It’s that time of year again when congregations should start thinking about applying for an MNO Foundation for Mission and Ministry Grant. For 2009, a total of $6,000 is available to assist with a wide range of projects including but not restricted to mission development, youth and children’s ministries, evangelism and internships. An additional $4000 is available this year for projects that have an “In Mission for Others” emphasis. These latter funds will be awarded on a matching basis with the Foundation providing $3 for every $1 invested by the applicant in the proposed project.

The deadline for receipt of applications is May 31, 2009.  Further information can be found on the MNO web site at the following links: Foundation grant application

The Foundation Grants Committee will review applications in June and make a report to Synod Council. Grants should be ready for disbursement to successful applicants in August.

As the Committee expects to receive proposals for a number of worthwhile projects, please note that is difficult for them to respond to requests for projects that would require the entire pool of funds to be allocated.

These grants are made possible by the investment income earned by the MNO Foundation for Mission and Ministry.  The Foundation has an asset base of $357,217 as at December 31, 2008.  This resource continues to grow because of the generosity synod family members.

There is a strong need to grow the assets of the Foundation and we ask you to encourage people in your congregation to look at a variety of ways to assist the church in this regard.

• Consider a bequest to the church, that a certain portion of an estate be given to the church
• Purchase a gift annuity in which the church invests the money and is committed to paying the donor a guaranteed income for life. The church receives the remained of the principle when the donor dies.
• Give a life insurance policy as a gift. It may mean donating a paid up policy that the donor no longer needs. Take out a new policy that is owned by the church and which is payable to the church on the donor’s death. Charitable remainder trusts such as cash, bonds, stocks or real estate gives the donor ongoing income from the investment or the donor may convey the stocks and bonds directly to the church.
• Planned gifts that celebrate special occasions and milestones are also a way to recognize the church’s ministry. This may be for weddings, anniversaries, graduations, etc.

A CELEBRATION OF FAITH- an inspirational event for all the family, all ages, modeled on our national youth gathering- with music, art, drama, scripture study and key note speaker. In this time of uncertainty and economic unrest, it is good to gather as a faith community, to support and strengthen one another and build up our faith. We hope that congregations will come as whole group participants. Begin encouraging friends, family, congregational members and others to gather with us as a community of Christians. The event is open to anyone.

Set aside Friday, OCTOBER 23 and Saturday, OCTOBER 24. More information will follow each month in Crossword.

The ELCIC National Office is getting rid of the boardroom table and perhaps a church would be interested.

Beautiful solid wood boardroom table for sale. Size is 12 ft long by 5 ft wide. Asking price is $600.00.
View table here

Two executive desks w/ 5 side drawers 72" x 34" $90.00 each
L-shaped office desk w/ 2 side drawers 60" x 28" extension is 43" x 20" $75.00
Bookcase, brown 72" x 29" $25.00
Upright file cabinet 4 drawers letter size $20.00
Upright file cabinet 3 drawers legal size $15.00

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 637 Buckingham Road, in Charleswood, will be holding their Annual Garage Sale on Friday evening, May 8th from 6 - 9 p.m. and Saturday, May 9th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Come out and discover some hidden treasures or find some awesome antiques! There will be something for everyone, from toys to furniture to housewares. A barbecue and refreshments will be available.

The 2009 Bill Hordern Classic will be held once again at Greenbryre Golf and Country Club, just south of Saskatoon. Texas scramble.

Date: May 7, 2009
Time: First tee-off 12:30 p.m.
Cost for golf + dinner: $60
[$25 for meal + croquet; $20 for meal only]

Please register at http://www.usask.ca/stu/luther/golf.htm or through the seminary's Facebook page.

Kindly make the following announcement to your members and friends
Theme: “Remembering a Mother’s Love”
A Mother’s Day Celebration in Scripture, Prayer, Music & Song
Facilitator: Rev. Robbie McDougall & Deloris Chartier

Remembering our deceased loved ones, and providing hope for all bereaved through Scripture, Music, and Song.

Date: Sunday, May 10, Mother’s Day at 2 pm
Time: 2 PM
Place: Green Acres Memorial Gardens Chapel
Hwy No. 1 East at Gavin Road
An Interdenominational event. All are welcome. No collection or fee. Refreshments and light lunch served following the event in the Heritage Room

For more information call Rose: 253 - 8759

Canadian Foodgrains Bank received $12.4 million in donations during the 2008-2009 fiscal year, $4 million more than their previous annual record.

