At a recent meeting of Metro congregations it was suggested that the synod office promote a “Congregational Studies Guide” (adapted from the local “Leisure Guide” which promotes leisure activities in the community). Is your congregation hosting a study- bible, cell group, ELW, small group, youth, video/DVD study this coming year?

If you would like to open your studies to the wider community, we would be happy to promote and list your study in our MNO Synod Study Guide, which will be available in late August on our synod website mnosynod.org.

Just send your information to Rick Scherger rscherger@elcic.ca by August 29 for inclusion in the fall guide. You will need to provide the name, dates, times of study and facilitator as well as where the written materials for the study are available for purchase and whether pre-registration is required. This is the minimum information that will go on the website. You might be surprised at who will show up in your neighbourhood, your town, or community!

June 2008

Many thanks to the Deans of each conference who keep the bishop and synod office up to date on conference happenings and who provide support to congregations when the bishop is not available. Their work is greatly appreciated. Many thanks to the congregations who support their pastor as Deans of the Conferences and enable the Deans to do the work of the conferences. As most of you know, partnerships create opportunities for mission and ministry to happen.

Agassiz Conference

• Pastor Astrid Schleuter has resigned her call to Grace St. John’s, Carmen and has moved with her spouse to southern Ontario. The congregation is currently updating its mission profile and will be moving into the call process immediately.
• St. Paul, Steinbach celebrated with pastoral candidate James Appleby as he was ordained in the congregation on June 1. He has accepted a call to Armena/Hay Lakes AB.

Aurora Conference

• Advent, Thompson will be entering into a short term ministry partnership with retired Pastor Bill Flath (ABT Synod) who will be in the congregation for three months this fall to assist in a ministry/mission assessment with the congregation.

Brokenhead Conference

• Zion, Beausejour will continue with pastoral support until their congregational mission profile is completed and the call process can begin.
• Thalberg/Greenwald welcomes pastoral intern, Jason Zinko, in August. Jason will serve a one year internship which has been sponsored by the Synod Missions committee. Pastor Mark Koenker, pastor of the congregations and internship supervisor, will begin investigating mission opportunities in the Garson-Tyndall area.
• River Hills, Whitemouth welcomes diaconal intern, Hildegard Vickers, in August. She will serve a one year internship which will be sponsored by the congregations of the Brokenhead Conference.
• Pinawa Lutheran Church will begin a Congregational Mission profile process which should lead to a call process. Pastor Jack Fredericks has resigned as Interim Pastor.

Cambrian Conference

• Zion, Thunder Bay, closed its doors on December 31, 2007. Its presence is still felt in the conference, where most members have moved to other congregations and where financial gifts have been shared to enable mission and ministry to happen in other ways. The trustees are responsible for the sale of the building and are currently working on dispersal of the assets of the former congregation. Please pray for the trustees as they do this very difficult work.
• Salem, Pass Lake will say goodbye to pastoral intern Kristen Steele who is returning to Lutheran Theological Seminary for her final term of training. The congregation will welcome pastoral intern Dawn Mayfield in August as well.
• Bethesda, Kenora, at the centre of Lake of the Woods would welcome tourists and visitors to the community in their summer worship. Pastor Cathy Giroux continues to serve interim ministry in the congregation.

Interlake

• The congregations of Peace, Moosehorn and Grace, Ashern have voted to become a parish. Bishop Elaine will be meeting with them on June 26 to assist in the development of a parish agreement.
• The congregation at Lundar Lutheran Church will begin half time ministry on their own. Future pastoral support is the greatest concern at this time. They will work with the Bishop to look at possibilities for ministry.
• St. John’s, Grahamdale will look at its future in the coming weeks. Greg Saar completes his licensing agreement with the congregation on June 30.
• Church of the Good Shepherd, Selkirk, will begin interviewing candidates for pastoral ministry in the coming weeks. Pastor Ron Vert has resigned as Interim Pastor so the congregation is being supported by supply pastors over the summer.

Metro Conference

• Pastor Lenise Francis has resigned from Christ, Winnipeg. The congregation will be completing its congregational profile over the summer and will be served by supply until an Interim Minister can be appointed. They will begin the call process immediately.
• Pastor Frank Bahr has resigned his call at Church of the Cross, Winnipeg, to take a call to southern Ontario. The congregation will be meeting with the Bishop to begin the call process. Supply pastors are assigned for the summer to give pastoral support.
• Faith, Winnipeg is currently completing interviews for associate pastor/lay professional leadership in the congregation. The congregation has left itself open to a variety of calls that will meet its unique ministry needs.
• Gloria Dei will welcome pastoral intern, Jim Vickers, to the congregation in August. Pastor Lanny has delayed retirement in order for the congregation to provide this valuable training ground for pastoral candidates in ministry.
• Grace, Winnipeg, will say good bye to pastoral intern Sabine Milewski in August and will welcome a new intern, Courtenay Reedman shortly thereafter. Sabine will return to Lutheran Theological Seminary for one term left in her training.
• Pastor Bill Lehman continues in his recovery after surgery in April. He provides some ministry at St. John’s, Winnpeg, as he is able. Thank you for all of the prayers on his behalf.
• St. Mark’s, Winnipeg, begins renovations this month on its basement and heating/cooling system. This is phase one of their building program. Phase two will begin in 2009/2010.
• Sherwood Park, Winnipeg will welcome pastoral intern, Jennifer Marlor, in August. Jennifer will complete a one year internship with the congregation.

Westman

• Erickson Lutheran Church will be looking at new partnerships over the coming months as it seeks to discern what the congregation is being called to do in the area.