Denise Warren is the new Ministry Leader and Manager for Lutheran Urban Ministries. She brings to the ministry a wealth of experience and an abundance of energy.

"There is a strength in this neighbourhood," she said. "I'm excited about partnering with the people who come here. It might take some time to build trust but we have a solid foundation to build on."

Denise spent five years in Ontario taking care of a thrift store for the Salvation Army. While there she was part of what she called a community based ministry of presence, a place where people could go if they weren't ready to go to church yet.

Denise feels the LUM board has done a great job putting the pieces together to form a solid ministry.

"The board has been watching where God is working," she said.

She also feels that God has put all the pieces together for the work she is about to do. She see herself as a visionary and that this is the kind of project that she does well.

Denise, who is working on her Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Winnipeg, plans on doing some healing ministry at LUM.

"There area a lot of non-profit organizations in the neighbourhood," she said. "We need to find something unique. This will be a place for family healing, including family counselling, budget counselling, cooking and life skills training."

Denise is very passionate about ministry.

"I use what I call an asset based approach," she said. "This is about all people sharing their skills. We can celebrate together. It's going to be explosive."

When dwindling offerings force congregations to make some hard financial choices for their ministries, they may develop short- or long-term responses. A short-term response often only asks the question "How can we raise more money to meet growing needs?" A longer term response asks "How do we respond to the gospel message of Jesus Christ in a sustained, workable way?" While this longer term response does not solve the immediate financial crisis quickly, addressing the long-term situation leads to a deeper, more sustainable and faithful response of God’s people. Daniel Conway, in his book “What Do I Own and What Owns Me? A Spirituality of Stewardship” shows how a congregational financial crisis can indeed serve as a catalyst for spiritual vitality and growth in discipleship.

Mature disciples understand themselves to be learners and companions of Jesus, followers of Jesus, no matter what the cost to themselves. Disciples learn and do. In 1 Peter 4:10 we read “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied gifts.”

Three convictions describe Christian stewardship as a way of life:
1. Stewardship is intimately connected to mature Christian discipleship.
2. A commitment to stewardship must be realized over time as an "entire way of life."
3. A commitment to stewardship has the power to change the way we live.

The four prime characteristics of stewardship are:

1. Gratitude
2. Responsibility
3. Generosity
4. Willingness to give back with increase.

The question "What do I own and what owns me?" provides a framework for assessing our progress in the discipleship and stewardship journey. "'What do I own?' calls attention to all the spiritual and material gifts that we have received from a good and gracious God. The question "'Who owns me?' probes the state of our soul.

Don’t hesitate to be in contact with Larry Ulrich (lulrich@elcic.ca), our MNO Stewardship consultant, to probe some possible ways to address these important questions in your congregation.

Ecumenical ministry happens in all areas of the church. Here is an opportunity for people in the pew to know a little more about the ministry Rev. Glenn Morison, an ordained United Church minister is doing at the Remand Centre.

Rev. Glenn Morison, an ordained United Church minister has offered his services (free of charge) as a guest preacher and worship leader, or for a presentation to an adult class.   Glenn is currently the Protestant Chaplain at the Winnipeg Remand
Centre and also is an adjunct faculty member at the University of
Winnipeg, teaching "Theology and the Arts."  He has served in a variety of ministries including work with international seafarers in Halifax; Latin American refugees in St. Stephen, NB; people living on the streets of Toronto; and the Gitxsan First Nation of Northern British Columbia.

Should you be interested in taking Glenn up on his offer or have any questions please contact him directly at his office by phone (945.0960)

On behalf of Corrections Committee of Manitoba Interfaith Council
Donald W. Sjoberg

The theme for the 2008 Canadian Lutheran Youth Gathering was introduced at this past weekend's ELCIC National Convention.

Travel Light will be your opportunity to:
Encounter the spirit in nature.
Be able to explore a far off part of God's creation.
Explore your individual faith journey while blending with a large faith community.
Integrate Christ into your life journey.
Care for God's creation.
Leave your burdens behind.