Just a little more than 60 days until Whitehorse

Here's a bit of checklist:
1) Recent material has been posted to the Gathering Website (www.youth.elcic.ca). This includes a Pre-Gathering Bible Study Try to find a time between June exams and holidays to complete this study and your Group Covenant.

2) National Youth Project - Many groups have decided to give a tithe of their fundraising ( 10%) toward Project Reunion, our National Youth Project in Bolivia. Have any groups done even more than that? Let us hear your stories. So far, $7000 of the goal of $25,000 has already come in. See the website for more details. The project ends with the Offering taken at the Gathering.

3) Plan to attend the MNO SENDING SERVICE, August 10 at 7:00 pm at Messiah Lutheran, 400 Rouge Rd. Winnipeg, hosted by the MNO Synod Youth Committee and Prairie Fire. The MNO t-shirts will be handed out at this time.
** (If your group has not yet ordered these, get an email to Melissa Colquhoun IMMEDIATELY - missylc07@yahoo.ca.
PLEASE NOTE: These are not the same as (they are in addition to) what is available on the Gathering website.)

4) IF YOUR FLIGHTS HOME are scheduled for Wednesday, August 20, please be in contact with Pastor Larry Ulrich at the Synod office (lulrich@elcic.ca) by June 15. He has been making inquiries in Edmonton and is planning to coordinate transportation (much cheaper than taking a taxi) for our groups who need to get from an Edmonton church (where you will be hosted on Tuesday night) to the Edmonton airport on Wednesday. If this is of interest to your group, please provide him with the flight information (time of scheduled departure) and the numbers from your group.

Volunteer Opportunities
We have been blessed with a passionate group of volunteers for the
Children's Ministry happening on Thursday evenings. There is always room for a couple more to fill in when one of the regulars can't be there. To free Sandy, Ministry Manager for the Urban, to work with the children, we require at least 2-3 volunteers to attend the Adult drop-in which runs simultaneously in the food service area. Call the Urban, 774-3143 and talk to Sandy or call Tannys at 228-7594.

If there is any church group willing to share their VBS program with the children living near the Urban, here is an opportunity for ministry
right in the middle of our city. We will be suspending the regular
Children's Ministry over summer to give our volunteers a break.

The Sunday Worship and Meal is becoming very well attended and some of our regular volunteers are not available over summer. Here is an opportunity to get to know the Urban and Worship, Serve and share a meal with all who attend. Get a group together and pick a Sunday...same contact numbers as above. Food preparation 11:00 - 1:30 or food service and clean-up 2:15 - 4:00. Worship service is held 1:30 - 2:15.

Mark your calendar
The AGM of Lutheran Urban Ministry date has been set for October 26, 2008:  3:00 pm.  There will be more information available as we get closer.  Consider attending as a delegate for your congregation.

The Urban Ministry Course held at the Urban during April/May gave those who attended an in-depth understanding into some of the issues we will be facing as we invite people from the neighbourhood into the Urban.  The final session wrapped up with the acronym PULSE.
P.  Patience – the process takes time, some situations and circumstances are long-standing and there is no quick fix.
U.  Understanding – the trappings of inner city issues like poverty, addictions, violence, gangs, abuse both physically and emotionally, family structure breakdown, derelict infrastructure, work opportunities, racism, crime and once again church abuse. 
L.  Love – possesses the desire to do this type of ministry with passion and not for the thrill or claim to fame that some might feel that it brings. There is no room for resume builders.  There is only room for a genuine heart of compassion and a desire for Christ to be       experienced in full glory in the lives that will be encountered.
S.  Solidarity – Standing with those you encounter, that you may be a support and a catalyst of change in their lives.  This does not mean barging into a person’s life and demanding that they be different or be the way you think they should be.  It is the fullness of God’s love that enables you to form a relationship that is not superficial.  It is a    deep concern for a person’s soul that causes you to enter into their   world that you may find out what is truly their need to help them to     be all they can be for Christ.
E.  Empathetic Listening – Genuinely taking the time to listen intentionally to someone through their words, body language and other expressions.  You are not on a quest to see how many people you can casually encounter as trophies.

