CrossWord


People have been commenting on the cost of convention this year. Yes, it is higher than in the past, even the one we held in Thunder Bay. When conventions are held in Winnipeg, we usually experience a small surplus. That surplus is used for the next biennium convention to lower costs of hosting outside of the city on the alternating conventions. We did not have a surplus to use for the Dauphin convention. We knew it would cost more to transport people to a rural site and accommodation costs would be increased. We also knew that our speaker costs would be more. Why did we choose this site? It’s time to acknowledge that we are a synod of rural communities and we need to honour those communities by holding our biennium convention in a rural community. It’s time to offer an opportunity for the rural congregations to host a convention and draw the rural population together at an event with their partners in the synod. We wanted to avoid “always” holding conventions in the larger centres outside of Winnipeg, as if they have the only appropriate needs for conventions. We are doing things in a different way because of the communities we are working with (i.e. one banquet night rather than two events; large group time is at a neighbouring United Church; Parts of the convention will be videotaped and shared across the synod) Kelly Fryer, our guest presenter, is a renewal expert in the church. The small and struggling congregations are most often rural based. The information and process she will introduce should give rural communities an opportunity to look at their context and discern what God is calling their communities to do. The same pertains to other congregations but we had originally intended to provide a speaker who could address our rural issues of mission. As a result of choosing a rural site to host our convention, here is what we have encountered: Many rural congregations are not sending representatives to convention. In fact, 21 rural congregations are not sending delegates to convention. We only have 100 people in total registered for convention. In the past our totals reached 150-175. Only three retirees are presently registered Only one youth is registered for the youth assembly at convention Many complaints about the distance to travel from the city to Dauphin The number of buses we requested will be cancelled because most delegates are taking their own vehicles and there will now be a problem with parking on the Friday of convention. There is limited downtown parking by the church site so some may have to walk many blocks to the convention site. We are encouraging vehicle owners to leave them at the hotel and use the synod bus for transportation to the convention site. Some accommodations will have to be cancelled. The deadline for cancellation of hotel rooms is March 31 if you need accommodations the synod office needs to know by Friday March 28th What does this mean for us? It means we need to look at how we fund conventions. We need to look at how we choose sites to host conventions. It means we need to consider the content and quality of conventions. As a member of the synod, what can you suggest for future conventions? Singers and Musicians wanted The Worship and Arts Committee of MNO Synod is looking for singers and other musicians who will be at the opening worship of the synod convention, April 24th in Dauphin. Anyone interested in singing in the choir or playing an instrument is asked to contact Duane Gaukel by email at dgaukel@shaw.ca or phone 204.221.2742.
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Are you between 15 and 20? Would you like to take a few extra days off school to represent your area at the Synod Convention as part of the Youth Assembly? Come and find out how your church makes decisions and does its work to be in "Mission for Others". This is an exciting convention to be at, since the second reading of a constitutional amendment that would give the youth assembly voice and vote, will be dealt with. It could be an historic moment to be at the first Synod Convention where youth have the vote. Connor Trueman (training in Saskatoon to become a Diaconal Minister and past member of Prairie Fire) and Pastor Larry Ulrich, Assistant to the BIshop will be the Youth Assembly guides and interpreters. We've extended the deadline to apply to April 5. Send your application to lulrich@elcic.ca.
More information
Application form	Index
Spring Kick-Off for Canadian Foodgrains Bank

