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.

Theme: Travel Lightly in MNO
Getting ready to “Travel Lightly” to Whitehorse this summer? This pre-gathering event for the first long weekend in February is for you. It will be a “foretaste” of the National Gathering, while at the same time providing us an opportunity to travel north and encourage youth ministry in the north.
Add music and worship, special northern activities like an Inco Nickel tour, a treasure hunt featuring the “wolves” in Thompson ( a little like the bears that are around Winnipeg), snowshoeing, or making dream catchers with an aboriginal artist, and you know the weekend will be one not to miss.
Guest Leader:  Rev. Paul Gehrs, Assistant to the National Bishop, ELCIC
Musicians: Prairie Fire

Registration: Get your registration form and cheque made payable to “MNO Synod” to your leader ASAP, because registration is limited to two busloads (100 people). All registration forms must be signed by youth, parent or guardian, and youth leader. The cost is only $50 per person, since the $8000 cost for the buses is being covered by the Synod. Registration covers the cost of six meals, and all the activities in Thompson. Registration deadline is January 31, 2008, but remember, registration is limited to 100.

Bus Information: The buses will leave from north Winnipeg (the Sears parking lot in Garden City  - McPhillips and Leila) on Saturday, February 16 at 8:30 am sharp (be ready to load at 8:15 am) and return on Monday, February 18 at approximately 5:00 pm.  If you are catching/departing the bus from Ashern (Esso gas station), the times will be approximately 10:30 am on Saturday and 3:00 pm on Monday.  (We will be making two stops for bathroom breaks, and snack purchases. Because there is nowhere to stop for lunch, bring a bag lunch with you to eat on the bus on Saturday. A bag lunch will be provided in Thompson for the trip home.)

Emergency Contact Number: Advent Lutheran, Thompson (204) 677.4448

Packing List:  (try to live up to the theme of “traveling light”)
Pillow and warm sleeping bag (in clearly marked bag)
Towel, soap, tooth brush and tooth paste, other toiletries
One suitcase with casual/warm clothes, the above toiletries in it
Warm winter outerwear
Talent for talent night
Lunch for the bus trip to Thompson
           
Questions, more information: Check the Synod website  (www.mnosynod.org), email our registrar, Debbie Beyer at dbeyer@elcic.ca  or contact Pastor Larry Ulrich at lulrich@elcic.ca  or 889.3760

Thank you to everyone for your support to date. 50% of the MNO congregations or 34 churches have already provided financial support which now exceeds $42,000. This is an excellent beginning to putting ourselves in a position of completing many of the projects we have identified as being priorities for our companions in the Cameroon. Communications from the Lutheran Church in the Cameroon have been enthusiastic in their support of the program.
Pastor Jack Frederick and his wife Val will be returning to the Cameroon in the spring of 2008 to assist with project management, inspection and follow up. This provides us with several more months of opportunity to add to our financial reserves which will enable us to complete more of the critical programs we have identified.

To date we have provided $8000 to upgrade the wiring in the local Hospital (one of our projects). Currently most medical procedures are unable to be performed when electrical failures occur (which can be often). The new wiring will allow for the installation of a generator to facilitate continuous supply of electrical power.
If we think of our world this truly would be considered a basic necessity.

We have also provided $3600 for our orphans program. Regular updates from the administrator of this program have been excellent as we are seeing between 35 and 60 orphans on a continuing basis coming for spiritual and hygienic education, food etc. The demand for our support is significant in this area.

Hymnals are being ordered for shipping to support the only English congregation within the EELC - again one of our targeted projects.

Please continue to promote our project in your congregation. Your prayers and financial support are truly appreciated. With Pastor Jack and Val Frederick returning to the Cameroon in the spring of 2008 we look forward to giving them the financial tools to achieve many of our goals in the Cameroon.

*Request congregations publish in their Newsletter or as a bulletin insert.

Attention Pastors, Diaconal Ministers, Church Staff, Bishops and all who participate in the ELCIC's Continuing Education Plan (CEP):

Along with member accounts for short-term study, the ELCIC's CEP provides opportunity for members of the plan to apply for long-term study grants. Please note that the deadline to submit your applications for long-term study grants is January 15. The application form, which has been revised for 2008, is available online at http://elcic.ca/Documents/documents/CEPLongTermStudy
LeaveForms.pdf

To be eligible to apply for long-term benefits, the member must have been an active contributor to CEP for at least one full year and have been in an approved ministry for at least five years in Canada. After having secured permission for an extended leave of absence (3 months or more) from the parish/employer and synodical bishop, a member may apply through the ELCIC's National Office, to the Program Committee for Leadership for Ministry for a grant from this fund. Normally for long-term study, a member will be involved in a degree program (academic or clinical) requiring full-time residency.

The size of grants awarded in a given year will depend on availability of funds and number of applicants and consideration will be given to need. The maximum grant awarded per individual for any one year will be $5,000.

Additional information regarding CEP long-term grants can be found in the CEP Brochure, at
http://elcic.ca/Leadership/For-Ministers/documents/CEPBrochure2006.pdf

In Chemistry, He turned water to wine.

In Biology, He was born without the normal conception.

In Physics, He disapproved the law of gravity when He ascended into Heaven.

In Economics, He disapproved the law of diminishing returns by feeding 5000 with two fish and five loaves of bread.

In Medicine, He cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs.

In History, He is the beginning and the end.

In Government, He said that He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace.

In Religion, He said no one comes to the Father except through Him.

So, who is He?
He is Jesus!
Let's celebrate Him!
He is worthy!

The Synod office will be closed for the Christmas break starting Friday, Dec. 21and will reopen Wednesday, Jan. 2. Debbie Beyer will be on holidays until Tuesday, Jan. 8.

