The Canadian Lutheran - September/October 2015

The

CANADIAN

LUTHERAN

www.canadianlutheran.ca

Volume 30 Number 5

Confessing the Reformation Today

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Contents Features www.canadianlutheran.ca Volume 30 Number 5 September/October 2015

Martin Luther: Father of the Reformation A Reformation Moment Reforming Our Church

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Departments Table talk

Old News?

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In Review

Black Mass

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Presidential Perspective

The Reformation lived and prayed

42

News Section International News

13

National News

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ABC District

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Central District

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ILC welcomes Nicaraguan church into membership • First graduating class of pastors for Mozambican Lutherans

CCMS discusses restructuring synod • LCC indicates willingness to accept LHI • Planning for 2016 National Youth Gathering

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 Subscriptions: $20/yr E-mail: bcs@lutheranchurch.ca

All material and advertising should be in the office of The Canadian Lutheran five weeks prior to publication date. Advertising rate card available upon request.

The Canadian Lutheran 3074 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3K 0Y2 Telephone: 204-895-3433 FAX: 204-832-3018 E-mail: communications@lutheranchurch.ca 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.

VBS students conquer Everest • ABC District President installed, LCC Pastoral Leader Commissioned • A MARVELous youth gathering Vacation Bible Schools across the district • Fairgoers touched by the Gospel • Installations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba

East District

Lively Lutherans celebrate 25th anniversary • Camping in the rain • 60 years in the ministry • Vacation Bible Schools

Mission Update

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Nicaraguan clergy student New Testament Greek • Ian Adnams elected President of LLL-Canada

Education Report

New school year underway at LCC’s two seminaries • Concordia Lutheran Seminary library reopens following 2014 fire

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Classifieds

40

Daily Bible Reading

41

Supplement

35

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.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

Table Talk

Old News?

by Mathew Block Editor, The Canadian Lutheran

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u r c h u rc h e s t e a c h that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works. People are freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favour and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight.”

So speaks the fourth article of the Augsburg Confession (the primary Lutheran statement of faith, presented to Emperor Charles V on June 25, 1530). There were m a ny s u b j e c t s i n c o n t e n t i o n during the Reformation; you can think of pretty much any doctrine in Christianity, and someone somewhere at the time was arguing about it. But it is not, perhaps, too far-fetched to say the primary issue in contention was justification: “In what way can sinful men be made right with God?” Fo r p e o p l e l i ke P h i l i p Melanchthon (the author of the Augsburg Confession) and his friend Martin Luther, the witness

of Scripture was clear: we are saved by grace alone, a gift received through faith in Christ. St. Paul writes: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

God's grace isn't earned, St. Paul explains. Instead, it's given freely to those who don't deserve it. It's given to sinners.

That's the Gospel at its core: God the Father sends His Son Jesus Christ to bridge the gap between sinful humanity and Himself. At the cross, Christ takes upon Himself the sins of the entire world—my sins, your sins—and accepts judgement in our place. Through His death and resurrection, He becomes our Way home to the Father. He sends His Holy Spirit into the world, calling sinners to forgiveness, calling the dead back to life.

And that's exactly what we were—dead. “We were dead in our trespasses,” St. Paul writes, but God has “made us alive together with Christ”—and all this solely because

God is “rich in mercy” and “loved us” (Ephesians 2:4). For indeed, “God demonstrates His love for us in that while were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

You've probably heard all this before. And perhaps this article sounds in some ways like old news, like a mere rehearsal of a Sunday School lesson you heard when you were five. But it's not old news; it's Good News. It was Good News to the disciples, shocked to discover the tomb empty. It was Good News for the martyrs led to the Coliseum to face death at the lion's jaws. It was Good News for the reformers, confronted by sharp divisions in the church. So too, it is Good News for us today. It is the Gospel, forever relevant and forever necessary to a world broken by sin.

“People are freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favour and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake.” That was the Reformer's confession, based on Scripture. It must ever remain our confession too.

Correction to July/August 2015 issue An image layering problem resulted in the province of Quebec being unintentionally hidden from view in a map in the July/August 2015 issue of The Canadian Lutheran. We apologize for the error and any offense it may have caused.

Quebec is an integral part of the Lutheran Church–Canada family, and we actually report some of its mission successes a page earlier (on page four) in the same issue in which the error occurred. All online editions of the magazine have

been updated to correct the mistake.

You can download a corrected pdf of the article here: www. lutheranchurch.ca/canluth/ cl3004-lcc-in-numberscorrected.pdf.

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ctober 31, 2017 will mark the 500th anniversary of what is considered the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. On that date Martin Luther nailed 95 theses for debate concerning the issue of indulgences onto the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. The printing and distribution of these theses created a firestorm which led to the reformation of the church, not only in external corruption, but in the heart and core of the Gospel: the biblical truth that we are justified (declared righteous) before God not on the basis of our good works but by faith in the God who declares us righteous because of Christ.

Early Life

Martin Luther Father of the Reformation

by Edward G. Kettner

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Martin Luther was born November 10, 1483 in Eisleben, the second son of Hans and Margaretta Luder. He was baptized the next day, the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, after whom he was named. In 1484 the family moved to Mansfield. His father, who began in poverty, soon purchased two smelting furnaces, and provided a good living for his family, and even became a councilman (“burgher”), hoping to provide a good education for his children.

Martin’s education began in Mansfeld, where he began to learn Latin, along with the Ten Commandments, Lord’s Prayer, hymns, and prayers. Because his father had professional hopes for him, he was sent in 1497 at the age of fourteen to the Franciscan school at Magdeburg. After a year there he was sent to school in Eisenach where he had relatives. However, he got no financial support from his relatives, either because they would not, or simply could not, support him. By God’s grace, he was taken in by Ursula Cotta, wife of Conrad Cotta, who provided a place for him to stay. Freed from want, his life as a scholar blossomed, as he grew in knowledge of science, literature, and the fine arts, singing, and playing both the lute and flute.

From Eisenach he went to university in Erfurt in 1501. He had acquired a thirst for knowledge while at Eisenach, and his father wanted him to study law. At Erfurt he learned dialectics, a strongly disciplined style of philosophy which prepared one for argument and disputation. After two years at Erfurt, at the age of twenty, he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1505 received the Master of Arts. The discipline made him realize how far short he fell of the true holiness that God desired of him, and of all people.

Luther’s life changed through several brushes with death: a serious illness brought about by exhaustion when studying for his bachelor’s examination, and an injury when the sword he was wearing cut a major artery in his foot as he was heading home for a visit at Easter in 1503. He was also affected by the murder of a close friend, Alexis, at university, which brought home the reality that death could come at any time.

When he was heading back to Erfurt from home in the summer of 1505, where he was already lecturing

at the university as part of his program of study of law, thought Rome was a place of sanctity, but saw that it he was thrown to the ground by a lightning bolt that in fact was a place of corruption. struck nearby. In terror he cried out, ‘St. Anne help He finished his doctoral work in 1512 and began me! I will become a monk!’ The terrors of conscience to teach theology. He lectured first on the Psalms and that this event aroused led him now to seek holiness after that, on Romans. In these earliest lectures it as much as he had previously sought knowledge. He seems that he still did not fully grasp the Gospel, still abandoned the life of the university and entered the speaking of some kind of righteousness within us that Augustinian cloister in Erfurt on August 17, 1505, saves us. Yet Luther himself said that it was in the study throwing himself with zeal into the ritual and routine, of Romans 1 that he found release as he realized that and doing so in order to save himself. the righteousness which saved was a righteousness After a brief apprenticeship doing the most menial of apart from the Law—the righteousness that saves is tasks and of begging, he was freed to return to studies, the righteousness of Christ! this time in theology. He spent time in the God’s Word, The Ninety-Five Theses were precipitated by the meditating upon it, desiring to learn perfectly God’s indulgences controversy. Pope Leo X had decreed will, studying Hebrew and Greek as well. However, permission for the sale of plenary indulgences, which his conscience tormented him whenever he missed the granted the purchaser, or the person for whom they prayers of the day because of his study, and he would bought one, full remission of time in purgatory. Johann strive to make them up. His Tetzel was charged with fears continued to mount. the sale of them in the We see in early Luther a region. The purpose combination of fierce piety was to pay for Albrecht created and driven by the of Mainz’s bishoprics Law, which at this point ( a rc h b i s h o p o f M a i n z even his scholarship did not and of Magdeburg, and abate. Told to seek comfort bishop of Halberstadt), and righteousness by his and to also support the own works, he was driven remodeling and expansion even more into despair. of St. Peter’s Basilica in In the midst of his Rome. struggles he was befriended The Ninety-Five Theses

by Johann Staupitz, Vicar were presented simply as General of his order, who theses for debate as was the had gone through similar custom of the universities struggles, and who preached at that time. He nailed them grace and faith to Luther. to the door of the castle Staupitz was a scholar, and church, not as an act of friend of Frederick the protest, but because that is Wise, who had made him where such notices were the founding director of the Martin Luther, c. 1520 (engraving by Lucas Cranach the Elder). published. They were not University of Wittenberg and an attack on church or pope; the first dean of the theological faculty. (The university was in fact, he sincerely believed that if the pope knew what founded in 1502). Though he did not yet fully comprehend abuses were taking place that he would be appalled. (Sadly, the Gospel, Luther had begun to believe God actually he wasn’t.) In the end, we see here the work of a man who provided forgiveness for him in the blood of Christ, and was desired the moral reform of the church. The fullness of the able to declare, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins.”

Gospel was not yet present, but he was getting there. The Ordination came after two years in the monastery, disputation never took place, but the theses were quickly on May 2, 1507. He became a professor at Wittenberg printed and spread throughout Germany and Europe. at the end of 1508 teaching physics and dialectics.

Indeed, without the printing press, the Reformation would He renewed his study of the languages and of the have had great difficulty gaining ground.

Bible hoping that he would in the end be able to teach As attention grew, Luther continued to prepare theology. He received the Bachelor of Divinity in March theses for debate which showed growth in understanding 1509. He also was called upon to preach, ultimately what the Gospel was really about. The Heidelberg theses serving as preacher for the city church, and later for were prepared for a general chapter meeting of the the castle church.

Augustinians in Germany, held at Heidelberg in April Already he was becoming disillusioned with Rome. of 1518. Here Luther laid out the theses for dispute He had made a journey to Rome around 1511 to that first addressed the concept of what it means to be represent his order before the pope. He had previously a “theologian of the cross”.

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About a year later, the Leipzig debate with Johann Eck—one-time friend of Luther—dealt with the question of the church and papacy, as well as other issues raised by Luther’s theology. In Luther’s rejection of the papacy, Eck accused Luther of being a “Hussite,” a follower of Jan Hus, the Bohemian reformer of the early 1400s. In the end, Luther admitted privately, “We are all Hussites.” This was the key revelation to Luther at these debates; he clearly now sought the overthrow of the papacy and to declare Christ alone to be the head of the Church. The principle stands, that popes and councils can err.

While many of these disputations stand apart from his lecturing duties at the university, Luther certainly understood them to be a part of his call as a doctor of the church. As a result of his rejection of the papacy as the head of the church, Luther was excommunicated on June 15, 1520. His response included his treatise “On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church,” where Luther asserts the importance of the sacraments as vehicles of God’s unmerited favor to the individual, to be received by faith.

Through all of this, his desire was to ensure that God’s people understood that they were saved through faith in Christ, not through their own righteousness.

The Diet of Worms

Through all of this, Luther’s desire was to ensure that God’s people understood that they were saved through faith in Christ, not through their own righteousness.

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Luther was called upon to present himself to the Imperial Diet at Worms in 1521 to recant his teachings. Here he made his famous stand, declaring that he would not recant his teachings unless compelled to do so by the Scriptures and by clear reason. The emperor’s edict afterwards condemned the teachings of Luther and authorized his arrest after the safe conduct he had been granted had expired. Following the Diet, on his way back to Wittenberg, he was “kidnapped” by servants of Frederick the Wise, and held in “exile” at the Wartburg Castle, overlooking Eisenach. It was here, in confinement for a little over a year, that he began to translate the Bible into German. He desired that the people be enabled to read the Word of God in their own language, and to do so in a way that sounded as if it had originally been written by a German.

Luther’s zeal for the pure Gospel led him into conflict also with other reformers. Ulrich Zwingli from Zurich, and later John Calvin of Geneva, rejected the idea that the Holy Spirit works through means: the preached Word and the visible words which are the sacraments. Particularly against Zwingli, Luther repeatedly stated that in the Lord’s Supper Christ gives His true body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins, and that it is not merely a memorial meal. For Luther, faith clings to the word of promise outside of us, and is not focused primarily inwardly on our feelings. In the Word, God is at work.

Luther’s focus on the Gospel extended to life in this world. He was instrumental in freeing many young women from the convents who had realized the impossibility of keeping their vows, and worked with his colleagues to find husbands for them. While not intending to get married

Martin Luther preaching, 1547 (altar piece by Lucas Cranach the Elder and Lucas Cranach the Younger).

himself, he in the end married former nun Katerina von Bora on June 13, 1525. The union was blessed with six children.

One of the most sorrowful events in Luther’s life was the death of his daughter Magdalena at the age of fourteen.

Christian Education

What with all of his duties as professor and doctor of the church, Luther realized that the education of the Christian (and of pastors as well) was absolutely necessary if they were to believe and to teach the faith.

