The Canadian Lutheran November/December 2021

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LUTHERAN

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VOLUME 36 NUMBER 6 - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

CONTENTS FEATURES www.canadianlutheran.ca Volume 36 Number 6

November/December 2021

Emmanuel—God is Still With Us! Come, Lord Jesus, Be Our Guest I AM WITH YOU: Presence in a Digital Age

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DEPARTMENTS TABLE TALK In Your Presence

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REGIONAL PASTORS West: God’s Better Gift Central: Rushing through Christmastide?

East: I Can Hardly Wait

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PRESIDENT’S PONDERINGS The Christmas Exchange 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: Angela Honey Subscriptions: $30/yr Or Buy-One-Gift-One: $50/yr Email: a.honey@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 Email: 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. ©2021 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 quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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NEWS SECTIONS 15

INTERNATIONAL NEWS Final report on ILC-PCPCU conversations released • New Bishop for Lutherans in Australia and New Zealand

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NATIONAL NEWS 2022 LCC Synod Convention News • LCC Purpose & Priority Planning Process

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WEST REGION Affirmations of faith and family baptisms • Ministry wives gather online

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CENTRAL REGION NBC virtual choir • Saskatchewan church workers’ conference • Luseland welcomes new pastor

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EAST REGION Youth Work - COVID style! • St. Luke’s marks 125 anniversary • Multilingual Reformation hymn sing

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MISSION NEWS LCC Missions: What's in the works? • Kingston Missions • Deaf Ministries in Winnipeg

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EDUCATION NEWS CLS’ newest profesor arrives from India • New volume of LTR

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IN MEMORIUM ANNOUNCEMENTS SUPPLEMENT

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@thecanadianlutheran @lutheranchurchcanada THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Our Regional Pastor visits congregations and pastors; actually, he’s among us quite a lot!

As we commonly understand things, a pastor pastures God’s flock on Word and Sacraments (Psalm 23:2). Whether we use the word “pastor” or “shepherd,” it’s the same concept, just in different languages.

In Idaho, there were Basque sheep-herders. They spent much of their time coaxing individual animals away from the endangering ideas of individual freedom and back into the flock which was being moved along the road from one pasturage to another. Shepherds were for Christmas stuff; in Idaho it was sheep-herders that herded sheep.

Our Regional Pastor (or “Shepherd”) is likewise out there herding the sheep—rubbing shoulders with us, chatting with us without an agenda, exchanging some holy gossip about others in the synod, spending an hour in a parking lot with a tired old man when both of them need to get in their cars and go home... It just kind of pulls us back to walk together.

It really does! Having a chap do just this is why, for 170 years or so, our synods had Districts and District Presidents. But District Presidents also had bureaucracies and office staff, administrators and office buildings to shepherd. That often kept them in “their place,” leaving some of us to indulge in ideas of individual freedoms—to think of them as “them, not us!”

Those who re-shaped, re-structured, and re-formed our synod four years ago should have the praises of legions of angels; they were true and honest lackeys of the Great Shepherd of the sheep!

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Journey Through the Rat Race This new Project Connect booklet draws on insights from the author’s life and examines the struggles we all face in managing time and duties. The author’s personal experiences and thoughtful approach toward solutions combine to give readers a track to run on as they navigate the busy-ness in their own lives. Reader exercises and key Scriptures help to reinforce the material in a practical way.

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To order this booklet and other Lutheran Hour Ministries materials go to www.lll.ca or call us to learn more at 1-800-555-6236 November/December 2021

TABLE TALK

In Your Presence

by Mathew Block

Y

ou’re at a church event when suddenly everything seems to change. You become captivated. Your heart beats fast. The air seems thick and heavy—almost suffocating. You seem to feel God all around you. “Surely,” you think to yourself, “the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it...”

Experiences like this catch us by surprise. You’re sitting in the pew one Sunday morning, and suddenly everything the pastor says sounds as if it were intended just for you. Or you’re singing in church—perhaps a favourite Christmas carol—and you suddenly find yourself with tears in your eyes. Or you’re reading your Bible at home, and suddenly you’re overwhelmed with the understanding of God’s love for you. It’s as if God were right there with you; His presence feels almost tangible.

Moments like these can be deeply moving. We seem to perceive God’s presence surrounding us, and we are overcome. We cry out with David: “In Your presence, there is fullness of joy!” (Psalm 16:11).

But then the sermon ends. The hymnbook is closed. You put down the Bible for the day. And the feeling gradually diminishes. A day—maybe just an hour—later, it’s mostly gone.

The spiritual high is followed by a spiritual low—one that seems to go on and on. You can be left feeling like God has abandoned you.

Faced with this situation, people respond in different ways. Some people, as C.S. Lewis reminds us in The Screwtape Letters, keep trying to recapture the emotion of that experience—to chase the feeling of the presence of God again as if they could simply will it back into being.

Others begin to doubt the reality of the entire experience; they tell themselves that they must have been mistaken—that God was never really there at all.

Our problem here is that we fail to distinguish between the presence of God on the one hand and our perception of His presence on the other. God’s presence isn’t dependent on feeling Him near us. In fact, He is always near us. Scripture tells us that God is present everywhere at all times (Psalm 139:7-11). Jesus has further promised to be with His Church always (Matthew 28:20). And He has given His Holy Spirit to stay with us forever—to dwell not only with us but also within us (John 14:16-17).

These things remain true whether we sense God’s presence or not.

That is, after all, what faith means: “the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). In fact, it is through faith in the unseen Christ that He comes to dwell in our hearts in the first place (Ephesians 3:17). We may not see or feel His presence but that changes nothing; He is not limited by the state of our emotions.

Of course, that does not mean it is wrong to have an emotional reaction during worship or in private devotions. God created emotions! He thinks they are good! It’s not surprising then that encountering Him in His Word sometimes elicits this kind of response. We experience sorrow over our sins when confronted by the Law; like the crowds at Pentecost, we are “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37).

The proclamation of the Gospel, meanwhile, results in joy; when we hear that Christ has brought salvation to the ends of the earth—that He has brought salvation to us—we are like

the Gentiles at Antioch, who “began rejoicing and glorifying the Word of God” (Acts 13:48).

Emotions are good, then, but they must not be confused for something more than they are. They are not proof of God’s presence, though they are sometimes a gift which accompanies it. They can even become a source of idolatry if we look to encounter God in our emotions rather than in His Word. The fact is, our emotions are fickle. They are easily manipulated.

Simply “feeling” the presence of God is no guarantee that’s who we’re dealing with; Satan, after all, “disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

But if we’re not supposed to look to our emotions for evidence of God’s presence, where should we look? In this issue, we consider how God is present among us today. Rev. Joel V. Kuhl reflects on what it means that God has made His dwelling among humanity—and how He continues to be present with us today through the life of the Church (see page six). And not just at church; Jane Jacob helps us to see the presence of God at work in our daily lives too (see page nine). Rev. Michael Schutz, meanwhile, invites us to consider what “presence” even means in a digital age (see page twelve).

The good news of Christmas is that God has come to be present with us. He is with you even now—no matter what you feel, no matter what you experience. He has claimed you as His own. And He will stay with you forever.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” – 2 Corinthians 13:14

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Emmanuel – God is still with us!

O

by Joel V. Kuhl

h, what joy it is to see a brightly wrapped gift under the Christmas tree with your name on it! It’s special. It’s yours! It’s not hard to see why children love to sneak a peek. They want to know what it is! So, they pick them up, give them a gentle shake, trying to discern what might be inside. And, yes, we adults aren’t immune to that desire either.

It is exciting to see a present, wrapped up so carefully, just for you. It means someone is thinking about you, cares for you, loves you! The joy of these simple gifts can mean the world to us.

Some 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem, God sent us the most wondrous gift for all time: His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ! “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). This baby was born for you! And He wasn’t any ordinary baby; this was Christ the Lord! God’s own Son, begotten from all eternity, come to earth in order to dwell among His people in flesh and blood just like ours. However, this child did not come to earth only to be with us.

Jesus came to be our Saviour! What an incredible gift that baby was and still is to this day!

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God was not only among His people, but His presence was also there to provide the way of salvation for them! Yet these blessings had their limitations.

As the writer to the Hebrews notes, the blood of animals could never fully pay for sin (Hebrews 10:4).

Even with thousands of sacrifices (see 1 Kings 8:62-66), they could never fully cleanse the people’s sins. And even though God was close to His people during their wandering years in the desert, as soon as the people entered their promised land, the people no longer always lived in close proximity to Him. Greater distance made it harder for God’s people to be near Him, to be blest by Him and make use of those sacrifices.

Yet God did not fail in His design. The Old Testament tabernacle was all part of God’s design to be fulfilled

by His Son, Jesus. God sent His only begotten Son to tabernacle among us in a far better and more perfect way! Jesus came to dwell among men, tabernacling in flesh and blood just like ours, to be near to us, to be known by us, to be loved by us.

" Jesus Christ Himself is the new

and better tabernacle, the place where God dwells bodily among us.

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St. John explains it this way in the Gospel reading for Christmas Day: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 14).

Now, the word St. John uses for “dwelling” among us is very unique. Literally, it should be translated as Jesus “tabernacling” or “tenting” among us. Why would he use that word? Well, St. John wanted us to make a connection between Jesus’ dwelling among us and the Lord’s presence in the Old Testament, when He dwelt among His people by means of the tabernacle.

When we look back into the book of Exodus, we see the Lord’s presence clearly dwelling among His people.

God showed His very present and mighty arm through the plagues of Egypt when He came to save His people.

Then, in the wilderness, the Lord manifested Himself in that pillar of fire by night and cloud by day. In that very awesome and visible way, the Lord protected His people from Pharaoh’s army and guided them through their wilderness wanderings for 40 years.

But that pillar of fire was a bit disarming and scary.

So, at Mount Sinai, the Lord instructed Moses to build a tabernacle, a house for the glory of the Lord to dwell in among His people. Highly portable, it was constructed of poles and beautifully ornamented fabric. The Lord desired to be among His people their whole journey to the promised land. Every time they set up camp, the tabernacle was the first tent constructed, right in the very centre of all the tribes. God literally tabernacled among His people!

Now, its also important to remember that the tabernacle served another function. Standing in front of the tabernacle was the altar of sacrifice. This house of the Lord was not just God’s place of residence among His people; it was also the place where God would make atonement for Israel’s ever-present sinfulness!

Every morning and every evening a lamb would be offered on that altar, its blood shed to cover over the sins of the people. You can read about these and many other sacrifices given by God to the children of Israel in the book of Leviticus, every one of them given to be a blessing for the people: sin and guilt offerings, whole burnt offerings, thank offerings, and, of course, the great Day of Atonement offering.

And the plan did not end there! Jesus did not come simply to live among us. His earthly ministry was but a mere three and a half years long! Just like the tabernacle of old, Jesus’ ministry had a point: Jesus had come to save us from our sins finally and completely!

John the Baptist declared: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus accomplished that eternal victory for us on Calvary. No more animal blood need be shed; Jesus’ body and blood offered up on that cross paid for all our sins. In Christ, we have been saved eternally!

So, Jesus Christ Himself is the new and better tabernacle, the place where God dwells bodily among us. And Jesus Christ Himself is also the one who offered up His life-blood on that cross to pay for all our sins.

And what is more, even 2,000 years after our Lord’s earthly ministry, Jesus Christ is still with us in His Church today, so that we may worship God aright and receive the forgiveness of sins won through His sacrifice day by day!

Every Divine Service is filled with God’s real tabernacling presence among us. At the invocation of God’s holy name—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—our God is truly with us, just as Jesus promised (Matthew 28:20). When we confess our sins, Christ’s Word of forgiveness is pronounced upon us by His called minister just as Jesus charged them to do (John 20:22-

Our greatest gift during this pilgrimage of life on earth is that bundle of Bethlehem—the Son of God made man for us, tabernacling among us!

