April 17, 2007
Volume 1, Issue 9

Editor: Rick Scherger

Lutheran Urban Ministry would like to welcome Bob Jacob to the Board of LUM. He brings to us a wealth of experience, connections and energy and he seems to know just about everyone in the MNO Synod!

Lutheran Urban Ministry is looking for a donation of a fairly new
computer (Pentium 4 that runs at 2 Ghz), to replace the one that was stolen in January. Contact Mark Tiefenbach mtiefen@mts.net to discuss particulars.

We need someone on the Board of Directors with some legal expertise, a lawyer preferably, to work with us on a voluntary basis. We are looking to avoid potential problems as we go about the business of operating; rental /purchase agreements, policy development etc. If you are interested or for more information,
contact Judy Dikkema - judydikk@mts.net.

You are invited/urged to participate in an exciting opportunity, the forthcoming MNO Synod Stewardship Practicum:  “Turning our Church Right Side Up: Revitalizing Congregations in Mission and Stewardship”.  A portion of this practicum (Thursday and Friday) is for pastors/diaconal ministers only. Saturday is geared for lay leaders (and pastors/diaconal ministers). While it would be of greatest benefit that both rostered ministers and lay leaders attend from each congregation (strongly encouraged), please send whatever representation that you can.

Greetings from Cameroon, where the weather is about 33 degrees Celsius and we change clothes at least two times a day.

We wake to a 4 a.m. Muslim prayer each day. I can't decide whether it irritates me or impresses me as yet. I am not a morning person so to wake this early is very irritating. The mosque outside the gates of the mission station has a public address system that calls people to prayer five times a day, beginning at 4 a.m. The voice is loud and tinny and too hard to avoid in sleep.

So we lay there in the heat of the morning, listening. But the prayers each day represent the rhythm of the spiritual day if the people and it is very much a spiritual place here in Ngaoundere.

We wake to the Muslim chant but there is also devotions at 7:30 a.m. at the hospital and 8 a.m. at the mission station. By 6:30 a.m.the women have come to the well for water- the necessity of life. Even the bustling market place is a spiritual haven several times a day. The shops close and the prayer mats are taken out as the PA system calls the people to prayer.

When the Christians meet, there is spontaneous song and prayer. During the seminars I attended on Saturday, as each speaker finished, we broke into song and clapping.

God is very present in all that is happening around us and even though I hate rising so early to the sound of others praying, it brings me to prayer as well. I reflect on the day before, what God has provided and brought me safely through, and I give the day up to God, to lead me wherever God is calling for the day.

In the midst of the day, I am stopped where I am and call and listen for God. And when I am in need of rest at the end of the day, I lay down to the voice of God and I hear the words "Peace be with you".
I like the spiritual rhythm of each day.

Peace be with all of you.
Bishop Elaine

Are you ready to stretch your wings, put your faith to work and be a catalyst for real change?  If so,

LUTHERAN URBAN MINISTRY
Requires a
MINISTRY LEADER AND MANAGER

This challenge will invigorate you if you can:

• Maintain an organized and welcoming premises for LUM users
• Plan and sustain programming such as counseling and referral, group Bible studies, youth activities, educational sessions, Worship services
• Train and coordinate volunteers.
• Report to the Board of Directors

Success requires that you have:

• DEMONSTRATED commitment to serving and helping others
• Respect for diversity and cultural values
• Post-secondary education or equivalent and demonstrated experience
• Creative problem solving skills
• Strong organizational and leadership skills
• Superb communication skills including computer proficiency
• Excellent networking/advocacy skills
• Understanding of Lutheran theology and practices.

Criminal Records and Child Abuse Registry checks required.
                                                                                             
Please email your resume and cover letter to lisa_janke@yahoo.ca by May 11, 2007.
(cell 204-470-3435)

Sherwood Park Youth Coffee House
Saturday, April 21st
7:00 -9:00 p.m.
featuring: The Grace OverDose Youth Band
Delectable Desserts, Silent Auction
$5.00 ages 12 & up
          $3.00 Children (age 6-11)
        free (age 5 and under)
Proceeds to Youth Ministry
Welcome!

Rev Katharine Bergbush has completed her service as an ELCIC Long-term Missionary in Peru and she will retire in August. Katharine is doing speaking tours to visit sponsoring congregations in all five ELCIC Synods and give presentations about her work and experiences in Peru. She has just come back from the Saskatchewan and ABT Synods.

