The
CANADIAN
LUTHERAN
www.canadianlutheran.ca
Volume 30 Number 2
Small Church
Big Opportunity
CANADIAN
LUTHERAN.ca
More than a
magazine.
www.canadianlutheran.ca
Contents
Features
www.canadianlutheran.ca
Volume 30 Number 2 March/April 2015
Why I Prefer a Small Church
6
Sharing Jesus: The First and Highest Work of Love 10
The Martyrs’ Message
12
Departments
Table talk
The End of Hope
5
In Review Chappie37
Presidential Perspective Come to Him Who Answers Prayer
42
News Section
International News 13
National News 14
ABC District
17
Central District 21
Conference addresses the challenges of post-Christian society
Update on ABC District situation • Immigration behind
Francophone Lutheran growth in East District • Supreme Court
decision a win for religious freedom
T h e C a n a d i a n L u t h e r a n is the national
publication of Lutheran Church–Canada,
published in Winnipeg six times per year: January/
February, March/April, May/June, July/August,
September/ October, November/December under
the auspices of the Board of Directors (Committee
for Communication and Technology).
ISSN #0383-4247
Member: Canadian Church Press
Editor: Mathew Block
Advertising: Iris Barta
District News Layout: Marion Hollinger
Cover: istockphoto.com/mammuth
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E-mail: [email protected]
All material and advertising should be in the office of
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The Canadian Lutheran
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Materials published in The Canadian Lutheran,
with the exception of Letters to the Editor, news
reports, and advertising, receive doctrinal review
and approval before publication. Contents
of supplements are the responsibility of the
organization purchasing the space.
©2015 Lutheran Church–Canada. Reproduction
of a single article or column for parish use does
not require the permission of The Canadian
Lutheran. Such reproductions, however, should
credit The Canadian Lutheran as the source.
A tail of two towns • Church bells ring again • LWML grants
support pastors in training • Giving thanks for Karen Lyons
Praising God with music • Members find the silver lining in a
church closure • Lutheran early centre first of its kind in Warman
East District
Mission-minded women working hard • Making most out of life
• Kingsville welcomes pastor • Outreach continues in Quebec
Mission Update
25
29
Joy over continued growth in Cambodia • Canadian Lutherans
participate in Nicaragua outreach
Education Report
CLTS to welcome Finnish scholar for 2015-2016 • Concordia
University College of Alberta suspends church work programs
31
Classifieds
39
Daily Bible Reading
41
Supplement
33
Lutheran
Women.ca
S c r i pt u r e t a ke n f ro m t h e H O LY B I B L E , N E W
INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of
Zondervan Bible Publishers.
LWML
Canada
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada
encouraging and equipping women to
Grow in God’s Word • Serve God’s People • Share God’s Son
LWMLC seeks renewal in equipping,
motivating
and encouraging
the
THE CANADIAN
LUTHERAN
March/April
women of the Church as they grow, serve and share
The mission of Lutheran Women’s
Missionary League–Canada
in leadership roles and more women
actively engaged in our congregations.
priority in their life no matter what
the circumstances of their life are.
2015
3
Letters to the Editor
Bible-reading reaction
I really liked the January/
February 2015 issue of The Canadian
Lutheran. I loved Dr. Phillip Cary's
article from his book Good News for
Anxious Christians. In fact, when I
had finished reading it, I went to my
computer and ordered a copy of his
book for our church library (Bethel
Lutheran, Sherwood Park AB). It will
be a welcome addition to our shelves.
I related to his description of
how God speaks to us today... just
as He always has! ("Our Lord's face
is a human face and His voice is a
human voice.") And, I look forward to
reading the rest of the book, where he
supposedly tells us ten things we don't
have to do to be close to God, like
'hearing God's voice in our hearts'.
I also enjoyed the editorial "Lord
to whom shall we go?" It spoke to
me, and made it real easy for me to
actually pick up my 'dusty' study
bible and “tolle lege” (“take up and
read”). I’ve decide to try out the
Bible reading plan. Thank you.
G.A. Teshke
Sherwood Park, Alberta
I much enjoyed the January/
February 2015 issue, especially
the focus on encouraging reading
the Bible.
I cannot overstate the great
benefits of reading through the Bible
in one year. Since my retirement in
June, 2008, I am now in my third
time reading through the Word... I
encourage readers to complete reading
the Bible in one year, and suggest that a
Study Bible be used as it helps explain
the text. Or use The Message by Eugene
Peterson, as it really provides current
language and context.
Brian Wonnick
Regina, Saskatchewan
Editor’s note: Brian passes along
a one-year Bible reading plan for
those who might want to try that
rather than the two-year plan
we’re printing in the pages of The
Canadian Lutheran. To download
the one-year plan, visit www.biblereading.com/bible-plan.pdf.
4
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
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Table Talk
The End of Hope
by Mathew Block
Editor, The Canadian Lutheran
“I thought the dead who are already
dead more fortunate than the living
who are still alive. But better than
both is he who has not yet been and
has not seen the evil deeds that are
done under the sun”
- Ecclesiastes 4:2-3 -
I
t is a grim passage we read here.
Solomon, that King of Israel
renowned for his great wisdom,
looks upon the things of earth and
despairs in the meaninglessness of
it all. Wealth, wisdom, and even
family fail to satisfy in the end. We
spend our lives in toil, merely to
build up possessions that we cannot
keep. All people are dust, and in the
end we too shall die and return to
dust. The life leading to that grave
can be bitter too. The world is
filled with injustice: the powerful
oppress the weak; the righteous
suffer and the wicked prosper.
“It is an unhappy business that
God has given to the children of
man to be busy with,” Solomon
laments. “I have seen everything
that is done under the sun, and
behold, all is vanity and a striving
after wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:13-14).
Perhaps you have felt that
kind of world-weariness before.
I certainly have. There is much
in this world that feeds into such
frustration. Maybe it’s conflict in
your family. Maybe it’s a dead-end
job. Or maybe it’s nothing at all:
just a sense of emptiness, a hole
you cannot fill no matter how hard
you try.
God knows we have other
heartaches too, even inside the
Church. Fewer and fewer Canadians
identify as Christians and many
congregations have shrunk
accordingly. As secularization
takes hold, we find family and
friends uninterested in faith and
even antagonistic towards it. In
our churches, we find relationships
between the family of God strained
as people we trust—even leaders in
our own church—let us down, and
in spectacular fashion. Elsewhere
in the world, we hear of Christians
being slaughtered for their faith.
It can leave us wondering: Is God
paying attention at all? Does He
even care?
In the midst of these trials, we
come face to face with the mystery
of God. We do not understand why
He allows evil to befall His people,
and it grieves us. We try in vain to
find an answer, to discover some
hidden meaning in the darkness.
But we fail. And we lose hope.
In these circumstances, God
comes calling after us, calling us to
look to Christ. It is true that God’s
ways are often hidden from us—He
can feel distant or invisible. But
Christ “is the image of the invisible
God” (Colossians 1:15). That means
God’s will for you is made visible in
Christ. If you doubt that God loves
you, if you doubt that He cares for
you, then look to Christ: you will see
God’s love for you there. The God
who loved you enough to send His
Son to die on a cross is still the same
God who cares for you even now.
Even when it hurts. Even when it
all seems meaningless.
Nearly two millennia ago, a
group of Judeans were facing that
same pain and despair. They had
met Someone that they thought
made sense of it all, a Rabbi who
gave purpose to their lives—even
a Saviour. But then He was taken
from them to die a cruel death.
All they had left was His body—a
symbol of all the hopes that had
died with Him. It had all been for
nothing.
But it was not for nothing. Hope
did not stay dead because He did
not stay dead. Christ arose. And
because He lives we too will live.
The end of hope is not despair.
True hope—Christian hope—finds
its end not in its destruction but in
its fulfilment. Out of evil, God will
finally bring good. Out of death, He
will bring life.
“Faith is the assurance of things
hoped for, the conviction of things
not seen,” the author of Hebrews
writes (11:1). That hope will
culminate one glorious day with
something more than hope: the
conviction of things seen. “For now
we see in a mirror dimly,” St. Paul
writes, “but then face to face” (1
Corinthians 13:12). The darkness,
the pain, and the evil of this world
will pass away, to be replaced by
Christ and His Kingdom.
On that day we shall see Him
face to face. And we shall know at
last the blessed end of hope.
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
5
A
s a military chaplain, my family moves around a
lot. One of the first things that we consider before
choosing a home is its proximity to the closest
Lutheran church. Many factors are involved, and size
matters too. Yet people are often surprised that, despite
the choices of many others newcomers into a community
who tend to visit the largest congregations, we seek out
the smaller ones. And here’s why:
1. Personalized Pastoral Care
In a small church, you receive lots of attention
from pastor. I heard it once said that the ideal size of a
Christian flock is one pastor for 100 sheep. After that it
gets hard for the minister to know them all by name. In
big churches people often have no choice but to compete
for the time of their pastor. It’s not the pastor’s fault of
course. He (or they, in the case of multi-staff churches)
is less available because, unlike Jesus, he can’t be in
two…ten… fifty places at once. Emergencies, multiple
visits, committee meetings, and a plethora of other
commitments make it difficult to maintain the “personal
touch” that each pastor
earnestly seeks to foster
with every one of his
lambs.
While serving as
a military chaplain in
charge of a tiny chapel,
I knew one couple who
were undergoing intense
personal challenges in their
married life. They would
constantly reiterate their
gratitude for being part
of such small community
in which they had such
easy access to pastoral
counselling. Consider this: If you had a choice of going
to a doctor with lots of clients or one responsible for just
a few, who would you choose?
The idea that the pastor of a small church is better
equipped to apply the Office of the Ministry to each
individual might be a tad frightening. But whether or
not we like the idea of pastoral care applied to ourselves,
we need it. Sometimes the temptation for members is to
hide in the crowd to avoid an encounter with the pastor.
Even though I may find it uncomfortable (since when
has Christianity ever been about being comfortable?)
I need the pastor to rebuke me when necessary. I also
need him to comfort me with the forgiveness of sins in
Christ, and to comfort me it as if I were the only person
on earth at that precise moment. Even when it’s the public
absolution pronounced, it is hard not to have it directed
at you personally in a small church.
The “small group” movement in churches was borne
out of many of these same concerns. But small group
leaders are seldom pastors, even though they’re often
expected to behave as such without training or a call. In
a small church, your called and ordained pastor is your
“small group” leader.
2. Visitors Meet the Pastor
It’s true that inviting your friends to a small church
is not as easy as inviting them to a large one, since new
believers or unbelievers still judge heavenly realities by
their earthly eyes and worldly standards. Nevertheless,
your friends are more likely to get some quality time with
the pastor in a small church, and probably even a visit
if they like.
3. Small Bible Study Groups
The Bible study classes are obviously smaller in
a small congregation. But that means that you don’t
need to be intimidated by a large group atmosphere.
If you are anything like me, you feel more at ease to
ask your “stupid question” in a small group setting,
thus alleviating the sweaty
palms and racing heart.
O f c o u r s e, f e e l i n g
judged in large group Bible
studies is usually more
about our own worries and
not reflective of what other
Christians actually think.
But in any case, a small
group makes it a lot easier
for the introverted types to
participate.
I heard it once said that
the ideal size of a Christian
flock is one pastor for 100
sheep. After that it gets
hard for the minister to
know them all by name.
6
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
4. Children in Worship
A t h r i v i n g S u n d ay
school is not necessary for a healthy church, though it
can certainly be a blessing. But when it is held at the
same time as worship, it prevents children and teachers
from gathering around the physical presence of Jesus in
Divine Service.
My experience with small churches is that if they
have Sunday school at all, it often occurs outside of
divine service, in order to maximize participation during
worship. This way kids get to hear more of Jesus’ word
and not less.
5. Opportunities for Service
Although we do not go to church primarily to serve,
but instead to be served (Matthew 20:28), the church is
nevertheless often a focal point for utilizing our talents and
gifts in service of the Lord. Some small churches have very
few programs; and a church with their lights off during the
weekdays implies that people are out in the world serving
Why I Prefer a Small
Church
Ten Hidden
Blessings
of a Small
Congregation
by Harold Ristau
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
7
Christ through their specific God-given vocations. But
for those that do have programs, a small church provides
many opportunities for service (and not necessarily on
committees, since there are usually fewer of them).
Your service is often more appreciated in a small church
too. When there are multiple talented musicians in one large
church and none in another, and you are, say, a college or
university student studying music, you may want to choose
a small church to “share the wealth” so to speak.
All of our gifts are from above and intended for the
edification of one another (James 1:17). In the collection
of offering this reality
is inescapable since no
financial donation is ever
considered too small. But
the principle also applies
to our spiritual gifts, talents
and time. Ultimately, we
ought to choose a church
based on their doctrine
(i.e., whether or not I am
being fed rightly), but after
that, our next question
may well be, “How can I be of service amongst this flock
that my precious Lord has gathered here together?” (cf.
Romans 1:12).
context. And yes, sins and problems become more obvious
also. But all of this offers all of us more chances to pray,
love and serve. When churches have problems, it means
that God finds them worth fighting for; the devil leaves his
own in peace. We don’t seek suffering, but we shouldn’t
be surprised when it comes. The horror of the crucifixion
is more striking when viewing it up close—with John and
Mary—instead of from a position far off in the crowd. We
meet Jesus in our brethren—bruises, scratches and all.
7. A Sense of Reverence
How can I be of service
amongst this flock that
my precious Lord has
gathered?
6. Church as Family
The intimate atmosphere of divine service in a small
congregation is like a weekly family reunion bound
by the blood of Christ our brother. After a noisy week
surrounded by strangers, worship offers a pleasant
break from that weekly environment and routine. For
this reason, my family has always preferred the intimate
ambiance of the smaller Christmas Day Mass versus the
well-attended Christmas Eve Service.
The Church is always like a small family—a “remnant,”
Scripture calls it (Romans 11:5; cf. Genesis 45:7). This
becomes particularly clear when your local congregation
is actually small. Relationships naturally deepen in this
8
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
In a small church, it is
easier to pray in silence
before service, as chatter
and whispers are more
noticeable (and therefore
less frequent) in a small
congregation. God is not a
killjoy, but worship is not
the time for talking about
the sports scores from last
night’s game. Prayer and
reverence go hand and hand.
Even the architecture of the smaller (and usually older)
churches is intended to foster a reverential tone and Christfocused experience. After all, in the olden days churches
were built with only one purpose in mind: worship. We may
not build our new churches that way anymore, but why not
make good use of those that were?
8. Preaching to Your Needs
People often look for “relevant preaching.” Well, a pastor
of a small congregation can better preach to your needs
(not necessarily your wants) since he often knows them
intimately. Don’t worry: your problems and confessions are
held in confidence. But like a doctor prescribing medication,
it helps to know the patient well.
As lay people, you too often know the needs of your
congregation members better in a small church, which
can assist you in your prayers for them.
9. A Lack of Distraction
A small church often has little choice but to focus on
what really matters for the life of their community and
the salvation of the world. It’s hard to be distracted by
the crowds when there aren’t any. Besides Christians, all
you really need for “church to happen” is a book, bread,
wine and sometimes water.
This struck home for me while teaching new Lutherans
in Nicaragua many years ago. At that time, our fellow
brothers and sisters had
no buildings into which to
gather. All they had was a
table as an altar and some
benches for pews. They
met, like we often do in the
army, “in the field.” But it
sufficed! There was very
little to clutter their vision
from the cross.
Various programs and
committees can be helpful in
building up the body of Christ and for outreach, but sometimes
they can distract us from the true raison d’être of the church:
believers gathered around the means of grace. As long as the
Word and sacrament are faithfully preached and administered,
Jesus Christ and all the company of heaven are present.
needed leadership (Deuteronomy 32:7). I want my children
to spend time with older people and to hear their stories.