To that end, in 1529 he took upon himself to preach on the central parts of the faith and to prepare two catechisms on these parts: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, t h e L o rd ’ s P raye r, Baptism, Confession, and the Lord’s Supper.

The Small Catechism also included a “Table of Duties” and some basic prayers, to assist one in living one’s life in vocation. It was meant to be learned and memorized, and was made in chart form to be hung on the walls of home, church, and school, so that those words would be always before their eyes.

The Large Catechism gave more detailed explanations, and could serve as a guide to parents and pastors as they taught their children and households.

The 1530s saw Luther solidify his teachings of the Gospel of free grace in Christ, and repeatedly affirm that

those words which he wrote were his solid confession of faith from which he would never depart.

Luther constantly travelled, as a doctor of the church, trying to heal divisions, both political and churchly. On January 23, 1546, Luther left to work to settle a dispute among the three counts of Mansfield. Meeting in the town of Eisleben, where Luther had been born, he managed to work with them to bring about some sort of agreement.

But in the end, the journey and the work were too much for him, and he died the morning of February 18, 1546 in Eisleben, having firmly confessed his faith in Christ and standing firm on the doctrine he had taught. In his pocket was found a scrap of paper with the words, “We are beggars, it is true.” His body was buried near the pulpit in the Castle Church in Wittenberg.

Luther’s legacy lives on in that we desire, as he did, to retain our connection to the church of the ages through the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ. Though we do not deny the importance of religious experience, like Luther we must recognize that true experience is created by the message of the Gospel, not merely be the cultivation of certain emotions. May God keep us steadfast in His Word!

Luther’s legacy lives on in that we desire, as he did, to retain our connection to the church of the ages through the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ.

Rev. Dr. Edward G. Kettner is Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at Concordia Lutheran Seminary (Edmonton).

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A Reformation Moment Making the most of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation

by Mathew Block

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Banner image: 95 Theses Door at the Castle Church in WIttenberg. (Fewskulchor: used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany.)

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ometime around the year 1450, Johannes kind of bulletin board. On that last count the historical Gutenberg invented the mechanical movable type record isn’t clear. printing press. And the world changed.

What is clear is that, thanks to the printing press, copies Gutenberg’s press allowed book production on a scale of the document spread throughout Germany within a few never before seen in Europe. Before the printing press, weeks. Within two months the rest of Europe was also books were produced slowly through the painstaking reading them. The tentative beginnings of the Protestant work of monks toiling Reformation were now away in monasteries or underway. (after the 12th century) It is now nearly five by professional scribes. centuries since that B u t t h e re we re event. 2017 will mark only so many pages the 500th anniversary a day that a monk or of the publication of the scribe could write.

95 Theses— 500 years By contrast, a single since the beginning of Renaissance printing the Reformation. press could print 3,000 And like Martin pages per day. That Luther before us, we find technological advance ourselves in the midst of made the production another technological of books suddenly revolution, a revolution much quicker and, that makes information importantly, much rapidly available to cheaper. The upshot people all over the was that a greater A 16th century German printing press at work. world. Luther’s age was number of people were the age of the printing able to purchase and read books than ever before. press. We are living in the midst of the internet age.

That breakthrough would prove very important to Go back in time just thirty years to 1985. Most people the Church a few decades later. In 1517, Martin Luther, do not have computers. And those that do certainly do not have access to the internet. The first search engine would not frustrated over the abuse of indulgences taking place under be created until 1990. The king of search engines, Google, Johann Tetzel, proposed a scholarly debate on the subject was still years away from its 1998 creation. in a treatise we today call The 95 Theses. He mailed them Fast forward to today. The internet is ubiquitous. Yes, it’s first to his own bishop as well as the Archbishop of Mainz, on our computers and laptops, but it’s also on our phones who was in charge of the indulgence selling. He may also and in our televisions. We get our news from the internet. have, as tradition states, nailed them to the front door We download books for our e-readers off the internet. We of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, which acted like a

watch TV and movies via the internet. We shop for clothing, household items, entertainment, and more through the internet. And we keep in touch with friends via email or (more often these days) social media on the internet, as well as through videophone services.

Today Canadians are among the most internet-savvy people in the world. As of 2013, 87% of Canadian households were connected to the internet. The average online Canadian visited 3,731 web pages per month that year—higher than any other nationality in the world. And Canadians were spending nearly 2 full days every month online—41.3 hours per month, which was second in the world just behind the United States. These numbers have been steadily increasing every year for a very long time, and there’s every indication the trend will continue.

So, let’s ask the question all good Lutherans ask: What does this mean? What does the internet age mean for Lutherans today?

In short, it means exactly what the printing press age meant for Luther: it meant new opportunities and new challenges. Imagine a world in which Luther’s ideas were not spread by the cheap printing of books, and you imagine a world in which Luther’s ideas did not spread.

The advent of printing press technology allowed Luther and the other Reformers the opportunity to share the Good News of salvation with a wider audience.

God brought forth a Reformer when the time and technology were ripe to share a Reformer’s message.

In a similar way, we in Canada are privileged live in an era in which new technology is making sharing the Gospel of Christ with famed Lutheran clarity easier than ever before.

Any church member—pastor or lay—has the ability to sit down at their computer and write something that could potentially be read by millions. Anyone could post a video today that people all over the world are watching tomorrow.

In the past few years, we have seen the proliferation of online groups bringing a strong Lutheran voice to the internet, and it is clear that they are making an impact.

Longtime radio programs like the Lutheran Hour, Issues Etc., and KFUO have been joined by newer groups like Lutheran Radio UK and Pirate Christian Radio. Video channels like Worldview Everlasting and Lutheran Satire have found a following on Youtube. And popular religion websites like Patheos have taken steps to include prominent Lutheran blogs, like Gene Veith’s Cranach and Jordan Taylor’s Just and Sinner on their sites.

As a result of these and many more Lutheran outlets— including our own online Canadian Lutheran—confessional Lutheranism is enjoying a bit of a renaissance online. People

are being exposed to Lutheranism, and they’re seeking out additional information on what we believe. And they’re seeking that information via the technological medium with which they are most comfortable: the internet.

People are interested in Lutheranism, and we all need to do what we can—both personally and corporately—to help ensure they can find the information they’re seeking.

What can you do?

We’re not all called to write articles online or make videos of course. But most of us are active on social media in some form or other. How do you use your social media accounts to share your faith? How are you using everyday technology to help spread the Good News of the Gospel?

We stand at a unique moment in history. As we near the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, interest in Lutheranism is only going to increase. How are you responding personally? How are you and your congregation taking advantage of unprecedented interest in Lutheranism to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Let me share one story I heard recently. A married couple in British Columbia had become interested in Lutheranism and began listening to sermons online from a Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod congregation. Through these mp3 files, the Holy Spirit worked in their hearts and moved them to seek out a local manifestation of the biblical, faithful witness of Lutheranism. They went looking online, and that’s how they ended up in one our LCC churches.

Let’s be clear: internet communication is never going to replace face to face evangelism. But it can be an important tool supplementing a congregation’s outreach. Think about your own congregation for a moment, and consider how you’re using (or not using) the internet to supplement your outreach. Do you have a website? If so, is it up to date? If I was a visitor, could I easily find out what time your next service is? What about special service times, like Good Friday and Christmas Eve? Are details for those services posted on your website?

We are nearly 500 years since the providence of God made the Reformation possible through the technology of the printing press. How can you honour that tradition by taking best advantage of the technology God has put at your disposal? It’s a question that we should all be asking ourselves as 2017 approaches.

How can you honour the tradition of the Reformation by taking best advantage of the technology God has put at your disposal?

Mathew Block is editor of The Canadian Lutheran and communications manager for Lutheran Church–Canada.

This article is derived from his presentation at 2015 District conventions.

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Reforming Our Church

by Paul Schallhorn utheran Church–Canada (LCC) is about to change.This year, LCC’s three districts meeting in convention called on Synod to restructure. In other words, they’re asking LCC to change the way it’s built.

What exactly we look like in the end depends to a large extent on what ideas members of LCC like you suggest.

The task of making sense of everyone’s ideas and of providing a detailed new structure for consideration falls to the Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure of Synod (CCMS). Ever since LCC became an autonomous church body in Canada 25 years ago, the CCMS has been asked to monitor how we are constituted and whether or not the structure we have in place is serving us well as a Synod. Up until now there have been only a few revisions to our structure in our church’s history – some major, like revamping whole sections of our Handbook, and some minor, like changing the wording and thrust of certain Synodical bylaws.

But within the last two years, we have seen an unprecedented mandate for change. We saw it in the 2014’s Synodical Convention as well as at this year’s three District Conventions: LCC members are speaking with one voice, saying that our structure is broken— especially when difficulties in one District can threaten the life of the whole national church body.

You may wonder how this came about. Back in 1988, those gathered in Winnipeg who attended our constituting convention voted to use the existing constitution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as the framework for how we would structure ourselves north of the border. The LCMS’ constitution was intended for a much larger Synod than ours, but since there was nothing better for us to use at the time, many thought we could just tweak it over the subsequent years to fit our much smaller Synod. Those revisions started as soon as the early 1990s. Numerous taskforces were struck to recommend such changes to the following LCC Synodical Conventions.

Over time, however, it became evident that we had a large problem with respect to our structure: we were not really living out our constitution in practice. We were living less like a Synod of those “walking together” in unity, and more like a federation of separate Districts—just as we had under our time within the LCMS. So what were we to

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do? Change our practice to fit our constitution, or change our constitution to fit our practice? Previous commissions asked that very question of Synod with little response; the issue was just not deemed important enough to deal with.

That is, it didn’t seem important until now. With the recent struggles of two of our three Districts, the need to answer that question has been highlighted in a dramatic way. The CCMS is working in earnest to recommend a new structure for LCC, to be voted on at the next Synodical Convention in 2017—a new structure with the ability to meet all of our needs from the grassroots up to the Synodical level. Following approval by Synod’s Board of Directors, the 2017 Convention may take place in October rather than June to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. What an exciting time that would be as we would possibly reform our Synod’s structure at the same time!

To bring this plan to fruition, we as the CCMS will engage the services of a restructuring consultant as well as some advisors from each District who will help guide us through this process. Part of that process will involve you: we need the feedback of local churchgoers to help us determine the best plan forward towards a better and stronger Synod.

Never in our church’s history has there been this kind of opportunity for your voice to be heard. Plan on taking advantage of this significant opportunity by already praying about what you will share with our commission. You have the ability to make a meaningful impact on how we walk together as a Synod.

Over the coming months we will report to you on our progress through The Canadian Lutheran to keep you in the loop. Please pray for us as the CCMS because the scope of this restructuring plan for LCC is daunting and what we are setting in place will perhaps direct us as a Synod for decades to come. But above all, pray to the Lord of the Church to help us move forward in the best way possible to seek and to save the lost among our communities and provinces and country and world!

Rev. Paul Schallhorn is Secretary of Lutheran Church– Canada’s Board of Directors and Secretary of synod’s Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure. For more info on the CCMS and its current members, see page 17.

International News www.canadianlutheran.ca

ILC welcomes Nicaraguan church into membership The remainder of the ILC’s Executive Committee is composed of five World Area Representatives.

According to the ILC’s constitution, members elect church bodies rather than individuals to fill these roles.

Lutheran Church–Canada (served by President Bugbee) was reelected as North America’s representative. Other World Representatives elected for this triennium include the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paraguay (served

by President Norberto M. Gerke) for Latin America; the Lutheran Church of Nigeria (served by Archbishop Christian Ekong) for Africa; The Delegates to the ILC’s 2015 World Conference.

Lutheran Church of the Philippines (served by President Antonio del Rio Reyes) for Asia; and the Evangelical The ILC also tended to the ARGENTINA - From September Lutheran Church in England (served elections of its Executive Council 24-27, Lutheran leaders from across

by Chairman Jon Ehlers) for Europe. during the World Conference. Bishop the globe gathered in Buenos Aires for The ILC’s Vice-Chairman is not Voigt of Germany’s Independent the International Lutheran Council’s elected by the World Conference.

Evangelical Lutheran Church was (ILC) 25th (10th) World Conference, Instead, the Executive Council will reelected Chairman of the ILC. He meeting under the theme “Bringing elect a Vice-Chairman from among was first elected ILC Chairman at the Reformation to the World.” the World Area Representatives at the 2012 World Conference held in A highlight of the event was the their first council meeting. welcome of three new Among other work, member churches, among delegates to the 2015 World them Lutheran Church– Conference took part in longCanada’s daughter term strategic planning for church in Nicaragua. the International Lutheran The ILC welcomed the Council, discussed ongoing Iglesia Luterana Sínodo ecumenical engagement with de Nicaragua (ILSN Roman Catholics through – Lutheran Church the Pontifical Council for Synod of Nicaragua) Promoting Christian Unity, into membership on heard a essays on the September 25, along continuing relevance of the with Russia’s Siberian Augsburg Confession, and Evangelical Lutheran joined local Argentines for Church and the Lutheran worship and fellowship.

Church in Norway.

