The Canadian Lutheran November/December 2019

The

CANADIAN

LUTHERAN www.canadianlutheran.ca

Volume 34 Number 6 - November/December 2019

The Greatest Gift

Gifts from the Heart 2019–2020 GIFT CATALOGUE

Your gifts have the power to change lives this Christmas! Watch for your copy of our new 2019-2020 Gifts from the Heart catalogue or visit www.clwr.org/GFTH

www.clwr.org/GFTH | 1.800.661.2597

Contents Features www.canadianlutheran.ca Volume 34 Number 6

November/December 2019

One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church:

Going Out of Business?

‘Tis the Season: A Time for Giving, a Time for Children If the Lord Wills: A Report on Synodical Planning

6 8 11

Departments ‘Tis the Season - Page 8

Table Talk

Christmas Presence

5

Presidential Perspective

God in a Box

42

News Sections International News

12

New General Secretary for the International Lutheran Council • Lutherans in Ukraine hold convention, reelect Bishop Yurchenko • Ingrian Lutherans in Russia elect new bishop • Confessional Lutherans and Anglicans take talks global • An outsider visits a Lutheran church

National News

The Canadian Lutheran 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: Marlene Mohr Subscriptions: $20/yr E-mail: editor@lutheranchurch.ca

16

Lutheran Church–Canada financial update • LCC names new Communications Director • 2021 NYG Committee meets in Winnipeg • LLL-Canada elects new board members • LFLC holds joint event with EDLYA, considers Christian response to end of life issues

West Region Celebrating God’s goodness in Valleyview • Campus ministry fifth anniversary • 32nd Annual ABC District Ball Tournament

Central Region

23

Closing service for Holy Cross, Saskatoon • Roaring summer of activities • 100 Years of Blessings • Church Workers’ Conference

East Region 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: 204-897-4319 E-mail: editor@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. ©2019 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.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

19

27

Confirmation camp • 145 Anniversary • EDLYA: A year in review • Rev. Paul Zabel retires • Pastors’ Wives retreat th

Mission News

31

Transition for LAMP missionary • Continuing Education in Nicaragua

Education News

32

ILC World Seminaries Conference meets in Philippines Classifieds and Transitions

41

In Memorium

37

2019 Index

38

Supplement

33

MEDIA in Mission

News from Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada and Lutheran Hour Ministries www.LLL.ca

Partnering with You in HIS mission

2019

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019 Exciting new ventures at LLL Canada “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

3

Trial and Appellate Counsel – Commercial Litigation Garfinkle | Biderman LLP

Jeffrey A.L. Kriwetz

801-1 Adelaide Street East, Toronto, ON M5C 2V9

ADVERTISE HERE! Partner

416.869.7618 jkriwetz@garfinkle.com

Tel 416.869.1234 Fax 416.869.0547 www.garfinkle.com

The Canadian Lutheran sells advertising space to help offset the cost of printing and shipping the magazine to congregations and subscribers.

To purchase classified space, or to receive a rate card for other advertising opportunities with The Canadian Lutheran, please email admin@lutheranchurch.ca or call 1-800-588-4226.

LCC’s Mission Work Support LCC’s missions through online giving at www.lutheranchurch.ca or by mail at: LUTHERAN CHURCH–CANADA 3074 PORTAGE AVENUE WINNIPEG, MB R3K 0Y2

Reward yourself by planning ahead!

Luther Place Unity Adult condominiums in Unity, Saskatchewan from

$91,650*

Offering care-free independent Christian community lifestyle with a touch of country.

Remember Lutheran Church–Canada in your will. www.lutheranfoundation.ca

Independent living at Luther Place features a library, hair salon, garden plots, building security system, underground parking, community operated courtesy car plus taxi service.

For information on Unity check out www.townofunity.com

Call: 306-228-3884 Fax: 306-228-3885 E-mail: lutherplaceunity@sasktel.net *monthly condo fees starting at $436.73 Buy back policy in effect

4

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

Table Talk

Christmas Presence

by Mathew Block

T

he Christmas story as it appears in St. John’s Gospel is not the version with which we are most familiar. There are no mentions here of Mary and Joseph, no angels singing to shepherds in the fields, no baby being wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.

Instead, St. John begins his account of Christmas from a much larger perspective, focusing not on the historical specifics of the birth of Jesus but rather who Jesus is and what He has come to accomplish.

“In the beginning was the Word,” we read, “and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). This Word—this Jesus— is God, St. John tells us in no uncertain terms. He is the Creator of all things, and thus infinitely above us.

But He doesn’t stay far off. No, He steps down to dwell among us (1:14).

He takes upon Himself our flesh and is made man; the Light of God deigns to enter into our darkness (1:8).

Why? To bring you, through Himself, into the presence of God. “No one has ever seen God,” St. John writes, but “the only God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known” (John 1:18). The Son of God comes that we might know God—and in knowing Him find life.

The English Standard Version’s translation here is unfortunately anemic; the phrase “at the Father’s side” fails to capture the intimacy of Jesus’ relationship with the Father.

The King James Version (and several others) render this better as “in the bosom of the Father.” The picture is one of Jesus pressed to the breast of His Father—an embrace of deep and familiar love.

It is just this sort of relationship that the Son of God has come to make possible for sinful humanity—a gift received by faith in Him. “To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God,” St. John writes (1:12). Everyone who trusts in Christ becomes, like Him, a child of God. And just as the Son of God is embraced by His Father—caught up to His breast in an embrace of love—so too we who have become children of God are caught up into the Father’s heart.

Time and again throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus makes it clear that He has come to invite us into this new relationship—to be the conduit through which we come to know God and His love aright. “Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me,” Jesus says. “Not that anyone has seen the Father except He who is from God; He has seen the Father” (6:45-46). And again: “Whoever believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And whoever sees Me sees Him who sent Me” (12:44-45). Through relationship with Christ, then, we are brought into the presence of God. We look up into His face to find it brimming over with love.

We see the depths of that love vividly at Golgotha three decades after the birth of Christ. There the great God of all creation debases Himself for us. He lays not in the lowliness of a manger but rather upon the cruel wood of a cross.

He bears not merely the lowliness of mortal flesh but rather also the sins of the entire world. He is crucified. The light shining in the darkness gives one last flash—“It is

finished!”—and the flame seems to flicker out.

But the presence of God has not departed. Three days later, Christ rises from the dead, the Son of God still bearing the flesh and blood He first took up in the Incarnation. And through His glorious resurrection, He assures us of life eternal in Him— life forever in the presence of the God who is Love.

“Yet a little while and the world will see Me no more,” Jesus explained to the disciples in advance of His Passion; “But,” He promises, “you will see Me” (14:19). Christ’s death would not spell the end of humanity’s new connection to God. Instead, it would be the very thing which makes that relationship possible at all. “Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in Me, and I in you” (14:19-20).

“You in Me, and I in you.” These are beautiful words. Through faith in Christ, we are truly “in Him” and He is “in us.” And if we are in Him, then wherever He is we are there also. The Son of God, embraced to the bosom of His Father, takes us with Him and places us there also upon the heart of God. Because you are in Christ, God is ever near to you in love and in mercy.

May the presence of God grant you great peace this Christmas season, as we celebrate the coming of Christ in the Incarnation and look forward in hope to His return. For He has promised us: “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (14:2-3).

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

5

One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church Going out of business?

by Harold Ristau

W

ith the decline of people in the pew, I have increasingly noticed in the smaller congregations that I visit a more “selective” passing of the offering plate along the pews after the sermon. Instead of passing it from one lap to the next, I have witnessed ushers only targeting those that they recognize as givers, while trying not to disturb those that they believe are unlikely to place something into the plate: either because they are children, the spouse of a giver, they give electronically, are a first time visitor, or for some other reason.

This kind of practice may make sense if we see the offering plate as a “collection plate,” as many protestants do. For many, the intent of passing the plate, bag, or bucket around the pews, chairs or bleachers is to collect money from the people who, best case scenario, are so grateful for the sermon that they naturally want to ensure that this preaching continues—like opting to give money to your favourite charity. But the passing of the offering plate (notice that I didn’t say “collection plate”) is better viewed as a wonderful liturgical act rich with meaning, than as an opportunity to get money from people.

Giving God His Own

In the Old Testament, while the offerings were used to support the priests, Levites and the poor, their primary purpose was as a sign that acknowledged all good things came from God. It is particularly appropriate for us to have the offering in our services take place after hearing His Gospel proclaimed in the sermon. In some sense, it is a symbol of us giving back to God out of gratitude for what He has given to us. After all, nothing we own belongs to us. It is all God’s and just “on loan” to us. We sing “We give thee but thine own, Whate’er these gifts may be; All that we have is Thine alone, A Trust, O Lord, from Thee” (LSB 781).

6

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

In other words, God doesn’t need our money! It’s already His—all of it. We actually give to a church that doesn’t need it. Instead He desires that we give, not because He benefits from it, but because we do. In that sense, you could say the offering plate is a worthwhile act to pass to each individual, even if it comes back empty. It symbolizes us putting our very selves into the plate, and no amount of money that we give can do the image justice. By contrast, the direct deposit route—where believers ensure that the pre-authorized “tithe” is automatically shaved off the monthly work cheque—can sometimes be misconstrued as if we are paying our “membership fees” to the church club.

I recall as a pastor in an inner-city church, how some of the attendees who struggled with mental health issues and financial poverty would sometimes place household objects in the offering plate, such as old jewellery. Although it was hard not to snicker, these guests offered a very good illustration of the point.

When the widow brings her two pennies, which are of very little practical good (what good can two pennies do in the operation of the Temple!), Jesus praises her for her sincerity, innocence, and humility. She gave one hundred per cent of what she had. She gave herself back to God. So the question isn’t about what amount of money one is willing to give up, but who has faith and who doesn’t.

The offering plate doesn’t “collect” stuff from us that God doesn’t already have. Or, if it does, it does so in this sense: it “offers” back to God the only thing that He doesn’t have but wishes to possess: our sin. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). This is why in LSB setting three, after hearing the sermon, we sing Psalm 51 as the “Offertory” (“Create in me a clean heart, O God”)—before we pass the plates. We give Him

ourselves in response to Him giving us Himself. What a surprising but blessed exchange!

asked.” Do you really think He would accuse us of trusting Him too much or chastising our generousness?

The Church is Not a Business

God has a Plan

When we understand the purpose of the offering in this biblical manner, we find ourselves repenting of viewing His church as a corporation, business, or even bank, in which God functions as the CEO. A lot of Christians go into panic mode when they look at their church’s “financial situation.” When there is not a lot of money in the bank, church members don’t like to “dip into their savings” and feel the need instead to “save up for a rainy day.” I believe that every Christian knows that this attitude expresses a lack of faith, although we try to convince ourselves that to think otherwise is irresponsible. After all, the world doesn’t work that way. What kind of company doesn’t save up?

The answer is God’s! The church is in no other business than giving, by the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus’ death for us on the cross. And an empty bank account means that the congregation is doing what Jesus wants them to do: supporting the pastor and his family, spreading the Gospel through missions, and feeding the poor. Financially stable congregations can sin in the same way, when they believe that their financial health can be attributed to their great planning as opposed to God’s grace.

For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

Our obsession with saving can often arise from simply not trusting. And saving is definitely not from faith when God says spend! Thus, God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). In a sense, to hold back the financial offerings given to the church by believers with the intent to do certain things like supporting clergy salaries, outreach, and good works in the neighbourhood and around the world, is a sin against the seventh commandment. Yes, stealing! The Holy Spirit moves people to give to the church for certain clear purposes laid out in Holy Scriptures; by not using it in those ways we are misusing that which has been entrusted to us by God through them.

Voters assemblies could argue that it is their intent to eventually use the funds in those ways. But doesn’t the parable of the barns have something to say here? And related to that, whatever happened to faith and trusting God? Even if our church should shut down someday, wouldn’t we want to know that we had never stopped following God’s will?