History teaches us that if we lack exposure to something—or
someone—we can grow to fear and despise it. We should
learn to reverence old age, not fear it. Let us gladly receive
that which is handed down to us from our Christian
forefathers and mothers (Proverbs 23:22).
Now don’t get me wrong: there isn’t anything nothing
wrong with a big church. The Holy Spirit calls and gathers
His people wherever and whenever He wills. But too often
we seek large churches assuming they’re always better. In
the process, we can overlook
the blessings of a small
church. A theology of glory
boasts that big is always
better. Instead, the theology
of the cross announces
divine things hidden in
small places: a manger, a
tomb, a font, a cup—even
a heart!
With the increasing
secularization of North
American society and marginalization of Christianity
in public discourse, demographic studies suggest smaller
churches will become the norm in the Western World. Even
the growth in membership in some large congregations is
explained not by conversions to Christianity, but by the
absorption of members from smaller churches. We should
not stop praying and hoping for more conversions, but
even as we do so, we can recognize that the small church
phenomenon is not necessarily a bad thing.
So, if you belong to a small church, lift up your head—
you may be more envied than you think! But whether you
are a member of a large or small congregation, let’s learn
not to boast in our size (big or small) but rather in the
Lord, who sustains His Church with grace, forgiveness,
and love forever.
If you belong to a small
church, lift up your head—
you may be more envied
than you think!
10. Learning from our Elders
Smaller churches seem to “gray” faster than larger
congregations. For a father of five children, far away
from any extended family, I try to instill and appreciation
for the wisdom of the elderly in my kids. That’s easier
done in a small congregation, where “congregational
segregation” (ie, separating a congregation into “age
groups” that tend not to mix) is less frequent.
The Bible says that growing old is a blessing and that
gray hair is “a crown of glory” (Proverbs 16:31). Those
who are older provide our societies (and our churches) with
Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau is a Lutheran Church–Canada chaplain with
the Canadian Armed Forces.
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
9
Sharing Jesus
The First and Highest Work of Love
T
by Leonardo Neitzel
here is no such thing as “private Christianity.” From
its first to its last book, Holy Scripture presents
God’s people witnessing His greatness and mercy
to those around them, both in public and private. During
Jesus’ earthly ministry, He and His disciples had one goal: to
reach out and to care for people, physically and spiritually.
Each congregation, as well as each of us individually,
is called to be Christ’s channel of mercy to those around
us—especially to those close to us. The martyrs of the Early
Church have left us a legacy of public and private witness,
and Christians throughout the ages have faithfully followed
in their steps—in the steps of Jesus and His Church—as
they lived lives of witness, pointing others to the way of
salvation. This is “the first and highest work of love,”
as Martin Luther testifies.
So where do we come in? In what way are we called
to witness to Christ publicly? And where does He want
us to share the Gospel in personal relationships? How are
we called to enact this “work of love”?
Diagnosing the Problem
In a sermon on the John 20:19-23, Martin Luther
paraphrases Jesus’ words in this way: “I sent you into
the world as my Father has sent me; namely, that every
Christian should instruct and teach his neighbour,
that he may also come to Christ.... All Christians are
commanded to profess their faith publicly and also to
lead others to believe.”
The Church of Christ is always in danger of forsaking her
first love, as she faces temptations from within and without.
The devil, the world, and sin are counter-forces battering
constantly against God’s Word and His Church, pushing
us away from Christ and His Word, from spiritual growth,
from the fellowship of believers, and the regular use of the
sacraments. These forces try to deter us from love and care
for others and from Christian witness in the world.
The symptoms are all around us. On a congregational
level, it is easy for pastors and other church leaders to become
so involved in administrative concerns that little time and
energy remains for (or one may easily lose sight of) the
reason Christ established His Church: to make disciples of
all nations through Gospel witness and outreach emphasis.
This is not to say that good care and administration of
God’s house are unimportant. They are. But when priorities
10
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
become inverted, or when the administration becomes a end
in itself, then we have a serious problem.
So too, we see problems on the level of individual
believers. Christians fail to spend regular time in Bible
study, in the fellowship of believers, and in regular use
of the means of grace. Sometimes we exclude ourselves
from the blessings of the Church and instead try live
an isolated and individual Christian life. We have
plenty of excuses. We are always busy, giving in to the
demands and pressures of society around us. We give
our personal enjoyment the highest priority, and push
aside or disregard all together the Source of true and
eternal joy.
Affected by our internal and external influences we
become complacent to our spiritual life, and we fail to give
a faithful witness to our families and circle of friends. It is
true that family and friends are often the most challenging
arenas for witnessing about Jesus, but He doesn’t say that it
is impossible or not required. Nor does He say that it won’t
bring about blessings and produce fruits for the salvation
of our loves ones.
Walter Brueggemann, author of Biblical Perspective
on Evangelism, puts the problem this way:
The present crisis of evangelism is in a great measure
because the community of the church has not persuaded our
own young of the power or validity of the Gospel. I suspect
that has happened because adults have been inarticulate
within the family of faith about our faith. I imagine that
a reason for inarticulateness is that the scandal of faith
has become increasingly unpalatable for adults who crave
easy accommodation between faith and culture. In the
context of such an easy accommodation, the Christian faith
is trimmed of all its radicalness, until there is very little
about which to be articulate, and that very little has most
often been boiled down to privatized legalism.
Roy Fairchild, author of Christians in Families – An
Inquiry into the Nature and Mission of the Christian
Family, adds the following:
Most churchmen and churchwomen see little or no
relationship between their faith, their families, and
their work outside the home. Some are very careful to
keep faith and life in separate compartments. To others, it
has just never occurred that there is a connection. It seldom
occurs to them to think or speak of their job and their faith
‘in the same breath’.
The demands of our society have greatly interfered with
and influenced negatively our Christian witness to families
and circle of friends. We have become self-satisfied with
ourselves and insensitive to the real needs of others. But
the Holy Spirit, working through God’s Word, wants
to reclaim in us a love for those who walk in darkness,
and a passion to lead them to Christ.
Telling the next generation (Ps. 78)
As we learn and grow in our understanding of the
why of witnessing the Gospel of Jesus to others, we also
gain knowledge and skills for the how. The why grows
out of our relationship with Jesus and His Word; we
learn the how through on-the-job training. As we focus on
practicing sharing the Gospel, we find new opportunities
to share the Gospel appear.
The desire to share the Gospel with others is itself a gift
from Christ, and He provides us with the skills, strength and
encouragement we need to proclaim His Word. Through
Him, we can be “prepared to give an answer to everyone
who asks [us] to give the reason for the hope that [we] have”
(1 Peter 3:15).
When we turn to Scripture, we find numerous examples
of people sharing their faith—and we see numerous
examples of how that witness resulted in great blessings for
others, as people are instructed in God’s Word, confess their
faith in Christ, join local congregations, and are baptized.
For personal devotion, you may wish to meditate on the
following examples: Luke 5:27-32; John 1:43-51; John 4:430; and Acts 8:26-40.
In a sermon on the Gospel of Mark 7:31-37, C.F.W.
Walther states:
The Christian church is a great missionary house. Each
Christian in it is a missionary sent out by God into
his own circle to convert others to Christ, invite them
to the heavenly wedding, call them to the kingdom
of God, and enlist soldiers everywhere to the eternal
treasure and the army of Christ. God does not give his
spiritual gifts only to pastors and teachers. Lay people, who
do not stand in the public office, often have very glorious gifts,
a wonderful knowledge of Christian doctrine, a superior gift
of understanding and explaining the Scriptures, a wonderful
gift of examining teachers and opposing the erring, the
wonderful gift of guiding, comforting, admonishing, praying
and the like.
You too are called to share Christ in your circle of
family and friends. But as we carry out this work of love
in telling this and the next generation the praiseworthy
deeds of our Lord, it is important to keep in mind some
basic Christian principles:
1. Share the Gospel of Jesus with love. Love as Jesus
loved you;
2. Seize opportunities with discernment and
understanding;
3. Be open to the Spirit’s guidance in each and every
situation;
4. Be a good and open listener, rather than a loquacious
babbler;
5. Be non-judgemental of the other person;
6. Speak the truth, and in doing it, do it in love;
7. Exercise patience as the farmer does: He sows
the seed, cultivates, and waits patiently for the Lord’s
providence in providing the growth and harvest;
8. Pray for the sowing of the seed of God’s Word and
for the person receiving it.
9. Keep the servant’s spirit as the Apostle Paul says in
1 Corinthians 3:6-7: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered
it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor
he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes
things grow.”
As we focus on sharing Jesus with family and friends, let
us also keep in mind the miracle of grace at work as souls are
brought to Jesus. Jesus rejoiced over each sinner who heeded
His call and followed Him, and Scripture tells us there is joy
in heaven for even one sinner who repents. So too, there is
joy in our heart for every opportunity given to us to share
the love of Jesus with others. And the Lord comforts us that
our work is valuable: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree
of life, and he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30),
the Scriptures say. And again: “Those who are wise will
shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who
lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and
ever” (Daniel 12:30).
God grant us this wisdom and His strength as we
embark on this highest work of love—sharing Christ with
our neighbour.
Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel is Lutheran Church–Canada’s Executive
for Missions and Social Ministry.
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
11
The Martyrs’ Message
by Mathew Block
O
n February 15, Christians
around the world shuddered
as news of the Islamic State’s
most recent atrocity was publicized.
The terrorist organization released
a video that day in which they
beheaded 21 Egyptian Coptic
Christians en masse.
“Their only words were ‘Jesus,
help me!” Pope Francis commented
following the release of the video.
“They were killed simply for the fact
that they were Christians.”
“The blood of our Christian
brothers and sisters is a
testimony which cries out to be
heard,” he continued. “It makes
no difference whether they
be Catholics, Orthodox, Copts
or Protestants. Their blood is
one and the same. Their blood
confesses Christ.”
These men are martyrs.
And there are grave fears that
the Islamic State intends to
add to their numbers. Only a
week later, the group enacted
a mass kidnapping of Syrian
Christians, with at least 220
people taken hostage.
“Blessed are those who are
persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” our
Lord Jesus Christ said in the Sermon
on the Mount. “Blessed are you when
others revile you and persecute you
and utter all kinds of evil against
you falsely on my account. Rejoice
and be glad, for your reward is great
in heaven, for so they persecuted
the prophets who were before you”
(Matthew 5:10-12).
These are hard words because they
remind us that the reward Christ has
promised us is not one of safety and
security in this world. It is not the
promise of earthly comfort and joy.
Instead, our Lord actually promises
suffering. “If anyone would come after
me,” Jesus said, “let him deny himself
and take up his cross and follow me.
12
For whoever would save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for my
sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25).
Those Christian Egyptians recently
slaughtered on video were called to
witness this truth in a very literal way.
They followed Christ, and in so doing
they lost their lives.
But—and this is important—they
did not lose their lives in vain. Yes, it
is true that on this earth Christians
have no permanent home. Yes, we are
promised suffering, not comfort, in
this world. But the Good News is that
this world is not all there is. Our true
and final home is yet to be revealed.
“For here we have no lasting city,” as
the Scriptures say, “but we seek the
city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:15).
It is for this reason that Christians
can have hope in the face of persecution,
even facing martyrdom with courage:
we are promised that we lay down
our lives only to find them again. So
it is that we can take solace in the
words of St. Peter: “Beloved, do not
be surprised at the fiery trial when it
comes upon you to test you, as though
something strange were happening to
you. But rejoice insofar as you share
Christ’s sufferings, that you may also
rejoice and be glad when His glory
is revealed…. If anyone suffers as a
Christian, let him not be ashamed, but
let him glorify God in that name” (1
Peter 4:12-13, 16).
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
This is the martyr’s message. This
is the testimony they make with their
blood: that Christ has suffered first
and that His suffering makes our
suffering meaningful. He has bought
us entrance into heaven with His own
blood. In fact, the very word “martyr”
reminds us of this fact, for it comes
from the Greek for “witness.” These
Christians, killed for the faith, witness
by their deaths that Christ is greater
than death—that the grave which
could not hold Him will likewise not
hold them. Or us.
“If we have died with Him, we will
also live with Him,” St. Paul
writes in a letter to Timothy.
“If we endure, we will also reign
with Him; if we deny Him,
He also will deny us; if we are
faithless, He remains faithful—
for He cannot deny Himself” (2
Timothy 1:11-13). We can face
death with confidence because
Christ has already defeated
death for us. But—and this is
the hard part—we must still die.
We must die with Him on earth
ere we live with Him in heaven.
And this death may well be
violent, as a sinful world rages
against the Gospel of Christ.
We Christians in the West, too
often comfortable in this world,
have perhaps forgotten this difficult
message. It is one that modern-day
martyrs in Libya, and Syria, and Iraq,
and Nigeria, and other places are now
teaching us with their blood. Let us
regard the suffering of the faithful
in these places and pray for them,
that God would protect, comfort,
and strengthen them in the midst
of persecution. May He guard their
hearts and minds with the peace that
passes understanding.
And may He teach us through
their witness a living faith—a faith
that stands firm no matter the
consequences, no matter the cost.
Mathew Block is editor of The Canadian
Lutheran. Icon of the 21 martyred Coptic
Christians by Tony Rezk.
International News
www.canadianlutheran.ca
Conference addresses the challenges of “Post-Christian” society
GERMANY - Following an invitation
from the Commission on Theology
(CT) of the Independent Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Germany (SELK),
representatives of various commissions
on theology from Lutheran churches in
Europe and North America met in
Oberursel, Germany March 4-5, 2015.
This meeting served the purpose of
exchanging information about the
proceedings and results of theological
endeavours facing the challenges
in—for the most part—post-Christian
societies in the North Atlantic part of
the world.
“Despite our very close ties to The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
we in Canada are faced with a society
and church culture that is much closer
to the ‘post-Christian’ situation of
northern Europe,” Lutheran Church–
Canada’s (LCC) Rev. Dr. Thomas
Winger explained. Dr. Winger, who
was present for the Germany meetings,
is President of Concordia Lutheran
Seminary and a member of LCC’s
Commission on Theology and Church
Relations. “It’s in meetings like these,
with our brothers and sisters who have
already faced these challenges, that
we can learn to be prepared for where
we’re heading. And certainly we can
pray together and support each other
as we face them under the guidance of
God’s holy Word.”
The first day of the conference was
filled with reports delivered by the
participants, who hold a confessional
Lutheran position. In the evening
the conference participated in the
Lenten service held at St. John’s
church in Oberursel.
On the second day Bishop HansJörg Voigt (SELK) led Matins. It was
followed by a presentation on “The
Relationship of Church and State as
Reflected in the Understanding of
Marriage,” given by Dr. Werner Klän,
professor of systematic theology at
Lutheran Theological Seminary in
Oberursel. Based on preparatory
papers and a document only recently
issued by the SELK Commission on
Theology, Klän addressed the biblical
and confessional understanding of
Participants at 2015’s Theological Conference in Germany.
marriage and the church wedding,
especially with regard to the German
situation since the 19th century. He
pointed out that, if the state would
revoke the privilege and precedence
of marriage currently guaranteed
in the constitution of the Federal
Republic of Germany, compared
to other forms of living together,
then churches would have to restate
the basic biblical assumptions
underlying matrimony, the question
of establishing ecclesial jurisdiction
concerning marriage, and so forth.
The discussion following the
presentation identified similarities
and differences for Lutherans
in other nations. All agreed that
the classical biblical, Lutheran
understanding of marriage is being
challenged in many ways, and
that solutions to these challenges
cannot be found easily. The topic
of same-sex marriage legislation
was of particular discussion, with
emphases placed on the crisis of
gender identity as well as the status
and function of the legal protection
of matrimony.
Participants in the conference
agreed that the meeting contributed
to discovering the common
confessional grounds shared by the
various church bodies, the similarity
of challenges confronting them, and
the diversity of contexts in which
these churches exist. Participants
decided to share as many theological
documents as possible from their
respective church bodies with the
others, in order to communicate
the results of theological research
addressing the crucial questions of
our time and day from a Lutheran
point of view.