The World Conference The ILSN was born brought together 22 of the through LCC mission ILC’s member churches, efforts which began in t h r e e n e w member the Central American LCC President Bugbee (right) congratulates ILSN President Donaire after churches, and eight guest country in 1997. ILSN the Nicaraguan church was accepted into membership in the ILC. c h u r c h e s f r o m e very President Marvin continent—including guests from Niagara Falls, Ontario in Canada Donaire was on hand for the vote the two largest Lutheran church and previously served as Interim and welcomed it with joy, receiving bodies in the world: the Ethiopian Chairman beginning in 2010. congratulations from both ILC Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus President Gijsbertus van Hattem of Chairman Hans Jörg Voigt and LCC’s (7.2 million members) and the the Evangelical Lutheran Church in own President Robert Bugbee, who Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belgium was reelected as Secretary for currently serves as Vice Chairman of Tanzania (6.5 million members). the Executive Council. the ILC. THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

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International News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Winnipeg hosts international gathering of Oromo Christians WINNIPEG - Downtown Winnipeg was buzzing July 24-26 as Lutheran Church of the Redeemer played host to the 20 th annual international Conference of United Oromo Evangelical Churches (UOEC). The event brought together delegates not only from across Canada and the United States, but also from across the globe with representatives from England, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Kenya, and Australia.

A major focus of the business of the clergy portion of the meeting dealt with building further unity among the various Oromo congregations represented, especially in the face of the liberal swing concerning human sexuality in many North American and European Lutheran church bodies.

Central District President Thomas Prachar brought greetings to the UOEC on behalf of Lutheran Church–Canada President Robert Bugbee, speaking both to the pastors’ meeting on July 23 as well as to the larger assembly of delegates on July 25. Rev. Todd Hoeffs also welcomed the delegates on behalf of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer as

well as the Red River Circuit, which aided the conference with prayer, volunteer, and financial support.

Rev. Dr. Gemechis Olana of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was persuaded to continue on for an additional year as president of the UOEC. Canada’s own Rev. Assefa Aredo (the first graduate of LCC’s Pastors with Alternate Training program) was elected to serve on the Canadian Board of the UOEC along

with two other delegates, one from Winnipeg and the other from Toronto.

The Canadian Board coordinates outreach and mission planning among the Oromo diaspora within Canada.

The event came to a close July 26 with a joint English-Oromo service, with more than 300 people attending.

“It was a wonderful conference,” said Rev. Aredo. “I want to say a big thank-you to all the volunteers from the Red River Circuit that helped to make it possible.” UOEC President Olana also expressed thanks on behalf of the UOEC board for all the support which LCC has provided to the various Oromo congregations and missions in Canada. This positive interaction, Rev. Aredo relates, has continued to spark interest in both LCC and Confessional Lutheranism among the scattered Oromo Churches around the globe.

The history of the UOEC is one of diaspora. From the 1970s on, thousands of Oromo people left Ethiopia to avoid persecution, political instability, and economic difficulties. As Oromo people took up residence in other nations, they began to form congregations and fellowships, many of which have since affiliated with various Lutheran denominations. In 1998, these congregations founded the United Oromo Evangelical Churches as a way of unifying Oromo Christians living in diaspora across the globe.

The 21st UOEC Conference will take place in 2016 in Washington, D.C.

First graduating class of pastors for Mozambican Lutherans MOZAMBIQUE - In August, the Concordia Lutheran Church– Mozambique (CLCM) celebrated its first graduating class of eight pastors.

More than a thousand people gathered in the Vila de Sena for the ordinations, including local dignitaries, and national television gave ten minutes of coverage to the event. Special church dignitaries in attendance included President Egon Kopereck of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (IELB) and Bishop Dieter Reinstorf of the Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa.

The CLCM is a young church body, and prior to this year’s graduating class had no pastors of its own. Instead, ministry in the region was overseen

14

by those studying for pastoral ministry.

In 2014, these students received certification as deacons in preparation for their 2015 ordinations. Their ordination marks the end of five years of study through the Theological Education by Extension (TEE) program, an initiative of the IELB. The MLC continues to grow quickly (visiting professors in the TEE program were sometimes called on to conduct hundreds of baptisms at a time). Already a new class of fifteen students is beginning studies through the TEE program.

In 2014, mission developments in Mozambique took another step forward as partners in the region signed a new Memorandum

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

of Understanding on the TEE program. Signatories included the IELB, the current TEE students, the Kuwangisana Organization, the Kapasseni Project, FELSISA, and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). The MOU calls for the construction of a permanent seminary building: the Concordia Lutheran Center.

Lutheran missions in Mozambique grew out of the work of retired Lutheran Church–Canada pastor Rev. Joseph Alfazema and his wife Perpetua. Their work resulted in the creation of the Kapasseni Project, an LCC listed service organization that continues to support missions in Mozambique.

National News www.canadianlutheran.ca

CCMS discusses restructuring synod WINNIPEG - From August 31 to September 1, Lutheran Church– Canada’s (LCC) Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure met in Winnipeg to begin discussions related to the restructuring of synod.

Earlier this year, each of LCC’s three districts voted in convention to request the CCMS research and present a new structure for Lutheran Church–Canada by the time of the next national convention. A Central District resolution, for example, called on the CCMS “to begin immediately the work of developing and presenting a new structure with application bylaw and handbook changes for the Districts and Synod of Lutheran Church– Canada,” with plans to present this new structure “to the 2017 Synodical Convention for approval and subsequent implementation.”

The August-September meetings included a discussion of how best to solicit advice and suggestions from LCC members across Canada.

Information on these opportunities will be publicized via The Canadian Lutheran as they become available.

The CCMS’ secretary, Rev. Paul Schallhorn, provides some initial reflections on restructuring in this issue of The Canadian Lutheran,

Synodical Convention Date Change Lutheran Church–Canada’s (LCC) Board of Directors has announced that the date of the 2017 Synodical Convention will be changed from June to October 2017.

A final date has not yet been chosen but LCC’s Board of Directors has affirmed that they are not planning to hold convention over Reformation weekend or the Thanksgiving holiday.

The CCMS’ committee on restructuring, left to right: Gary Gilmore, Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau (advisory), Herb Doering, President Robert Bugbee, Rev. Dennis Putzman, Rev. Paul Schallhorn, and Rev. William Ney. Missing are Deacon Jennifer Frim and Marilyn Schulz.

and encourages LCC members to make their suggestions known as opportunities arise. “Never in our church’s history has there been this kind of opportunity for your voice to be heard,” Rev. Schallhorn notes.

“Plan on taking advantage of this significant opportunity by already praying about what you will share with our commission.” (Read more on page 11).

LCC’s Board of Directors has also approved the addition of a number of advisory members to help the commission in their restructuring work. Deacon Dr. Jennifer Frim, Marilyn Schulz, and Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau have all been appointed to serve as advisory members to the CCMS’ restructuring committee.

T h e C C M S n ex t m e e t s i n November.

French hymn contest CANADA - Lutheran Church– Canada’s Comité francophone liturgique invites authors, translators, poets and musicians to submit a hymn in French rooted in Luther’s Small Catechism Baptism text for the 500th anniversary of the nailing of the 95 theses.

The submissions may be an original text or French translation with an existing tune or those texts with an original tune. The contest is open from Reformation Day, 2105 to Reformation Day 2016. Details of the context, judging and hymn criteria may be had by emailing to Drs. David Saar or David Somers at mathieubarthol@gmail.com.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

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National News www.canadianlutheran.ca

LCC indicates willingness to receive the Lutheran Historical Institute EDMONTON - Lutheran Church– Canada’s (LCC) Board of Directors has responded to the ABC District Convention’s offer to gift the Lutheran Historical Institute (LHI) to LCC, saying they are willing to accept the archives if it is determined they are legally allowed to do so.

In an August letter to LHI’s Board of Governors as well as to the ABC District Board of Directors, LCC President Robert Bugbee reported willingness to accept the archives.

However, he noted that financial challenges remain. “While the Board is prepared to accept the gifting of LHI to the church at large, LCC is currently not in the financial position to operate the archives,” he writes, suggesting that a temporary storage of the archives may be necessary.

President Bugbee goes on to note that LCC has historically been one of four stakeholders that have financially supported the operations of LHI. The news earlier this year that ABC District would be unable to continue its contributions to the archives put the institute under significant strain. Because of its own financial constraints, LCC is not currently able to fund the archives on its own.

But an investigation by LHI’s Board of Governors in recent months determined that the archives could be

moved and temporarily stored for the amount LCC normally contributes to the operation of LHI. “It is important to note that this storage proposal was not made because LCC is eager to shut down LHI,” President Bugbee explained in his letter. Instead, LCC’s board suggests the action in order “to provide some breathing space to prevent the LHI holdings” from being hastily and irreversibly dispersed to other archival agencies. The proposal of LCC’s BOD would see the archives reopened at a later date once necessary funding for its operations can be assured.

LHI’s outgoing Board of Governors welcomed LCC’s proposal during their final board meeting on August 18. “LHI and its stakeholders spent a number of years exploring how Lutheran archives in Canada could be restructured to become a national agency,” noted Rev. Dr. John Maxfield, former Chairman of LHI’s Board of Governors. “The current situation may be giving us the opportunity to finally realize that goal.” LHI’s Board of Governors formally dissolved at the end of August as the institute’s funding (from LCC and other stakeholders) ran out. Operation of LHI reverted at that time to the ABC District’s BOD. “It is significant to note that the offer of the ABC District to give LHI

to LCC comes at a time when Synod itself has been asked to propose a new structure for the church in Canada,” Dr. Maxfield continued. “We hope that those tasked with these considerations will take seriously the need for a unified national archive for LCC, so that LHI’s successor organization can emerge stronger than ever.”

President Bugbee agrees. “Our hope is that restructuring will create a framework in which LCC can restore the active operation of LHI in the future.” He further noted that there are no plans to relocate the archives. “We have no desire to move the collection away from the Edmonton area,” he writes in his letter. “The long history of operation there, the significant concentration of LCC pastors and congregations in Edmonton and the surrounding area, the presence of Concordia University of Edmonton and Concordia Lutheran Seminary, and the many people near Edmonton who have a history of involvement with LHI make it clear in my mind that the archives should remain there.”

The archives remain closed pending a legal determination on their transfer. In the meantime, a provisional committee—which will include some members of LHI’s former Board of Governors—will be formed to provide guidance on the archive’s holdings.

Update on the ABC District Situation

T

he Alberta-British Columbia (ABC) District group had their most recent court date on August 28, at which time the Court approved an extension of the Stay of Proceedings until October 30, 2015.

By that time, the court-appointed Monitor, Deloitte Restructuring Inc., anticipates the District will have sought authorization to present its proposed Plans of Arrangement.

In their report to the Court ahead of the hearing, Deloitte details a timeline for the implementation of the Plans of Arrangement. While noting a number of issues that still need to be clarified before the plans

16

can be finalized—potential mortgage challenges between Church Extension Fund (CEF) creditors and District Investments Ltd (DIL) creditors, for example—the Monitor nevertheless anticipates that a Meeting Order will be sought from the Court “as soon as practicable and no later than October 30, 2015.” This order will see the Court accept the Plans for filing and allow the District Group to present these plans to creditors for their consideration.

Information packages would be mailed to all creditors within fourteen days, a series of information sessions for creditors would be held by the

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

Chief Restructuring Officer between 19 and 45 days, and meetings for creditors to vote on the plans would take place between 45 and 55 days (all days being counted from the date the Meeting Order is granted). If the Plans are approved by creditors, they would then be presented to the Court for final approval within fifteen more days.

According to Deloitte’s report, draft plans have already been circulated to both the Monitor, the Monitor’s legal counsel, the Representative Counsel, and the Committees for their input.

The Court has authorized the District to sell a number of properties under the guidance of the Monitor in

National News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Planning for 2016’s National Youth Gathering ST. CATHARINES, Ontario - With less than a year to go, the National Youth Gathering (NYG) Committee hopes you’re as excited as they are about the 2016 gathering.

The NYG Planning Committee met July 27-29 at Christ Lutheran Church (St. Catharines, Ontario) to continue preparations for the upcoming gathering, which will be held at Brock University in St. Catharines, July 8-12, 2016. During this planning session, the committee continued to delve deeper into the gathering’s theme: Living H2O. John 4 is the basis for the many different ways that Christ shows us living water in our daily Christian lives. The youth can look forward to unpacking this theme through talented main stage speaker (Micah Parker), musicians (Jennifer Jade Kerr and Kelti Malone), performers (These Guys), interactive Bible studies, breakout sessions, and servant events.

In addition, youth and leaders will travel to Niagara Falls to take in the various activities Niagara Falls has to offer. Groups will have the ability to plan their own time at Niagara Falls with the option of taking in tours and boat rides, or discovering the beautiful downtown. Please visit www.niagarafallstourism.com for more information regarding current

events. Due to the number of options available at Niagara Falls, activities will be planned and paid for by each individual group.

There were a couple of new faces present at this meting as the committee welcomed their new pastoral advisor Rev. Glenn Worcester from Peace Lutheran in Winnipeg. The committee also adds a technical edge with the support of sound engineer (and all around audiovideo guru) Madison Bouwman, also from Peace Lutheran in Winnipeg.

Other members of the committee include Chairman Tony Marchand (Kitchener, Ontario), Brandon

Kemp (St. Catharines, Ontario), Bill Wardekker (Winnipeg), Amanda Hastings (Regina, Saskatchewan), Krysta Davis (Edmonton) and Kaitlin Schmitz (Edmonton).

In an effort to go green, the NYG Committee is encouraging congregations to receive an electronic version of the registration information, as opposed to a paper mail-out. Groups can contact Krysta Davis at krysta. davis@bethelchurch.com to be added to this list. To explore the details of the gathering in more detail please visit our website http://nyg.lutheranyouth. ca or like us on Facebook at 2016 LCC National Youth Gathering.

order to recoup funds for creditors in the CEF and DIL. In its most recent report to the Court, Deloitte reports the net proceeds from three such property sales: lands located in Chestermere, Alberta earned $7.9 million; the Faith Lutheran School lands in Edmonton earned $3.6 million; and a condo in Richmond, British Columbia earned $388,700. A condo in the Prince of Peace village which was subject to a life lease also generated a 5% transfer fee to District of approximately $19,500.

