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The MNO Synodical Periodical Volume 5, Issue 13 June 30, 2011
Grants Available through MNO Synod Foundation
Project Grants are available to assist your congregation to be "In Mission". If your congregation has a vision and a desire to try something new that will assist you to be "in mission" in your community, the MNO Synod would like to assist you to make this possible. Two separate grants are available, each with some unique criteria. They are: MNO
MNO Synod Foundation Grants for projects that correspond to the MNO Synod Missional Directions:
1. Strengthen all God`s people for discipleship.
2. Embrace passionately a call to spiritual renewal through: prayer, study, scripture, worship, give, tell, service.
3. Celebrate the abundance of God`s gifts.
4. Nurture relationships with neighbouring congregations and the community at large.

Applications for small grants up to $2,000 to support such projects are available from the Synod. Applications will be accepted up until September 30, 2011. A grants review committee appointed by Synod Council will review the applications in October and make a recommendation to Synod Council who will in turn make a final decision at its November meeting. Successful applicants will receive their funds early in 2012 to begin implementing their projects.
Click here for more information

Documents attached:
2011 Foundation Grant Application Guidelines
2011 Foundation Grant Application Form
Project Support Grants for projects that correspond with CECF (Church Extension and Capital Fund) guidelines. This supports a congregational one-time project, either as seed money for an outreach initiative that the congregation plans to continue on its own after start-up, or that can normally be completed within a year. Some examples of initiatives qualifying are: assisting a congregation with developing promotional and outreach materials for their community; assistance with providing an internship placement in a mission congregation; assistance with conducting surveys in a new development; assistance with stewardship planning or capital campaigns; assistance in providing short term funds for a staff person in some new mission initiative.
Click here for more information

Congregational leaders are encouraged to dream about missional opportunities over the summer as well as to include this on council agendas either over the summer or in September. Deadlines for applications for both types of grants are September 30, 2011.
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yoothloops
2011 Youth Thanksgiving Retreat, October 7-10, 2011 at Luther Village
SCRIPTure:Find your Mark in the Spotlight is this year's theme. Members of the drama team at CLAY in London and others, Caroline Wintoniw, Martine Teetaert, Andrea Sartison, and Barret Miller are the planners/presenters. The goals of the retreat are:
- to provide young people and leaders with practical tools for Biblical reflection and script writing.
- to explore different drama techniques and improve dramatic skills
- to develop up to 10 scripts that can be used back home from this coming Advent to next Pentecost Sunday
thanksgiving 2011 at LV Click here for poster
Click here for information for pastors and youth leaders
Click here for parent and youth information
Click here for registration form
"Common Ground" correction from last Crossword
The list of leaders that attended should have read Lisa van Dijk, Maure Lackman and Tiffany Krievans
Youth Services for the Fall will continue on the first Sunday evenings of the month, beginning on October 2, at 6:30 p.m. in Pinawa, MB.
Bus Trip to the Saskatoon Youth Gathering, 2012 - Your bus trip committee has been meeting and have made plans for an extended bus trip that will take us on a detour into the Rocky Mountains, West Edmonton mall on the way to Saskatoon. Watch for the full details including costs in early September as you begin planning for your group to attend. We plan to leave on Monday, August 13, and return straight home after the Gathering on August 19.
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Young Adult Retreat
This is a New Retreat
We are hoping for this to be a Spirit Building, Relaxing weekend. There will be a fair bit of downtime to enjoy a hike, relax on the beach and get prepared for the busy fall. As well as time to Worship, share thoughts and opinions and have some discussions and devotions. September 23-25. You will not want to miss out!
thanksgiving 2011 at LV

Letter to Congregational Leaders
Retreat Participant Information
Print poster here

