CrossWord

Tickle your funny bone
A little girl was sitting on her grandfather's lap as he read her a bedtime story.
From time to time, she would take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch his wrinkled cheek. She was alternately stroking her own cheek, then his again.
Finally she spoke up, "Grandpa, did God make you?"
"Yes, sweetheart," he answered, "God made me a long time ago."
"Oh," she paused, "grandpa, did God make me too?"
"Yes, indeed, honey," he said, "God made you just a little while ago."
Feeling their respective faces again, she observed, "God's getting better at it, isn't he ?"

MNO Synod staff officially begin journey at Trinity, Starbuck
A unique service of installation of the MNO Synod staff was held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Starbuck on Sunday, March 4th at 6:30 p.m. Installed were Pastor Larry Ulrich, Assistant to the Bishop, Rick Scherger, Communications Coordinator and Debbie Beyer, Executive Assistant. Pastor Deborah Moroz presided during worship, Bishop Elaine Sauer preached the message and Pastor Larry Ulrich presided at communion. Special thanks to Pastor Deborah Moroz and the congregation of Trinity Starbuck for their warm hospitality and for providing refreshments after the worship service, and to the Trinity Vocal Choir and handbell choir for providing special music during the service. Thank you also to the MNO Synod youth worship band, Prairie Fire, for their music leadership.

Canadian Lutheran World Relief News
Travel with CLWR this autumn: Global Encounter 2007 New for 2007, Canadian Lutheran World Relief is offering 30 people the opportunity to see Africa through the lens of international development. They’ll encounter the cultures and lands of Mozambique, Uganda, Rwanda or Kenya/Sudan in one of four intimate group settings. Starting together in Nairobi, Kenya, the group of 30 breaks into four groups that will experience different countries. This educational journey will bring participants face-to-face with the struggle of refugees and of HIV/AIDS, with at least six days spent “in the field.” The first-hand work of Lutheran World Federation, CLWR’s primary partner in development, will be seen. Space is limited. Please contact CLWR to request information and to reserve a spot with no obligation. The trip is tentatively scheduled for October 12 to 26, 2007, with an optional safari in Tsavo, Kenya, from October 26 to 27. Emergency relief continues in Mozambique As a member of ACT International, Canadian Lutheran World Relief is bringing relief to 8,000 flood-stricken families in Mozambique. More than 160,000 people have been displaced and at least 45 people are dead, as tropical storms and then a cyclone have battered the area around the Zambezi River. Weeks of heavy rains have triggered flash floods across four central provinces in the low-lying African nation. “We watched as everything we owned was swept away by the water…. The waters washed away all the machamba [garden] crops—our only livelihood, just when it looked like we were going to have a bumper harvest this year,” says Ana Chico, a resident of Sofala Province. Through ACT International, CLWR is bringing aid to the three provinces of Sofala, Tete and Zambezi. CLWR has been engaged in long-term community development in Sofala and Tete. Help CLWR bring much needed emergency relief to Mozambique by making your donation at www.clwr.org, 1.800.661.2597, or by mail to 1080 Kingsbury Avenue, Winnipeg MB R2P 1W5. ELCIC members are encouraged to donate through GHDA.	Ethiopian, Afghan refugees arrive in Canada A family of five fleeing Afghanistan is amazed at the heat here in Canada. Not outside, mind you, but rather the warm apartment, hot water and electricity that awaited them in their relative’s home where they are now living. The family, including an eldest son who is an electrical engineer, have lived in Pakistan since 2001, in the wake of Afghanistan’s civil war. The Afghan family arrived last week in Toronto, on the same day CLWR also welcomed two Ethiopians who have been living in asylum in Kenya. The Ethiopians mark the second arrival of ethnic Oromos in February through CLWR. Their application process took an exhausting 39 months. For one of the Afghan refugees, Canada has already given her a new freedom—the ability to leave her apartment and go into public spaces. In Pakistan, she was not allowed to attend school or go outside the house for fear of kidnapping.