At its most recent hearing, the Court was asked to approve the sale of lands in Revelstoke, British Columbia, a request which was granted. Other

properties currently listed for sale include the ABC District office building in Edmonton; lands in Elford, Alberta; and lands in St. Albert, Alberta. A previous offer to purchase the lands in St. Albert, Alberta failed to be completed.

The Monitor’s report further notes that the District Group is working with congregations who still “hold outstanding loans and mortgages to facilitate the repayment of those loans and mortgages.” In late August, the ABC District requested prayer for a number of LCC congregations who “continue to face the reality that they may have to move from their church

building.” Among these are Trinity Lutheran (Fort McMurray, Alberta); King of Kings Lutheran (St. Alberta, Alberta); Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran (Canmore, Alberta); Prince of Peace Lutheran (Calgary, Alberta); and Immanuel Lutheran (Elkford, British Columbia).

District staff have vacated their office building in Edmonton in anticipation of its being sold, and have taken up residence in space provided by Concordia Lutheran Seminary. As of September 1, there are three full-time employees serving the ABC District, including new District President Glenn Schaeffer.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

17

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ABC District News News ABC District

Alberta Alberta and and British British Columbia, Columbia, Jon Jon Teschke, Teschke, editor editor

VBS students conquer Everest CRANBROOK, B.C. - “Everest— Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power” was the theme of the vacation Bible school at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, August 17 to 21.

The average attendance each day was 58 children, ages 5 to 12 years. There were stories, songs, crafts, treats and outdoor games.

The church was decorated with trees, snowflakes, drawings of animals, clothing, boots, and a crafted mountain which housed the monetary mission offerings. The offerings were designated for a school in Kuttal, a remote village in Nepal, built as a project of Gordon Terrace Elementary School in Cranbrook.

Sabine Pfeiffer gave an enlightening verbal presentation along with slides of the situation and need for school supplies there. Several volunteers from Mt. Zion, along with members from Redeemer (Creston) and Trinity Lutheran (Fernie) were participants in the outreach.

(l-r) Rev. Dave Morton (the Sherpa Zip-tie Duct Tape Three Prong Plug), Rev. Doug Stapleton (Dr. Purplington), Ralph the Goat, Korleen Stapleton (Lady Buggly).

Calgary youth prepare for retreat CALGARY – The Calgary Circuit is preparing for their 2015 youth retreat, to be held November 6-8 at Foothills Lutheran Church in Calgary.

Youth will take part in an engaging discussion of what it means that God has chosen them, a theme drawn from 1 Peter 2:9—“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Lutheran Church–Canada President Robert Bugbee will serve as main speaker for the event, presenting on 1 Peter.

For more information and to access registration packages, please visit www. lutheranyouthretreat.ca.

The Lutheran September/October2015 201519 1 THECanadian CANADIAN L UTHERAN September/October

ABC District News

and British Columbia, Jon Teschke, editor editor AlbertaAlberta and British Columbia, Jon Teschke, Jon Teschke,

ABC district president installed, LCC pastoral leader commissioned EDMONTON – On October 4, Concordia Lutheran Church in Edmonton hosted a special vespers service to mark the installation of Rev. Dr. Glenn Schaeffer as President of the Alberta–British Columbia District and the commissioning of Rev. Nolan Astley as Lutheran Church–Canada’s (LCC) Interim Pastoral Leader for Alberta and British Columbia.

Of ficiating was LCC President Rober t Bugbee, and ABC District President Emeritus Donald Schiemann served as liturgist for the service. Preaching was Rev. Mark Hennig of Concordia Lutheran (Edmonton), who, in a sermon on 2 Corinthians 3:7-11, reminded the congregation that the glory of ministry is the proclamation of Jesus as the Saviour of the world, both locally and to the ends of the earth.

ABC District Presidents Emeriti Harry Ruff and Edwin Lehman (who is also LCC President Emeritus) served as lectors. Pastors came to participate from a number of circuits, including from as far away as Calgary and Rocky Mountain House. Concordia Lutheran Seminary’s Music Director David Mitchell and Deacon Alyx Quinlan led music for the event.

“What a humbling honour the Lord has bestowed on me that He has called me to guide our church through these challenging times

as we address our financial issues, and as we come to terms with the implications of being Jesus’ followers in Canada as we transition into a post-church era,” said ABC District President Schaeffer. “May the Spirit of God fill our hearts with compassion and love for the lost people in our communities so that we are passionate about sharing His love in word and deed. May the Spirit of God so fill our hearts with love and compassion for one another that people outside our congregations, proclaim, ‘Behold, how they love one another!’”

Following his commissioning, Interim Pastoral Leader Nolan Astley said this: “As President Schaeffer and others who are charged with overseeing the corporate side of district operations work toward putting forward a Plan of Arrangement, I will work diligently to fulfill my responsibilities as ecclesiastical overseer. I pray daily for God the Holy Spirit to give me the strength to accomplish this task and to bring healing to those whose hearts are heavy as a result of the current financial situation affecting Synod’s members in Alberta and British Columbia.”

Following the installation and commissioning service, the members of Concordia Lutheran Church welcomed guests to stay for supper.

LCC’s Interim Pastoral Leader for Alberta and British Columbia Nolan Astley (third from left in front), ABC District President Glenn Schaefer (fourth from left in front), and LCC President Robert Bugbee (fifth from left in front) pose with the many pastors taking part in the joint Installation-Commissioning service in Edmonton.

2 The Canadian Lutheran September/October 2015 20 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

ABC District News News ABC District

Alberta and and British British Columbia, Columbia, Jon Jon Teschke, Teschke, editor editor Alberta

A “MARVELous” youth gathering LANGLEY, B.C. - For four days in July, 85 youth and 36 adults from all over the district attended “MARVELous” at Trinity Western University. Youth and leaders enjoyed sessions including worship and teaching times centred around God’s Word and the theme verse: “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things” (Psalm 98:1a). Participants also enjoyed small group Bible studies, games, fun activities, and a servant event and beach day.

Rev. Andrew Craig (Trinity, Pincher Creek) served as the main speaker for the Gathering and blessed participants with his overflowing love of preaching and teaching God’s Word combined with his lifelong love of comic books and superhero movies. Especially popular were his mid-session Top 10 lists, including “Top 10 Worst Super Villains!” The main sessions focused on marveling in what God has done through Christ, who is the ultimate superhero, and how Christians are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live lives of service and leadership, always pointing back to Him as Saviour.

The main sessions were supplemented by the musical talents of Jennifer Jade Kerr. She was joined by two talented youth from First Lutheran Church in Kelowna, Emma Loveridge on vocals and Tieghan Desson on bass, plus Poppy the band mascot (a very large bag of popcorn).

Rev. Lee Loveridge, also from First Lutheran in Kelowna, served as gathering chaplain and emcee, leading participants in prayer, devotions, and general fun. His energy, servant heart, and random whale noises made him a fantastic chaplain.

The Gathering schedule also included four Impact Sessions. The “What do you say when…” and “Discernment and Pop Culture” sessions provided practical insight into approaching everyday life in light of faith, while “Faith Like a Child” and a guided prayer walk

Above: CLS President Gimbel; below: excited participants.

gave youth and leaders the chance to get creative and use their senses in various ways.

Trinity Western University was an incredible location for the event.

The Gathering group enjoyed the beautiful campus, delicious meals, plentiful coffee, and short walks between buildings. The TWU staff were great to work with, and made the Gathering Committee’s job a happy one.

The Gathering was the culmination of three years of

careful planning by committee co-chairs Michelle Heumann and Tracy Wemyss, joined by Jennifer Kerr, Sarah Wemyss, and Andrea Worchester. Monica Schultz served as the gathering registrar. The committee thanks all those who attended the Gathering, those who offered financial support, and those who continue to pray for the DYG and youth ministry in our District and Synod.

2015 ABC District Youth Gathering Planning Committee

The Lutheran September/October2015 201521 3 THECanadian CANADIAN L UTHERAN September/October

ABC ABC District News

Alberta and and British British Columbia, Columbia, Jon Jon Teschke, Teschke, editor editor Alberta

Kootenay women “turn over a new leaf” CRANBROOK, B.C. - The Kootenay Zone of Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League-Canada held a rally on Saturday, October 3 at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Cranbrook, with 17 people present. The theme for the day was “Renewal; Turn Over A New Leaf,” adapted from “A River in the Desert Retreat” by Ellen Shepard. Rev. David Morton and society president, Kelly Klein, led the Bible studies based on Psalm 119:114.

Each participant wrote on a piece of paper what she was holding back in giving God one’s entire life. The papers were placed, with prayer, at the foot of the cross at the altar. Afterward they were destroyed. Following the studies, Sharon Beloin presented each one with a letter, “The Father’s Love,” adapted from “Father’s Love Letter”

by Barry Adams.

Zone President Elizabeth Domke talked on the district LWMLC convention to be held July 7-9, 2016, in Abbotsford. The theme is “Fan into flame the gift of God: God’s Saving Faith,” based on 2 Timothy 1:6. Connie McFadden of Creston served as zone delegate to the LWMLCanada convention in Waterloo,

Members of the Kootenay Zone of LWMLC during their October rally.

Ontario this past July and reported on the three day event. Attendees enjoyed singing, accompanied by Sharon Fantuz on the piano.

Psalm 23 was included in discussion and personal reflecting.

Attendees reflected about “simplifying life,” “time,” and the Bible verse, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Kelly and Deborah Laphenear spoke

Director of Parish Services installed PORT COQUITLAM, B.C. Director of Parish Services candidate Stephanie Mayer was commissioned and installed at Hope Lutheran Church, Sunday, September 13.

Stephanie will be working in team ministry with Rev. Laverne Hautz who performed the Rite of Installation. The new deacon will have responsibilities for youth work, confirmation team-teaching, music ministry, building outreach connections with the students and parents of Hope Lutheran Christian School, and various other roles. The congregation at Hope is grateful to welcome both Stephanie and her husband Jordan (Grade 1 teacher at Hope Lutheran Christian School).

about the breakfast program at Amy Woodland School that Mt. Zion LWMLC supports with a monthly monetary gift. The day also included devotions and Holy Communion officiated by Rev. David Morton.

A lunch was convened by Paddy McInnes and Flo Fulkerth.

The church was decorated in a Thanksgiving theme, including decorations of leaves.

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

jteschke@lccabc.ca

Next deadline: December 16, 2015 Deacon Stephanie Mayer and Rev. Laverne Hautz

4 The Canadian Lutheran September/October 2015 22 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

Central District District News Central News

Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Manitoba, NW NW Ontario Ontario Elaine Elaine Stanfel, Stanfel, editor editor

Vacation Bible schools across the district ESTEVAN, Sask. - St. Peter’s Lutheran Church held vacation Bible school in July, with the theme Camp Discovery—Jesus at Work through Us. What a wonderful week it was, teaching children about Jesus with a staff of 24 adult and 29 youth volunteers. Registration totaled 123 children with an average attendance of 94 for each of the four days.

MORDEN, Man. - On July 17, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church had a one-day VBS. Using the theme Camp Discovery the 14 children in attendance learned about how Jesus is with them to give them courage in difficult times and to save them from their sins. As one might expect, the one-day format made for a full and busy day for everyone! The students took part in the Bible stories (David

St. Peter’s, Estevan

and Goliath and the Three Men in the Fiery Furnace), games, crafts, and music; eagerly devoured the snacks and meal put before them throughout the day; and simply had a lot of fun as they grew in their faith together.

WINNIPEG - During the week of July 13 to 17 about 75 children attended a science-themed vacation Bible school at Peace Lutheran Church. Through

Bible study, games, videos, songs, experiments, crafts, and snacks the children learned all about how God’s plan for us is: 2 Make Us, 2 Be With Us, 4 Us 2 Know Him, 2 Save Us, and 2 Love Us 4-Ever!

Children and their families were asked to support a mission project: hygiene kits for Canadian Lutheran World Relief. More than 94 kits were collected.

Water and the Word NEAR THUNDER BAY, Ont. - 2015 marks the 60th anniversary for Aurora Lutheran Bible Camp, located just outside of Thunder Bay—and what a summer it was!

The camp runs four weeks of programs for campers ages 4 to 16 years. This year staff welcomed approximately 100 campers, many of whom came from unchurched homes.

Campers take part in activities such as canoeing, kayaking, archery, games, crafts, swimming, themed meals, and Bible study.

This year the Bible study focused around water. Campers learned stories and Bible memory verses about Noah,

Rev. Garry Heintz with some of the baptized campers.

Jonah, Moses, Jesus and His water miracles (walking on water, turning water into wine), and it all led up to the grace God gives through baptism. The campers really enjoyed the material, and camp staff were thrilled to report that 13 campers were baptized in the lake over the summer by Revs. David Haberstock (Epiphany, Thunder Bay) and Garry Heintz (Redeemer, Kakabeka Falls).

Peace, Winnipeg

Free outdoor concert attracts neighbours shared her faith and music.

SASKATOON - The rain stopped, the Besides the great music and clouds broke, and the sun shone for a weather, there were ice cream treats great evening of music and song in the and many children running around parking lot at Faith Lutheran Church enjoying the music. for a summer concert. Some 100 Lorraine Kendel people gathered to hear the Alpha Omega Worship Band and Singers perform two sets of contemporary worship music.