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Young Adult Talk
Are you a Young Adult who would like to have your thoughts heard at National Convention? Do you want to talk to other Young Adults to see how they feel on some issues in the Church? On July 11th at 8 p.m., we will be getting together over coffee at the Forks to discuss some of these issues. Rebecca Ulrich has done some work with the ELCIC Task Force on Human Sexuality and will be there to help us learn a little more. We will also be able to talk with two of our youth delegates that are going to National Convention. Hope to see you Monday July 11th at the Forks. We will meet on the main floor by the elevator. Call or text Sarah if you have any questions 204.880.5705.
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Way to go Grade 12 Grad's
You have finally made it and the big world is waiting. There are lots of decisions to make, if you are choosing to go to University it can be very intimidating. We have just what you need to make it a lot easier. The Peer Ministry Programs at U of M, U of W, Brandon and Lakehead! We can offer you support and help finding your way around, a place to eat lunch, use of a microwave, a place to study, and a way to make lasting friendships, and much more. It's as easy as sending Sarah (sgelhorn@elcic.ca) your email to say you're interested in more information.
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Installation of Jim Vickers
The installation of Jim Vickers will take place on July 10th in Erickson Lutheran Church at 7 p.m.  
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Like us on Facebook!
Facebook has made some changes that have made the old MNO page less effective. Please click on the link below to stay in touch with your MNO Synod.
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Back to Church Sunday
MNO held a training workshop on May 28, funded from Mission as Hope monies.  There were 42 participants from across the synod.  Michael Harvey, founder of the program in the UK shared a vision of doubling attendance in one day at our worship. And he didn’t leave us there- on that one day- with nothing as follow up. He suggested that this was a beginning process. THAT INVITATION is a beginning. I could resonate with his thinking. I came to the Lutheran church THROUGH AN INVITATION TO YOUTH GROUP. I wonder how many others are invited, accepted and have stayed. I wonder what would happen if we each invited a friend to our congregations on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2011.

Michael began his presentation with conversations about why we DO NOT INVITE. He said that every congregation has developed thinking and behaviours that lock people out. Can you think about this in your own context? WHAT IF your council and worship leadership had a conversation about this and proposed ways to share this on the first Sunday of September? What would you learn about your community? What would you learn about ways to change that thinking? How could you help people become comfortable in INVITATION?

Michael Harvey also suggested that most congregations are geared for managing decline rather than striving to fulfill the mission to go and make disciples. I often hear people talk about MNO Synod as the second smallest synod in the ELCIC. Two weeks ago staff listed 50 ways our synod is a resource to the ELCIC and the wider ecumenical community. WHAT IF we changed how we thought about ourselves and began to think of ourselves as growing disciples rather than burying people? WHAT IF the emphasis on the second Sunday in September was about what your congregation can offer the community and you could see yourselves as God’s amazing instrument in the world? What would you say to your neighbours about your congregation?

While you are preparing for the fall, think about ways to encourage this kind of vision for INVITATION. Try going public! Take the prepared “Back to Church Sunday” invitations to neighbourhood or community functions. Don’t be shy! As bishop I intend to invite people while standing on street corners during the mornings leading up to September 25th.  Perhaps a conference would like to do this together- have leaders and members of congregations out on one or all of the days leading up to the Sunday event. We might be surprised at what we hear or even what we can say about our invitation. Got some other suggestions? I’d love to hear about them.

The participants at the training event were very excited by Michael Harvey’s presentation. Synod office was encouraged to do follow-up after September so participants can debrief what worked, what did not, and explore a second stage of mission development. Look for that INVITATION in the fall.
Bishop Elaine
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Stewardship Thots
Give First by Chick Lane
I recently had two very interesting conversations on the same day. The first was with a pastor who asked, "Why has stewardship work gotten so much more difficult in recent years?" The second was with a different pastor who reported a conversation with a parishioner this way, "I was talking with a woman in the congregation recently, and she brought up her giving. She reported that their family was giving $20 each week to the church and she felt this was about all they could afford to give. Their household income is well in excess of $100,000, so they are giving less than one percent of their income, and they feel they are maxed out."

Obviously, these two conversations are connected. One reason stewardship work has gotten so much more difficult is that our culture of consumerism has enticed many people to make long term financial commitments that render generous giving almost impossible. For someone to report that giving less than one percent of their income has them maxed out, is, of course, absurd. What people should acknowledge is the choices they have made about the house(s) they will live in, the cars they will drive, the clothes they will wear, the lifestyle they will live. After all these choices have been made first, then there is nothing left to give to God's work in the world.

William T. Cavanaugh writes powerfully of this in "Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire". In two particularly powerful sentences, he writes, "Rather than turning away from material things and toward God, in consumer culture we plunge ever more deeply into the world of things ... One can always send a check to help feed the hungry, but one's charitable preferences will always be in competition with one's own endless desires."

There are two responses congregations might consider that will help people navigate the waters of consumerism and generosity. The first is to provide opportunities for congregants to consider the intersection of faith and finances, toward the goal of making long-term financial decisions that reflect their faith and values. In work done this past spring at Luther Seminary, over one thousand members of healthy congregations took an online survey. One learning from this has been that congregation members would welcome help with their financial lives from their congregation, but don't feel that such help is available.

