make truth to spangle, and its rays to shine.”

Sometimes we see glimpses of that truth even in stories written by non-Christians. God is, after all, the giver of all good things—and literature is among those good gifts (see page twelve). God works through the vocation of writers to entertain, to teach, to inspire. But we must read critically: we do well to take the great English poet Chaucer’s instruction to “take the fruit” (i.e., the grain) from what we read and let go the chaff. Bury that wheat inside and let it grow.

In this world, the Apostle Paul writes, “we see in a mirror dimly” (1 Corinthians 3:12). Sometimes stories are just the thing to reflect the light of truth into our darkened eyes. Godwilling, the seeds of story, properly sown and properly watered, will bring forth a harvest of blessings for readers, until at last we leave behind mirrors and see God “face to face” (3:12). On that day, we and those Greeks of so long ago will finally have the desire of our hearts: we shall “see Jesus” as He is.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

5

Jesus, the Good Shepherd: Hermann Jess, 1904. (Friedenskirche in Hanau, Germany)

The Good Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

6

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

S

by Jim Chimirri-Russell

uch is the 23rd Psalm, and it is one of the most well-known passages in the Scriptures. It is so well known, in fact, that if someone knows nothing else of the Bible, they will likely have heard this passage.

It is a staple at funerals, and apart from John 3:16 and the Lord’s Prayer, it is the most widely heard and read passage in the Bible.

It is also important for us to remember this passage when we think about Jesus referring to himself as the Good Shepherd. We so often forget that the people of Israel were very well acquainted with what we call the Old Testament—much more so than we Christians are today.

When Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd, He is tying himself into something bigger and more important than just making an illustration or metaphor about Himself.

So what is Jesus saying when He calls Himself the Good Shepherd? He is calling Himself God, by using language God uses about Himself. When David talks about the Lord in Psalm 23, in words that would echo down through the centuries, He does so by talking about the Lord as shepherd: one that will save, comfort, and protect His sheep. But while the 23rd Psalm is the best known of the passages about the Lord as Shepherd, it is not the only one. There are more, and they are more pronounced.

Jesus, speaking of Himself as the Good Shepherd is and to discipline the wayward. This tool was how the drawing back to Psalm 23, of course, but also to the book of shepherd protected the sheep from outside sources—and Ezekiel. In chapter 34 of that book, God makes a promise we frequently call upon God to do that with us too. We to His people that He himself will be their shepherd. There want Him to protect us from all the problems and plagues have been shepherds before, of course, but those shepherds that are around us. We want Him to protect us from the have been cruel, evil, and wicked. They have sought to devil, from the world, from whatever dark forces may be fleece, kill, and devour the sheep. God has seen His people assailing us. Frequently, then, when we appeal to the Lord groaning under the leadership our God for help, it is to protect of these evil shepherds, and so us from those things that are has decided to take charge of the outside us.

So what is Jesus saying situation himself. To do so, He But He does not only carry when He calls Himself steps into our world, into our the rod; He also carries the staff. history, and leads His sheep.

And the staff, or crook, is used the Good Shepherd? He is When he speaks to them, they in quite a different fashion. On calling Himself God, by know His voice, and follow the side of our church in Regina, where He leads. And where we have a very large wooden using language God uses does He lead? He leads them to shepherd’s crook, visible to the cross, to the site in which anyone who may be going past about Himself.

He makes things good and us. The crook, the shepherd’s right between human beings staff is what the shepherd uses and God. to save the sheep not from For those of us who are forces outside themselves, but living today, we need the from themselves. When Jesus Good Shepherd more than discusses sheep in Matthew 18, ever. We need to listen to His He does so by asking: “What voice and to follow where He do you think? If a man owns leads. Right now, there is more a hundred sheep and one of misinformation than ever them wanders away, will He before. There are hundreds of not leave the ninety-nine on the voices pulling in a hundred hills and go look for the one that different directions. There are wandered off? And if He finds people everywhere who all it, truly I tell you, He rejoices sound authoritative in their more over that one sheep than own way, and all have in mind over the ninety-nine that did not a different direction you should go astray.” Where will He find go. But Jesus is different. He is that sheep? Well, in Matthew different because He does not 12, Jesus says: ‘If one of you has lead you in any direction for His a sheep and it falls into a pit on own sake, but rather for yours. the Sabbath, will he not lay hold He isn’t here to fleece the sheep, of it and lift it out?” nor to kill or eat them; He is When we think about the here to lead them in paths of Good Shepherd, His rod and His righteousness, and to have their staff, the comfort is not just that cups overflow.

He is there to protect us from But to do that, He will have dangers outside us, but that He is to have His rod and His staff. there to protect us from ourselves During the times we are living as well. In fact, that is the greater in, it is helpful to think about protection that is needed. Sheep how the Good Shepherd goes are likely to wander away, to about being good. He does so wander off, to follow each other, by using His rod and His staff, and to stroll happily into danger. two tools that are necessary for If you’ve ever spent much time the work shepherds do. How with domesticated animals, you are these two things different? will know that they absolutely The rod is a walking stick, of need to be watched very closely course, but it is also the club or and carefully, fenced in and cudgel used to attack predators managed, lest they end up killing The Good Shepherd: St. Giles Church, Houghton St. Giles, 1876

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

7

themselves. And so, too, we need to be carefully watched and managed by the Lord our God. Most of us don’t think about how much we need to have God protect us from ourselves, but we really, genuinely do. A large part of the comfort that is to be found in Christ as the Good Shepherd is that He is there to pull us out of our bad decisions, to bring us out from where we have gone wrong, and to stop us from trying to do so in the first place.

Think about the various orders that have come forward during this pandemic that we are in. Think of the events that are closed down, the places that you haven’t been allowed to go: that’s because we need to be protected from ourselves, from where we would wander if we were allowed to do so freely. In the same way, we call to the Lord to be our Good Shepherd, who will protect us from ourselves. His Word is full of advice, of guidance for us and for our lives, to keep us safe and to give us abundant life.

We don’t want to listen most of the time, though His word is good. We’d rather not listen too closely, because what He commands restricts us from what we want to do.

But think about this: who is it that is happy to see sheep wandering wherever they’d like? Who is it that is delighted for the sheep to go wherever seems good to them? Is it a caring shepherd, or is it the wolf?

The Good Shepherd can’t keep us safe from the forces outside us if He does not keep us safe from ourselves as well. All of our pleading to have Him protect us from the devil, from the world, from the consequences of what we do are no good if we are not also being protected from ourselves, from wanting to get into those situations in the first place. And we have to remember that the Lord disciplines those whom He loves. His discipline of us is proof that He loves us very much.

In Ezekiel 33, beginning at verse 10, it says: “Thus you have said, ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?’ Say to them ‘As I live, declares

the LORD God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.

Turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?’”

The rod and staff of the Shepherd comfort us because His protection and His discipline are the signs and marks of His love. When we find comfort in Him being the shepherd, we need to remember what a shepherd does. The shepherd protects the sheep from predators, prevents the sheep from hurting themselves, leads them where they should go, and finds and seeks them when they have wandered off. In a passage that is extremely well known, that is universally loved, we need to remember what it is that we ask the Shepherd to do.

And once we have worked that out, then we can rejoice fully in His use of the rod and the staff as He keeps the sheep of His pasture safe. Once we trust Him in that, then we will listen to His voice all the more.

When we think about the Good Shepherd, His rod and His staff, the comfort is not just that He is there to protect us from dangers outside us, but that He is there to protect us from ourselves as well.

8

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

Rev. Jim Chimirri-Russell is pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Regina, Saskatchewan).

The Good Shepherd: Vicent López Portaña, c. 1800.

PARABLES E

by Stephen Chambers

veryone loves a mystery, they say. That might be why Jesus’ parables are so popular. They use ordinary language to point toward spiritual realities which transcend our everyday experience, and the gaps between those two worlds are both fascinating and mysterious. “What is the point of that parable?” we ask as we read it. And we’re in good company as we ask that question. Uncertainty about the meaning of these puzzling little stories was common among Jesus’ original disciples, too, as the Gospels make clear (Matthew 13:36; Mark 4:10; Luke 12:41).

It’s even hard to decide how many parables Jesus told. The Lutheran Study Bible, for instance, provides a list of 55 parabolic sayings, while Concordia SelfStudy Bible includes only 40. Some of this difference is because the longer list divides up material that the shorter list groups together. For example, does Luke 14:28-33 include one parable or two? Interestingly, though, the shorter list includes Jesus’ saying about the lamp under the bowl (Matthew 5:14-15) which the longer list does not consider to be a parable. The reasons for such differences of opinion can themselves be a bit of a mystery!

Part of the problem is ambiguity about how to define the term parable itself. The Greek word parabole simply refers to a comparison between two things that are set alongside each other. Such comparisons take many forms, including illustrations, proverbs, maxims, and various kinds of figurative speech. Thankfully, the word “parable” is explicitly attached to quite a few of our Lord’s sayings, in many cases by Jesus Himself. It’s clear in those cases that we are in fact dealing with parabolic material. However, in Luke 6:39, the Evangelist calls something a parable that we might otherwise think of simply as descriptive speech. In Luke 12:41, Peter does the same. Complicating the situation still more is the fact that John’s Gospel never uses the word “parable” and does not include any of the comparative stories that most people call by that name.

John does, however, use the related term paroimia, meaning “a veiled saying,” to refer to some of Jesus’ teachings (for example, John 16:25). This is why Jesus’ great “I am” sayings in the Gospel of John—including the “Good Shepherd” material in John 10—are sometimes considered to be parables, in an extended sense.

In this sense, it might

help to think of a parable as “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.”

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

9

Because they are essentially comparisons, interpreting parables is simple—at least in theory. The goal is to find the point of comparison between the everyday story Jesus is telling on the surface, and the spiritual truth He is proclaiming more deeply.

In this sense, it might help to think of a parable as “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.”

Even so, parables remain mysterious, because the number of places at which a heavenly meaning can be discerned varies considerably from story to story. In the parable of the weeds, for instance, Jesus connects at least seven of the story’s details to spiritual realities (Matthew 13:37-39).

More typically, Jesus explains the parable of the sower by identifying three points of comparison: the seed is the Word of God, the different soils into which it falls represent the diverse ways that Word is received, and the variable harvest is an indication of the Word’s differing degrees of fruitfulness (Matthew 13:18-23 and parallels). Meanwhile, Luke introduces the parable of the unjust judge by indicating just one point of comparison: “we ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1).

Occasionally, as in the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee, we’re told what to look for in a more general way: “Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt” (Luke 18:9).

And many parables, of course, do not give us any guidance at all about how many points we ought to look for. This includes not only very short parables, such as the treasure hidden in the field (Matthew 13:44), but also one of the longest parables of them all, the story known as either “the prodigal son” or “the waiting father” (Luke 15:11-32).

Despite the uncertainty about how many points of comparison we should look for, we can safely assume there’s always at least one. And most of the time, that comparison focuses on the Kingdom of God (or, as Matthew calls it, the Kingdom of Heaven). In Matthew 13, for instance, we find seven parables in a row that include variations on the phrase, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like...” This does not mean of course that all of Jesus’ parables deal with this subject: quite a few focus on the theme of judgement, including well-known

examples such as the wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14) and the fig tree (Matthew 24:32-34 and parallels). As a starting-place, though, it’s often a good idea to approach a parable by asking what it might be telling us about the Kingdom of God. Very often, the points of comparison will be both obvious and illuminating, whether or not the Gospels reveal them to us explicitly (as in the sheep and the goats, Matthew 25:31-46) or leave it up to us to figure them out (as in the parable of the great banquet, Luke 14:15-24).

Many of the parables of the Kingdom rely on standard motifs that are drawn from the Old Testament. Stories about vineyards, for example, echo passages that portray Israel as God’s vineyard, such as Isaiah 5:1-7 and Ezekiel 17:1-8 (which, interestingly, is called a mashal—the Hebrew equivalent of “parable”). Kings stand-in for God (Psalm 9:7-8, 47:6-7), while servants represent His people (Isaiah 41:8-9, 54:17). Feasts point ahead to the rich fullness of the End, when God Himself will dine with His people (Isaiah 25:6-9, 55:1-2). The fact that images like these are so common in Jesus’ parables, and so closely linked to the Old Testament, not only makes parables easier to figure out but also provides a certain degree of control over their interpretation.

The context in which we find a particular parable in the Gospels can also be a helpful key to its meaning. For example,

It’s often a good idea

to approach a parable by asking what it might be telling us about the Kingdom of God.