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23). The Gospel is proclaimed and expounded for us in the readings and sermon each week, and when we pray to our Father in heaven, we always pray in Jesus’ name and as He Himself taught us to pray (Matthew 5:9-13, Luke 11:2-4).

Most wondrous of all is the blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Jesus is truly present with us in this meal, tabernacling with us, and bringing every benefit of His sacrifice to us in this meal. For Jesus’ own words are recited by the pastor and we believe them: “Take eat; take drink; this is My body... this is My blood... given and shed for the forgiveness of all your sins.” In this meal, Jesus touches us! We receive our Lord Jesus into our bodies, and He forgives us, making us His holy people again and again and again!

Our greatest gift during this pilgrimage of life on earth is that bundle of Bethlehem—the Son of God made man for us, tabernacling among us! Living for us, dying for our sins, and rising for our justification, Jesus has made us coheirs with Him of His heavenly Father’s kingdom! Best of all, Jesus still tabernacles with us today in His Church—all according to His gracious promise to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

In Christ Jesus, God is still and always will be with us!

Rev. Joel V. Kuhl is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waterloo, Ontario. Rev. Kuhl also serves as Chairman of Lutheran Church–Canada’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations.

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T h e M e a lt i m e P r ay e r , F r i t z v o n U h d e .

Come, LorD Jesus, Be our Guest

By Jane JaCoB

D

uring the season of Advent, we turn our minds to Jesus, and focus on the first and second coming of Christ. We contemplate that He was born in Bethlehem thousands of years ago, and will eventually return to earth in glory. While it is good to meditate on the Scriptures about these two events, we can also reflect on the reality of Jesus’ presence in the here and now.

We often think of God’s presence while at church; stained glass, candles, and crosses surround us, all declaring that we are in a house of worship. It is God’s house and we know that He is present, because, as Jesus says in Matthew 18:20, “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.” We also encounter His presence in a physical way each time we partake in communion.

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Somehow, regular, ordinary bread and wine become also the body and blood of Christ. It’s certainly easier for us to remember He is present when there is a physical element or means. God knows we are earthbound and sometimes need a physical connection and reminder. We may not completely understand this real presence as it is a mystery, but we know that it is something holy, something we can touch and taste in the bread and the wine.

But then we leave church and go about our rather ordinary lives during the week. Do we regularly consider God’s presence? In our homes, during mealtimes, we may think of God when we pray, “Be present at our table, Lord” or “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.” Is Jesus actually with us, during meals and the other regular, routine activities we do each day? It often doesn’t feel that way at all. Sometimes we feel close to God; at other times He feels far away.

As Christians, however, we are fortunate that we don’t lean on our emotions for answers, but instead can look

to the truth of God’s Word. We can read David’s words in Psalm 139 where he says, “Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there! 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.” There is nowhere we can go that God is not present; this message is clear throughout the Bible. We find Jesus saying in Matthew 28:20: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Similarly, we read in Hebrews 13:5: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” God is truly with us. Think of the title of “Immanuel” which Jesus bears: it means “God with us”.

Can this sure knowledge of God’s presence impact our daily lives? Yes! It means that even when we are making dinner, mowing the lawn, and paying bills, God is with us. These ordinary, regular works are important

Let these Gifts to us

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because—to paraphrase Martin Luther—“God doesn’t need your good works. But your neighbour does.” God is present as we serve our neighbour—a word which does not simply mean those people who happen to live nearby, but rather all the people God has placed in our lives, including our families. Many of our routine and mundane chores are necessary in service of family, and these are considered good works for our neighbour. Tasks such as cleaning floors, packing school lunches, or folding umpteen loads of laundry can be seen in a new light: as good works done in the presence of God. This is a responsibility and a wonder—that God uses us and our lives, no matter how imperfect or broken they are, for good works. Luther described it by saying that we are the very hands of Christ; we are the physical means that God uses in His work. Again, this is not something we completely understand, but it certainly gives greater importance to the daily, ordinary tasks that we do. As we

Christ with the Peasants, Fritz von Uhde.

Be BLesseD

read in Ephesians 2:10: “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

This is a lot to take in and contemplate. How can the almighty God be associated with us, even during our menial and lowly labour? Because this is the God we serve: One who chose to leave the inconceivable beauty and perfection of heaven to come down to earth to serve us and save us. A God who describes Himself as “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). This Jesus—who healed at times with mud and spit, who shocked the disciples by washing dirty feet—this same Jesus humbled Himself, even dying on a cross for us.

He is with us because of His great love for us. Jesus was born, lived His remarkable life, and died, all in service of us. Rising again, He opened wide the gates of heaven for us, destroying the finality of death. Our knowledge of what Jesus has done for us can lead us to respond by infusing even our ordinary and mundane tasks with love, knowing that we are accomplishing work that’s important to God. But even this remarkable knowledge that we are hands of Christ can be hard to remember. We tend to be forgetful of the things of God and need frequent reminders. There are times when we long for physical means to make it easier to remember—like in the Old Testament, when God was present for the Israelites during the exodus as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Something we could see clearly and follow would make it so much simpler to understand.

But we are without these spectacular pillars. We serve an invisible God, and because of this we need to be deliberate in choosing our reminders. Something physical that’s tied to our daily routine can serve as a prompt to turn our minds towards Jesus. Luther suggested that, each time we wash our face, we remember our Baptism. We can keep an open devotional on the desk, a favourite Bible verse on the fridge, or a cross in a prominent place in our homes.

These daily reminders can help us remember that, even in the routine and ordinary, God’s presence is with us and He is working through us.

So, during this Advent and Christmas season, let’s consider all the reminders we see around us of Jesus and His birth. This time of year is filled with Advent calendars, wreaths, and nativity scenes—all there to help us remember that God is with us. As this Christmas season unfolds with all its busyness and many preparations for family and friends, let’s take heart that God is not only with us but working through us, in all we do in service of others.

Jane JaCoB is a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in London, Ontario. She holds a Master of Theological Studies degree from Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario.

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I AM WITH YOU:

PRESENCE IN A DIGITAL AGE

BY MICHAEL SCHUTZ

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hen I write the words “video call”, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? The joy of hearing and seeing people who are far away?

Dread at having to remind someone that he’s muted on yet another business call that could have been an email?

Being exhausted from trying to stay engaged in the middle of a screen full of distractions?

Over the past couple of years, the whole idea of presence has been thrown onto the world stage. Questions about the idea certainly existed before March 2020, but now it seems

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

like everyone is grappling with what it means to be present.

Office staff are wrestling with how work can (and can’t) be done remotely. Families and friends who can’t travel to be in-person rely on digital means like video calls to stay connected. Even Christian congregations have struggled to figure out what it means to be present with one another.

This isn’t just a COVID issue, though. As with so many challenges, this issue existed well before the pandemic; it’s simply been amplified by it. Telecommuting, video calls with grandparents, and online meetings with Lutheran

Church–Canada groups were all happening before the spring of 2020. But they were seen then as supplements to in-person interaction; hardly ever were they thought of as replacements. Now, though, the value of in-person interaction is openly (and hotly!) debated.

This is something the Church needs to grapple with.

We can’t simply ignore it, brush it off, or be glib about it.

If we are to be like the men of Issachar, who understood the times to know what Israel should do (1 Chronicles 12:32), we need to understand what the people in our culture and congregations are wrestling with—the questions that they’re asking and the challenges they’re facing. And one such question is, what does it mean to be “present” in a digital age?

The explosion of technology over the last halfcentury has pushed this question into everyday life.

There are essentially two ways that people have always communicated: directly in-person or through a mediator over distance and time. The number and types of these mediators have grown steadily over time, and in the last

question. It’s important because so much of our comfort comes from the promises of Jesus in places like Matthew 28:20: “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” As we move towards Christmas and again celebrate the incarnate (literally, “in the flesh”) Word of God, it’s helpful and even necessary to consider: what does it mean in this digital age for God to be present with us and for us to be present with one another?

The Scriptures are full of God’s presence. And I don’t just mean they’re full of accounts of Yahweh’s presence, like when He was walking in the garden of Eden; standing with Hanaiah, Mishael, and Azariah in Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace; or when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Even when we hear God’s revealed Word, He is present with us, speaking to us. One of our old theologians, Francis Pieper, put it this way: “He, however, who considers Scripture to be the very Word of God... does not think of a ‘remote action as to space and time,’ but as he reads his Bible, he is aware that God Himself is speaking to him, that through the Word of the Law He is convincing him

WHEN I WRITE THE WORDS “VIDEO CALL”, WHAT’S THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO YOUR MIND?

thirty years they’ve multiplied. In ancient times, there were letters and messengers. They enabled messages to spread far beyond a person’s physical voice. But those messages were delayed in time. The telephone added real-time audio over great distances, and voicemail added delayed audio. Digital technology and especially the internet have multiplied both real-time and delayed options for messages. Anyone with internet access can now send near-instantaneous messages to one other person or millions, down the street or across the world.

It is this “digitally-mediated” communication that now occupies the hearts and minds of billions of people in our world. Because it can be close to replicating in-person communication—think of a video call where you can see and hear others in real-time—our culture is asking the question: is that good enough?

The theological question of presence in our digital age is a significant one. Especially at this time of year it’s worth pausing to consider how Christians engage with the

of his sin and just condemnation, and that through the Word of the Gospel He is assuring him of the forgiveness of his sins and salvation and inviting him to believe this Word of the Gospel.”

God doesn’t just tweet at us with “thoughts and prayers,” as if He is far from us and wishing us the best while we fend for ourselves. God has never acted like that and never will. For our good as sinful people, though, God has mediated His presence in history. Exodus 33 is a fascinating example: we read that Yahweh spoke with Moses “face to face, as a man speaks with a friend.” And yet, just a few verses later, when Moses asked to see Yahweh’s glory, He replied “you cannot see My face, for man shall not see Me and live.” Yahweh’s mediated presence appears throughout the Old Testament: speaking to Moses in the bush that did not burn up, leading the people out of Egypt in the pillar of cloud and of fire, filling the tabernacle with the cloud of glory, meeting with Israel in the Most Holy place in the temple, and so much more.

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN IN THIS DIGITAL AGE FOR GOD TO BE PRESENT WITH US AND FOR US TO BE PRESENT WITH ONE ANOTHER?

Then, when the time had fully come, Yahweh tabernacled with His people in the Word made flesh. In Christ, God was literally, physically, in-person present with people! In Immanuel—“God With Us”—people could see the face of God and live! So, Simeon boldly said as he held the infant Christ, “My eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples” (Luke 2:30-31).

Following His ascension, Jesus is still with us. The Spirit of Jesus Christ has been poured out upon His Church. “The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,” Paul writes to the Church in Rome (8:11). Yahweh gives His grace through means that assure us that He is with us today. The Gospel isn’t just a word about Yahweh; it is His very power unto salvation. In Baptism we receive “the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). In the Lord’s Supper the very body and blood of Christ are truly present in, with, and under the bread and wine in a mysterious—yet completely real!— way. Christ is still present with His Church—with us!—and we are united with Him as His Church.

Therefore, far in advance of the advent of digital technology, the Apostle Paul could write to the Church at Colosse and Corinth that, though he was absent in body, he was with them—he was present—in spirit. This wasn’t just “thoughts and prayers,” a phrase that has become an empty cliché for so many in our culture. It was an expression of the deep bond we share as the Church.

So, what are we to make of all this today? In this digital age, can we Christians make use of technology—both

digital and analog—to be “present” with one another?

Can the Church use video and phone calls, letters, text messages, emails, and social media to stay connected with one another? Can we rightly consider that we are present with people through these things? Further, can the “mediated” Word of God go out among us and from us and still accomplish the purposes for which He has sent it? Definitely!

