Dec. 16, Christ Lutheran, Winnipeg
Jan. 20, St. Stephen's/St Bede's, Winnipeg
Feb. 17 at Advent, Thompson
Mar. 16, Faith, Winnipeg
Apr. 20, Trinity, Starbuck
All services begin at 7 p.m.

Leadership Training Event, January 11-12, 2008. Please see the attached information and registration form. Please consider bringing any potential leaders or junior leaders to this event. Your Church Councils have been asked to sponsor you. Please speak to your congregational chairs. The cost for the event is $150.

Please note that registration deadline is December 15.

Download and print registration form here pdf

Sherwood Park’s 6th Annual Sleigh Ride!!
Where: Meeting at Bird’s Hill Park Ranch
When: 6:30pm Friday December 21st, 2007
Cost: $6.00
What to bring: yourself, friends, warm clothing
Contact: Lisa @ 668.1779 or e-mail or vandijk16@ shaw.ca 
by Friday, December 14th as we need to either add or subtract sleighs by then.
After the sleigh ride we will be having hot chocolate and a bonfire!

Thompson Pre-Gathering Event - February 16-18, 2008. Costs will be very reasonable as the bus trip will be covered from other sources of revenue. Pastor Paul Gehrs, Assistant to the National Bishop, will be our resource leader. The "northern activities" that will be a part of this pre-Gathering event are being confirmed this coming week. Registration forms will be available on line on December 15 at mnosynod.org.

Getting to Edmonton to hook up with the National Bus trip to Whitehorse. The MNO Youth Committee is investigating all options at this time, and plans to make available the information on those options shortly. Because most groups are planning to fly to Edmonton, and because it is not cost effective to book a large groups or one plane, each group will be responsible for coordinating their own plans to get to Edmonton.

There will be a "Send -off Youth Service" on Sunday, August 10, time and place TBA. Our MNO shirts will be available at that send-off service. Watch for details on a "design competition".

Ice Cream Social
The annual Ice Cream Social is taking place on Sun. Feb. 3/08 at Grace Lutheran Church, 211 Kimberly Ave. Winnipeg.

Juno award winner, Jacques Chenier will be performing a concert after the carnival games, face painting, hot dogs, ice cream sundaes, popcorn…a great fun-filled family afternoon! Tickets are $10 each, 3 and under are FREE!

Appreciative Tip: Get Feed-Forward not Feed-Back
Are you tired of unproductive ways of helping people to change?
Despite giving them lots of feedback they just keep doing what they are doing?
Or do you find that when people want to give you constructive criticism it rarely feels constructive?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then consider getting or giving feed-forward rather than feedback to the people that you work with.

Feedback is a critique or judgment about something we did in the past. It can be positive or negative, but research shows that neither positive or negative feedback is rarely helpful in actually getting people to change their behavior. Knowing how you messed up doesn’t help you know what to do differently. Most of the time unsolicited solicitude is just a trespass and feedback leads to defensiveness rather than excellence.

While feedback doesn’t help people change, research does show that feed- forward is helpful in helping people to change. Feed-forward is information about what to do differently in the future to ensure success. If people want to criticize your work don’t let them go until they give you specific feed-forward as well.

When assessing outcomes we ask two questions:
What was valuable in what we did?
What would make it more valuable in the future if we were to do it again?
Asking these two questions orients us to growing in excellence rather than wallowing in past failure.

16th Festival of Homiletics in Minneapolis, MN
May 19-23, 2008


In 2007 over 1700 pastors from all denominations attended the Festival in Nashville, TN.

Some of our speakers will address coming lectionary texts.

This festival will include Liturgical, Blended, and Jazz Worship.

With its compelling seminars and opportunities for peer interaction, the Festival of Homiletics is the premier conference for improving your preaching effectiveness today... . Any religious communicator would do well to spend time in the presence of these outstanding preachers, who not only communicate skillfully but with a heart of compassion for those who hear them. Peter Wallace, Executive Producer, "Day 1" (formerly The Protestant Hour)

"Day 1" is a sponsor of Festival of Homiletics.

If everything goes as planned, the MNO Synod staff will return to the office next Monday. Thanks to everyone for your patience during renovations.

