You asked for it so here it is

INSURANCE SEMINAR
FOR MNO SYNOD CONGREGATIONS

When?            Tue, Oct 2, 2007  ---   7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where?          St. Marks Lutheran, 600 Cambridge St., Winnipeg

       Who should attend? 
√     Members of your council / congregation responsible for arranging insurance;
√  Members of your council / congregation responsible for implementing ELCIC Policy for the Protection of Children, Youth and Other Vulnerable People

Many of our MNO Synod congregations are struggling with the insurance implications of the ELCIC Policy for the Protection of Children, Youth & Other Vulnerable People.  To help you with this complicated issue, we have invited Jane Williamson, National Programs Manager, of Ecclesiastical Insurance, the underwriter for the ELCIC Insurance Program to present a seminar for our MNO Synod congregations entitled "Creating Safer Churches - Risk Management for the ELCIC”.

The seminar will focus on the responsibility of congregations in dealing with children, youth and other vulnerable people, the current legal environment and guidelines to prevent abuse.  Ecclesiastical Insurance has been involved in many claims involving various religious organizations and will discuss the claims being seen today.

Denis Brown, of AON Insurance Brokers will also be available to answer questions concerning the ELCIC insurance program.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!   FREE OF CHARGE!

For more information, contact Debbie Beyer, Executive Assistant, MNO Synod, (204) 889-3760.
Please RSVP to dbeyer@elcic.ca

For those of you who would like a copy of Bishop Elaine's opening worship service sermon:
Bishop's sermon

Senior High Retreat NEW Information - To more efficiently deal with your inquiries/registrations concerning this retreat, please direct them to the Synod office: dbeyer@elcic.ca or phone
(204) 889.3760

Send registrations and cheques by September 24, to Debbie Beyer, 201-3657 Roblin Blvd. Winnipeg, MB, R3R 0E2. Thanks.

Cameroon Companions materials have been sent to your congregation for use on September 30 (or another suitable Sunday). The synod is providing a power point presentation for your use. The power point presentation is downloadable to the right and please note that the download will take time, so be patient.

Dear churches,
Here is an event that we hope your congregation may be interested in! I hope the following is an announcement is short enough that it could be put into bulletins, or distributed in by whatever means is common to you.

An Evening with David Pankratz –
Wednesday, September 26 at 7:30 pm

Hosted by Project Peacemakers
Knox United Church (400 Edmonton Street)

David Pankratz, Director of the Institute for Community Peacebuilding, will be speaking on his recent trip to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

CLWR is currently advertising for the position of Program Manager: Latin America.

The two attached formats of the ad will give you options to facilitate this: one 8.5x11 for ease of printing off and posting around offices/churches, or a smaller one for placing into church bulletins/newsletters.

The following link to our website could also be used as a means of advertising and linking potential candidates to view the complete job description and potentially fill this vacancy: www.clwr.org/opportunities (there is also a job description below)

Thank you in advance for helping CLWR identify a suitable person to fill this position. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or if you have difficulty accessing these files, or require further information to facilitate our request.

On September 7, the rain held off and the first annual carnival was a great success.

The flea market, bake sale, massages, kids games, hot dogs and bonfire made for a wonderful community experience in support of Winnipeg Harvest and Lutheran Urban Ministry. Just over $1,600 was raised.

If you didn't make it out this time, plans are already underway for next year with even more creative ideas and activities in store.

Thanks be to God!

THIS EVENT TAKES PLACE SEPTEMBER 29

This half day workshop is designed for all members of faith communities that have an interest in creating healthier church communities. It is team led by two seasoned facilitators with a combined 35 years of conflict resolution work in faith communities. A respectful, interactive teaching environment will offer you healthy methods adaptable for your congregation.

Faith Lutheran Church celebrated its fiftieth anniversary on September 7, 8 & 9th.  Weekend celebrations started Friday evening with a photo and memorabilia display, followed by a program of skits, special music and greetings from MLA for Real, Theresa Oswald, Minister of Health, Pastors Irvine Dexel, Vancouver, B.C., Art Leichnitz, Ethiopia,, Dale Berg, Dave Saude, Assistant Bishop Larry Ulrich, Wpg. and the three members of the congregation who entered the ministry, Pastors Art McCaughan, Barrhead, Alberta, Don Reimer,Beausejour, Kolleen Karlowsky-Clark, Wpg.  Delicious desserts were served by the Buttercups at intermission as a time of fellowship was enjoyed by all.

Submitted by Emily Payne

The Pinawa Lutheran Church opened its doors and its arms to the kids of Pinawa during the week of August 20th – 24th.   Hosting Vacation Bible School for its second year, the church was transformed into a deep-sea paradise complete with fascinating seashells and live fish.  The Great Bible Reef welcomed an average of thirty-four explorers per day, ranging in ages from four to eleven.

Every morning began with plenty of singing, stories told by Pastor Jack with help from his assistant Pirate Pete and the introduction of the day’s theme.  The explorers then swam and surfed their way through the week while learning to listen, believe, trust, care about each other and have faith. 
 

They were all able to take part in a variety of activities including stories, crafts, music, games, and everyone’s favorite: snack.  The week ended with a special closing ceremony for the participants and their families, and was followed by a barbeque lunch. 

Events such as these would not be possible without the help of many volunteers.  It was the donation of time, talent and supplies that ensured this summers VBS was as successful as the last.  Everyone had a great time, and we look forward to seeing those smiling faces again next year. 

On Sunday September 23, and in conjunction with the Invisible DignityProject, Saint Benedict's Table is honored to have Dr Calvin Seerveld as the guest preacher at our eucharistic liturgy. We gather at 7:00pm at All Saints' Church, located at the corner of Broadway and Osborne.

Please consider joining us for this opportunity to listen to Dr Seerveld as he seeks to call us to stand ever more deeply under the challenging authority of the Word.

So far over 60 people are registered for the event, which runs from 9 AM to 5 PM on Oct. 19 at CMU.
A schedule has now been posted on the website at http://www.cmu.ca/church-community/goingBarefoot.html#sched You can also find information about workshops and keynote presentations on that page.
Hope to see you there!
John
P.S. Sept. 15 was the deadline for early registrations, but we'll accept your registration at the early rate ($84.40) if you register this week!

Issue 6, September 2007

“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good” Gen 1:31 (NRSV)

Life begins with the goodness of God which pours out to form the goodness of creation. We witness this goodness in the prairie harvest, in our vast oceans, and the still beauty of the forest. We also witness this goodness in the life which creation gives and supports, including our own. The life of stewardship is the life of caring for this goodness and sharing it with others. This has also become a part of the life of our church. At our national convention this summer our church overwhelming endorsed our church’s Stewardship of Creation initiative which committed our church, “to answer the call to respect the integrity of God’s creation through an environmental stewardship initiative engaging our national, synodical, congregational and individual member expressions.” This addition of The Steward will look at some of the ways in which we can be involved in this initiative.