But these things can never replace in-person (“immediate”) connection, especially around God’s Word and Sacraments. God Himself designed the Church to gather in-person to receive His gifts and respond with the deepest activity of the heart and faith. The primary New Testament word for church—ekklesia—means “assembly”! There is much debate over the validity of defining “gathering” to include “mediated” methods, and we don’t have room to enter that whole discussion here. It must suffice to say that while we celebrate the advance of digitally-mediated communication that helps the Gospel to spread, we continue to hold up God’s design as good, right, and life-giving for the whole Church until that day when we will no longer see as in a mirror dimly but behold God face to face. We long for the fulfillment of the promise revealed to John: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

REV.MICHAEL SCHUTZ

serves as pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church & School in Penticton, B.C.

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

INTERNATIONAL NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

Final report on ILC-PCPCU conversations released

ONLINE - The final report on conversations between the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) and the International Lutheran Council (ILC) has now been released.

The five-year informal dialogue began in 2014 when a working group was organized by the PCPCU and the ILC. In this final report, the results of the dialogue are presented to Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the PCPCU and Bishop Hans-Jörg Voigt, Chairman of the ILC. The report contains a preamble, which treats the “normative structure” for church doctrine and life. The

New Bishop for Lutherans in Australia and New Zealand

AUSTRALIA - On October 1, the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) elected Rev. Paul Smith as its new bishop. The election came during the LCA’s 20th Convention of General Synod, which is being split into two parts: one online in October 2021, and a second in-person gathering scheduled for 2022.

Read more at ILC-online.org.

second part discusses “The Mass as Eucharistic Sacrificial Banquet” and the third part treats “Justification

by Faith.” The report concludes by formulating “Ecumenical Tasks” that apply to both sides of the discussion.

The ILC will discuss the results of the informal dialogue at its 2022 World Conference, after which next steps will be considered in coordination with the PCPCU. In the discussions, the Roman Catholic Church was represented by Prof. Dr. Josef Freitag (Lantershofen, Germany), Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Thönissen and PD Dr. Burkhard Neumann (Paderborn, Germany),

Lutherans in Spain welcome new bishop

SPAIN - On October 9, 2021, the Spanish Evangelical Lutheran Church celebrated the consecration of its new bishop, Rev. José Luis de Miguel—the first nativeborn Spaniard to lead the church.

Read more at ILConline.org.

and Dom. Dr. Augustinus Sander OSB (Rome, Italy). The churches of the ILC were represented by Prof. Dr. Werner Klän (Lübeck, Germany), Prof. Dr. Gerson Linden (São Leopoldo, Brazil), Prof. Dr. John Stephenson (St. Catharines, Canada),and Prof. Dr. Roland Ziegler (Ft. Wayne, USA). Prof. Dr. Thomas Winger (St. Catharines), Dr. Albert Collver (St. Louis, USA), Prof. Dr. Grant Kaplan (St. Louis), as well as the ILC chairman, Bishop Voigt, all served as part-time participants in the discussions.

The final report appears in Volume 33 (2021) of Lutheran Theological Review, a journal produced by the seminaries of Lutheran Church– Canada. German, Spanish, and Portuguese translations will be released at a later date.

Download the final report at: www.ilc-online.org

ILC announces new program to support Lutheran theological education worldwide WORLD - The International Lutheran Council (ILC) is pleased to announce a new program dedicated to supporting Lutheran theological education worldwide: the International Lutheran Council Accreditation Agency (ILCAA).

“Lutherans from around the world— both within and outside the International Lutheran Council—have told us that they are in need of assistance in the development of pastoral training and theological education,” explains the ILC’s General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Timothy Quill. “This new program will help equip Lutheran seminaries and colleges worldwide to offer rigorous academic theological training, grounded in the authority of Scripture and in the Lutheran Confessions.”

Spearheading the new program will be Rev. Dr. Steven Schumacher, who will serve as the ILC's Chief Accreditation Officer.

Read more at ILC-online.org

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

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NATIONAL NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

2022 LCC Synod Convention News D AT E S T O R E M E M B E R . . .

February 10, 2022 • Deadline for congregations to return to the Synod office the Nomination Forms for President, VicePresident, and Regional Pastor.

February 18, 2022 • Deadline for submission of Workbook Reports to the Synod President.

February 18, 2022 • Deadline for submission of Overtures to the Synod President.

March 10, 2022 • Deadline for congregations to return to the Synod office the Nomination Form for Circuit Counsellor.

March 12, 2022 • Deadline for congregations to return to the Synod office the Appointment Form for Pastor and Lay Delegates from the congregation.

June 10-13, 2022 • Convention!

CANADA - Preparations for the Twelfth Regular Convention of Lutheran Church–Canada, which will meet from June 10-13, 2022 in Edmonton, Alberta, are well under way.

It is anticipated that one of the main items of business at the convention will be revising, correcting, and amending various Statutory and Synodical Bylaws that were adopted at the ‘eleventh hour’ at the 2017 convention. Another main item, of course, is the election of those who will serve the Synod and its members in leadership positions and on the BOD and the various commissions.

Responding to survey responses from the past few conventions, a priority during the convention will be God’s people gathered together in worship to hear His Word and sing His praises, as well as providing Break-Out or Information Sessions on various topics and issues.

Additional business of the Convention will be in response to overtures. Overtures are recommendations in the form of

proposed resolutions requesting action on the part of the Convention. Besides the board, commissions, and so forth of LCC, overtures may also be submitted by a Member Congregation, Regional Mission and Ministry Councils, Regional Pastor Conferences, and Circuit Convocations.

Overtures should be submitted to convention@lutheranchurch.ca or by mail to the Synod Office, Attention: President Teuscher. The deadline for Overtures is February 18, 2022.

Congregations should have received Pre-Convention Bulletin #1 which included the nomination ballots for President, VicePresident, Regional Pastor and Circuit Counsellor. Also included was the form for parishes to report the appointment of the lay and pastor voting delegates. For additional copies of the forms, and all other convention news and media, visit www.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/synodconvention-2022/ or email convention@ lutheranchurch.ca.

David Friesen appointed as LCC’s new Director of Advancement CANADA - Lutheran Church– Canada (LCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of David Friesen as its new Director of Advancement.

Over the years, the time commitment required by the Director of Missions to find adequate funds has steadily increased. This naturally takes him away from the actual work of coordinating and supporting the missions of LCC. The Board, in consultation with the Director of Missions and the President’s Ministry Council, has therefore approved the creation of a Director of Advancement position. In this role, Friesen will work closely with Director of Missions, Rev. Mark Smith; Synod Administrator, Dwayne Cleave; Synodical President, Rev. Timothy Teuscher; and ecclesiastical leadership to enhance congregation relations and cultivate and develop ongoing funding sources for the mission of our church.

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With a decade of development experience and more than 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and business development, David will provide Lutheran Church–Canada with strong and thoughtful leadership in the area of advancement.

For the past ten years, David has served as Gift Coordinator for Central Region with Lutheran Foundation Canada. Looking ahead, David will be focused on developing the LCC Mission Endowment Campaign, cultivating major donors, building annual giving initiatives, and coordinating congregational stewardship mission remittances, all focused on financially supporting the great commission of our church.

President Timothy Teuscher shares the following words: “We hope and pray that David will help us as we strive to achieve

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2021

our ongoing mission and ministry initiatives. We are pleased to have him in this position as he not only has the right personality and skillset to work with our congregations, donors, and our synodical family, to advance our fund development and congregation relations; but is a well-informed lay theologian and committed to the support and spread of the pure Gospel in accordance with our Lutheran Confessions.”

Please join us in welcoming David and keep him in your prayers as he begins this important work.

NATIONAL NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

LCC Purpose & Priority Planning Process

Listening and information gathering are the centerpieces of the Purpose & Priorities Planning Process. The process is broken down into four key areas: PLANNING TO PLAN Develop an online Formative Survey utilizing data already gathered from the internal assessment interviews. The survey was sent to pastors, leaders, key stakeholders, and a broad spectrum of the laity, to determine perceptions, attitudes, hopes, and concerns for LCC. Completed with over 300 responses.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Conduct a series of facilitated Virtual Focused Leadership Events with key constituencies (pastors, lay leaders, LCC board members, donors, and laity of various age brackets) to determine attitudes and perceptions of LCC and our collective vision of the future. Completed eight events with over 100 participants.

“AND WE KNOW THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD WORKS FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.” | ROMANS 8:28 CANADA - A planning process to identify priorities and to develop effective plans to inform and support local, regional, and national mission and ministry is now underway in Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC).

Our goal is to create a shared vision of the future for LCC. By involving many stakeholders, we aim to: Clarify our mission and priorities; Define measurable outcomes and accountability standards; Guide resource allocation and funding priorities; Enhance communications and transparency, and; Position LCC for mission expansion and congregational vitality.

Earlier this year, LCC's Board of Directors, together with Synodical leadership, enlisted the services of Zacharias Advancement Consulting to help with this planning process.

A series of internal assessment interviews with individuals from across Synod (pastors, lay leaders, auxiliary leaders, seminary leaders, and Synodical leaders) highlighted some key challenges affecting LCC. As a result, the Purpose & Priorities Planning Committee was established to gather feedback from many different voices across our Synod and develop a multi-year plan for mission and ministry, to be presented at the 2022 Synodical Convention. Arnold Drung, LCC Board Chair, and Cam Pelzer, LCC Board Vice Chair, are acting as co-chairs of the committee, which will also include 6 members of the clergy and 12 members of the laity.

CLARIFY & AFFIRM MISSION, VISION, VALUES & PRIORITIES Conduct a two-day Planning Retreat that will include LCC Board Members and the PPP Committee to gain consensus around priorities in order to develop a framework for LCC’s mission, vision, values, and goals. Coming up: February 2022.

REFINE THE FRAMEWORK & PLAN Engage Ministry Action Te a m s ( a s u b s e t o f t h e P P P Committee) and LCC leadership to identify initiatives and measurable outcomes for the the Mission and Ministry Plan. Coming up: MarchJune 2022.

PRESENT THE PLAN AT THE 2022 SYNODICAL CONVENTION. We ask that you keep the committee, LCC leadership, and the process itself in your prayers. For further information of if you have questions, please contact David Friesen, LCC Director of Advancement, at dfriesen@lutheranchurch.ca.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

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NATIONAL NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

Correction notice concerning: 2021 Together, One Publication In the recent Together, One publication (released in print at the beginning of this year) LCC Administrator, Mr. Dwayne Cleave, was mistakenly listed as an Advisory Member of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s Board of Directors. This was an error, and LCC’s synodical office apologizes for the incorrect listing.

As the Administrator, Mr. Cleave is an employee of LCC who is appointed by and reports to the Board. The Board wishes to make it clear that at no time has Mr. Cleave functioned as

a Board member, but has served since his appointment only as an employee.

LCC’s Board of Directors consists only of those who are elected at our Synodical Convention, including laity and clergy members as well as the President and Vice-President of Synod. All are full voting members and there are no Advisory Members.

If you have any further questions or concerns about this error, please contact the Board’s Chair, Mr. Arnold Drung (bod@lutheranchurch.ca).

Second virtual youth ministry round table

ONLINE - On Saturday, October 16, 2021, LCC youth leaders from B.C. to Quebec gathered on Zoom to discuss “Navigating ‘Normal’ Now,” hosted by the National Youth Gathering committee. The discussion was led by Cassie Moore, a Director of Christian Education who serves at St. Mark Lutheran Church and School in Houston, Texas.

The discussion focused on the struggles many youth (and leaders) have experienced over the past year and a half of the pandemic, especially in regards to anxiety and isolation, and the group talked about ways to address those issues.

Cassie finished her presentation with a discussion of five things that

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young people need to hear from the adults around them: • That they can be at peace in God’s hands; • That the world is in God’s hands; that life will never be perfect, but Jesus is perfect so we don’t have to be and we can lean on him; • That God has given them a community of people to support them; and • That they can have hope in God’s plan, even when it seems hard.

The session wrapped up with a reminder from Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday a n d t o d a y a n d f o r e v e r” — a n encouraging verse for youth and leaders. The session was followed

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

by a time to share prayer requests in the breakout groups.

The National Youth Gathering committee is thankful for Cassie sharing her time with the group, and looks forward to her breakout sessions for youth and leaders at the 2022 NYG in Winnipeg. The round tables are free and offered as a way to support LCC’s youth ministry community between gatherings.