His “hidden will” may make us uncomfortable since we have no control over it, and it may not match our own. For the sceptic who assumes that a zero balance in the church bank account is a sign of bad stewardship, let’s pretend that on Judgement Day the topic comes up with God. If He were to challenge us by saying something like, “Why didn’t you put my money in the bank in order to save it for that rainy day?” we could say, “Lord we were just doing what you

Our faith-driven decision to “spend all the church’s money” might look foolish and irresponsible to the world— as foolish and irresponsible as the innocent Son of Man volunteering to die on a cross as a criminal. But even if our local church should close some day, we can even rejoice in the midst of that (1 Thessalonians 5:18)—for perhaps, in some strange way, even that may be in keeping with God’s Will and part of His larger plan of salvation for the world as He prepares us for His Second Coming. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote: “It is not we who build. Christ builds the church. No man builds the church but Christ alone.

Whoever is minded to build the church is surely well on the way to destroying it; for he will build a temple to idols without wishing or knowing it. We must confess. He builds.

We must proclaim—He builds. We must pray to Him—that He may build.”

Bonhoeffer continues: “We do not know His plans. We cannot see whether He is building or pulling down. It may be that the times which by human standards are times of collapse are for Him the great times of construction. It may be that the times which from a human point of view are great times for the church are times when it is pulled down.”

We know God’s will as revealed in the Holy Scriptures—how to live and believe rightly—but we do not know all His plans. Clearly, His will is that we live by faith, tossing all those things which we believe we need and cannot live without (i.e. idols) at the foot of His cross, and entrusting ourselves and our Church into His wounded yet powerful hands. After all, the Church that will never go broke, and is as glorious as it could ever be, is the one that awaits all the elect, in the place “where neither moth nor rust destroy” (Matthew 6:20).

The mission of all of our local churches is to continue to build and support that eternal Church. And when our efforts are focused there, driven by faith instead of doubt, in repentance for all dependence on our human efforts towards ensuring “success,” then the result will never disappoint— even if that includes poverty or even the closure of some buildings. It may be hard for human reason to accept, but believe it or not, God loves your church more than you do.

And He can actually do something about the crises in which we find ourselves. But usually His doing involves us giving: giving our wisdom, intelligence, finances, and very selves to Him, to do with them as He knows best—for you, for me, and for His holy Church that stretches into eternity.

The church is in no other business than giving...

Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau is Assistant Professor of Theology at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

7

‘Tis the Season

A time for giving, a time for children

by Thomas Kruesel

‘T

is the season… It’s an interesting statement about Christmas. It sums it up nicely without really saying anything about it. It can have positive connotations or negative ones, depending on the context. If we are standing in a long line up in the grocery store in those last days before Christmas, then ‘Tis the season sums up the frustration we may be feeling with what we are doing. When we gather together to help out a family who lost their home in a fire, ‘Tis the season summarizes the love and support of others, and the motivation behind it.

As we continue our journey through the season of Advent and into Christmas, I would like to focus your attention on the “2x4 (for)” of Christmas. As you do,

8

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

it is my prayer that you will gain a deeper appreciation for the reality that Christmas truly ‘tis the season!

The first “for” of Christmas is: “Christmas is for giving.” The second, and closely related, is “Christmas is for children.”

Christmas has changed for me through the years—or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that through the years I have changed.

I still remember as a young boy the anticipation that started the moment the Sears Christmas Catalogue arrived at our house. Hundreds of pages of gift ideas for the whole family! But to be honest, I was mostly interested in what my parents could buy me. Christmas was for giving, but I saw it as a time for others to be

giving to me. I remember how the anticipation grew until it reached an almost unbearable climax Christmas Eve, after service, when we opened our presents.

When I had my own children, Christmas was still for giving, but it was now about me giving to them. I got to relive that Christmas joy through their eyes. I still got gifts, but they were paid for with the money I earned.

As the years went on, I entered that stage in life known as “hard to buy for.” At that stage I would help others out by purchasing items (on sale usually) that they could use as stocking stuffers.

T h e n I wo u l d b e assured to get not only what I wanted but also what I needed.

A couple of years ago I entered what is probably the second last stage in my life.

I still buy small things for people to give me, but the difference is that I am nevertheless often surprised by the presents under the tree! I even have a term to describe the phenomena: “bought and forgot.”

I came to the realization in these last stages o f my C h r i s t m a s development that Christmas is for children. They are the ones that embrace it with joy and savour the moments and the gifts.

At the same time, I have come to realize through Sunday School and Confirmation class, through sermons I have heard and preached, and Bible studies I have attended and led, that the “2x4 (for)s” of Christmas also have a much deeper and fuller meaning for the Christian.

Excuse my typographical error earlier in this article; I can’t blame it on auto correct. The first “for” of Christmas should more accurately be “Christmas is forgiving.” Christmas is not about gifts, it’s about the gift—the gift wrapped in swaddling clothes and

lying in a manger. It is the gift of God’s Son, the Word made flesh, the same Word that was with God in the beginning when the world was created. He is the same Word in whom all things hold together.

The first Christmas gift, our Saviour, brings forgiveness of sins to a sin-sick world. And through the gift of faith, given in Holy Baptism or sparked to life through the hearing of God’s Word, this Saviour becomes our Saviour, and the forgiveness He brings becomes our forgiveness. In Colossians 1:21-22 Paul expresses this truth in these words, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

But now he has reconciled you by C h r i s t ’ s p hy s i c a l body through death to present you holy in his sight, without b l e m i s h a n d f re e from accusation.”

God’s plan of salvation reaches its climax when our Messiah comes to us, fully God and fully man, to live a perfect life, suffer, die and rise again that we may be assured of the eternal life t h a t i s o u r s . We are reconciled by C h r i s t ’ s p hy s i c a l body, the body that revealed God’s love and was given to us on that first Christmas. It is the gift we all need, and use in faith every day.

And “Christmas is for children.” Here I am not referring to the Christmas celebrated by people all over the world, some who have faith and understand what Christmas is truly about, and some who only celebrate an empty shell of Christmas. Properly understood and appreciated for what it is, Christmas is a celebration for children—God’s children! Through faith we not only receive the forgiveness of sins, we are also received into God’s family as dearly loved children.

As the Apostle John so beautifully says in 1 John 3:1:

Christmas is not about gifts, it’s about the gift—the gift wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. It is the gift of God’s Son, the Word made flesh.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

9

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that We have also been given the privilege to carry out we should be called children of God! And that is what the work of angels (God’s messengers) in sharing the we are!”

Good News of what This is what we Christmas truly are! What a beautiful means. In this way assurance that the we can share with Creator and sustainer others the precious, of the universe has a p r i c e l e s s p re s e n t personal and vested we have received. interest in our wellIt is a gift they so being, our lives and desperately need. our futures. He has And as children in a adopted us as His family with a loving children, and made Father, the gifts we us part of His family give in sharing the and co-heirs with Good News costs us C h r i s t ( Ro m a n s nothing. Our Father 8:17). What joy it pays everything so brings to know that the gift may be given we have royal blood! to others!

Remembering these Don’t be distracted two truths focuses by the Christmas the our attention on world wants you to what Christmas is celebrate. Remember truly about. God the “2x4 (for)” of most clearly reveals Christmas and may Himself to us as He the joy of these comes to us in flesh t r u t h s l i g h t yo u r and blood. We have hearts and homes. received forgiveness And don’t forget, for of sins and new life these reasons, it truly through Jesus, our ‘Tis the season!—a Messiah. And we season forgiving and take hold of this gift a season for children. through the faith that the Spirit creates in our hearts. In faith, Mary and Jesus: Filippo Germisoni, c. 1715. we are God’s children.

As God’s children, all the promises God makes to His Rev. Thomas Kruesel is Vice-President of Lutheran Church–Canada and pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Campbell River, B.C. children in Scripture are promises He makes to us.

God most clearly reveals Himself to us as He comes to us in flesh and blood. We have received forgiveness of sins and new life through Jesus, our Messiah. And we take hold of this gift through the faith that the Spirit creates in our hearts. In faith, we are God’s children.

10

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

If the Lord Wills...

A Report on Synodical Planning

by Arnold Drung

I

n today’s world, whether it be in business or private settings, there is a significant emphasis on planning: business plans, personal plans, budgets, and so forth.

There is an oft-quoted axiom that says, “Failure to plan is a plan to fail.” It is also proper for us to do planning in the church. The Bible has many references to planning but with a different perspective.

We remember the words of James 4:13-15: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.

What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’”

We always remember that our plans are in God’s hands and that He will ultimately decide how those plans go forward. It is with this in mind that Lutheran Church– Canada’s (LCC) Board of Directors has updated Synod’s plans for the balance of the current term.

By way of background, the Board is responsible for planning the work of LCC. The last time that a formal planning session took place was in 2008, and a number of strategic directions were set at that time. While some work was done around this plan, the Board’s activities became largely consumed with the many crises that arose following 2008 (the global financial crisis and its impact on pension and benefit plans; the situation with Concordia University of Edmonton; and the ABC District Church Extension Fund collapse). More recently, focus was spent on the call for and implementation of Synod restructuring.

It is time for a reset of the planning process. This was started in April of this year when the Board met to review the current state of Synod and to discuss requirements going forward. The Board reiterated key values from 2008— namely, unity, integrity, and discipleship. For the balance of the board’s term, ending in June 2021, five critical targets have been identified.

The first of these is full implementation and nurturing of the new LCC structure. While initial work has been done, this will involve frequent interaction with the Regional

Pastors and provision of resources where required. We also want to ensure that key pieces of the former districts’ work are continuing and being done effectively.

Second is the demonstration of financial integrity and solid management by Synod. With the pain of recent events still fresh, it is critical to provide full transparency of Synod financials and confirm that all appropriate processes and governance procedures are in place.

The third critical target is the enhancement of communication and transparency within the Synod. The Board’s communications committee met this summer and is working on an ambitious program to build this function.

A key aspect of this is the hiring of a new communications director, who is scheduled to begin work in January 2020.

The fourth target is the completion of Memoranda of Understanding with all organizations that were formed to advance the mission and ministry of LCC, as called for in Synod’s bylaws. This is to ensure that relationships are clear and mechanisms are in place to avoid situations like that which happened with Concordia University of Edmonton where, despite the long-standing history and affiliation of the college with the Synod, LCC had no ability to influence the long-term direction of the organization.

The fifth target is to facilitate the availability of best practices and resources for all regions and congregations across the country. We have many excellent resources available throughout our church and we have an opportunity to ensure that they are available broadly across LCC. This will help with efficiency and avoid unnecessary cost and duplication.

The Board is also updating governance protocols and documentation to reflect the new structure. Future Board activity will be expected to comply with these standards.

In addition to these activities, the Board will continue to encourage and support the work of the seminaries as well as ongoing efforts in the area of youth and young adult ministry.

We undertake all these things remembering that they are done under God’s care and direction “as the Lord wills.”

Arnold Drung is Chair of Lutheran Church–Canada’s Board of Directors.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

11

International News www.canadianlutheran.ca

New General Secretary for the International Lutheran Council

Rev. Dr. Timothy C.J. Quill speaks during the International Lutheran Council’s 2019 World Seminaries Conference in the Philippines.

PHILIPPINES - Rev. Dr. Timothy C.J. Quill has been appointed as the next General Secretary of the International Lutheran Council (ILC) following a unanimous vote of the ILC Board of Directors (formerly known as the Executive Committee). The decision came during a meeting October 15, 2019 in Baguio City, Philippines.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Dr. Quill as the new General Secretary of the International Lutheran Council,” said ILC Chairman Hans-Jörg Voigt.

“Dr. Quill has a long history with the international Lutheran community, including through ILC events. We ask God to bless him as he enters

this new role, and that through him God would bless the International Lutheran Council as it continues to grow and expand its witness to Christ throughout the world.”

Dr. Quill has been appointed to a three-year term as General Secretary of the ILC. He was installed during evening worship on October 17 during the ILC’s World Seminaries Conference meeting in Baguio City, Philippines. Dr. Quill officially assumed duties on October 19.

Dr. Quill succeeds Darin Storkson, who had served as Interim General Secretary of the ILC since March 2019. Storkson formerly served as Deputy General Secretary.