“The encouragement to share
documents written by our various
commissions on theology was
particularly welcome,” Dr. Winger
noted. “We can all benefit from
hearing a different perspective on
our shared concerns.”
Participants at the 2015 meeting
included representatives from the
Independent Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Germany (SELK), the
Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Baden (ELKib), the Mission
Province in Sweden, the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Latvia (LELB),
the Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Ingria (ELCI), the Silesian
Evangelical Lutheran Church of
the Augsburg Confession (SCEAV),
the Evangelical Lutheran Mission
Diocese of Finland, the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of England
(ELCE), Lutheran Church–Canada
(LCC), and The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod (LCMS).
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
13
National News
www.canadianlutheran.ca
Update on ABC District situation
T
he Court hearing of the
Alberta-British Columbia
(ABC) District resumed on
March 27. At that time, the Court
approved the District’s choice of
Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO)
and granted the District a 90 day
extension of its stay period (until June
26, 2015). The Court also approved
the sale of four properties.
Deloitte, the Court-appointed
Monitor, supported the extension of
the stay period in its second report to
the Court, writing that “the District
Group is acting in good faith and
with due diligence.” It had also
approved the District’s choice of a
CRO and the land sales.
Kluane Financial Services (and
designated representatives) was
approved as the CRO for the District
Group. The Court had previously
granted the District permission to
pursue the appointment of a CRO on
February 20. Under the CRO, work
will continue in the development of a
plan to present for the consideration
of creditors
The four properties which the
Court granted approval to sell
include Chestermere Lands owned
by Encharis Community Housing
and Services, St. Albert lands
owned by the District, and Faith
School lands owned by the District.
The St. Albert lands include the
building of King of Kings Lutheran
Church, which the congregation
intends to vacate upon closing of
the sale.
At the Court’s request, the
Mileage Fund (a fund to which
ABC District church workers
could contribute for assistance
in financing the purchasing of
vehicles) will move to a separate
trust account pending feedback
from Creditors’ Committees.
The Court again tabled the
District’s request to release a
p e rc e n t a g e o f c o n g re g a t i o n a l
remittances to Lutheran Church–
Canada (LCC). Congregations
voluntarily remit Mission Offerings
to their District, which in turn
14
passes on a portion to LCC for
national and international
programming. The ABC District
historically passes on 35% of
congregational donations to LCC on
a monthly basis (40% on an annual
basis). These regular remittances
to LCC have been frozen since the
District entered CCAA protection
in January. The Court will consider
the request again at the next hearing
on June 27.
In response to these financial
challenges, Lutheran Church–
C a n a d a ’ s B o a rd o f D i re c t o r s
has frozen the salaries of all
LCC employees. In an effort to
maintain current overseas mission
commitments, it has also approved
a deficit operating budget for
the year, to be reviewed as the
year progresses. LCC’s President
Robert Bugbee has also contacted
congregations in Alberta and
British Columbia to encourage
them to consider directly remitting
to LCC the percentage of their
donations that would normally be
remitted to LCC via District.
District Restructuring Efforts
In an affidavit to the Court in
advance of its March 27 hearing,
the District Group reported on
its restructuring efforts to date. It
reported that the Joint Restructuring
Committee began meeting February
24, 2015.
Among the Committee’s initial
work was reviewing submissions
m a d e b y C RO c a n d i d a t e s ,
participating in interviews with
the candidates, and making
recommendations regarding the
appointment of the CRO.
The Committee has also begun
examining properties owned by the
District to consider whether and
when certain properties should
be sold (work it will continue
with the newly appointed CRO).
The Committee is also reviewing
various proposals submitted by
Depositors and Congregations for
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
resolving the current situation.
The Joint Restructuring Committee
will also consult with the Creditor
Committees once they have been
appointed. With the appointment
of the Monitor, and more recently
the CRO, the primary role of the
Joint Restructuring Committee
is to provide information and
recommendations.
On March 16, Deloitte reported
that a number of members had
already been appointed to the
two Creditors’ Committees in
accordance with a Court-ordered
process approved at the February
20 meeting. Reserved positions on
the Church Extension Fund (CEF)
committee as well as the District
Investments Ltd. (DIL) committee
are filled. Elections by depositors
to fill the rest of the positions on
the two committees are currently
underway and are expected to be
completed on April 14.
The District’s affidavit also notes
that the claims process approved by
the Court in February is currently in
process, with plans to see the process
“substantially completed” for all
Claimants by May 5, 2015.
District’s actions under review
Some questions remain,
however. In its second report to
the Court, Deloitte expressed
concern that the District may have
contravened provincial securities
legislation, and it advised the
District Group of these concerns.
Deloitte further reports that “the
Monitor understands that the
Applicants are now having ongoing
discussions with the [Alberta
Securities Commission] and the
[British Columbia Securities
Commission] in that regard.” They
also note that they are continuing
to review withdrawals made from
the CEF and DIL in the year prior
to the January 2015 moratorium
to ensure no preferential payments
were made.
(Continued on page 39)
National News
www.canadianlutheran.ca
Immigration behind Francophone Lutheran growth in East District
QUEBEC - That immigration is a
significant source of membership is
hardly news for Lutheran churches
in Canada. It is part and parcel
of our history and in the early
days accounted for nearly all our
churches’ growth.
Waves of Lutheran immigration
are a thing of the past but new
Canadians still constitute the bulk
of membership in francophone
Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)
congregations. These new members
are not from Germany, Scandinavia,
o r o t h e r E u ro p e a n L u t h e ra n
strongholds. A closer look using the
past six months brings this reality
to light.
In Montreal’s Église de
l’Ascension, a Malagasy Lutheran
couple arriving from France joined
the church after being told about
the church by friends. Last month
an ethnically German Lutheran
family arrived from Romania and
contacted the church after looking
for a French-speaking Lutheran
church on the internet. The other
adult catechumen is a recentlyarrived Cameroonian student
whose student brother had become
Lutheran here after being invited
by other Cameroonians. The one
baptism in that time period was
that of the Canadian-born son of a
Malagasy Lutheran couple arriving
from Switzerland and joining the
church after an invitation by fellow
Malagasy Lutherans.
In Sherbrooke, all of the six
most recent catechumens were
foreign students, originally from
Madagascar, now residing in
Quebec. The latest baptism there
was that of the son a new CanadianMalagasy married to a FrenchCanadian. Sainte-Trinité in Quebec
City reflects the same pattern.
Indeed, Malagasies now form the
majority of the fledgling Lutheran
c o m m u n i t y t h e re. T h e m o s t
recent adult member is a Lutheran
Malagasy student, referred to the
church by a co-patriot from the
church in Montreal. Again, the one
recent baptism there was that of the
son of Malagasy-born immigrants.
The above trend is not new for
LCC in Quebec. The six-month slice
described above is representative of
much of the increase for previous
years, even the past decades, unlike
the previous two decades when
former Roman Catholic FrenchCanadians constituted most of the
francophone Church membership.
That latter demographic now
holds true only in Saint-Jean-surRichelieu, a preaching station of
the Montreal congregation where
the dozen or so communicants
are virtually all Canadian-born,
the majority French-Canadian,
i n c l u d i n g n ew c o n t a c t s n ow
beginning instruction. There, too,
most of the new worshipers came
to know the Lutheran Church
through word of mouth. Overall
though, there is now a notable
absence of Canadian-born interest
in the church (perhaps the same as
elsewhere in Canada?).
Noticeable in the immigration-fed
membership trend is that hearing
from friends and acquaintances is the
means by which most people come
to the French-speaking churches.
Outreach through distribution of
flyers, events and deliberate general
outreach (except perhaps the website)
have had negligible results.
Rev. Dr. David Somers
New French resources from LHM
ONLINE - Lutheran Hour
Ministries (LHM) – Canada has
announced the publication of two
new French titles in LHM’s popular
booklet series: Les raisons de croire
(“Reasons to Believe”) and Se
libérer des chaînes de la culpabilité
(“Unlocking the Prison of Guilt”).
In addition to regularly offering
Advent and Lenten devotions in
French, the Lutheran Laymen’s
League of Canada (LLL Canada)
has overseen the translation of a
number of LHM’s popular booklets
from English to French.
Other titles translated into
French include Faire face au
cancer (“Coping with Cancer”)
and La prière: Lorsque les mots
nouse manquent (“Prayer When
You Don’t Know What to Say”).
The booklets and are available
to download for free from LLL
Canada’s website at lll.ca/booklets/
french/.
Alternately, you can order hard
copies of the booklets by calling
1-800-555-6236. Follow LLL-Canada
on Facebook at www.facebook.com/
LutheranLaymensLeagueCanada.
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
15
National News
www.canadianlutheran.ca
Supreme Court decision a win for religious freedom
CANADA - A recent Supreme
Court of Canada ruling is being
hailed as a major achievement in the
preservation of freedom of religion
for Christians across the country. On
March 19, the court ruled to allow
Loyola High School in Montreal—a
private Roman Catholic institution
run by the Jesuit order—to seek
an exemption to teach the Ethics
and Religious Culture course that is
part of the provincial curriculum in
Quebec.
The curriculum would have
forced the school to teach all religions,
including Roman Catholicism, from
a secular perspective in the Ethics
and Religious Culture course. But
all justices agreed that the Province
of Quebec had infringed upon the
religious rights of Loyola members
in the process—effectively forcing
a Christian institution to teach
Christian doctrine in a way contrary
to its own perspective. Such an
obligation “would require a degree
of disconnect from, and suppression
of, Loyola’s own religious perspective
and that is incompatible with
freedom of religion,” the Court ruled.
“A secular state respects religious
16
differences, it does
not seek to extinguish
them.”
The course, which
is compulsory in all
public high schools in
Quebec, is a secular
overview of religious
and moral issues first
instituted in 2008.
That same year, the
Loyola administration
applied to the Minister
of Education for an
exemption to teach
the course, suggesting
that the school
instead wanted to
offer a similar course
but within a faithbased context. The
Minister refused to
grant the exemption
so the school took the
matter to court. In 2010, the Quebec
Superior Court ruled in favour of the
school. The Minister of Education
appealed the ruling and the Quebec
Court of Appeal overturned the
Superior Court decision.
The justices at the Supreme Court
were unanimous in declaring that the
Province of Quebec had infringed
upon religious rights by refusing to
allow Loyola an exemption, but the
actual decision was split 4-3, with
the minority suggesting the majority
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
did not go far enough in protecting
religious freedoms.
The Supreme Court ruling allows
Loyola High School to apply for an
exemption from teaching the Ethics
and Religious Culture course if it
applies to the Minister of Education,
and the Minister is obligated to abide
by the court ruling. The school will
therefore have the option to teach
the course with modifications that
present elements of it within a
Catholic context.
Background information from the
school explains that from the very
beginning of the legal proceedings, it
wanted to emphasize that “all people
share in the common good,” and that
the religious values at the core of
the school actually shape the desire
for tolerance and appreciation of
others, stressing it “is the essence of
pluralism; that each person can come
to society as a whole person, not as
one stripped of his or her essential
beliefs.”
Since the 1960s, Quebec education
policies have become increasingly
secular. Before 1963, there was no
provincial Department of Education,
and the administration of the school
system was the responsibility of
Catholic and Protestant churches
until the 1990s. The court ruling also
follows other recent controversies
over the public presence of religion
in the province.
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those
who love Him, who have been called according to
His purpose.” Romans 8:28
A message from
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Great
the glory
theHis
Lord!
Thank
theisLord
and of
Sing
Praise
ABC
District News
News
ABC District
Alberta
Alberta and
and British
British Columbia,
Columbia, Jon
Jon Teschke,
Teschke, editor
editor
A “tail” of two towns
CRESTON & CRANBROOK, B.C.
- A gospel partnership brought to
life two weeks of Group Ministry’s
“Weird Animals” Vacation Bible
School in two Kootenay towns in
August 2014. Rev. Doug Stapleton,
his wife Korleen, and Betty Marzke
(Creston), and Rev. David Morton
and Sharon Beloin (Cranbrook), led
a team of willing gospel workers in
welcoming nearly 120 children to
learn that “Jesus’ love is one of a
kind.” Much preparation was done
through the months of January
to July, and unique methods of
advertising were utilized, including
the use of Facebook as well as
local parade entries in their two
communities. Come August, the VBS
was finally ready!
The first week took place at
Redeemer Lutheran Church in
Creston and the second week ran
at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in
Cranbrook. Both churches were
transformed into various habitats
by decorations created by many of
Redeemer’s artistic members, along
with some incredible set dressing
and costume resources from Positive
Productions. Each day the children
moved in groups through five
learning stations. They experienced
special teaching moments from the
likes of Jake the Red-Eyed Green
Children enjoy the story.
Tree Frog, Dr. Paws, and Milton the
Star-Nosed Mole.
Two communities, one week of
VBS each, back to back—no easy
task! A couple of truck loads and a
26-foot U-Haul were needed to move
all the decorations. Amazing crews
were required to take down and set
up each church.
A n e n t h u s i a s t i c g ro u p o f
Redeemer people worked at both
churches, inspiring those at Mt. Zion
with their generosity and energy.
The volunteers enjoyed fellowship
and friendship despite not having
a whole lot of “bonding” time prior
to working together, and so it comes
as no surprise that both churches
are looking forward to doing it all
again in 2015. The participants had
fun, children grew in their faith
and praised the Lord together, and
nearly $600 was donated by the
children and their families for a
clean water project in India. A key
piece of the puzzle that made these
VBS weeks possible was a generous
grant from the ABC District of
Lutheran Women’s Missionary
League–Canada.
Church bell rings again
MELLOWDALE, Alta.- After a hiatus of
almost four years, the church bell of the
former Redeemer Lutheran Church in Vega is
ringing again, now at Christ Lutheran Church
in Mellowdale, located on the Neerlandia
highway. On November 30, 2014, Rev. Reinhard
Dittmer re-dedicated the bell.
For sixty-eight years the bell rang
every Sunday to call people to worship in
Vega. Originally the ringing of the bell alerted
the people of Wetaskiwin, Alberta, whenever
there was a fire in the area. In its second life as
a church bell, it will be used to alert Christians
in the area to gather for worship.
Rev. Reinhard Dittmer dedicates the bell.
The
March/April2015
201517
1
THE Canadian
CANADIAN LLutheran
UTHERAN March/April
ABC District News
and British
Columbia,
Jon Teschke,
editor editor
AlbertaAlberta
and British
Columbia,
Jon Teschke,
Jon Teschke,
Sunday school helps LWMLC pack sewing kits
CALGARY, Alta. - In September
the ladies of Foothills LWMLC
took on the project of collecting
sewing kits for CLWR. Thanks to the
generous donations from the ladies,
congregation members and others,
30 kits were assembled.
Sunday school students packaged
the kits on Thanksgiving Sunday and
an offering during coffee time on
LWML–Canada Sunday helped cover
shipping costs from Winnipeg. Home
Hardware in Cochrane shipped the
kits free of charge to Winnipeg.
From the President
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
e celebrated Easter at church
this morning,” the eightyear-old said to his parents. “We
talked about Jesus rising from the
dead!” “But wait a minute,” the father said, “this is
October. Easter doesn’t happen until April next year.”
The little boy responded, “But our Sunday school teacher
taught us that every Sunday is a little Easter and in our
church service we worship Jesus who rose from the
dead.”
The Sunday school teacher was right on. The early
church chose to worship on Sunday because that is when
Jesus rose from the dead. Of course, the actual Sunday
following Good Friday is recognized as the Festival of
Easter and the high point in the church year. It is on that
day when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.
It is also a time to remember who we are as Christians.
The purpose of Christ’s death and resurrection was
to defeat sin, death, and Satan. He disarmed these
powers and authorities, and made a public spectacle of
them, triumphing over them by the cross. Through our
baptism, we receive the fruits of that victory. The Bible
tells us that we were baptized into the death of Christ.