The NYG committee is planning another Zoom event on January 15, 2022, featuring a study and discussion on mental health led by West Regional Pastor, Rev. Robert Mohns. Follow the NYG’s social media or subscribe to LCC’s weekly InfoDigest e-newsletter for more info.

WEST REGION NEWS

Alberta and British Columbia - Michelle Heumann, editor

Affirmations of faith and family baptisms

PORT COQUITLAM, B.C. - On September 19, 2021, Hope Lutheran Church rejoiced to welcome several people as disciples of Jesus. Two entire families, whose children attend Hope Lutheran Christian School, were baptized, and three women reaffirmed their faith in the Triune God. Arthur and Wendy, along with their children Courtney and Ethan (on the right in the photo), and Tim and Samantha and their children Nathan and Eddie (on the left) were all baptized. The parents had taken adult instruction in the

Christian faith by Zoom during COVID-19 restrictions with Rev. Laverne Hautz, having come from very little or even no knowledge of Jesus Christ and the Bible.

Other individuals and families who participated in that instruction were not yet ready to express their faith in Christ but may be part of a future Baptism and discipleship Sunday.

Carol, Trudy, and Renate (in the back row with Rev. Hautz) have attended Hope for some time but during the shutdown have not been able to publicly reaffirm their

faith. Trudy was actually confirmed at Hope as a teenager, and has just come back, first of all through Hope's streaming worship services last year, and now in person.

Despite the reduced ability to meet in person in the last eighteen months, God the Holy Spirit has been working in the hearts of these people bringing them to a place of discipleship—learning, growing, serving, giving, witnessing, and following Jesus.

Rev. Laverne Hautz

Special Reformation art piece for Halloween SURREY, B.C. - On October 31, 2021, local trick-or-treaters in Surrey may have spotted a very ornate pumpkin with Lutheran ties.

Kelly McIvor carved a pumpkin with an image of Martin Luther nailing his ninety-five theses onto the church door in Wittenberg. She knew that it would not see many visitors since she lives in a rural neighbourhood in Langley. Instead of keeping it at her house, as a result, she lent it to a relative.

The pumpkin graced the front steps of Lutheran Church–Canada President Emeritus Ralph Mayan’s home in Surrey on the evening of Reformation Day.

Rev. Mayan said that the pumpkin received many compliments from onlookers throughout the evening.

He mentioned that he and his wife, Linda, promised extra candy to any children or parents who could identify the figure etched into the gourd. Some of the more entertaining guesses from passers-by included characters from Game of Thrones or Star Wars. While those figures may be quite inspiring, Luther rises above them in his actions to challenge the norms of the period, pushing for a spiritual life where everyone could know that they have been saved by the grace of God alone.

Jacob New

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

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WEST REGION NEWS

Alberta and British Columbia - Michelle Heumann, editor

FROM THE REGIONAL PASTOR, REV. ROBERT MOHNS

God’s better gift N

ove m b e r w a s a l w a y s a month of anticipation for us Mohns kids, because the Christmas catalogues from the department stores would reach our doorstep. We would eagerly flip through the pages in anticipation of what Christmas gift might be placed under the tree for us this year. Each of us had our own wishes, of course. So, we would dog-ear pages of the catalogue, hoping our parents might pay attention to those particular pages.

Sometimes we were so daring that we would even tear out the page, put a big circle around a particular item, and strategically place the page in a place where our parents might take note of it.

Under the tree, our wise and kind parents would provide a gift. It was usually not the gift we thought we wanted or needed; it was usually something far better!

Anticipation, hope, looking forward... the season we are in is pregnant with such ideas. What are you anticipating? What is your hope? What are you looking forward to?

In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, that great chapter of the gift of faith received and lived, consider these words spoken of Abraham: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live

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in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heir with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” - Hebrews 11:8-10 Abraham’s life was about to be turned upside down, but he obeyed God. He heard God’s Word and he believed His word of promise, even though he didn’t know how to get to the place God wanted him to go. He wouldn’t have recognized the promised land if it were staring him in the face, but God gifted him with a faith not of his own making.

Abraham’s pilgrimage was no perfect journey. There were lots of twists and turns, failures and sins on Abraham’s part. But God still led this sinner-saint. God did not promise him an easy journey; Abraham didn’t have a home to sleep in, just a shared pilgrim’s tent. God fulfilled his promise to Abraham by providing him with the temporal reward of land— now no longer just a place but a promised land.

The writer makes it quite clear however that Abraham’s focus was not on these temporal things, as great a gift from God as they were. No, Abraham’s focus—his anticipation, his hope, what he was looking forward to—was something eternal. He was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God—in other words, eternal salvation.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

Abraham didn’t know how to get there, but he believed God’s promise and it was counted to him as righteousness. Not a righteousness stemming from his own beliefs but instead God’s righteousness, given to him and lived out by him through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.

In fulfillment of that promise, God sent His only Son into the world. Jesus knew no earthly shelter, established no earthly kingdom. He came in fulfillment of the promise once delivered to Abraham and which lives in the hearts and minds of all believers since.

I don’t know about you, but the world I live in seems turned upside down. It is fraught with dangers and unforeseen twists and turns. Temptations and distractions abound.

I often find myself shrugging my shoulders, thinking that I don’t even know what to think, let alone what to do. The things and people I once depended upon to guide me are gone. At times I find myself desperately hopeless, despondent, and alone. I want God to give me a road map so that I can get myself to the place He wants me to be—or better yet, the GPS coordinates to the city of God and a Google avatar to walk us there!

But our dear kind, wise, heavenly Father knows best. He gives us something better.

“And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared

WEST REGION NEWS

Alberta and British Columbia - Michelle Heumann, editor

as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.” - Revelation 21:1-3 Better than the road map we hope for, our Father gives us the gift of salvation itself!

He does not give us a Google avatar to tell us which way to go. He gives us Jesus, whose nativity we observe and whose abiding presence comforts and protects us through the worst of life’s storms.

He gives us the gift of His own voice, spoken by His mouthpiece, the pastor, forgiving our sin and enlightening our way. He gives us the gift of Himself poured down our throat in His Holy Supper. He gives us the blessed company of His saints, His holy ones, for this life’s pilgrimage. He gives faith and lively hope as we wait on Him to deliver us into His eternal city.

With Abraham, and the prophets, the apostles, and all the faithful, we too are looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. God grant us such a gift of faith and lively hope as sustained Abraham. O come, o come, Immanuel!

O God, You made this most holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that as we have known the mysteries of that Light on earth, we may also come to the fullness of His joys in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Ministry wives gather online

WEST REGION - From September 24-25, 2021, eighteen pastors’ wives gathered online for a fall retreat, with four women from Alberta and fourteen from British Columbia attending. The group studied the fifth chapter of Matthew and talked about being salt and light in the world.

Lynn Gergens (Langley, B.C.) and Michelle Gamble (Grace, Drumheller, Alberta) led the Bible studies, and Rev. Norm Miller (emeritus, Abbotsford, B.C.) encouraged the group with a message from the book of Esther.

At in-person retreats there is typically a time of blessing. To facilitate this for an online retreat, everyone was

paired up to prepare a blessing for their partner, and to have an opportunity to share from the heart.

Janice Kraemer (All Saints, Edmonton, Alberta) and Donna Tufts (St. John's, Vernon, B.C.) hosted some fun online games, and there were breakout rooms for visiting and for praying.

It was good to be together, even if virtually, and the committee prays that 2022 will see the group meeting in person.

Deanna Hautz, Chair of the West Region Ministry Wives Committee

NEW TO LCC'S WEBSITE !"#$%&'#$('$)$*)+,(-.+$/&'#$&+$'&%%#0$ /&,"$ ,-#1#20(3+$ 4(5+$ )+$ /#%%$ )+$ +(1#$ +#-&(3+$ 6")%%#27#+8$ 9#$ %(27$ '(-$ )$ 6(2'&0)2,#$ )20$ '-&#20$ (3,+&0#$ ('$,"#$6(27-#7),&(2$/"($320#-+,)20+$ 1&2&+,-5$ %&'#$ )20$ ,"#$ +,-#++$ &,$ 6)2$ *%)6#$(2$)$1)--&)7#$)20$')1&%58$9#.-#$ )$7-(3*$('$*)+,(-+.$/&:#+$)20$)0:&+(-+$ /"($ +,-&:#$ ,($ +3**(-,$ #)6"$ (,"#-$ &2$ (3-$ #''(-,+$ ,($ ;)%)26#$ 1&2&+,-5$ %&'#$ )20$')1&%5$%&'#8

“Encourage one another and build each other up.” | 1 Thessalonians 5:11 GET CONNECTED WITH THE PASTORS' WIVES IN YOUR REGION!

LutheranChurch.ca > Resources > Pastors' Wives Resources THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

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WEST REGION NEWS

Alberta and British Columbia - Michelle Heumann, editor

Trunk or treat outreach event

SPRUCE VIEW, Alta. - King of Kings was happy to organize and host its Second Annual Trunk or Treat as a fun and safe community outreach on October 31, 2021.

There were over 150 locals in attendance, with fourteen cars entering the car decorating contest. Spruce View Lions Club was eager to be involved again, assisting with organized parking.

Spruce View Co-op and Tivoli Garden Café partnered with the church to provide door prizes, and the Co-op mascot, Cooper, showed up to hand out treats. Congregational members were also generous in supplying treats for attendees to share around.

It was a great chance to connect with community members and shine Jesus’ love.

There was a lot of enthusiasm surrounding the event, and the congregation looks forward to it growing in the future.

Kristine Amundrud

SHARE YOUR STORIES Contact Michelle Heumann, Regional News Editor | regionaleditor@lutheranchurch.ca |

WEST REGION Contact Rev. Robert Mohns, Regional Pastor | rmohns@lutheranchurch.ca | 1. 855. 826. 9950 | 22

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

CENTRAL REGION NEWS

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

NBC virtual choir REGINA - New Beginnings Lutheran Church recently put together an online virtual choir made up of voices from congregation members and a few special friends.

The conductor raised a few eyebrows when he suggested that choir members record their own voices at home, promising that, with some special software and a little digital magic he would blend all their voices into something very special. He

chose a song that the New Beginnings Choir was familiar with: “God is My Shepherd”. The choir members were asked to listen to the music being played on the piano, singing along while at the same time recording their voice on their cell phone or tablet.

When all the recordings were done, they were emailed to the conductor who then put it all together using software called DaVinci 19.

Despite initial skepticism, the choir members stepped out in faith and, sitting at home with cell phones

in hand, sang their parts. And when it all came together, they were amazed at the end result.

Since publishing the video on Facebook and YouTube, more than a thousand people have tuned in. You can see it on Facebook at https:// fb.watch/68JjzjyYW1/.

If you would like to try this in your congregation, contact the leaders of NBChoir (Rev. Paulo Brum and Betty Tamlin) and they will walk you through the process.

Rev. Terry Defoe

Preparing for Advent REGINA - On November 21, 2021, the young families group at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church gathered to decorate the sanctuary Christmas tree just in time for Advent! The children, aged 5 months to 13 years old, were the primary decorators and used Chrismons that were made by Sunday school children several decades ago.

The lopsided decorations and exceptionally decorated bottom half of the tree are the epitome of Jesus’ message to have the little children come to Him (Matthew 19:14), even as they themselves prepare for the coming of the child, Jesus.

Dcn. Amanda Hastings THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

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CENTRAL REGION NEWS

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

FROM THE REGIONAL PASTOR, REV. DAVID HABERSTOCK

Rushing through Christmastide?

T

he end of the year is upon us.

Things are speeding up, aren’t they? They’re hastening on, pushing, pushing toward Christmas.

But what is pushing us? Christ? His Church? Or is it the pressures of the world? The push to spend, spend, spend, be happy, happy, joy, joy.

Shopping, activities. Rush, rush, rush.