Remember Lutheran Church–Canada in your will. www.lutheranfoundation.ca 12

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

“We are grateful for Darin’s faithful service as Interim General Secretary over the past seven months,” noted Chairman Voigt. “His leadership during the search for a permanent General Secretary has been a blessing from God, and we are grateful for his continued assistance to Dr. Quill during this time of transition.”

Dr. Quill is a longtime professor of Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, Indiana), having joined the faculty there in 1998. From 2002 onwards, he also served as dean of International Studies. He further served for more than 20 years as director of the seminary’s Russian Project, working with Lutherans throughout Russia and other Eastern European nations, as well as helping to establish the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Novosibirsk, Siberia.

Dr. Quill also served The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Office of International Mission as director of Theological Education.

D r. Q u i l l g r a d u a t e d f r o m Concordia Seminary (St. Louis, Missouri) in 1980 and served parishes in Connecticut and Missouri before pursuing graduate work, ultimately earning his Ph.D. from Drew University in New Jersey.

Since completing his work with Concordia Theological Seminary, he has served as a visitation pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

ILC News

International News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Lutherans in Ukraine hold convention, reelect Bishop Yurchenko

by Rev. Oleksiy Navrotskyy UKRAINE - From September 30-October 2, the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) held its annual convention. A total of 15 congregations, five mission stations, four social ministries, and the theological seminary in Odessa were represented by 12 pastors and 12 lay delegates, as well as two nonvoting seminarians.

The convention began with a divine service led by SELCU Bishop Alexander Yurchenko. In his sermon, the Bishop called on convention participants to “increase mission efforts in each congregation and to recognize the great need of the Ukrainian people who suffer from uncertainty and the fear caused by the conflict in eastern Ukraine. For the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings hope and confidence to the hearts of the lost, and it is our privilege and our vocation to bring the Good News to our citizens, especially in such difficult times in our homeland.”

During the convention, Bishop Yurchenko was reelected to another five-year term. The convention also held elections for the Board of Synod, and it reconfirmed Rev. Oleg Schewtschenko to be the coordinator of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in Odessa. Participants of the conference congratulated the reelected Bishop and new Board of Synod and thanked them for standing for election. The participants then prayed for the new Board of Synod and asked the Lord to bless the pastors chosen to lead the synod.

After elections, the pastors and delegates of SELCU reviewed the achievements and challenges of the Ukrainian church over the past year.

Special reference was made to the mission work being carried out by SELCU congregations, pastors, and missionaries. It was noted that, even when the three current seminarians are placed into congregations next year, SELCU will still be experiencing a shortage of qualified minsters

to shepherd existing congregations and develop new mission fields.

L u t h e ra n C h u rc h – Canada (LCC) has been a partner of SELCU from its formation in 1996.

LCC not only provides theological education for future SELCU pastors via Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Odessa, but also annually supports a variety of Ukrainian Participants in SELCU’s 2019 convention. mission projects together with Concordia Lutheran Mission Days of Faith Conferences in 2018 and Society. These projects include 2019; Rev. Dr. Jim Gimbel, president of prison ministry; Vacation Bible Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) School ministry and youth programs; in Edmonton, who visited the Odessa continuing theological education for seminary and SELCU Synodical office pastors; the Days of Faith Theological in 2018 strengthening the partnership Conference in Koblevo and the English between CLS and the Ukrainian language Christian Study Center; the seminary; and Rev. Dr. Wilhelm mission and ministry in Nikolaev; and Torgerson who has been faithfully other mission projects. serving as the rector of Concordia In the past two years, SELCU has Theological Seminary Odessa. been happy to host many treasured The support given by Lutheran guests from LCC: President Timothy Church–Canada members are bearing Teuscher who participated in the great fruits of faith, love, and joy among SELCU Convention in 2018; LCC the Lutherans of Ukraine. We can say Mission Executive Rev. Mark Smith with certainty that the Kingdom of who visited SELCU in the spring God has reached Post-Communist of 2019, leading a seminar for Ukraine and is still growing. the ministerium and visiting the congregations; LCC pastors Rev. Kurt Rev. Oleksiy Navrotskyy is a missionary Reinhardt and Rev. Roland Syens who for Lutheran Church–Canada and the Synod served as the main speakers at the of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine.

Ingrian Lutherans in Russia elect new bishop RUSSIA - The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria (ELCI) in Russia elected Rev. Ivan Laptev to be their new bishop during the church’s 30th Synod held October 18-19, 2019 at St. Mary Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Rev. Laptev will be installed as bishop on February 9, 2020.

Rev. Laptev was elected on the second ballot, receiving 48 votes out of the total 80 ballots cast. Other candidates for bishop who had allowed their names to stand were Rev. Olav Panchu, Rev. Mikhail Ivanov, and Rev. Ivan Hutter.

Re v. L a p t e v is rector of the Theological Institute of the Church of Ingria.

He further serves as head pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Gubanitsy and as pastor of St. George’s Church in Koltushi.

Rev. Laptev will succeed Bishop Arri Kugappi, who is soon to reach the ELCI’s canonical age of retirement.

ILC News

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

13

International News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Confessional Lutherans and Anglicans take talks global

Participants in the latest round of ACNA-LCC-LCMS, including LCC’s Past President Robert Bugbee and Rev. Joel Kuhl, Chairman of LCC’s CTCR.

GERMANY - The latest round of dialogue between the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC), and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) took place in Wittenberg, Germany from October 28-November 2, 2019, welcoming the representatives of several European churches to the discussions for the first time.

The meetings in Wittenberg focused on opportunities for new areas of cooperation between confessional churches, both Lutheran and Anglican, in continental Europe and England, especially in the areas of theological education. To that end, the dialogue welcomed additional guests from Germany’s Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in England (ELCE), the Free Church of England (FCE), the Reformed Episcopal Church in Germany (AKD), the Reformed Episcopal Church in Croatia (PRKC), and the United Methodist Church in Germany (EMK).

Despite differing backgrounds, the individuals in attendance were united in their commitment to the Gospel of forgiveness, life, and salvation by grace through faith in Christ, together with the infallible authority of Holy Scripture in all matters of doctrine and life. Although meeting

14

in Europe, the Anglican and Lutheran representatives both have firm connections and shared perspectives with churches in the Global South who are at odds with the growing numbers of churches in the West that have forsaken biblical teaching and turned instead to affirming universalism, same-sex marriage, ordination of active homosexuals, and other deviations from Scripture.

The event was also notable in that it featured introductory meetings between the heads of the International Lutheran Council (ILC) and Global A n g l i c a n F u t u re C o n f e re n c e (GAFCON): Bishop Hans-Jörg Voigt of SELK and Archbishop Foley Beach of ACNA, respectively. The ILC is a growing association of confessional Lutheran church bodies representing millions of Lutherans around the world. It includes LCC and the LCMS among its members. GAFCON was born out of the confessing realignment of world Anglicanism as those who uphold the authority of Scripture banded together. Today GAFCON represents roughly 50 million of the world’s 70 million Anglicans.

During the dialogue, participants took time to outline the background of their various churches and movements.

This was especially important given the addition of multiple European

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

church leaders who were attending the discussions for the first time. Bishop Ray Sutton, presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church and Dean of Ecumenical Affairs for ACNA, outlined the history of the confessing Anglican movement. The Rev. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer, Chairman of the LCMS’ Commission for Theology and Church Relations, provided background on The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, while Bishop Voigt presented on the history of SELK. LCC’s Past President Robert Bugbee spoke on both the history of LCC as well as the International Lutheran Council.

Discussions turned to the possibility of further discussions between GAFCON and ILC leadership. Future meeting dates were set for additional discussions on this subject.

A major focus of the meetings was investigating the possibility of cooperative educational work in continental Europe and the United Kingdom. The seminaries of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church in Germany and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England were particularly highlighted as potential venues for such cooperation.

Additional discussion focused on the possibility of interchanges between Anglican and Lutheran representatives in Germany and England, as well as those from North America.

As the meetings coincided with the observance of Reformation Day on October 31, participants had the opportunity to visit a number of Reformation sites throughout Wittenberg, including Martin Luther’s house, Philipp Melanchthon’s house, the Castle Church, and St. Mary’s Church. On Reformation Day itself, participants gathered at the doors of the Castle Church where they made a joint declaration honouring the Reformation teaching on justification.

The next dialogue meeting between the ACNA, LCC, and the LCMS is set for April 21-23, 2020 in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. The event will be a planning meeting to establish meeting plans for the next triennium.

International News www.canadianlutheran.ca

An outsider visits a Lutheran church...

Matt Whitman and Will Weedon talk about Lutheran faith and practice.

ONLINE - What happens when an outsider visits a Lutheran church?

That’s the subject of a new video by Matt Whitman of The Ten Minute Bible Hour which is racking up the views on YouTube.

Whitman visited a congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, to take part in liturgical Lutheran worship for the first time ever. The next day he returned to quiz the congregation’s Assistant Pastor about Lutheran theology and the meaning of the church’s design.

William Weedon, former Director of Worship for The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod (LCMS) and Assistant Pastor at the congregation, joins Whitman in the video for a lively dialogue that has already been viewed more than 110,000 times since it went live on Reformation Day 2019.

“I know that some of you may have assumptions about Lutheranism,” Whitman says in the introduction to the video. “Maybe you think it’s boring and stodgy. But if you think that, you have not met Will Weedon.

This guy is nuts… in a good way! He’s brilliant, he’s interesting; I cannot wait to introduce you to him.”

True to Whitman’s preface, Weedon provides a dynamic introduction to Lutheran faith and practice that has YouTube commenters (Lutheran and otherwise) praising his joyful explanation of the faith as well as his intellectual rigour. Throughout the freewheeling discussion, Weedon discusses church architecture, liturgy, baptism, evangelism, and much more. “The building itself is designed to sort of ‘confess,’ and the liturgy that you experienced yesterday is designed to confess—to confess the faith of the church,” he explains at one point. “If you look around the room, you can’t help but notice it’s a little about Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” He goes on to unpack Lutheranism’s central focus on Jesus and the Gospel, testified to in every aspect of church teaching and life.

Near the end of the video, which is part of his “Visiting Other Churches” series, Whitman reflects

on his visit to a Lutheran church, calling it a fantastic experience.

“Everything in the church is loaded with meaning,” he says. “Almost everything in the church is packed with theology and history.”

“It was very interesting to go there and to worship and to be a part of it, and to almost feel like I’m in an atemporal expression of Christianity,” he concludes.

“I expected something very 16 thcentury. I got something that felt much more ‘all 2,000 years of church happening at once.’”

Whitman follows up the original v i s i t v i d e o w i t h t wo f u r t h e r episodes discussing Lutheran theology with Weedon, collectively gaining more than 100,000 views.

The conversation is continuing elsewhere too, with Whitman having been a recent guest on on both KFUO and Issues, Etc. Whitman and Weedon also joined the podcast Crucial Production for a two-part conversation on Lutheran theology.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

15

National News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Lutheran Church–Canada financial update CANADA - The mission of Lutheran Church-Canada (LCC) is to organize, equip, and motivate its members to confess, proclaim, and give witness to the saving work of Jesus Christ, to the glory of God. What we do together as LCC: 1. Canadian Missions - We develop and support mission efforts throughout the country; assist congregations and explore new opportunities for outreach; and provide works of mercy and relief to those less fortunate.

2. International Missions - We support mission work in Central America, South-East Asia, and Ukraine, including Gospel outreach; theological training of indigenous church workers; and social ministry efforts like children’s feeding programs and Christian education.

3. Church Worker Education - We help to fund the work of our seminaries.

4. Leadership and Member Care - We provide ecclesiastical leadership and pastoral care through the work of the Synod President, Regional Pastors, and Circuit Counselors.

5. Building Community - We foster greater community and spiritual growth through the publication of The Canadian Lutheran and other media.

To accomplish our work together, generous offerings of faithful members throughout the country are needed.