We were “buried with Him through baptism into death
in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new
life” (Romans 6:4).
Easter Sunday is a time to celebrate the new life we
have in Christ. It isn’t just a change of attitudes and
behaviours; it is actually new life. And it isn’t just for
our temporal life. It is for eternity. That’s why, when we
think about those dear friends and relatives who have
died in faith, our grief is tempered by the assurance
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that God will raise their mortal remains on the Day of
Resurrection. On that day, they, with us, will live with
Him for all of eternity.
There is tremendous comfort in the message of
Easter. St. Paul writes, “Brothers, we do not want you
to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve
like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that
Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will
bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him”
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). It is because of that hope that
the Church lives in eager anticipation of that great day
when the risen Lord comes to take His Church to her
heavenly home.
The message of Easter is one that can bring life and
hope to our lifeless and dying world. Easter is followed
by the Festival of the Ascension. At His ascension, the
risen Christ instructed His disciples to go out into all the
world and declare the good news of the Gospel. Then
follows the Festival of Pentecost where the disciples boldly
proclaimed the risen Lord to people who came from all
over the Roman Empire to celebrate the Jewish Festival of
the Harvest. And what a harvest! We are told that 3,000
people were baptized that day. Think of it—3,000 people
who in baptism received the assurance of forgiveness of
their sins and the hope of eternal life in Christ!
Easter is a story that most be told and re-told. It is a
message to be celebrated every Sunday! We worship a
Lord who became one of us to redeem us from sin and
death. His resurrection is life and hope for us. “But Christ
has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those
who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a
man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a
Man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made
alive” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).
Rev. Donald Schiemann
ABC
District News
News
ABC District
Alberta and
and British
British Columbia,
Columbia, Jon
Jon Teschke,
Teschke, editor
editor
Alberta
Korean Sunday school’s first Christmas pageant
PEACE RIVER, Alta. - God is good and continues
to bless Prince of Peace Lutheran Church with
growth within their Korean congregation.
Recently, more than 60 people including children
and guests from Korean, Japanese, Chinese,
Jamaican, and Canadian nationalities gathered
together for a Christmas potluck dinner.
After the dinner, the guests enjoyed the first
Christmas pageant performed by the Korean
Sunday School, with singing and dancing from
the congregation’s children.
A l t h o u g h P r i n c e o f Pe a c e ( E n g l i s h
congregation) currently does not have a Sunday
School, the Korean Sunday School (taught in
English) has blossomed with increased attendance.
Rev. David Shin
Members and guests enjoy fellowship together.
District LWMLC grants support pastors in additional training
congregation and
CALGARY, Alta.,
regularly sponsors
- Two pastors in
community grief
ABC District, Rev.
counselling in
Darren Dressler
Airdrie.
and Rev. Michael
I n 2 01 3 t h e
Keith, will each
LWMLC of ABC
receive a total of
District approved a
$12,000 from the
$3,000 mission grant
mission grant
to host the third
p ro g ra m o f t h e
“LCC Chaplain’s
ABC District of
Skills Training
Lutheran Women’s
Conference” in
Missionary
Alberta. The
League– Canada,
conference is
allowing them to
participate in four (l-r) Bonnie Heumannn, South Alberta zone representative; Elfriede Fisher, Foothills s c h e d u l e d f o r
courses to receive Lutheran Church Christian Mission chair; Rev. Darren Dressler, recipient; Rev. David Shepherd of the
Va l l ey L u t h e ra n
a “Death and Grief Bode, pastor at Foothills.
Church, Canmore, Alta.,
Studies Certificate” from
May 20-22, 2015. A cheque
the Center for Loss and Life
for this support was recently
Transition, Fort Collins,
presented to Rev. Mark
Colorado. The courses take
Lobitz, pastor at Shepherd
place over the next two
of the Valley. Pastor Lobitz is
years.
also chaplain for Lutheran
To date each pastor has
Hospital Ministries, South
received $3,000 for the
Alberta with an office at
first course. Rev. Keith was
St. Matthews Lutheran
presented with a cheque
Church in Calgary. The
on March 21, 2015 at St.
presentation was made
Matthew Lutheran Church,
there. Organizing committee
Stony Plain, Alta. And Rev.
for the conference is made
Dressler or Airdrie, Alta.,
received a similar cheque on (l-r) Bonnie Heumann, South Alberta Zone represenative; Jeanette up of Pastor Lobitz, Rev.
March 25, 2015 at Foothills Wood , ABC District financial secretary; Rev. Mark Lobitz, Shepherd Harry Haberstock and Dr.
of the Valley Lutheran Church.
Glenn Schaeffer.
Lutheran Church, Calgary.
Bonnie Heumann
Pastor Dressler has a mission
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ABC
ABC District News
Alberta and
and British
British Columbia,
Columbia, Jon
Jon Teschke,
Teschke, editor
editor
Alberta
2015 ABC District
Convention
May 22-24
Calgary, AB
Visit the Convention website at
abcconvention.lccabc.ca
Giving thanks for Karen Lyons
EDMONTON – The Canadian Lutheran gives
thanks for the faithful service of Karen Lyons,
who recently completed her service as editor of
the ABC District News. She served as editor for
the section for nearly three years, from the July/
August 2012 issue through January 2015.
“Karen’s editorship was marked with careful
attention to detail and dedicated service to
seeking out news important to readers,” said
Mathew Block, editor of The Canadian Lutheran.
“She brought the stories of Lutherans in Alberta
and British Columbia to the attention of our
Karen Lyons
readers across the country, and I am grateful for
her service. May God bless her in all her future endeavours.”
This issue of The Canadian Lutheran marks the first issue for Jon Teschke,
who is serving as Interim Editor of the ABC District News. Please forward
your news articles to [email protected].
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Visit the ABC District website at
www.lccabc.ca
Send news, photos, articles
and announcements six
weeks prior to publication
month.
District Editor
7100 Ada Boulevard,
Edmonton, AB T5B 4E4
phone: 780-474-0063
[email protected]
Next deadline:
June 3, 2015
Central District
District News
Central
News
Saskatchewan,
Saskatchewan, Manitoba,
Manitoba, NW
NW Ontario
Ontario Elaine
Elaine Stanfel,
Stanfel, editor
editor
Praising God with music
Kayla and her brother
THUNDER BAY, Ont.
Jared also play in the
- Kayla Falkenholt, a
Thunder Bay Symphony
16-year-old homeYouth Orchestra, with
schooled musician, was
Kayla as the harpist and
recently awarded the
Jared as a percussionist.
Royal Conservatory of
Kayla believes that the
Music Gold Medal for
primary function of
her Grade 8 Harp exam,
music is to praise God
receiving the highest
and give him glory,
mark in all of Ontario
quoting Psalm 150:2-3,
for Grade 8 Harp last
6 (ESV): “Praise Him
academic year. Kayla
for His mighty deeds;
received a mark of 89
praise Him according to
percent on her harp Kayla Falkenholt
His excellent greatness!
exam, and 100 percent
and has filled in for the music
Praise Him with trumpet sound;
on the necessary theory exam. She
director for whole services. Kayla
praise Him with lute and harp! Let
has also placed first in the Ontario
also plays organ about once a month
everything that has breath praise the
Music Festival Association Provincial
at Epiphany Lutheran.
Lord! Praise the Lord!”
Competition twice, playing in the
Harp category. Kayla is working on
her RCM Grade 9 piano, as well as
Shining “all around the neighbourhood”
the next level of concert harp (RCM
Grade 10).
Last year, Kayla completed a
beginning organist scholarship
through the Royal Canadian College
of Organists. Kayla now serves
by playing hymns in her home
congregation (Christ Lutheran)
Easter cross witness
Left, installing the new cross. Above, the
new, lighted cross serves as a beacon to the
community.
SASKATOON, Sask. - Crosses are again
popping up in Saskatoon. Members of St.
Pauls Lutheran Church put them up on Palm
Sunday. On Easter Sunday they turn them
around to show the words “He is Risen!” and
leave them up for another week.
REGINA - Thanks to a generous
memorial donation, Mount Olive
Lutheran Church and its surrounding
neighbourhood have a new lighted
cross. The cross was manufactured
and installed by Dustin Pretty’s
Indiglow Signs & Graphics in Regina.
Special thanks also go to Jeff Stashko
and Amped Electric who made sure
that the cross lights up the Regina
night sky. This project wouldn’t be
possible without the hard work and
dedication of the Board of Church
Properties at Mount Olive.
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Central District News
News
Saskatchewan,
Saskatchewan, Manitoba,
Manitoba, NW
NW Ontario
Ontario Elaine
Elaine Stanfel,
Stanfel, editor
editor
Members find the silver lining in a church closure
SOUTHEY, Sask. - The congregation
of Zion, North Southey closed at the
end of 2014, a decision made after
the 104-year-old church basement
was severely flooded in September.
About half of the members of Zion
attended a New Member Reception
at Emmanuel, Southey. Another 55
members weren’t able to attend.
The former Zion congregation
brings to Emmanuel a vibrant music
ministry, an LWMLC society, many
volunteers and new ideas, as well as
more delicious baking after worship
services and events!
Members old and new pray for
God’s continual blessings on this
newly-revived congregation. The
Cupar-Southey dual parish is served
by Rev. Lowell Dennis.
Diane Dennis
Some of the members of Zion who attended the new member reception.
Ponderings from the president
Jesus wins!
s spring weather struggles to
settle in across our country,
winter sports are winding down
for another year. In hockey, minor leagues are well into
their playoffs. The NHL’s long season is finally grinding
to a halt as teams jockey for playoff positions. Fans and
players are focused on their team winning the ultimate
prize: the cup or trophy, plus all the monetary bonuses
that go along with it, as well as the bragging rights
throughout the summer.
For the players, everything leads to this moment.
There is the constant conditioning of one’s body, the
playing through nagging injuries. There is a mental
toughness needed to be able to play game after game
even when your heart may not be in it on a particular
night. There are the endless practices, team meetings and
travel. There can be strains on marriage and family life.
There are sacrifices of time and relationships. But when
a player hoists the trophy above his head in a victory
celebration, all that has gone before is forgotten. To
be sure, next year the players may need to remember
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the level of perseverance and dedication that got them
to their ultimate goal. But for now, the focus is on
celebration and victory.
As I write this, Easter is approaching. The forty days of
Lent, though seemingly long, are almost behind us. We
have witnessed again our Lord’s teaching and miracles.
We have seen His great love for us by giving His perfect
life as the necessary sacrifice for our sin. And we will
rejoice again at His triumphant resurrection from the
dead on Easter morning.
I suppose you could summarize Easter with just two
words: “Jesus wins!” His victory over sin and death is
now our victory. His resurrection is our resurrection. The
eternal life He won is now ours through faith. Our focus
at Easter is on celebration and victory! We join with the
apostle Paul in our victory chant: “Death is swallowed up
in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where
is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of
sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus wins! Amen!
Rev. Thomas Prachar
Central District News
News
Saskatchewan,
Saskatchewan, Manitoba,
Manitoba, NW
NW Ontario
Ontario Elaine
Elaine Stanfel,
Stanfel, editor
editor
Lutheran early learning centre is first of its kind in Warman
WA R M A N ,
S a s k .
Approximately
eight months
f o l l ow i n g t h e
groundbreaking
ceremony,
W a r m a n
Lutheran Early
Learning Center
( W L E L C )
opened its
new doors on
February 2. The
first daycare
facility, secular
or religious, in
Warman shares
a building
with St. John’s
Evangelical
L u t h e r a n
Church.
The early
(l-r) LELC Executive Director Kim Randall, MLA Nancy Heppner, Warman Mayor Sheryl Spence, Rev. Tom Prachar, LELC
learning centre Board Chair Shelley Neufeld, Rev. Randy Heide, WLELC Director Danielle Richard.
fills a niche in
Warman, one of
narthex with office space for the
Joining them for the ribbon cutting
the fastest-growing communities in
was WLELC Board Director Shelly
pastor, LELC executive and the
Saskatchewan. The advent of new
Neufeld, with staff members Kim
parish administrator; a new board
families has led the government to
Randall and Danielle Richard.
room; and new classrooms to be
increase its funding significantly
Pastors and members from sister
shared by Sunday school, preschool,
for childcare. Warman achieved city
congregations in the Saskatoon
community renters, and before-andstatus in 2012, affording a perfect
circuit and surrounding area were
after school care activities.
opportunity for Lutheran Early
present for the commemoration,
The lower level of the narthex
Learning Centers (LELC) to add
conversation, and refreshments
will be used for the early learning
a third facility to their outreach
afterward. Revs. Prachar and Heide
centre. Enrollment in the facility
mission.
are excited for what they describe as a
is growing, currently filling 36 of
Central District President Rev.
new opportunity to “feed the lambs.”
a potential 65 spots. The JABA.
Tom Prachar, Rev. Lowell Guebert
Members of the 101-year-old
Construction project presented
(previous pastor at St. John’s), and
congregation at St. John’s endured the
challenges, but has not provided
Rev. Rod Parker (pastor at Grace,
months-long construction project,
cause to stop hoping that the Gospel
Saskatoon, which hosts another
which demolished the original
will reach children, community, and
preschool arm of LELC’s work) were
A-frame building, leaving behind the
staff in unpredictable degrees. The
able to celebrate with St. John’s along
sanctuary and basement hall built in
method, however, remains familiar:
with its pastor Rev. Randy Heide.
2003. Incorporating resource and
Mrs. Judy Haichert, confirmation/
St. John’s congregational
office spaces into the sanctuary area
Sunday school teacher and librarian
chairman, Gord Martens, welcomed
and Sunday school and preschool
at St. John’s, was invited to teach
LELC to the Warman facility
into the lower level, they settled in for
biblical storytelling to children in
commenting on the mission focus
the long haul. Word and Sacrament
a professional development day for
for this new partnership. He read a
ministry, Sunday school programs,
WLELC guardians two days prior
letter of congratulation from Member
preschool classes, and space rental
to its opening. She stressed that the
of Parliament Maurice Vellacott.
to a local music school for weekly
historicity of Jesus Christ and the
Encouragement was also brought by
lessons continued. Members joyfully
centrality of His Gospel be honoured.
constituency MLA Nancy Heppner
welcomed a newly-constructed
Travis Heide
and Warman Mayor Sheryl Spence.
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Central District
District News
Central
News
Saskatchewan,
Saskatchewan, Manitoba,
Manitoba, NW
NW Ontario
Ontario Elaine
Elaine Stanfel,
Stanfel, editor
editor
Group provides warmth for those living on the street
WINNIPEG - Members of Beautiful
Savior LWMLC, with the help of their
congregation, once again assisted the
less fortunate in their community to
prepare for the cold winter. The “Warm
Feet for the Street” mission project
involves collecting a pair of woollen
socks, personal hygiene items and a
bible tract, which are then packed in
a bag donated by Sobey’s for both men
and women at Main Street Project. Also
included: prayers that those receiving
the package will be blessed with hope
and warmth in God’s everlasting love.
New dual parish installs pastor
District convention
April 13-16, 2015
The Delta Bessborough Hotel
Saskatoon, Sask.
Visit the Central District website
at www.lcccentral.ca
(back, l-r) Revs. Tom Prachar, Rob Grout, Steve Bartlett; (front) Rev. Randy Fiege.
MELFORT, Sask. - District President
Thomas Prachar installed Rev. Randy
Fiege as pastor of the newly-formed
dual parish St. Paul’s (Melfort) and
Zion (Nipawin) on February 22.
Rev. Rob Grout, circuit counsellor
and a son of St. Paul’s congregation,
preached the sermon.
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Send news, photos, articles
and announcements six weeks
prior to publication month.