10

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

the fact that the parable of the mustard seed is tightly tied to the parable of the leaven in all three of the places we find it, shows that its main point is the contrast between the tiny size of God’s Kingdom when it first appears and the great size it finally grows into (Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:30-32, Luke 13:18-19). Likewise, that the parable of the rich fool appears in the middle of several conversations about wealth reinforces the fact that it too wants to teach us how to be “rich toward God” (Luke 12:16-21).

Finally, it’s important to remember that Jesus’ parables grew out of His first-century context and spoke, first of all, to His original Palestinian hearers. For this reason, many of their nuances can elude modern Canadian readers. We might assume, for instance, that most of Jesus’ hearers would be in a position to get married, buy livestock, and give a banquet (Luke 14:16-21). In reality, most of them were more like the poor people who were usually excluded from such activities but, in this instance, were astonished to find themselves invited to take part in such a lavish banquet, as a gift (see Luke 14:13-15, 21). The question is, who does Jesus intend us to identify with more closely: the banquet-giver or the gift-receiver? The point of the story differs greatly, depending on our answer.

For all of these reasons, it’s an excellent idea to keep a good study Bible or commentary handy when we’re reading Jesus’ parables. As simple as they seem on the surface, they often conceal as much as they reveal. That, of course, is

exactly what Jesus told His first disciples when they asked Him why He taught in this way. “To you,” He said, “it has been given to know the secrets (literally, mysteria) of the Kingdom of God. But for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand” (Luke 8:9-10).

The reality is that no story drawn from life in this world can prepare us for the u n f a t h o m a b l e way God’s Kingdom breaks into this world as He Himself sows the seed of His Word. As the Lord Himself puts it in Isaiah, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up: do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 42:18-19) That new thing is, ultimately, the inbreaking of His Kingdom, through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

In His parables, Jesus points us toward the Kingdom of God and gives us scattered and partial glimpses of what it looks like. Through His cross and empty tomb, we see more clearly what that Kingdom is—and what it cost.

But it is only when He comes again that the curtain will finally be drawn all the way back, so we can see it face to face and know it fully (1 Corinthians 13:12).

As simple as they seem on the surface, they often conceal as much as they reveal.

Rev. Dr. Stephen Chambers is associate pastor of Grace Lutheran Church (Edmonton, Alberta).

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

11

The Magdalene Reading: Rogier van der Weyden, 1860. (National Gallery, London)

God’s Gift of Literature

W

by Mary J. Moerbe

hen my father read to me as a child, he gave me a great gift. As an educator, he knew he was shaping how my mind would receive and process language and imagery, and, as my dad, it was a bonding, relationshipbuilding activity.

That experience was more than a pastime. It was a

12

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

nose-dive into the gifts of God. God gives us literature as a gift to use in our vocations and fiction as an arena to practice discernment. As language allows us to engage with one another, literature allows us to store knowledge, wrestle unknowns, explore ideas and opportunities, and craft enduring beauty.

Language

Language is a gift from God. It belongs to Him. After the Lord breathed life into man, He invited Adam to speak and name the animals. God and man spoke together, and mankind spoke amongst themselves. Most importantly, through His Word we meet the Lord and receive faith, forgiveness, and life everlasting with Him. Christians are a word-centered people. Faith comes from actual words. We worship the Word Incarnate and we rejoice that our Lord uses His Word to create and sustain faith and creation.

We also recognize that God’s Word differs from ours.

His effects immediate change, creates out of nothing, sustains the cosmos, brings the Spirit of Truth. His Word is Incarnate in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our words are imbued with meaning, but they must be learned and connected with others to be effective (1 Corinthians 14:10–11). After the insult at Babel, God did not remove the gift, but redirected it, fostering a community gift rather than the universal force it once was.

Human words, however, are still powerful. We pray, “Keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3), and urge one another, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).

These concerns and exhortations emphasize that words can build up or tear down, comfort or confuse, help or confound. We use language with neighbors throughout our vocations as a source of clarity, delight, and encouragement. We write letters and record anecdotes.

We text jokes and type stories. Such are not only useful, but beautiful, complex, and nuanced.

Writing allows exact expressions to persist with great benefits. The Apostles’ Creed, for example, is no paraphrase, but a carefully crafted confession teaching countless about Christ. It stands as an exemplary piece of literature within the Church, and it is far from alone. The splendor of potential in God’s creation results in many Christian writers adding their voices, with more always welcome!

Literature

It is no coincidence that the Word-centered people of God develop flourishing literate societies. As Christians “read, mark, and inwardly digest” the Word of God, Christian cultures become more word-focused. They write and educate, incorporating rich concepts, terms, and literary pieces into their thoughts and societies.

Literature, as a term, applies to a diverse assortment of texts. “Medical literature” includes studies and textbooks, while Christian literature includes a wider span of sacred writings, confessions, allegories, and more.

“God gives us literature as a gift to use in our vocations and fiction as an arena to practice discernment.”

Christian texts are a tremendous wealth. In nonfiction, literary masterpieces, such as those by Augustine and Boethius, tackle apologetics, philosophy, prayers, meditations, poetry, biographies, educational resources, and so forth. The Confession of St. Patrick from the fifth century is wonderful. In fiction, epic poetry, allegories, dramas, and novels add to the abundance thanks to Dante, Milton, Bunyan, Chesterton, the Inklings, and more.

Many of the greatest works rose out of deep reflections on the faith and man’s standing before God. This provides a two-fold service for us today. First, we are blessed to consider apt expressions and human conditions for ourselves, inwardly. Second, we are blessed to learn how to better understand and communicate with others. Which is to say, not only does literature aid us with knowledge and compassion, but also perspective and insight into humanity.

By the gift of God, human language conveys love, skill, reason, and beauty, as we serve our neighbours. We turn phrases and form poetry; organize and rationalize; imagine and tell stories. When David played the lyre for Saul, the king became well and refreshed (1 Samuel 16:23)—and how comforting are David’s psalms for us too! Words help us to not only communicate, but to rest, bond, ponder, and pray.

Sacred and secular texts become vocational resources.

The Apostle Paul drew upon the words of philosophers, dramas, and comedies five times (twice in Acts 17:27-28 and then in Acts 26:14, 1 Corinthians 15:33, and Titus 1:12) while writing with apostolic authority. Not only was he familiar with the literature of his age and earlier, but Paul found them beneficial, salutary, and applicable due to the strength of language.

One such quotation is especially pertinent: “evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 44) is a quote from the Athenian comedic playwright Menandros (likely drawing on Euripides). Evil communication corrupts; yet, good literature, including fiction and nonfiction, has been used to cultivate virtue, values, and artistry for thousands of years. Since ancient times, fables, legends, poetry, and histories have bridged the past, present, and future, granting access to countless experiences and layers of perspective.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

13

Reading

“Faith comes from actual words.

We worship the Word Incarnate and we rejoice that our Lord uses His Word to create and sustain faith and creation.”

Reading takes more than recognizing letters and sounds. It combines visual processing, fluency, comprehension, and internal reflection. Reading is like playing an orchestral piece. Various parts of the brain work together to decode and integrate something complex yet communicable. It is only possible by the grace and ingenuity of God! While some read exclusively for work or pleasure, it is also an exercise in considering something outside ourselves. Literature offers a way to find beauty, pursue interests, and explore the world, humanity included.

Enjoyment and delight are gifts from God. They are part of the extensive goodness of creation and results from our neighbours providing for us. In nonfiction, authors stimulate us by sharing their knowledge and insights. In fiction, writers serve us through their imagination, which provides characters and scenarios to ponder.

Both fiction and nonfiction require discernment.

In nonfiction, one considers what is true and whether enough facts are present to justify an overarching position. In fiction, one considers what is good. Children naturally understand the coexistence of the two, although sometimes stories can be both. For example, Jesus’ parables are true yet they draw on settings and characters, rather than data or arguments.

Vocational Reading & Writing

To sense the power of words, imagine a mother whispering love to her child. Few remember their own infancy, so how do we conjure the mental image? Do we rely on our own experiences? Our neighbors? Videos?

Literature trains us to form mental images and to collect concepts along with vocabulary. Reading fills in gaps in our own encounters and memory.

Literature is a gift without parallel. It prepares us for tasks and anticipates the needs of others, cultivating empathy. It sharpens focus, trains attention, lends insight, and paves the way for further thoughts and advancements. Great novels feature patterns that help us to recognize truth in the real world. Prophecies foreshadow, characters develop, problems humble, crises build, and people suffer—yet there are still happy endings, still promises kept, still sacrifices worth making.

14

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

Reading can expand the mind, enable better communication with others, affirm the marvelous goodness of creation, and relax the body, all of which are well worth seeking. It can incite peace, activity, and liveliest conversation.

Some are tempted to read too much. Such escapism distracts from God’s other gifts in life, including those whom we are called to love. (The same is true of working too much!) It can also be hard to know what temptations may lie within. Some books promote bad ideas. Sometimes idealized characters or solutions cause disgruntled or covetous thoughts.

Since stories can draw us in so that we want to keep reading, consider what you are looking for before starting.

When the author lived is one indicator of what to expect.

There are many guides and reviews available to help you sort through options. Reread a book you loved as a child. Seek out a classic title or two. Look up a phenomenal Christian author or an interesting topic. Ask a librarian!

Meanwhile, write something yourself. Writing springs from many Christian vocations, though sometimes we overlook it. It is a beautiful thing to write, whether you reach out to a loved one or amuse yourself. It can aim us toward St. Paul’s wise advice: “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

The Son of Man “was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him” (Daniel 7:14, emphasis added). Despite the wickedness some try to exert, verbal beauty itself belongs to God, who creates and sustains sound, as well as all that make it. “How great is His goodness and how great His beauty!” (Zechariah 9:17).

Dcn. Mary J. Moerbe is a wife, mother, author, and LCMS deaconess at Trinity Lutheran Church (Blackwell, Oklahoma). She works with LutheranHomeschool.com and encourages Lutherans to write at maryjmoerbe.com.

International News www.canadianlutheran.ca

LCC military chaplain conducts Religious Leader Engagement with Latvian archbishop

RIGA, LATVIA - On February 4, 2020, Lutheran Church–Canada’s (LCC) Canadian Armed Forces military chaplain, Lieutenant (Navy) David Jackson conducted a Religious Leader Engagement

(RLE) with Archbishop Janis Vanags of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (ELCL).

Meeting with the Lutheran Archbishop of Riga, and two senior Latvian military chaplains, Padre Jackson discussed the role of military chaplains, as well as the ongoing integration of multinational chaplains with the Latvian Chaplains in Camp Adazi. The archbishop provided insights into the life of the ELCL and its historic and current role in Latvian society.

Although there is no state church in Latvia, the Lutheran Church is the predominant confession in the country, followed by the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.

There is no formal fellowship agreement between LCC and the

ELCL, but the two church bodies share a common confession in doctrine and practice. The only significant difference is in church polity, since the ELCL is more episcopal in structure than LCC. The ELCL is in fellowship with The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, and has been investigating joining the International Lutheran Council (ILC). The ILC is a worldwide association of confessional Lutheran church bodies, of which LCC is a member.

Affectionately known as “Padre” to the troops, Lieutenant (Navy) Jackson is currently deployed for a six month period on Operation REASSURANCE as the chaplain of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group (eFP BG), Latvia.

New Constituting Convention for Cambodian Lutherans CAMBODIA - On June 13, 2016, one church body died and a new one began. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cambodia ceased to be because of problems of governance and an expired license with the Government of Cambodia. Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) was at the side of those who decided to carry out their commitment to confessional Lutheran doctrine and reestablish a Lutheran Church in Cambodia, assisting them in registering a new church with the government in place of the old and reaffirming their relationship with LCC. A committee of six members was formed to prepare for this new beginning. After a great deal of prayer and hard work, a new church was registered with the Government of Cambodia and preparations were made to hold a constituting convention to formally begin a new confessional Lutheran church in Cambodia: the Cambodia Lutheran Church (CLC).

The constituting convention for the new church body was held February 7-8, 2020. The members of the new Cambodia Lutheran Church have expressed their sincere gratitude to Lutheran Church– Canada for the continued support and financial assistance provided to make this important event possible.

The work of Cambodia Lutheran Church has surged forward in

education and evangelism. The Board of Directors and congregations are experiencing the joy and trials of working together as a unified church.

The CLC is working closely with LCC to facilitate evangelism projects and humanitarian works of mercy initiatives to reach out to the lost and helpless in their communities.

Rev. Dr. Leonard Harms

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

15

International News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Lutherans around the world respond to COVID-19 WORLD - As people across the globe struggle with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, confessional Lutherans are reaching out with the comfort of the Gospel as well as practical care.