A portion of gifts laid upon the altar at local congregations is remitted to LCC. In total, these gifts make up 68 percent of LCC’s overall revenue and are critical for funding the vital work we do together, in areas like national and international missions. We are most grateful for the generous mission remittances a number of congregations have already sent to LCC. Currently, however, there is a deficit due to overall congregational remittances being ($387,718) less than expected. The BOD is aware that the third quarter of LCC’s fiscal year primarily includes the summer month offerings from congregations,

16

Lutheran Church-Canada 9 Month Financial Report (un-audited) Revenue 9 mo. Budget 9 mo. Actual Congregation Remit. $1,875,000 $1,487.282 Designated - Specific $818,025 $995,058 Endowment Fund $30,000 $0 Investment Income $26,100 $81,263 Rental Income $5,625 $5,625

Variance ($387,718) $177,033 ($30,000) $55,163 $0

Total Revenue Expenses Domestic Missions International Missions Ecclesiastical Services Higher Education Supp.

Communications Planned Giving Sub-Total Expenses

$2,754,750 9 mo. Budget $860,175 $490,163 $463,950 $219,000 $135,337 $135,000

$2,569,228 9 mo. Actual $833,670 $542,613 $448,089 $231,550 $127,060 $135,000

($185,522) Variance $26,505 ($52,450) $15,861 ($12,550) $8,277 $0

$2,303,625

$2,317,982

($14,357)

Administration

$450,335

$467,285

($16,950)

Total Expenses

$2,753,960

$2,785,267

($31,307)

$790

($216,039)

($216,829)

Surplus (Shortfall)

LCC 2019 Annual Budget – $3,671,950 16%

Administration, $600,450

17%

Domestic Missions, $1,146,900

31%

Ecclesiastical Services, $618,600 Planned Giving, $180,000

Communication Services, $180,450 International Missions, $653,550

Higher Education Support, $292,000 5%

5% 8% 18%

Prepared by Dwayne Cleave, Administrator, on behalf of LCC Board of Directors.

which typically are the lowest months of church attendance. Offerings and attendance levels are closely linked. Some congregations are also experiencing financial challenges; but we ask that you please bring this matter to the Lord in prayer, trusting God to provide the resources needed to carry out his great commission.

The LCC Board of Directors will report back to congregations with an update on LCC Finances at the end of the fiscal year (January 31, 2020).

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

LCC issues 2020 Compensation Guidelines L C C h a s a p p rove d n ew Compensation Guidelines f o r 2 0 2 0 . Fo r m o re information, visit www. canadianlutheran.ca/lccissues-new-compensationguidelines-for-2020/.

National News www.canadianlutheran.ca

LCC names new Communications Director WINNIPEG - Lutheran Church– Canada (LCC) has announced that it has named Alex Steinke as the church’s new Communications Director. Steinke will start her position on January 6, 2020.

“As a lifelong member of Lutheran Church–Canada, I am thrilled to have this opportunity to use my skills in media production and communications to serve my brothers and sisters in Christ,” said Steinke. “It is my prayer that the Lord would unite our work with His will, that Christ be glorified and His name proclaimed in all that we do. Trusting the Lord’s promise to work all things for the good of His kingdom, I gratefully accept this position of Communications Director for Lutheran Church–Canada.”

Steinke will serve in a deployed capacity from Toronto, while also

spending approximately one week per month in LCC’s synodical office in Winnipeg.

Steinke holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Production with a minor in English. She studied at the RTA School of Media at Ryerson University, Canada’s premier school of media production and broadcasting. Steinke specializes in motion graphic design and infographics, and has produced motion graphic explainer videos and print resources for hospitals within The Canadian Children I n f l a m m a t o r y B owe l D i s e a s e Network.

In addition to a wide variety of technical knowledge in graphic design and video work, Steinke also brings fluency in French and experience writing about her confessional Lutheran faith to the job.

Alex Steinke

2021 NYG Committee meets in Winnipeg WINNIPEG - The National Youth Gathering (NYG) planning committee met at Lutheran Church–Canada’s synodical office on November 15-16, 2019 to begin planning for the 2021 NYG. The committee is co-chaired

by Deacon Lisa Olding and Rev. Glenn Worcester, and the chaplain is Regional Pastor David Haberstock.

The other committee members are Madison Bouwman, Josh Gajdos and Erika Schroth-Gajdos, Phil Guebert, Michelle Heumann, Rhonda Kelman, Deacon Stephanie Mayer, Rev. Eric Moffett, and Bill Wardekker.

Rev. Worcester commented: “Even though we just had our last NYG a few months ago, it's an exciting time as we get a group of people together from all over the country to use their leadership skills, passion, experience, and commitment for youth ministry to serve Christ's Church and His people, especially youth.”

There will not be a three-year wait for the youth who attended the 2019 NYG in Langley and who are

eager to go again; the planning committee has decided to hold the next NYG in 2021 instead of 2022, so as to not conflict with The Lutheran C h u rc h — M i s s o u r i Synod’s NYG. The theme for 2021 is “In Not Of” and the theme verse is “But our citizenship is in Rev. Glenn Worcester, Deacon Lisa Olding, Michelle Heumann, heaven, and from it we Rhonda Kelman, Josh Gajdos, Madison Bouwman, Erika Schrothawait a Savior, the Lord Gajdos, Bill Wardekker, Rev. Eric Moffett, Deacon Stephanie Mayer, and Rev. David Haberstock in the chapel at Synod office Jesus Christ,” from committee, some familiar ones Philippians 3:20. The Gathering will returning, and only a short time be held at the University of Manitoba to prepare, we wanted to use our in Winnipeg from July 16-20, 2021. meeting time as effectively and as The committee reports that they wisely as possible. With all the talent had an enjoyable and productive in this group, I think we got off to a weekend of meeting, planning, and pretty good start in this first face-toexploring the Gathering options face meeting. Now we will continue available in the city, and they are planning from a distance, focusing thankful for the staff at Synod office not just on this life, but the life that who accommodated the meeting. is to come for all God's people.”

Rev. Worcester concluded that “with many new faces joining the THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

17

National News www.canadianlutheran.ca

LLL-Canada elects new board members Directors. Re-elected members also included Gordon Schoepp o f O n oway, A l b e r t a a n d Stephen Braaten of Regina, Saskatchewan. New members serve a two-year term.

Rev. Keith Haberstock of Fort McMurray, Alberta was approached by the board to serve as Pastoral Advisor and accepted. Rev. Haberstock was installed as Pastoral Advisor to the LLL-C by Lutheran Church–Canada’s Central Regional Pastor David Haberstock at his home chapel LLL-Canada Pastoral Advisor Keith Haberstock installs the elected members of the 2019/2020 in Regina, Saskatchewan on Board of Directors.

October 23.

CANADA - In early September, New board members were members of Lutheran Laymen’s installed at the League’s Annual League of Canada (LLL-C) elected General Meeting on Saturday, board member Brian Wardle of October 26 at Grace Lutheran Church Kitchener, Ontario to the Board of in Saskatoon and Gordon Schoepp

was elected as board president. The evening before the Annual General Meeting, past and present board and committee members met to recognize outgoing board president Ian Adnams.

Board members as of October 26, 2019 are: Gordon Schoepp, President (Onoway, Alberta); Marilyn Jacobi, Secretary (Waterloo, Ontario); Stephen Braaten, Treasurer (Regina, Saskatchewan); Joel Haberstock (Vernon, B.C.); Brian Wardle (Kitchener, Ontario); and Rev. Keith Haberstock, Pastoral Advisor (Fort McMurray, Alberta).

LLL-Canada is an auxiliary organization of Lutheran Church– Canada. It develops and distributes outreach materials to congregations, church groups, and individuals as part of the international Gospel outreach of Lutheran Hour Ministries.

LFLC holds joint event with EDLYA, consider Christian response to end of life issues S T. CAT H A R I N E S , O n t . Lutherans for Life-Canada (LFLC) held its Annual General Meeting on November 2, 2019 at Grace Lutheran Church in St. Catharines, holding joint sessions with EDLYA (East District Lutheran Young Adults), who were meeting for their Fall Retreat at the church over the same weekend.

“It was a joy to partner with the East Region’s Lutheran young adults for this discussion of end of life issues and the Word of God,” said Rev. Richard Juritsch, President of LFLC. “Young or old, all Lutherans benefit from having a clearer understanding of the sanctity of life and our calling as Christians in a secular world. May God bless the work of both EDLYA and Lutherans for Life-Canada as we encourage Christians to remain faithful to the words of Scripture.”

EDLYA members joined LFLC for a service of Matins, with Rev. Juritsch serving as liturgist and Rev. Ken Maher of Collingwood, Ontario serving as guest preacher. Following a brief break, LFLC and EDLYA welcomed their joint keynote speaker, Dr. Leah

18

Koetting Block, who spoke on the Christian response to physician assisted suicide and euthanasia in a talk entitled “Misguided Mercy.” Participants heard the current status of federal and provincial laws on endof-life issues before Dr. Block delved into the Scripture’s witness on the sanctity of life.

Participants in the LFLC President Richard Juritsch introduces keynote speaker Dr. Leah Block.

LFLC and EDLYA (St. Catharines, Ontario). Newly events shared a joint lunch together elected to the Board was John Krim before their schedules diverged for the of Our Saviour (Etobicoke, Ontario). rest of the day. EDLYA participants Upon hearing various reports of the heard Dr. Block provide more detail on officers of LFLC, the membership the conference theme, before holding discussed different possibilities of their own AGM later that day. carrying out LFLC’s mandate to LFLC’s business meeting took educate Lutherans on life issues. The place following lunch, during which Board of Directors of LFLC will soon time members heard reports and appoint members of the Board to serve conducted elections. Re-elected to as officers of the organization. the Board of Directors were Linda LFLC is a listed service organization Welke of Good Shepherd (London, of Lutheran Church–Canada.

Ontario) and Rev. Juritsch of Grace

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

West Region News

Alberta and British Alberta Columbia and British - Michelle Columbia Heumann, editor

Celebrating God’s Goodness in Valleyview VALLEYVIEW, Alta. - Good Shepherd Church welcomed its new pastor, Rev. Shiekh Lief Mauricio, on July 28, 2019, in an afternoon ordination and installation service. Over eighty people from the congregation, community, and congregations beyond joined in the celebration. Rev. Robert Mohns, Regional Pastor, preached and conducted the rite. Vacancy pastor Rev. Don Schiemann assisted in the preparations, and three pastors who assisted Good Shepherd during four years of vacancy served as lectors: Rev. Dr. Stephen Chambers, and Revs. Rod Buck and Michael Keith. Eight other pastors participated in the laying on of hands: Rev. Drs. Jim Gimbel and John Hellwege, and Revs. Jim Heinbuch, Jan Pastucha, Chris McLean, Terry Goerz, Jaime Ventura, and Keith Hoveland.

The day was also momentous because the service was the last one held in the common room of The Shepherd’s Village housing complex, which served as a temporary worship space for four years. The congregation had already sold its thirty-year-old church building, as it was looking for a different kind of presence in the Valleyview area. The congregation has purchased a historical building on Main Street, which will be converted for church use, as well as commercial and residential rentals. Congregational President Henry Krueger commented to the gathering, “We know Moses led God’s people for forty years in the wilderness; our church has learned something during our four years of wandering. We have learned that Jesus’ church lives in the people, not a building. Now we have a man who

can lead us further in this journey.”

Rev. Mauricio was born in the Philippines, came to Canada at age eight, and later began to consider a calling to the ministry, as he was encouraged by faithful Christians in his life. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University in Edmonton, and is a recent graduate of Concordia Lutheran Seminary.

Rev. Mauricio experienced the reality of ministry just a week following installation. He ably presided at the funeral service of Emil Biendarra, age 92, a highly respected community member and a faithful member of the congregation who had ensured a Lutheran presence in Valleyview since the first worship service in 1957, when it was an outreach of Faith Lutheran Church in Grande Prairie.

Gerry Steinke

Right: A joyous m o m e n t alongside t he S h e p h e r d ’s Village pond in Valleyview, as newly ordained R ev. S h i e k h Lief Mauricio stands with family members Beverly, Edwin, and Krystal.

