Helping Keep the Parkland Region Warm
With Christmas over for yet another year, things are beginning to settle back into their normal routine. Well and good for the majority of us here in the parkland region, after all there are only so many goodies a person can eat and still fit into his or her jeans the next morning. But what if, “normal,” means going without those things many of us take for granted… basic things such as toques and mitts when the temperature outside is thirty degrees below zero and the walk to school involves a journey of several blocks?

Well, thanks to the combined effort of Trinity Lutheran Church and the police officers of our local RCMP detachment, perhaps fewer people amongst us will find themselves struggling to keep warm these next few months.

“It all began with a suggestion,” explains Pastor Howard Burnie, “looking to reach out to the community in practical ways, someone suggested that we begin a mitten tree ministry geared towards the children of needy families in elementary schools. The response was excellent, with several people purchasing hats, mittens and scarves, and others knitting them from scratch one loving stitch at a time. We started off sending items to work with a member of the congregation who teaches at one of the schools, and it just blossomed from there.”

Thinking that police officers often times notice people in need of such items while out on patrol, this year the church approached the detachment, asking if the officers there would like to be a part of the program; the request was met with an enthusiastic, “yes!”

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to help” muses Constable Robert Tuff, “and if anyone is in need, I would encourage them to stop by and see us.”

Having received quite a few grocery bags full of these warm winter accessories, there should be enough to meet the needs of several within our community during these last few months of winter. While most items are geared towards children, there is a small selection suitable for adults as well.

Constable Robert Tuff and Pastor Howard Burnie displaying some of the items donated to what has been unofficially dubbed,” The Mitten Project.”

What's Your Mission?
Does your congregation or organization have a mission moment? Share your story with CrossWord readers. Tell MNO Synod members what you are doing in your community and around the world when it comes to mission. Email stories to rscherger@elcic.ca.

Call for Youth Applications
The Synodical Youth Assembly is an important part of the voice at our Synod Convention, April 24-27, 2008 in Dauphin. Two delegates are chosen to come from each of the seven conferences of the Synod, with a maximum of 14 participants in the Assembly. Along with facilitators, including our Synod Youth Ministry Facilitator, Larry Ulrich, they attend the Synod Convention and are normally given voice (and possibly vote) during the Convention.

The registration cost for the Youth Assembly is $125, which is to be paid by the participant’s home congregation. Hotel room, meals, transportation and banquet ticket are included in this registration cost.

Congregational leaders – please encourage young people in your congregation (age 15-20), who you believe might be interested and would be an asset to the Youth Assembly of our convention, to apply. They must be able to attend the entire convention. Registration forms can be downloaded below.

Applications should  be forwarded to Pastor Larry Ulrich at:
MNO Synod
201-3657 Roblin Boulevard
Winnipeg  MB  R3R 0E2

Attention Youth and Youth Leaders!!
The 2008 gathering "Travel Light" is fast approaching. It is time again to put your artistic talents to work. MNO wants to stand as a group and have one shirt to wear on a day at the gathering - it's tradition!!

Therefore, I am asking you to please submit your ideas for a t-shirt design, that includes :
What: “Travel Light”, CLYG 2008;
When: August 14 - 17, 2008;
Where: Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada;
Synod: MNO; and a drawing or theme picture of your choice (including color of t-shirt; remember it is a church function.. i.e: clean drawing/sayings).

Please submit these by February 29th, 2008 to Melissa Colquhoun, 103 Quiring Bay, Winnipeg, MB, R2G 1Y5 or missylc07@yahoo.ca

Thank-you for your submissions.

Whitehorse Transportation Option
Epiphany Lutheran, Winnipeg has purchased a school bus to be used as part of their youth ministry, AND are planning to take it from Winnipeg to Edmonton (and back) to hook up with the Edmonton to Whitehorse National Bus Trip.

They have some additional room up to a maximum of 20 people, and so they are opening this to groups in MNO who might still be trying to figure out their mode of transportation to Edmonton.

