MNO SYNOD CONGREGATIONS & ROSTERED MINISTERS Attached is a memorandum from Bishop Elaine inviting congregations or individuals to apply for a grant from the MNO Synod Foundation for Mission and Ministry Inc. Also attached are the grant application guidelines, and application form.
The deadline to apply for funds is May 31, 2008

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Can you help?
A couple of youth from Brandon are looking for a team to connect with so that they can attend "Travel Light", the Canadian Lutheran Youth Gathering in Whitehorse this summer. Is there a congregation willing to invite these two and provide leadership? Here is your opportunity to be "In Mission for others", growing two young people from a sister congregation of our synod. As registration for the gathering closes in weeks, time is of the essence.

Please contact Pastor Larry Ulrich at the synod office lulrich@elcic.ca or 204.889.3760 as soon as possible.

Interested in picking up a copy of the Peer Ministry Training Manual that was distributed at last fall's Peer Ministry Training Event?

The manual is an excellent resource for youth ministry meetings as well as training for youth to be peer ministers.

The Synod is planning on ordering more copies. The cost of the manual will be $50 including postage and customs fees.

Please contact Larry Ulrich at lulrich@elcic.ca , if you are interested in obtaining a copy.

Has your congregation faced a new challenge with creativity and energy? Congregations across the ELCIC are facing the same challenges. We'd love to share your experience with them.

Do you know someone who is making a difference in your community? Share their light with others who are looking for inspiration.

Each issue of Canada Lutheran delivers fifteen pages of news, events and stories from the five synods. It is a terrific opportunity to acknowledge the valuable ministry occurring in congregations and special ministries across the country.

First answer the basic who, what, when, where questions, then tell us what makes your news especially memorable. Allow us to understand the setting and relate to the people involved. Get some quotes that sum up people's feelings. Reveal the unexpected twist that people could not have expected at the outset. Share your writing with some of the people involved and incorporate their comments into your submission. Include some great photos that give your story that extra zing.

Send your submission to rscherger@elcic.ca.

First Lutheran Church
580 Victor Street, Winnipeg
is seeking an Organist – Pianist – Director of Music
For full details, please go to www.mts.net/~flcwin

Faith Lutheran Winnipeg
An associate minister, specializing in pastoral care and small group ministry, is being sought for Faith Lutheran in Winnipeg. The qualified candidate may be Lutheran or Anglican, rostered or lay. The Description of Ministry is posted on the website: http://www.faithlc.ca/Ministry%20Ops.htm

Student at Brandon University?
Need to de-stress before exams? Here is what you need to know - April 4, 7:00pm at Forbidden Flavors on 34th Street, Brandon.

On Palm Sunday, at the Urban, Sandy Belisle was welcomed by the
community into her position of Ministry Leader and Manager.

Pastor Larry led the service with the very appropriate theme of palms - of celebration, of hurt, of servitude, of prayer.

She starts March 17, same phone number - 774.3143.

The Urban could really use a couple of male volunteers for the Kids Club that we run on Thursday nights at the Urban (743 Ellice) We could use more volunteers for that in general, but the preference would be younger males, as there are a fair number of boys who attend, and could definitely use a positive male influence, it seems. It runs from 7 - 8:15 pm each Thursday.

Tannys Strand is the volunteer coordinator and would love to hear from you. She can be contacted at tannys_strand@hotmail.com

A Joint Easter Greeting from ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson and ACC Primate Archbishop Fred Hiltz

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)'s National Bishop Susan C. Johnson and The Anglican Church of Canada (ACC)'s Archbishop Fred Hiltz issued a joint 2008 Easter Greeting, A copy of the full text follows:

Dear Friends in Christ,

With gratitude for all that God has done for us in Christ, we join you in the journey of Holy Week. It takes us “from the glory of the palms to the glory of the resurrection, by way of the dark road of suffering and death.” (p 297, The Book of Alternative Services) As the days pass the drama heightens.

Through the liturgy we recall the last supper, the agony in the garden and the trial. On Good Friday we are following Jesus hour by hour, and moment by moment. As he hangs on the cross we cling to his words, forgiving all who look to him in faith, caring for his dear mother, thirsting for refreshment, longing for love’s redeeming work to be finished, commending his spirit into the hands of his Father. As he breathes his last there is silence – in our hearts and throughout the whole Church. Our Lord, as the Apostles’ Creed puts it, is “dead and buried.”

And then comes the night when the Church gathers in vigil awaiting the joyous message that, “He is risen! Alleluia.”

So begins the great 50-day festival of Easter. With joy we hear the stories of the Risen Lord greeting Mary Magdalene, inviting Thomas to believe, calling Peter to shepherd his flock, opening the scriptures and breaking bread at an inn in Emmaus, breathing upon the apostles and sending them into the world in the power of the Holy Spirit. As people of faith, we find ourselves in these stories.

For Holy Week our prayer is that as Christ gave himself for us, we may give ourselves to him through lives of faith and abiding commitment to his gospel of love.

For Easter our prayer is that we may know joy, peace, and hope in the Risen Lord, and that “by his grace, we will be enabled to show the power of his resurrection in all we say and do.” (Proper for Second Sunday of Easter, p 32, Evangelical Lutheran Worship)

In Him,

We are sincerely yours,

The Rev. Susan C. Johnson, National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Archbishop and Primate, The Anglican Church of Canada

View a pdf version of the greeting: http://elcic.ca/From-the-Bishop/documents/2008Easter.pdf