Since April, the International Lutheran Council (ILC) has been chronicling the response of member church bodies around the world in a series of reports on its website. To date, the ILC has highlighting the response of 24 Lutheran church bodies across the globe, including churches in: Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, India, Japan, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Sweden, South Africa, South Sudan, Togo, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom.

Many of these nations have banned church gatherings to limit the spread of the coronavirus. In response, churches have acted quickly to provide online resources for members during the pandemic—through live-streamed worship services, downloadable devotional resources, and social media outreach. The Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile (ILCChile), for example, launched a series of daily devotional videos online, featuring the church body’s pastors, vicars, and seminary students. “We understand this is not the ideal way,” said ILC-Chile Bishop Omar Kinas.

“However, we have taken advantage of technology in order to continue proclaiming the Gospel.”

While many churches have focused on online outreach during the pandemic, this is still an imperfect solution in some parts of the world.

In Haiti, for example, a majority of the population do not have electricity.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti (ELCH) is still ministering to its members through electronic forms— sharing sermons via WhatsApp, for example—but people without regular access to electricity often cannot read or hear these messages until several days later.

16

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

Faith Lutheran Church (Batuan City, Philippines) distributes face masks to local residents during the coronavirus pandemic.

The St. Peter Confessional Lutheran Church of South Africa (CLCSA)—which has many members in rural and remote areas, often without easy access to internet—has likewise found it a challenge to minister to members during this time. “Our church is in a learning curve as to how to serve our membership,” said CLCSA Bishop Mandla Khumalo. “We have learned and are learning even more the importance of households becoming the church, with fathers effectively being encouraged to go back to using Luther’s Small Catechism to minister to their families.”

That emphasis on encouraging a greater home devotional life has been true in churches across the globe—one of the good things to come out of the current pandemic.

Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC), for example, encouraged pastors early on to disinfect and distribute hymnals to all members, along with a guide on using the hymnal for personal and family devotions.

The churches of the International Lutheran Council are also providing practical care in the midst of the pandemic. In the Philippines, for example, several congregations of the Lutheran Church in the Philippines (LCP) have given away face masks, as well as food supplies to families in need. In Ghana, where many people live hand to mouth, the Evangelical

Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG) has rolled out a range of activities to support the needy and less privileged in their communities, thanks in part to financial support from The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod (LCMS).

These are just some of the many ways confessional Lutherans around the world are responding to COVID-19. “This is a time to have faith, and for the Church of Christ to be a light to the world,” said Bishop Dieter Reinstorf of the Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa (FELSISA).

“This can only happen through the Word of God and His Spirit. We therefore humble ourselves before God, acknowledge our dependency on Him, call for mercy, rejoice in our salvation in Jesus Christ, and pray that God may use even the COVID-19 pandemic to our benefit to the salvation of mankind.”

For more information on how member churches of the ILC have responded to the coronavirus pandemic, visit: https://ilc-online. org/tag/covid-19/.

The International Lutheran Council is a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies, including Lutheran Church–Canada.

For information on how LCC missionpartners are responding to COVID-19, see page 33.

National News www.canadianlutheran.ca

FINANCIAL REPORT 2019 BUDGET 2020

Our Mission The mission of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) is to organize, equip, and motivate its members to confess, proclaim, and give witness to the saving work of Jesus Christ, to the glory of God. We do this together in grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, so that believers may grow in their faith and unbelievers be brought into the body of Christ.

Walking Together Committed to a common confession and mission, congregations of Lutheran Church–Canada join with one another as a Synod to share an ecclesiastical bond and to support and work with one another. In this way, we seek to serve our Lord Jesus Christ, the members of His body, and the world which stands in need of the Word and the impact of His redeeming love.

Putting Our Mission Into Action

Working Together

The work of Lutheran Church–Canada can only be accomplished with the generous financial support of our members.

Through your tithes and offerings, a portion of all gifts laid upon the altar of local congregations is remitted to LCC. In total, these gifts make up almost 62 percent of LCC’s overall revenue and are critical for funding the vital work we do together. Work such as: Sustaining & Revitalizing our Congregations: The strength of synod begins with the strength of our local congregations.

Together we support and nurture Word and Sacrament ministry across our country, and especially in regions of greatest need.

Supporting our Mission Work in Canada: Identify, develop, and support mission efforts throughout the country; assist congregations to explore new opportunities for outreach; and provide works of mercy and relief to those in need.

Supporting our Mission Work Internationally: Support mission work in Central America, South-East Asia, and Ukraine, including Gospel outreach; theological education; and works of mercy and relief efforts like children’s feeding programs.

Supporting Theological Education: Provide funding to assist the work of our seminaries in training our pastors and church workers.

Caring for our Leaders & Members: Provide ecclesiastical leadership and pastoral care through the work of the Synod President, Regional Pastors, and Circuit Counsellors.

Building Community: Collaborate with Synod members and partners to enhance mission effectiveness through communications; to promote stewardship in managing life’s resources for God’s purposes; and to encourage spiritual growth through a variety of resources.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

17

National News www.canadianlutheran.ca

BUDGET & EXPENDITURES

Fiscal Year 2019 E x p e n d i t u re s

Budget

Actual

Va r i a n c e

Domes&c Missions *

1,146,900

1,105,257

41,643

Interna&onal Missions **

653,550

718,408

(64,858)

Ecclesias&cal Services

618,600

575,447

43,153

Higher Educa&on

292,000

299,700

(7,700)

Communica&ons

180,450

167,859

12,591

Planned Giving

180,000

180,000

0

Administra&on ***

600,450

620,704

(20,254)

3,671,950

3,667,375

4,575

To t a l E x p e n d i t u re s

“

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.

2 Corinthians 9:5

”

*Actual expenses were $41,643 less than budget largely related to travel cost savings, as there were fewer in-person RMMC meetings held than anticipated. **Actual expenses were $64,858 higher than budget primarily due to special projects for additional children’s feeding programs and Christian education.

Extra revenue was received to offset additional expenses. *** Administration is 17% of LCC’s total budget. Actual expenses were $20,254 higher than budget primarily due to a bylaw-mandated strategic planning conference held early in 2019 that included LCC Board members, Regional Pastors, LCC Executive and several clergy and lay representatives from each of the RMMC’s. The cost of this conference was approximately $14,000 that had not been included in our planning. Actual Salary and benefit cost compared to budget make up the balance of the remaining variance.

Our Giving We give thanks to God for the tremendous response from our congregations in the fourth quarter which resulted in LCC ending fiscal 2019 with a surplus. Over $750,000 in missions came in which translates to about 35% of the total mission remittances for the year. In addition, significant financial support came from East District Corp. and Central District Corp. for domestic missions; and Concordia Lutheran Mission Society (CLMS), Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada (LWMLC), and the Schwann Foundation for international missions.

Revenues

Budget

Actual

Va r i a n c e

Congrega(on Remit.

2,500,000

2,231,240

(268,760)

Designated Specific

1,090,700

1,386,174

295,474

Endowment Income

40,000

51,075

11,075

Investment Income

34,800

116,289

81,489

7,500

7,650

150

3,673,000

3,792,428

119,428

Rental Income

To t a l R e v e n u e s

Stewardship of Our Gifts

Dom Inte Eccl High Com Plan Adm

Domes(c Missions Interna(onal Missions Ecclesias(cal Services Higher Educa(on Supp.

Communica(ons Planned Giving Administra(on !

18

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

National News www.canadianlutheran.ca

LOOKING AT THE CURRENT YEAR

Our Budget & Our Mission Creating an operating budget for 2020-21 during a time of incredible uncertainty was, without a doubt, quite a challenge. As it is difficult to predict what the financial impact will be on the economy, on financial markets, and on our congregations, we have reduced our budget to a level we think is reasonable.

There are currently 286 LCC member congregations who have the potential to support the work we do together as a synod. Prior to the outbreak of the coronavirus, LCC had received mission pledges from 160 congregations totalling $1,745,000. Our prayer is that these 160 congregations who have submitted a pledge, together with the 126 that have not yet submitted a pledge, will be able to send mission remittances to the level needed to accomplish the important work our church body does together. *Specific Purpose includes gifts from individuals, CLMS, LWMLC, CLWR, and Schwann Foundation for International Missions, East and Central District Corporations, congregations, and individuals for Domestic Missions. LCC is also expecting to qualify for some government wage subsidy support in respect of its revenue being negatively impacted by the pandemic. **Domestic Missions makes up 27% of expense budget. Approximately $380,000 sustains and revitalizes word and sacramentary ministry across 18 congregations. $335,835 supports outreach through Missionaries at Large and small outreach grants.

Revenues

Budget 2020

Congrega(on Remit.

2,060,000

Specific Purpose *

1,160,920

Endowment Income

40,000

Investment Income

35,200

Rental Income

9,300

To t a l R e v e n u e s

3,305,420

E x p e n d i t u re s

Budget 2020

Domes&c Missions **

891,626

Interna&onal Missions ***

635,335

Ecclesias&cal Services ****

557,775

Higher Educa&on *****

292,000

Communica&ons

189,651

Congrega&onal Services

167,000

Administra&on ******

571,378

To t a l E x p e n d i t u re s

3,304,765

The balance of our domestic mission budget is primarily devoted to works of mercy. ***International Missions makes up 19% of expense budget. LCC conducts mission work in Central America, South East Asia, and Ukraine. ****Ecclesiastical Services makes up 17% of expense budget and supports the work of the Synod President, Regional Pastors, and Circuit Counsellors who provide leadership and pastoral care. *****Higher Education makes up 9% of expense budget, which helps support operations at both Seminaries. ******Administration makes up 17% of expense budget and includes salary and benefit costs for support staff, property operations, supplies and minor equipment, insurance, audit, legal and other professional services. Board of Director and other governance costs are also categorized as Administration.

Our Hope is in the Lord Although finances change, the mission of the LCC remains clear and unwavering. This is so because Christ’s ascension commission and promise remains unchanged regardless of the tumultuous and uncertain times in which we live. As such, LCC continues, with your help and support, to carry out our common objectives of conserving and promoting the unity of the true faith; strengthening congregations in giving bold witness by word and deed and to extend that Gospel witness into all the world; training of pastors and deacons; and aiding congregations by providing resources for promoting, expressing and conserving our confessional unity. Thank you for your prayers and offerings in support of this work that we have committed to do in our walking together as a Synod.

“

Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.

Matthew 28:19-20

Rev. Timothy Teuscher, LCC President

”

Dwayne Cleave, LCC Administrator

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

19

National News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Resources to support pastor and worker wellness

CANADA - The following letter was sent out on May 8, 2020 to Lutheran Church–Canada Circuit Counsellors from the President’s Ministry Council (PMC).

Dear Co-Workers in Christ, Pastors are well acquainted with the spiritual care resources available to provide for the well-being, comfort and strength of themselves and those under their care. Daily, faithful pastors care, feed, and protect the sheep under their care, discharging the duties of their Holy Office.

The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic—the social isolation; the impact of the restrictions, particularly upon the vocation of the pastor and congregational workers; and the uncertainty of these times—can, however, weigh heavily upon a pastor/worker. As pastors/workers and their family experience increasing wellness challenges, some may be looking for strategies that may help them and their family members.

Circuit Counsellors are on the front lines and may receive inquires about wellness resources. As such, Circuit Counsellors are encouraged to become acquainted with the supports that are available to pastor/workers and their families through the Worker Benefit Plan (WBP).

All pastors/workers and congregations will receive a letter from Ellement outlining the supports which are available through the Worker Benefit Plan. Please put a copy of that document into your Circuit Counsellor Manual for future reference. Also, make note of the contact information for WBP wellness support and put it in a location which can be easily accessed.

Doxology, a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), has put together resources intended to support pastors (mentally,

20

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

emotionally and spiritually) at www.doxology.us. Click on the COVID-19 banner.

Please pay particular attention to the document, The Challenge of Clergy Isolation During COVID-19 Days.

The document is a useful resource to share with pastors in your circuit or with individual pastors.

Pastors/workers and their family members may require further support beyond that offered through the Worker Benefit Plan. Please inform the pastor/worker that additional support can be accessed through their Regional Pastor. To access this additional support a pastor/worker will need to request their clinical counsellor send a letter of recommendation to the Regional Pastor.

Your Regional Pastor is available at any time to provide assistance to you or to the pastor/worker.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

In Christ, The President’s Ministry Council (PMC): Rev. Robert Mohns, LCC West Regional Pastor’ Rev. David Haberstock, LCC Central Regional Pastor Rev. Marvin Bublitz, LCC East Regional Pastor Rev. Timothy Teuscher, President, LCC Rev. Thomas Kruesel, Vice-President, LCC

West Region News

Alberta and British Columbia - Michelle Heumann, editor

Tenth annual Calgary Circuit Youth Retreat CALGARY, Alta. - From November 1-3, 2019, 28 youth, leaders, and volunteers gathered at Foothills Lutheran Church for the annual fall youth retreat. The theme was “Jars of Clay,” based on 2 Corinthians 4:6-7.