Finally, our session ended with a poem written by a former youth at risk in Chicago – Leslie Hunter:

IF WE DON’T

If we don’t do it
Then tell me who will?
Take care of the family
Whose loved one was killed?

If we don’t do it
The time will be longer
Between when we feed
People living in hunger.

If we don’t do it
And lay on our backs
Who’ll help the babies
Addicted to crack?

If we don’t do it
Who’ll ease the drama?
For the child who killed Daddy
For beating on Mama?

If we don’t do it
We leave it to thugs
To teach our children
So they can sell drugs.

If we don’t do it
Then who makes the rules?
To build up more prisons
And tear down more schools?

If we don’t do it
The young girl is lost
Selling her body
To pay other costs.

If we don’t do it
And change our perspective
Who’ll help the child
Abused and neglected

If we don’t do it
The ship has been sunk
For the child plays parent
‘Cause Mama is drunk.

If we don’t do it
Then tell me how long?
A mother must struggle
‘Cause Daddy is gone.

If we don’t do it
Then tell me who else?
Will be there for the girl
Who tried killing herself?

If we don’t do it
We let down somebody
Who’s miserably lonely
‘Cause they have nobody.

Who’s going to do it?
Someone said “Christ”
“Jesus can do it”
you know what? They’re right.
But where can we find Him?
No one replied.
Then suddenly someone said
“He lives inside.”

And if He lives inside
Then help them we must
So Jesus can do it
And love them through us.

What we do to the least
We do unto Christ
Now think of how you treat them
And ask “Is that nice.”

Do you love them with the same love
That God gave to you?
In not, then I guess you’ve got More work to do.

Cause if we don’t do it
Then it won’t get done
‘Cause inside of us
Is the light of God’s Son.

If you need to speak to someone about your passion to work at the Urban, give Sandy a call 774-3143.

KAIROS is recruiting for the position of New Media Associate. This is a 10 week contract position beginning June 16th.

Funding for this position is provided in part by the Summer Career Placements program of Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)

We would be grateful if you could circulate the attached posting to anyone you feel may be interested in this position. The closing date for applications is Friday June 6th at 5:00 p.m.

Therese Dineen
Executive Assistant
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
129 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, ON M4V 1N5
tel: 416.463.5312 ext. 243

Download job posting here

The Church of St. Stephen and St. Bede invites written applications for

  THE POSITION OF PARISH MUSIC DIRECTOR

The Church of St. Stephen and St. Bede is a suburban Anglican and Lutheran parish of approximately 150 households.  Laity and clergy work together in the ministry of the parish, as well as of the wider church.  The Parish Music Director is a vital part of this ministry.

Since we are accustomed to the use of an electronic keyboard in worship, the applicant should have a proficiency as both an organist and pianist.  Along with being at home with more traditional church music, this person should also be familiar and comfortable with contemporary church music involving not only organ and piano, but other instrumental accompaniment as well.  The Music Director should have previous music and choir leadership experience and should have, or be willing to acquire, an appreciation of Anglican and Lutheran liturgy.

Duties will include:  playing and leading the choir and other musical accompaniment for all 10:30 a.m. Sunday services and special/seasonal services; conducting and accompanying choir rehearsals; collaborating with the pastor and worship committee in planning music and liturgy for worship; and recruiting people for the choir and other musical accompaniment.

Resumes will be accepted until Friday, June 13, 2008.  Each applicant will be forwarded a full job description.  Interviews will be conducted during the week following, with the job to commence on Sunday, June 29, 2008.

Please forward resumes to:

The Pastor and Wardens
Church of St. Stephen and St. Bede
99 Turner Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3J 2S9

or by email to: rickcondo@hotmail.com

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is a worldwide Christian team of specialists providing aviation and communications help to overseas mission, especially those reaching people in remote, developing regions. Jason Risser, brother of Joan Bachmeyer, wife of Pastor Heimo Bachmeyer is currently the chief pilot for MAF.