The Synod Office renovations are complete and we are excited to be back in the office. While it is delightful that the office has a whole new look, the most exciting part is that it is so much more workable for our staff configuration. Come and check it out in the new year!

Thank for your patience throughout the past several weeks!

As well, the next issue of CrossWord will be available January 9.

Synod Council has accepted the resignation of Mr. Don Martin as Treasurer. We are very thankful for the gifts Don brought to the office of Treasurer. He has been a wonderful asset to the synod and we will miss his expertise and manner very much.

The search for a treasurer continues. If you know of someone to nominate, please send their name to Bishop Elaine. It should be someone who supports the vision for ministry in our synod, who has skills in accounting, and who is available for monthly meetings of the executive.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)'s National Bishop Susan C. Johnson and Anglican Church of Canada (ACC)'s Primate Archbishop Fred Hiltz issued a joint 2007 Christmas Greeting, rejoicing in the richness of the ELCIC's and ACC's Full Communion relationship. A copy of the full text follows.

Grace to you and peace in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
It gives us great pleasure to write to you together as the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and the National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada in order to send you our best wishes for a blessed Advent and a joyous celebration of Christmas.

In a world where there is much conflict, we give thanks for the birth of the Prince of Peace.
In a world where there is much division, we celebrate the unity we have in Christ.
In a world where many are in need, we ask to be given generous hearts and willing hands.
In a world where many are alone, we rejoice in the richness of our relationship of Full Communion.
Our hope and prayer for each one of you is that you will be able to join us in proclaiming with the hymnist:

"Oh, join with me, in gladness sing, to keep our Christmas with our king, until our song, from loving souls, like rushing mighty water rolls.”

The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Archbishop and Primate, Anglican Church of Canada and The Rev. Susan C. Johnson, National Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The Christmas party, the first community event held at the Urban at 743 Ellice went well . Check our website www.urbanministry.ca for pictures.

We'd like to thank everyone who has responded to our wishlist. We no longer require plates, cups, cutlery... in fact we have enough to put on a community dinner. We appreciate the donation of grocery giftcards - there was enough to cover the Christmas party held on Dec 16. We have enough banquet tables, and hopefully will get the dishwasher in place by Friday so that we can go ahead with the Christmas dinner planned for
Christmas day.

One of the children's activities being planned is a photo art gallery of the neighbourhood. If anyone receives an upgraded digital camera this Christmas, please consider donating (recycling) your old one to the Urban. By using digital, we will eliminate the need for buying film and will allow the children more opportunities to take spontaneous pictures.

From the Board of Lutheran Urban Ministry to all - have a Blessed and safe Christmas.

The Synod Mutual Ministry Committee supports the bishop and support staff by serving as advocate, mentor, listener, coach, encourager and confidant. Its primary purpose is to affirm and strengthen the mission of the synod and monitor the well being of your bishop and support staff.

This committee will normally be the contact point for congregations and individuals to express concerns and issues regarding the bishop and support staff of the MNO Synod.

The Mutual Ministry Committee is a response to the gospel’s admonition to love and care for one another. It provides an opportunity for early intervention and the potential for early resolution of different points-of-view. This committee also accepts expressions of appreciation on behalf of the Synod Office.

The members and contact numbers of the committee are:

*Request congregations publish in their Newsletter or as a bulletin insert.

My Dear Bishop,

It is with great pleasure that Her Honour and I will be holding the traditional New Year's Levee at Government House on Tuesday, January 1, 2008.

We would be very pleased to receive you and the members of your clergy on this special occasion. Spouses are most welcome to attend. We will be receiving from 1 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. and would appreciate if you would kindly inform all members of your clergy of this time.

We look forward to greeting you at Government House.

Yours sincerely,
The Honourable John Harvard, P.C., O.M.
Lieutenant Governor

A new mission in South Ottawa is looking for a Lutheran pastor to serve in team ministry with an Anglican pastor. Details are provided in the attached advertisement.

We do not normally advertise this type of opening throughout our church, however, because of the new joint agreement of understanding signed on December 11, 2007 by the Bishop of Ottawa, Anglican Church of Canada, and the Bishop of the Eastern Synod, we feel we now can proceed.

Pastors interested in applying for this new and exciting venture should go to the Eastern Synod website easternsynod.org/resources, complete the Availability for Call document and forward to Rev. Guenter Dahle (gdahle@elcic.ca) at the Eastern Synod office, with a copy to Ann Day (ann-day@ottawa.anglican.ca).

The Rev. Guenter W.F. Dahle
Assistant to the Bishop
Eastern Synod, ELCIC
74 Weber St. W.
Kitchener, ON N2H 3Z3
Ph: (519) 743-1461 Fax: (519) 743.4291
Toll free: 1.877.373.5242

This is to update you on activities and actions relating to our interfaith partnership in spiritual care in our province--in the health care and justice communities.

To view the Anglican – Lutheran Cycle of Prayer from Dec. 3, 2007 until Nov. 23, 2008, click here.

Christmas blessings to you! We have just posted the latest issue of ‘The LAMPLighter’ on our website. You can view it here: LAMPLighter, Winter 2007.

In this issue, LAMP celebrates relationships as a gift from God. Included are stories about how God has helped us to build relationships with people in the North, and reports of people’s lives being changed due to these connections. You will read comments from a community leader in Manitoba, students who were involved in the Sports program, staff members, and volunteers; real stories about real people giving glory to God.

We encourage you and your family to take time to ponder the miraculous gifts of God this season. We pray that you will receive many blessings in the year to come!
In Christ’s service,
Jeanne Johnson, Dir. of Communications

LAMP - CDN Address:
4966 - 92nd Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6B 2V4
800.307.4036

LAMP - USA Address:
P. O. Box 480167, New Haven, MI 48048
www.lampministry.org