Board of Elders Canadian District of the Moravian Church
DISTRICT DISPATCH NEWSLETTER
March 2021
President’s Remarks Preparation for Easter Pray that your family, friends, and acquaintances experience calm during this time of ongoing change and upheaval. Knowing with certainty that our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer is with us in all ways and at all times is a sure comfort to our souls. Sharing confidence in Hope that is in our hearts, Love that binds us to one another, and Faith that sustains us is our call. May we accept this responsibility and our response to God’s great love for creation. Pray for those who provide leadership in its many forms. Give thanks for those who’ve concluded their work; for those who’ve entered new positions, and for those considering the call of the church to future positions. Bless all of us in our work with one another to be the hands and feet and heart of Jesus to those of whom we encounter.
News from around the District
Ongoing Pandemic Restrictions Leadership groups in our congregations and other settings (Camp Van-Es) continue to respond to the changing nature of the pandemic. Our elected Boards guide the usage of church buildings and the restrictions that need to be in place to protect one another in these troubling times. As prevention measures continue to be part of the way we go about our lives, we remain thankful for the care and consideration we afford one another to prevent the spread of disease and protect the health and safety of each other. While the vaccination process continues, we are encouraged to engage in actions to ensure our wellness! Keep being mindful of ways in which we can continue to be socially connected to one another even though we are physically distant.
Clergy Updates Pastor Eileen Edwards, currently serving part time with the Anglican Church, has accepted the call to Palmer Moravian congregation in Easton, Pennsylvania, and awaits confirmation from US immigration for a work visa for Pastor Ian Edwards who is a Canadian citizen. Over the next months prior to their move south, the Canadian District office is helping facilitate compensation from Palmer to Rev. Dr. Eileen Edwards for the part time work she is offering while resident in Sherwood Park, AB. Pastor Trina Holmberg has recently accepted a clergy position in Camrose with the Anglican Church after returning in 2019 from mission work in Nepal.
Our clergy and church staff continue to do the little things (and big ones!) behind the scenes to keep our congregations healthy. Thank you! Presenting digital expressions of community is a new challenge to which our Pastors have risen and faithfully committed themselves. Their learning and growing into this ‘other way’ of leading their flock has been a journey with many twists and turns. Be sure to encourage them along their journey with we do this new thing!
Canadian District Synod 2021 This is an update about the Special Synod being convened by the Board of Elders of the Canadian District of the Moravian Church, Northern Province (MCNP) to be conducted via video conference on Wednesday evening May 19th at 6:30 pm and tentatively the next evening should the need arise. This Special Synod replaces the regular Synod that was scheduled for last May of 2020 and postponed due to the worldwide pandemic. At this Special Synod, using video conferencing to safely host participants, 1) elections will be conducted to establish the new Board of the Canadian District as well as the Chairs of Van-Es Camp and Conference Centre and the Mission Society and 2) receive reports for information about the work of the District Board, Congregations and related entities of the Canadian Moravian Church which can then be ratified at the following ‘in-person’ District Synod of 2024. Recall that delegates at a regular Synod represent the highest authority of the Moravian Church for making decisions and directing the work of the District Executive Board which, during the intersynodal time, has the authority to conduct the business of the District. This Special Synod is being called to enact the transition of leadership through elections. No special topics will be discussed nor will proposals of motions or memorials be received. However, in the time leading to the Special Synod interested members of our Moravian community can gather together virtually over a series of three meetings (District Dialogue Groups) using video conferencing to listen to and speak with others using topic breakout rooms. The summary of these conversations will help to direct the work of all the groups in the Canadian District. Current work engaged in by Congregations, related Moravian entities, and the District Board of Directors will carry on through the efforts and leadership of those groups. Leaders of these groups can benefit from shared conversations framed by our District Dialogue Groups scheduled over these next weeks prior to the Special Synod in May.
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Each church should have had the registration forms for the attendees and have filled them out by now. Attendees will receive confirmation of their registration and additional information about the DDGs. Note, interested members of your congregation or entity may attend and participate in the DDGs. We will ensure that the coordinates and topics will be easily accessed. We have room for 100 people on the Zoom account.
To meet the current needs, this intimate space will be used to support women only, and will provide a warm place to sleep, serve meals, as well as provide access to daily activities, and showers, all while upholding social distance and other pandemic safety guidelines. The solution to homelessness is housing and support services.