Rev. Mike Kuhn presented sessions titled “Who We Are,” “Where We Stand,” and “How We Walk,” and the youth participated in small group Bible studies designed to complement the sessions. They also played games, visited a local swimming pool, ate great food prepared by the team of kitchen volunteers, and participated in Morning and Evening Prayer led by seminary student Joshua Timm. The youth also helped the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League complete twenty-six knitted comfort dolls (using up all the supplies the LWML had provided) that will be donated to Operation Christmas Child.

Serving on the planning committee were Trevor and Michelle Heumann, Rev. Eric and Kayla

Youth and leaders display some of the comfort dolls that the group assembled.

Moffett, Dcn. Monica Schultz, and Dcn. Miriam Winstanley. The kitchen team was led by Christine Heumann and staffed by other volunteers from the congregation.

The annual retreat was founded in 2000 by two Calgary church workers, and was called “Ultimate Survivors.”

There were eight Survivor retreats attended by youth from B.C., Alberta, and Saskatchewan until the event went on hiatus in 2007, due to committee turnover. The event was revived in 2010 after the National

Youth Gathering in Edmonton rekindled interest in it and it’s been held at Foothills every fall since then.

This September, the planning committee decided to take a twoyear hiatus in order to focus on the upcoming Regional and National Youth Gatherings, and to add new committee members to the team.

News about the 2022 Calgary youth retreat will be posted at: www.lutheranyouthretreat.ca Michelle Heumann

Building gingerbread houses builds faith at home

Rev. Scott Gamble and his children.

Some of the attendees display the gingerbread houses.

DRUMHELLER, Alta. - The “Faith at Home” program is going strong at Grace Lutheran Church, where a special event is usually held once a month.

On November 29, 2019, about seventy-two young people and

their parents gathered to decorate gingerbread houses, sing carols, and hear God’s Word. The event was open to everyone, and several families from the community joined in the fun, making it an excellent outreach opportunity.

Michelle Gamble and Arlynda Thacker had baked twenty-seven gingerbread houses for the event, and everyone had a great time decorating these beauties.

Rosalie Nimmo

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

21

I need God with a face!

West Region News

Alberta and British Columbia - Michelle Heumann, editor

FROM THE REGIONAL PASTOR

REV. ROBERT MOHNS

M

any of our days are spent in the routines of life according to our various vocations. We are husbands and wives. We are fathers and mothers.

We have families to care for. We work, we study, we play. We worship, we pray, we read and meditate on the Scriptures, we serve one another. We enjoy family and friends. And so the routines carry on from day to day.

Every now and again, however, we experience trauma and crisis.

We experience pain, hurt, sorrow, loss. Certainly, the routines of our life have been turned upside down in these days of pandemic and will be in the coming days, post-pandemic.

In spite of the cheerleading and good wishes, in spite of words of encouragement to hang in there, we experience seasons when all our efforts to endure fail. There are times when even hanging on is not possible.

This was Job’s situation. Job did not know that the Lord had declared of him that “there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil” (Job 1:8). He did not know of Satan’s accusation: “Does Job fear God for no reason?... But stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face” (Job 1: 9, 11).

What Job did know was that his life had suddenly been turned upside down—and more than that, that he could find no respite from the wave upon wave of affliction that had suddenly engulfed him. Early in the book, Job speaks honestly of what he knows: “What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my

22

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

end, that I should be patient? Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze? Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me?” (Job 6:11-13).

Job confesses he has no strength no ability to hang on. He sees calamity from which he cannot escape. A little later, Job describes his situation in this way: “He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass, and He has set darkness upon my paths” (Job 19:8).

Perhaps you have found yourself in that situation, times when you can go no further. You look around and all you see is a wall too tall to climb. You feel the darkness creeping ever closer.

A young child was having difficulty settling into her first night in a new house. The parents reassured her, “You will be okay.

We’ll be in the living room right outside your door. There’s nothing to hurt you. God is with you.” The child replied, “But I can’t see Him in the dark. I want a God with a face.”

This too is what Job longed for.

In the very midst of doubts and fears, when the temptation to turn from God and curse Him loomed so close, Job is given these faithful words to hang his life and his salvation on: “Oh that my words were written!

Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” (Job 19:23-29).

When night comes, trouble knocks, disappointments punctuate the day, and problems overwhelm, we all crave a God with a face. The words from Job’s lips are given to us as well.

For a full festival season now, from those seemingly distant days of Advent, through Christmas, and Epiphany, from Lent to Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost, the God with skin on, the God with a face, has accompanied us. Yes, even through the days of COVID-19. Yes, even when you have found yourself in Job’s ash pile, sitting between God’s declaration of your justification and Satan’s accusation, it is the Lord who enters into your life.

By His incarnation He has forever put your face on. God, with your face, has set His face like flint to fulfill all righteousness for you by His sinless, perfect obedient life. By His suffering and death, He has endured the full cup of His Father’s wrath against your sin. He has died your death and on the third day was raised from the dead for your justification. In that great exchange of Good Friday and Easter, He exchanges your weakness for His steadfastness, His strength.

He says to you, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). All this He has done so that you will see God with a face, with your own eyes.

Sitting in the ash heap of r e p e n t a n c e, b e t w e e n G o d ’ s

West Region News

Alberta and British Columbia - Michelle Heumann, editor

declaration and Satan’s accusation, God acted for the sake and saving of His servant Job. God is ever at work chiseling away at our lives as well. St Paul put it this way: “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).

Through the Apostle James, God gives us this promised hope: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:11).

So that we might have this hope more firmly set, the Apostle John was given to see the promise fulfilled. In the Book of Revelation, John receives a vision of the saints of God, those who have dipped their garments in the blood of the Lamb, gathered around the throne of God with angels and archangels, singing together the new song.

Dear saints of God (for that is whom God has made you to be), may God grant you such a heart that yearns every day to see the face of your Redeemer! God does not leave us isolated in the day of trial and testing. God with a face, though hidden from our fleshly eyes, comes to us every day in His Word and through His blessed Sacraments to strengthen and

uphold us through trying and tiring days. May we, through Word and Spirit, be granted hearts that faint after the God with a face; Christ Jesus our Lord and Redeemer.

I know that my Redeemer Lives; What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, who once was dead; He lives my ever-living head.

He lives triumphant from the grave; He lives eternally to save; He lives all glorious in the sky; He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to bless me with His love; He lives to plead for me above; He lives my hungry soul to feed; He lives to help in time of need. (LSB 461)

Overnight Winter Shelter program launches in Leduc

Special guests at the ribbon cutting.

LEDUC, Alta. - November 1, 2019, saw the opening of the first Overnight Winter Shelter p ro g ra m i n L e d u c. T h i s i s a partnership between St. Peter’s

Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Leduc Hub Association, a charitable organization providing services to the area that are unavailable elsewhere.

The shelter opens at 9:00 p.m. every night and provides warmth and food to those temporarily un-housed, closing at 6:30 a.m. Volunteers from many churches in the area provide care and conversation for the first two hours, with professional security overseeing the operation until morning. The shelter has been utilized nightly since opening, seeing between four and ten clients each night.

As the homeless population has risen dramatically in the area over the last three years, this was an identified need in the community.

St. Peter’s congregation stepped forward to help by offering the space, and the Hub provides the funding and operation of the program. Revs.

Neil Stern and Greg Kjos, pastors at St. Peter’s, along with City of Leduc Mayor Bob Young and other local dignitaries, were on hand for the ribbon cutting.

The program ran nightly from November 1 through March 31, 2020.

Susan Perry

Concordia Edmonton hosts Christmas dinner EDMONTON - For the first time, Christmas Dinner was held at Concordia Lutheran Church on Christmas Day from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

There was a great turnout from all over Edmonton, with twenty-five people attending. There were also twenty volunteers throughout the day who

helped with cooking and visiting with guests. They heard many stories from people who were encouraged by the generosity of the dinner.

Some guests were alone and without family, or in financial distress.

All of the volunteers we re b l e s s e d a n d encouraged by this day and the congregation

plans to make it a yearly event.

Nicole Kezama

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

23

West Region News

Alberta and British Columbia - Michelle Heumann, editor

Sanctuary dedication at Mount Calvary Hennig led the worship service.

The altar, lectern, pulpit, baptismal font, and paraments were all dedicated. The guest pastors did the readings. Lutheran Church– Canada’s President, Rev. Timothy Teuscher, was guest preacher for the event, basing his sermon on the theme Bible verse. Special music was provided by congregation members along with guest violinist, Jon Werkema.

Following the service, the congregation enjoyed a beef on a bun supper prepared by members.

Congregation and guests at the dedication service.

RED DEER, Alta. - On December 1, 2019, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church held a Dedication Service for their newly renovated sanctuary.

The theme was “Praise the LORD! Praise Him in His Sanctuary” (Psalm 150:1).

Following years of planning to renovate the sanctuary, the congregation decided to upgrade, enlarge, and enhance the worship area. Construction began in early

May 2019, and the congregation waited patiently to hear when worship would begin in the newly renovated space.

As Dedication Sunday arrived, the church was decorated, and t h e c o n g re g a t i o n a n d g u e s t s assembled to watch the procession of God’s Word, the Christ candle, a processional cross, theme banner, and acolyte, followed by guest pastors from the circuit. Rev. Don

The newly built altar at Mount Calvary.

Mount Seymour Retreat MOUNT SEYMOUR, B.C. - From January 3-5, 2020, a small but adventurous group of young people from Walnut Grove Lutheran Church braved the elements to enjoy a fun-filled weekend at Camp Luther’s Mount Seymour Chalet. After settling in and unpacking on Friday night, the group enjoyed a snack of nachos prepared by the head cook for the weekend, Cameron.

There was plenty of time for sitting around the fire, playing board games, solving puzzles, reading, and doing personal and group devotions, as well as free time during the day on Saturday to enjoy the activities on the mountain. Some of the group hit the slopes early and others went snowshoeing after a leisurely morning. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, and are hoping to host this event again next year. The plan is to make it a young adult retreat and invite neighbouring churches to join us.

Dcn. Lisa Olding

WEST REGION

Contact Rev. Robert Mohns, Regional Pastor

| rmohns@lutheranchurch.ca | 1. 855. 826. 9950 | 24

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

Central Region News

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and NW Ontario - Michelle Heumann, editor

Good Shepherd Lutheran Responds to the New Normal

The sanctuary at Good Shepherd Lutheran, populated with stuffed animals and photos of the congregation to keep the church staff company on Sunday mornings.

REGINA - At Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Dcn. Amanda Hastings has been using Zoom for mid-week children’s lesson and small groups, and is encouraging families to use the Bible App for Kids. Their youth group has been meeting weekly using Twitch and Zoom, as well as Jackbox games on Friday evenings. “We definitely weren’t using technology to the full

extent that we could have prior to this state of emergency, but now we are realizing all of the opportunities that we have missed,” she says. “In a way, it is helpful to have this period where people are forgiving of mistakes while trying new technology, because when the time comes, we can integrate a more polished version of these technological endeavors with the ministries that we normally offer.”

The church staff record a weekly podcast on the readings for the week, and continue to maintain the usual order of worship, as they felt that “people were desperately in need of a church service in its entirety, even if they couldn’t physically be there.” As social distancing has continued, a congregation member who was feeling badly that Rev. James Chimirri-Russell was preaching to an empty sanctuary filled the pews with stuffed animals, which then sparked a new initiative where the congregation was invited to send in photos of themselves to have placed in their usual spot in the sanctuary.

The way the congregation has been coming together in this time is a valuable reminder of the importance of both the relationship between us and God and with each other as the body of Christ.

With notes from Dcn. Amanda Hastings

Monthly German services in Regina REGINA - A German Service followed by Kaffee und German L e c k e re i ; g o o d v i s i t i n g a n d conversation; an opportunity for outreach. These are all ingredients of one of the newest projects at Mount Olive Lutheran church: monthly German Services.

The first experience happened i n S e p t e m b e r 2 01 8 w i t h a n international guest preacher: Rev Curt Albrecht, from Curitiba, Brazil. Then, beginning in January 2019, his son, Rev. Lucas Albrecht, Associate Pastor at Mount Olive Lutheran undertook the task of

leading a monthly German Service.

“I’ve been in touch with German cultural aspects since my childhood in Brazil, so I felt that improving my German skills to be able to lead the services was a natural way to go,” he observed.

