May 15, 2007
Volume 1, Issue 13

Editor: Rick Scherger

Last December your congregation received a copy of the 2006 ELCIC Parochial Report. Every congregation in the ELCIC is expected to submit such a report to their appropriate synod office by February of each year. The parochial report indicates the status of the congregation in terms of membership (baptized and communing), worship and programming. It also indicates leadership needs, both professional and lay, as well as the financial income and expenses. This information is important for the ministry of the synod and the congregation. It indicates how congregations are organized, financially supported, and what programs are important to the ministry of the congregation. The information can help the congregation and synod plan for its future but also assess its present state and resource base to do ministry. The synod uses the information to assess the needs of congregations in terms of programming or support. It also uses that information to gauge how ministry is happening in the synod and the impact a congregation's health may have on the synod, the community it serves and the wider church. The information shared by the congregation impacts all kinds of area of ministry.

Only 31 congregations in the synod submitted their 2006 parochial report. Information gathered from approximately half of the synod congregations does not measure how we are doing, who we are serving, and what God is doing in the MNO Synod. I would urge each congregation who has not done so to submit the parochial report to the synod office today. It is an important tool for ministry and it is expected of any congregation in good standing in the ELCIC.

Please direct your inquiries to the Bishop regarding the congregational parochial reports.

Thank you,
Bishop Elaine

Greetings in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!

First and foremost, thank you for considering this opportunity to share your God-given gifts with your brothers and sisters in Christ. The fact you are willing to embark on such a lot of work for so little personal gain, is testimony to me of the impact previous CLYG Band and Drama Troupes have made upon your faith journey. I know that’s how it worked for me. I saw those people on stage using their gifts in service of the Word. I saw how each became a small part serving to drive the overall message of the gathering and I said to myself, “That is for me!”

The event will take place at 600 Shaftsbury (south side of Grant).

Find your way via the map link below:
http://www.cmu.ca/pdfs/cmu3D.pdf

Luther Village is holding it's annual women's retreat very soon! June 8-10 is the date to set aside to be pampered!!! Our theme is, "The Cookie Never Crumbles". Shirley Barrow, from Thunder Bay, ON, our creative and motivating facilitator will be back again to lead our sessions. We will offer massage therapy, reflexology, hot tub relaxing time, fun and fellowship away from the hectic paced life most people lead. Get pampered with scrumptious meals in the beautiful wilderness setting of Luther Village! Come alone or bring a friend, a neighbor, your women's group! Cost: $109 + taxes. Call the camp (807)543-4052 or email luthervillage@kenora.com to reserve a spot. Registration forms on our website www.luthervillage.ca or in the brochure. See you at camp!

To friends,

Val and I are safe and sound in Montreal. We had spent 6 days in Garoua (a 4 hour drive north of Ngaoundere) for the National Meeting of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon. We have been without email since the 1st of May.
We will visit here until returning to Pinawa Manitoba on the 16th May.

Our trip out of Douala to Paris and Montreal was clouded by the fatal crash of a Kenya Airways Boeing 737 last Saturday just outside the Douala airport. Thanks for the concerned emails.

We are very happy to be home.
God's blessings Jack and Val.

Volunteer Needs
Coffee room monitors are required Sunday from 1 pm to 3:30 pm.
Duties include: monitoring the coffee and gathering area at the front of the ministry during worship time to ensure that respect of persons and location is maintained.
Skills required: people skills, non-judgemental, able to gain respect and control of a group, good intervention skills and a letter of recommendation from home church pastor.

Yoga instructors needed to lead yoga classes at Lutheran Urban Ministry. Time to be mutaully determined.
Skill sets: accredited yoga instructor or student and a letter of recommendation from home church pastor.

Contact: Pastor David Lowe 204.774.3143

Biennial Convention:  June 1-3, 2007 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Theme: "Whom Shall I send?  Here I am Lord"
Theme Song:  "I the Lord of Sea and Sky"
Bible verse:  Matthew 28:19 and 20

Dear Church Leader,

Attached is an invitation for you to attend a focus group that will be examining the ministry of Evangelical Lutheran Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada Inc. and what direction it might take in the coming years. Our goals include being led by the Spirit; being open to completely new directions, being sincere in regarding the past and present; and being honest about the possibilities. We are inviting input from women and men, laypersons and clergy in order to glean as many perspectives and ideas as possible. This is not just about a women's organization, it is about a Christ centred community which is committed to nurturing faith and spiritual strength to enable us all to be people of God in mission.

Thank you for considering this invitation.

Ruth Vince
Executive Director
Evangelical Lutheran Women Inc.
and
Rev. Paul Gehrs
Assistant to the National Bishop
Synodical Relations

RSVP to:
Gerlinde Berglund
Administrative Assistant
Evangelical Lutheran Women
302 - 393 Portage Ave
Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984-9160 fax 204.984-9162

HARVEY SCHACHTER

Hot Spots By Lynda Gratton: Berrett-Koehler, 212 pages, $31.95
It's the workplace dream: a moment and place where people are working together in exceptionally creative and collaborative ways. Lynda Gratton, a professor of management at London Business School, calls it a "hot spot." She has set out to find them, track them, and uncover what we can learn from them so we can create more hot spots in our organizations.
"Hot spots occur when the energy within and between people flares - when the mundane of everyday activities is set aside for engaged work that is exciting and challenging. It is at these times that ideas become contagious and new possibilities appear," she writes.
You may have experienced a hot spot in your career - perhaps even are immersed in one now. They can seem spontaneous, arising by accident, but Ms. Gratton's research suggests individuals and their managers can increase the probability of hot spots occurring.
They involve four elements.