But be happy as you rush because peace on earth and all that jazz.

The Church already celebrated the start of a new year on November 28, the first Sunday of Advent. But in the Church, things are slower. There are ebbs and flows, tides that come in and out. High points, high feasts, and seasons in between.

For most of us, the end of a year is a time to take stock. Many make New Year’s resolutions, declaring they will change in the new year. But few actually keep them.

In the church, the old habit for Advent was to fast, to reflect on your life, repent, and pray. It wasn’t just a resolution or intention to change. It was a practical habit that actually changed you, bodily and spiritually, helping reset your body’s default settings, especially when cravings, desires, and bad habits have taken hold. For “fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training,” as the Small Catechism says.

And what better way to prepare for the mystery that changed the cosmos than getting back to basics?

This is a fitting beginning to a new year of faith—just as we begin every Divine Service in repentance.

That’s why the old colour of Advent was purple for repentance. After all, a time of introspection, slowing

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down, and meditating on the mystery of the Creator taking on the flesh of His creatures heightens the joy of Christmas.

Christmas is a twelve-day celebration commencing on the Eve of the Christ’s nativity. It does not end on Christmas Day. But in our world, it sure does. We rush on to Boxing Day sales and New Year’s parties. We throw all the torn wrappings in the trash and turn off the Christmas carols, for our world moves on. There is no slow, careful, repentant preparation.

There is simply the rush to buy, the rush to make the Christmas “season” as “joyful” as possible, which seems to mean: spend, spend, spend.

But the Church recognizes “Christmastide,” not a “holiday season.” And a tide comes in and out slowly, continuously, dependably.

Christmastide begins slowly with the season of preparation, Advent. It reaches high tide with the Incarnation of our Lord, which is a twelve-day celebration! Twelve days take some preparation, don’t they? And it ebbs out in the joyful appearances of the Deity come in human flesh in the season of Epiphany. It is a wonderful rhythm to recognize and live in. In a world that is always changing and moving the goal posts, it is wonderful to have rhythms of life that give shape and meaning to your life, and to reality itself.

The Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord begins at sundown on December 24 (in Genesis 1:5 a “day” is counted from evening) continuing into December 25. He is the light of the world who was born in order to die for us. On December

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

26, we remember the first martyr who died for his faith in Christ, St. Stephen (Acts 7). On the third day of Christmas (December 27), we honour St. John, Jesus’ beloved disciple (John 20:2), whose “nativity” account (John 1:1-14) is read at dawn on December 25. John is the only one of the Twelve not to die a martyr’s death.

On the 28th, we remember the Holy Innocents who died (Matthew 2:16-18) as the rulers of the world raged against our Lord’s coming (Psalm 2:1). On the fifth day of Christmas (the 29 th), we honour David, the great King and ancestor of our Lord. Jesus fulfills the promises given to David (Psalm 89:3b-4).

On the eighth day of His life (Genesis 17:12, January 1) is the Circumcision of Our Lord. It is the first moment our Lord bled for us and the beginning of His fulfilment of the Old Testament, and His filling up all righteousness for us (Matthew 3:15). And many Lutheran churches, especially in Slovakia, welcome the new year with the Lord’s body and blood on their lips marking the Eve of the Circumcision of Our Lord (December 31), with hymns such as those in LSB 896 to 900.

I know many of you love Christmas. But don’t be too eager to rush on into the mayhem of our world’s celebration of it. The mystery of our Lord’s incarnation is nothing to rush through. The world waited for 4,000 years for His coming, and we’ve been waiting for 2,000 years for His coming again. Patience, grasshopper.

For you cannot rush the tide as it comes in or goes out. Simply enjoy it.

CENTRAL REGION NEWS

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

Luseland welcomes new pastor

Rev. Robert and Lorna Grout

LU S E L A N D , S a s k . - W i t h excited and joyful hearts, the congregation of Holy Trinity Lutheran welcomed their new s h e p h e r d a n d p a s t o r, R e v.

Robert Grout, at his installation service on July 25, 2021.

Regional Pastor Rev. David Haberstock performed the

Regional Pastor Rev. David Haberstock and Rev. Robert Grout

installation and led the beautiful Matins service. Special guests i n c l u d e d D a v i d Fr i e s e n o f Lutheran Foundation Canada in Winnipeg. After the service, worshippers enjoyed fellowship with a luncheon.

Rev. Grout and his wife Lorna have made the move to the manse

in Luseland from their home in Wilkie, Saskatchewan, and the members have warmly welcomed them and offered much help and preparation in their transition.

Lorna Grout

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

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CENTRAL REGION NEWS

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

Saskatchewan church workers’ conference REGINA, Sask. - The Saskatchewan Pastors’ and Deacons’ Conference was held October 18-20, 2021, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church and was attended by 23 active and retired workers. Some wonderful ladies of the congregation, headed up by Liz Hadi, provided excellent meals, coffee, and snacks while the workers arranged their own accommodation, many billeting with area pastors. Rev. Haberstock had four stay at his house

and evening Gemütlichkeit was hosted there as well.

The speaker was Rev. Dr. John Bombaro, Assistant Director of LCMS Missions in Eurasia, and Chair of the Systematics Department of Luther Academy in Riga, Latvia.

Due to restrictions, he presented via Zoom, but the church workers were edified by his cultural analysis of humanitarianism as the idol of our age, and how to respond. While

living in the United States for 22 months, he is planting a church where he lives in Idaho.

Overall, those who were able to attend were greatly encouraged by the fellowship, learning, and times of Scripture study and prayer. After not being able to get together for two years, this carefully socially distanced gathering was a great blessing.

Rev. David Haberstock

SHARE YOUR STORIES Contact Michelle Heumann, Regional News Editor | regionaleditor@lutheranchurch.ca |

CENTRAL REGION Contact Rev. David Haberstock, Regional Pastor | dhaberstock@lutheranchurch.ca | 1. 800. 663. 5673 | 26

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

EAST REGION NEWS

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

Youth Work - COVID style!

QUEBEC - On the last Saturday of every month, a group of around five to eight French youth gather online to hear about the Word, discuss relevant topics, and have a good time together.

Because COVID-19 restrictions were keeping the youth apart, it was important for three Lutheran Francophone members—Rena Detlefsen, Nancy Choquet, and Rony Tsialonina—to find a new

way for the Francophone youth to still meet. What better way to cover the distances of Montreal, SaintJean-sur-Richelieu, Sherbooke, and Quebec City than having online youth meetings? September 25, 2021, marked the fifth meeting so far, with hopes to continue into 2022.

Each meeting follows a simple format. There is an opening prayer, icebreaker question, or activity, and 20 minutes of Bible study, followed by 20 minutes of online interaction or a game.

Parental consent is provided for online youth work and virtual communication, and the three volunteers meet once per month to discuss the upcoming theme and pray for the Holy Spirit’s presence and guidance.

Organizers hope that, just as God is blessing this group’s interactions with Francophone youth in Quebec, He will encourage and bless youth in other regions, too.

Rena Detlefsen

St. Luke’s marks 125 th anniversary

EGANVILLE, Ont. - On October 31, 2021, St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church celebrated 125 years with a service led by vacancy pastor Rev. Paul Williams, joined by Lutheran Church–Canada President Timothy Teuscher.

The congregation was first organized in the winter of 1896.

Soon the room in a private home was no longer sufficient, and in order for the congregation to grow, the members realized they needed a church building.

The cornerstone was laid for the original building the same year and dedicated on Sunday, October 4, 1896, the eighteenth Sunday after Trinity. In 1908, the congregation purchased an acre of land near town, which was dedicated as a cemetery.

On November 15, 1970, the present church building was dedicated to God’s glory. It was built with volunteer labour, along with one paid building supervisor. The bell purchased in 1921 was moved to a newly erected

Rev. Paul Williams and LCC President Timothy Teuscher in front of an anniversary banner created by Carla Pilatzke.

bell tower in 1996 as part of 100th anniversary celebrations.

For 125 years, the congregation has been served by many faithful pastors teaching, preaching, and administering the sacraments. Thanks be to God for 125 years of blessings.

Koren Marquardt

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

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EAST REGION NEWS

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

FROM THE REGIONAL PASTOR, REV. MARVIN BUBLITZ

I can hardly wait

H

ave you ever wondered how much time you spend waiting? You wait in line at one store or another. You wait at the stop light. You wait for a parking spot. You wait to be seated. You wait to pay the cashier. You wait for the service to be over. You wait for me to get to my point here.

The point is that we do spend a lot of time waiting and usually don’t like it very much. How long will you remain on hold before you hang up the phone and try later? How long after you press the elevator button will you wait before pressing it again?

No, we are not patient creatures.

Right now, there are children saying something like, “I can hardly wait to see my gifts.” We don’t like to wait even for something good. We want that apple pie, but the time to make it from scratch is almost too much to wait.

Well, how would you like to wait for generations for something? God had promised that He would send a Saviour—and people waited. They waited their entire lives and still the Saviour was not yet born. Their children and children’s children and children’s children’s children waited.

Then it happened. When the time had fully come, God sent His Son to be born in a stable in Bethlehem.

The waiting was over.

And yet, even today we wait for Christmas. During Advent, we wait and prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. During Advent, we focus on

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Jesus’ coming to us. He came as the babe in the manger, He daily comes to us through His Holy Word, He comes to us through washing in Holy Baptism and with His Body and Blood in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, and He will come again to judge all.

We are waiting for His return. He will come again to take all believers to heaven forever. That celebration will make all our celebrations over the next few weeks pale by comparison.

Everlasting life is His gift to us.

As we wait to celebrate Christmas, we prepare. Sadly, we spend most of the time preparing by decorating the house, cooking the food, and inviting the guests.

But there is more coming than Christmas. We wait and prepare also for the Day of His return.

Jesus told us, in Mark 13:3233: “Concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.”

Like Martha, we get bogged down with what we are doing and lose focus on what has been done for us. We can be prepared for His return. We can be prepared for His coming by His coming.

We can be prepared for His second coming because He first came as a little babe in a manger in Bethlehem. The Son of God left His throne on high to be born of the

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

Virgin Mary in a lowly manger. The King of earth and heaven came as a little babe. He came to this earth with one purpose: to go to the cross of Calvary, to suffer and die for the sins of all people. He came to Calvary so that we could be prepared to meet Him when He comes again.

You can be prepared for His return, waiting with joy, because He went to that cross for you— because He laid down His life so that everlasting life in our Father’s heavenly mansion would be yours.

You can be prepared to stand before Him because He planted faith in you to trust in Him as your Lord and Saviour—to trust that after confessing your sins and shortcomings to Him He bestows His Holy Absolution upon you.

He prepares you, washing you in His Baptism, proclaiming His Word in your hearing, and feeding you His very Body and Blood. Thus, cleansed and forgiven of all your sin, you may stand confident before His judgement, trusting in the Lamb of God and all He has done for you.

He works through Word and Sacrament to prepare you for His return when all waiting will end.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Rev. Marvin Bublitz

EAST REGION NEWS

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

Christ Lutheran wins pollinator garden contest TIMMINS, Ont. - Did you know that native pollinators like bees and butterflies are disappearing at an unprecedented rate all over the world?

It’s a significant problem with farreaching consequences! The good news is that we can do something about it before it’s too late, each in our own backyard... or even churchyard.

And sometimes we are already doing many of the right things without even realizing it! This was the case at Christ Lutheran in Timmins, where volunteer church gardener, Joan Kovach, along with her husband John’s assistance, has been keeping the gardens looking beautiful for years.

When it came to our attention that the municipality had created the “Start the Buzz pollinator garden challenge” to raise awareness of declining pollinators and promote potential solutions, we scrambled to submit an entry in

seventy-year existence, our location is unknown to many people who have lived here for years. However, in the process of writing up the description of the garden, it quickly became clear that, without needing to add much else, our humble garden was already an incredible habitat for pollinators!

It had all sorts of features offering foraging and nesting opportunities that attract these essential creatures.

