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.

Reminder that renovations are going on at the synod office. The walls are being painted this week. We should be completely finished by December 17. The synod staff are all working from home and the best way to reach us is via email.. Calls to the synod office phone number and their messages will be directed to the synod staff for who they are intended.

Email addresses:
esauer@elcic.ca
lulrich@elcic.ca
dbeyer@elcic.ca
rscherger@elcic.ca

Luther Village Dinner & Dance a Success!!!
A magnificent evening was experienced by all in attendance last Friday, for the 5th annual dinner & dance, celebrating outdoor camping ministry! Almost 200 people were in attendance and enjoyed the gourmet dinner beginning with a delicious warm mushroom strudel...mmmmmm...!

Following the decadent food, Legacy, the Bunkowsky family band entertained with their endless, incredible music! What a talented family! They played till we dragged the last dancers out of the building!


Who thought raising money could be so much fun? Fellowship, music and dancing, all for the love of Luther Village! If you missed out, watch for next year's date in November!

Coming Soon...the 5th annual family Ice Cream Social!
Mark your calendars for Sunday February 3, 2008, 2-5 PM at Grace Lutheran Church. Concert by juno award winning entertainer, Jacques Chenier!

More details to follow!

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".

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. Please note that registration deadline is December 15.

Volunteer Manitoba is ready to accept registrations for the 2008 Executive Director Leadership Group. This group is designed to increase your abilities to lead and manage, create links among leaders, and improve your skills to analyze, practice and reflect on leadership in your organization.

The group will explore four topics between March & April:

- Defining the Role of Executive Director
- Supervising Staff
- Supporting the Board
- Improving Time & Organization Management Skills

To register download the registration form below.
Registration deadline: January 30, 2008

Thank you to the congregations who have provided the council chair email adresses. Convention materials are being prepared at this time and will be sent out starting in the new year. Please ensure that the material will find a home.

The MNO Synod office is requesting that all congregations forward the email address of the chairperson of their council. All communications for next year's convention will be done electronically (unless someone is not hooked up to the internet).
Please forward email addresses to rscherger@elcic.ca.

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
(Corner of Corydon & Cambridge Streets)

Coffee & fellowship time to follow

Bulletin announcement

ELCIC'S MISSION IN THE WORLD
Join Margaret Sadler and Marcus Busch, active members of Hosanna Lutheran Church in Edmonton, in spirit as they share with you their work at the Lutheran World Federation World Service office in Cambodia from August 2007 to July 2008. Posts, pictures and highlights from their short-term mission can be viewed on their blog site: http://miwincambodia.wordpress.com/

Further information about other ELCIC Mission Personnel is available on the ELCIC website at: http://elcic.ca/In-Mission-in-the-World/People

PRINT ADS FOR ADVENT
As the Advent season approaches, we prepare in awe and wonder for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Share this unique time of year by extending an open invitation to your community to attend your congregation's Advent services. The ELCIC's National Office has developed a variety of ads that can be placed in local newspapers to announce your worship services. Consider other distribution possibilities as well. You can use different sizes of the ads to create posters, bulletin inserts, door-hangers, fliers and even direct mail pieces.

Each ad has been designed to be personalized; there is space at the bottom for your congregation's name, address, phone number and worship schedule.

Please let us know if your congregation is using these ads by contacting Trina Gallop, Manager of Communications at tgallop@elcic.ca or 1.888.786.6706 x172. Also feel free to contact us if you require additional assistance.

Full information is available at: http://elcic.ca/Documents/AdventAds.cfm

GLOBAL HUNGER AND DEVELOPMENT APPEAL (GHDA)
On December 2, congregations in the ELCIC are encouraged to mark World AIDS Day (Dec 1) in their worship services. A number of resources are available from http://www.worldaidscampaign.info/ . GHDA has also produced a bulletin insert (http://elcic.ca/GHDA/documents/WorldAIDSDay.pdf) that can be downloaded and copied to assist with sharing this information during worship.

The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA), a partner of GHDA, has produced a devotional calendar to allow you to take time each day this Advent season to reflect, with Christians from around the world, on the pain, hope and love made starkly visible in the HIV pandemic. The desk calendar is available for order or to download from http://www.e-alliance.ch/hivaids_adventcal.jsp and offers Scripture, prayers and devotions beginning with World AIDS Day, December 1, through Epiphany, January 6.

CANADA LUTHERAN
Do you subscribe to Canada Lutheran (CL), the magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada? Here's what CL subscribers are reading about in the December issue :
Think Outside the Box: In the hustle and bustle of the season, ways to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas gift giving.
A Retreat of Our Own: Lay people from around the Synod of Alberta and the Territories gather annually to reflect theologically and enjoy a restful, spiritual weekend away from the daily routine.

Garage Sale Sermon: Marla Burnie discovers that the joy of Christmas can't be captured in "things" but in family and faith.
National Bishop's Turn: Bishop Susan C. Johnson calls us to be the human face of God by bringing comfort to those in need.

If you aren't currently a subscriber to Canada Lutheran, find out how to become one at: http://www.elcic.ca/clweb/index.html. Interested in just this particular issue? You can order individual copies of Canada Lutheran for $3.95 plus taxes and postage. Contact the National Office to order.

Congregational renewal forms were sent out to all ELCIC congregations in October. If your congregation hasn't received this information, please contact our circulation coordinator, Barb Wiebe at bwiebe@elcic.ca or 1.888.786.6707 x 177

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Several new job opportunities for positions within The Lutheran World Federation and KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives have been posted on the Employment Opportunities page of the ELCIC website. For more details on these positions visit: http://elcic.ca/Leadership/Employment-Opportunities/Job-Postings.cfm . If you feel someone within your congregation might have the gifts these positions are seeking, please feel free to post this information within your church.

COMPANION OF THE WORSHIP ARTS NOMINATIONS
A Call for Nominations - The Companion of the Worship Arts is an honour conferred in recognition of significant contribution to the national worship life of the ELCIC. Nominations are being received for Companion of the Worship Arts and will be announced at the 2008 National Worship Conference. Nominations with supporting documentation may be sent to The Rev. Don Engel, 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6. The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2007.

CANADIAN LUTHERAN YOUTH GATHERING
Travel Light, the theme for the 2008 Canadian Lutheran Youth Gathering was announced at the 2007 National Convention. Mark your calendars, this is trip is one you won't want to miss! The 2008 Canadian Lutheran Youth Gathering (CLYG) will be taking place August 14 - 17, 2008 in Whitehorse. Further information is available online at http://youth.elcic.ca/travelLight/index.htm and posters have been sent out to all ELCIC congregations.