A second response might be to stress the importance of giving to God first, and living on the rest. In the face of our culture of consumerism, if people give what they have left after they have taken care of all their needs and wants, generous giving will simply never happen. The Bible speaks clearly of the importance of giving to God first. When Moses is on Mount Sinai (for the second trip), God says, "The best of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God." (Exodus 35:26) Just before the people enter the promised land, God says to the people, "When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground ... and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name." (Deuteronomy 26:1-2)

I'm not naíve enough to suspect that stewardship work in congregations is going to get any easier. However, if we can help people on the front end of financial decisions by encouraging faith-based financial conversations and by inviting first fruits giving, then maybe it won't just keep getting more and more difficult.
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Church Council Leaders, Mission Committee Leaders and Pastors
Mark your calendars and plan to be part of reCall: Living Mission in a Consumer's World. Every two years, Mission Planting Canada plans a national congress to inspire church leaders to actively work at being missional churches in our contexts, as well as to support new mission plants. On November 15-17, this congress (www.thecongress.ca) will take place in Winnipeg, so it will never be more economical for our leaders to attend and be inspired. For this to really take hold, it is strongly encouraged that you aim to have at least two people (the more the better) attend from your congregation so that there is a shared experience from which to work when you go back to your congregations. At budget time last year, Pastor Larry encouraged you to put some money in your budget to have folks from your church attend.

The Synod Committee for Mission is very excited about this opportunity, so they have registered us to take advantage of a denominational group rate, which means that we have committed that at least 20 Lutherans will attend, which brings the price down by $30 per person to $169. Moreover, from the Mission budget, they have also committed to subsidizing the first 25 people to the tune of $80 per person. If you are interested of taking advantage of this group rate, as well as taking advantage of the subsidy, contact Pastor Larry at lulrich@elcic.ca

recall
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Countdown to Convention
Bishop's Sermon Sermon for Sunday, July 17
Friday's Forum The Blanket Exercise
Worship Offerings Offerings at Convention
Convention Documents Bulletin of Reports
Prayers For the Whole Church
MNO
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Looking for Your Help
The Urban is in need of your help. It gets very warm in the dining room serving over 100 people. There is also a lot of sweeping to do afterward. The Urban has a wish list for the following items. If anyone is willing to donate even one these items, we would be most grateful.

6 oscillating fans on stands
2 Oscar brooms (they have the angled bristles)
2 dollies wide enough to fit under chair legs
1 Vileda mop and bucket
1 extra Vileda mop cloth
any coffee mugs or plastic cups you no longer need
ELCIC
Orioles Bike Cage is looking for any bike you don't need! They refurbish them and distribute them to those in need in the community. They are located at 444 Burnell Street, north of the Community Club in the wading pool building. They are open Tuesday evenings 6 - 9 PM and Saturday 10 AM to 9 PM. Thank you in advance for your help.
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from the lakeside
Eat, Pray, Love - Women’s Retreat video: watch here
Staff Excitement video: watch here
Please join us for Sunday morning worship 10:30 AM, beginning July 3 – September 4, 2011. Holy communion celebrated July 3, 31 & September 4. Weather permitting it will be on the beach, so bring along a lawn chair!
Why not bring a picnic lunch and enjoy Luther Village for the afternoon?
Eco Challenge Adventure Race, August 26-28. Get a partner and join us for this amazing GPS adventure race! Canoeing, kayaking, running, cycling, swimming (optional). Details & registration form on website.
Please remember to contact us out at Luther Village now: P & F #807.543.4052 Address: Luther Village Box 2040, Kenora, ON P9N 3X8
mno
A Mountaintop Experience at Vacation Bible School
Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 600 Minto, is having A Mountaintop Experience at Vacation Bible School August 8 - 12, 10 am - 3 p.m. Come and learn how God speaks to people, and also about the animals of our Canadian Rocky Mountains. Children ages 3 - 11 are invited as learners, and adults as teachers, helpers, cooks, musicians, artists, and clean up crew. Contact Pastor Nancy Walker, nancyawalker@hotmail.com, 204.232.5313, for more details.
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We Love to Tell the Story
Telling stories around the fire is about as ancient a human activity as there is. Even nowadays, the flames, the sparks, the crackling heat, the circle of stones, invite us to gather, reflect on the meaning of life, explore the mysteries of the universe.