Following registration, delegates through their email account will be provided access to the MCNP portal where they will have access to links for the schedule of meetings for this Special Synod, for meetings of District Dialogue Groups, the election test night, and reports received for information from Canadian Moravian entities which will be ratified at the next inperson Synod during spring 2024.
Meeting Dates Tuesday March 9th, 7-9 pm: District Dialogue Groups 1 Tuesday March 30th, 7-9 pm: DDG 2 Tuesday April 27th, 7-9 pm: DDG 3 Wednesday May 12th, 6:30 pm: Test of Special Synod Election process Wednesday May 19th, 6:30 - 9pm: Special Synod
Alberta Churches Van-Es Camp and Conference Centre As congregations are challenged during this pandemic time so has your Camp at Cooking Lake 25 minutes east and south of Edmonton. This community hub has suffered much during this downturn and is in eager preparation for future activities of rental groups, retreat groups, and campers. There are ongoing program plans to engage our Christian community and extend usage of the Camp to community groups. There are ongoing upgrades to Camp buildings and infrastructure, such as the water system, the pool, and to camp buildings. There is a need for financial gifts and contributions for capital improvements. Your support and care for Van-Es is an important expression of love for our Moravian Church in Canada.
With housing as our ultimate goal we will be offering our guests’ access to Wellness Advocates and Housing Outreach Workers, to support them on their journey into sustainable and permanent housing. We are grateful to the Government of Alberta who have funded this space. We know that many Edmontonians want to help their vulnerable neighbours, and we will continue to publish our needs on our website: https://theseed.ca/edmonton-urgently-needed-items For any questions or concerns regarding the shelter housed at Edmonton Moravian Church, please contact: Executive Director: Dean Kurpjuweit, DeanKurpjuweit@theseed.ca or Director of Programs: Kris Knutson, krisknutson@theseed.ca.
Unity Prayer Day & Offering Edmonton Moravian Mustard Seed Ministry As the pandemic endures, so do we at The Mustard Seed. We continue to strive to meet the needs of Edmonton’s homeless population. There are approximately 2000 Edmontonians who are currently homeless, and up to 600 people sleeping unsheltered each night. A number of supports are in place across the city, including the Edmonton Convention Centre and The Mustard Seed’s South Side Shelter, however there are many people who still need our help. On January 14th, The Mustard Seed opened a temporary shelter for the remaining winter months at the Edmonton Moravian Church. The shelter will operate on a referral only basis, and be staffed 24 hours, 7 days a week, hosting up to 20 guests.
March 1 is observed as the founding of the Unitas Fratrum (Unity of the Brethren) in 1457. As the governing body for the Worldwide Moravian Church, the Unity selects the first Sunday in March (March 7, 2021) as the Prayer Day for Unity Work and that Sunday is when the Unity Offering is received for a special project. The Unity’s special project for 2021 is earmarked for a multipurpose building to house the Moravian Church in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, Africa. This building will be used for worship and is projected to eventually house the provincial office of the Moravian Church in Malawi. It will also offer a kindergarten program and will generate revenue for the church by renting out space for special functions such as weddings and seminars.
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Past experience has shown that church buildings has a positive spiritual and practical impact on the growth and enhancement of the Moravian Church in developing countries, thus allowing them to fulfill their mission of spreading the gospel. We encourage you to consider donating to this Unity Offering. To Donate: Mail cheques to: Moravian Church in Canada 600 Acadia Drive, SE Calgary, AB T2J 0B8 E-Transfer to: treasurer@moravian.ca
T J 0B8 Mark as Unity Offering and include your name and address to receive a tax receipt. E-Transfer to: treasurer@moravian.ca Mark as Unity Offering and include your name and address to receive a tax receipt. Mark as Unity Offering and include your name and address to receive a tax receipt.
Mark as Unity Offering and include your name and address to receive a tax receipt.
Canadian District Office: 600 Acadia Dr. SE, Calgary, AB, T2J 0B8 Phone 403-271-2700 Email: secretary@moravian.ca or moravian@nucleus.com
Board Members President: Greg Weir greg@moravian.org, 587-288-8727 Contact through District Office: Rev. Matt Gillard, Good Shepherd Donna Gordon, CMMS Chair, mission@moravian.ca Bob Hawkesworth, Good Shepherd Holly Heffernan, Christ Community Church Rev. James Lavoy, Rio Terrace
Staff Administrative Assistant: Andrea Stremich, secretary@moravian.ca Treasurer: June Sterling, treasurer@moravian.ca
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