Rev. Dr. Stephen Harold celebrates ordination Anniversary RICHMOND, BC. - On August 11, Trinity Lutheran Church celebrated Rev. Dr. Stephen Harold’s 40th anniversary since his ordination on August 12, 1979. Since Pastor Harold’s ordination, he has served at Emmanuel Lutheran in Dayton, Ohio (1979-1985), at Our Savior Lutheran in Seattle, Washington (1985-1991), as a professor at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton (1991-2001), at St. Peter’s Lutheran in Leduc, Alberta (2001-2007), and at Trinity Lutheran in Richmond (2007-present).

At the celebration, the congregation’s president, Allen Schellenberg, suggested that Rev. Harold probably had to deal with many of the same issues Moses and Joshua faced as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Although Rev. Harold didn’t disagree, they assume the meals have probably been far better. The congregation thanks God for the service of

all those who are called to the ministry, and specifically for Pastor Harold’s forty years of faithful service.

Allen Schellenberg

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019 19 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 1

West Region News

Alberta and British Alberta Columbia and British - Michelle Columbia Heumann, editor

From the regional pastor An Exodus… An Incarnation

“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” - John 1:12-14

A

n exodus happened, and, as shepherds marked time, it happened at the third watch.

I never really paid much attention to the marking of time in Scripture. Exodus 14:24 records the third watch (the morning watch) as the time at which God acted to destroy Pharaoh’s pursuing armies, clogging the chariot wheels in the midst of the sea so they could not move. And God, from the cloud, told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea that the water might come back upon the Egyptians (Exodus 14:26).

Matthew records Jesus walking out to his disciples in the midst of the storm-tossed sea. It was the fourth watch by Roman standard; but from the Israelite perspective, it was the third. The disciples thought the figure of Jesus was a ghost. But Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” (Matthew 14:27–30) An exodus took place in the third watch on December 25, 2010. God’s little one left behind this veil of tears to be with her dear heavenly Father and her brother and Saviour, Jesus. Amidst the petitions of that Christmas night—amidst tears and fears and disappointment of a life that would end too early in death—came that ancient petition, “Lord, save.” And the Lord answered his little one’s plea and pulled His Anna from life through death to life.

It happened in the silence of the night on a bed in a front room of home, because there was not enough room for a hospital bed to fit in the

20 ANADIANLL UTHERAN November/December November/December2019 2019 2 TTHEHECCANADIAN UTHERAN

bedroom. Two solitary figures in the dark. One remaining, the other now departed. In the early glow of Christ’s Mass, a little flock of sheep made their way to the home, to see if it were true—to bring the comfort of their presence, their mourning, their prayers, and the reminders of God’s promises to all who die in the faith, filled with love and with hope.

All of this happened because one day there came an entrance into the world. It too happened in the watches of the night in a place outside of the common living area because there was no room for the Holy Family and for the Holy One to lay his head. John, the evangelist writes of this entrance of Jesus saying, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

This is the Apostolic testimony concerning the incarnation. St. John lays out the great comfort for us, writing, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).

God, who assumed human flesh, lived to die and died to live in order to bring his little ones through death to life. Here is comfort and peace and joy for all those who have known death, and perhaps are even experiencing it in a very profound way today. Christmas, the Festival of the Nativity of our Lord, signifies for us that Immanuel—”God with us”—has come to save His people from sin and death. His coming then, now, and in our future is the fulfillment of God’s will to save His people. It is the fulfillment of our prayers, our pleadings in that dark watch of the night, in that valley of death, when death does its worst and our flesh trembles for fear. “God, Save!”

I find myself at a loss for words to convey the significance the great mystery of the incarnation had for me as I experienced the death of my wife.

The Veni Redemptory Gentium, “Come Redeemer of the Nations,” has been sung in the Liturgy of the

West Region News

Alberta and British Alberta Columbia and British - Michelle Columbia Heumann, editor

Fifth anniversary of rebooted University of Calgary campus ministry CA L G A RY, A l t a . - Foothills Lutheran Church was originally named Varsity Hill Lutheran, and the first pastor, Rev. Paul Schmidt, was called in 1965 to be the part-time University of Calgary chaplain. The Lutheran students’ club had a designated room in the parsonage, with regular meetings there and in the church, as well as worship services and other events on campus.

There were four chaplains between 1965 and 1991, but after that, the reason the church had been built so close to campus seemed forgotten.

In September 2014, Rev. Mark Jasa, a Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod campus chaplain, took Foothills’ then-vicar, Rev. Eric Moffett, to an outreach event at the university. He had booked a display table in the food court, and had a sign saying “religion is for the weak.” After two days, they had contact information from eight people, who all followed up with Rev. Moffett within a week.

He felt God had clearly provided a n o p p o r t u n i t y, s o h e b e g a n spending time on campus. The eight students told their friends, and by the end of the semester, he was in contact with thirty.

Five years later, he’s in regular contact with over 200 students;

his “second congregation.” Every week he emails them his sermon or notes on the readings, there are twenty to thirty people in a weekly Bible study, and he’s on campus for at least part of the day several days per week.

Developing relationships with the students and talking about faith and life is a joy, but dealing with the university has some challenges.

Rev. Moffett has been removed from campus several times over the years and is on the booking office’s watch list, which complicates arranging for meeting space.

A s t u d e n t , e n c o u ra g e d by someone who didn’t like his message, staged a loud confrontation in an effort to have him banned from campus, the “religion is for the weak” sign was once deliberately crushed by a passerby, and he’s experienced verbal abuse.

The university’s Faith and Spirituality Centre, staffed by chaplains of many religions, is generally supportive of his work, but their pluralistic, inter-faith events make this complicated.

Foothills also has an active youth ministry, complemented by Rev. Moffett’s experiences on campus.

He spoke at the 2016 National Youth Gathering about how youth can keep their faith strong during post-secondary school, and taught

Hours for almost 1,700 years. It captures the incarnation. It is so profound a hymn that Martin Luther translated it into German in 1524 for the people to sing during the dark night of the great plagues.

Translated into English for us, we join with the saints to sing the great mystery. Verses 4 and 5 have been of such great comfort to me.

From the Father forth He came And returneth to the same, Captive leading death and hell—High the song of triumph swell!

Thou the Father’s only Son, Hast o’er sin the victory won Boundless shall Thy Kingdom be; When shall we its glories see?

Rev. Robert Mohns, Regional Pastor

Rev. Moffett leading an Impact Session at the 2018 ABC District Youth Gathering

the youth at last year’s Fall Youth Retreat how to talk about their faith “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

The students he meets come from a range of backgrounds, and learning what questions they have informs how youth can be equipped for those issues before going to university.

Re v. M o f f e t t e n j o y s t h e challenges and blessings of campus outreach, and Foothills is pleased to support this thriving ministry to students who are hungry for the Word, asking for support on everything from dealing with difficult professors to relationship counselling to grieving the loss of family members.

Even if a student spends weeks talking to him just about their personal issues, the conversation a l way s g e t s a ro u n d t o f a i t h eventually, because they know he’s a pastor; that’s why they reach out to him.

While Foothills’ original purpose of ministering to the university was lost for a time, the last five years clearly show God’s provision for a great need, as hundreds of students have been pointed to the gospel.

Michelle Heumann

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019 21 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 3

West Region News

Alberta and British Alberta Columbia and British - Michelle Columbia Heumann, editor

Looking back in joy, forward in anticipation

32nd Annual ABC District Ball Tournament

and prayer.

Volunteers who helped to make all this happen were the pastors, music leaders, cooks, class teachers and helpers, with others helping with security, first aid, GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. - Faith Lutheran Church, served by Rev. Jaime Ventura and Rev. Scott Brayall, sits on a hill in the thriving city of Grande Prairie, a city with approximately 60,000 people with a population primarily made of young families. The city thrives on the oil, forestry, and farming industries.

Every summer the congregation holds a Vacation Bible School and invites the wider community to attend. This year it took place the mornings of August 19-23. The theme was “Miraculous Mission: Jesus Saves the World,” the VBS curriculum published for this year

by Concordia Publishing House.

The event saw eighty-four children aged 4 to 12 attend—some from the church, some from other churches, some from a preschool in Faith’s building, and some with no church connection at all. All had the opportunity to learn about Jesus.

Fifty-one volunteers helped throughout the week to make the program run smoothly. Every day began with an opening of singing, prayer, and devotion. This was followed by classes rotating every twenty minutes through Bible story/drama, crafts, indoor and outdoor activities, snack, and music, concluding with a homeroom session and a group closing with more songs, teaching,

photography, registration, games, and more. There was even a coffee table for the parents.

Children came from all types of families and backgrounds. For some, this week was their first time hearing about Jesus Christ and His Gospel. Organizers pray that the Holy Spirit will use the Word taught during this week to work in the children’s hearts (and their families’) that they might come to know Jesus as their loving saviour.

While planning has not yet truly begun for 2020’s VBS, the congregation waits in hope for what God will do and how He will bless all who attend with His grace and many promises.

Maureen Schadeck Wilhite

The team from Riverbend poses with the first place trophy, which they will keep until next year’s tournament.

Send news, photos, articles, and announcements to: Michelle Heumann, Regional Editor regionaleditor@lutheranchurch.ca

22TTHEHECCANADIAN ANADIANLL UTHERAN November/December November/December2019 2019 4 UTHERAN

GOLDEN, B.C. - Ten ball teams from Alberta and BC gathered in Golden on August 9-11, 2019, for the 32nd annual slo-pitch tournament. A total of 150 players and fans were there for a weekend of fun, fellowship, and ball.

The games were played at Keith King Memorial Park, and events started on Friday evening with skills competitions for the most accurate throw, fastest around the bases, and home run hitting. The tournament commenced early Saturday morning, and the kids’ competitions for ages 3 to 12 were held on Saturday afternoon, as the players had a break for lunch. The congregation from Trinity Lutheran Church in Golden ran the concession and prepared a delicious roast beef dinner at the field.

Games continued again on Sunday morning, with a break for worship, and the church pews were packed as Rev. Ron Tabbert led the service.

Congratulations to Riverbend Lutheran Church (Edmonton) for first place, the Bethel Lutheran Church (Sherwood Park) young adult team for second place, and Hillside Christian Church (Surrey) for third place. The Christ-Like Award was presented to Foothills Lutheran Church (Calgary).

Following the tournament, a potluck supper was held at the field, and fiftyeight people continued visiting and sharing stories from the weekend.

Plans are underway for the 33rd annual ABC District Ball Tournament, scheduled for August 7-9, 2020, in Revelstoke, B.C. All players 13 years and up are invited to attend. For information, contact Tracy at tsimons@shaw.ca.

Tracy Simons

Contact Rev. Robert Mohns, Regional Pastor, at: rmohns@lutheranchurch.ca 1-855-826-9950

Central Regional News

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and NW Manitoba, OntarioNW - Michelle OntarioHeumann, editor

Holy Cross in Saskatoon holds closing service u p by B. T. A r l i n g .

Associate Pastor John Ulmer accepted a call to Vancouver in 1961, so the responsibility was passed on to Rev. Lowell Guebert from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and he officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony on April 15, 1962.

Still without a pastor, the congregation began Jean Arndt at the 50th anniversary in December 2012 a Sunday School, and on November 15, 1962, congregation was blessed to have Judy thirty-four children were present at the Tamke, Marion Neufeld, and Linda first class. Except for special services, Anweiler play. For many years, Judy members continued to attend services and Terry Tamke, Carole Haatvedt, at St. Paul’s, as attempts to call a pastor and Lisa Sands played for the Folk were unsuccessful. On August 11, Service. Holy Cross is also thankful for 1963, Rev. Richard Kruesel, a graduate the musical talent of Connor Sands, from the St. Louis seminary, was Garry Johnston, Bob Kaschl, and Rev. installed and regular services began, Greg Palmer and his children. Over with 106 baptized members. the years, the congregation was blessed On December 21, 2012, the with the beautiful voices of Gladys congregation celebrated fifty years, Andrews (Jean Arndt’s sister), Ralph and celebrated organist Jean Arndt Schaan, his daughter Chantelle, and for fifty years of faithful service. She granddaughters Tamara and Tenielle, led the choir and played for events, and Lisa Poier, who sang solos. In funerals, and weddings, with her fifty-six years, the Lord blessed Holy daughter Judy Tamke often singing.