Back in 1997 Helga and Jerry Roehr (St. Peters Ev. Luth. Church) spend three days with the Risser family in Lesotho.  As evidenced with a certificate on our bulletin board in their church, shortly afterwards the congregation was able to raise about $ 4,000.00 to purchase two High Frequency radios with antennae.  These radios were placed in very remote locations high up in the mountains where there was no other communications except to walk down the mountain for one and a half day.

About two months ago, Sr. Monica Denk, International Volunteer Coordinator for the Canadian Lutheran World Relief and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, suggested that Jerry may be interested in assisting MAF Canada in the rebuilding of a runway in a very remote location of Madagascar, a 1,600 km long mountainous island 600 km off the East coast of Africa.  The capital city Antananarivo is 5,000 feet above sea level.  The very short gravel runway at Marolambo will receive an asphalt overlay. This community is a two days drive (if you are lucky) from the Capital, but only 45 minutes by air.  The asphalt will increase the payload capability of the airplanes from 50% to 93%. Jerry will leave on this three and half week long trip on June 14, 2008 and will pay the total cost of the trip. Upon his return he plans to share his experience with a picture presentation. 

MAF pilot takes off or land every three minutes, somewhere in the world.  Responding to missionaries’ requests in Madagascar in 1975, MAF stick handled political hurdles to finally start operations in 1988.  Currently MAF operates two single engine turbo Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft in Madagascar.

God's Miracle Gro for the Church - More than 100 Lutherans and Anglicans gathered together on Saturday, May 31at Epiphany Lutheran Church to hear Dr. Craig Van Gelder, professor of congregational mission at Luther Seminary. St. Paul, MN.

The day began with Biblical reflection on a number of metaphors of the church. In fact, we were told that there are more than 90 different metaphors for the church in the Scriptures.

From that discussion came the interesting insight that moves us from the idea that "the church has a mission in the world" to "God's mission in the world has a church". Rather than discerning what "we" should do, as leaders we need to discern what God is already doing in our context, and further wants to do through us by God's Spirit, which means that the church is inherently translatable into any context and culture. He then had the congregational groups working on God's vision for them. He reminded us that vision is not general and all encompassing; mission is that. Rather, vision is time-senstive and context sensitive, and should be redone at least once every five years.

Our workshop that we had advertised as 'Never Call Them Jerks: Healthy Responses to Difficult Behaviour' has experienced a change of presenters due to illness. Arthur Boers has informed us that he cannot present. In a stroke of good fortune and providence, we have secured the services of Speed Leas, a semi-retired Alban Institute consultant widely known for his thirty years of work on church conflict.

About Speed Leas:
The Rev. Speed B. Leas is widely renowned for his work as a Senior
Consultant of the Alban Institute. He is also a United Church of Christ minister, and one of North America's foremost consultants and trainers in the field of church conflict management. For 35 years he has served as a full-time consultant to congregations, and has earned an international reputation as a specialist in church conflict. He has authored numerous books on the topic, including, Moving Your Church Through Conflict, Leadership and Conflict, and Understanding Your Congregation as a System.

Although recently retired from full-time work with the The Alban Institute, Speed remains deeply committed to empowering local church leaders to transform the conflict material in the congregations they serve into a source of energy and renewal.

The workshop will continue to focus on 'difficult behaviour', and Speed is entitling his workshop:
Leadership Responding to Difficult Behavior

The objectives he has outlined are:
1.The participants will explore current theory relevant to handling
difficult behavior.
2.The participants will expand their repertoire of appropriate responses in conflicted situations.
3.The participants will explore ways to reduce defensiveness and anxiety (their own and that of others).

Those who know Speed Leas, and they are many, have already congratulated us on securing his services. If you know his work, you'll want to join us on June 9,10,11. If you don't, this is an opportunity for you to introduce yourself to Speed Leas and his depth, innovation, and wisdom.