Elaine Stanfel, district editor
509 Airport Road,
Pembroke, ON K8A6W7
613-687-6620
E-mail: elaine.stanfel@
gmail.com
Next deadline:
June 3, 2015
East
District News
News
East District
Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Ilene Fortin, editor
Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Ilene Fortin, editor
Mission-minded women joyfully work hard
KINGSVILLE, Ont. - The
Ladies of First Lutheran
meet with enthusiasm
to work on projects for
Canadian Lutheran World
Re l i e f ( C LW R ) . T h e
group gets together for
“ripping workshops” to
cut out nighties, rip sheets
to make into diapers and
receiving blankets, and cut
washcloths. The ladies then
take them home to sew in
Some of the many helpers in Kingsville participating in
their spare time.
In addition to these workshop.
activities, some knit or
Crisis Centre, and the group has even
crochet newborn baby sweaters, while
hosted baby showers.
others shop at second-hand stores and
Another woman working from
yard sales for undershirts, sweaters,
home, with a helper, now knits 4”
receiving blankets, and other items,
× 48” tensor bandages from cotton
which are assembled into layettes. The
wool. She has made approximately
finished products are then shipped to
25 so far this year to be shipped to
Medical Missions and CLWR in “We
Medical Missions. Another member
Care” bags.
cuts squares and strips to sew together
One member of the group cuts
at home for the tops, then the group
and sews all the baby quilts. Some are
meets for a sewing workshop to
shipped to CLWR, others to Neighbour
assemble the top, back and middle
Link in Sarnia. Gifts are prepared, as
together, pin and sew edges, and then
well, for expectant mothers who have
tie the quilts. This is another time
been referred by the local Pregnancy
a
to shop at second-hand
stores to find sheets and
blankets to use for backing
and the middle layer.
One member brings her
grandchildren occasionally
and they trace, cut out, and
sew the sanitary pads that
are shipped to Medical
Missions.
In February, the group
held a Saturday afternoon
workshop to get all the
sewing
ladies of different ages
working together. They
began with pizza for lunch,
then traced, cut, sewed, quilted, and
knit. All had a wonderful time with
great fellowship for everyone from
teeny-boppers to ladies with walkers.
All of this hard work resulted
in the following shipments early in
2015: 50 warm-climate layettes to
Medical Missions; eight crib quilts to
Neighbour Link; and 31 large quilts
and 2 crib quilts, plus 50 complete
layettes in We Care bags, as well as 4
complete layettes, 20 large quilts, and
a box of children’s clothing to CLWR.
Irene Brandner
Advent lessons and carols
ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - The
service of Advent Lessons and Carols,
held Sunday, December 7 in the
Martin Luther Chapel at Concordia,
is our chance to share the celebration
of the season before the semester
break. President Winger explains
the purpose in the introduction to
the service when he notes, “The
Procession with Carols on Advent
Sunday is a collegiate tradition that
gives students the opportunity to
anticipate Christmas together before
heading home for the holidays.” It is
also an opportunity for the seminary
community—or perhaps better
stated, the seminary family—to give
back to the circle of supporters it has.
Area pastors, especially the fieldwork supervisors, members of the
Seminary Guild, and anyone else
connected with the seminary and
close-by that day, were invited to join
us as we rehearsed Advent lessons
and songs, reminding one another
that our Saviour and salvation are, as
the hymn-writer expressed it, “Of the
Father’s love begotten ere the worlds
began to be. He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He, of the
things that are, that have been, and
that future years shall see evermore
and evermore” (LSB
384:1). This year
fifty guests and
participants took part.
Special thanks again
to Diane Humann
and the Resurrection
L u t h e ra n C h u rc h
choir.
After
the
reve r b e ra t i o n s o f
the majestic “Lo! He
Come with Clouds Descending”
(LSB 336) slowly dissipated and light
refreshments were been enjoyed,
the students, staff, faculty, and
friends moved the festivities to
Resurrection Lutheran Church,
where the Concordia Seminary
Students’ Association (CSSA) hosted
the annual festive family gathering.
Source: CLTS enews
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2015 25
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East
District News
News
East District
Ontario,
Ontario, Quebec,
Quebec, New
New Brunswick,
Brunswick, Nova
Nova Scotia
Scotia Ilene
Ilene Fortin,
Fortin, editor
editor
Christmas Eve service
KITCHENER, Ont. - Two festive
Christmas Eve services were held
at Bethel Lutheran Church, with
participation from many musical
groups. Beautiful Christmas carols
and hymns were sung by the three
Bethel choirs, and rang out from
the tone chimes. Instruments also
enriched the service with the brass
ensemble and several string solos
participating. At the end of the
service, the congregation sang “Silent
Night” with only the Christmas trees
and candles lit in the sanctuary.
Irene Rooney
Two large Christmas trees decorated the altar at the Bethel Christmas Eve services, as
the Sunday School children sing.
From the president
Making the most out of life!
“Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful
bough by a spring; his branches run
over the wall.” (Genesis 49: 22)
C
hapter 49 in the Book of Genesis is often referred to
as the “Blessing of Jacob.” And rightly so, for in this
chapter of Scripture, Jacob blesses his sons before his
death. We do not have enough space here to grasp the
central thought in the blessing pronounced upon each of
Jacob’s twelve sons. In this article I would like to call your
attention to how mightily Jacob’s son, Joseph, was blessed
by God—so much so, that the descendants of Joseph
would increase so rapidly in their own territory that
they would soon extend beyond their own boundaries
into the neighbouring tribes of the Children of Israel.
In Genesis 49:22 we also have a magnificent
character analysis of Joseph as a man. He was
fruitful. He was producing that for which his life was
intended. He was drawing his strength from a spring.
This was a significant factor in the effectiveness of
his life—even to the extent that his branches ran
over the wall, which indicates that they extended
beyond what could have been their limited confine.
In the springtime we see many fruit-bearing trees at
the height of their glory, so full of blossoms that each
one looks as if it were a mammoth bouquet. When in
the spring we behold these fruit-bearing trees in all their
splendour, it directs us to look forward to that time of
year when we will harvest their produce. Will all these
promises of fruit that blossom forth in the early days of
spring grow into their intended ripeness? If there should
not be enough moisture, if drought should come, has the
tree anything to depend on for its sustenance? Joseph’s
life had its resources. He drew nourishment from a spring
which had a deep source. Therefore, even if the seasonal
rains were meagre, he still had a source of strength.
For it was God who was the power in Joseph’s life.
When difficult circumstances came, Joseph still had
the promise of God that He would never forsake him. How
about you and your life? When we are young, life, it seems,
holds so many promises. So much so, that someone once
coined the phrase: “It is in the springtime of our youth
when our blossoms give off the richest fragrance.”
There is an enthusiasm and a rich potential in the gifts
and talents which God has planted in each person.
We do not all have the same gift, just as all trees
do not bear the same kind of fruit. But each of us has
something to do and we will find our greatest joy in
living if we catch the importance of it. The secret of
doing so is to dedicate our gifts and our talents to the
highest purpose. That is to secure our future through
fearing, loving, and trusting in God above all things.
God will bless and give strength to those who lean
upon Him, to those who trust in the fact the He came to
be our Lord and Savior from sin, and to those who tap
into His resources to supply the power for their lives.
What wonderful words were spoken by Jacob in
the blessing of his son, Joseph: “Joseph is a fruitful
bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches
run over the wall.” Would it be that these same
words would be able to be spoken over each of us!
Rev. Paul Zabel
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East
East District News
Ontario,
Ontario, Quebec,
Quebec, New
New Brunswick,
Brunswick, Nova
Nova Scotia
Scotia Ilene
Ilene Fortin,
Fortin, editor
editor
Ministry at Centre Vision Chrétienne
MONTREAL - When a Christian
blind man contacted de l’Ascension
more than ten years ago, there was
a lack of even basic documentation
in French to respond to his request
to further his understanding of
Lutheranism. That led to contacting
the LCMS Lutheran Blind Mission
and the subsequent Braille printing in
French of Luther’s Small Catechism,
the Divine Service, and the Augsburg
Confession. Lutheran Hour recordings
were obtained from France.
The LCMS contact pastor, himself
Friends from around the world
WINDSOR, Ont. - A Christmas party for Windsor-Essex County Lutheran Outreach (WECLO)
English-as-a-second-language students and Bible class students was held at First Lutheran
Christian Academy. Rev. Gilvan de Azevedo (pastor at First Lutheran Church) and Paul and
Suzanne Eberhard (principal, FLCA) enjoyed the event along with friends from India, Croatia,
China, Iraq, and Korea. A Christmas party was also held at the home of lay missionary, Javed
Khan and his wife, Nighat, to celebrate the joy of Christmas with 23 friends from China, Iraq,
India. New friends were introduced, and presents for everyone were arranged by Nighat.
Kingsville welcomes pastor
Repbulic. From 2003-2005, he studied
KINGSVILLE, Ont. - With
at the Philosophical Faculty in Nitra,
overflowing joy and love, First
Slovakia, obtaining his scientific
Evangelical Lutheran Church
PhD. Six years later, after finishing
celebrated the installation of
his dissertation work he obtained his
Rev. Dusan Tillinger on Sunday,
academic PhD. In 2010, Rev. Tillinger
November 16.
accepted the Divine Call from Christ
Rev. Dusan Tillinger was born in
Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in
Bratislava, Slovakia. In 1994 he enrolled
Aurora, Ontario. He served in Aurora
in the Evangelical Lutheran Seminary
until September 2014.
in Bratislava, graduating in 1999. He
was ordained on August
1, 1999. In that same year
he married Milada, whom
he met while studying
at the seminary. They
are blessed with two
daughters, Sabina, 11 and
Greta, 8.
Rev. Tillinger’s first
congregation was in
Topolcany, Slovakia.
In 2002, he received a
call to Prague, Czech
(l-r) Pastor Dusan, Sabina, Greta, Milada
blind, was at that time starting a
U.S.-wide network of centres for
the blind in LCMS congregations
and encouraged such a centre in
Montreal. The concept was simple
yet original: provide a meeting space
for blind Christians, organized and
led by blind church members, to join
in a monthly Bible study (using the
newly-printed Braille Catechism),
song (the members have often sung at
worship services), conversation, and
to share a meal. By then another blind
man had joined the congregation and
they set out to recruit interested
visually handicapped individuals.
A then-new sighted member, Cécile
Ngo-Holl, agreed to be the Centre
Vision Chrétiennne coordinator
and has competently served in that
capacity ever since. The LCMS
also generously provided annual
leadership seminars for the centre’s
leaders. After the first year up
until last year, the East District
faithfully supported the monthly
meetings through a special gift grant.
Volunteers from the congregation
and beyond have assisted during the
monthly activities.
Vision Chrétienne’s tenth
anniversary was celebrated with a
benefit concert on November 22,
offered by de l’Ascension members
Rena Detlefsen (who has also led
singing for the centre members),
Clarisse Nguea, and Josélin
Radimilahy, presenting spiritual
songs by Ms. Nguea. Enough money
was gathered to maintain the centre
through June 2015.
The congregation gives thanks to
God for this way to serve.
Rev. Dr. David Somers
East District Convention
May 3- 6, 2015
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kitchener
THE
CANADIANLutheran
LUTHERAN March/April
March/April 2015
The
Canadian
2015 27
3
East
East District News
Ontario,
Ontario, Quebec,
Quebec, New
New Brunswick,
Brunswick, Nova
Nova Scotia
Scotia Ilene
Ilene Fortin,
Fortin, editor
editor
Christmas missions bazaar and silent auction
KITCHENER, Ont. - Bethel held
its annual Christmas Bazaar and
Silent Auction November 22. Bethel
members baked 14,000 butter cookies
for the bazaar and all sold out! There
were lots of delicious hot foods for
sale, including sausage on a bun and
a variety of soups, along with tortes
and other German baking—all served
with coffee or tea. Many interesting
items were up for bid at the silent
auction, which raised more than
$4,500 for the St. Paul’s Community
Cupboard in Kitchener. Crafts and
“attic treasures” were also offered for
sale. In total more than $12,000 was
raised for Lutheran charities.
Bethel members baking cookies in the church kitchen.
Irene Rooney
Outreach continues in Quebec
SAINT-JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU,
Que. - Two decades ago a then-new
member of de l’Ascension, Montreal,
expressed interest in a Lutheran
presence in his home town of SaintJean-sur-Richelieu (30 minutes
from Montreal). Under the care
of the Montreal congregation, he
began Wednesday evening prayers
in his living room. After a few
years the prayers were held in an
historic Anglican Church (free of
charge). Eventually the number of
de l’Ascension members living in
Saint-Jean grew to a dozen or so,
both through outreach and members
moving to the town. When the church
building they were using was closed
and sold four years ago, the prayers
were moved to the local military
base chapel, also free of charge (one
of the chaplains there at that time
was a Lutheran Church–Canada
pastor). Occasionally—on some
Ash Wednesdays, for example—
communion services were held (in
part because the rented LCMS church
in Montreal was not available).
In 2014 one of the members,
a convert to Lutheranism, was
encouraged by a surprise opportunity
and was motivated to organize
Bible studies and take charge of
a mass distribution of Lutheran
Hour Ministry “What do Lutherans
Believe?” leaflets in French. The
member re-activated a Lutheran
documentation literature counter
(stocked with recently available LHM
French materials) at a local Christian
coffee house and participated in
the organization of Word outreach
suppers on Friday night at the same
coffee house.
Convinced the various activities
could be used to channel contacts to
the Lutheran church, he envisioned
having more formal services in
Saint-Jean. The Wednesday prayers
at the chapel seemed to provide the
opportunity to build on the existent
Lutheran core. In November, Vespers
from Liturgies et cantiques luthériens
were begun as well as a monthly
eucharistic service—providing an
opportunity for the members to invite
others to attend a Lutheran service—
something still quite unknown in
Saint-Jean. De l’Ascension members
have committed to covering the costs
of these various outreach ventures in
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
L a s t A s h We d n e s d ay, o n e
member of the Church picked up
another at a seniors’ residence
(both former Roman Catholic
French-Canadians) for the service
in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu,
4 The
March/April2015
2015
28
THECanadian
CANADIAN Lutheran
LUTHERAN March/April
Québec. Upon the return of the
two to the home, a small group of
women gathered near the entrance
( a l l Ro m a n C a t h o l i c F re n c h Canadians) saw the sign of the
ashen cross on their foreheads,
and asked where they had been.
That led to a discussion of the
Word which led to the launching
of a Bible study at the home, led by
the driver mentioned above. Now,
at year’s end, those women are
still being led in the discovery of
the Word, and one has become a
member of the Lutheran Church.
Rev. Dr. David Somers
Visit the East District website at
www.lcceastdistrict.ca
Send news, photos, articles
and announcements six weeks
prior to publication month.
Ilene Fortin, district editor
East District Office
275 Lawrence Avenue,
Kitchener, Ontario N2M 1Y3
E-mail:
[email protected]
Fax: 519-578-3369
Next deadline:
June 3, 2015
Mission Update
Joy over continued growth in Cambodia
CAMBODIA - Leaders of Lutheran
Church–Canada (LCC) visited
Cambodia March 5-8 to strengthen
L C C ’ s re l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e
Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Cambodia (ELCC), rejoicing over
the continued growth and maturing
of the young church body.
LCC President Robert Bugbee and
synodical mission director Leonardo
Neitzel arrived at the invitation of
the ELCC’s president, Rev. Vannarith
Chhim. Also present on behalf of the
Canadian church were retired mission
director, Dr. Leonard V. Harms, and his
wife, Carol. President Bugbee and Dr.
Neitzel made the stop in addition to
visits earlier in the week to Lutheran
leaders in neighbouring Thailand.
“I had not visited these key
partners of LCC in over four years,”
remarked President Bugbee. “The first
day of our visit took us a few hours’
drive southwest of the capital to the
Kampot region, where we met leaders
and members of a rural congregation
near the town of Chhuk, which I had
gotten to know in early 2011. That
congregation is a good example of the
progress made by local churches in
various parts of the country. They now
maintain a new Christian school near
the church building, and I’m impressed
by the congregation’s efforts to meet
local needs by continuing to operate
the well-known ‘rice bank’ and fishpond projects.”