The local church group was a lead up to the main event, Jennifer Jade Kerr, who Enjoying the concert and the summer evening.

The 201523 1 THECanadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN September/October September/October 2015

Central District News News

Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Manitoba, NW NW Ontario Ontario Elaine Elaine Stanfel, Stanfel, editor editor

Putting hands and feet into action WINNIPEG - Ninety-four hygiene kits were assembled during the week of July 13-17 at Peace Lutheran Church during vacation Bible school. It all began with a question to Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR): “Is there a shortage of any particular commodity in order to support those in need around the world?” The reply: “Hygiene Kits are low, with a container going to Angola in August and later one to Jordan in September.”

The congregation was willing to help with this project and filled bags

VBS children received “We Care” bags

with suggested kit items and some donated funds. Then the families of the VBS children got involved in the same way.

T h e c o n g re g a t i o n a n d t h e more than 75 children from the

community did a marvelous job putting their mission heart into action by helping those who may not have a toothbrush.

The project was spearheaded by Marilyn Swain, who, on behalf of Peace Lutheran Church, expressed thanks to all who supplied the items and to CLWR for getting these needed items to those awaiting help and support.

Ponderings from the president We are not alone t happens the moment we arrive in this world—we begin crying. And at the moment we leave this world, we may shed tears of pain or anguish, or our friends and relatives may cry as they mourn our death.

Our Lord invites us in the face of illness and chronic pain to trust that He will be with us. Instead, we blame Him with bitter tears for the lot He has handed us in life.

Our Saviour invites us to stand at the foot of the grave of a loved one with the confidence that He has won the victory over death and the grave. But we don’t take Him up on His promise as the separation from our loved one hurts so much. Self-pity sets in as we begin to think we are now all alone. It is then that the waterworks flow in earnest. Sometimes we lay awake at night thinking about something we should or should not have said, something we did or did not do to someone else. Tears of remorse and bitterness come as we wish we could go back and undo the hurt we have caused. Sometimes our conscience is so troubled that we wonder, through our many tears, if this world would be better off without us in it.

Those are temptations we must never give in to: thinking that we are all alone, or that no one cares for us. Our God reminds us in Psalm 56:8 (ESV), “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle.”

As archeologists continue to excavate ancient tombs, they often unearth a narrow-necked bottle called a “lachrymatory.” It is thought that the tears of the deceased person’s friends were collected in such a bottle and then placed in the grave with him or her. And so

I

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David asks God to collect his tears one by one and store them in a bottle like a fine wine, since those tears are precious to God. David knew that his loving God cared deeply about the things that were troubling him, and that God would do something about them. In fact, a few verses later in this psalm, David confesses: “In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

(Psalm 56:11, ESV).

Each of us has pains and hurts. Sometimes we feel lonely; at other times we are distressed. Some of us may be facing personal battles with family members, or we may be waiting the results of a biopsy, or anticipating surgery, or struggling with some other illness or pain.

Some of us may be facing the anniversary of the death of a loved one, and we aren’t sure how we are going to cope. As we face these and many more situations of life that cause tears to flow, I can assure you that we do not face those things alone. Jesus is with us; He hurts with us; He walks with us. Jesus hurts to see us in pain, and so He cries real tears with us. He promises to bring us through the time of pain and darkness and tears into the light of His eternal joy. We look forward to that day in heaven when we will hear these comforting words: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4, ESV).

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Rev. Thomas Prachar

Central District News News

Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Manitoba, NW NW Ontario Ontario Elaine Elaine Stanfel, Stanfel, editor editor

Fairgoers touched by the Gospel SASKATOON - Bibles, New

Testaments, and a variety of Christian literature were given to the visitors at the Saskatoon Exhibition held August 4- 9.

The Lutheran Laymen’s League (LLL) Saskatoon Zone and the six LCC congregations in Saskatoon, Bergheim and Warman sponsored and supported this Fair Booth Ministry mission outreach.

T h e 3 4 vo l u n t e e r s a l s o distributed cards, pens and nail files. The various books and brochures included an insert/reference to the six LCC congregations. There were 68 entries for a free draw of the DVD Little Shepherd. Many visitors appreciated the presence of a Christian organization at the exhibition.

Organizers extend sincere thanks to all the volunteers and supporters of the Fair Booth Ministry. Thanks go also to the congregations for their financial support and the various people who attended the Steak Night fundraisers.

Rev. Howard Ulmer

REGINA - The young lady pressed the Bible against her heart; her face lit up and began glowing. “I’ve never seen a reaction like that before” stated Darlene Walters of Grace Lutheran Church. Darlene was one of the 30 volunteers at the Lutheran Hour Ministry fair booth at the Regina Queen City Exhibition this past summer. “It gives you a wonderful feeling that you touched someone. It makes this ministry all worthwhile,” Darlene says. Volunteers from Regina LCC congregations spoke and witnessed to fairgoers, handed out Project Connect booklets and pamphlets, Bibles and New Testaments.

The children’s booklet “The Bully” was the most picked up item for the second year in a row followed by the children’s prayer booklet. Also popular were booklets on angels, depression and stress. Visitors from as far away as California stopped by the booth. Some stopped to just say thank you for being at the fair.

Others stopped because of the hurts in their lives or they were searching and looking for help: a social worker to help in her work at the hospital, a man who just lost his wife, a

(l-r) Maryanne Olson, Esther Rommel, Marg Tiefenbach, Ed Tiefenbach, Rene Olson at the Regina fair booth. (photo by Les Rein)

mother and daughter who lost a family member to suicide, a lady who wanted to teach her daughter to pray.

The “official” Man Cards not only promoted the Men’s NetWork but proved to be good conversation starters. Myron Becker, a volunteer from Mount Olive Lutheran Church, handed them to both men and women, stating these laid out the rules to being a good man and if not followed he would find them and take away their card. “It was always a good laugh; it was lots of fun,” stated Myron.

The volunteers ask that everyone pray for the individuals that were touched by this ministry and thank all who helped in making this ministry possible and a success!

Ed Tiefenbach

Joint fundraiser aids CLWR MORDEN, Man. - Zion Sunday School and Zion LWMLC joined together to raise funds this past May to “Equip a Classroom” in a refugee camp for children in Kakuma, Kenya, Africa through Canadian Lutheran

Some of the bakers with their wares.

World Relief.

As most LWMLC ladies are grandmas and the Sunday school students are grade 6 and under, the group decided to bake cookies. The cookie project was named “Cookies

for a Classroom,” with the goal to equip one classroom for $250.

All involved had a fun time baking, rolling and trying to figure out how many bags of flour, chocolate chips and cups of butter were needed. Busy hands made 120 dozen chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and ginger snap cookies.

The group hosted a congregational coffee break on a Sunday before the service, and members picked up their 95 dozen pre-ordered cookies at $5 per dozen.

The bakers were overjoyed to announce that this joint mission project was very successful and lots of fun. The proceeds exceeded expectations, and funded two classrooms.

The 201525 3 THECanadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN September/October September/October 2015

Central District District News Central News

Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Manitoba, NW NW Ontario Ontario Elaine Elaine Stanfel, Stanfel, editor editor

INSTALLATIONS

Zion Lutheran Church, Plumas/Christ Lutheran Church, Neepawa/St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, McCreary

(front, l-r) Rev. Allen Harlos, Rev. James Vosper, Vicar Milton Lam; (back, l-r) Revs. Edmund Mielke, Robert Hasselstrom, Alex Klages, James Dimitroff

PLUMAS, Man. Rev. James Vosper was installed as pastor of the newlyformed tri-parish of Zion, Plumas/Christ, Neepawa/St. Paul’s, McCreary on Sunday, September 13. The officiant for the rite

of installation was Rev. Alex Klages, Central District Vice President– Winnipeg Region. Rev. James Dimitroff (emeritus, Edmonton) preached the sermon; lectors were Vicar Miltom Lam (Winkler/ Morden) and Rev. Edmund Mielke (Grace, Brandon).

A potluck supper followed at Plumas Community Hall.

Grace Lutheran Church, Beausejour BEAUSEJOUR, Man. - For the past three years Rev. Ward Yunker has served Grace Lutheran Church as interim pastor. On Pentecost Sunday, May 24, the congregation voted to extend to Rev. Yunker a regular call to be their pastor.

Rev. Yunker was installed at Grace Lutheran Church on September 13.

His father, Rev. Arthur D. Yunker (emeritus, Mobile, Alabama), was the preacher. Central District President Tom Prachar officiated at the rite of installation. Pastors and people from the Red River Circuit also participated in the service.

(front, l-r) Revs. Brad Schollenberg, Harald Schoubye, Arthur Yunker, Ward Yunker, Glenn Worcester, Cam Schnarr, Richard Beinert, Tom Prachar; (back, l-r) Revs. Assefa Aredo, Todd Hoeffs, Richard Kruesel, Harold Borchardt (photo by Lloyd Plueschow)

“Preach the Word; be

Grace Lutheran Church, Regina

ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

2 Timothy 4:2

Visit the Central District website at www.lcccentral.ca (front, l-r) Revs. James Chimirri-Russell, Randy Kleemola, Donald Koch, David Haberstock, Irwin Pudrycki, Ted Giese, Jeffery Dul; (back, l-r) Revs. Luther Heintz, Bruce Corson, Lowell Dennis, Todd Guggenmos, Clifford Haberstock, John Kreutzwieser, Daryl Solie

R E G I N A - W i t h m u c h j o y, Re v. D a v i d H a b e r s t o c k w a s i n s t a l l e d a s p a s t o r o f G ra c e Evangelical Lutheran Church on Sunday, September 13. Rev. Daryl Solie (Prince of Peace, Regina) presided over the Service of the Word, Rev. Clifford Haberstock

(emeritus, Edmonton) preached, and Circuit Counselor James Chimirri-Russell (Good Shepherd, Regina) officiated at the rite of installation. The afternoon service was followed by a fantastic meal and a warm welcome to Rev. Haberstock and his family.

4 The 2015 26 THECanadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN September/October September/October 2015

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 elaine.stanfel@gmail.com

Next deadline December 16, 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

Lively Lutherans celebrate 25th anniversary play based on the book Growing Up STRATFORD, Ont. - On September Lutheran). The afternoon included 8, Lively Lutherans hosted a 25-year games and a sing-along. Lunch was anniversary celebration bringing served by the Mary Martha group together old and new friends. from St. Peter’s.

In 1990, members from St. Peter’s O rg a n i z e r s t h a n k a l l w h o and St. Matthew’s in Stratford attended the celebration, including and St. Paul’s in Tavistock started Rev. Mayo and Adelma Mellecke Lively Lutherans so retired members who were serving St. Peter’s in 1990. could enjoy Christian fellowship, The Lively Lutherans extend an devotions, entertainment, education, invitation to all retired Lutherans and food. The group still meets on and friends to join them at St. Peter’s, the first Tuesday of the month from Stratford the first Tuesday of each September to June. month at 1:30 p.m. for Christian At the celebration, Hazel Huras, fellowship. one of the original members, took Marlene Alles the group down memory lane. They enjoyed stories about past entertainment and bus trips to such places as Lutherwood, Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, and a theatre in Petrolia to see The Church Christian fellowship for Stratford seniors celebrates 25 years Basement Ladies (a of gatherings

Bring the congregation into the community the name Dashwood was adopted for the town, adding ‘wood’ to the name to reflect the area’s abundant timber and the staple of the town’s economy.

Zion Lutheran Church was formed in 1873. A century later, in 1971, the first Friedsburg Days festival was held to Church members extended their VBS theme into the recognize Dashwood’s community with a Camp Discovery float in the Friedsburg Days community parade.

100th birthday, and a tradition was born. It is now held every five years on Civic DASHWOOD, Ont. - The village Holiday weekend. of Friedsburg—the precursor to The theme of this year’s Friedsburg the current village of Dashwood— Days was “Express Yourself” and was named in 1860 after first Zion Lutheran’s float was created settlers and brothers, Noah and using props from the Camp Discovery Absolem Fried. Eleven years later VBS held the previous five days before the first post office opened, known the August 1 parade. As usual, Rev. as Dash Post Office. Thereafter,

Camping in the Rain

The first annual District Family Camping weekend featured a true tent service with Chaplain Harold Ristau as the rain came down outside.

BELWOOD LAKE, Ont - What’s it like to camp in the pouring rain with a bunch of other Lutherans?

Pretty great actually! That was participants’ general consensus regarding the first annual East District camping weekend which took place in June at Highland Pines Family Campground. There was definitely something for everyone, those in tents, trailers and cabin rentals alike, with ongoing field games and a 24-7 advanced rainbow looming table. When the sun finally did come out, kids especially enjoyed the great splash pad. There was even time for an exciting “international” soccer match. Other highlights included evening vespers and hymn sing around the campfire and a true tent service, due to rain, on Sunday morning, with Matins led

by Chaplain Harold Ristau (CFB Borden).

Thanks to all those who helped out—leading games, stoking the communal fire, and loaning tents and other equipment. Overall, the event was attended by around 50 people from 10 different congregations from all over Southern Ontario.

Wish you had been there? Plan to attend next year!

Elise Ristau

John Trembulak III was the driver for the Zion float.