Cross with five pastors, and all but one Jean retired in January 2015, and the stayed for ten years or more: Richard Kruesel, Mel Murray, Ward Stewart, James Vosper, and Greg Palmer.

Dryden hosts sports camp “The Lord showered many blessing DRYDEN, Ont. - Our Saviour Lutheran Church hosted Upward Sports on the congregation, and faithfully Camp August 12-16. This sports program (cheerleading and basketball) is every Sunday Holy Cross was blessed aimed at young people ages 5-12, and gives students an opportunity to learn

by His spoken Word,” noted member about the Bible as well as skills such as leadership, teamwork, integrity, Pat Kauk. “Closing a congregation is a and respect. There were seventeen kids in the cheer group and forty-six very painful and emotional experience in the basketball group with twenty-two helpers. Len and Liz Gardner for all the members of the community, organized and implemented this program, along with many volunteers. and is also a tremendous amount of work. Thanks to the church council for all their dedication, and especially Chairman Garry Johnston and Church Secretary Donna Clarke, who always serve above and beyond. As all the members of Holy Cross seek out new congregations for worship and fellowship, our prayer is each one will soon feel blessed with God’s peace, love, and joy.”

Pat Kauk SASKATOON, Sask. - On July 7, 2019, Holy Cross Lutheran held a closing service, led by Rev. Rudy Pastucha, with 151 in attendance.

Readers were Rev. Howard Ulmer, Rev. Randy Heide, and Rev. Keith Murray.

Many tears were shed as Circuit Councillor Rev. Robert Grout and Chairman Garry Johnston conducted the official closing.

The choir, joined by visiting past members, sang several songs beautifully led by pianist Judy Tamke.

Organist Marion Neufeld played and Garry Johnston sang and played guitar.

Rev. Ward Stewart, who served Holy Cross from February 1990 to June 2006, and Vacancy Pastors Howard Ulmer and Randy Heide, spoke as well.

The offering was donated to LaRonge Lutheran Fellowship. Rev. Stewart led the table prayer for the potluck supper, and Rev. Pastucha produced a video of church photos that played during the meal.

In May 1959, Rev. John Ulmer of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Saskatoon and the Mission Board of the Man-Sask District decided to purchase land for a new mission, which was acquired the following year and plans for the church drawn

THE 2019 THECANADIAN CANADIANLUTHERAN LUTHERANNovember/December November/December 201923 1

Central Regional News

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and NW Manitoba, OntarioNW - Michelle OntarioHeumann, editor

From the regional pastor Lutherans are Advent people

C

hange is all around us. Change can be good. It can be bad. But whether good or bad, change can cause anxiety.

My life changed this year. I became a Regional Pastor and no longer serve a parish. My wife started university studies. We are trying to get used to a new rhythm of life without the events of the parish shaping the year as strongly. Our whole family is getting used to many rhythms we have not worked through before. I’ve experienced a higher degree of anxiety than I am used to.

Your congregation is experiencing changes.

Generational transition, rural decline, urban sprawl, increasing secularization, immigration, economic ups and downs. This is causing a lot of anxiety in our congregations.

When God took on flesh, the universe changed.

Our God did a new thing. Christ Jesus’ coming has changed the universe and brought in the end times of this creation (1 Corinthians 10:11, Hebrews 9:26).

Though Christians rejoice at this event, the world has been anxious about who Jesus is ever since (John 15:18-20).

In times of crisis and change, we all look to familiar things for comfort: food, beloved books, traditions, memories of a simpler time. Tradition is one reason why children love Christmas. It is a season of foods and baking, familiar stories, events, special music, and gift-giving. These human traditions help heighten our joy at the proclamation of Christ’s salvation of us. In an era of an excess of food and entertainment, tradition is one of the few things that makes food and music precious.

In the last weeks, our calendar changed. A new church year began. Advent is the time of preparation for our yearly remembrance of Christ’s taking on our flesh to save mankind. In Advent we hear about the promise of Christ’s coming, the preparations of John the Baptizer before Christ’s coming, and through John how the Holy Spirit calls us to repentance and makes straight Jesus’ path into our lives. Quiet preparation has a way of calming anxiety in the moment. This season is a godly and churchly time of preparation for Christ’ incarnation, which is our ultimate peace.

24TTHEHECCANADIAN ANADIANLL UTHERAN November/December November/December2019 2019 2 UTHERAN

In our world, Advent is not recognized and the holiday season, which starts earlier every year, is not about our Lord’s taking on flesh in the womb of the Virgin, but about an excess of shopping, parties, glitzy decorations, and schmaltzy songs, so that by the time the gifts are given on the dawn of Christ’s nativity, we are sick of Christmas. The secular holiday season has become a time of anxiety and declining bank accounts. The peace of Christ is traded for an anxiety-laden spending spree.

Lutherans are Advent people. We have the best—and possibly the most—Advent hymns. We are a people prepared for the changes and chances of life by Christ’s own Word and Sacrament, which is given to you week in and week out in the Divine Service. Advent is not a time to rush to Christmas, but a time to prepare for the twelve-day celebration of Christmas. We prepare not only by baking our traditional cookies and slowly decorating our houses and sanctuaries, but by hearing the Word, repenting of our sins, and worshipping our God in human flesh, who gives us His own body to feast on, granting peace to our hearts.

As you prepare for Christmas, I encourage you to not rush, which makes this most blessed celebration a time of anxiety. Savour the countdown that Advent traditions—such as the wreath—provide.

Go to church. Relish this season of preparation. I encourage you to light the candles on your home advent wreath daily, and sing an Advent hymn from your hymnal in eager anticipation of Christ’s coming.

Remember that once He came in blessing, all your sins redressing. Let the advent of our King, your prayers now employ. Invite the Saviour of the nations to come, so that the Virgin’s Son makes your home His home! For He comes not to cause anxiety, but to comfort, comfort His people and speak peace to you. And let the whole season culminate not just in parties and gifts, not merely in carols by candlelight, but by receiving the greatest gift of all in the feast of God’s own flesh on Christmas Day and throughout the new year!

A blessed Advent and Christmas be yours in Christ, our soon coming Lord.

Rev. David Haberstock, Regional Pastor

Central Regional News

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and NW OntarioNW - Michelle Saskatchewan, Manitoba, OntarioHeumann, editor

Good Shepherd Lutheran has roaring summer of activities REGINA, Sask. - In July, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church held a roar of a Vacation Bible School, teaching all in attendance that life is wild but God is good. The twentytwo children were divided into four crews of varying ages, ranging from ages 4-12. Each day, two crews joined to participate in the day’s activities of Sing & Play Roar, Wild Bible Adventures, Imagination Station, Stampede Sports, Hungry Herd Café, the with a KidVid Cinema, which featured films about real kids in Africa living out their faith in really cool ways.

One Wild Bible Adventure talked about Moses and the plagues God

sent to “let His people go,” because Pharaoh’s heart was hardened against this. Trying to demonstrate the pestilence plague, Rev. James Chimirri-Russell asked the crew, “You know when you’re sitting outside on a beautiful summer night, enjoying a cool refreshment?

What comes along to disrupt that?”

Liam, age 12, answered “Your brothers!”

In the fall, the church held a carnival celebrating Jesus as our ringmaster, featuring carnival games like a watermelon-eating contest, and carnival food like popcorn and cotton candy. One of the highlights was a dunk tank, for which the

three church workers took turns being the target. The children were allowed to try their hand for free, but $1 per throw was charged for the adults. It turned out that a number of adults were willing to pay just to get a chance at putting one of these men into the water, which was uncomfortably cool and not so fresh after many dunkings. Consequently, $185 was raised for Canadian Lutheran World Relief to further clean drinking water. The Lutheran Laymen’s League also supplied a variety of booklets, geared towards children and learning about Jesus.

Isabelle Ladwig

St. Peter’s Estevan celebrates 100 Years of Blessing ESTEVAN, Sask. - St. Peter’s Lutheran Church celebrated its centennial on Sunday, November 3, 2019. With the theme of “100 Years of Blessing,” there was a worship service with communion, a roast beef dinner, and fellowship that was attended by 100 people.

Rev. David Haberstock, Regional Pastor, delivered the sermon and presided over the service, along with St. Peter’s pastor, Rev. Randy Kleemola.

St. Peter’s has a history that dates back to the pioneer days of Saskatchewan, when it began in the fall of 1918 as a mission project with Rev. William Reitz as the first pastor. A flu epidemic prevented services from being held as public gatherings were forbidden, so

regular services began in 1919 with four families. By the grace of God, the congregation is blessed that today four and five generations of those who began St. Peters continue to worship here. What a blessing and testament to faith as the church

continues to spread the Word of God to all people.

The congregation thanks God for blessing them this past century and prays He will continue to bless St. Peter’s for another century.

Denise Dougherty

THE 2019 THECANADIAN CANADIANLUTHERAN LUTHERANNovember/December November/December 201925 3

Central Regional News

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, OntarioHeumann, editor Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and NW OntarioNW - Michelle

Manitoba-North Western Ontario Church Workers’ Conference KENORA, Ont. - On Monday, O c t o b e r 7 , s eve n t e e n c h u rc h workers gathered at Luther Village for fellowship and a supper at the opening of the ManitobaNorth Western Ontario Church Worker’s Conference. The opening service followed, at which Rev. Cameron Schnarr and Lutheran Church–Canada President Timothy Teuscher were liturgist and celebrant respectively, with Central Regional Pastor Rev. David Haberstock as guest preacher.

The presenter for the conference wa s P re s i d e n t Te u s c h e r. H e presented three sessions based on C.F.W. Walther’s Essays for the Church, touching on the various aspects of worship in Walther’s

day and how workers should apply these same principles today—since neither God’s Word, nor His Son, have changed. His Word remains the same yesterday, today and forever! Rev. Jacob Quast also led an exegetical study on Revelation 7:2-17.

During the business meeting, Rev. Cameron Schnarr was elected as chair of the conference for 2020, and Rev. Alex Timm was elected as secretary.

The next conference will be held at Luther Village on October 5-7, 2020.

LCC President Timothy Teuscher

Rev. Harold Borchardt

Mount Olive gives away clothing...and more REGINA, Sask. - On September 7, 2019, Mount Olive Lutheran gave away clothing and footwear to 307 guests, along with a bagged lunch.

Guests were also offered a Bible and a Portals of Prayer devotional booklet, and children were provided with devotional booklets from Concordia Publishing House and Lutheran Hour Ministries. The Bibles and devotional resources were provided thanks to a LWML grant. The congregation praises God for the opportunity to provide the word to the community, and trusts that God will make it grow.

With notes from Arletta Wood

Becky Gust and Lila Wendling at the tables of Bibles and devotional booklets

A Surprise Celebration WINNIPEG, Man. - On Sunday, October 8, 2019, Holy Cross Lutheran Church held a surprise celebration after service for two faithful members of the congregation: Pat Hergesheimer and retired pastor Rev. Richard Kruesel.

Pat was recognized for her fortytwo years as the church’s council secretary, as well as being the organist for over twenty years. Rev. Kruesel was celebrating his 82nd birthday. Rev. Harald Schoubye gave

a beautiful prayer for the both of them and the president, August Jaeger, gave a short speech about Pat’s dedication to her work and presented her with a lovely inscribed plaque.

The celebration continued with a delicious meal and two large cakes for the two honourees, which had been lovingly prepared by the ladies of the church.

Larry Krause

Send news, photos, articles, and announcements to: Michelle Heumann, Regional Editor regionaleditor@lutheranchurch.ca

4 UTHERAN 26TTHEHECCANADIAN ANADIANLL UTHERAN November/December November/December2019 2019

Rev. Harald Schoubye, Pat Hergesheimer, Rev. Richard Kruesel

Contact Rev. David Haberstock, Regional Pastor at: dhaberstock@lutheranchurch.ca 1-800-663-5673

East Region News

Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada Michelle editor Ontario, and Quebec, New Brunswick, NovaHeumann, Scotia

In-reaching outside the box: A confirmation camp for all ages!