This summer the fire will be lit here at Abundant Life Lutheran Church on Thursdays through July and August, 7:30 p.m. We’ll revisit the ancient practice of storytelling. Who knows what turns our conversations will take, and when our silences will lead us into deeper reflection! And we’ll linger until the stars begin to illuminate the wide open prairie sky.
We’d like you to join us. All ages are welcome. Come as you are. And, we’ll poke around a fire—talking, laughing, sharing bits of ourselves, munching down on snacks. Feel free to bring along friends or neighbours.
 
In our striving to follow and share Jesus’ way of love and hospitality, compassion and joy, here’s an opportunity to hear pivotal stories from scripture, and reflect on what they mean for our lives. July 07     Creation (Who and Whose)
July 14     Garden of Eden (living with the consequences of our choices)
July 21     Rainbow Connection (starting over, finding hope)
July 28     Talking Bush (whose voice, and why it matters)
Aug 04     Rules for a Better World (boundaries for life-giving relationships)
Aug 11     Five Smooth Stones (“Every saint has a past…every sinner has a future.” – Oscar Wilde)
Aug 18     The Way In Puts Us Out (making a difference in the lives of people)
Aug 25     The God Who Runs to Meet Us (the call of a far country, and a place called home)
3486 Raleigh Street, East St Paul, MB (½ km north of Hoddinott), 204.255.5433.
Bring lawn chairs, blankets, bug spray… Inclement weather will move us indoors.
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Birth Announcement
This little Angel (baby girl) of ours came to the world   Sunday 29th May 2011 at 7:00 am weighing 3275g (a tad over 7 lbs). 

Her name is Wilma-Blessing Besem.
Mother (Mary), Father and child are all doing fine. Thanks to the ALMIGHTY GOD who did it for us and thanks to you all for the moral support.
To God alone be the Glory.

Stay blessed with Love. Tabebot William Besem

babywilma

William and Fanta Gaknone oversee the spiritual, schooling and nutrition program within our ‘Kids Helping Kids’ ofELCIC/ MNO … OS-EELC Orphan Program.

We look forward to reuniting in Christian friendship with Fanta, William and the 65 children this coming October. We will be in Cameroon for at least two months.
- Jack and Valerie Frederick, (Jack is the present chairperson of the MNO Companion Synod Sub-Committee)

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Restorative Justice Week
Restorative Justice Week is scheduled for November 13-20, 2011 with a series of daily events as attached.

The opening event will be a reflection and worship experience on Sunday, November 13, 2:30 pm "Celebrating the Sacred Roots of Restorative Justice" to be held at the Lutheran Church of the Cross, 560 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, sponsored by the Manitoba Multifaith Council's Corrections Committee.

Involving participation from Aboriginal, Jewish, Christian and Muslim perspectives, this event is designed to bolster restorative and redemptive approaches to crime to meet the needs of victims, perpetrators and the larger community. Please put this event on your calendars.

For more information please contact Ken Kuhn 204.885.2821; kenkuhn@mts.net
View the agenda here

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Sunshine Fund Deal: Visit Tahiti for only $15!!!!!
tahiti 3D at imax Well, maybe not in real life, but in IMAX 3D it will most certainly feel like you are there!

IMAX Theatre, The Forks North Portage Partnership and the Sunshine Fund have teamed up for this Fundraising event on July 6.

Seating is limited to approx. 276 or so ‘Wave Seekers’ with a portion of the proceeds directed to the Sunshine Fund.

To order your tickets online visit: www.imaxwinnipeg.com

Or at the very least, feel free to distribute this event to as many people as you wish in your contact list!
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Job Opps
Secretary wanted, part time, at Church of the Cross, 560 Arlington Street, working 3 hours per day. Duties include preparation of weekly bulletin and service PowerPoint, general reception duties, preparation of correspondence, recording of offerings, and various other duties. Applicants should have good computer skills, including knowledge of Microsoft word and PowerPoint, related office experience, and good communication and interpersonal skills.

If you are interested, please call or email Chairperson Linda Yaworski at ryaworski@hotmail.com or phone 204.661.5899 or crosspastor@mts.net or 204.775.0331.
Seeking Christian Education Coordinator
Faith Lutheran Church, an active larger Lutheran church in St. Vital, is seeking a part-time (20 hours per week, flexible hours) Christian Education Coordinator with Lutheran theology, strong teaching and organization skills. This would be a good fit for a parent or semi retired person.  The over-all responsibility is to coordinate the many programs of Christian education; recruit, support, empower and appreciate a strong volunteer base; and work collaboratively with the Christian Education Committee, staff and congregation to achieve their goals.