The following day President
Bugbee preached at Christ Lutheran
Church in Phnom Penh at the
ordination of two pastors. Though
the ELCC has numerous preachers
and local leaders conducting worship
in far-flung locations, the number of
pastors fully trained, certified and
ordained is growing gradually. The
new ordinands, Revs. Phanna Bun
and Sem Sothea, will supervise such
leaders in the regions where they
serve. President Vannarith presided
over the ordinations, assisted by
two other Cambodian pastors, along
President Bugbee and Dr. Neitzel,
who participated in the laying-on
of hands.
The newly ordained pastors are presented with shepherds’ crooks by ELCC President
Vannarith Chhim.
Following the ordination service,
Presidents Vannarith and Bugbee
proceeded to the main entrance of
the ELCC office building to formally
dedicate the opening of Concordia
Theological Institute, which will
now coordinate the training of
future pastors.
President Vannarith and Pastor
Naro of Christ Lutheran Church
(Phnom Penh) briefed the visiting
Canadians in the final hours of the
visit on the ELCC’s plans to structure
theological education for the future, as
well as other ways LCC can assist the
church in Cambodia. They were joined
in the discussions by Dr. Leonard
Harms and Rev. Carl Hanson, Director
of Asia regional mission operations
for The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod (LCMS), based in Hong Kong.
“The ELCC was not started
by Lutheran Church–Canada,”
President Bugbee observed. “It
came about through the influence of
LISA (Luther Institute – Southeast
Asia), which provided theological
lectures in Phnom Penh to leaders
of independent local churches in this
country.” In early 2009, convinced
that the Lutheran confessions set
forth the truth of God’s Word,
Cambodians themselves established
the ELCC and promptly sought
registration by their government as
a recognized religious group.
“In my view, this shows exceptional
courage and leadership,” Bugbee
continued. “This enterprising spirit
has marked the ELCC ever since.
President Vannarith travels extensively
to deepen relationships and hold
together their synodical family across
the country, and has also worked on
key overseas church relations. LCC is
honoured to be one of the Cambodian
church’s primary partners.”
The efforts of the ELCC are
bearing fruit. President Vannarith
reports that the ELCC now numbers
32 congregations, in addition to 156
other preaching stations, and that
their synod has grown to embrace
over 6,000 members.
President Bugbee observed that
the closeness between the ELCC
and the Canadian church is due in
large measure to the influence of Dr.
Leonard Harms, former LCC mission
executive, who spends much time
in southeast Asia and is a trusted
friend of the Cambodian church. Dr.
Harms’ gifted wife, Carol, a rostered
Lutheran teacher, accompanies him
on many of his travels. “Watching her
interact with deaconesses and local
leaders impressed on me how deeply
respected both Len and Carol are,”
President Bugbee noted. “Our synod
is blessed indeed to have servants
willing to give so much of themselves
even well into their retirement.”
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
29
Mission Update
Canadian Lutherans participate in Nicaragua outreach
Rev. Mark Koehler teaches a Bible Study class in Nicaragua.
NICARAGUA - From January
10-17, twenty-six members of a
number of Ontario congregations
took part in a short-term mission
trip to Nicaragua. Participants
stayed in Leon, and came from
Redeemer Lutheran (Waterloo), St.
Paul’s Lutheran (Elmira), Pilgrim
Lutheran (Hamilton), Christ our
King Lutheran (Mississauga),
Grace Lutheran (Oshawa), and
Historic St. Paul’s (Kitchener).
Each morning, eight participants
would depart at 7:00 a.m. for
Cartonera, where they would assist
in leveling the floor and laying
ceramic tile at San Paulo Lutheran
Church.
The remaining members split up
to help lead Vacation Bible Schools
in four different locations along
with the local pastor (or vicar) and
deaconess. Approximately 1000
children attended the four VBS
30
programs, with about 300 attending
in Telica, 350 in Leon, 150 in
Cartonera, and 200 in Marononal.
In addition to ministry to
children, three Lutheran Church–
Canada pastors on the trip delivered
adult Bible classes during the first
half of each morning. Rev. Robert
Krestick (Redeemer, Waterloo)
had between 80 and 100 adults in
attendance at class in Telica, Rev.
Richard Frey (St. Paul’s, Elmira)
had 40-50 adults at Leon, and Rev.
Mark Koehler (Pilgrim, Hamilton)
had 40 in Cartonera.
On the afternoon of January
15, team members distributed food
hampers to families at each of the
four locations where Vacation Bible
schools were held, with a total or
210 food hampers distributed.
On January 16, the Canadians
were privileged to worship
with the members of St. Paul’s
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
in Telica, who were celebrating
a confirmation that day. That
evening, the Canadians hosted a
celebration dinner with all the
pastors, deaconesses, translators,
and supporters of the trip at their
hotel in Leon.
LCC’s Mission Work
For information on LCC’s missions,
visit LutheranChurch.ca. You can
support LCC’s missions through
online giving, or by sending
donations by mail:
Lutheran Church–Canada
3074 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3K 0Y2
Canada
Education Report
CLTS to welcome Finnish scholar for 2015-2016
S T. CAT H A R I N E S , O n t . Concordia Lutheran Theological
Seminary (CLTS) has announced
that they will be hosting a visiting
scholar during the 2015-2016
academic year in St. Catharines.
Rev. Esko Murto, of Helsinki,
Finland will be joining the seminary
community during that year.
This is the third in a sequence of
visiting scholar arrangements. Rev.
Juhana Pohjola of Helsinki was in
residence at CLTS from January 2011
to June 2012 while completing his
doctoral dissertation, contributing
to the community via preaching
and occasional teaching. Rev. Dr.
Wilhelm Torgerson, a CanadianGerman well-known to members of
Lutheran Church–Canada, joined
the CLTS community in August
2011 and continues to serve a full
load of classes. His first two years
were supported by a grant from the
Marvin M. Schwan foundation.
Rev. Murto is a young pastor in
the Evangelical Lutheran Mission
Diocese of Finland (ELMDF).
The church was officially formed
in 2013, though the origins of
the group date back to 1999. The
ELMDF emerged out of the state
church of Finland, which bars
the ordination of anyone who
opposes female ordination and
which is increasingly moving
towards acceptance of homosexual
marriage. Today the ELMDF counts
3 0 c o n g re g a t i o n s t h ro u g h o u t
Finland.
“It is important that we offer
brotherly support within the
Lutheran community to those
who struggle to confess the truth
in such circumstances,” a CLTS
release explains. “Rev. Murto’s time
in Canada will give him crucial
insights into the inner workings
of an independent confessional
Lutheran church body and seminary
that he can bring back to Finland.
LCC President Robert Bugbee is
delighted to approve Rev. Murto’s
Canadian sojourn to the mutual
benefit of our churches.”
The release further notes that
Rev. Murton will bring unique
insights into sharing the Gospel in
the “increasingly post-Christian
north Atlantic culture that we in
Canada share with our Nordic
cousins.” Rev. Murto’s Master of
Theology (from the University
of Helsinki) was on the theology
of C.S. Lewis and his Master of
Sacred Theology (from Concordia
Rev. Esko Murto
Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne)
focused on Martin Luther’s view
of the devil.
Rev. Murton will teach the
seminary’s Confessions, dogmatics
and missions courses in the 20152016 academic year, in the wake
of Rev. Dr. William Mundt’s
retirement. Consequently, the
s e m i n a r y w i l l d e l ay h i r i n g a
replacement faculty member for
one year.
Seminaries release new recruitment poster online
ONLINE - Concordia Lutheran
Seminary (Edmonton) and Concordia
Lutheran Theological Seminary are
encouraging LCC members to share
a new recruitment poster with their
friends and family on social media.
This poster is part of a series
designed to remind Lutheran Church–
Canada (LCC) members to pray for
and encourage those whom they
believe God may be calling to pastoral
ministry.
All LCC congregations received
copies of five posters last year, with
a request to put up a new one every
two months or so. The third poster—
Theology for the Joy of It—will soon
join two earlier posters online at
www.isgodcallingme.ca.
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
31
Education Report
Concordia University College of Alberta suspends church work programs
E D M O N T O N - In response
to budgetary challenges and
consistent low enrolments,
Concordia University College of
Alberta is moving to suspend its
church work programs, including
the Director of Parish Services,
Lutheran Teacher, and Youth
Ministry Certificate programs.
Discussions are also taking place
with Concordia Lutheran Seminary
whether the Pre-Seminary Minor
offered at Concordia is the preferred
route of preparation for seminary
candidates.
Concordia’s church work
programs have had consistently low
enrolments since their inception
nearly thirty years ago, graduating
an average of four students per
year. No students are currently
enrolled in the Lutheran Teacher or
Youth Ministry programs. The two
students who are currently enrolled
in the Director of Parish Services
program have completed all courses
necessary for graduation. Two
others, completing post-graduate
internships, will be unaffected.
“These programs are not
unique in facing suspension,” said
President Gerald Krispin. “They
are part of an institution-wide
degree and program review that
is focusing on sustainability and
student demand.”
While intending to suspend
the programs themselves, which
require that courses must be offered
no matter how low the enrolment,
Concordia will continue to provide
foundational theological education
for church work and pre-seminary
students of Lutheran Church-Canada
through individual courses. The
programs as such may be delivered
by Concordia Lutheran Seminary
(CLS) in the future.
“Discussions are underway
to explore if the seminary would
assume responsibility for a graduate
certificate or diploma in various
areas of church work,” Dr. Krispin
added. “Other church work students
who study at the seminary could
experience spiritual formation and
a focused confessional learning
environment currently open only to
pastoral students.”
As is the case for all ministry
graduates, certification remains the
purview of the synod. Concordia
Lutheran Seminary President Jim
Gimbel indicated a commitment to
seriously explore the feasibility of
cooperation on ministry formation,
“as long as there are sufficient
resources to take on this broadened
role.” In the meantime, “CLS is
committed to stand beside all of the
workers in LCC and their need for
support, training, and nurture as
servants of the Church.”
In the meantime, the Council
of Presidents of LCC has been
apprised and is supportive of
the establishment of an Institute
for Interdisciplinary Christian
Studies within the Department of
Religious Studies and Philosophy
at Concordia University College of
Alberta. Upon presentation of this
initiative, LCC’s First Vice President
Nolan Astley stated: “It was clear at
the Council of Presidents meeting
that the ecclesiastical bond with
Concordia University College of
Alberta is still very real and there
is a strong desire to move forward
in a positive way.”
GARY R. SCHMIDT
President
519.570.3280
1.888.870.TUNE
519.579.7615
[email protected]
www.schmidtpianoandorgan.com
32
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
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Lutheran
Women.ca
LWML
Canada
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada
encouraging and equipping women to
Grow in God’s Word • Serve God’s People • Share God’s Son
LWMLC seeks renewal in equipping, motivating and encouraging the
women of the Church as they grow, serve and share
The mission of Lutheran Women’s
Missionary League–Canada
(LWMLC) is to equip, motivate
and encourage women to grow in
God’s Word, serve God’s people, and
share God’s Son. Since the inception of
our organization in the 1950s and even
since 1993 when LWMLC became an
autonomous organization, our world
has changed. Family life and the role
of women in the world have changed.
For several years our members and
our leadership have recognized that
LWMLC would benefit from a renewal
in the way we carry out our mission
today and into the future.
Wi t h t h i s i n m i n d , at o u r
2012 convention a resolution was
passed to appoint a task force to
analyze our organization and make
recommendations for changes to give
LWMLC a renewed focus in carrying
out our mission well into the future.
At our 2015 convention members
will consider significant changes to
our structure. We are considering a
structure that will have fewer women
in leadership roles and more women
actively engaged in our congregations.
There will be less money spent on
administration, more money available
for support of mission and service
projects in Canada and in partnership
with Lutheran Church–Canada in
overseas missions.
As the women’s auxiliar y of
Lutheran Church–Canada it is our
prayer that God will lead us through
these changes so we can equip,
motivate and encourage all women
of Lutheran Church–Canada to:
GROW in God’s Word by providing
materials and opportunities to
be in the Word and grow closer
to God so they are equipped to
encourage others to know God.
God’s Word does not change. We
recognize the way women embrace
that Word has changed. We want
to equip, motivate and encourage
women to allow God into their
lives in a real and meaningful
relationship, to make Him the first
priority in their life no matter what
the circumstances of their life are.
SERVE God’s people by providing
opportunities for women to share
their gifts and talents. Every
woman in is called by God to serve
Him. Our prayer is that LWMLC
can help each woman recognize
their call and serve, each in their
unique way.
SHARE God’s Son. There are so many
people in our lives who need Jesus.
As individuals it sometimes seems
like a daunting task to bring Jesus
to so many. As a group we can
share this task, encouraging each
other and equipping each other so
that many will hear of His great,
saving love for each of us.
We live in a world that is becoming
increasingly secularized. As members
of the body of Christ it is important for
us to equip, motivate and encourage
each other as we work together to stay
close to God and bring others to Him.
Iris Barta
President
Woven together in faith, serving others
While attending the Winnitoba
Zone Spring Renewal in April, 2013,
Valerie Olsen was inspired to lead a
“Pillowcase Dresses for Haiti” project
at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer,
Winnipeg. Eighty-two dresses were
created. We thank God for providing
us with this new, creative way to share
His love. We hope each girl will feel
special in her brand-new dress.
A few times in recent years, our
society collected new and gently-
u s e d stuf fe d animal s
for Misericordia Health
Centre. Children who need
a cast at the Ambulatory
Care Clinic can pick a
“stuffie.” The staff members
use the toys to explain medical
procedures. We added “Jesus Loves
You” labels to this collection and pray
God will comfort each child through
these toys.
Janice Storozuk
Unit Clerk Rosa T. (left) welcomes the new
arrivals presented by Janice Storozuk.
The
March/April
2015
1
THE Canadian
CANADIAN LLutheran
UTHERAN March/April
2015
33
Reaching out in mission key factor for women
Lutheran Women’s Missionary
League–Canada has begun to build
relationships between women of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica and women
of local congregations in Lutheran
Church–Canada. It began with a visit
from LWMLC president, Iris Barta,
who spent time at the Mission Centre in
Nicaragua with about 50 deaconesses.
Following her visit, deaconess Betty
Cevallos, who works with her husband
in Costa Rica, shared the following
with women of LWMLC through the
League’s magazine, Tapestry. She, of
course, wrote in Spanish. Following is
the translation.
I am originally from Ecuador, now a
nationalized citizen of Costa Rica. I have
been a deaconess of Lutheran Church–
Canada in Costa Rica, since 2011.
Some years ago, I thought I had
finished my long-enjoyed adventure of
faith, living and working as a missionary
for the Catholic Church. Then I came
to Costa Rica to study theology and, in
the classrooms of the Latin American
Biblical University, met for the first
time, a Lutheran.
Edmundo Retana, who is now my
husband and a missionary pastor of
Lutheran Church–Canada, introduced
me to Lutheranism in 1991 and I
returned to missionary work together
Lots to like online
LWMLC has been expanding into
social media, including Facebook and
Twitter. It is important we be there.
On Facebook, we have 285 people
“liking” our page. Most of these
people are from Canada, quite a
few are from the United States, plus
from various other places around
the world. Even though the majority
following our LWMLC Facebook
page are female, about 15% are male.
On Twitter, we have 150 people
following us. Here too, the majority
are from Canada, but we have people
following us from around the world.
What do we post on Facebook
and Twitter? Every day there is a
prayer suggestion. On Mondays a
with him. We have
been married 21
years and have a
17-year-old son.