“With the arrival of Pastor Lucas Albrecht it eventually became a natural step, leading both the Board of Elders and the Church Council to approve the motion of launching German Services in the congregation,” said Rod Gellner, chairman of Mount Olive Lutheran.

Rev. Ted Giese, Mount Olive’s Lead

Pastor, notes that this is a very good opportunity not only to foster faith and culture in the congregation, “but also for outreach, as we usually have visitors in every Service, many of them looking for contact with the German language.”

T h e G e r m a n S e r v i c e s a re suspended for now, but are usually held on the last Saturday of every month at 2:00 p.m., with the exception of Easter and Christmas, for which special dates are set—another special opportunity to taste the sehr lecker food from the Word of God. Rev. Lucas Andre Albrecht

A faithful servant celebrates 100 years WINNIPEG - On February 2, 2020, after Sunday worship at Immanuel Lutheran Church, a 100th birthday celebration was held for Alvina Manweiler.

Members honoured Alvina’s long and faithful years with birthday cake, many cards, and well wishes. Her friends in the LWMLC congratulated her with several gifts and she stood and thanked everyone, especially God for His many blessings. She was in her seat at worship as usual the next Sunday.

Dona Burron THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

25

Godly Rituals

Central Region News

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and NW Ontario - Michelle Heumann, editor

FROM THE REGIONAL PASTOR

REV. DAVID HABERSTOCK

A

few Sundays ago I was one of five people present at my local church for the livestreaming of the service. I helped lead and support the singing with my voice and a keyboard. Afterward, in an extremely socially distanced fashion, those present received the Sacrament of the Altar using the “Service of the Sacrament” from one of the settings in Lutheran Service Book.

It had been a while since I’d received the Sacrament. Christ’s sacramental presence with us in the bread and wine, through the Word, was a blessed comfort to me. But I was surprised, after some weeks of absence, at how comforting going through the ritual of the liturgy was.

Ritual is tradition. It is a repeated pattern of actions and texts that we do over and over again because they are important. Anything important needs to be remembered, practiced, and passed on. That’s what’s tradition is: the things you pass on through repetition. The things you value so highly you do them all the time, with others. The things, ultimately, that make life worth living and give it shape and meaning. The ritual a husband has with his wife of kissing each day when he comes home; the ritual a parent has with their child of how they greet them or wake them in the morning; the ritual you have of how you stumble out of bed each morning, and which leg you put in your pants first; or when you drink coffee or tea. These rituals mark and shape our lives, for good or ill (hopefully for good!).

26

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures…”

(1 Corinthians 15:3) We deliver or hand on to others what is most important to us.

We deliver it by what we repeat week by week, year by year. For what we repeat—what we give our time and attention to—leaves a mark on our lives, and the lives of those around us. It becomes a comforting old friend. Even when you get stuck in unhealthy rituals in your relationships, when those oft repeated patterns are absent you can miss them, even when you know they are killing you!

Ritual can be such a blessing. We are creatures of habit. People who learn by repetition. And how blessed is it when our traditions pass on not merely the comfort of habit but the risen Lord Himself! Jesus gave us the best ritual of all—His Supper—to be oft repeated. Through His institution and promise, this supper imparts to us not merely a habit, but Himself!

Imparting Jesus is also why the Church in her wisdom passed on to us a liturgical calendar of weekly Scripture readings, repeated year by year.

I am missing that beautiful ritual right now in the full expression of the Divine Service. I am missing those oft repeated words of life. I am missing the familiar texts (Kyrie, Gloria in Excelsis, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, Nunc Dimittis, and so forth—even the corporate confession of sins) that the Church in Her wisdom has selected

to hand down to us through the ages.

I am missing the actions that go with those words: bowing the head, crossing myself, kneeling, and so forth. I was always a bit hyperactive and fidgety as a kid, and the traditional actions of the liturgy teach and focus my body and soul beneficially. I am missing singing together with all the saints.

I am missing seeing my brothers and sisters in Christ in their familiar pews.

Ritual can often seem so humdrum. But in times like these, the meaning in the godly rituals of our liturgy burst forth from hiding. It was so comforting to sing those texts with just a few saints (as well as the angels and archangels) that Sunday, and to sup on the bread of life, my Saviour’s own body! That godly ritual gave me such contentment and peace (as Christ Himself promises).

During these days I pray you both crave the godly rituals of your past, and seek out new Christ-filled rituals in this socially distant world that bring Jesus to you day by day as you hear Him preached, turn to Him in prayer and praise, and receive Him as you read His Word. And maybe you’ve even been able (in a safe and socially distant way), with some small gathering at your church, to receive the greatest tradition that Jesus handed on to us: His own body and blood given for us to eat and drink. If not, I pray that we may one day soon be able to gather, if not as the whole congregation in one place, in smaller groups to receive these blessed rituals that deliver to us Christ Jesus Himself.

Central Region News

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and NW Ontario - Michelle Heumann, editor

2020 Higher Things retreat in Regina REGINA - “Watching with Wisdom, Knowledge & Understanding,” a Higher Things Youth Retreat, was held at Mount Olive Lutheran Church February 20-21, 2020.

Rev. Ted Giese led retreat sessions that discussed how screens are all around us: in theatres, at sporting events, where we eat, in our workstations, on our laptops, in our living rooms and bedrooms, and even in our pockets.

As a result, they are almost everywhere we go and they demand our attention. But what kind of attention do we give them? Rev. Lucas Albrecht led a breakout session entitled “Fake vs. Good News,” and Rev. DJ Kim led one on “Violence and Video Games.”

There were thirty-five attendees and helpers, from the Mount Olive, Grace, New Beginnings, Langenburg, MacNutt, and Lanigan congregations. Divine Services were led by the guest pastors, and everyone enjoyed a great time of fellowship and learning.

Camp Lutherland’s Annual Fundraising Supper

REGINA - Camp Lutherland’s Annual Fundraising Supper was held at Mount Olive Lutheran Church on November 15, 2019. Eightyseven supporters gathered to enjoy fellowship and a delicious meal of fried chicken and cabbage rolls, catered by Jean Orb of Southey. A silent auction was held for a stunning Christmas quilt made and donated by the Cupar Lutheran Church ladies.

The annual update of activities included a presentation from the

board, information on summer camps, and thank you videos by Camp Director Corynn Hubick, as well as a presentation about the July Mount Olive Seniors Camping Event

by Lorna Pederson.

The 2019 synopsis also highlighted the support of the LWMLC Central District provided to three Lutheran camps within the district during their 2019 Central District Convention held in June. The Mission Walk proceeds of approximately $8,000 were designated for the camps, as were the offering/ingathering. One of the mission grants approved for the 2020-2023 Triennium was to Camp Lutherland for mattresses and fans in the amount of $10,500.

LWMLC Capital Zone was thanked for the support provided to Camp Lutherland in allowing Camp Director Corynn Hubick to speak during the 2019 Spring Renewal, as well for financial support received through the ingathering

and a mattress challenge at the Fall Renewal.

Registrations for summer camps in 2019 were up slightly over 2018, with twenty enrolled in the Kids Camp, and seventeen enrolled in the Youth Camp. Corynn gave thanks for the opportunity to have served the Lord as Camp Director over the past few years.

A s e n i o r ’ s c a m p i n g eve n t was organized by Mount Olive congregation members. Campers enjoyed games, music, singing and dancing, Bible studies, and lots of great food. Included as a part of the presentation was an album slide presentation of the camp facilities and grounds, as well as candid shots of the various activities.

The evening wrapped up with a special request for prayers for Camp Lutherland and the announcement of the silent auction winner.

Lavinia Henderson

CENTRAL REGION

Contact Rev. David Haberstock, Regional Pastor

| dhaberstock@lutheranchurch.ca | 1. 800. 663. 5673 | THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

27

Central Region News

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and NW Ontario - Michelle Heumann, editor

Peace Lutheran Church Community Food Drive WINNIPEG - For the past several years, the Board of Evangelism at Peace Lutheran Church has planned a Community Food Drive in the neighbourhood of North Kildonan. This service project helps the congregation to engage the community in supporting the most vulnerable of our society.

Non-perishable food items are shared between the Emergency Food Pantry located inside the church and the Food and Essentials Market at Main Street Project, a local homeless shelter.

The project starts by identifying new streets each year and dropping off a distinctive blue bag labeled with the Peace Lutheran Church logo, plus a door hanger with information about the church, the most wanted food items, and when we will return to pick the bags up. Volunteers set their own schedule of when they drop off and when they pick up, as long as they allow the community about five days to do any necessary shopping.

Inside each bag, neighbours will find a postcard inviting them to Easter services and a Gospel message.

The project has been received well by the community and advertising on social media helps people who have participated in previous years drop off food directly to the church. The

food drive usually takes place in March or April, depending on the dates for Easter and Spring Break.

This year those dates fell right at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was tough making the decision to go ahead with the drive

anyway, but the church didn’t want to stop caring for the needy in this time of crisis and let the community know the reasons. The Emergency Food Pantry would be stocked in case it was needed as a safe, uncrowded place for the vulnerable to pick up non-perishable supplies. They also didn’t want to forget about Main Street Project and their need for continual supplies to support the homeless in our city.

So the project went ahead and was blessed by a community that still gave even in these difficult times.

Donations weren’t as high as in past years, but it was still enough to add to the Pantry and share with Main Street Project. Most of all it was a sign that even in the most difficult and troubling times, God’s plan to love our neighbour as ourselves was still active in our community.

Teresa Miller Dotzlaw, Director, Board of Evangelism

Faith Lutheran’s food banks continue to operate

Faith Lutheran Church in Atikokan.

ATIKOKAN, Ont. - At Faith Lutheran Church, both food banks remain operational; all that’s changed is the mode of delivery. Presently, FLC’s food bank which provides dry goods to hungry people has moved distribution to just outside the church doors, instead of from inside the narthex. FLC is receiving donations

28

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

to buy non-perishables for the food bank, and a donation was received from a Canadian Lutheran reader in southern Ontario who read the article in the January/February issue.

But man cannot live on bread alone (Matthew 4:4)—COVID-19 notwithstanding. Congregations had to find alternative means to distribute the Bread of Life while still honoring provincial restrictions. The church website is being used to offer daily Morning Prayer from the pastor’s kitchen table and Divine Service from the Sanctuary proper. They are also working with the Activities Coordinator at the local hospital to restore weekly chapel services to residents in Extended Care, using the same online video option.

As important as this ministry is, the online approach excludes plenty of people, so conversation and

prayer by phone, and Confession and Lord’s Supper by appointment, are also offered. The present circumstance is a good argument for having a hymnal for personal use at home. For anyone who doesn’t have a personal copy, FLC is offering has sanitized the covers of its hymnals and are making them available for local takeout and delivery.

“Our Lord has blessed us with good land and good government; the means He ordinarily provides for our daily bread,” note FLC Pastor Daniel Barr. “When a pandemic seems to truncate the various aspects of life and freedom we take for granted, spiritual and physical needs remain the same.”

Rev. Daniel W. Barr

East Region News

Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada - Michelle Heumann, editor

EDLYA holds winter retreat

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - From January 24-26, 2020, Lutheran young adults from across Ontario converged in the city of Mississauga.

Many of them journeyed from as far west as London and from as far east as Ottawa. There was an ice storm looming; still, they came. In spite of cold, they came, in spite of savage gale, they came, in spite of liquid ice raining down upon them from the heavens—many, many of them came.

They came for worship, they came for fellowship, and they came for community with those whose faith they share. They gathered together at Christ our King Lutheran church, finding retreat from the onslaught of the secular world, and finding unity in faith with like-minded peers. They call themselves the East District Lutheran Young Adults (EDLYA), some adults as seasoned as 35 years, some as green-wooded as 18, nearly

all of them members of Lutheran Church–Canada.

They were warmly welcomed by the local congregation, headed by Rev. Basil Christi. The congregation provided a place to eat, a place to rest, and a place to come together in community. Seminary student Scott Van Raes lead a session on semiotics, which is the study of transmission of meaning through symbols. EDLYA members Adrian Dunlop led devotions and Josh Gajdos led music. There was visiting, card games, board games, group charades, and Family Feud.

Rev. Christi presided over the service the following Sunday, and after one last joyous meal, the members of EDLYA made their farewells and parted, returning back to the homes, the schools, the work from whence they came.