ANGOLA, New York - It seemed like a strange idea at the time: an all-ages Lutheran camp that would provide a balance of fun and silly activities for free time, including games, kayaking, rock climbing, paintball, and more, paired with mature theological sessions and reverent worship services. Could the topic “What is Worship?” be of interest to young and old alike?

Would little kids really be able to sit through three services a day?

At this year’s first-ever family Lutheran Catechetical camp at Camp Pioneer in Angola, New York, the answer to these questions was a resounding “yes.”

In the last week of July 2019, sixteen families of various sizes and ages gathered daily for matins, Bible Study, Vespers, Compline, and plenary sessions focused on the history of Lutheran worship and its Old Testament roots. Sessions and studies were led by Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau, Rev. David Smilek, Rev. David Milette, and seminarian David Zakel. Campers came from as far afield as Quebec, the Maritimes, and even Texas! The

largest challenge was not enough room for all the demand. The camp sold out within weeks of being open for registration, and space will be increased for 2020, when the theme will be “In Christ,” led by a team of pastors with a keynote presenter from Lutherans in Africa.

Camper Laura Vandermeersch reported: “As a couple with three young children, it was encouraging to see so many Lutheran families...

The most important thing that we as parents hope for our children is to be raised in a loving family who

makes Christ the center... We are not alone in this hope for our family. It was heartening to see the children outnumbering the adults and enjoying this camp just as much. By the end of the week, new friendships were formed... The promise is there that we will meet again! The worship services were outstanding, the Bible studies engaging, the activities comical, the camaraderie incredible, and a gathering of wonderful Lutheran people proclaiming Christ is Lord, which is priceless!”

Elise Ristau

Preaching Christ Crucified for 145 years KURTZVILLE, Ont. - Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, situated just outside Kurtzville, celebrated 145 years on June 16, 2019. After divine service, a memorial service was held in the cemetery, remembering the saints who have gone before. A lovely lunch was held afterwards in the basement.

This year Trinity celebrated twenty years of service from Rev. Kurt Reinhardt. Members planned a surprise luncheon after service on August 15 to show their appreciation for his dedicated service to the Lord.

Submitted by members of Trinity Evangelical Church

Pastor ’s family: Johann, Ta m my, R ev. R e i n h a rd t , Eduard, Beatrice, and Sofia (in front)

THE 2019 THECANADIAN CANADIANLUTHERAN LUTHERANNovember/December November/December 201927 1

East Region News

Ontario,and Quebec, New Brunswick, NovaHeumann, Scotia Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada - Michelle editor

Sauerkraut fundraiser for Haiti DASHWOOD, Ont. - The Men’s Fellowship Group of Zion Lutheran Church put on a fundraising Sauerkraut and Sausage Dinner on September 28. The mission project was feed children through the Haiti Lutheran Mission Society. All the food supplies were donated, so the entire proceeds of $1,100 went to the mission. This annual event has been going on for over twenty-five years, providing funds for various needs.

Earl Keller

From the regional pastor Help is on the way

A

s I travel around the East Region, at times I need to stay in hotels. Some are in bigger cities and some in small towns. When I stay in places like Montreal or Toronto, it seems that all night I hear sirens—ambulances or fire trucks heading somewhere.

Different people hear sirens differently. Some hear a siren and think; “Which side road did that go down?” They know who lives there and may even head out to see if they can help the family.

Some hear a siren and look to see which way it went so they can avoid going that way and being inconvenienced. They feel that it has nothing to do with them.

When you hear a siren, you can think: “Someone is in trouble. They are hurting or sick. There is a fire burning.” I prefer to think; “Help is on the way.”

When I hear a siren, I say a prayer for those in need of help, but also a prayer of thanksgiving because help is on the way.

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas and the birth of our Saviour, consider that for generations people heard “Help is on the way.” Since the Garden of Eden, humanity has been sick with the corruption of sin. All that God had created pure and holy was cursed. All mankind was destined for the fires of hell, but help was on the way. No sooner had Adam and Eve given in to the temptations of the father of lies when the heavenly Father promised that help was

28TTHEHECCANADIAN ANADIANLL UTHERAN November/December November/December2019 2019 2 UTHERAN

on the way. Through generation after generation, by the mouth of prophet after prophet, He retold that promise.

The many people who heard the prophets died before the Saviour was laid in the manger of Bethlehem.

Yet they believed in the promise of our heavenly Father.

They trusted that Help was on the way.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith does not have to see or touch, so, in faith, we know that Jesus came. In faith we know that He will come again. In faith we know that He comes to us in His word to convict us of our sin and forgive the repentant.

In faith we know that the Word Incarnate comes to us with His body and blood in the blessed supper.

During Advent we hear another siren call that help is on the way—God’s promise from the mouths of His prophets spoken through the mouths of His called shepherds of today. As we hear His promise, we remember that we are the ones sick and diseased with sin. We are the ones who were destined for the fires of hell. But thanks be to our heavenly Father; He has sent help in the Word made flesh.

The Son of God left His throne in heaven to come among us. He bore our sickness of sin. He is our help, our Saviour from the fires of hell. And to all who have faith in Jesus, He gives eternal life.

Rev. Marvin Bublitz, Regional Pastor

East Region News

Ontario,and Quebec, New Brunswick, NovaHeumann, Scotia Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada - Michelle editor

EDLYA: A year in review EAST REGION - The East District Lutheran Young Adults (EDLYA) are a group that hosts four retreats a year at various churches to encourage fellowship, new relationships, and growth in Christ.

The winter retreat was hosted

by Good Shepherd in Amherstburg, Ontario with speaker Rev. Kirk Radford, who presented sessions on worship. The group was excited and surprised to find air mattresses provided when they arrived. The congregation also treated the group to a potluck!

In May, EDLYA had a spring retreat. This year it was a joint youth and young adult retreat with many new faces. It was one of the biggest retreats yet, with nearly forty attendees. The youth team put in a great deal of work creating exciting programming like homemade escape rooms, scavenger hunts, and group charades. It was a great chance for fellowship and worship. Rev. Dr. James Keller was the presenter and led an interactive session on the Bible and health. EDLYA looks forward to hosting more joint events in the future.

The summer retreat took place on the August long weekend, at Grace

Lutheran Church in Kincardine, Ontario. The group camped on the property, enjoying swimming and a bonfire, and were treated to a community pig roast. Rev. Robert Clifford was the speaker, presenting on the Reformation.

The fall retreat was the first weekend in November and took place at Grace Lutheran Church in St. Catharines, Ontario. Dr. Leah Koetting Block spoke about the Christian response to physicianassisted suicide/euthanasia, and the session were shared with the Lutherans for Life Canada. EDLYA also had an annual general meeting and made plans for the year ahead.

EDLYA has enjoyed a year full of blessings, with exciting opportunities, new visitors, and much support. With some of the

highest numbers ever, the executive looks forward to a year of continued growth.

Thanks to all the people who supported the activities this year, including the congregations who hosted, the Lutheran’s Layman’s League and Lisa Jackson, Lutherans for Life Canada, those involved with the youth, and a special thanks to the executive board for all their work. EDLYA is thankful for and asks for continued prayers from the church.

The next retreat will be in January 2020 in the Toronto Circuit, for young adults age 18-35. More information will be released closer to the date at edlya.ca or through edlya101@gmail.com.

Erika Schroth

75 years of God’s grace S I M C O E , O n t . - S t . Pe t e r ’ s Lutheran Church celebrated its 75th anniversary on October 20. Located 70 minutes due south of Kitchener and twelve minutes north of the north shore of Lake Erie, Simcoe is in the heart of southern Ontario’s farm land. It was there, in September 1940, that some Lutheran families invited Rev. John Woefle, pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Rhineland (Delhi, Ontario) to establish a Lutheran mission in Simcoe. With concern for the Lutherans in Simcoe, and with an eye for mission outreach, Rev. Woefle accepted the invitation. Two months later, in early November, the

first service was held.

On June 18, 1944, the congregation of St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church was established. Trusting in God’s providential grace in Christ, the new congregation bought land in the town of Simcoe on November 10 of the same year. The building was dedicated four years later on October 17, 1948, with three worship services to accommodate the more than 1650 worshipers who attended the dedication.

Rev. Dan Abraham

Four generations of Lutherans celebrating God’s grace in Christ Jesus at St. Peter’s: toddler Grace Jager, her mother Caroline Jager, great-grandma Doreen Schaeffer (seated), g randma Laur ie Schaef fer (standing).

THE 2019 THECANADIAN CANADIANLUTHERAN LUTHERANNovember/December November/December 201929 3

East Region News

Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada - Michelle editor Ontario,and Quebec, New Brunswick, NovaHeumann, Scotia

“That will cost you a nickel:” Rev. Paul Zabel retires KITCHENER, Ont. - Dozens of former staff, clergy, and friends joined with family at Golf’s Steakhouse in Kitchener on September 20, 2019, for an evening of good food, fellowship, and merriment to honour the service of Rev. Paul J. Zabel. District President from 2009-2018, Rev. Zabel’s favourite sayings after graciously doing a favour for someone was to announce, “That will cost you a nickel.” Well, that Friday night was pay-up time as a crowd formed to happily pay up the nickels owed.

Rev. Ro b e r t K re s t i c k , t h e eve n i n g ’ s M C , s k i l l f u l l y a n d humorously led attendees through the many eager speakers and letters of gratitude and well wishes from past and present church leadership, former vicars, and colleagues.

Rev. Zabel was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He earned a B.A. at Concordia Sr. College in Ft. Wayne, India, followed by an M.Div. at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. It was there he met his future wife, Judy.

After graduation, the two married

and travelled to the farming area of Knierim, Iowa, where they remained four years before being called to Clifford, Ontario. Paul and Judy remained for twenty-six years at St. John’s Lutheran Church and raised Kim, Kristin, Brian, and Tim in this small Ontario town.

After so long, what could pull someone away? Well, in this case, it was the call of the East District people who elected him as District President in 2009, a service he continued until his retirement at the end of 2018.Over the years, many people have come to know him as a friend and appreciate his words of wisdom and advice as

The Zabel family. Rev. Zabel and Judy are shown here with their adult children and most of their grandchildren.

much as his sense of humour, and both were honoured.

Pa r t i c i p a n t s t h a n k C a t h y Holland who designed table centerpieces of autumn flowers, including a miniature fishing pole with lure built by husband her Darryll, who organized the evening. Thanks are also given to all the speakers who put so much thought and effort into captivating presentations.

Ilene Fortin Photo credit: Darryll Holland

Pastors’ Wives Retreat GUELPH, Ont. - From September 27-28, the East Region Pastors’ Wives Retreat held a renewing and edifying weekend of worship, reflection, and fellowship, at a beautiful retreat centre in Guelph.

Rev. Greg Johnson of Our Saviour Lutheran Church (Etobicoke, Ontario) led the well-appreciated services, and taught about the lives and martyrdom of early Christian saints, St. Perpetua and St. Felicity, in his sessions “Faith Under Pressure: Discovering Strength and Courage in Adversity.” Both

games had been planned, it quickly became apparent that there was no need to break the ice, as everyone got o n s w i m m i n g l y, and plans will be made in the new year for the next event.

Elise Ristau returning and new retreat attendees alike enjoyed the time spent with each other. Though many icebreaker

Send news, photos, articles, and announcements to: Michelle Heumann, Regional Editor regionaleditor@lutheranchurch.ca

30 ANADIANLL UTHERAN November/December November/December2019 2019 4 TTHEHECCANADIAN UTHERAN

Contact Rev. Marvin Bublitz, Regional Pastor, at: mbublitz@lutheranchurch.ca 1-855-893-1466

Mission News www.canadianlutheran.ca

Transition for LAMP missionary “a time for both joy and sadness” WARMAN, Sask. - A new chapter began with tears of both joy and sadness as the congregational leaders of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Warman, Saskatchewan blessed and sent their pastor of 18 years into the mission field. Rev. Randy Heide will serve with the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots (LAMP) in Northwest Ontario.