We have, for several
years, shared a path
of sharing the Gospel
of our Lord Jesus
Christ in different
co ntext s i n o u r
beloved homeland,
Costa Rica. I am a
deaconess and my
everyday life is not
very different from
most of the women Nicaraguan women enjoy a craft.
of my community. My time is divided
I am fully conscious of the care of
between my home, my family and my
children, always besieged by the lack
life of service as a missionary. Because
of values present in our culture—
of the Gospel, I have chosen to serve as
heartbreak (lack of love), broken
a missionary in the Church. This work
families, adult self-centred nature—
is given to me only by the sheer grace
that along with the ignorance about
and mercy of the Lord.
God, increases the vulnerability of our
I share and live in the certainty
children. The integration of children
of God’s continuous presence in
and young people in the different
everyday work with women who each
activities is encouraged in our Church.
bring a part of themselves from their
I am concerned by the general
God-given gifts. Together we build the
disregard of the people for the things
work God wants for us in Costa Rica.
of God, as well as the common idea
Every week I am with them in worship,
of a magic God who is predictable
Bible study, crafts and other activities
and complacent, a God who can be
in which they can express themselves
manipulated. This view is very distant
without anything threatening their
from the God of our Lord Jesus
integrity as Christian people.
Christ. Our only hope is in the God
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, out
of love, saved us from our sins and
the Holy Spirit who leads us through
the Scriptures to the only source of
saying or a picture is posted. On
authority and knowledge.
Wednesdays you will find various
It strengthens me to think that
projects groups can do. On Thursdays
there
are other people who are also
a Resource of the Week, highlighting a
working
in the same direction in many
different resource from the LWMLC
and
different
ways in other contexts
Resource Centre in Winnipeg finds
and
countries
to make this world
its way onto Facebook and Twitter.
more
beautiful
with
God in sharing
In addition, information from our
the
gospel
message.
website, newsletter Get Connected
I don’t have my own path; I just
and magazine Tapestry. are shared
walk
on the path of God, day by day,
If you are already on Facebook or
realizing
and embracing it in faith.
Twitter, please “like,” share or retweet
“The Lord is
my keeper; the Lord is
our posts to your family and friends.
my
shade
on my right hand....
Facebook: www.facebook .com/
The Lord will
keep
my going out and
LWMLCanada; Twitter: https://
my
coming
in
from
this
time forth and
twitter.com/LWMLC.
forevermore”
(Psalm
121:5).
Melissa Henke
34
THECanadian
CANADIAN Lutheran
LUTHERAN March/April
March/April 2015
2 The
2015
Betty Solórzano Cevallos
Vicars learn how League supports local congregations
Redeemer Lutheran Church in
Hamilton was the place. Friday, March
13 was the date. Starting time was 6:00
pm. What was it? The annual dinner
for vicars sponsored by LWML–
Canada and hosted by the Niagara and
Hanover Zones of the league’s Ontario
District, with a special appearance
by national LWMLC president, Iris
Barta. [A similar dinner for vicars
is held in Edmonton each year.] The
purpose is to familiarize these future
pastors with the League’s mission and
ministry, especially as it may relate to
the local congregation. Since two of
Concordia, St. Catharines’ three vicars
present are not life-long Lutherans,
the introduction to the multi-faceted
ministry the League provides was
extremely helpful (and impressive).
A well-known remark by an
unknown author on the difference
between men and women says:
“Woman was created from the rib of
man. She was not made from his head
to top him, nor from his feet, to be
trampled on. She was made from his
side, to be equal to him; from under
his arm to be protected by him; from
near his heart to be loved by him.”
Although not entirely applicable to
LWMLC—although honestly, who
can’t love these dedicated women—it
does describe in general the role the
League wishes to play in the local
parish: partnering with the pastor,
the council and other organizations
(l-r) Sarah and Andrew Cottrill, Iris Barta holding Audrey Cottril, Milton
Lamb, Paul Schultz. Inset: Audrey Cottrill with her dad.
to augment or supplement various
ministries and to keep the local
congregation’s focus on the greater
challenge entrusted by Christ to His
Church, namely, “making disciples
in all nations.” Mite boxes, mission
awareness and service projects, plus
a wide-variety of devotional materials
are all part of what the LWMLC offers
the congregations.
Iris Barta, national president,
encouraged the vicars to get involved
by dropping by the meetings (at least
to enjoy the refreshments), offering
to do a Bible study, and taking a
look at Tapestry and other LWMLC
materials to become familiar with
the resources available for all ages.
She also shared pictures of some of
the projects supported by LWMLC
mission grants. These included police
chaplaincy work in Regina, support
for ministries in Nicaragua, and the
training of deaconesses in Thailand
and Cambodia.
The youngest future LWMLC
member present was little Audrey
Cottrill, who kept ever yone
entertained throughout the evening.
Rev. Dr. Wm. Mundt
Thank you for support to seminary students
LWMLC supp orts seminar y
students in a number of ways. For
example, the national body provides
a grant each year to students at each
of the seminaries and, as noted above,
with help of members in the Edmonton
and St. Catharines areas they host
an annual dinner for those going on
vicarage. The note that follows was
received from student Aaron Astley in
response to money received from the
ABC District of LWMLC.
“I recently received a cheque from
LWML–Canada through Concordia
Lutheran Seminary’s Adopt-a-Student
program. I wanted to take this chance
to say thank you to the ladies of
LWMLC for their support. “Without a doubt, LWMLC groups
from around the country are among
the biggest supporters of seminary
students like myself. Their prayers
and gifts are a huge blessing for all
of us. I have been very thankful for
the support LWMLC has shown me
over my time in seminary. Whether
it be the vicars’ dinner or simple gifts
like the one I recently received, the
continued support from the ladies
of our church has been a special
encouragement for me. Seminary can
be trying at times, but the knowledge
that so many people throughout our
synod are supporting me and the other
students is greatly appreciated.
“Please pass along my deepest
thanks to those involved. God’s richest
blessing to you and the LWMLC as we
together serve our Lord!”
In Christ,
Aaron Astley, 4th year student, Concordia
Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton
3
35
The Canadian Lutheran March/April 2015
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
Providing seminars for everyone
“This seminar is extremely well
done,” was the way Pastor Murray
Keith summed it up at the end of Heart
Melody, a three-hour workshop to
which everyone at St. Paul’s Lutheran,
Saskatoon, had been invited. “We
couldn’t use all of it today
and I intend to find other
ways to make use of it,” he
concluded.
Two dozen men and
women participated.
One of the men earlier
suggested that three hours
was a long time to sit but he changed
his mind given the variety in the
presentation from Bible study to a skit
to a scavenger hunt. No stone was left
unturned in the search through the
wonderful resource called Lutheran
Service Book.
This same seminar has been used
across Canada. A participant in Ontario
said, “I was very disappointed when I
heard the whole retreat would be from
our hymnal. However, by the end of the
retreat I was thrilled with the format,
the topics and the wealth of
information presented.”
While w r itten a s a
triennial seminar for
LWMLC, Heart Melody
writers had both men and
women in mind as they
wrote. They also knew that
those who use it will have varying
amounts of time available. Therefore,
it can be used whole (an entire day)
or in parts, or even just one part.
Copies on CD may be ordered from
the LWMLC Resource Centre in
Winnipeg (see bottom of the page).
Lap quilts part of group’s service to others
Each year we have a mitten
tree and this year many mittens,
caps and scarves will go to
the Community Cupboard
program at St. Paul’s Lutheran,
Kitchener. The Dorcas Society
a n d LW M L C m e m b e r s
presented lap quilts to the
Fordwich Village Nursing
Home for their residents.
Myrtle Demerling, Clifford, Ont.
Tapestry – a magazine for the women of
Lutheran Church–Canada
Subscribe
today!
For details:
• http://www.lutheranwomen.ca/
publications-and-forms/tapestry
• [email protected] or
• call Marion at 306-343-7396
LWML–Canada Resource Centre
3074 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3K 0Y2
1-888-596-5226 Ext. 2220
[email protected]
4 The
2015
36
THECanadian
CANADIAN Lutheran
LUTHERAN March/April
March/April 2015
LWML–Canada
President Iris Barta
[email protected]
204-889-8494
Add the psalms to
your meetings
A Christian lady came up to me and
said, “I’m reading the Sams.” The Sams???
What could this be? Dr. Seuss’ Sam, I
Am? Or could it be some mysterious
book I’d never heard of? What were the
Sams? “Well,” the lady continued, “The
Sams give me joy and comfort, especially
Sam 23; The Lord is my Shepherd.” Now
I understood. The psalms! Of course.
Sams, psalms, psalter. Whichever way
we say it, the psalms are the ancient song
book of Israel.
The Bible provides us with the
Psalter. David, Moses, Asaph ( a
musician under David) and others
wrote these masterpieces of
spirituality. First century Christians
continued to use the psalms to sing
to the Lord a new song. Throughout
the Christian church, the psalms
have been the inspiration for hymns
and spiritual songs. Hymn writer,
Isaac Watts, based Joy to the World
on Psalm 98. Martin Luther’s A
Mighty Fortress is based on Psalm 46.
Songwriter, Martin J. Nystrom, based
As the Deer Panteth for the Water
on Psalm 42. There are many other
hymns and spiritual songs that you
can discover. Ephesians 5:18 – 19 says,
“Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to
one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making
melody in your heart to the Lord.”
As in the Heart Melody seminar,
we want you to continue making
melody in your hearts to the Lord.
To that end a “program planner” is
being put together offering devotions
on some of the psalms and suggesting
hymns and prayers in Lutheran Service
Book to go with them.
And if anyone tells you they are
reading the Sams, you’ll know exactly
what they are talking about!
This planner will be available for
download from www.lutheranwomen.
ca or from the LWMLC Resource
Centre by late April (see below).
Jill Munoz
LWML–Canada
www.lutheranwomen.ca
https://www.facebook.com/LWMLC
http://lwmlcnews.wordpress.com
http://twitter.com/LWMLC
In Review: Chappie
by Ted Giese
B
uilding on the aesthetic
and thematic groundwork
of his previous feature films
District 9 and Elysium, director Neill
Blumkomp’s dystopian sci-fi action
film Chappie wrestles again with what
it means to be a human in a world that
increasingly devalues life. Its central
focus is the nature of the
will and consciousness,
the fragility of the body,
and the ever-growing
anxieties associated with
death and dying in a
modern technologicallyadvanced world.
Set in 2016, the story
centres around a droid,
Scout 22, manufactured
for policing in
Johannesburg, South Africa. During
its regular police duties the robot is
damaged and slated for demolition
and recycling primarily because its
battery has fused with its chassis
making replacement impossible.
On his personal time Deon
Wilson, the engineer who originally
designed police droids while working
for the manufacturer Tetravaal,
writes a computer code which
transcends artificial intelligence
(AI). After being denied a test
subject by his boss Michelle Bradley,
Deon steals the damaged Scout 22.
After being car-jacked by a street
gang Deon is forced to upload his
untested code into the droid and
leave it with the gang who become
want to use it to rob an armoured
truck to pay off a debt owed to a crime
boss. CHAPPiE’s navigation of these
competing loyalties creates one of the
film’s dramatic tensions.
Another tension develops based
on the damage CHAPPiE experienced
before receiving consciousness.
It forces an answer to
a big question: “When
the droid’s battery dies
what will happen to its
consciousness? Will it die
too?” It’s quickly revealed
that the battery will die in
one week. Likewise, the
criminals, CHAPPiE’s
adoptive family Ninja,
Yolandi, and Amerika
have one week to pay off
the crime boss Hippo or face death.
This threat of death links them
together solidifying their growing
“familial” bond.
Add to this tension another
antagonist: Vincent Moore, a rival
engineer and Deon’s co-worker at
Tetravaal. He resents the popularity
of Deon’s Scout droid program and
is “spiritually” opposed to artificial
intelligence. Vincent wants to see the
Chappie wrestles with
what it means to be a human
in a world that increasingly
devalues life.
its adopted family.
With the AI code installed, Scout
22 becomes CHAPPiE. The rest of
the film details the consciousnessinfused droid’s rapid development
from an AI infant through childhood
to adolescence. The droid slowly
develops a relationship with Deon
who asks CHAPPiE to promise not to
be involved in the crimes committed
by the droids surrogate family. They
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
37
In Review (cont.)
Scout droid program replaced with his
own droid policing program MOOSE
which is operated by a human “moral”
operator. The morally-questionable
Vincent, who invites Deon to church
just seconds after threatening his life,
is the film’s most obvious “Christian”
character. Blumkomp and co-writer
Terri Tatchell depict him as a person
just as violent and self-serving as
any other of the film’s characters. By
making Vincent a Christian, albeit
a poor example, Blumkomp invites
people to think about religion in
relation to Chappie.
There are a couple other spots
in the film which invite religious
contemplation. While acting as
“mother” to the droid,
Yolandi tells CHAPPiE
that it has a soul and that
the body doesn’t matter
because it is temporary.
The part she loves in
CHAPPiE is the droid’s
soul/consciousness not
its body. This attitude
toward the body is Gnostic
in nature and discounts
the Christian promise of
the bodily resurrection
of the dead. Interestingly,
in a movie that favours
evolution as the mechanism
of life (over and against
God being the “Maker of
heaven and earth”), the
idea that a soul exists and
consciousness could outlive
the body is decidedly unnaturalistic.
Ninja, the droid’s
“daddy,” provides the
opposing viewpoint as
CHAPPiE looks at a dead
stray dog. While comparing
it to a living dog he explains
the harshness of the world saying
CHAPPiE must fight to stay alive or
wind up dead. Overall, Blumkomp
paints a picture of a world with little
kindness or selflessness. Life is nasty,
brutish, and short; everyone lives
with the continual fear and danger of
violent death.
From a Christian worldview
Chappie shows the fallen nature of
the world and the impact of sin on
the motives and activities of every
character. In no way does the film
pretend that any of its characters are
without sin. Even CHAPPiE, who
at times seeks to follow it’s maker’s
commandment to avoid being involved
in crime, finds itself manipulated into
criminal activity.
While Blumkomp holds up a
person’s consciousness and free will
as unique—something to be cherished
and safeguarded—he simultaneously
presents a view that this same
consciousness and will is the source
of all pain and suffering. The humans
use their will to lie, deceive, hurt,
steal, murder, and create chaos.
fi elements in the painfully mundane
harsh details of ordinary urban South
African street life, corporate cubical
culture, and industrial manufacturing.
There is little in the film that is
traditionally beautiful. It creates a
kind of hyper-realistic documentary
style detail that lends a sense of
importance to its bigger questions,
providing legitimacy to the questions
Chappie asks. Christians will want
to take a step back and think about
what they’ve watched. For Blumkomp,
physical death is the enemy of the soul/
consciousness, regardless of whether
that consciousness is human. Chappie
says the problem of death must be dealt
with in the present by ingenuity, or
eventually in the future by
evolution, but he leaves no
place for God. In the face of
death, Chappie doesn’t put
much hope in Jesus.
With its relentless and
brutal violence this is not
a film for everyone. Even
a “happy” ending doesn’t
make Chappie a pleasant
film to watch. However,
it is intriguing and poses
important questions, even
if it arrives at unsatisfying
answers from a Christian
perspective.
In Chappie, Blumkomp
gives viewers a movie
bearing his unique style
and aesthetic yet also the
unmistakable influences
of movies like A Clock
Wo r k O r a n g e , S h o r t
Circuit, and Robo Cop. It
is lighter in tone than the
exceedingly grim Elysium
and less focused than his
film District 9, and seems
to revel in perplexity,
exhibiting a sort of cafeteria style
mish-mash of philosophy and
religious ideas.
Even a droid’s titanium
construction doesn’t spare
it from the ravages and
impact of sin. The film
Chappie presents a world
where a droid with a soul
can struggle with the
passions of the inorganic
and, along with the rest of
humanity, be by nature a
child of wrath.
38
Even a droid’s titanium construction
doesn’t spare it from the ravages
and impact of sin. The film Chappie
presents a world where a droid with
a soul can struggle with the passions
of the inorganic and, along with the
rest of humanity, be by nature a child
of wrath (Ephesians 2:3).