For more information on EDLYA and future gatherings, visit: www.edlya.ca Anthony Krause

Fisherville hosts confirmation retreat FISHERVILLE, Ont. - On February 21-23, 2020, Trinity Lutheran Church hosted an amazing annual event: a Confirmation Retreat that has grown to encompass youth as well. There were thirty-five youth and confirmands, as well as leaders and pastors. The weekend consisted of music, sessions, devotions, and free time. The youth had an amazing time getting to know one another, sharing their faith, and growing in their faith.

The weekend’s sessions were led by Dcn. Lenora Walden and covered many of the issues youth today face on a daily basis.

After the sessions, participants broke into groups to discuss and cover questions.

The youth ended their weekend by helping with service

and providing music, followed by a pizza lunch.

Trinity expects to host its annual JELLO-on-a-stick Retreat in November. Please keep that in mind for any youth interested in a fun-filled, fellowshipbuilding weekend.

The attendees thank God for the gift of the leaders, pastors, and volunteers who make this event possible. It’s a great opportunity to keep youth involved and active to continue grow their faith.

Without events like this, youth could

feel very lonely in this world on their faith journey.

Amy Kemp

SUBMISSIONS Send your news, photos, articles, and announcements to Michelle Heumann, Regional Editor: regionalnewseditor@ lutheranchurch.ca.

For submission guidelines, visit www.canadianlutheran. ca/editors-and-submissions/.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

29

For us and for our salvation

East Region News

Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada - Michelle Heumann, editor

FROM THE REGIONAL PASTOR

REV. MARVIN BUBLITZ

“And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.” - Matthew 28:2

W

hy did the angel roll the stone away from the tomb? Ponder that for a moment before continuing.

I have asked that question in various settings over the years.

Sometimes someone says, “So Jesus could get out.”

Then they immediately go silent as they realize what they just said.

No, Jesus did not need the stone rolled away so He could get out any more than He needed one of the disciples to unlock the door in the upper room. The resurrected Lord’s body is not subject to the same limitations as our earthly bodies.

It was not for His benefit that the stone was rolled away. So for whose, then? It was for the disciples, for the women, and for us. That, in a nutshell, defines all Jesus did and does... for us. The Son of God left heaven to be born of a virgin and laid in a manger. Why? For us and our salvation.

He did not need to have the stone rolled away. The angel did not roll it away to reveal Jesus standing there, frustrated at being trapped in the cold, dark tomb. No, the angel rolled the stone away to reveal an empty tomb. The Lord was not there. With

30

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

the stone rolled away, the women and disciples saw that Jesus had risen.

It, like the many signs and miracles Jesus did, was for the benefit of others. Like the voice from heaven, it was for the benefit of us.

As Jesus said, in John 12:30, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.” When the risen Jesus met the disciples on the shore and ate fish, it was not for His benefit. They needed to see that He was not a ghost, but that He had been raised to life. All Jesus does is for us and our salvation.

All Jesus does is for us and our salvation.

Why did Jesus set His face like flint and head to Jerusalem? For us and our salvation. Why did Jesus allow Himself to be arrested, tried, and crucified? For us and our salvation. Why did Jesus allow nails to be driven into His hands and feet?

For us and our salvation. Why did Jesus allow His creation to thrust a spear into Him? For us and our salvation. Why did Jesus rise from the dead? For us and our salvation.

Why did He ascend into heaven?

For us. “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.

But if I go, I will send Him to you.”

(John 16:7) Why will Jesus return to judge the quick and the dead? To give to the faithful that salvation.

It is comforting to know how great the love our Good Shepherd has for us. All that He does, He does to bring us faith, forgiveness, and salvation.

The historic liturgy reminds of that.

We begin with the Invocation, and it takes us back to our baptism, where He washed us and made us a child of God. We confess our sins, and we hear His sweet forgiveness earned for us. When we confess the creed, we remember what Jesus did for us and our salvation. We hear the words of institution, and our Saviour declares that He gives His body and blood for our forgiveness. We sing of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We take His body and His blood given and shed for us into our bodies.

In the worship service, Jesus comes to us in His Word and Sacraments to give us all He has earned for us and our salvation.

Now He is hidden in plain sight in His holy Word and Sacraments. It is there He has promised to be found.

Those who look for Him elsewhere look in vain.

T h r o u g h H i s Wo r d a n d Sacraments, He prepares us for the day of our resurrection. Then we will gather around His heavenly throne and join in the eternal worship of the Lamb sacrificed for us. All praise be to the crucified, risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.

Alleluia. Christ is ascended. He is ascended indeed. Alleluia. Through Him we have salvation indeed.

Alleluia.

East Region News

Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada - Michelle Heumann, editor

Holy Week in Fisherville

The cross at Fisherville on Palm Sunday. Photos by Tricia Miller.

The cross at Fisherville on Maundy Thursday.

FISHERVILLE, Ont. - Despite churches being required to close their doors due to COVID-19 restrictions, Trinity Lutheran Church witnessed to the community during Holy Week by setting a cross on the front steps, appropriately decorated for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. The cross was made by members Bob and Joanne Kiefer and decorated for each day by member Tricia Miller.

Alleluia! He is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Rita Rickus

The cross at Fisherville on Easter Sunday.

The cross at Fisherville on Good Friday.

Rev. Morgret marks 50th ordination anniversary QUEBEC CITY, Que. - For the past decade, Rev. Frank Morgret, though officially retired, has been active in LCC’s French Ministry in Quebec City. He and his wife Nancy moved there with the express intent of supporting the francophone mission, which has become the Sainte-Trinité congregation. He has steadfastly served as resident pastoral advisor there, providing stability and encouragement to the

fledgling Lutheran community throughout the years.

He shares his gifts and guidance as needed, and the community thanks God for his presence among them.

Dr. David Somers, LCC MAL French Ministries

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

31

East Region News

Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada - Michelle Heumann, editor

LLLC and Crew Ministries announce new partnership KITCHENER, Ont. - On March 9, 2020, Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada (LLLC) and CREW Ministries announced a new partnership that will allow CREW to provide the CDs recorded by their teams to LLLC to use in their ministries across Canada.

This partnership is mutually beneficial because LLLC has always been in the business of getting solid and spiritually supportive media in the hands and ears of as many people as possible, while CREW Ministries has been in the business of music and relationships. Both organizations have been committed to advancing the Kingdom of Jesus Christ wherever possible.

LLLC Director Lisa Jackson, CREW co-founder Joel Haberstock, and CREW alum Ashley Maskowitz

Joel Haberstock

Holy Cross Lutheran Responds to the New Normal KITCHENER, Ont. - Dcn. Lenora Walden at Holy Cross Lutheran Church has been posting challenges for youth and families on her Instagram account, and spends time being available via video chat for people who want to check in.

Her encouragement to those struggling to find meaningful ways to reach out is that “even if it feels like you are talking into the void or just talking to yourself, they see you and they hear you, even if they aren’t responding directly to what you are saying. Knowing you are there is a huge comfort, even if they won’t say that to your face.”

Youth group continues with weekly Zoom hangouts and games, and the Bible study on Sunday

morning is working through the history of the early church.

Sunday school continues in the home with emailed lessons, and adults have fellowship time in small groups on Zoom. Keeping the church connected is important!

With notes from Lenora Walden

EAST REGION

Contact Rev. Marvin Bublitz, Regional Pastor | mbublitz@lutheranchurch.ca | 1. 855. 893. 1466 | 32

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

Mission News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Prayers requested for Nicaragua amid pandemic

by Olga Groh NICARAGUA - The pastors and deaconesses of the Lutheran Church Synod of Nicaragua (ILSN) have informed us of the exponential increase in potential cases of COVID-19 occurring over the past few weeks in Nicaragua. Though the official government numbers in Nicaragua show a low number of cases—with 7 recovered cases and 8 deaths as of May 20, 2020—recent conversations with our brothers and sisters suggest that there may be many more infected at this time, not yet verified by testing. It is for this reason that I humbly covet the prayers of us all at this time.

Let us pray:

ILSN Mission Centre: Luther rose made by Resurrection, St. Catharines.

Photo by Dr. Thomas Winger.

For those who are ill from different illnesses; for those who may already be infected or who are at risk of infection from COVID-19 in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras, especially for our brothers and sisters among the Lutheran Church Synod of Nicaragua membership, church workers and frontline volunteers.

For those in the churches and local communities who are anxious; those who have lost jobs; those who cannot bring food to the table; and for those who struggle to find their daily bread.

Knowing the many factors that make social distancing and proper sanitization nearly behind the bounds of possibility in Nicaragua, let us pray for the individuals, families, businesses and all care facilities: that they may be able to obtain all necessary personal protective equipment and supplies; and that they be willing and quick to learn and implement all precautionary measures to lower personal risk and possible escalation of infections.

Let us also pray for medical personnel and support workers, that they may be blessed with strong health and sharp minds to help according to the best practices known at this time.

As unaccustomed constraints increase the possibilities of social unrest and domestic violence, let us pray that the peace of the Lord will reign sovereign over human emotion in each and every place of meeting, congregation and household.

For the ILSN Feeding programs in Matagalpa, Jinotega, and Ranchería, we are thankful that the deaconesses and volunteers are able to continue distributing pre-packaged food items to the houses of the most impoverished children and families in their communities on a weekly basis. Be it our prayer that those who give and those who receive be kept safe at

all times as they buy, handle, prepare, deliver, and receive these goods. May children and families be blessed by the assurance that this physical bread they receive is provision from the loving heart of our heavenly Father Himself through the loving hands of those who donate, buy, prepare, and deliver it to them.

Let us also pray for the servants of ILSN and LCC’s mission in Chinandega and its staff. Lord, we thank you for the many years that you faithfully have blessed our brothers and sisters in the ILSN at large and those that serve at the Mission Centre’s office in Chinandega, as they have committed themselves to serve together and assist the congregations and missions of the ILSN in the name and by the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.

According to Your will, Lord, help the ILSN pastors and deaconesses and the Mission Centre’s workers to be bold witnesses of your love and mercy among your people, especially in these testing times. Protect them from all danger; grant them wisdom in their decisions and discernment as they protect themselves and others, leading by example. Assist them as they seek to follow your directions and conduct the work of Your church according to Your will and as You have taught us in Your Word of grace, mercy, and love.

All this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Dcn. Olga Groh is Lutheran Church–Canada’s Diaconal Coordinator for Central America.

Lutheran Church–Canada’s mission partners in other parts of the world are also responding to the COVID-19 crisis. For more information on the response of partner churches in Ukraine and Cambodia—as well as for other mission news—visit: www.canadianlutheran. ca/category/mission-news/.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

33

Education News Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS – St. Catharines, Ontario) • Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS – Edmonton)

www.canadianlutheran.ca

FIRST CALLS FOR GRADUATING PASTORS Adam Chandler (CLS) Hope Lutheran (Victoria, B.C.)

Adam Chandler was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. There he was baptized at Foothills Lutheran Church by his grandfather, Rev. Eldon Ohlinger. Adam completed a B.S., minoring in Structural Engineering at the University of Calgary. He later completed his Masters in restoration of historical constructions, while studying abroad in Barcelona and Prague. His time away from home emphasized the importance of a church family and regular devotions, contributing to his eventual decision to go to seminary. Adam has helped with a Christian student group and spent time at the International Academy of Apologetics, to which he has submitted a dissertation for approval. During vicarage, Adam served at Zion Lutheran in Morden and Trinity Lutheran in Winkler.

Travis Heide (CLS) Mt. Calvary Lutheran (Swift Current, SK)

Travis Kelly Heide, son of Missionary Rev. Randy Heide and Darlene, was baptized at First Lutheran Church, Lloydminster, and raised in Fort MacMurray, Alberta, and later Warman, Saskatchewan.

He completed his B.A. at Trinity

34

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

Western University in Langley, B.C. It was there, studying modern languages among enduring friends, that he first felt called to ministry.

His open studies in Biblical Hebrew at CLS led to his full enrolment in the Masters of Divinity program.

Travis continued to excel in music and in language studies. His pastoral training includes fieldwork at All Saints Lutheran (Edmonton), Grace Lutheran (Edmonton), vicarage at Redeemer Lutheran (Kitimat/ Terrace, B.C.), and pulpit supply at the Lutheran congregations of Mannville and Vermilion.

Wendel Ritz (CLS) Trinity Evangelical Lutheran (Pincher Creek, AB)

Wendel Ritz and his wife, Debra, have four children: two girls and two boys ranging in age from two to twelve, all of whom they currently homeschool.

Wendel is fluent in German, being born in Starnberg, Germany, to a missionary family who split t h e i r t i m e b e t we e n G e r m a ny and Alberta. He and his wife have been involved in Christian youth ministry for many years, having worked in Christian camps, schools, missions, and churches in a variety of leadership areas.