		To include a copy of the GHDA appeal insert in your next bulletin, click here.

Small Sunday School Workshop

Greetings to leaders of Small Sunday Schools from the MNO Synod Christian Education Committee!

We are pleased to announce an upcoming workshop for leaders of Small Sunday Schools on Saturday, April 14, 2007. We will be assessing the blessings and challenges of Small Sunday Schools, sharing resources and ideas, and providing leaders with a chance to "network" with one another. The CEC will also be developing an electronically available Handbook for Small Sunday Schools, partially based on ideas generated at the event.

Please help us to promote this event by posting the attached poster in your home church, and/or printing the following announcement in your church bulletin:

Come on out to "Spicing Up Your Small Sunday School!", a free workshop for Small Sunday School leaders designed to inspire creativity and generate ideas. The workshop will be held at Christ Lutheran Church (Winnipeg), Saturday, April 14, 2007, 10am-2pm (lunch will be provided).

Register *for free *by contacting Margie Kvern at (204) 487-7659 or MKvern@wrha.mb.ca by April 5, 2007.

Thank you for your support. We hope to see you on April 14!
Yours in Christ,
The Christian Education Committee

To download and print the poster click here.

God Talk host caught off-gaurd by Pastor Lurvey's on air demo
When Rev. Tom Lurvey from Sherwood Park Lutheran sat down at the microphone on Sunday, I noticed that he had a small ceramic bowl. He set it on the studio desk beside him and we proceeded to unpack the meaning of Lent and particularly Ash Wednesday. Tom described the four disciplines of Lent - repentance, fasting, prayer, acts of kindness. Then we got around to the actual rituals associated with Ash Wednesday. I've always been curious about the practices related to the ashes and as Tom described the process of burning palm branches in his garage (click for audio!) he opened the ceramic bowl and showed us and our listeners the black paste. There was no way I could have anticipated what happened next! He offered to perform the ritual (albeit a couple days late) on one of us. I quickly volunteered. He came over (live on air) and marked my forehead with a big black cross and said these words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The words caught me off-guard. What was supposed to be simply an on air demo suddenly became real for me. The whole point of the ritual on Ash Wednesday is to put life into proper perspective - to acknowledge that we are mortals. Remembering that simple truth seems to shape the way we treat others and ourselves. I paused for a moment and let the reminder sink in. The words reminded me that I didn't need to try to "be somebody", that striving isn't necessary... Honestly, all of that happened in that one on air moment! Like I say, it caught me off-guard. Go figure... Rev. Tom Lurvey had the interview "rigged" long before he got to the studio. He came prepared with his ceramic bowl of black ashes paste with me in mind and for that I thank him!
	Pastor Tom Lurvey marks talk show host David Balzer with ashes live on air during CJOB's God Talk.
	To hear the interview click on the God Talk link at the bottom of the left-most column.
	To join in on David Balzer's blog click on the link below http://davidbalzer.blogspot.com/