The original brochure is attached so that you can glean the relevant information (ignore everything about Arthur Boers) and use the registration form. At this late date, please also email myself or Shirley Thiessen sthiessen@cmu.ca to indicate your intent.

We will be capping the registrations so as to retain the ability to interact meaningfully with the participants.

Our Second Evangelizing Trip…
Val and I with Etienne Fomgbami departed for Garoua on Wednesday morning. (21 May 2008).
The road to Garoua is paved all the 296 kms with only a few potholes. We are driving a Toyota Hilux 4 wheel drive vehicle, which was the vehicle we drove prior to our departure from Cameroon in 2003. The cost of a vehicle is expensive. (300Fcfa per km = 0.71cad), but if you hope to accomplish anything here in a mission oriented capacity, it is a necessity.
We didn’t realize it, but we were to help a Catechist move from a small village just south of Garoua to a village near Maroua.  The other evangelist, Jean (male) joined us in Garoua.
After making some contacts with EELC personnel in Garoua we headed north for a comfortable 30km drive, which then turned into detour after detour. We finally completed the 234 km journey to Maroua arriving in the dark and managing to get lost.

June 2008

Many thanks to the Deans of each conference who keep the bishop and synod office up to date on conference happenings and who provide support to congregations when the bishop is not available. Their work is greatly appreciated. Many thanks to the congregations who support their pastor as Deans of the Conferences and enable the Deans to do the work of the conferences. As most of you know, partnerships create opportunities for mission and ministry to happen.

Agassiz Conference

• Pastor Astrid Schleuter has resigned her call to Grace St. John’s, Carmen and has moved with her spouse to southern Ontario. The congregation is currently updating its mission profile and will be moving into the call process immediately.
• St. Paul, Steinbach celebrated with pastoral candidate James Appleby as he was ordained in the congregation on June 1. He has accepted a call to Armena/Hay Lakes AB.

Aurora Conference

• Advent, Thompson will be entering into a short term ministry partnership with retired Pastor Bill Flath (ABT Synod) who will be in the congregation for three months this fall to assist in a ministry/mission assessment with the congregation.

Brokenhead Conference

• Zion, Beausejour will continue with pastoral support until their congregational mission profile is completed and the call process can begin.
• Thalberg/Greenwald welcomes pastoral intern, Jason Zinko, in August. Jason will serve a one year internship which has been sponsored by the Synod Missions committee. Pastor Mark Koenker, pastor of the congregations and internship supervisor, will begin investigating mission opportunities in the Garson-Tyndall area.
• River Hills, Whitemouth welcomes diaconal intern, Hildegard Vickers, in August. She will serve a one year internship which will be sponsored by the congregations of the Brokenhead Conference.
• Pinawa Lutheran Church will begin a Congregational Mission profile process which should lead to a call process. Pastor Jack Fredericks has resigned as Interim Pastor.

Cambrian Conference

• Zion, Thunder Bay, closed its doors on December 31, 2007. Its presence is still felt in the conference, where most members have moved to other congregations and where financial gifts have been shared to enable mission and ministry to happen in other ways. The trustees are responsible for the sale of the building and are currently working on dispersal of the assets of the former congregation. Please pray for the trustees as they do this very difficult work.
• Salem, Pass Lake will say goodbye to pastoral intern Kristen Steele who is returning to Lutheran Theological Seminary for her final term of training. The congregation will welcome pastoral intern Dawn Mayfield in August as well.
• Bethesda, Kenora, at the centre of Lake of the Woods would welcome tourists and visitors to the community in their summer worship. Pastor Cathy Giroux continues to serve interim ministry in the congregation.