Wendel completed his Bachelor of Religious Education, along with a Major in Pastoral Ministry and a Minor in Christian Camping, in addition to pursuing his Masters of Divinity. Wendel and his family have enjoyed getting to know the congregation in Didsbury, Alberta, where he served as vicar under Rev. Mark Lobitz.

Mark Rekken (CLS) Prince of Peace Lutheran (Calgary, AB)

Mark Rekken was born in Edmonton and raised in St. Albert, Alberta. Mark began to consider a call to ministry part way through his university degree, during a time of accelerated spiritual growth and renewal that God worked in him during those years. It was there where he met his wife, Rebekah (Beka), who, like him, was majoring in Sociology.

Mark’s vicarage was served at Prince of Peace in Calgary, Alberta, where he and his wife were blessed by an extraordinarily encouraging and uplifting year with the congregation and school. Mark and Beka, grateful for those experiences, set their hopes on God again now in anticipation of a full-time call to ministry.

Joshua Kurtenbach (CLS) Our Saviour Lutheran (Fort Qu’Appelle, SK)

Joshua Douglas Kurtenbach was born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, where he was baptized at Immanuel L u t h e ra n i n L a n d e s t re u . H e grew up in Inglis and Deloraine, Manitoba, and was confirmed at Our Savior Lutheran in Bottineau, North Dakota, before moving after highschool to Regina, Saskatchewan, where he met his

Education News www.canadianlutheran.ca

wife, Jazmin. Joshua completed a Bachelor of Arts in Classical, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies at the University of Saskatchewan, prior to attending seminary. His pastoral training includes field work at St. Matthew Lutheran in Stony Plain and King of Kings Lutheran in St. Albert. His vicarage year was at Redeemer Lutheran in Didsbury, Alberta. Joshua looks forward to serving the Lord and His people wherever He calls him to be.

Kenneth Stadnick (CLS) Cross of Christ Lutheran (Edmonton, AB)

Kenneth Stadnick, after a 30year career in the Air Force, looked forward to retirement in the Comox Valley where he would have the opportunity to spend more time with family and friends. His plans quickly changed as he felt a keen desire to pursue the ministerial office. After prayerful consideration with family and friends, Kenneth and his wife, Cindy, decided to move to Edmonton where he would attend CLS. Cindy was able to find a job with Alberta Health Services, and join Kenneth in a tiny basement suite in Edmonton.

Looking back on his final year of study, Kenneth marvels at how God has prepared him as a servant for Jesus’ sake. He and his wife look forward to another new and amazing journey in anticipation of his first calling. Though there is a certain amount of nervousness in the face of that upcoming call, Kenneth and Cindy hold fast to God’s sure and steady promises that He has prepared the path that lies ahead of them, as they faithfully trust in His grace and mercy.

Peter Knelson (CLS) St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran (Warman, SK)

Peter Knelson was raised in Saskatchewan. He first learned that his words had the potential to be meaningful to people in a high school leadership class and, having grown up in the church, the idea of being a church worker was appealing to him.

He completed his Bachelor’s degree at Concordia University, Edmonton, followed by his Masters of Divinity at CLS. Peter values the education he received and expresses gratitude to the friends, family, and churches who have supported him. Peter is excited for the opportunity to continue building relationships in the church, and anticipates that these relationships will continue to shape him as a servant for Jesus’ sake. He is honoured to be a part of God’s mission to bring eternal life to all who believe in the salvation that Jesus Christ has won for us.

Vishal Kumar Paul (CLTS) Risen Christ Lutheran (Mississauga, ON)

Manager for Moody’s. He moved to Canada with his family in 2015 in order to attend CLTS and prepare for the holy ministry. He speaks Hindi and Punjabi, as well as English. He is married to Ashu with whom he has two sons, Aashish Samuel (Sam) and Vinay Joshua (Joey). He has been a member and field worker at Resurrection Lutheran Church, St. Catharines, under Rev. Kurt Lantz.

He served his vicarage at Redeemer, Waterloo, under Rev. Joel Kuhl.

VICARAGE PLACEMENTS Kyle Eddy (CLS) Faith Lutheran (Middle Lake, SK)

David Zakel(CLTS) Prince of Peace Lutheran (Burlington, ON)

Vishal Kumar Paul is originally from Punjab, India, but grew up in various parts of India and in different sub-culture and language groups. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a Master’s degree in Economics.

He moved to Gurgaon, India in 2002 and worked in banking and finance, including serving as a Regional THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

35

Education News www.canadianlutheran.ca

COVID-19: LCC Seminaries Announce First Calls Online

ONLINE - As a result of government regulations due to COVID-19, Lutheran Church–Canada’s two seminaries cancelled public services in favour of online announcements of first calls for pastoral candidates and vicarage placements.

Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS - Edmonton) held its Sacred Convocation online this year on May 29, 2020, during which time seven graduating pastoral students received their first calls and one other student received his vicarage placement.The service was offered on a smaller scale than in normal years, involving only the primary players but live-streamed to the church at large.

D u r i n g t h e o n l i n e S a c re d Convocation, CLS also presented

Frances A. Wershler with the “Faith in Life” award in abstentia.

Wershler served as editor of The Canadian Lutheran from April 1986 until December 1992, and helped guide Lutheran Church– Canada communications during the transition to an autonomous church body. Wershler also served for many years on the Central District’s Board of Directors.

Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS - St. Catharines, Ontario) held an online event to announce the first call of one graduating pastoral student and the vicarage placement of one other student on May 29, 2020. While a departure from the seminary’s usual Annual Call Service, the seminary planned a livestreamed event presenting students with their placements along with appropraite proclamation of God’s Word, as well as prayer and praise.

CLTS has also announced the recipients of their annual awards.

Carl Wathke (Faith Lutheran, Desboro, Ontario) will receive the

Frances Werschler receives the “Faith in Life” award in abstentia.

Delta Chi (Servant of Christ) award, the seminary’s highest honour.

Mary Silver (Christ Lutheran, St. Catharines, Ontario) will receive the Friend of the Seminary award.

“Both have a long CV of service to the church, which will be shared when the awards are given,” notes the seminary’s news release. “We intend to delay presenting these awards until such a time as the recipients can be present in person, most likely at the seminary’s opening service in September.”

Joint CLS/CLTS Faculty Retreat at Bragg Creek

ALBERTA - For the first time in over a dozen years, the faculties of both Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) seminaries—Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) and Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS)—met near Bragg Creek, Alberta, on faculty retreat from March 9-12, 2020.

Significant time was spent discussing documents about holistic formation of pastors

that focuses on general human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral characteristics. Both seminaries currently focus on these, but the common discussion invited ways to weave relevant threads of each dimension throughout the seminary programme.

Also discussed was current and future directions of a curricular model that might help address some of the current challenges to student recruitment and formation.

T h e f a c u l t y re t re a t allowed for time spent in morning and evening devotions; prioritizing the strengthening of relationships;

enjoying delicious food (courtesy of Gord and Edith Schoepp); and hiking in two nearby parks. Special thanks are due to the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League– Canada (LWMLC) who made the retreat possible by helping fund some of the costs.

The faculties both committed to future retreat involvement.

T h e re t re a t e n d e d just before tightened health restrictions put both seminaries onto completely online delivery of coursework.

Both CLS and CLTS are well prepared for this since they have been sharing courses through internet technology for nearly a decade.

CONCORDIA LUTHERAN MISSION SOCIETY (CLMS) An auxiliary of Lutheran Church–Canada, connecting donors with mission projects around the world.

Partners in Mission: How Do We Partner With You?

For over 20 years Concordia Lutheran Mission Society (CLMS) has supported the missions of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) and other mission work, through regular and special projects, as well as donor-initiated projects.

During hard times and hopeful times our mission pastors and church workers around the world have proclaimed Jesus’ message to their communities – taking the Word and physical help to the needy. Through the yearly projects of CLMS, we provide support through

continuing theological education; computer training; transportation needs; living expenses; ministry provisions for prisoners; homeless shelters and orphanages; children’s feeding programs; children’s Christian education and more.

This year CLMS accepted regular projects in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Thailand, Cambodia, and Ukraine. CLMS provides opportunities, online and in printed material, for the people of LCC to choose one or more projects that are close to their hearts. Donors are assured that 100% of project designated funds will be given to missions. Once a project is fully funded, additional funds received will be applied to another project in that country or where needed most. All board positions

2019 Candlelight Christmas Service – SELCU.

2019 Christmas gifts to orphans – SELCU.

The Christmas Story: A Story of Hope, as told from Ukraine

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year – there is even a song written about that! While we look forward all year to this special holiday, imagine having Christmas repeated two weeks later! That’s how it is in Ukraine. Part of the Christian church in Ukraine celebrates Christian holidays according to the Gregorian calendar and part of the church uses the Julian calendar.

are voluntary and administration costs are covered by donations to Operations with many Board members paying their own costs to attend our yearly meeting.

This year has been an unusually hard time for everyone, world-wide. Because of faithful donors we have been able to meet project needs so far for 2020, with our first quarterly installment sent in late March, and our next to be sent in July. Please help as you are able so that we can meet that next remittance.

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:4-5).

This split even exists within the Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ukraine (SELCU) so most congregations celebrate Christmas twice, on December 25th and again January 7th. While this increases the number of services and the work for the pastors, there is greater opportunity to minister to a larger segment of the population, to those who regularly attend and to those who do not.

Candles are lit because Jesus came to be the light of the world. Ukraine has had dark times – with Russia looming just across the border; the poverty of many; and now the added stress of COVID-19. There are

few places to find resources, however the Lutheran churches in Ukraine continue to do what they can to alleviate the day-to-day suffering people experience. At Christmas, in addition to the special services to tell of Jesus’ birth, bags of food and other necessities are prepared and distributed to orphanages; prisoners; the homeless; soldiers; the elderly; and to needy families. These gifts are given because Jesus gave Himself for us all!

Yes, the candles are lit at Christmas, and throughout the year, to remind us all that His message shines out to the darkest corners, bringing hope to all hearts that welcome Him.

Ukraine Youth: Who Knew?

Youth from every SELCU congregation gathered on January 8, 2020 for their four-day Winter Youth Conference. Most of those who attended were male and many came from non-Christian homes. These 60 young people gathered at the Seminary in Odessa to hear the Good News of the Gospel.

While the organizers of this conference knew there would be uneven ground ahead for these youth, none of them could have known that they were all about to face one of their greatest challenges, life with COVID-19, a worldwide pandemic.

Thank the Lord that these youth were given an opportunity to be together and

SELCU Youth Winter Gathering hear about God’s loving care for them so that they could be encouraged in their faith.

Because of the strict and long quarantine there, many people have become angry or depressed and always hungry. Join CLMS in our prayer:

“Dear Lord, please keep these youth faithful to you, giving them strength to face all that will come their way. Help them daily to look to You as their strength and stay. Thank you for them, for the facilitators of the conference, and for their desire to serve you. Amen”.

Missions…

And Me?

If you are reading this article, you’ve likely thought about missions. Perhaps you have been on a mission trip in the past or you have participated in a Mission Festival to hear speakers give their accounts of life in the mission field. Perhaps you are simply curious as to how we in Canada can bring a positive change for others around the world.

Perhaps you are a donor to CLMS, and if you are, we thank you!

When I was first approached about going on a mission trip to Nicaragua by members of my former parish, I had many wonderings. Would my going make a difference? Could I handle the heat let alone do something productive there?

Those thoughts prevented me from going for two years until, in 2013, I realized it was time to put my wonderings aside.

It was a huge cultural shock, arriving in Nicaragua. Sleeping dorm-room style at the Mission Centre, relying on interpreters for communication, different food choices, no hot water for showers, and finding that toilets may or may not be available at the churches we visited brought many new wonderings about why I had come at all!

However, seeing the needs and the enthusiasm of the people and their keen desire to carry Jesus’ message out to their communities put my wonderings to rest.

And seeing the children – all the children!

During my six trips to Nicaragua I have seen the children line up in Rancheria with their bowls and cups for the Feeding Program,

38

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

Children’s Feeding Program in Rancheria, Nicaragua. big smiles on their faces. They sang for us at Potosi, Monte Olivo, Las Marias, and El Realjo.

They shyly showed us the beginnings of their church building in La Pita. They painted churches with us at El Bonete and Villa 15 de Julio – a new experience for them, so much so that on one wall the paint began to run down as so many wanted a turn to paint! They welcomed us to the VBS in Santa Patricia and showed us their VBS crafts in Cristo Rey. At each church the children came to welcome us, and they always accepted our meager gifts.

Sometimes we brought watermelon or peanut butter sandwiches; sometimes toys or pencils or tooth brushes. Always they came ready to hug and be hugged.