The municipality encouraged incorporating as many of the following strategies as possible: • Choose native shrubs, trees, and perennial flowers rich in pollen and nectar. [Check! We have a spruce tree and hydrangeas native to the area.]

• Use plants with different blooming periods to stagger flowering and attract pollinators throughout the growing season. [Check!]

the business/organization category.

Our amateur photographer, Avigail Sikkema, captured the garden coming to the end of the growing season, and Rev. Milton Lam contributed some stunning shots offering evidence of bees being frequent visitors.

Admittedly, our motives may have stemmed from a desire to secure some additional funds for the church (this contest presenting an opportunity for a quick and easy—if unconventional— fundraiser!) rather than pure concern for our winged friends. It may also have been an attempt to raise awareness of our church’s presence in the community, since despite its

• Choose yellow, blue, purple, and white flowers with single, fragrant blooms. [We had lots of white flowers, particularly cosmos, at the time the photos were taken.]

• Plant multiples of the same plant together in large groupings to make it easier to find and collect pollen.

[Check!]

• Remove dead flower heads to encourage new growth and extend the flower season. [Check!]

• Leave some bare patches and limit use of mulch to allow bees to make nests in the soil. [Check!]

• Incorporate flat rocks in sunny, sheltered locations for butterflies to

bask in the sun.

[Check!]

• Leave the leaves where they fall or rake them into the garden to provide overwintering habitat for butterflies.

[Check!]

• Av o i d u s e o f pesticides. [Check!]

• Consider adding a water feature or birdbath to your garden to provide essential fresh water to pollinators. [This we did not have.]

Well, imagine how pleased we were to find out we had won! We were recognized on the City of Timmins Facebook page, which could potentially and providentially direct any interested individuals to our own online presence—just in time to warmly invite them to join our Lutheranism 101 class.

We were awarded a $100 gift certificate to a local garden centre, as well as a gift basket filled with an additional $100 worth of goodies.

Avigail, for one, went home with a smile on her face and a jar of local honey in her hands!

We certainly hope our collective efforts to care for the small parcels of land entrusted to us please our Creator and additionally serve to further His kingdom purposes in unexpected ways.

Francine VanWoudenberg Sikkema Flower photos by Rev. Milton Lam; Garden photo by Avigail Sikkema; Group photo by Monika Schuehlein featuring: John and Joan Kovach, Avigail Sikkema, Rev. Milton Lam, and Francine VanWoudenberg Sikkema.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

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EAST REGION NEWS

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

Ottawa Valley churches celebrate the Reformation

PEMBROKE, Ont. - Members of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) and Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) congregations in the Ottawa Valley joined together to celebrate the Reformation at a special afternoon service at St. John’s Lutheran Church on October 31,

2021. With representation from LCC East Region congregations in Augsburg/Eganville, Locksley, and Petawawa, as well as LCMS English District congregations in Pembroke and Germanicus, some 63 worshippers gathered to mark the Reformation Day.

Multilingual Reformation hymn sing

ONLINE - On October 30, 2021, the multicultural congregations of Ascension Lutheran Church and Église évangélique luthérienne de l’Ascension in Montreal, Quebec, had

the opportunity to worship and praise the Lord over Zoom from their own homes in their own languages.

A joint idea by Ruth Stone and Rena Detlefsen, the two women

LCC President Timothy Teuscher preached the sermon and Rev. Paul Williams of Grace, Locksley, served as liturgist. Other area pastors participated as readers, and special music was provided by organist Debbie Bernard and soloist Marilyn Hammel.

Elaine Stanfel, Photos by Richard Kramer mounted a PowerPoint with preselected and pre-recorded hymns that share the same melody in French and English. A special presentation in Mandarin as well as two dialects from Cameroon, Bulu and Baasa, were also included in the hymn sing. Each song text was presented in at least English and French so everyone could sing in a language they understood.

The group included people from western and eastern Canada and even the United States. One of the hymns, “For All the Saints,” helped the group reflect on how in heaven, all God’s saints will be gathered from all the four corners of the earth singing praises to the Triune God! Rena Detlefsen

SHARE YOUR STORIES Contact Michelle Heumann, Regional News Editor | regionaleditor@lutheranchurch.ca |

EAST REGION Contact Rev. Marvin Bublitz, Regional Pastor | mbublitz@lutheranchurch.ca | 1. 855. 893. 1466 | 30

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

MISSION NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

LCC Missions: What's in the works?

Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) Missions webpages are expanding! More information on both LCC’s International and Domestic Missions is being added to the website on an ongoing basis, in an effort to enhance awareness of the work we do together as a synod across the country and around the world, as well as to make these details more accessible to our members and to the public.

As Christians, we have been blessed with the greatest of treasures: Christ and His saving gifts. And we have also been entrusted with the means by which we can share this treasure with others: the holy and life-giving Word of Christ, the very instrument the Holy Spirit uses to create faith when and where He pleases.

We share the Word of Christ as individuals in our God-given vocations and as a church body in our teaching, practices, and mission activities. In these settings, the Holy Spirit is at work, calling, gathering, and enlightening unbelievers through the proclamation of the Gospel and drawing the faithful into the sacramental life of the Church.

It’s important that LCC members and beyond have access to pertinent details about the theological education initiatives, humanitarian works of mercy, and other endeavours that are happening across our Synod and around the world. It is our hope that providing more accessible information on LCC missions, both international and domestic, will serve not only to improve awareness but also will encourage and motivate our members in our walk together as a church body in Canada.

On the right, you will see a list of LCC Mission sites and partner organizations that are currently linked through the new LCC Missions webpage. This list is not exhaustive and more information and locations are being added and updated continually. The eventual goal will be to have an interactive Mission Map on the website. Work on that is underway, and we look forward to sharing more developments with you in 2022!

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS

LCC supports mission work internationally in: • Cambodia • Thailand • Costa Rica • Ukraine • Nicaragua

LISTED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS & AUXILIARIES OF LCC • Concordia Lutheran Mission Society • Haiti Lutheran Mission Society • International Lutheran Laymen’s League • Malabar Mission Society, Inc.

DOMESTIC MISSIONS

LCC supports mission work here in Canada.

More mission site details will be added soon. Stay tuned!

• Deaf Ministries – Winnipeg, MB • Kingston Missions - Kingston, ON • Oromo Outreach – Winnipeg, MB • Windsor-Essex County, ON

LISTED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS & AUXILIARIES OF LCC • BC Mission Boat Society (BC) • Bethany Pioneer Village Inc. (SK) • LAMP – Canada • Lutheran Community Care Centre (ON) • Lutherans for Life – Canada* (*Not recognized by CRA as a charity) • Lutheran Hospital Ministry of Northern Alberta (AB) • Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada • Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada • Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada • Philoxenia/Hospitality Ministry • The Rock Lutheran Inner City Society (AB) • Wagner Hills Farm Society (BC)

[Note: These entities are categorized based on whether they are primarily domestic or internationally based or focused. The given category does not mean a particular entity is involved exlusively in Domestic or International Mission work.]

WWW.LUTHERANCHURCHCANADA.CA/MISSIONS THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

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MISSION NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

Kingston Missions in Ontario Kingston Missions Kingston, Ont. - Although mission work in the Kingston area began in 1994 under the leadership of Rev. Kevin Fast of Cobourg, it was terminated in 1996 as members moved away because of their work.

In 2001, Rev. Michael Meleg of Petawawa resumed the mission with the help of several pastors from the Ottawa Circuit, and Kingston was designated a “Recognized Mission” of LCC’s former East District in 2007. During this time the congregation did not have a full-time pastoral presence, and reading services were the norm. Occasional guest preachers would come to administer the Sacrament of the Altar to the congregation, including Revs. Kevin Fast; Michael Meleg; Bryan King; Deane Detlefsen; Jack Hetzel; and Wayne Geick. Rev. Markus Zeuch was installed in Kingston for a short time before he was called to St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Calgary, Alberta.

The congregation officially organized on September 6, 2009, adopting a constitution and choosing the name Our Saviour Lutheran Church. Rev. Allen Maleske, former president of LCC’s East District, retired in Kingston in 2010 and took over pastorship of the Kingston Mission church. In 2015, the church saw an influx of new members from the Trenton area— this led to the creation of a new mission congregation in the Trenton area. Rev. Maleske presided over both missions until the Trenton mission became established.

The small core group of members at Our Saviour Lutheran Church faithfully provide full weekly worship services, including live music. Rev. Maleske also provides Bible study and special services during Lent and Advent.

For most of its history, the people of Our Saviour Lutheran Church have gathered in homes—whether

Learn more!

retirement homes or the homes of its own members. The congregation has also rented more traditional chapels and church buildings when possible.

Outreach has largely been relational for this congregation, with members inviting friends and acquaintances to join them for service.

When the congregation gathered for worship in retirement residences, this provided an opportunity for those living in the building to attend service. When pandemic-related restrictions were put in place, the retirement residence was no longer an option for the congregation to gather in-person. The church began holding services online through Zoom. Since making the switch to Zoom, Our Saviour Lutheran Church has nearly doubled its attendance, mainly by servicing shutins from all around.

The church has been able to resume in-person services, with Holy Communion, again gathering in the homes of its members. The congregation also intends to continue broadcasting their services over Zoom in service of their new long-distance and shut-in members.

Learn more about this mission congregation in Kingston, Ontario by visiting: www.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/missions/kingstonmissions

The content for this article was submitted by Anthony Krause, a member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Kingston, Ontario. Anthony is also among the first youth confirmands of this congregation back in April of 2010.

www.LutheranChurchCanada.ca/Missions 32

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

MISSION NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

Deaf Ministries in Winnipeg

What's in the works?

Deaf Ministry Resources Winnipeg - Saint James Lutheran Church is one of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s congregations serving the Deaf community.

LCC's Communications Director, Alex Steinke, recently had the opportunity to meet with Rev. Dr. Richard Beinert, as well as the Mellecke family, to discuss the kinds of resources that might be helpful to the Deaf community.

During this time, several resource videos were recorded with Rev. Beinert, including: Signing The Lord’s Prayer; Signing the Apostles' Creed; and Signing Psalm 23. A greeting from Rev. Beinert in sign language was also recorded and is now available on LCC’s YouTube Channel, as an Instagram reel, and can also be accessed through LCC’s website.

Christopher and Christina Mellecke also contributed to the resource videos by offering to sign two Christian songs: With Jesus In My Boat, I Can Smile At The Storm and Jesus Loves Me, This I Know.

This is just the beginning and we hope to continue to grow the resources available to the Deaf community in LCC. A special thank you to the Mellecke family for their help with this project!

Christopher and Christina Mellecke, members of Saint James Lutheran Church in Winnipeg.

Ways you can support!

• By Prayer | Remember LCC’s mission and ministry partners in prayer.

• By spreading the word | Tell someone about LCC’s mission and ministry here in Canada and around the world.

• By supporting financially | You can support LCC Missions financially by cheque or through our website.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

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CLS’ newest professor arrives from India!

EDMONTON - On October 26, 2021 Concordia Lutheran

Seminary (CLS) welcomed Rev. Dr. Sam Thompson and his family (Shana, Sasha, and Shaan) to Canada. The arrival of CLS’ newest professor had been delayed as a result of the pandemic. In a Facebook post, CLS gave thanks to God for the arrival of Dr. Thompson and his family, saying the seminary appreciates the sacrifices they made in leaving India to come to Edmonton.

New volume of LTR now available CANADA - The latest volume of Lutheran Theological Review has now been released.

Volume 33 (2021) features a variety of different contributions, including the first publication of the final report on the International Lutheran Council’s informal dialogue with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity; an article by Rev. Dr. John P. Hellwege on “The Nazification of Martin Luther”; and an article by Rev. Dr. William F. Mundt entitled “They Called It Chautauqua.”

Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau contribues a sermon on Matthew 18:1-10 entitled “Becoming Children.” Rev. Kurt A. Lantz provides a sermon on Lamentations 3:22-26, 31-32 entitled “Eyes Open to See Where You Live.”