Doris Osgood

CANADIAN LUTHERANSeptember/October September/October 2015 TheTHE Canadian Lutheran 2015 27 1

East East District News

Ontario, Ontario, Quebec, Quebec, New New Brunswick, Brunswick, Nova Nova Scotia Scotia Ilene Ilene Fortin, Fortin, editor editor

From the president The Quest for Life! hen I lived in St. Louis and was attending Concordia Lutheran Seminary there was a local late night news reporter by the name of Julius Hunter. I remember his name because every night before he signed off, he reported or shared a really “Good News Story.” As he did this every night—and night after night— it reached the point where many people in St. Louis and in the surrounding area (including myself) would eagerly tune in to the station and stay tuned for the entire news report so they would not miss Mr. Hunter’s “Good News Story” at the end of the broadcast.

Several years after leaving St. Louis, my family and I often returned to visit my wife’s parents who lived just across the river in Alton, Illinois. We just happened to be visiting on the night Mr. Hunter gave his final newscast, as he had decided to retire. Watching the newscast that night, I will never forget the questions that Mr. Hunter was asked and the answers that he gave. He was asked if he ever had difficulty finding a “Good News Story” to share at the close of any of his newscasts. His reply? “Never. The good news stories of how people care for others and what people do for others are happening all the time.” And when he was asked the reason why he felt it was necessary to report a “Good News Story” every night, he simply replied that he felt that people also needed to hear a heart-warming good news story, because of the bad news that was reported every evening.

Last night while watching the CTV National News, I thought of Mr. Julius Hunter. Lisa LaFlamme reported that there was something villainous afoot in Edmonton, and the only person who could save the day was a little girl with a super-sized dream.

The little girl was “Spider-Mable.” Six-year-old Mable Tooke is battling crime across the Edmonton area, under the guise of a Spider-Mable alter-ego she adopted in her two-year fight with leukemia.

As Mable nears the end of her cancer treatment, the Children’s Wish Foundation staged a day-long superhero adventure across Edmonton on September 28, with the ultimate goal of rescuing Edmonton Oilers Captain Andrew Ference, who had been “kidnapped”

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2 The September/October 2015 28 THECanadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN September/October 2015

by an evil villain. “Spiderman” was enlisted to guide Spider-Mable on her elaborate quest, and locals were also being asked to assist. Watching the wide grin on Mable’s face and the overwhelming response of thankfulness by Mable’s mother, I must admit that a tear formed in the corner of my eye.

All of us are concerned for the welfare of the human body. Parents do not hesitate to spend their entire fortune or to borrow money if need be to preserve the physical welfare of their children. We become very unselfish when a loved one is sick and is in need of medical care. This is the way it should be. But why is it that we are so concerned about things that can harm the body and yet seem to be so unconcerned about those which harm the soul?

Why is it that so many are only concerned about the physical “quest for life” and at the same time so few are concerned about the spiritual quest for life?

Just think of what God offers us: a journey with Him. The price? Our Lord’s willingness to go to the cross to die there for our sins and His commitment to take our place on the hill of Calvary that we might have eternal life with Him. And the promise that He makes to us is that through the Holy Spirit we can have faith placed into our hearts and journey with Him through this life and into eternity. It is at this point that many of us falter, trying to keep one hand on the things of the world and the other hand in God’s.

As we in this time gather together with family and loved ones over Thanksgiving and rejoice in the Christian heritage that has been handed down to us from the Reformation, we are also able on the one hand to appreciate all of the physical blessings that God has showered down upon us but at the same time be willing to leave everything behind to journey with Him on the spiritual “quest for life” that He places before us? God is our Pilot who enables us to soar above the transient things of earth, through the storms of life, and to the glory on the other side. He is well acquainted with the difficulties along the way, but likewise we can be sure that He can lead us safely to our destination.

Rev. Paul Zabel

East District News News East District

Ontario, Ontario, Quebec, Quebec, New New Brunswick, Brunswick, Nova Nova Scotia Scotia Ilene Ilene Fortin, Fortin, editor editor

Vacation Bible schools Praise God from whom all blessings flow AMHERSTBURG, Ont. - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church’s 2015 VBS could not have taken place without the work of congregation members blessed to have the love of Jesus, who in turn passed His love on to children who may or may not know of His love for them. The children were blessed by the talents of many who helped in various ways: registration, praising God through music, teaching Bible stories, and leading games and crafts. And things were topped off with yummy goodies from the kitchen.

VBS participants having fun, learning, and growing.

Barbara Tracy (Sway)

Jesus at work through us DASHWOOD, Ont. - A total of 105 children enrolled in the Zion Lutheran Church vacation Bible school. The morning VBS ran from July 27-31 under the theme “Jesus at Work through Us.” The mission project for this year was monetary and dry good contributions to the local Blessings Community Food Bank. Norma Grainger from the Food Bank came and spoke to the children about their requirements to assist approximately 62 families per month.

Offerings of $575 were collected and donations managed to fill a van from Blessings of Zurich with a variety of canned goods and paper products. The Friday night program offerings have given a generous start to next year’s VBS. Organizers thank congregation members for their donations of food for the daily snack, parents/grandparents who brought their children, and 36 young and old volunteers who generously gave their time and talents during the week.

Marg Nicholson

Abundant blessings at Camp Discovery BARRIE, Ont. - God showe red His abund ant blessin gs on the Camp Discov ery Vacati on Bible

Group photo with representatives from the Blessings Community Food Bank.

VBS in Barrie

School, held July 13-17 at Loving Saviour Lutheran Church, with 28 enthusiastic volunteers and 81 joyful children. Through music, Bible lessons and verses, crafts, games, and

snacks, the children learned how Jesus works through us as we share the love He first shared with us.

Rev. Dr. Stephen Omoregie

CANADIAN LUTHERANSeptember/October September/October 2015 TheTHE Canadian Lutheran 2015 29 3

East East District News

Ontario, Ontario, Quebec, Quebec, New New Brunswick, Brunswick, Nova Nova Scotia Scotia Ilene Ilene Fortin, Fortin, editor editor

Celebrating 60 years in the ministry Milton for some time. He continued WAT E R L O O, O n t . — to serve Redeemer congregation as Gerald Scholz grew up as a assisting pastor administering the pastor’s kid in Magnetawan, sacraments, leading Bible studies, Ontario, in the 1930s. His preaching and visiting, and as a father, Rev. Richard E. member of the choir.

Scholz, a 1926 Concordia Gerald preached at the Springfield, Illinois graduate, installation of his son, Rev. James served a multi-point parish Scholz when he accepted a call to in the Magnetawan area London, Ontario in October before accepting a call to 2011. Gerald also baptized all Trinity Lutheran Church in but one of his grandchildren, Kurtsville in 1944. It was at later serving as officiate at this church his son, Gerald, Rev. Gerald Scholz and family (sitting several confirmations and met his future bride, Doreen. l-r) Jennifer, Rev. Gerald, Doreen, three of their weddings.

Following in his father’s Carol, (standing l-r) Rev. James, and Paul.

He performed many other footsteps, Gerald entered weddings, baptisms and C o n c o rd i a T h e o l o g i c a l Redeemer Waterloo funerals, as well as taking Seminary in Springfield in 1949. i n 1 9 6 4 a n d wa s preaching engagements for He joined the Seminary Concordia installed on August 9. numerous special services.

Chorus which allowed him the His father also moved R ev. G e r a l d S c h o l z His most recent preaching opportunity to travel around the to Waterloo to retire, a n d f a m i l y – 19 6 4 assignment was for the United States and parts of Canada. and for his remaining ( c o u n t e r c l o c k w i s e installation of his nephew, In his vicarage year, Gerald years, he assisted his from top) Rev. Gerald, Rev. Joel Kuhl, the present married Doreen Kaufman on June Doreen, Jennifer, Carol, son at Redeemer. pastor of Redeemer Lutheran 13, 1953 at his home parish in James, Paul.

During his Church, Waterloo, in April Kurtzville. A month later he and his ministry Gerald was instrumental 2015. He continues to serve as the bride, a Registered Nurse, arrived in in encouraging seven young men Lord directs him.

Toronto to begin Gerald’s vicarage from his congregations to enter the Family and friends thank God under Rev. George W. Bornemann. ministry: Rev. Dr. Scott Murray, the glory for seeing Rev. Gerald In 1954 Gerald returned to Illinois Rev. Dr. Glenn Schaeffer, Rev. James Scholz through 60 years in the to attend his final year of seminary, Scholz, Rev. Ralph Schmidt, Rev. Bill holy ministry. He has been further graduating in 1955 with a Bachelor Stares, Rev. Gary Weber, and Rev. blessed in his marriage with Doreen of Theology degree.

John Rapp. for 62 years, his four children, two His first placement was a dual In 1982, Gerald was called out sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, parish in Duncan and Youbou, of the parish life to serve as District ten grandchildren and five greatB.C. There was no manse and no Executive Director in Kitchener. He grandchildren. church building in which to worship. remained in this position until 1986.

C. Norman Doreen was seven months pregnant.

In 1987, missing congregational Gerald was ordained on August 28, Visit the East District website at life, Gerald accepted a call from Our 1955 at an Anglican church with Saviour Lutheran Church in Niagara three pastors and few guests. Still, he www.lcceastdistrict.ca Falls, LCMS English District, where took the Duncan congregation from he remained until 1994 when he a mission parish to an independent Send news, photos, articles became Pastor Emeritus. congregation, Trinity Evangelical and announcements six weeks Upon his retirement in 1994, Lutheran Church, in 1957. prior to publication month.

Pastor and Mrs. Scholz moved By 1960, Rev. Scholz received a Ilene Fortin, district editor back to Waterloo and still live Divine Call to First Lutheran and East District Office there today. The couple became Redeemer Lutheran churches, in 275 Lawrence Avenue, m e m b e r s a g a i n a t Re d e e m e r Logan and Monkton. The family Kitchener, Ontario N2M 1Y3 Lutheran Church where Rev. Scholz returned from B.C. by train with E-mail: ilene@lcceast.ca had spent so many wonderful three small children to the parsonage Fax: 519-578-3369 years. He was called to be Pastor in Logan where their fourth child Emeritus, this time of Redeemer. was born. Rev. Scholz also served Next deadline: Although officially retired, Gerald Dashwood as vacancy pastor in 1961.

December 16, 2015 also served as vacancy pastor in Pastor Scholz was called to

4 The September/October 2015 30 THECanadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN September/October 2015

Mission Update Nicaraguan clergy study New Testament Greek

Nicaraguan students pose with their copies of the Greek New Testament.

NICARAGUA - Clergy in the Lutheran Church Synod of Nicaragua are preparing for their second course on New Testament Greek, set to take place this coming November.

This year’s course builds on lessons first begun in November 2014. At that time, twenty-five pastors and vicars gathered at the Mission Center in Chinandega to study New Testament Greek for the first time. Rev. Brian Dunlop from Faith Lutheran Church in Desboro, Ontario led the men

Rev. Brian Dunlop teaching Greek in Chinandega, Nicaragua.

through the basics of New Testament Greek over the course of one week.

As the students learned the language, they were encouraged to apply their newfound knowledge in ministering to others. The proper use of Law and Gospel for preaching and teaching was a big emphasis. Each of the pastors and vicars were very proud to receive their own copy of the Greek New Testament for continuing study and use at home—a gift made possible through the donation of many donors

in Canada and the United States.

The class was challenging to teach, Rev. Dunlop noted. He was teaching on Greek while speaking in English.

All the while, a capable and patient translator had to bring his words into Spanish. Despite the challenges, the students eagerly responded to this class with full attendance and insightful questions. One gifted pastor even sang for the class on the last day, using Greek words that he had learned as part of his song.

Ian Adnams elected President of Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada CANADA - The Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada (LLL-Canada) has elected Dr. Ian Adnams of Richmond, British Columbia to serve as its new President.

Dr. Adnams is the Principal Consultant with Adnams Group, a Richmond-based company providing consulting on communications and event management. He served 17 years as Communications Director for Lutheran Church–Canada and as editor of The Canadian Lutheran, during part of which time he also served as LCC’s liaison to the Board of Governors of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League. He recently completed a term as President of the Canadian Church Press, and currently serves on its executive as Past-President.

The 2015 LLL-Canada elections

also saw Calvin Ulmer of Neudorf, Saskatchewan and Ronald Fischer of Stratford, Ontario returned as Directors for another term. PresidentElect Adnams and Directors Ulmer and Fischer will begin their new twoyear terms on October 28, when the Board of Directors meets in Winnipeg.

Stephen Klinck, Managing Director of LLL-Canada expressed thanks to Fred Jarvis of Kelowna, British Columbia who is completing his term of service as President, as well as to those candidates who allowed their names to be included on the ballot but who were not elected.

LCC members are invited to hear an update on LLL-Canada’s ministry and meet the President and Directors at their 2015 Annual Meeting on October 28 at 7:00 p.m. at St. James Lutheran Church in Winnipeg.

Dr. Ian Adnams.

The Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada, also known as Lutheran Hour Ministries Canada, is an auxiliary of Lutheran Church–Canada.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

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Mission Update Help respond to the needs of Syrian refugees

SYRIA - Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) and Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) are calling on Canadian Lutherans to make a donation to support Syrian refugees suffering and displaced by brutal violence in their country.

Donations made between September 12, 2015 and December 31, 2015 will be matched dollar-fordollar by the Canadian government through their Syria Emergency Relief Fund.

