To Congregational Treasurers and Chairs
JUNE 30 is the deadline to file your congregation’s Annual Information Return, Form T3010 (commonly known as Charities Return) with Revenue Canada (if your fiscal year end is December 31).

All congregations must file their Annual Information Return within six months after the end of its fiscal period, otherwise its registration could be revoked.

The consequences of revocation of your congregation’s registration as a charity are:
it would be no longer exempt from tax;
it cannot issue official donation receipts; and
it may be subject to a tax equivalent to the full value of its remaining assets (revocation tax).

Information and forms are available on Revenue Canada’s website at www.cra-arc.gc.ca

You are invited to attend the Installation service for Pastor Trudy Thorarinson at Grace-St.John’s Anglican / Lutheran Church 80 2nd Street SW in Carman, MB on Sunday, May 24th at 7:30pm

Clergy are invited to vest, the color will be White.

A CELEBRATION OF FAITH- an inspirational event for all the family, all ages, modeled on our national youth gathering- with music, art, drama, scripture study and key note speaker. In this time of uncertainty and economic unrest, it is good to gather as a faith community, to support and strengthen one another and build up our faith. We hope that congregations will come as whole group participants. Begin encouraging friends, family, congregational members and others to gather with us as a community of Christians. The event is open to anyone.

Set aside Friday, OCTOBER 23 and Saturday, OCTOBER 24. More information will follow each month in Crossword.

Things at The Urban continue to be busy. We now average thirty people for our week night meals. It is very sad to note that we are seeing more and more people in crisis. This last while, the weather has been absolutely miserable. Imagine, 2.5 degrees Celsius for a daytime high! There are many people trying to survive outside and it is a bitter challenge.

I am most pleased to say that our request for warmer clothing, tarps and quilts was very quickly responded to. I had one couple come to the Urban and I was able to provide a complete change of clothing for the two of them. This included shoes too! We also received quite a few tarps and so they are now able to try and shelter themselves better in the rain. Thank you so much for the generosity once again.

There are so many faces to homelessness. There are those who are caught up in their addictions, there are those who just can not find work, and there are those who are just unable to work. Some of the homeless have medical conditions that keep them from finding appropriate work. Today I met another type of homeless person. 
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Did you spend your Thanksgivings as a youth at Luther Village?
Do you know what a pumpkin pie raid is?
Do you remember burying a time capsule?

Then we are looking for you!

In 1989 a time capsule was buried during Thanksgiving weekend to celebrate the 20th anniversary of that weekend.

Last year that time capsule was unearthed and we have spent the year, reminiscing and came up with the idea to plan a reunion centered around the burial of a new time capsule to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Thanksgivings at Luther Village.

Calling all former Luther Leaguers? Youth and leaders who spent their Thanksgivings at Luther Village “back in the day” 70’s 80’s and beyond. We are looking for anyone who holds Thanksgiving as a special time in their lives and wants to re-live some of those memories.

The reunion will be held on Saturday October 10th ( after lunch) to Sunday October 11th  2009 (early afternoon) at Luther Village.

On May 1st, Stuart McLean, CBC celebrity and raconteur gave a performance in Bracebridge, Ontario, He actually recorded two shows for future broadcast. A few camp staff were able to attend and returned quite enthused about the evening. Specifically, they referred to Stuart’s story/discussion on his experiences in summers past and some summer jobs that influenced his life profoundly. Apparently, he spoke in glowing terms about his summer camp experiences and gave credit to those experiences for shaping his personal and public life in ways that were highly successful and profound.

The future broadcast is timed (we think) for Sunday, June 20 on CBC’s Vinyl Café (www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe). It is timely for many reasons and you may be able to take benefit from the airing at several levels: You may be able to leverage the airing into increased interest in your camp and camping, you may be able to celebrate camping with your current families and staff, or you may choose to remind yourself why you are in this crazy business.

The book launch of "GOOD GOD?". It will be at McNally Robinson Book Store at POLO PARK on May 28 at 7 p.m. I translated the book from Norwegian and it was a book I wished others in Canada and US could read. So who else should translate it?

Here is the link to McNally Robinson's announcement
And here is the link to the publisher's posting on the net
And here is a link to The Interlake Spectator that mentioned the book in an article.

As the ELCIC prepares to meet in convention in Vancouver June 25-28, 2009, there have been questions, concerns and issues related to this important event in the life of the church. To assist delegates in being fully prepared as they represent their congregation, a gathering of delegates (and any others who want to be informed about national convention issues) will be held at  PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, WINNIPEG on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2009,  7 P.M.

Delegates should bring their Bulletin of Reports, as well as other information they have received in conjunction with and related to the national convention.