This volume also notes the passing of two church leaders with close connection to Lutheran Church–Canada.

Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) President James Gimbel provides a short reflection in memoriam of Rev. Dr. L. Dean Hempelmann, former president of CLS who entered into glory on August 29, 2021. And Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee provides an English translation of the final sermon preached

by Rev. Dr. Jobst Schöne, Bishop Emeritus of Germany's Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church. Bishop Schöne died on September 22, 2021.

You can read issues of LTR online at: concordia-seminary.ca/ltr/

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

EDUCATION NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

New book tackles faith and film

CANADA - A new academic book on faith and film features contributions from three Lutheran Church– Canada pastors.

Film, Philosophy, and Religion is a new book from Vernon Press’ Series in Philosophy of Religion. Serving as editor for the book is Rev. Dr. William (Bill) H.U. Anderson, Professor of Pop Culture and Religious Studies at Concordia University of Edmonton. “Hollywood is a $40 billion annual business, one that is highly influential in culture,” notes Dr. Anderson in his introduction. “If we want to know who we are as individuals and a society—who we are, what we believe, and what we value—we need to know and understand Hollywood and film. Make no mistake: Hollywood is neither philosophically, politically, nor morally neutral.”

“The more philosophical and analytical we are about movie watching, the more we will be able to know where they are coming from and how to combat any bad ideas with which they might be trying to indoctrinate us,” Dr. Anderson continues. “That can be just as much fun as watching the movie itself!”

In addition to editing the book, Dr. Anderson contributes an essay entitled “King David as a Biblical ‘Goodfella’ and ‘The Godfather’: Cultural-Social Analogies with Monarchy and La Cosa Nostra.” The essay compares the biblical stories of David with gangster films, as a way of drawing out cross-cultural analogies that help us better understand the biblical text.

Also contributing to the book is Rev. Ted Giese, pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Regina and film critic for The Canadian Lutheran and Issues Etc. Rev. Giese writes an essay entitled “A Confessional Lutheran Approach to Reading Film: Where the Metaphysical Meets the Phantasmagorical.” This chapter formulates a Lutheran hermeneutic for interpreting movies, exploring the tension between the dangers of antinomian freedom on the one hand and moral absolutism on the other.

Finally, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Strand, Professor of Philosophy at Concordia University of Edmonton, contributes an essay entitled “Aristotle at the Movies: Epistemic Virtue in Film.”

This chapter suggests that virtue epistemology—the idea that it is virtuous to conform our beliefs only to what the evidence tells us is true or likely—is not always the correct course of action.

Indeed, sometimes we do better to emulate our favourite film heroes and carry on in faith and hope, even when the evidence tells us the chance of success is small.

Other essays in the book tackle such subjects and films as the depiction of Jesus in twenty-first century film, Ready Player One, science and religion, the Alien movies, theologies of beauty and cinema, Disney’s Frozen, cinema in Zimbabwe and Nigeria, and various others topics.

LLL Canada

MEDIA in Mission

News from Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada and Lutheran Hour Ministries

www.LLL.ca

Partnering with You in HIS mission

2021

Growing in God’s Grace At the end of 2020 we had hoped to be back to regular programming, visiting congregations and delivering materials and workshops in person so it has been disappointing to our human planning that things have continued as they are. Thank the Lord we are not in control and instead we have submitted ourselves to God’s plan in all of this, meeting people where they are. Most of the time, where they are at is online so we have continued with as much digital connection as possible.

Top left, clockwise: Julia Flor, Alex Steinke, Anna Kraemer, Lisa Jackson

Staffing Changes With worldly challenges dragging on into the spring we were faced with a new obstacle when long-time staff member Sharon McKie decided to retire early and support her family as a stayat-home grandma.

This sent us scrambling to figure out how to manage without Sharon in the Sharon McKie rapidly changing work environment while meeting the unique needs of members and congregations brought on by a global pandemic. In an answer to prayers, and within 24 hours of learning of Sharon’s retirement, my son Benjamin jumped in to provide some parttime support and Courtney Marshall added a few more hours to keep things running.

We had already planned to share a summer intern with Lutheran Church–Canada Communications Director, Alex Steinke, and instead of settling on Media in Mission 2021

just one candidate, Alex and I decided to share the talented duo of Julia Flor and Anna Kraemer for the summer. For more details about how the experience not only provided great work experience for two fantastic young members of Lutheran Church– Canada, but also provided fresh, new insights to both LCC Communications and LLL Canada, you can read about it in the September/October issue of The Canadian Lutheran or go to www.canadianlutheran. ca/lcc-lllc-communications-internship-reflections.

With all these supports in place I was able to take some time to do a needs assessment and launch a job search based on where LLL Canada is heading, rather than just filling a vacant spot.

As the published job posting was ending, I was spending lots of time in prayer—wondering where God was leading us. Courtney Marshall—who had been coming in once a week as backup support— suggested that she would be interested in increasing her hours with us—gradually over a few months. I interviewed Aleta Abraham and was struck by her heart for missions and her experience and skills with digital media and technology. Finally, Ron Ludke reached out seeking a place to share his many years of experience on a part-time basis after retiring from LAMP. Ron Ludke THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

35 1

Praise the Lord, for I am now surrounded by a work family of believers who are passionate about sharing the Gospel through the tools and resources of LLL and LHM Canada, as well as a diverse and supportive board of directors.

Board of Directors, new and continuing At the Annual General Meeting, which took place on Saturday November 6, Gordon Schoepp ended his time as board president after many years of service to ana a. rian ar le also finishe his second term. Newly elected board members Rev. Wally Hambrock, Joshua Gajdos and Darla Budan were installed. The membership also voted in Joel Haberstock as president.

Stephen Braaten was re-elected for a second term and resumed his role of board treasurer while Marilyn Jacobi, in the last year of her second term, continues as board secretary. Pastor Keith Haberstock continues to serve us as Pastoral Advisor.

Engaging New and Long-time Supporters Most of our broadcast sponsors have already gotten to know Aleta quite well. She has found

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ways to engage new listeners and create specialized messages that steer people to the Gospel message.

Ron has introduced himself to a large percentage of our donors and supporters, letting them know how much we value their loyal support over the years. Behind the scenes Aleta Abraham Courtney has been working hard to streamline and document processes that help all o us or together more e ficientl .

Support for French speakers in Canada and Around the World uring the sta fing changes an o fice upheaval the need for resources and support never stopped and serving the French speakers in Canada and throughout the world, has been a priority. As Advent approaches, we are coming up to a year since we launched our French Language Facebook page and are rejoicing at what the Holy Spirit has done with our attempts to share the Gospel. Our digital reach to French speakers through Facebook is in the tens of thousands. Pastor David Somers is always coming

Media in Mission 2021

up with new ideas on how we can work together to support French-speaking Christians across Canada and one item that has been constantly on his mind is how to make something available like our weekly Kid’s Lectionary Learning that we produce in English. Over the summer e ere finall able to get this started with the help of summer intern Julia Flor. Kid’s Activity Pages were created in French (and Portuguese) for Reformation and Advent, and we will continue to build on this library of children’s resources.

Exciting Resources for Children Speaking of Kid’s Lectionary Learning, these weekly activity pages—which began as a support for teaching and focus for children during at home worship—have grown into a regular part of what we do. During

Media in Mission 2021

Advent, Pastor Cody Cooper augmented the learning by adding several pages to mark the important events in our church year and designed a mini magazine layout for Holy Week. The unique and liturgical content is so welcomed by our community in Canada that we are now including a parent/teacher guide outlining the text, providing explanation for the images and helping prepare adult hearts so they may lead children through the content.

Since we started offering The Illuminated Catechism to all catechumens, we have sent over Kids Lectionary Learning by Rev. Cody 150 copies to churches across Cooper of Barrhead, Alta.

Canada, and we continue to have requests for the book in both English and our Canadian French language version. It is a joy to be able to offer this gift, welcoming newly confirme chil ren an some adults) into the LCC family.

Sample page from The Illuminated Catechism.

3

Better Together Over the past three years Lutheran Hour Ministries has been releasing a series of materials based on the research done in partnership with The Barna Group.

These resources have walked us through the important steps of acknowledging our fear and developing skills to talk about our faith and apply spiritual disciplines and welcome others to nurture households of faith.

In 2021 LHM launched The Hopeful Neighborhood Project and made resources available to address how we as Christians can better serve our neighbour. The third contribution to this series of important work based on scripture and research was released just in time. People are longing to reconnect and have fellowship after the long absence from one another because of restrictions from the pandemic.

Communities across North America, including several in Canada, are reading and studying together and using the tools found in the Better Together kit to visibly express love for their neighbour. Some groups are small—like the neighbourhood group being led by

Cynthia Toews. Cynthia and her family have invited members from their community of Plumas, Manitoba, to join forces and do good together out of their love for Jesus. Some groups are larger, and encompass a whole circuit of congregations, reaching out and launching coordinated neighbourhood projects across their whole municipality. It is uplifting to learn how Lutherans across Canada are embracing their vocation and demonstrating the love of Jesus by serving their neighbour.

Back to School In January I began part-time studies at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines— working toward an MTS (Master of Theological Studies). My intent for studying is to be a better leader and more learned Lutheran. Being a part of the student body and the continual focus on the word is helping to develop a discerning eye and a community of support so I might better assess the content of resources and serve in my position as Director of LLL Canada.

Lisa Jackson hits the books.

Installing New Board Members

LLL Canada

Partnering with You in HIS mission

(L-r) Joshua Gajdos, Darla Budan and incoming president Joel Haberstock. Rev. Wally Hambrock attended virtually.

384THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN

November/December 2021

Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada 270 Lawrence Ave., Kitchener, ON, N2M 1Y4 1-800-555-6236 • info@LLL.ca • www.LLL.ca LLL Canada’s mission is to assist in the proclamation of the Gospel by creating, distributing and promoting resources through various media and equipping Christians for outreach.

Board of Directors: President, Joel Haberstock, Coldstream, AB; Directors: Marilyn Jacobi, Kitchener, ON; Rev. Wally Hambrock, St. Albert, AB; Stephen Braaten, Regina, SK.; Joshua Gajdos, London, ON; Darla Budan, Waterloo, ON. Media in Mission is published by Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada, provider of Lutheran Hour Ministries resources.

Media in Mission 2021

IN MEMORIUM

Rev. Denis Charles Gray Rev. Denis Charles Gray passed away peacefully at the Greater Niagara General Hospital on Saturday November 6, 2021, in his 87 th year.

Rev. Gray was the beloved husband of Victoria Ann (née Kelley) and dearly loved father of Christopher (Noriko) Gray, Gregory (Barbara) Gray, Catherine (Graeme) Decarie and David (Emi) Gray. He was grandfather to Conrad, Sakura, Teagan, Riley, Alexander, Nicholas, Margaret (Ahmed), Erika (Elsaed), Martha, Nathan, and great-grandfather to Leo and Lunara. He is fondly remembered by his close friends Professor Alex MacGregor and Ilene Boucher.

Rev. Gray served his Lord as leader of Lutheran congregations in both Southern Ontario and Quebec.

Lutheran Church in Thunder Bay that spanned over 40 years. He served until retirement at the age of 80.

Throughout his time at Calvary, Rev. Schmidt worked to spread the message of God’s love and encourage others to be “windows of God’s love” often including humour, the Green Bay Packers, and Snoopy and Charlie Brown in his sermons.

Rev. Schmidt will be missed by his wife of 67 years, Carol: his four children and their spouses, Debbie and Alex Grant, Chris and John Whitehurst, Patti and Ken Rickards, and John and Lori Schmidt; his grandchildren and their spouses, and greatgrandchildren, as well as his church family at Calvary.

Many relatives, including his sister Audrey in the United States, will also miss him.

His family is forever grateful to Dr. Bukovy for his care and concern for him, and to his caregivers; especially Pam and all others who supported him during the past couple years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Calvary Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, Thunder Bay Region, or a charity of your choice that demonstrates love for others.