Greetings from Cameroon
Saturday March 3, 2007… This has not been an easy week – we have both been slightly under the weather. Jack has suffered the effects of fatigue, since our arduous Evangelizing trip of 12 days and then the four day EELC council administrative meetings in the bureau two days following our return. They were lengthy, hot and in French! Commencing at 8 a.m. and ending late into the night (10 p.m. with no breaks)! Many suffered GI upsets, including Jack, along with the many coughing and sputtering’s of germs - alas, he has had a nasty throat and congestion problem all week. Today he is definitely feeling better, I hope. I’ve just read the devotion for tomorrow from Luke 13:34… ”How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under wings, and you were not willing!” Do we feel that here in Cameroon? – we look, we pray, for ways that we in our MNO synod within our Canadian ELCIC church can help these people. Sometimes I feel so frustrated with it all. On our trip we saw the thirst for God’s Word. We saw in the many people we met, whether Muslim – non-Christian/animistic or Christian - the desire for us all to live in accord with one another – Peace! Do we have the right to place our ideals upon them – what would be best, we ask, to break their circle of hardship? We all have not been given the choice of where we should be – the choice is God’s - have we been dealt the winning hand? Who can answer that – these people have many attributes I would desire, patience being one. The knockings at the door with young and old trying to eke out a living, whether…carrots, fruit, veggies, bottles of sand, just now a little boy with a used magazine in French, the blind man with his cup, the rug (prayer mats) man with finger pursed on lips wanting food. So difficult, we cannot help them all! How can we help them? We have been given an astronomical job in being ambassadors for our church – to find feasible, sustainable projects. Some may hinder more than aid! Our surgeon friend from Duluth also throws his hands up in question – how – what and why are things the way they are? On a lighter note…Jack ran over our doctor friend’s (Jim) foot today as we were getting ready to go to the petite marché – after confusion as to whether to go frontward or backwards – Jim’s foot (his toes) were released from the tires grip. No broken toes – now we can laugh about it. A story to tell. Gracious Lord, help us to spread our wings and fly along with you as we try to help you. Amen. Shalom… Les bénédictions de Dieu… Jack & Val Frederick

	EELC Mission Station BP 111 N’gaoundéré CAMEROON, West Africa Phone: 011-237-711-3354 javafrca@mts.net; OR javafrcan@yahoo.ca

Is your congregation represented?

In a recent article of "Christian Week", a Manitoba evangelical based newspaper, David Balzer, a local radio talk show host from Godtalk, described how he encouraged a couple of non Christians to attend local worship services in Winnipeg. After each weekly service, he asked the participants to describe what the worship services were like and what touched them.
He found the participants did not respond to worship style but responded to "the mystery of God", the authenticity of the worshippers faith experience. Authenticity spoke to the new participants.
Balzer, also indicated that there was a website which held a guide to Winnipeg churches and provided for worshippers reviews and comments about the congregations visited.
Did you know that most ELCIC congregations in Winnipeg are listed on the website and a couple have comments about the worship experience? Congregations are invited to look at the site and perhaps use this as an evangelism tool of the 21st century (use the technology available to get the message out about your worshipping communities).
See www.churchreviews.org/Canada/Winnipeg-Churches

Reminder

Rostered ministers are reminded to submit their acknowledgement forms regarding the ELCIC Sexual Harassment Policy. Thanks to those 22 rostered ministers and 2 students who have already done so. Retirees who are not serving as supply nor interim ministers do not need to submit the form.

Thank you to those 28 rostered ministers who have submitted their annual Confidential reports to the Bishop. It has been good to know personal and professional issues that affect your ministry and life. It also helps the bishop to identify growing issues for rostered ministers and their congregations and enables us to assist where appropriate and necessary.
The reports are a great tool for connecting with our roster when personal contacts at conference conventions, professional leadership conferences and parish visits are not enough.

Foundation Grant Applications
Below is a memo from Bishop Elaine Sauer inviting congregations to apply for a grant from the MNO Synod Foundation. Also attached is the grant application. The deadline to apply for a grant is Thursday, May 31, 2007.
Memo from the Bishop	Synod Foundation Grant Application

Paterson's bulletin covers on display
James Paterson is the artist who designed the ELCIC Bulletin Covers for Series B, just past. He is also designing the coming Bulletin Covers for Series A. Paterson's Series B will be on display at the Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery, 600 Shaftsbury Blvd., Winnipeg, March 9 - April 21.

Print the colour poster	Print the B&W poster

Centered Life - Connections
To view the onlilne magazine, pleasefollow the links below





March 6 , 2007 Volume 1, Issue 3 Editor: Rick Scherger

John 20:21-23 Our Lord Jesus Christ says: "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any they are retained."

John 20:21-23

Our Lord Jesus Christ says:
"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven;
if you retain the sins of any they are retained."