How to donate: - O n l i n e a t h t t p : / / c l w r. donorshops.com/product/685132A/ syrianrefugeerelief.php - By phone at 1.800.661.2597 - By mail (cheques should be made out to CLWR and mailed to 600-177 Lombard Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 0W5) - By free-will offering at any LCC congregation in Canada How you can help: CLWR is working with Syrian refugees who have settled in communities in Jordan and Iraq.

Your funds will go where needed most:

- to provide basic aid like clothing, personal hygiene supplies and food vouchers to people most in need of support; - to help refugee children go back to school – funds will help support school & classroom rehabilitations and school supplies; - to provide youth and young adults affected by trauma with psychosocial support programs.

CLWR has been providing support like this in Jordan and Iraq since 2012. This has been made possible through the generous financial support of Lutherans across Canada and the Canadian government.

“Life in Syria grows more dangerous and difficult by the day, due to horrific threats of violence from the civil war and Islamic State (ISIS),” says Robert Granke, Executive Director of Canadian Lutheran World Relief. “Tens of thousands of people continue to leave the country to find safety and a better future for their families.

“As Christians we are called to offer them support and welcome and I urge our supporters to pray, donate and consider refugee sponsorship.”

L i f e i n S y r i a g row s m o re dangerous and difficult by the day, due to horrific threats of violence from the civil war and Islamic State.

As Christians we are called to offer them support and welcome and I urge our supporters to pray, donate and consider refugee sponsorship.

CLWR is partnering with LCC in issuing this appeal to Canadian Lutherans. LCC President Robert Bugbee encourages LCC members to support Syrian refugees.

All donations to registered charities doing work for people affected by the Syrian crisis will be matched up to $100 million. The funds will be allocated to established Canadian and international humanitarian organizations, like CLWR, by The Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.

Motivated by Christ’s love, CLWR and LCC work in effective partnership to improve day-to-day life and provide opportunity for longterm sustainability in communities around the globe. Within Canada, CLWR assists Lutheran communities engaged in refugee sponsorship.

For those interested in learning more about refugee sponsorship, please contact Fikre Tsehai, CLWR’s Development Manager for Refugee Resettlement, at 1-888-588-6686, or Jennifer Ardon, CLWR’s Project Officer for Refugee Resettlement, at 1-888255-0150. Or visit CLWR’s website at www.clwr.org/refugeeresettlement.

GARY R. SCHMIDT President

519.570.3280 1.888.870.TUNE 519.579.7615 grschmidt@bellnet.ca www.schmidtpianoandorgan.com

32

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

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Education Report New school year underway at LCC’s two seminaries

CLS faculty and students at the opening of the school year (Dr. Hellwege had not yet arrived in Edmonton).

CA N A DA - C l a s s e s a re we l l underway at Lutheran Church– Canada’s two seminaries, and enrollment is up.

An opening service was held at Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) in Edmonton on September 8, with President James Gimbel preaching.

Several weeks later, on September 21, CLS formally installed Rev. Dr. John Hellwege as the seminary’s newest faculty member. LCC’s First Vice President Nolan Astley was on hand for the service to preach. These events, and others, are available to watch online from CLS’ YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/channel/ UCKPwD2UTgNtTNS4mR3dbxXA. This year, CLS welcomes four new first-year students to the seminary, alongside four secondyear students, one advancedstanding student (who is now on the M.Div. track after initially seeking colloquy), one international student, and one returning vicar, for a total of eleven active students enrolled this year.

Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) in St. Catharines, Ontario held its official opening of the academic year on September 14, in an event that also celebrated the recently published commentary on Ephesians by CLTS President Thomas Winger. The one-day symposium was organized under the title “‘You Then, My Son’ – Pastoral Perspectives on Paul,” and included

CLTS faculty and students during the school year’s opening retreat (a number of students were unable to attend that day).

presentations from President Winger, Rev. Warren Hamp (Faith Lutheran, Kitchener, Ontario), Dr. Stephen Westerholm (Professor of Religious Studies, McMaster University), and Rev. Esko Murto (Visiting S c h o l a r , C LT S ) .

These lectures area available to watch Rev. Alvin and Jean Borchardt with Dr. Winger. o n l i n e a t C LT S ’ Yo u T u b e c h a n n e l : w w w. yo u t u b e. com/channel/ UCjM7u8fTj_383 UNgRBYLHcw. The seminary also awarded its Emeritus Crucis (“Veteran of the Cross”) award during the day, as is traditional for CLTS’ opening service. Rev. Alvin Borchardt received the Emeritus Rev. Dr. Hellwege (front) with the pastors taking part in his C r u c i s a w a r d i n installation. recognition of more for a total of fifteen currently than 50 years of parish ministry, the active students. The seminary also majority of it in the Central District. anticipates three new students CLTS is welcoming three firstarriving in January: one M.Div. and year students this year and three pre2 M.T.S. students. seminary students, in addition to one third-year student, three vicars, one pastoral colloquy student, and four students in the Master of Theological Studies program, THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

33

Education Report Concordia Lutheran Seminary library reopens following 2014 fire EDMONTON - As students returned to Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) in Edmonton for a new semester, they did so knowing that an important educational resource— the library—was once again ready to assist them in their studies.

In November 2014, the seminary was the victim of arson in its library basement. While the fire resulted in very little structural damage to the seminary building, the library itself suffered significant smoke and soot damage. Carpet, lighting, ceiling tiles, and some shelving and furnishings needed to be replaced. And while most of the library’s collections were salvageable, they needed a heavy ozone treatment to restore the collection.

Seminary classes continued offsite until later that month when much of the building was reopened for use.

But the library itself has remained closed until well into 2015.

“The reconstruction process following the fire on November 12 took a long time,” notes CLS Academic Dean Stephen L. Chambers.

“Both floors of the library were gutted of all furnishings and fixtures. The electrical system was thoroughly upgraded, drywall was repaired and painted, The CLS library shortly before reopening this past Fall. new carpet was staff and for students.” installed, and finally the shelving was Those visiting the library will re-installed in a way that preserved its also benefit from the experience of storage capacity while also creating new library technician Anna Yang, more study space for students. New who began service at the seminary in desks, tables, and chairs– including mid-July. “Her experience at another comfortable armchairs– were Christian school equips her well for the purchased. Dedicated catalogue challenges that opening the seminary’s search stations have been provided. ‘brand new’ library will present,” says Even the traffic flows within the Dr. Chambers. library have been improved, both for

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

LAMPlighter

The

VOLUME 47 NO. 2 SEPTEMBER 2015

A full first season

By Dennis Ouellette, LAMP Pastor/Pilot

M

y first VBS season arrived very quickly

and went by even faster after arriving in Thompson, Manitoba for the summer. The weeks and months of planning…the myriad of phone calls and emails to teams and communities to make arrangements for all the VBS weeks continued right up until teams started to arrive in the communities. I flew into several communities to visit with the leadership and the people who were our contacts to help facilitate the VBS week ahead of the team arriving.

Along with all the activities were prayers for teams to be prepared to serve their specific community and its needs, for safe travel, and that the Lord would bless their work for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus.

Then the VBS teams started to come north. Meeting the teams and seeing them interact with each other and especially with the children was truly inspiring. The love, care, and commitment they all displayed

was evident. Children remembered team members from the previous year of VBS. Excitement and hugs were everywhere.

And even as a new face, the hugs and smiles were just as plentiful for me as well (not to mention a fascination with having no hair on my head!)

But a great blessing is the open hearts of the children receptive to hearing God’s Word.

At one VBS during craft time, a handful of girls spontaneously started singing “Jesus Loves Me.” It is those moments which inspire the team and me to trust that God’s Word and Holy Spirit are working among the children and people in the dozens of First Nations communities in northern Manitoba and Ontario.

As my first season of a LAMP pastor/ pilot draws to a close, I’m humbled to be part of this incredible ministry and encouraged by the work the teams are doing in the communities and the lives they are touching to bring the Good News of Jesus to these far off places in northern Canada.

www.lampministry.org

Hope! – an Advent devotion

By Pastor Andy Kahle, LAMP Field Missionary, B.C. “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; He will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’”

Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NIV)

T

his past summer I met a young father

at VBS in New Hazelton, B.C. One day we were chatting about fishing and he said he had some salmon he wanted to give the team. We got into the car and headed to his village to pick it up. It wasn’t long into our journey before he started to share his life with me. He said he was so grateful for the life he

now lived, especially for his daughter and wife of 10 years. It was because of them he had hope for the future. And then he said: “without Jesus I would not have any hope at all.”

In the verses above, God gave a refreshing promise to Jeremiah and to all people to hear. There will be a time when people can be hopeful again, a time when their sins would be completely forgiven. This would happen when a lowly babe would enter this world. He would come and make the perfect sacrifice for all people. Jeremiah said that the kingdom of God would be known as “The Lord is our Righteousness.” That righteousness is the babe of Bethlehem, the Savior Jesus. His death has done away with your sin and His resurrection has given you life. The Lord Jesus,

Enclosed is my gift of $___________ to help share the gift of Jesus with people in the North.

OR donate online at www.lampministry.org Please send me information on:

o I want to help support a LAMP

o o o o

missionary pilot

Mail us at: LAMP

4966-92 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB T6B 2V4 Phone: (780) 466-8507 or 1-800-307-4036 Fax (780) 466-6733

The Prayer Partner Program The Volunteer Program Fueling the Mission for Children I am interested in knowing how to impact the next generation through Legacy Giving

Name Address E-mail

36

who came to give you hope for today promises to come again to give the greatest hope ever— eternal life, in the future!

We praise You, O God, for the season of Advent that prepares us for Christ coming again. Fill us with the hope that comes from You that we may be lights shining in the darkness of our world. By the power of the Holy Spirit prepare our hearts to welcome Him with hope. We ask this through Christ our Lord whose coming is certain. Amen.

Advent devotions such as this are available by daily email upon request: www. lampministry.org/advent

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

The

LAMPlighter

To the ends of the earth and all nations

By Pastor Brad Schollenberg, Peace Lutheran Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba

T

he trouble with some of

the remote places in our country is they are hard to get to—no roads and few, if any, flight options. So do we go? Jesus told us to go and make disciples of “all nations” (Matt. 28:19) including First Nations. And He told us where to go—“to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8), including hard to get to places in our own country and continent. We have no choice.

If we claim to be followers of Jesus then we have been commissioned to go.

LAMP’s mission is to equip and send mission teams to over 60 remote northern communities in Canada.

A group of 12 from Peace Lutheran Church in Winnipeg flew to the community of Sachigo Lake, Ontario, this August to bring the good news

This past year the people of salvation through Jesus Christ of Sachigo were able to start a to the people there. They led Sunday school program with a VBS program for about 40 our support and the children children, led a worship service, each received a Bible. The seed sang and shared personal faith of God’s Word was planted. stories on the radio, held a It has started to grow. Faith is community potluck, and built evident and hope is starting relationships with a community that sometimes feels the God cares. He bids us to take care of “the widows rest of the world just and orphans” (James 1:27), those whom the rest doesn’t care.

God cares. He bids us of the world may care less about. to blossom, and a people who to take care of “the widows and sometimes feel caught between orphans” (James 1:27), those a rock and a hard place are whom the rest of the world beginning to see hope. may care less about. God cares, Please pray for the good and He wants them in heaven people of our country who live with Him--people from “every in remote places and the efforts nation, tribe, people, and being made to bring the Gospel language” (Rev. 7:9). His will. to them. After you pray, listen, It’s clear and it’s in the book. and you will likely hear God So we go, and it doesn’t calling you to bring the Gospel matter how remote the place “to all nations” and “to the is, or how hard it is to get to, ends of the earth.” After you or how difficult it is to reach pray and listen, then act. What people. We go, because God will you do? sends us.

Cat Lake – a recap

By Dave Rustad, Volunteer Missionary “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”

-- Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

G

od is at work, building His church and refreshing

His people. The eight of us from Bethel Lutheran Church, St. Paul, Minn., saw this up close in our visit to Cat Lake, Ont., July 25-31. From a child running down the street saying, “I want to go to that ‘Jesus thing,’”(Bible school games), to a child telling his

shoomis (grandpa) that Jesus is the good shepherd and we are His sheep,” it was clear that God had come before us to prepare the hearts of His beloved Cat Lake villagers to hear and respond to His message.

Even in our “chance”interactions with villagers, it was clear that God was at work, stirring questions among those not yet His own and connecting us with our brothers and sisters in Christ for mutual encouragement and worship. And a pointedly confrontational conversation

with an individual defending pagan worship was used by God to allow us to demonstrate the love and care we have for each individual in Christ.

How grateful we are for the opportunity to visit Cat Lake and see God being exalted.

Mission Trip Opportunities A mission trip with LAMP will change your life, as you see God working in you, around you, and through you.

Consider if God is calling you and a team from your church to serve in this special ministry. For more information, see lampministry.org/volunteer.

LAMP Mission Statement

LAMP is a cross-cultural ministry sharing Jesus Christ with God’s people in remote areas of Canada.

4966-92 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6B 2V4 Box 480167, New Haven, MI 48048 tel 800-307-4036 x fax 780-466-6733

Donations can be made at our website

www.lampministry.org

L.A.M.P. - Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots Inc. is a member of

Individual gifts are acknowledged with an official receipt for income tax purposes, and are tax deductible as allowed by law. Each gift designated toward a board-approved program will be used as designated, with the understanding that when any given need has been met, designated gifts will be used where needed most.

38

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

In Review: Black Mass

by Ted Giese

S

et in South Boston, Black Mass details the criminal exploits of James Joseph “Whitey” Bulger, the Winter Hill Gang, and their entanglement with the FBI. More than a bio-pic, Black Mass deals with broader themes of truth and lies, secrets, and raw ambition.