Rev. Dr. Roger Elson Winger

Rev. John P. Schmidt Rev. John P. Schmidt went to be with his Heavenly Father on Saturday, February 27, 2021. He was born June 30, 1930 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved to Canada in August 1964. Here he began a ministry at Calvary

Rev. Dr. Roger Elson Winger was born on Christmas Day, 1933, and was baptised and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fisherville, Ontario. He entered grade twelve at Concordia High School, Ft. Wayne, at the age of 15, and proceeded to the Ft. Wayne Junior College. From Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, he earned a B.A. (1955) and Diploma of Theology (1958), then was assigned to serve in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England (ELCE).

On June 7, 1958, the day after graduation—like so many St. Louis students in those days, who were required to be single while in seminary but expected to be wed by the time they hit the parish—he married Della Lebien.

After his ordination in Fisherville on July 27, 1958, he served in the ELCE for 14 years.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2021

39

IN MEMORIUM He returned to Canada in 1972, and served three congregations, as well as the Canadian districts of the LCMS and eventually the new Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC), in roles that included First Vice-President of the Ontario District, Secretary of LCC, and a member of the Board of Regents of Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton.

In 1991, Rev. Winger was elected District President of the East District of LCC. He was re-elected twice, and also served for nine years on the Board of Regents of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines. In 2000, he retired as District President, but offered his time and energy to both St. Paul’s and Holy Cross in Kitchener, Ontario. As well, he was a regular guest instructor at the St. Catharines seminary, and served on the boards of Lutherwood and Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada.

Rev. Winger was honoured by Concordia Lutheran Seminary with the Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa (1991); by Concordia College, Ann Arbor, with the Christus Primus award (2000); by Concordia University College, Edmonton, with the Christo et Ecclesiae award (2003), and by Concordia, St. Catharines, with the Delta Chi medal (2013).

Rev. Winger was very active physically and full of energy until a brain tumour began to take away his mobility in early 2020. His life ended on April 29, 2021, in the firm confidence that his sins were forgiven in Christ, that his soul would rest in God’s hands, and that he would rise bodily on the Last Day.

He was ordained into the Holy Ministry on May 31, 2009. After making the long trek to the site of his first call in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he was installed as Associate Pastor at Peace Lutheran Church on June 28, 2009. In September 2011 he was placed on Candidate Status. During the next few years, he continued to serve at congregations around the Red River Circuit including Grace Lutheran Church, Beausejour and Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Winnipeg.

On September 13, 2015 he was installed as pastor at Grace, Beausejour, with his father, Rev. Arthur Yunker serving as guest preacher. While continuing to grow from Pastor Ward’s presence in their midst, in time this small congregation could no longer support a pastor financially. Rev. Ward was also experiencing a little homesickness for the United States. In January 2019 he decided to move back “home” living with his parents, Rev. Arthur and Grace Yunker, in Lake Lure, North Carolina until he received a call in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. On December 27, 2020 Rev. Ward collapsed and was taken to Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina where he was diagnosed with high blood sugar and COVID-19. He was immediately placed on a ventilator. On January 13, 2021 our gracious Lord called Rev. Ward to his heavenly home.

Rev. Ward was not the perfect pastor. He recognized his sin and need for a Saviour in Jesus. With his booming voice—he did not need a microphone!—he proclaimed sin and grace, Law and Gospel to the sheep committed to his care. Rev. Ward served God’s people with a gentleness that showed he genuinely cared for them and the issues they faced in life. His Bible studies and/or topical studies presented to the pastors at our Red River Circuit gatherings were well-researched, thorough and informative. He also provided excellent minutes for those meetings.

Rev. Ward also became involved with the Beausejour community as he became a cast member of “Haystack Productions” which presented plays and dinner theatre for that small community. His love for drumming made it possible for him to become a session drummer at the Royal Canadian Legion. He remained close to his Mississippi roots always searching for the perfect barbecue or best hot sauce.

Rev. Ward Irwin Yunker

For all the saints, who from their labors rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy name, O Jesus, be forever bless’d.

Alleluia, alleluia!

LSB 677

Rev. Ward Irwin Yunker was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1974 and grew up in Rochester, Minnesota, where he graduated from John Marshal High School. After graduating from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota with a B.A. in 1997, he attended Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana graduating in 2009 with an M.Div.

TRANSITIONS Rev. Daniel Moeller of Holy Trinity/Hope (Inglis/Grandview, MB) to Emeritus.

Rev. James Scholz of Faith (London, ON) to Emeritus.

Rev. Marco Jacobsen of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (IELB) accepted a call as Assistant Missionary-at-Large, Fracophone Canada.

Rev. Denis Gray Pastor Emeritus (Nigara Falls, ON) was Called to Glory.

Rev. Richard Frey of St. Paul’s (Elmira, ON) to Emeritus.

Rev. Saulo Bledoff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (IELB) accepted a call to St. John’s (Snyder, ON).

Rev. Gregory Johnson of Our Saviour (Etobicoke, ON) accepted a call to Mt. Calvary (New Westminster, BC).

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

LOOKING FOR THE 2021 INDEX FOR THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN? The 2021 Index for The Canadian Lutheran can be viewed and downloaded as a PDF at CanadianLutheran.ca!

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The Canadian Lutheran sells advertising space to offset the cost of printing and shipping the magazine to subscribers.

For inquiries, please contact our Advertising Manager,

Angela Honey:

a.honey@lutheranchurch.ca 41

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

PRESIDENT’S PONDERINGS

The Christmas Exchange

by President Teuscher

F

riends, co-workers, classmates exchanging gifts at Christmas parties and at various get-togethers over the holidays. Family members gathered around a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve or early Christmas morning to exchange gifts. Stores crowded with people on Boxing Day exchanging those unwanted Christmas gifts.

“The Christmas Exchange” is not only an apt description of what takes place in the world’s celebration of Christmas, but it also summarizes well the true meaning and message of the day. In his familiar account of the nativity of our Lord, St. Luke refers to this wonderful and amazing Christmas exchange—the very Son of God Himself becoming one of us, taking upon Himself in the womb of the blessed virgin Mary our very flesh and blood, being born in a lowly stable as one of us. Or, as St. Paul puts it, “Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7).

Now, the reason for exchanging gifts at Christmas is, of course, for the benefit, happiness, and joy of those to whom we give our gifts. That is precisely why the Son of God undertook this great Christmas exchange. He did it for us—for our benefit, our happiness, our joy. He did it so that we might receive what is His and so undergo a great exchange as well.

Think about it. Since the Son of God became one of us, we are the ones who are now sons and daughters of God. Since the Son of God was born as one of us, we are the ones who are now born again as children of God. Since the Son of God humbled Himself to be born of a virgin, we are the ones who are now glorified. Since the sinless, holy Son of God took upon Himself the guilt and the punishment that we by our many sins deserve, we sinful human beings are the ones who now receive His holiness and righteousness. Since He who is the King of kings and the great High Priest became one of us, we are the ones who are now members of and part of a royal priesthood.

Since the only Son from heaven was born in Bethlehem as an obedient subject of that earthly kingdom ruled by the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, we are the ones who are now citizens of a heavenly kingdom.

But this is not the only exchange that we see in the Christmas story. There is also an exchange taking place between the angels and the shepherds. For what do we see and hear in St. Luke’s account of our Lord’s nativity?

An angel from heaven announces to shepherds this “good

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2021

news of great joy” (Luke 2:10) concerning the birth of the Saviour. The heavenly host breaks forth into that first Christmas carol: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14).

And when the account of Jesus’ birth ends, what is it that we see and hear? It is shepherds on earth now who are the ones proclaiming this Good News of great joy, “making known the saying that had been told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:17). It is shepherds on earth now who are the ones “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20). And that is still how it is today with you, with me, and with all who hear and believe this message of Christmas.

To be sure, the world in its unbelief celebrates Christmas in its own perverted way. It speaks words of peace and love and giving. But these are words devoid of anything pertaining to God; words conspicuous by their failure to mention Him who is born in Bethlehem's manger; words with no foundation, no basis in reality. The world sings its Christmas songs, songs about snow and holiday cheer, about Jack Frost and Santa Claus.

But it is different for those who, like the shepherds, hear and believe the Christmas message of the birth of a Saviour, Christ the Lord. They have exchanged this worldly message and music of Christmas for the music and message of heaven itself—speaking to one another and to others not their own opinions or ideas, but instead the very Word of God Himself concerning a Saviour from sin and death—glorifying and praising in music and in song not ourselves but the gracious and merciful Most High God. And all because of this great Christmas exchange—an exchange that happens not just at Christmas but every time we gather together to hear the Word of God... an exchange that happens every time we partake of heavenly food at the Lord’s Table, the very body and blood of our Lord and Saviour... an exchange that will one day become a glorious, heavenly, eternal reality. As St. John declares, “When Christ appears we will be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).

The Christmas hymn sums it up in this way: “Let all together praise our God before His glorious throne; Today He opens heav'n again to give us His own Son...

He undertakes a great exchange, puts on our human frame, and in return gives us His realm, His glory, and His name” (LSB 389:1, 4).

Custodial Fund Investments

How Your Congregation Can Benefit!

Many congregations across Synod have reserve or gifted funds set aside in various nancial institutions and may not reali e that Lutheran oundation Canada provides an investment option for these funds. Currently, the oundation has appro imately million in assets under management, ith million invested as ‘endowment’ funds and another million invested as ‘custodial’ funds. Endowments a re e s ta b l i s h e d i t h f u n d s gifted to the Foundation and typically invested into perpetuity, ith annual distributions that support the LCC synodical family.

Custodial funds ho ever, are not donated but only transferred to

the Foundation for investment purposes, and remain the property of the organi ation that transferred them. These funds may be returned to the investing organi ation at any time. Both types of funds are invested using similar strategies as outlined in the Foundation’s Investment Policy Statement.

A s a s e r v i c e to m e m b e r congregations and organi ations of Lutheran Church Canada’s s y n o d i c a l f a m i l y o n l y, t h e Foundation accepts funds ($25K min.) for investment purposes. hese funds are pooled ith other similar funds and placed in the oundation’s Custodial nvestment Accounts. The Foundation uses

hen comparing these returns to a typical G C here rates are usually belo , the overall value to a congregation can be significant in the long term. urther information is available on the oundation’s ebsite at www.lutheranfoundation.ca, or contact Allen Schellenberg, oundation ecutive Director, at . ou can do nload our Custodial und Agreement and nvestment olicy Statement through our ebsite’s Resources section.

the same investment consultant llement Consulting and some of the same investment managers (TD Asset Mgmt, Romspen Commercial Mortgages, and Ma er nvestment Mgmt. as LCC’s pension funds. his approach creates substantial economies of scale, reducing investment management fees, and providing access to investment options typically unavailable for smaller investment amounts.

Investment returns for Custodial Funds have averaged 6.17% in the Balanced Mandate and 4.34% in the Conservative Mandate, NET of fees. he chart belo sho s annual performance by year. (Note: Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.)

OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME, THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN; GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD;

NOTRE PÈRE QUI ES AUX CIEUX, QUE TON NOM SOIT SANCTIFIÉ, QUE TON RÈGNE VIENNE, QUE TA VOLONTÉ SOIT FAITE SUR LA TERRE COMME AU CIEL. DONNE-NOUS AUJOURD’HUI NOTRE PAIN DE CE JOUR.

AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES

PARDONNE-NOUS NOS OFFENSES,

AS WE FORGIVE THOSE

COMME NOUS PARDONNONS AUSSI

WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US; AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER.

À CEUX QUI NOUS ONT OFFENSÉS. ET NE NOUS SOUMETS PAS À LA TENTATION, MAIS DÉLIVRE-NOUS DU MAL. CAR C’EST À TOI QU’APPARTIENNENT LE RÈGNE, LA PUISSANCE ET LA GLOIRE, POUR LES SIÈCLES DES SIÈCLES.

AMEN.

WWW.LUTHERANCHURCH.CA