My experiences on those early mission trips encouraged me to volunteer for CLMS. Once a Board member I began to look for the results of our projects when visiting Nicaragua and I found many, in addition to the Feeding Program. During 2016 and 2017 we visited churches with new school desks and stacking plastic chairs. A few churches were still making due with limited chairs and broken desks.

However, this project is now complete as all churches have received needed seating. Thank the Lord that people can come to church and sit while listening, and schoolchildren have a desk at which to work!

As a retired teacher it was wonderful to be with the deaconesses and see how they

Prison Ministry in Ukraine:

For years, Bishop Sasha Yurchenko has been a faithful visitor to the prison, leading Bible studies, catechism classes, and watching lives transform in this darkest of places. Amid the pandemic, he cannot visit at this time, but continues to gather food, clothes, and medicines for the prisoners – to be delivered by the guards. Because there has been such a positive response to Christian teaching, the guards and the administrator of the prison are happy to cooperate with the Bishop. Although the prisoners will miss their devotional and teaching times, through these gifts they are assured they have not been forgotten.

Ukraine Prison Ministry

in 2019, Pastor Anastasio received a new motorcycle, as had other pastors!

Seeing the need and then seeing how the gifts from our Lutheran people have met the need is the most exciting part of serving on the Board of Concordia Lutheran Mission Society. I have been aware of mission needs since a young girl, but knowing our mission projects are being accomplished is a true satisfaction, not in a prideful way but in a humble way. There is still so much to do, still so many needs.

Nicaragua children receive new chairs. have set up their classrooms at the back of the churches or sometimes in a separate room. These women are teaching with a very small amount of supplies and are receiving very little pay. However, due to unemployment and the uncertain political situation they are thankful to receive their stipend and small gifts along the way. The deaconesses are very creative using the supplies they have. Receiving computer instruction has opened up new opportunities for them and they are excited with their new skills.

Knowing we all like to receive gifts, I have taken suitcases full of hygiene items, Spanish Bible stories, teaching/craft supplies, toys,

and clothing for the people, and paraments and crosses for the churches. On our last trip I asked the pastors to let me know what they needed and, if it would fit into a suitcase, I would do my best to bring it next time. One of the pastors, Pastor Anastasio, said he had a request but it wouldn’t fit into a suitcase. He needed a motorcycle. Over a number of visits I had seen him riding his bicycle to the chapel at the Mission Centre in Chinandega. He also serves in Rancheria, some distance away.

I knew his request to be a true need. How happy I was to see in 2018 that motorcycles were included in one of the projects presented

by LCC Missions and that our CLMS Board was willing to accept that project. Last year,

Pastor Anatasio with his new bike & keys.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

39

What are your thoughts about missions today? Are you wondering about going on a mission trip with your church group? Are you wondering about Concordia Lutheran Mission Society? We need people to pray for our missions and to pray for CLMS. Will you pray? We need people to donate towards the projects for 2020. Will you donate? When we all give as we are able, the projects will be fully funded. Will you consider letting your name stand to sit on the Board for CLMS? A number of the current Board will have soon fulfilled two terms so we need people to help with

computer work and donations, and to write articles for our website and Facebook from the mission field reports we receive. We also need people to share their thoughtful input and organizational skills as we go forward doing this amazing mission work for the Lord.

Will you help us? “‘I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Concordia Lutheran Mission Society 2020 Projects Find out more or donate online at: www.concordiamissions.org Find us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com

Response Form

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’ ” (Mathew 25:34-40).

Joyce Lobitz President, CLMS

Canada • #2001 – WECLO – Outreach to Immigrants and Refugees to Canada – $7,500 New Central America • #2002 – Central America Regional Church Workers Training – $15,000 • #2003 – Community Children’s Feeding Programs, Nicaragua – $20,000 • #2004 – Children’s Education Program, Nicaragua – $9,500 • #2005 – Music Education Program for Children and Youth, Nicaragua – $5,000 • #2006 – Computer Training for Deaconesses and Children, Nicaragua – $2,500 • #2007 – Transportation for Pastors (Motorcycles), Nicaragua – $4,500 • #2008 – Support for Deaconesses and families, Nicaragua – $6,000 • #2009 – Music Education Program, Costa Rica – $3,700 New • #2010 – Youth Education, Costa Rica – $5,000 • #2011 – Mission and Missionary, Costa Rica – $25,000 Ukraine • #2012 – Support for LCC Missionary Navrotskyy - Nikolaev, Ukraine – $11,400 • #2013 – Relief Aid for Ukraine Pastors in Need – $4,000 New • #2014 – Seminary Program & Operation - Odessa, Ukraine – $13,150 • #2015 – Youth Programs, Ukraine – $6,900 • #2016 – Pastoral Care in Prison Ministry, Ukraine – $2,000 • #2017 – Days of Faith Conference, Ukraine – $5,300 • #2018 – Ministry & Mission Outreach - Zoria, Ukraine – $2,400 Thailand • #2019 – Mission & Ministry – Khok Kloi, Thailand – $12,000 • #2020 – Theological Training for New Church Workers, Thailand – $5,500 Cambodia • #2021 – Theological Education for Pastors & Church Workers, Cambodia – $7,500 Total – $173,850

Become a “partner in mission”. Kindly indicate below how we may direct your donation and return this form along with your cheque to Concordia Lutheran Mission Society Inc., P.O. Box 455, Water Valley, AB T0M 2E0 Project # ___________ $_____________ Operational Costs $______________ Project #____________ $_____________ Total Gift $______________ Wherever needed $_____________ Please provide your mailing address so we can send your tax receipt at the end of the year and provide you with current mission information via our mailings.

Mr. Mrs., Ms., Rev. First name(s)_______________Last name__________________ Address______________________________________________________________ City___________________________Prov._________Postal Code_______________ E-mail:__________________________________________________ Optional: Home Phone___________________Congregation____________________

40

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

Transitions Reminder: Up-to-date Calls/Transitions information can be accessed any time at: www.canadianlutheran.ca/calls-transitions

HAPPY RETIREMENT!

Catherine Ilene Fortin

Ilene began employment with LCC’s East District on January 2, 2003 as a temporary employee and was hired permanently as secretary in March of that year.

HAPPY RETIREMENT!

Marlene Mohr

Marlene joined the LCC team in June of 2016 as a parttime administrative assistant.

Marlene grew up on a farm outside of Beausejour and completed her high school education with office administration focusing on typing, filing, and shorthand.

After graduating from one of Ontario’s last Regional Schools of Nursing in the class of ‘74, Ilene started working full-time as a Registered Nurse on the surgical floor in what was then the Owen Sound General & Marine Hospital. She soon moved to a shift charge nurse position. Ilene viewed learning and education as a life-long requirement, and went on to study and work in several different areas of interest, from accounting to credit investigation and approval; to financial planning; to writing and editing; and to computer programming and software development.

When she walked through the doors at LCC, East District in 2003, she never expected to still be there 17 years later.

“It has been my great blessing to work with Ilene for several years. Ilene has always been a great source of information and advice. Ilene played an important role, as we transitioned from district administration to centralized administration. From her office in Kitchener, she shared her experience, helping to ensure the transition was as smooth as possible. We will miss her optimistic outlook and encouraging emails. We wish Ilene God’s richest blessings as she moves into a new chapter of life.”

- Iris Barta, LCC Office Manager.

Agassiz School Division hired her for the summer months and in the fall she moved to the Elementary School where she served for six years.

Rev. Dale Mohr served as vacancy pastor at Grace Lutheran Church where Marlene was Sunday School Superintendent. The two married in 1978 and together served congregations in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, and Langenburg and Estevan, Saskatchewan.

In 2002, Marlene and her husband relocated to Winnipeg. Having completed a health care aide course under Patricia Kronen, she was hired by a private agency and then later by Donwood Manor (seniors home).

She also worked part-time at Peace Lutheran Church in the office.

Over the years, Marlene has served in a variety of jobs and in volunteer work.

The highlights of her life have been her two sons, plus three grandchildren and five fur grandbabies.

“It has been a blessing to work with Marlene in our office for the last four years. Thank you Marlene for your dedicated contribution during this time when we navigated significant changes. We wish you many blessings as you move into this new chapter of life.”

- Iris Barta, LCC Office Manager.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

41

Presidential Perspective

The Forgotten Festival

by President Timothy Teuscher

T

he forgotten festival of the church year, The Ascension of Our Lord, took place this year on May 21, 2020. I say “forgotten” because, in spite of the fact that Jesus’ ascension rates a line in all three of the ecumenical creeds, in recent decades many congregations have forgotten all about it. As a result, we miss out on the blessings and comfort we have

by His ascension—blessings and comfort dearly needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Have you ever noticed the tenses of the verbs in the Second Article of the Creed which speak of the main events in the life of “Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.”

“He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary.” And that necessary work—to become one of us in order to take our place under the curse of the Law—has already taken place. “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.” This great work—to be the sacrifice for our sins—has also already happened.

“He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven.” This important work—to overcome death and the devil—has, as well, already taken place.

“And He will come to judge the living and the dead.” Now, this, obviously, has not yet taken place.

We are still waiting for that glorious day when Christ will return, as the two angels promised the disciples on the Mount of Olives: “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). And as St. John thus

42

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2020

reminds us: “When He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). It is only then when everything will finally be “okay.”

Such is what our Lord has done in the past and what He will do in the future. But what about the present? What, if anything, is Jesus doing right here and now? Well, that is what the forgotten festival of The Ascension of Our Lord is about. “He ascended into heaven,” we confess in the Creed, “and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.”

What is Jesus doing right now?

Why, He is sitting at the right hand of His Father in heaven. Now, this expression does not mean a specific, confined location, so that Jesus is now up in heaven and we are down here on earth and never the twain shall meet. Rather, “the right hand of God” is a phrase used throughout the Bible to describe God’s presence and His power everywhere. So the psalmist declares: “If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:9-10). And again: “The right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly” (Psalm 118:16).

The apostle Paul explains it this way: “God, the Father of glory, seated Christ at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the

fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:17-23).

Did you catch it? Jesus’ ascension to the right hand of His Father in heaven means that right now He is present with and ruling and protecting His Church—that He is governing the whole world in the interest of and for the benefit of His Church. Is this not a truth which we especially need to remember in these uncertain and fearful times? After all, with all the turmoil in the world today because of the coronavirus pandemic... with all the turmoil in the Church, be it false teachings and practices, defections, financial concerns, or government directives that prevent us from gathering together for worship... because of these things, we are prone to wring our hands in despair, forgetting that the ascended Lord Jesus is at this very moment ruling, directing, and controlling the affairs of this world for the benefit of His Church.

To be sure, it might not appear this way to our eyes or to our way of thinking. That is why we need to take to heart this Word of God: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Many of us may have forgotten the festival of The Ascension of Our Lord, but let us take comfort knowing that our ascended Lord Jesus has not forgotten us. For He is at this very moment sitting at the right hand of His heavenly Father.

Reward yourself by planning ahead!

Luther Place Unity Adult condominiums in Unity, Saskatchewan from

$91,650*

Offering care-free independent Christian community lifestyle with a touch of country.

Independent living at Luther Place features a library, hair salon, garden plots, building security system, underground parking, community operated courtesy car plus taxi service.

For information on Unity check out www.townofunity.com

Call: 306-228-3884 Fax: 306-228-3885 E-mail: lutherplaceunity@sasktel.net

Have you ever considered making a charitable gift within your estate?

Learn more by visiting our website at www.lutheranfoundation.ca

Last year 821 million people faced hunger around the world

Through the Foodgrains Bank, CLWR works with other Christian organizations to end world hunger by providing emergency food to refugees, training farmers to grow more food, and helping mothers improve their children’s nutrition.

In 2020 that number will grow due to the coronavirus pandemic

YOUR SUPPORT TO END GLOBAL HUNGER IS NEEDED MORE THAN EVER

To learn more visit foodgrainsbank.ca

G IV E

P RAY

LEAR N

A DV OCAT

E

Food is essential

Canadian Foodgrains Bank and Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) are staying committed to supporting our world’s most vulnerable people.

Photo: Edward Echwalu

*monthly condo fees starting at $436.73 Buy back policy in effect

We are by no means experts in suicide prevention, but we acknowledge a correlation between social isolation and suicide ideation – especially for those already at risk. These infographics are being shared on social media as a witness to the comfort that comes from knowing Christ our Lord, who is the only one truly capable of bearing our pain for us. Maybe you are willing and able to walk alongside someone who is hurting. Resources are available online and may be useful to you in making a tangible offer of support to someone struggling.

www.lll.ca/social-isolation