May 8, 2007
Volume 1, Issue 12

Editor: Rick Scherger

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is making the "greening of the church" a priority for our life together. A national stewardship of creation website will be unveiled ahead of the June, 2007, ELCIC national convention. In connection with this timely and important endeavour, we offer the following resources.

Pastor Paul F. Bosch, CWA, has begun a series of essays called "Greening Christian Worship" in his popular Worship Workbench collection. Pastor Bosch offers practical teaching about Christian worship and the preparation of liturgy. As the series unfolds, Pastor Bosch will offer additional suggestions around the greening of worship and a number of brief rites which honour God's creation.

Essay 115 - May, 2007 ~ Greening Christian Worship
Pastor Fred Ludolph offers an essay called "Grain of Life and Grape of Love: Worship Which Inspires Thanksgiving and Attention to Stewardship" in The Road Where Faith Is Found, a series of pastoral essays designed to support the introduction of Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Visit the Worship Matters page at Lift Up Your Hearts for the complete series of essays. Our new worship book offers many opportunities to give attention and voice to concerns about God's creation. Let's take advantage of them!

WM 35 ~ Grain of Life and Grape of Love
Christ is risen indeed!

Easter blessings.
André Lavergne,
for the ELCIC Program Committee for Worship.

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

Third place for Black and White Photo-Open category
Can You Understand Me? photo by Michael Dymund
(found in Summer 2006 issue)

Second place for Poetry--Open category
Reflecting Back by Judith Frost
(found in Fall 2006 issue)

This adds to the growing number of awards this 'little' magazine has won over the years (14 in total). As Catherine Pate, program editor quipped this morning in the ELW office, "It's a miracle we ever win." Why is that? Esprit has a small budget, a small circulation, and few staff compared with other Canadian Christian publications with their own writers and photographers 'to go after the story'. This is a big win and reason for celebration within the ELCIC.

Congratulations to Michael Dymund, photographer and Judith Frost, writer for your expertise making Esprit the big magazine that it is!

Great Resources Available
Are you starting to plan for fall events? Look to ELW for some ideas. What's Enough? examines how we make faithful decisions about our money. This is an excellent tool to use in Sunday morning adult education classes; confirmation classes; weekend retreats for a women's or men's groups or can be used as part of your stewardship conversations. The resource comes with a DVD and photocopy-ready handouts. The resource also contains games and discussion starters as well as sound theological discussion materials.

Available this summer is a resource titled No Place Like Home . Ideal for retreats or youth groups this resource focuses on homelessness and commercial sexual exploitation. Written by people who work in the field of poverty and commercial sexual exploitation as well as theologians No Place Like Home will guide us in being a church In Mission for Others.

Sold Out!
The 2007 program resources contains a program titled A Walk Through Chamanculo. Due to the popularity of the resources this year the ELW office has run out of the DVD that accompanies this program. We know though, that many of these resources are in the hands of someone near you---so don't miss out! Ask other ELWs in your Conference if they might be willing to loan you the DVD (a discussion sheet is in the 2007 resource package).

ELW staff are resources too!
A one and half day workshop to Discover your Dependable Strengths ® can be facilitated. Knowledge gained throughout the workshop might be used to further one's education, influence training and career decisions, reduce stress, to focus on being productive in positive ways as well as other benefits. Training to facilitate this workshop was acquired through the Center for Dependable Strengths, Luther Seminary, St. Paul MN. Contact Ruth Vince for further information.

All resources can be ordered by calling 204.984.9160 or elwinc@elcic.ca

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

Are you ready to stretch your wings, put your faith to work and be a catalyst for real change?  If so,

LUTHERAN URBAN MINISTRY
Requires a
MINISTRY LEADER AND MANAGER

This challenge will invigorate you if you can:

• Maintain an organized and welcoming premises for LUM users
• Plan and sustain programming such as counseling and referral, group Bible studies, youth activities, educational sessions, Worship services
• Train and coordinate volunteers.
• Report to the Board of Directors

Success requires that you have:

• DEMONSTRATED commitment to serving and helping others
• Respect for diversity and cultural values
• Post-secondary education or equivalent and demonstrated experience
• Creative problem solving skills
• Strong organizational and leadership skills
• Superb communication skills including computer proficiency
• Excellent networking/advocacy skills
• Understanding of Lutheran theology and practices.

Criminal Records and Child Abuse Registry checks required.
                                                                                             
Please email your resume and cover letter to lisa_janke@yahoo.ca by May 11, 2007.
(cell 204.470.3435)

Martin Robson has an old Yamaha Electone organ that is in good working order to give away. It is a model C - 2B and has two keyboards and 13 pedals.

Please have any interested parties contact me here in Winnipeg at: mtrobson@mts.net