“Despite the recession,” says Jim Cornelius, Executive Director of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, “we’ve seen the generosity of Canadians increase this year. We are pleased and humbled to see so many people committed to the work of ending hunger regardless of the challenges they may face in their own lives.”

Donations to Canadian Foodgrains Bank take the form of both cash and grain. Cash donations have increased by approximately 15%, while the increased value of grain and the higher yields in the Prairie provinces has seen the value of grain donations increase even more significantly.

In addition to the annual contribution of $25 million, CIDA also recently approved an additional $9 million for the Foodgrains Bank’s programs in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This year, 2009, marks the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) between the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church. In Winnipeg, we experienced an intense period of preparation for the celebration of this historical event in 1999: education and formation (for laity and clergy), twinning of congregations for bible-study, and opportunities for joint worship. Its fifth anniversary was marked with a very well attended joint Lutheran-Catholic worship service in 2004. Our
continued efforts aim at fostering the ongoing reception of this significant ecclesial breakthrough and, in particular, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the JDDJ here in Winnipeg.

The Diocese of Rupert’s Land will host a 3day workshop on the Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry.

Presented by the Interim Ministry Network, this conference is intended for clergy who wish to understand the concepts and
fundamentals of transitional ministry and begin to equip themselves with the skills to be trained Intentional Interim Priests.

For more information about this program, please visit the Interim Ministry Network website http://www.imnedu.org.

September 15-17, 2009
St. Benedict’s Retreat & Conference Centre,
Winnipeg, MB

For information about this conference contact the Diocese of Rupert’s Land

Called to Adventure
When an adult bird knows it's time for its babies to fly, it starts to push. Now if the chick doesn't get it, the adult bird starts to peck
at the talons or feet of the baby. And it gets to a point where it becomes more painful for the little bird to hold on than to let go. You see, the adult bird knows there is no danger in making the baby bird do what it was designed to do.

Birds have feet and can walk, and birds have talons and can cling, but walking and clinging was not what they were designed to do. And
the mother bird knows that it is no big deal to force its babies to do what they were designed to do, which is flying. Flying is what birds do best.

God knows that giving ourselves to God's work and kingdom and to others is what we do best. That's the design of the universe. And
some of us look pathetic clinging to the dead branch of this world – the dead branch of bank accounts and of things – clinging to a nest of selfishness.

We don't think we can risk because we have never let go. God is calling you today to let go. And when we do, we will be amazed at the
experience. We will soar. We will soar in God's grace.

– Source unknown
Stewardship for the 21st Century
For more on Stewardship call your Synod Office

Our faith calls us to advocate for justice and on behalf of others. As in times such as today, organizations need to be able to reach out beyond their community to make the general public, elected politicians and other like minded communities aware of goals for advocacy and invite them to support these goals.  An opportunity to learn skills in this regard is available in an evening workshop provided in partnership between the MNO Synod Office and the Canadian Labour Congress- Manitoba division.

On Thursday, May 14th, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 600 Cambridge, Winnipeg, beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a light supper participants will:

• Learn what lobbying and advocacy is about
• Practice differing types of lobbying and advocacy techniques, i.e. letter writing, face to face meetings, group meetings, etc.
• Learn how to select a subject for advocacy and develop portfolio’s of information about them in the best possible way
• Learn how to set up a meeting with target groups and individuals and do follow up after such a meeting
• Become aware of resources that create an effective lobby/advocacy
• Build a Network from the community to help in your campaign or advocacy strategy

Two facilitators from the Labour Congress will lead our sessions.  As well, Pastor Mark Koenker, retired Saskatchewan MLA now serving in Rural Beausejour will present the faith perspective and assist in our small group sessions. Former Manitoba MLA Doug Martindale will also speak.

To register by May 6, please send an email to Bishop Elaine at esauer@elcic.ca
This event is open to anyone and you do not need to belong to the ELCIC.

Katharine (Kay) Weber, daughter of Rev. Dr. Martin Ruccius and Wilhemina Ruccius, born on April 30, 1909.  Dr. Ruccius was one of the first pastors of Trinity Lutheran Church in 1892 and one of the founders of the Synod of Manitoba and other Provinces and became its first president. For this reason and also because two of his sons were ordained ministers, he was called the father of the synod and also, the father-in-law, as five of his daughters married pastors. Kay was baptized at Trinity and is still a faithful member. She has two sons, George of Ottawa and Tom of Winnipeg.
 