The film’s effectiveness comes in
Blumkomp’s ability to ground the sci-
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
Rev. Ted Giese is associate pastor of
Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Regina,
Saskatchewan, Canada. He is a contributor
to The Canadian Lutheran, the LCMS Reporter,
and KFUO Radio, as well as movie reviewer
for Issues, Etc.
ABC update cont.
(Continued from page 14)
The District’s Board of Directors
has also appointed a task force to
conduct “a review of the culture and
decisions of the ABC District that
led to [the] 2015 CEF crisis.”
“We are reviewing everything
possible to determine what led
our District to this point,” the
Task Force writes, “and we will
be making recommendations for
improvements that will help us
fulfill the Great Commission better
as God’s church in 21st century
Canada.”
The District’s Board of Directors
appointed two initial members
to the task Force: Bryan Adams
(Stony Plain, Alberta), and Rev.
Michael Schutz (Penticton, British
Columbia). The Task Force will
make additional appointments to
ensure the group’s arm’s-length
independence from the District
BOD. “We want to make it clear
that the District Board has given
us wide latitude, and other than
asking us to conduct the review, is
not directing our work in any way,”
the Task Force explains.
The Task Force is scheduled to
report on its investigation to the
District Convention at the end of
May as well as to the District’s
new Board of Directors following
convention.
The above is summarized from reports, court
documents, and other communications.
The Canadian Lutheran is
following the situation in the
ABC District closely, posting news
summaries as information becomes
available.
K e e p u p t o d a t e a t w w w.
canadianlut heran.ca/t he-abcdistrict-situation/.
Announcements
Classified
Lynn Gergens of Langley, BC has
submitted an application to the
Deacon Colloquy Program of Lutheran
Church–Canada. Communications
regarding this application should be
submitted in writing within four weeks
to the Rev. Tom Kruesel, Chairman, LCC
Colloquy Committee, c/o 201 Birch
St., Campbell River, BC, V9W 2S6 or
[email protected].
Pilgrim Lutheran Church
(Hamilton, Ontario) will be
celebrating its 50th Anniversar y
in 2015 with a special weekend of
Anniversar y celebrations on May
23-24.
On Saturday May 23, from 7:00 to 9:00
p.m. we will host a meet and greet with
the wife and family of our former pastor,
Rev. Edward Koehler.
At the 11:00 a.m. morning worship
ser vice on May 24th, our guest
preacher will be Rev. John Nunes, a
son of the congregation.
Transitions
Rev. Dan Barr, pastor, Immanuel,
Tomahawk to Zion/St. Luke Lutheran
Churches at Augsburg/Eganville, ON
Installation: April 25, 2015.
Rev. Fraser Coltman, pastor, East
Kootenay Parish to St. Paul's Lutheran
Church, Nanaimo, BC Installation: tbd.
HAVE YOUR SAY!
The Canadian
L u t h e r a n
welcomes letters
to the editor on
articles published
in the magazine.
S e n d s u b m i s s i o n s to
communications@
lutheranchurch.ca with
“Letter to the editor” in
the subject line.
Letters to the editor may
also be sent in hard copy
to the following address:
The Canadian Lutheran
c/o Lutheran Church–
Canada
3074 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3K 0Y2
At the 3:30pm 50th Anniversar y
Worship service, our guest preacher
will be Rev. Paul Koehler, another son
of the congregation and a son of our
first pastor.
A banquet will follow at Carmen’s
Banquet Centre at 6:00 pm. Information
about the various activities taking place
during the year can be viewed on the
Anniversary page of our website: www.
pilgrimlutheranchurch.ca. Click on the
Anniversary Logo in the top left of the
Home page.
If you require tickets for the banquet
or additional information regarding
planned events, you can email
[email protected] or call the church
at (905) 383-3923.
Please join us for any of the celebration
activities.
70th Anniversary Celebration
Service of Redeemer Lutheran
Church (Didsbury, Alberta) will be
observed on Sunday, June 28th.
The Divine Ser vice with Holy
Communion will be celebrated at 10:30
am. with guest preacher Rev. Larry
Lentz followed by a potluck lunch. At
3:00 pm the Divine Service of the Word
will be celebrated with guest preacher,
President Robert Bugbee.
All are invited to attend.
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
39
Partnering with you
in HIS mission
ADVERTISE HERE!
Come join us in
MARCH FOR LIFE - Ottawa, ON
Thursday May 14th, 2015
10:00 a.m. Opening Worship Service
– Meeting, gathering of participants.
Location: St. Luke’s Lutheran Church
(326 MacKay St., Ottawa, Ontario)
10:35 a.m. Address to Youth &
Participants – Rev. Dr. Bryan King
11:00-11:15 a.m. Walk (drive) to
Parliament Hill (111 Wellington Street
- 2.03 miles). 6-7 minute drive, 45-50
minute walk.
12:00 p.m. Gather on Parliament
Hill. Welcome - speeches. See Agenda
from CLC.
1:30 p.m. March through downtown
Ottawa.
4:00 p.m. Closing Prayer.
Forgiveness is a Choice
Just as our heavenly Father reconciled
us to Himself through Christ – we
are to forgive one another. That takes
effort and a desire to get beyond the
offenses we’ve experienced or have
committed (6BE140). Also available
in French.
Unlocking the Prison of Guilt
We all struggle with guilt. Is there
an emotional issue, a personal habit
or an inappropriate relationship
that has you located in a prison of
blame? Learn how one man found
the freedom that can be yours too!
(6BE83) Also available in French.
4:15-4:30 p.m. Return to St Luke’s for
Meal and AGM, youth to return home.
5:15-5:30 p.m. Evening meal, with
reports circulated so we can study them
during the meal.
6 : 0 0 - 6 : 3 0 p . m . AG M r e p o r t s ,
questions, Election/installation of Board
Members
7:30 p.m. Guest Speaker - Pastor Larry
Gajdos
8:15 p.m. Wrap up and closing prayer.
Pre-register: Contact Judith Obelnycki.
Email [email protected] or call (905)
820-4990. Mail: 3252 Martins Pine
Crescent, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1G4.
Registration fee: Free will offering for
lunch and dinner given upon arrival.
Nominations for Board positions:
Deadline April 30th. Email: jobelnycki@
aol.com.
Booklets may be in your
congregation’s tract rack – if not,
request a free copy.
Quantities available at nominal cost
Listen to The Lutheran Hour
on radio, by app, or online at
www.lutheranhour.ca.
Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada
270 Lawrence Ave
Kitchener, ON, N2M 1Y4
www.LLL.ca
1-800-555-6236 or [email protected]
40
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
Movie Night!
Take your family’s movie
nights to the next level. The
Canadian Lutheran publishes
regular movie reviews by
Rev. Ted Giese online—
more than you see in the
print magazine. Visit www.
canadianlutheran.ca for the
latest film.
The Canadian
Lu t h e ra n s e l l s
advertising space
to help offset the
cost of printing
and shipping the magazine
to congregations and
subscribers.
Classified space is sold at
$0.45 per word, minimum
50 words ($22.50).
To purchase classified
space, or to receive a rate
card for other advertising
opportunities with The
Canadian Lutheran,
please email pres_sec@
lutheranchurch.ca or call
1-800-588-4226.
Reward yourself
by planning ahead!
Luther Place
Unity
Adult condominiums in
Unity, Saskatchewan from
$75,490*
Offering care-free
independent Christian
community lifestyle with
a touch of country.
Independent living at Luther Place features
a library, hair salon, garden plots, building
security system, underground parking,
community operated courtesy car plus taxi
service.
For information on Unity check out
www.townofunity.com
Call: 306-228-3884
Fax: 306-228-3885
E-mail:
[email protected]
*monthly condo fees starting at $375
Buy back policy in effect
Daily Bible Reading
I
Hear, O Israel...
f you started this reading plan
after getting your last issue of
The Canadian Lutheran, chances
are you’ll be about 9 or 10 weeks in
when you get this one. Great job! By
now the practice of daily Bible reading
should be becoming second nature.
This issue’s readings can be tough,
especially Leviticus. In fact, this
book is where many people on their
first time through the Bible quit. But
persevere! The readings get easier!
If you haven’t joined the reading
plan, why not start today? Find the
first set of readings in the January/
February 2015 issue of the magazine,
or visit www.canadianlutheran.ca/
biblereading/.
“I wish for nothing so
much than that all
Christians would be
engaged with Divine
Letters... In Scripture,
you will find nothing that
is not majestic.”
- Philip Melanchthon
WEEK 10
 Mon
 Tues
 Wed
 Thurs
 Fri
 Sat
Lv 4:1–6:30
Lv 7:1–9:24
Lv 10:1–11:47
Lv 12:1–15:33
Lv 16:1–17:16
Lv 18:1–19:37
WEEK 14
 Mon
 Tues
 Wed
 Thurs
 Fri
 Sat
Dt 1:1–46
Dt 2:1–37
Dt 3:1–29
Dt 4:1–49
Dt 5:1–33
Dt 6:1–25
WEEK 18
 Mon
 Tues
 Wed
 Thurs
 Fri
 Sat
Dt 33:1–29
Dt 34:1–12
Jsh 1:1–18
Jsh 2:1–3:17
Jsh 4:1–5:12
Jsh 5:13–7:26
WEEK 11
 Mon
 Tues
 Wed
 Thurs
 Fri
 Sat
Lv 20:1–22:33
Lv 23:1–21:55
Lv 26:1–27:34
Nu 1:1–3:51
Nu 4:1–6:27
Nu 7:1–8:26
WEEK 15
 Mon
 Tues
 Wed
 Thurs
 Fri
 Sat
Dt 7:1–26
Dt 8:1–20
Dt 9:1–10:22
Dt 11:1–12:32
Dt 13:1–18
Dt 14:1–15:23
WEEK 19
 Mon
 Tues
 Wed
 Thurs
 Fri
 Sat
Jsh 8:1–9:27
Jsh 10:1–43
Jsh 11:1–12:24
Jsh 13:1–15:63
Jsh 16:1–17:18
Jsh 18:1–19:51
WEEK 12
 Mon
 Tues
 Wed
 Thurs
 Fri
 Sat
Nu 9:1–10:36
Nu 11:1–12:16
Nu 13:1–15:41
Nu 16:1–18:32
Nu 19:1–20:29
Nu 21:1–35
WEEK 16
 Mon
 Tues
 Wed
 Thurs
 Fri
 Sat
Dt 16:1–17:20
Dt 18:1–19:21
Dt 20:1–21:23
Dt 22:1–23:25
Dt 24:1–22
Dt 25:1–26:19
WEEK20
 Mon
 Tues
 Wed
 Thurs
 Fri
 Sat
Jsh 20:1–21:45
Jsh 22:1–34
Jsh 23:1–16
Jsh 24:1–33
Jgs 1:1–36
Jgs 2:1–23
WEEK 13
 Mon
 Tues
 Wed
 Thurs
 Fri
 Sat
Nu 22:1–25:18
Nu 26:1–27:23
Nu 28:1–30:16
Nu 31:1–54
Nu 32:1–34:29
Nu 35:1–36:13
WEEK 17
 Mon
 Tues
 Wed
 Thurs
 Fri
 Sat
Dt 27:1–26
Dt 28:1–68
Dt 29:1–29
Dt 30:1–20
Dt 31:1–29
Dt 31:30–32:52
WEEK 21
 Mon
 Tues
 Wed
 Thurs
 Fri
 Sat
Jgs 3:1–31
Jgs 4:1–5:31
Jgs 6:1–8:35
Jgs 9:1–10:18
Jgs 11:1–12:15
Jgs 13:1–16:31
Readings for the above plan are from the Lutheran Study Bible © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used with permission. To purchase this
resource or other Bible reading resources, please visit CPH at www.cph.org.
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
41
Presidential Perspective
President Robert Bugbee
A
n old Christian teacher and
author told a certain pastor
long ago, “Expect more from
your prayers than from your sermons.”
Does the Lord say that in so many
words? Maybe not, but it’s worth
pondering.
Pastors who studied preaching
at the seminary, who spend hours
preparing to preach, who read
books and attend conferences to
improve preaching skills are hopeful
about accomplishing things in the
congregation with their sermons. They
can picture people out there needing
comfort right now. They see others
who have grown careless and should
be warned. They realize members
require teaching on the truth of God,
so they can sink roots down deeper
into the Lord Jesus. If the pastor truly
cares for people’s needs and works
hard to prepare messages for them,
why wouldn’t he expect much to come
from his preaching?
“Expect more from your prayers
than from your sermons.” Even if
it’s not a verse drawn from the Bible,
it’s healthy for the pastor to think
about. It’s true also of other things
he does; counseling, strategizing,
and administering. His efforts alone
will not get very far, no matter how
well-prepared and energetic they are.
Solomon sang about this, “Unless the
Lord builds the house, its builders
labour in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
This does not only apply to
pastors. Christian fathers and mothers,
husbands and wives, teachers, business
people, health-care professionals, those
who work with their hands, and every
other believer could take this to heart.
“Expect more from your prayers than
42
Come to Him Who
Answers Prayer
from... your planning, your toil, your
correcting, your friendliness, your
investing, etc.” The list goes on and
on. We’re not used to thinking that
way! We’ve come to respect hard work
and giving it “your all.” Aren’t we
right to disdain half-hearted effort and
lukewarm commitment?
I never knew the teacher who told
that pastor to expect more from his
prayers than from his sermons. I don’t
imagine he intended for the pastor
to be sloppy about his work. He was
pointing instead to where the power
comes from to affect situations and to
change people. It comes from the Lord,
not from us. “It is God who works in
you to will and to act according to His
good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). Yes,
the Lord is pleased to use your hard
work and influence as His tool. How
does He work with tools? The tool
is nothing unless He lifts it off the
workbench and wields it to transmit
His power and love.
“Expect more from your prayers
than from your
.” You fill in the
blank! I’ve asked people across Synod’s
family to think about such things since
our convention last year in Vancouver.
We gathered there under the theme
“Come to Him Who Answers Prayer”
a reminder from Psalm 65:2.
The Lord does not merely
command you to pray. He solemnly
pledges to hear your prayers, to answer
them in His best way and time. He’s
yearning for you to bring Him your
need, the troubles faced by others
around you, and to praise Him for
hearing your prayers in the past. (By
the way, you’re always the first to
benefit from that sort of thanksgiving,
since remembering God’s help in days
THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2015
gone by can re-kindle strong trust for
the prayer-concerns you are taking to
Him now.)
By the time you read this page, we
will be in the middle of the district
convention season across the Synod. It
runs from mid-April to the latter part
of May. Our friends in the AlbertaBritish Columbia District especially
are working through trying times
with the crisis relating to their Church
Extension Fund. Nobody knows what
the future will bring to structures now
shaken as their convention prepares
to meet. District leaders there cannot
craft a magic solution to the challenge.
Neither can pastors nor lay delegates. I
am as powerless to do it as any of them.
The Lord already sees exactly what the
best way forward looks like. All who
care deeply about our church family’s
troubles in that part of the country do
well to expect more to come from our
prayers than from any other preparing
we might do, so that we cry to Him
repeatedly and ask Him to lead our
people to His gracious gift of a solution.
It’s true for any other trial—great
or small—faced by any district, any
local congregation, or faced by you
in your personal life. Like a diligent
preacher preparing a sermon, go
ahead! Study! Plan! Think deep! Work
hard! But expect more to come from
your prayers than from anything else
you do. I do not say this because we
who pray are so strong and holy and
are thus able to make things happen. I
say it because we who pray are fleeing
to the strong and holy Lord who can
make all things happen. Your constant,
hungering prayers to Him are the
beating heart that shows you really
believe that.
Plan. Make a difference,
for your loved ones
and the ministries
you value.
Meeting your congregation’s future
financial needs.
$6 Million promised to congregations
over the last 5 years.
Has your congregation hosted a Christian
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