Please PRE-REGISTER by emailing me at esauer@elcic.ca  or by phoning the synod office 889-3760 by May 28th so that we may know the numbers in advance for hospitality purposes.

Bishop Elaine Sauer

The synod is currently in the process of re-designing their website. The new product is set to be released in early January of 2010.

During the re-design, congregations, committees and partners will have an opportunity to update the information that the synod displays throughout the website. Do you have pictures of your building (inside and out)? How about a picture during a service? What do you do that makes your ministry unique?

Each congregation, committee and partner has at least one page to share their good news (whether it be written or visual).

Over the next five or six weeks, we encourage anyone in charge of sharing information, to please send it to the synod office (rscherger@elcic.ca). This is your opportunity to have a greater web presence. This might be the opportunity you have been looking for. Let others see how you do ministry.

Countdown to Convention
In less than six weeks, Lutherans from across the ELCIC will meet in Vancouver for the 12th Biennial National Convention taking place June 25-28. As we count down the weeks to convention we will highlight what’s new, what to watch for, how to keep informed and news to know in the weekly newsletter Countdown to Convention.
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Bridging the Gap Between the Bible and Our World Today

Oct. 5-7, 2009
Luther Seminary

Register today!

Mark your calendar for this exciting event! Nationally known preachers and teachers will explore how, in their preaching, they make the move from the world of the Bible to the world of today. This inaugural celebration includes sermons, keynote addresses and workshops.

Instructors

A full-time contract for a Protestant Chaplain at Saskatchewan Penitentiary, Prince Albert, was recently advertised on the Correctional Service of Canada’s website.

The closing date was May 18, 2009 and we did not received any submissions for this position.

We have now extended the deadline for submissions to June 15, 2009. Further information on this contract may be found at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/prgrm/chap/contract/09/pra-Sask-Prot-eng.shtml.

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church youth group are having a yard sale on Saturday, June 6th, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Corner of Cambridge & Corydon. Rain or shine, inside and out, lots of treasures! Proceeds will be matched by FaithLife Financial and will be used towards the 2010 CLAY gathering in London, Ontario.

It Starts With Me
May 24, 2009 –Sunday @ The Forks
Oodena Circle
Winnipeg,.Manitoba

Elders. IRS-Resolution Health Support Workers and Pastoral and Spiritual Care support will be identified and available throughout the event. You are invited to bring your medicine bundles for prayers & smudging.

5:30 am Sunrise Pipe Ceremony
As the new day dawns on May 24, 2009, a sacred fire will be lit to begin the historic work that we are collectively called upon to do…

‘To become educated on our collective history and move forward toward healing and reconciliation together’.

Our sacred Pipes will be gathered and loaded to thank our Creator for all of creation and to ensure that our ancestors are present and leading the work that we are embarking on.

10:30 am – 12:00 noon NDHR Opening Ceremonies
12:00 noon –1:00 Community Feast
1:00pm - 5:00pm “Under a Listening Tent”
Music, Speaking and Listening
Thoughts on Healing & Reconciliation
5:00 pm Closing Ceremony

For more information contact:
Albert McLeod -204.783.6424
Jessie Howell -204..582.1822
E-mail: healingmb@hotmail.com

Esprit Magazine Wins First Place at the 2009 Canadian Church Press Awards
Sharon Betcher's "Remembering the Sabbath: A Practice for 21st Century Christians?" which was published in the Spring 2008 issue of Esprit took first place in the biblical reflection category at the 2009 Canadian Church Press Awards ceremony, held in Winnipeg, MB Friday, May 15.

Participants in this workshop will learn powerful skills for peacebuilding with family, with community, in the workplace and in the world.

Advanced trainers from The Compassionate Listening Project will offer two two-day training sessions in Winnipeg.

May 28, 29 | 8:30 to 5:00
CMU South Campus Conference Room
May 30, 31 | 8:30 to 5:00
Mediation Services 1200 Portage Avenue

Cost: $300

For more information & registration
Whitney Kellar wh.kellar@uwinnipeg.ca
David Pankratz 204. 953.3865

http://www.compassionatelistening.org/

Equal in Dignity, Equal in Rights
Saturday May 30 2009, 9:00AM-5:00PM.
A free participatory workshop

Interested in learning about the human rights of migrant workers in Manitoba and around the world?

Interested in building connections between migrant workers and allies? Want to hear about local education and action? Join us!

Resource people: You! And: Flor Marcelino, MLA for Wellington; agricultural workers and live-in caregivers; others TBA.

Where: St. Ignatius Church Hall, Corydon Ave at Stafford (Use the Jessie Avenue entrance on the south side of the building.)

Who: All are welcome. FREE. Please sign up in advance so we can plan for lunch.

Contact/ sign up: Alfredo at hrwwpg@gmail.com or 204.272.3996.