I am providing here the schedule of Katharine's presentations in the MNO Synod, as they have been arranged so far. I expect that all will be welcome to attend Katharine's presentations as follows:

THURSDAY, APRIL 19 - BERGLAND
7:00 pm - Katharine Bergbusch's "Partners in Peru" presentation
Trinity Lutheran Church - Bergland

FRIDAY, APRIL 20 - FORT FRANCES
7:00 pm - Katharine's Bergbusch's "Partners in Peru" presentation
Zion Lutheran Church - Fort Frances

SUNDAY, APRIL 22 - THUNDER BAY
9:30 am - Worship service - Message during the service by Katharine Bergbusch
Hilldale Lutheran Church - Thunder Bay

7:30 pm - Katharine Bergbusch's "Partners in Peru" presentation
Zion Lutheran Church - Thunder Bay

SUNDAY, APRIL 29 - WINNIPEG Grace Lutheran Church
8:45 am Worship service - Message during the service by Katharine Bergbusch
10:36 am Worship service - Message during the service by Katharine Bergbusch

SUNDAY, JUNE 3 - WINNIPEG Messiah Lutheran Church
10:00 am Worship service - Message during the service by Katharine Bergbusch

For your information, I am attaching a notice which I am distributing to all of Katharine's sponsors (she has about 50 of them across the country) with suggestions for Missionary and Mission Sponsorship after Katharine retires in August.

Abundant Life Lutheran is hosting a party in honour of
Pastor Bob Jacob's retirement Friday, April 27.
Scandinavian Cultural Centre, 764 Erin St.
Cocktails at 6:00, Dinner at 6:30.
For tickets call Jens Godfredson at 669.4517
or Abundant Life Lutheran at 255.5433.
Cost is $25.00, children under 12 - $12.00, under 6 - free.
Donations toward a gift are gratefully accepted.

Mark the Date for Going Barefoot, an October 19, 2007
Conference for Church & Non-Profit Group Communicators!

A One-Day Conference at Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg, Manitoba

To be barefoot is to be free and open to new possibilities. But it also leaves you vulnerable; if you stub a toe or step on a sharp rock, it can really hurt. It's an apt description for the world of communications today--looking for new opportunities, but always aware that if you make a misstep, things can go badly wrong.

How can communicators approach the new world of new marketing strategies, blogs, web, e-mail and other new media with a sense of purpose, confidence, excitement and energy? Come to Going Barefoot: Entering a Brave New World of Communication to find out!

Earth Day, April 22, is the day each year when we join with people from around the world to remember our responsibility to care for the environment. This year Earth Day is especially poignant as earlier this year the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change made it scientifically clear that global warming exists and is a real threat. More recently, the UN report on the effects of climate change made it clear that it will be the poor and marginalized people of the world who will be most negatively affected. As a globe we are steadily walking into a global environmental crisis.

At the same time our consumer lifestyle continues to result in an increasing build up of toxins in the environment. Habitats which other species depend on for their survival continue to disappear. Urban growth, erosion and desertification around the world continues to eat up land which once produced our food. In all of this, we, as a church, are hearing God’s call to take action.

In response to this call, at the 2007 National Convention the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) will be launching the Stewardship of Creation Initiative through which we will reflect on and begin to live out what it means to be stewards of God’s creation. As a part of this initiative, ELCIC members and congregations will be asked to take concrete steps in their own life to practice their Stewardship of Creation. So this Earth Day, commit to at least one of the following:
Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost
Walk, bike or take public transit when possible
Make your home more energy efficient
Purchase and use environmentally friendly products
Purchase energy efficient appliances and cars
Care for green spaces around your home and in your community
Eat locally grown food when possible and eat meat less often
Stay involved and get informed
Learn what your ecological foot print is and try to reduce it

As we commit and take action together as a church we can begin to be a Sign of Hope for the world as we are reminded that the world is God's creation and we are called to care for it.

National Volunteer Week is April 15-22. What a wonderful time to lift up the stewardship of time and talent of all God's people in your congregation and to say "thanks". Here is also a suggestion of a prayer petition that may be included in the Prayers of the People for Sunday, April 22 or any other Sunday when you choose to celebrate the servanthood of God's people in your midst.

"Spirit of God, you have gifted your people with various abilities and blessed them with the time and the will to use them. Thank you that you bless (name of congregtaion) with willing servants who lovingly share their time and talent, and help us to encourage one another, so that we might continue to find joy in Your Kingdom work. God of mercy..... "

Rev. Larry Ulrich
Assistant to the Bishop, Stewardship

Brummitt-Feasby ALS House (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) presents their SPRING EVENT – Crafts galore, White Elephant Sale, Silent Auction, Bake Sale & Much Much More!  Saturday, April 21, 2007 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  NO EARLY BIRDS PLEASE. Admission – One Loonie for everyone over 12.

WALK FOR ALS 2007   Come  and participate in the 2007 Walk for ALS on Saturday, May 26th, 2007. Registration will all be at the Assiniboine Park, central picnic area, at 9 AM with a light breakfast to follow. The Walk will start at 10 AM Sharp. Enjoy the wonderful 5 Kilometer Walk through our gorgeous Assiniboine Park. There will be clowns, music, food and prizes!   Help raise money for the ALS Society of Manitoba that serves all Manitobans living with ALS.  90 % of all monies raised go directly to Client Services, Research, Equipment and the Brummitt-Feasby ALS House of Care and Support.  For further information, please contact Sharon at the ALS office at 831-1510 or check out our website at www.als.ca/events