Tentative plans would be to leave Winnipeg sometime on August 10, stay the night in a hotel around Saskatoon, and make the rest of the trip to Edmonton on Monday. Return would involve a hotel stay on Tuesday, August 19, and getting back to Winnipeg fairly late on Wednesday, August 20.

Dave Courtney, youth leader believes that hotel and bus total cost would be $150.00 per person (not including food).

For more information about this option, email or call Dave at davetcourt@hotmail.com or 204.269.2661.

Index

The following material has been sent out either by email or mail to all rostered ministers and Congregational Chairpeople. If you have not received the information, please inform the Synod Office.

Attached are Information Sheet and Registration Forms for delegates, youth assembly, visitors and guests for the Twelfth Biennial MNO Synod Convention. Congregational Chairs are asked to forward the information and forms to your delegate(s). Please note that registration forms with full payment are to be received by the synod office by March 15, 2008.  A late fee of $25.00 will be charged for all registrations received after March 15, 2008. No registrations will be taken after April 10th and no fees will be refunded after April 10th, 2008.

Also attached are Information Sheet and Registration Form for the one-day Renewal Event with Kelly Fryer on April 26, 2008. Please see the information sheet about who should be encouraged to attend.  Those registering for the Convention as a delegate, youth, assembly, visitor or guest are automatically registered for the Renewal Event.  Due to space constraints, we are accepting a limited number of registration forms for this event, so please register early.

The registration material attached is also available on the MNO Synod website at www.mnosynod.org.

Moose Night Out
Picture this...it's overtime, the Moose are playing the Toronto Marlies at the MTS Centre. Two league leading teams going at it head to head...hockey at its best! All of a sudden there is a Moose break away...our player fakes to the right and then places a beautiful backhand into the top left hand corner of net! The capacity crowd is going crazy as the goal light comes on...the game is over and so is a great night of hockey. As everyone is leaving the arena everyone is satisfied with the Moose victory but everyone is also feeling good because they watched the hockey game with a bunch of friends and in support of Luther Village.

Please come out and join other Luther Village supporters and Moose fans as we take in some exciting Moose hockey. Game time is 7:30pm, Saturday February 16th. Tickets are $15 and are available by contacting Amy 222.9470 or the Luther Village office 783.3337 or email luthervi@mts.net.

Be sure to invite your friends too! The more people we can bring out the merrier!

Moose tickets website
Download and print Moose game poster

Staff Recruitment Poster
Luther Village is hiring staff for spring, summer and fall positions. For a list of job opportunities, go to the LV website www.luthervillage.ca/emplyment.html

Download and print the LV staff recruitment poster here.

Amnesty International Winnipeg Group 19 Invites you to take on a Lenten Project

Lent begins soon. During Lent we prepare ourselves for Holy Week, when Jesus was tortured and killed. Many people in this world are, at this very time, suffering a similar fate.

We invite you to:

Form a group in your church that will meet weekly during lent
to write letters, emails, faxes on behalf of those who are suffering injustice, torture and facing the possibility of death
In past years, most churches have met after church on a Sunday morning.

Amnesty can provide you each week with suggestions for the letters you should be writing – or you can choose your own letters from www.amnesty.ca or from the Amnesty Newsletter “The Activist”

If you do not have experience of letter writing for Amnesty, an Amnesty Letter Writing Circle will be meeting on Tuesday Feb. 5th at 27 Dundurn St., (off Maryland between Westminster and Wolsey) 7.00 – 9.-00 pm. You would be welcome to join us. If this is not convenient (it will be Shrove Tuesday!), please contact Tom Collings (see below) and we will arrange an alternative. 

If you wish to take on such a project, please inform

Tom Collings – 772 2892 – or at tomjulie@mts.net

Feb. 17 at Advent, Thompson
Mar. 16, Faith, Winnipeg
Apr. 20, Trinity, Starbuck
All services begin at 7 p.m.