Her family and many of her nieces and nephews (Wiedenroth, Goos, Bergbusch, Ruccius, [Westereng], Rosenquist, Blackwell) from across Canada will be celebrating with her on the May 1st weekend as well as relatives from Germany and China. 
 
All are invited to worship with her and her family at Trinity Lutheran Church, 265 Flora Ave., and share refreshments following the service on Sunday May 3 at 11 am.
 
She is one of only two surviving children of Rev. Dr. Martin and Mrs. Ruccius.

Pastor Gordon Hendrickson will be celebrating his 60th Anniversary of Ordination at Trinity Lutheran Church, Starbuck, June 14 at 10:00.

Coffee and refreshments will be served in the fellowship hall following the worship service. The faith community at Trinity invites all friends and colleagues of Pastor Hendrickson to share in the celebration of his ministry in our Synod and in congregations across Western Canada.

If you are not able to come greeting can be sent to tlc118@mts.net or to Box 118 Starbuck, MB, R0G 2P0.

We thank God for Pastor Hendrickson's long and fruitful ministry with us!

Cree Leaders rebuild their world. Stories from Chemawawin and Mistipawistik
In 1965, Summerberry Marsh, North America's 4th largest inland delta, was flooded, and the Misti Bistihk, the Grand Rapids of the Saskatchewan River were silenced by a 330 MW dam erected by Manitoba Hydro. The local Cree and Metis have been working to reclaim and rebuild their world ever since.

On May 30, please join former National Grand Chief and current Chief of Grand Rapids First Nation, Ovide Mercredi, along with a delegation of other leaders and elders, as well as respected academics and church people with a long history in working out the hydro power dynamics in this province for a conversation that promises to deepen awareness and resolve for right relationship and right livelihood in this place the First People taught us to call Manito' Ahba, "Where the Great Spirit Rests."

This event will be hosted May 30 at Convocation Hall, University of Winnipeg, 9:30-4:30.

For more information contact:
Marcus Rempel: rempel.marcus@gmail.com or
Rebecca Ulrich: ulrich.rebecca@gmail.com

Planting Seeds of Hope again this spring
With the coming of spring our minds turn to planting and new life. CLWR’s spring fundraising campaign called Seeds of Hope offers donors a chance to plant seeds of a different kind. The seeds sown through your financial support grow into life-giving fish ponds, trees for food, shade and soil retention, HIV and AIDS awareness building, training for farmers in sustainable agriculture practices and more.

You can plant your own seeds of hope by responding to the appeal sent to individuals and congregations or online at www.clwr.org. Thank you in advance for helping make life better for so many in need.

CLWR launches Voices from the Field blog
Have you ever wondered what it is really like to visit CLWR project areas? Are you curious about what it is like to work for CLWR? If so, the new CLWR blog is sure to be an interesting read.

Voices from the Field creates an online space where staff can share their firsthand accounts of what they encounter when connecting with the agency’s work overseas. Readers can expect accounts of moving encounters with individuals whose lives have been touched by CLWR’s presence in their community, theological reflection, and more. Comments and questions that will bring readers closer to this work are encouraged.

Posts can be read at clwr.wordpress.com or viewers can subscribe to the RSS feed by entering the subscription url clwr.wordpress.com/feed into an RSS reader.

Attached you will find a poster promoting the 2009 Newcombe Lectureship. Established in memory and tribute to Dr. Charles Newcombe, the Lectureship is concerned with the complex relationship between religion and society.

This year, renowned Finnish scholar, Dr. Martti Nissinen, will present two public lectures, and his partner, Dr. Leena Nissinen will also share her extensive expertise as a psychotherapist with the community.

What Does the Bible Contribute to the Issue of Same-Sex Partnerships?
Martti Nissinen Professor of Old Testament Studies, University of Helsinki
Mon. April 27
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall at 7 pm

Prophecy in the Bible and in its Ancient Cultural Contexts
Martti Nissinen Professor of Old Testament Studies, University of Helsinki
Tue. April 28
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall at 7 pm

The Cost of Caring: Compassion Fatigue
Leena Nissinen, Psychotherapist and Supervisor, Helsinki
Tue. April 28
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall at 2 pm