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Rev.William Riekert
Our beloved brother and colleague, the Rev .William Riekert entered into eternal life on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008. Rev. Riekert is a graduate of Luther College in Regina, SK, Wartburg College in Waverly, IA and Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, IA. He was ordained on June 9, 1940 and served at Emmanuel and Christ, Biggar SK and Kindersly, Haultain, SK from 1940-1943; Zion, Winnipeg, MB from 1943-1947;Christ/St. John, Neudorf, SK and St. John, Killaly, SK from 1947-1957; Trinity, Regina, SK from 1957-1972; Faith, Nepean, ON from 1972-1983 when he retired. Born in Regina, SK, Pastor Riekert is survived by his daughter, Elaine Rainboth(Dan). He is predeceased by his wife, Irene(nee Kinzel) and daughter Thelma. Rev. Riekert is sadly missed by his son-in-law, Benedict Ileleji and grandchildren; Sarah, Christopher, Anne, Andrew, Margaret and Paul. Visitation will take place on Friday, March 28, 2008 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the West Chapel of Hulse, Playfair and McGarry Family Chapels located on 150 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa, ON. The funeral service will be held at All Saints Lutheran Church, 1061 Pinecrest Rd., Ottawa, ON, on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 11:00 am. The Rev. Zachariah Mandara and Bishop Michael J. Pryse will officiate. Clergy are invited to vest and participate in the procession. The colour is white. Memorial donations may be made to the Riekert Internship Seminary Fund c/o The Lutheran Theological Seminary, 114 Seminary Cres., Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X3. “Lord, now you let your servant go in peace for my eyes have seen your salvation.” Luke 2:29
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Job Opps
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
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Publication Changes to CrossWord
Beginning this week (March 26), CrossWord will be issued every second week. There will also not be any issues between June 18 and August 13. Please feel free to leave feedback with the synod office if you have any concerns. mnosynod@elcic.ca Please continue to direct potential CrossWord information to Rick Scherger, rscherger@elcic.ca. Rick will be working every second week and will be away from the office between June 19 and Aug 6. Please insure that any important info pertaining to July, August and September programs is forwarded to Rick prior to the June 18 issue. Publication Dates for 2008 Mar 26 April 9, 23 May 7, 21 June 4, 18 Aug 13, 27 Sept 10, 24 Oct 8, 22 Nov 5, 19 Dec 3, 17
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URGENT! Luther Village is urgently looking for more staff, especially those of Property Manager (April 15-Oct. 31), Head Cook (April 29-Oct 13), spring staff as Kitchen/Housekeeping Assistants(May 1 - June 27...these positions could also be until August 31). Contact the camp office immediately at #783.3337.
The Bud Spud & Steak is back! After the very successful and fun-filled evening of fellowship and food last year, Luther Village is again hosting this exciting evening! Get your $15 tickets for the evening from 6-9 PM on Thursday April 10, 2008 by calling the camp office at 783.3337 or Amy at 222.9470, or emailing luthervillage@kenora.com Tickets include a steak dinner and a beverage. It is taking place at Tijuana Yacht Club, CanadInns, Polo Park. Exciting auction prizes include a Pithog 110cc dirt bike! Don't delay, call now!
	Download and print the poster here.
Luther Village website	Index
Miracle Gro
“Miracle Gro” for the Church: Cultivating Your Leadership for Growth What is this? A workshop to inspire and cultivate leadership (clergy and lay) for growing the church in your context Where? Epiphany Lutheran Church, 200 Dalhousie Drive, Winnipeg When? Saturday, May 31, from 8:30 am–12 noon. Breakfast will be available. Who? Dr. Craig Van Gelder, noted author and professor of Congregational Mission, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN will lead the workshop Why? To make disciples and grow the church is what Jesus invites us to do Cost: $25.00 per person, to a maximum of $100 per congregation (send more than four from your congregation for free) To register: Click on link below. Deadline: May 15, 2008. Make cheques payable to “Diocese of Rupert’s Land” and mail registrations and cheques to: Diocese of Rupert’s Land, 935 Nesbitt Bay, Winnipeg, MB , R3T 1W6. Co-sponsored by the Diocese of Rupert’s Land (Anglican) and by the Committee for Mission of the MNO Synod (Lutheran) Who should come? Church Council Leadership Clergy Anyone with a passion for mission Why should your congregation be represented? This conference is timely, since many of our congregations are facing challenges of diminishment. It can also act as a follow-up to the Renewal Event at the Synod Convention with Kelly Fryer. Your leadership can expect to be reminded of what God is up to and how we are called to help, to hear inspirational stories of possibilities and growth, and be trained and empowered to give missional leadership in your setting.
Letter to pastors and congregations
Registration Form	Index
Spring Courses at LTS
LTS would like to remind you of the courses that are being offered in the May (Spring) term this year. The information about each of the courses can be found on the LTS site at http://www.usask.ca/stu/luther/courses.htm I would like to remind you of two courses in particular that you might find most interesting. They are: PL 362 Teaching Christianity in the Presence of Empire Dr. Alan Lai May 12-17, 2008 PL 255 Leadership Development for Public Life Dr. Terry Boggs Part I: May 19 – 23, 2008; Part II: May 26 – 30, 2008 The registration deadline for these courses is April 4. ALSO, we would also like to announce that for those who are interested in taking the course, Leadership Development for Public Life (PL 255), both Global Hunger Development Appeal (GHDA) of the ELCIC and the Saskatchewan Synod are providing bursaries from $200-$550 for eligible people who register in the course and apply for the bursary through LTS. To register for the course and to indicate interest in applying for a bursary, please contact the Registrar at susan.avant@usask.ca Please check the website for the course descriptions! Dr. Gordon A. Jensen Dean of Studies Associate Professor of Reformation History and Theology Lutheran Theological Seminary Saskatoon 306.966.7866 gordon.jensen@usask.ca
LTS website	Index
Prison Chaplaincy Openings
Rev Terry Richardson, Director General of Chaplaincy with Corrections Canada, has provided a website link to openings in prison chaplaincies. Any rostered minister with an interest in prison chaplaincy is encouraged to access this site on a regular basis to see when opportunities arise. The application process is rigorous, but the ministry can be very fulfilling. Should you want to apply for prison chaplaincy, please contact me to discuss your discernment of call and the process of application. The website is: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/prgrm/chap/contract/contract-eng.shtml Bishop Elaine
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Foundation Grant
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
Memo
Guidelines
Application	Index
Lutheran Bible Translators
My wife and I are with the Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada, and are preparing to do translation work in the Himalayan region. We are in Winnipeg from March 28th to April 14th, and in Ontario for the month of May, presenting LBT and the work we are doing with that organization. The presentation is about 10 minutes long, requires no equipment, and goes with a time of interaction where people can ask questions.
I look forward to hearing from anyone interested in hearing more. Matt Hedlin mchedlin83@gmail.com	LBT website
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MNO Synod office hours
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 12:30 pm CST 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm CST
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Christian Education on-line
Training packages now available! These packages have been developed so they can be delivered as a workshop by your own local Sunday School leadership, but can also be read just for its content. View modules here.

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Multiplying Ministries

More information here
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Youth Worship sched
Apr. 20, Trinity, Starbuck All services begin at 7 p.m.

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