On Dec. 5 & 6, the Urban moved from 441 Sherbrook to 743 Ellice Ave (at Beverly). We have a one year lease on this second floor space, much brighter and cleaner, although not ideal in that accessibility will be difficult for those facing challenges with stairs. We had our hopes and dreams pinned on acquiring our own space at 605 Notre Dame, a deal which fell through in the final hours due to environmental concerns with the building. Denise Warren has modified some of the ambitious programming
planned to fit in with the reality of our new space.

We have some beautiful solid oak items from First English which we don't have room to move, but have some history so are reluctant to part with. There are two chancel chairs, a baptismal font and an alter still at 441 Sherbrook. Does anyone have a use for these articles? They will have to be picked up in the next week as the property at 441 Sherbrook has been sold. Email me at judydikk@mts.net to make arrangements for pickup.

Our new Volunteer coordinator on the Board, (also a volunteer), Tannys Strand is starting with us this week. She will be contacting each person who has previously indicated an interest in volunteering to have a chat re: your interests, availability, talents etc. If you do not get a call, and are interested in moving this ministry project forward, please email Tannys - tannys_strand@hotmail.com with your contact information. We currently are operating with a very small but dedicated
group of volunteers who would welcome your involvement. There is a Christmas party for the children and a Christmas dinner planned this month.

I've had a few calls re: clothing donations. There are currently
approximately ten clothing banks in the West End area of Winnipeg and hence, the Urban will no longer have a clothing bank program. Denise has done some research and we have decided to have any of our would be donations sent to the West Central Women's Resource Centre at 583 Ellice (774.8975), just down the block from where we are currently located. We will be running specific needs programs throughout the year. For example, during the cold months of winter, donations of socks, mitts, scarves, toques, hoodies, sweaters will be welcomed and distributed to our clients as necessary. Coats and any other clothing, please deliver directly to 583 Ellice.

There has been a delay in getting our website up and running...thanks for your patience. We are working on this and will hopefully have this rectified very soon. In the meantime email either Denise - dwarren@elcic.ca or myself Judy Dikkema - judydikk@mts.net for general information or Tannys tannys_strand@hotmail.com for volunteer opportunities.

Watch for updates in programming here in CrossWord and on our website in January.

Judy Dikkema,
Chair, the Urban Board of Directors

Faith Lutheran Church’s River Park Gardens Advisory Council
is receiving applications for the following position:

Spiritual Advisor (Chaplain)
River Park Gardens Personal Care Home
735 St. Annes Road
(20 hrs/week Contract Position)

Areas of Responsibilities:
Under the general direction of the Senior Pastor, Faith Lutheran Church, and with the cooperation of the Director of Care, River Park Gardens, the Spiritual Advisor shall:

• Oversee the spiritual care of residents and staff at River Park Gardens;
• Assists in the training of volunteers doing resident spiritual care visits;
• Participate as a member of the resident care team;
• Oversee the provision of regular worship & special services, in partnership with local faith communities;
• Provide regular visitation for residents and support for their families;
• Assist with transitions in admission and palliative care;
• Coordinate with area faith communities the provision of ministry for special needs and traditions;
• Assist in the development of greater awareness and education in matters of faith, aging and wellness for residents, staff and families.

Qualifications     (Education, Knowledge, Abilities & Skills)

• Completion of at least two quarters of Supervised Pastoral Education through the Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice Education (CAPPE), with Advanced standing
• At least two years theological education, consistent with Lutheran/Anglican theology, at an accredited seminary or school of theology
• Strong interpersonal, communication & empathetic listening skills.  
• Education and/or work experience in gerontology including dementias is an asset
• Ability to exercise good judgment, use discretion and be self-motivated
• Ability to work effectively as a member of the resident care team

Closing Date: January 4/2008

Applications should be sent to:
                Attn. Alf Horn,
                c/o Faith Lutheran Church.
                1311 Dakota St.,
                Winnipeg, Mb.
                R2N 1V8

A worship service especially for those who struggle and feel ‘blue’ at this time of year and those who wish to support them.

Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 7pm
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
600 Cambridge Street, Winnipeg

Coffee & fellowship time to follow

Bulletin announcement