While “Whitey” Bulger is the central character, the film is just as much about FBI Special Agent John Connolly a childhood acquaintance of Bulger’s from Boston’s “Southie” neighbourhood. Wrapped up in Connolly’s childhood admiration for “Whitey” Bulger is a misplaced sense of Irish-neighbourhood loyalty which blinds his personal judgment. Near the beginning of the film Connolly comments that children of Southie graduate from playing cops and robbers on the playground to playing cops and robbers as adults in the streets.

Black Mass assumes its audience knows something about the conclusion of the story it’s telling—that Bulger lived life on the lam for 16 years and was eventually arrested in 2011, tried, and punished for his crimes. Director Scott Cooper provides no traditional first act childhood playground scenes between Bulger and Connolly but rather starts in the middle of the story.

If Black Mass was a traditional biopic it would include a backstory and have a third act focusing on Bulger’s life as a fugitive. It doesn’t. Cooper is clearly less interested in these parts of Bulger’s story, instead choosing to give audiences a double character study of Bulger and Connolly.

Bulger, a small-time crook with a small-time gang, becomes a bigtime crime boss in Southie after turning FBI informant, essentially exchanging information about the Italian Mafia for protection. Special Agent Connolly—and by extension the rest of the FBI—cover up Bulger’s criminal activity, paving the way for the Winter Hill Gang and Bulger to become major players in Boston’s organized crime world of 1970s and 80s. Connolly, also ambitious and

hungry for advancement, is willing to bend and break FBI and federal rules, regulations, and laws to bring the Italian Mafia to justice.

Everything Hidden will be Uncovered Much of the movie is Connolly ‘playing’ Bulger and vice-versa in a high-stakes game of cops and robbers where both push their luck and try to hide the truth from each other, their families, and the world. Christian viewers will appreciate the fact that secrets cannot be hidden forever: “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be

known and come to light” (Luke 8:17).

Bulger’s ascent to crime-boss status is criss-crossed with Connolly’s descent into corruption.

FBI Special Agent Connolly would have been better served in life had he taken the advice of St. Paul to the Ephesians where he writes “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). He and Bulger operate with the notion that their activities can remain hidden, or at least be hidden after the fact, and that the ends justify the means. In a

pivotal scene highlighting this idea Bulger has a dinner-table conversation with his six-year-old son Douglas. He and his wife talk with Douglas about an incident at school in which he found himself in trouble after he’d hit another boy. Bulger asks his son if he knew why he’d ended up in trouble.

Douglas answers “Because I hit him.”

But Bulger responds, saying that he’d actually gotten into trouble because there were witnesses—“If nobody sees it,” he advises, “it didn’t happen.”

Christian viewers then want to consider this question: Is it possible to do something and have no witnesses?

Cain killed his brother Abel, and God asked Cain, “What have you done?

The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10). God is all-seeing and omniscient; He knows the hearts of all the children of humankind (1 Kings 8:39). Even if there are no obvious witnesses, Christians know God is witness to the thoughts, words, and deeds of all people.

Yet crime can appear to go unpunished. Still, “No creature is hidden from [God’s] sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). The Winter Hill Gang had a favourite place where they buried the bodies of their murder victims, and one of the gang members who was turning state’s evidence against Bulger expressed surprise that the FBI didn’t know about the gang’s ‘cemetery’ when it was such a poorlykept secret in Southie.

Bulger took secrecy very seriously; it was a matter of life and death as he went about his criminal activities.

In another dinner-table scene, this one at Connolly’s family home, this seriousness is played out as Bulger jokingly presses an FBI agent about a ‘secret’ family steak sauce recipe. From playful banter Bulger turns grim saying to the increasingly uncomfortable agent, “You said to me this is a family secret, and you gave it up to me, boom, just like that. You spill the secret family recipe today, maybe you spill a little something about me tomorrow?”

The dramatic tension in this scene,

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

39

In Review (cont.) and in the entire film, leaves viewers wondering when and how Connolly and Bulger will trip up—when and how they will be found out—when and how their secrets will be revealed.

Black Mass gives some solid p e r f o r m a n c e s . J o h n ny D e p p in particular turns in a complex, nuanced, and surprisingly restrained performance as “Whitey” Bulger.

With its MPAA R rating this movie is not going to be for all viewers; Black Mass is liberally peppered with harsh language and brutal violence.

There is nothing particularly uplifting about the film, neither is there anything glamorous about it. Black Mass is appropriately cold and dark given its subject matter. At its core, this is a film that exhibits the nature and consequences of sin.

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.

Announcements

Announcements

Rev. Samuel Masih of Etobicoke, Ontario, has submitted an application to the Pastoral Colloquy Program of Lutheran Church–Canada.

Communications reg arding this applications 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 lcc.colloquy@ gmail.com.

Concordia Lutheran Seminary’s faculty and Board of Regents in Edmonton invite individuals, congregations, and Boards of Lutheran Church–Canada to submit the names of persons to be considered for one of the seminary’s honorary degrees and awards.

Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario will be calling a Professor of Theology to take up office in July 2016. The candidate must be an ordained pastor of Lutheran Church­– Canada or a church in fellowship with her. The preferred candidate will have: a strong commitment to sound, confessional Lutheran theology; significant parish and/or mission experience; an earned doctorate; a specialty in Dogmatics or Old Testament; experience and/or understanding of the Canadian context; interdisciplinary teaching capability; research and writing competence; and a collegial personality and attitude.

Interested candidates are asked to submit their curriculum vitae by 31 December 2015 via e-mail (twinger@ brocku.ca) or post to: President Thomas Winger Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary 470 Glenridge Ave St. Catharines, ON L2T 4C3 Canada

The pur pose of these honorar y degrees and awards is to acknowledge outstanding service to the church, the seminary, and the community. Available degrees are: Doctor of Laws (LL.D), Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.), Doctor of Divinity (D.D.). Available awards are: Faith in Life, Friend of the Seminary, Doulos Dia Iesoun. A description of the awards and degrees and the forms required for each are available at www.concordiasem.ab.ca. Desirable qualifications for each position are listed on each nomination form.

Completed forms must be received

by January 1, 2016, for consideration.

Degrees and awards will be presented at the seminary’s Sacred Convocation on May 26, 2016.

Contact: Prof. Jonathan Kraemer, faculty secretary Concordia Lutheran Seminary 7040 Ada Blvd.

Edmonton, AB T5B 4E3 Fax 780.479.3067 Email jkraemer@concordiasem. ab.ca

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40

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

Daily Bible Reading

I hope in Your Words...

I

n this issue’s readings we come to the Psalms, often called the prayer book of the Bible. Many of the Psalms reflect on the place God’s Word plays in the believer’s life. Psalm 119 in particular reflects at length on the Scriptures. One verse from this Psalm is especially well-known: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). The Words of God are a comfort to the faithful, even in the midst of sorrow. Is it any wonder that the Psalmist meditates on them day and night?

Find earlier readings in previous issue of The Canadian Lutheran, o r d ow n l o a d t h e m a t w w w. canadianlutheran.ca/biblereading/.

“How necessary it is to read the letters of God—that is, the Holy Scriptures—three, four, ten, a hundred, a thousand, and many thousand times.”

- Martin Luther

WEEK 43  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Jb 15:1–17:16 Jb 18:1–19:29 Jb 20:1–21:34 Jb 22:1–24:25 Jb 25:1–28:28 Jb 29:1–31:40

WEEK 47  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Ps 83:1–89:52 Ps 90:1–95:11 Ps 96:1–101:8 Ps 102:1–106:48 Ps 107:1–113:9 Ps 114:1–118:29

WEEK 51  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Pr 22:1–23:35 Pr 24:1–25:28 Pr 26:1–27:27 Pr 28:1–29:27 Pr 30:1–31:31 Ec 1:1–2:26

WEEK 44  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Jb 32:1–34:37 Jb 35:1–37:24 Jb 38:1–41:34 Jb 42:1–17 Ps 1:1–6:10 Ps 7:1–11:7

WEEK 48  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Ps 119:1–176 Ps 120:1–125:5 Ps 126:1–134:3 Ps 135:1–137:9 Ps 138:1–143:12 Ps 144:1–150:6

WEEK 52  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Ec 3:1–4:16 Ec 5:1–6:12 Ec 7:1–8:17 Ec 9:1–10:20 Ec 11:1–12:14 Sg 1:1–3:11

WEEK 45  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Ps 12:1–17:15 Ps 18:1–22:31 Ps 23:1–28:9 Ps 29:1–34:22 Ps 35:1–41:13 Ps 42:1–47:9

WEEK 49  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Pr 1:1–3:35 Pr 4:1–27 Pr 5:1–6:35 Pr 7:1–27 Pr 8:1–36 Pr 9:1–18

WEEK 53  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Sg 4:1–6:13 Sg 7:1–8:14 Is 1:1–2:22 Is 3:1–4:6 Is 5:1–30 Is 6:1–13

WEEK 46  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Ps 48:1–53:6 Ps 54:1–60:12 Ps 61:1–66:20 Ps 67:1–72:20 Ps 73:1–77:20 Ps 78:1–82:8

WEEK 50  Mon Pr 10:1–11:31  Tues Pr12:1–13:25  Wed Pr 14:1–15:33  Thurs Pr 16:1–17:28  Fri Pr 18:1–19:29  Sat Pr 20:1–21:31

WEEK 54  Mon  Tues  Wed  Thurs  Fri  Sat

Is 7:1–8:22 Is 9:1–10:34 Is 11:1–12:6 Is 13:1–20:6 Is 21:1–23:18 Is 24:1–25:12

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 September/October 2015

41

Presidential Perspective

The Reformation lived and prayed President Robert Bugbee

L

utherans everywhere are gearing up to mark the 500th anniversary of that day—October 31, 1517— when a little-known monk, teaching at a fledgling university at the edge of nowhere, set events in motion which radically changed the established church. Some people lament the Reformation, because it introduced a division in Christendom from which the church has never fully recovered.

Others feel moved to celebrate, because they see in it the Lord’s hand in uncovering again the heartbeat of the Gospel, that God sent His Christ to die for fallen humankind and now offers pardon for every wrong you ever did in the shed blood of Jesus as you come to Him in penitent trust.

I may as well admit I think this anniversary—coming in two years— is well worth celebrating. Yes, I feel sorrow at the sad divisions in Christianity and believe we ought to seek to overcome them as far as that can be done on the basis of God’s Word. But the liberating good news of Christ, crucified and raised again, was sorely needed in church and world five centuries ago. That has not changed.

We have good reason to rejoice, give thanks and reflect on the priceless treasure transmitted to us by Luther and his colleagues from those days.

We’ll miss the mark if the celebrating is only a matter of thinking about the past, reviewing historical details, and supposing we have reason to be proud people because of the precious stuff we have stored away in our family “heirloom chest.” Above all, we can kneel and thank the Lord that He caused the light of Christ to burn brightly through the Reformation, because we are sinners who stood

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in rebellion against God and did not deserve His kindness any more than anybody else. To say it another way, Luther’s Reformation must not only be observed, researched, and debated.

The Reformation ought to be lived and prayed.

This is surely one reason Martin Luther had such an impact. He was indeed a learned man. He produced writings on nearly every area of sacred theology that would cover countless linear feet on our bookshelves. Even more, he was not some “egghead” who researched and speculated for academic reasons alone. He touched people of every conceivable sort—farmers, merchants, rulers, milkmaids—because his words burned with an urgency that sought to bring their Saviour close to them. He was a God-fearer.

A friend of mine once called his Small Catechism “the most radical social document ever written.” If its teaching were deeply pondered by Christian people, made the subject of their prayers to the Lord, and then lived out, it would transform marriages, family relationships, business dealings, and community life, despite our weakness and stumbling. Of course, one can decide to just bottle it up, store it on a shelf, and only grab it as a reference work to win an argument or pass a test in confirmation class. But the Reformation is at its best when not merely remembered or referred to.

The Reformation is meant to be lived and prayed.

The Small Catechism can help you with that, starting with its section on “Daily Prayers.” Luther gave this guidance to Christians on how they might begin the day. “In the morning

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN September/October 2015

when you get up,” he wrote, “make the sign of the holy cross and say, ‘In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.’”

When the alarm rings, my thoughts are sometimes dark, the new day very unwelcome, especially if I didn’t sleep well or am burdened by work, family tension or stubborn problems. It’s a great thing to draw the cross over my own weak body, recognizing that I— personally!—am covered over by the blood Jesus shed and the death He died there. It’s a relief to be reminded once more that I do not move into this day alone. I do it, covered by the cross of Christ, carrying with me the saving Name into which I was baptized. This does not make the burdens magically evaporate. It can, however, make them bearable, since I tackle them with the loving help of the One Who died for me and is on my side, as St. Paul said (Romans 8:31).

Then follows that sweet morning prayer that begins by thanking the Lord for the care that got me through the hours while I slept and could not defend myself. Before I ever opened my eyes, heaven’s Father kept busy giving me reasons for thanksgiving and hope.

The prayer builds on that launching pad. It trusts God to guard me from falling into sin and to take good care of my body, my soul, and everything else that concerns me. The prayer grows out of the good news of Christ, Who more than anything wants to be your Rescuer and Comfort.

I ask God to give all of us a celebration that moves along these lines. I say it again: The Reformation is at its best when not merely remembered or referred to. The Reformation ought to be lived and prayed.

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