Interlake

• The congregations of Peace, Moosehorn and Grace, Ashern have voted to become a parish. Bishop Elaine will be meeting with them on June 26 to assist in the development of a parish agreement.
• The congregation at Lundar Lutheran Church will begin half time ministry on their own. Future pastoral support is the greatest concern at this time. They will work with the Bishop to look at possibilities for ministry.
• St. John’s, Grahamdale will look at its future in the coming weeks. Greg Saar completes his licensing agreement with the congregation on June 30.
• Church of the Good Shepherd, Selkirk, will begin interviewing candidates for pastoral ministry in the coming weeks. Pastor Ron Vert has resigned as Interim Pastor so the congregation is being supported by supply pastors over the summer.

Metro Conference

• Pastor Lenise Francis has resigned from Christ, Winnipeg. The congregation will be completing its congregational profile over the summer and will be served by supply until an Interim Minister can be appointed. They will begin the call process immediately.
• Pastor Frank Bahr has resigned his call at Church of the Cross, Winnipeg, to take a call to southern Ontario. The congregation will be meeting with the Bishop to begin the call process. Supply pastors are assigned for the summer to give pastoral support.
• Faith, Winnipeg is currently completing interviews for associate pastor/lay professional leadership in the congregation. The congregation has left itself open to a variety of calls that will meet its unique ministry needs.
• Gloria Dei will welcome pastoral intern, Jim Vickers, to the congregation in August. Pastor Lanny has delayed retirement in order for the congregation to provide this valuable training ground for pastoral candidates in ministry.
• Grace, Winnipeg, will say good bye to pastoral intern Sabine Milewski in August and will welcome a new intern, Courtenay Reedman shortly thereafter. Sabine will return to Lutheran Theological Seminary for one term left in her training.
• Pastor Bill Lehman continues in his recovery after surgery in April. He provides some ministry at St. John’s, Winnpeg, as he is able. Thank you for all of the prayers on his behalf.
• St. Mark’s, Winnipeg, begins renovations this month on its basement and heating/cooling system. This is phase one of their building program. Phase two will begin in 2009/2010.
• Sherwood Park, Winnipeg will welcome pastoral intern, Jennifer Marlor, in August. Jennifer will complete a one year internship with the congregation.

Westman

• Erickson Lutheran Church will be looking at new partnerships over the coming months as it seeks to discern what the congregation is being called to do in the area.

St.Paul Steinbach is hosting a worship leader workshop with Hans Peterson on July 13/08 at 4:00 to 6:30.

Hans is one of the members from Dakota Road Music (www.dakotaroadmusic.com) .Hans enjoys working with all kinds of instrumentalist, as well as singers, choir members etc.

We will split up the time to give everyone a benefit of this workshop. Intergenerational Concert at 7:30, free will offering.

We can order supper in at a minimal charge to those who want to stay for supper, before concert. Please RSVP to Ben Nickel by July 6/08 bnickel@stacoop.com or 204.371.5104.

Greetings!

Visual metaphors have the ability to enhance communication. The brief sketch below provides two examples that can be readily incorporated into sermons, newsletters or devotions.

Grace and peace,

Jerry Hoffman
Director of the Center for Stewardship Leadership
Luther Seminary

The Glove

Hold up a glove.

The glove, by itself, does not pick up anything. It is limp, helpless.

Slide your hand into it.

The glove now has dexterity and power.

It has become a gifted, smart glove that can accomplish innumerable tasks.

Money is a glove through which the hand of human personality expresses itself.

The glove by itself is neither good nor bad.

The hand in the glove can take on either self-centered or self-giving characteristics.

It can either open to give, or grasp in greed.

The Difference Between a Window and a Mirror

One day, a certain rich man who lived a miserable life visited a rabbi. The rabbi took the rich man by the hand and led him to a window, "Look out there," he said.

The rich man looked into the street. "What do you see?" asked the rabbi.

"I see men, women, and children," answered the rich man.

Again the rabbi took him by the hand and this time led him to a mirror, "Now what do you see?"

"Now I see myself," the rich man replied.

Then the rabbi said, "Behold, in the window there is a glass, and in the mirror there is a glass. But the glass of the mirror is covered with a little silver, and no sooner is the silver added than you cease to see others, and you see only yourself."