Budgets, budgets - What does it mean? Budget talk (both last year's as well this year's) in the church, this year is coupled with budget talk in our country. We might be feeling a little overwhelmed with numbers right now. It's time to ask a good Lutheran question - What does it mean? As far as the Canadian budget, that question is being debated and editorialized constantly. But, who are the leaders that are talking about and answering that question in your congregation? Who is talking about the mission and ministry opportunities that your congregation's budget numbers translate into?

The January "2009 Stewardship Ideas for Leaders" (click to reveal the whole document) invites pastors, church council members and stewardship committee members to develop a "NARRATIVE BUDGET" for your congregation, which really means telling the stories of mission and ministry that take place in your church, stories about lives that are changed as a result of education, youth ministry, outreach, pastoral, worship and service ministry. It means telling the stories of mission and ministry beyond your congregation as well, which is the "BENEVOLENCE" part of your budget.

Don't hesitate to be in contact with Rev. Larry Ulrich lulrich@elcic.ca if you need help with putting together a narrative budget.

Other assistance available is:
Congregational Long Term Visioning/Planning Event (What's next in terms of what God is calling your congregation to do?)
Estate Planning/Lutheran Planned Giving Workshop (Assists your people to include the church, in all it's expressions, in their estate planning)
Stewardship Education - various programs (Stewardship education is about God's influence and blessing in our lives, and how we are called to respond in thanksgiving)
Stewardship Preaching Help for Lent (click here)

ELCIC and ELCA Bishops Reflect on Recent Trip to Middle East
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan C. Johnson and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson released a report today reflecting on their recent visit to the Holy Land and sharing stories of both the darkness and light they experienced as part of the journey. The trip allowed the bishops to witness first-hand, "the daily and increasing limitations of human rights in the region," which they felt would be impossible to do without travelling to the Middle East and, "talking with people about their experiences and hopes and fears."

The North American leaders, 42 synod bishops, as well as spouses and staff members, participated in a weeklong series of meetings with religious, political and community leaders in Israel and the West Bank from January 6-13. The trip, part of the 2009 Bishops' Academy, had been in the works for over two years and was planned, "as a witness to God's will for a just peace for all people and as an expression of accompaniment with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) and ministries of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)," says the report.

LAST CHANCE - to register for " Make Tracks - MNO Synod February Youth Gathering" Info below.

Second Annual February Youth Gathering
February 14-16, 2009
Building on our experience last year in Thompson, we are excited about meeting this year at Bethesda Lutheran, Kenora. This is for all youth Grade 7-12. We will be meeting around the theme "Making Tracks: Moving Forward from Travelight". In the context of the wonders of God's creation in Kenora, we will have the opportunity to hear, touch, taste, feel (but hopefully not smell) why we are called to a "Stewardship of Creation" through a sustainable lifestyle. Packets including poster, instructions for leaders, and registration and parent forms have been mailed to your congregation. They are also available below.

Mission Workshop "Churches Starting Churches - What does this Mean?"

Dr. Keith Zeh, mission director in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for Minnesota and the Dakotas, will be addressing the very practical issues of how "giving birth" and "starting new churches", rather than taking away from existing ministries and congregations, can actually breathe new life and purpose into existing congregations. He has had much experience with this in the past five years. He will share various models of churches starting churches, some traditional and some very new models, and we will have the opportunity to ask our questions.

This workshop will be held on Saturday, February 28 from 9 am to noon at Faith Lutheran Church, 1311 Dakota St., Winnipeg.

Workshop cost is $10 per person, with a maximum of $50 per congregation, if more than five people attend from one congregation. Mark this date on your calendar and watch for more information.

Interlake Conference Convention will be held on Saturday, March 14th at Grace Lutheran Church, Ashern, MB
Watch for more details to follow.

Pastor Terri Ann Mattiasson has accepted the call to serve the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Selkirk, MB.

Her installation service will be held on Sunday, March 8th at 7:00pm. All are invited.

ODD SOCKS? What's it all about? Well, it's simply The URBAN's new special giving campaign, an opportunity for outreach to help The Urban during the Lent season. As we think of slowly discarding our winter socks...what better time to think about what to do with all of those 'odd socks' we all have? At The URBAN we know great things often come from humble beginnings...and like 'odd socks' we know we can make the most out of little.

I would like to express my appreciation to all those who gave of their time and energy on January 16 & 17 (and those who came back on Jan 19), to apply a fresh coat of paint to the majority of space being used by "The Urban".

Thanks to Jim McDermid of Cloverdale Paint Inc. for his generous donation of most of the paint we needed, plus roller sleeves, a brush, and masking tape.

There is still some painting that we couldn't complete in the foyer, so keep watching for another, special, notification to complete this area.
Again, thanks to everyone for helping out!
Greg Saar
Property

Peer Ministers from Brandon U., Lakehead U., U. of Manitoba and U. of Winnipeg gathered at the Synod office for training, support, worship, and goal setting in the areas of Worship/Faith Building, Outreach- Expanding our connections, Fun and Friends, and Ecumenical Partnerships for the second term.

Interestingly, both the greatest joys and the greatest challenges for our peer ministers has been in making connections with the students.

If there is a student or students from your congregation that our Peer Ministers don't know about, or haven't as yet been in contact with, please email Rev. Larry Ulrich (lurlich@elcic.ca) so this information can be passed along to our Peer Ministers.

St. Benedict’s Retreat and Conference Centre
March 13-15, 2009
(Registration deadline- March 1, 2009)

About the Theme: Churched, De-Churched, Un-churched – Where are U in the picture?
This is a weekend to relax, enjoy conversations, and ponder some questions like:

• What does the church have to say to Post-Moderns like you?
• How is it possible to engage a growing portion of society, the unchurched, in a way that is authentic and faithful to who we are as children of God?
• What does a book like “I Sold my Soul on EBay, Viewing Faith through an Atheist’s Eyes” add to our conversations?
• What is mission? Conversion vs. conversation    
• What does our Lutheran tradition have to offer a post-modern/post-Christian world?

Dinner theatre at Grace
It is March 12,13 and 14 ,2009 at Grace Lutheran and is called “Grace Anatomy”. Yes it is a spoof on Grey’s Anatomy the show on T.V.

The tickets are $25 and go on sale in February. They include a $15 tax receipt. Tickets are not available at the door and have to be bought directly from us at church. Seating is arranged by table. The tables hold 8 or 10 people. Dinner is served and then Act 1 of the play followed by dessert and Act 2. Both dinner and dessert are served.

The evening starts with dinner at 6:30 and ends approximately at 9:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Please call Karen Colquhoun at Grace Lutheran Church, 211 Kimberly Ave . 661.2562 to arrange for tickets. A good time will be had by all!!!

Join Canadian Lutheran World Relief's Four Corners alternative trade program in supporting Fair Trade by signing up for the One Month Challenge. Pledge to have only Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolate for 30 days.

Between February 14 and March 31, order any Fair Trade coffee, tea or chocolate item and receive: a 15% discount, free shipping and handling, and a chance to win a $250 gourmet gift basket of Certified Fair Trade consumables.

Purchasing Fair Trade products provides an opportunity to be an active global citizen. Your support for Fair Trade promotes sustainable environmental practices and helps farmers in the Global South earn a living wage. Four Corners is committed to the highest ethical and environmental standards in bringing you some of the finest Certified Fair Trade and organic products on the market.
For more information on how you can participate contact Four Corners at 1.800.661.2597 or email fourcorners@clwr.mb.ca.