Specific roles involve administering Sunday school, Confirmation, Faith Camp, Adult Education, Cradle Roll and Library; overseeing program organization, volunteer development and record maintenance. See the website for a detailed description of ministry at www.faithlc.ca and click on job/ministry opportunities. Send resumes to Rev. David Saude in care of Faith Lutheran Church, 1311 Dakota Street, Winnipeg, R2N 1V8 or electronically to info@faithlc.ca.  

Closing date for applications is July 25, 2011.

Parish Secretary – 17.5 hrs/wk
Good organizational written & oral communication skills in a small office setting.
Computer competence in Windows, Word & PPT. Reply with resume by August 12, by email to stebede@mts.net.
Church of St. Stephen & St. Bede
99 Turner Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3J 2S9
Read full description here
The Parish Church of Saint Luke invites written applications for the position of Part Time Parish Secretary
The Parish Church of Saint Luke is located in Osborne Village in downtown Winnipeg. There are approximately 180 families in the parish with over 670 souls receiving pastoral care. Laity and clergy work together in the ministry of the parish, as well as of the wider church. The Parish Secretary is a vital part of this ministry. The Secretary will be the initial contact with the parish for many persons, and their perception of the parish may be influenced through this contact.

Qualifications:
- Good organizational skills
- Precise and excellent written and oral communications skills
- Ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information
- Proven secretarial and management skills in a small office setting
- Computer competence: especially in Microsoft Office, using both Mac and Windows
- Promptness in attending to work assignments
- Ability to work with a minimum of supervision
- Effective team player
- Must be available Monday through Friday for 4-5 hours per day.

Written applications accompanied by resumes and references, will be accepted up to and including Friday, July 5, 2011. Interviews will be conducted during the following week, with the start date negotiable.

Fr Paul Lampman
St Luke's Anglican Church
130 Nassau Street North
Winnipeg, MB R3L 2H1

paul.lampman@me.com

Executive Director, Camp Kuriakos
Do you Love…the Lord, the outdoors, the camp lifestyle? Do you possess…strong leadership skills, a vision for the future, a passion for outdoor ministry? If your answers are yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes we just might have the opportunity you have been dreaming about!

Camp Kuriakos a vibrant Christian outdoor ministry located on the shores of beautiful Sylvan Lake, Alberta is currently seeking a qualified individual who enjoys working with people of all ages and who has significant leadership experience to apply for the full-time position of Executive Director.

As the Executive Director you will report to the Board of Directors and be responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the Camp's operations and activities contribute to achieving the mission, vision and goals of the Association.
Read more here
MNO
In This Issue
Grant Applications
Yooth Loops
Young Adult Retreat
Jim Vickers' Installation
Like us on Facebook!
Young Adult Talk
Way to Go Grads
Back to Church Sunday
Stewardship Thots
re:Call - Living Mission in a Consumer's World
Countdown to Convention
Urban Update
From the Lakeside
Mountaintop Experience VBS
Abundant Life Tells the Story
Birth Announcement
Restorative Justice Week
Visit Tahiti for Only $15
Job Opps
CrossWord Subscription
CrossWord is available on the MNO Synod website.

If you are interested in being added to the notification list, please send an email to Rick Scherger with CrossWord Subscription in the subject line. rscherger @elcic.ca
Canada Lutheran
The deadline for submissions for the next issue of Canada Lutheran is July 10, 2011.
Please send submissions to
Rick Scherger at the MNO office at 204.889.3760 or by email at rscherger@elcic.ca.
Canada Lutheran
Youth & Campus Services
Service time -
6:30 p.m.
2011-12 Sched coming soon
Prairie Fire - Burning Bush
burning bush cd
Buy a copy
$20.00 plus shipping.
Call 204.889.3760 or
email: dbeyer@elcic.ca
ELCIC
MNO Synod
Click on a link above to go to the ELCIC or MNO website's.
 
Empowered by God! Shepherding the church! Serving the world!
CrossWord is a bi-weekly publication of the MNO Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
- We encourage congregations and committees to use the information printed here.
- Feel free to share the information or copy and paste to include in your weekly bulletins.
- Please forward the link to members on your congregational distribution lists.
- If you have an idea for a story to be included in the next issue of CrossWord, contact Rick Scherger: 204.889.3760 or email rscherger@elcic.ca
- Deadline for submissions is Wednesday at noon.