“It certainly is difficult to leave after 18 years,” explained Rev. Heide, noting that for his family, “Warman truly was home. The roots established there enabled our boys to have a stable place to grow up and be given a foundation of faith and community.”

He continued: “When our family considered this change of focus for ministry, they were able to see my excitement for the opportunity to help congregations all across our country and the United States to look outside of their own communities and seek the amazing opportunity to serve— to serve God’s people in remote northern communities in Canada who are calling for the Gospel message, and to give the gift of time to share the

peace and love of Jesus Christ from their hearts.”

The service of sending at the Warman congregation was a time for praising the Lord in song, Scripture, and preaching. Blessings were shared

by Revs. Rob Grout (Saskatoon Circuit Counsellor), Murray Keith (St. Paul’s, Saskatoon), Rod Parker (Vacancy/Grace, Saskatoon), and David Haberstock (Central Regional Pastor), along with sending blessings offered by Gord Martens (Elder, St. John’s), Albert Spaerman (Elder, St. John’s), Jason Schmiedge (Chairman, St. John’s), and Ron Ludke (Executive Director, LAMP).

Over the winter, Rev. Randy Heide will transition into his new role with LAMP alongside Rev. Dennis Ouelette, who is retiring in February 2020. Time will be spent handing over the mantle, as Rev. Heide is introduced to both the communities he will serve and the volunteer sending congregations he will serve alongside. Together, Revs.

Heide and Ouellette will prepare for next summer’s Vacation Bible Schools in the northern Ontario communities

Rev. Heide’s installation as LAMP missionary.

served by LAMP by visiting some of the remote communities and meeting with local Christians and key community leaders.

If you would like to have Rev. Randy Heide visit your congregation and share more about the work LAMP is doing in Northern Canada, please email randy@lampministry.org or call 1-800-307-4036 ext. 711. If you want to have an impact by becoming a volunteer or supporter of this ministry, please visit LAMP’s website at www. lampministry.org.

Continuing Education classes for Nicaraguan pastors resumes NICARAGUA - Continuing education classes for pastors in the Lutheran Church Synod of Nicaragua (Iglesia Luterana Sínodo de Nicaragua - ILSN) resumed in November, with Lutheran Church–Canada pastor Brian Dunlop of Faith Lutheran (Desboro, Ontario) teaching a series of classes on New Testament Greek.

“After last year’s political unrest effectively closed borders to Nicaragua, the ways in which Lutheran Church– Canada would provide support for the missions of the ILSN was uncertain,” explains Rev. Dunlop. The ability to return to on-the-ground missions is, he says, reason for thanksgiving. “It’s all a gift. The whole experience is a gift— the free, undeserved favour of God.” The November classes taught

by Rev. Dunlop with the aid of a translator focused on the “I Am” statements of Jesus from the

ILSN pastors pose with their certificates following New Testament Greek classes in Nicaragua.

Gospel of John, and the Nicaraguan pastors were excited to work through full sentences in Greek from their bibles. Daily quizzes gave them the chance to see how much they had learned each day, as well as throughout the week.

Concordia Lutheran Theological

Seminary (St. Catharines, Ontario) provided certificates to all those who completed the course.

Participants were also blessed to spend each day in chapel together for Matins and Vespers, utilizing material from a new Lutheran Spanish hymnal currently in production.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

31

Education News www.canadianlutheran.ca

ILC World Seminaries Conference meets in Philippines

Attendees of the opening worship service of the 2019 ILC World Seminaries Conference.

All of the major papers presented Perspective.” Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann PHILIPPINES - The 7 th World during the conference will be printed of the United States spoke on “The Seminaries Conference of the in both English and Portuguese in Role of the Church in the Face of International Lutheran Council (ILC) the theological journal of Seminario Declining Influence of Christianity took place October 15-18, 2019 in Concordia, a seminary of the in North America.”

The final speaker Baguio City, Philippines.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil. on the theme was Rev. Samuel R. The ILC is a growing association A total of 23 theological institutions Fuhrmann of Brazil, who brought a of confessional Lutheran church we re re p re s ented at b o d i e s w o r l d w i d e. the conference, with The World Seminaries p a r t i c i p a n t s c o m ing Conference brings from Argentina, Brazil, together representatives Canada, Chile, England, of confessional Lutheran E t h i o p i a , G e r m a n y, theological institutions Ghana, Guatemala, India, from around the world Indonesia, Latvia, Norway, in an effort to promote the Philippines, Russia, increased partnership.

South Africa, South The 2019 conference Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, met under the Tanzania, the United theme: “Confessional States of America, and Lutheranism: Doctrinal Venezuela.

Identity in Different Canadian participants Cultural Contexts.” The The newly installed ILC World Seminaries Committee, along with the ILC’s a t t h e 2 0 1 9 Wo r l d theme was introduced Chairman and General Secretary. Pictured (l-r): Rev. Dr. Jun Hyun Kim, Rev. Seminaries Conference

by Rev. Dr. Werner Klän Dr. Roland Ziegler, Dcn. Dr. Cynthia Lumley, ILC Chairman Hans-Jörg Voigt, ILC General Secretary Timothy Quill, and Rev. Dr. Sergio Schelske. included the presidents (Germany) and Rev. Dr. of Lutheran Church– Roland Ziegler (USA), and Canada’s (LCC) two seminaries: Latin American perspective to the was subsequently explored throughout Rev. Dr. James Gimbel (Concordia topic, speaking on “Ecclesial Lutheran the conference by keynote presenters Lutheran Seminary - Edmonton) and Identity and the Church’s Mission in from across the globe.

Rev. Dr. Thomas Winger (Concordia the Face of the Reality of Favelas.”

India’s Rev. Dr. Samuel Thompson Lutheran Theological Seminary - St. The second section of the conference presented on “Christology in an Catharines, Ontario). Also attending explored what a common-ground Asian context.” Germany’s Rev. were LCC President Timothy Lutheran curriculum for theological Dr. Christoph Barnbrock brought a Teuscher and Past President Robert education recognized by all ILC European perspective on the theme, Bugbee; both sit on the ILC’s Board member churches would look like. presenting on “Lutheran Identity in of Directors, which held meetings Dr. Klän of Germany and Rev. Dr. a Post-Christian Context.” Rev. Dr. in conjunction with the World Timothy Quill, the ILC’s new General Nicolas Salifu of Ghana provided Seminaries Conference.

Secretary, moderated discussion of an exploration of Lutheran doctrine The next ILC World Seminaries the theme, and multiple presenters within an African context, speaking Conference will take place in 2022. provided insight. on “Spiritual Warfare in a Lutheran

32

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

MEDIA in Mission

News from Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada and Lutheran Hour Ministries www.LLL.ca

Partnering with You in HIS mission

2019

Exciting new ventures at LLL Canada “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

2 Corinthians 3: 2-3

Spiritual Conversation workshops now available

O

ur mandate as an auxiliary of Lutheran Church–Canada is to provide the resources and tools you may use as individuals, congregations and groups, to share the Gospel.

Since this time last year, we at LLL Canada have been on the move both physically and spiritually—getting the message out that we are here for you. We have been zigzagging across the country to take part in Spiritual Conversation workshops and it is impossible to hide our excitement about the groundbreaking materials from Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM). LHM has created resources and online courses to address the needs of both the churched and non-churched and we are delighted to be able to share them with you.

If you haven’t been able to attend or host one of the workshops, there will be opportunity to join one in 2020. LHM Media in Mission 2019

has partnered with Barna Group—an industry leader for research-based insights about faith and culture, leadership and vocation, and generational groups—on a critical three-year study of faith in North America. You may be wondering how applicable an extensive study of American Christians might be to Lutherans in Canada.

We wanted to be certain of the relevancy too, and so earlier this year, LLL Canada’s board of directors invited Dr. David Haskell of Wilfred Laurier University to speak with us at our strategic planning session held in Waterloo, Ontario.

Dr. Haskell’s teaching and research focuses on religion in Canada, media in Canada, and religion and media in Canada.

His current research interest is growth and decline in Canada’s churches and religious engagement of youth.

What we learned from Dr. Haskell is that despite the cultural differences between Christians living in Canada and those in the United States, the

The Conversation Curve: In Spiritual Conversation workshops you learn to engage in faithful prayer and fruitful conversation with the people in your life who do not share your faith.

A number of books based on Barna’s research are available.

research findings about important issues such as declining attendance, engagement and reluctance in faith-sharing are the same across all North America, and so we feel very confident in using and sharing the material.

How to Talk About Your Faith offers help in getting past conversational hurdles by focusing on someone’s “spiritual posture,” so as not to impose a conversation that’s forced or ill-timed.

The Eager Conversationalist offers insights to help us become more intentional

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019 1 33

Workshops, continued and more eager to engage in spiritual conversations with others, and Households of Faith teaches what the Bible proclaims and what the latest research confirms: that messy prayers, loud tables and open doors are prevalent in a Spiritually Vibrant Household.

Engaging millenials in new ways

D

r. Haskell’s research on youth and young adults also prompted us to take a closer look at how we engage with millennials and other generations that may be underrepresented in our churches across Canada.

Dr. Haskell identified in his research that youth are more interested in purpose and meaning in this life than what awaits them in the afterlife. The focus on what is going

LLL Canada

Partnering with You in HIS mission Media in Mission is published by Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada and its Lutheran Hour Ministries.

LLL Canada’s mission is to assist in the proclamation of the Gospel by creating, distributing and promoting resources through various media and equipping Christians for outreach.

Board of Directors: President, Gordon Schoepp, Onoway, AB; Directors: Marilyn Jacobi, Kitchener, ON; Joel Haberstock, Coldstream BC; Stephen Braaten, Regina, SK.; Brian Wardle, Kitchener, ON. Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada 270 Lawrence Ave. Kitchener, ON, N2M 1Y4 1-800-555-6236 • www.LLL.ca

342 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN

on “right here, right now” may sound very familiar as those exact words were spoken by Greta Thunberg in her impassioned address to the United Nations this September. While it is impossible to compete with Greta Thunberg for the attention of young people gifting their time and energy into the movement of the moment, it would be ill advised not to pay close attention to what makes young people take action and get involved.

LLL has been joyfully supported for over 100 years as a well-known institution of the Lutheran Church, and many of those who have faithfully devoted their time to LLL conventions and attended fundraiser BBQs have already gone to heaven.

Canadian Millennial confidence in institutional leadership (specifically religious organizations) is at an all-time low, so we are adapting to engage young minds.

Rather than setting up events and hoping people will “sign up” we are actively pursuing the talents and gifts of young people and demonstrating confidence in their talents and abilities. The secular world and their peers have been giving them respect and admiration.

We are striving to show that this can also come from their Christian brothers and sisters. Our prayer is that we will July/August 2019

learn to adapt from them, while they develop a sense of responsibility and self-sacrifice and a greater chance of continuing their faith into adulthood.

One example of young talent supporting the LLL is Amelia Hatzitolios of Barrie, Ontario. Amelia is an artist and has designed artwork to be used in our branding, on our Advent devotions and most recently for our Christmas cards. Amelia is helping us to reach people with the message of the Gospel in

a visual way and we are blessed to work with her.

Throughout the year we have also engaged with three different young men who have shared their talents through digital design, website development, and videography. It can be challenging to work in a way so different from what we are accustomed to, but if there is an opportunity for us to facilitate God working in their lives, then it will be worth any amount of effort.

The artwork of Amelia Hatzitolios of Barrie, Ont., graces our Advent devotions and Christmas cards as well as our branding.

You can help us identify talented young people in your congregation. Contact Managing Director Lisa Jackson- 1-800-555-6236 or director@lll.ca.

Media in Mission 2019

French Ministry creeps across borders

L

ate in the summer our travels took us to Ascension Lutheran Church in Montreal, where we worshipped with the French language mission of Lutheran Church–Canada. Earlier this year, Rev. Dr. David Somers took part in the French language evangelical book fair in Montreal, and several LHM Project Connect booklets were showcased.

We were excited to connect and hear about their experience.

Almost all the Lutheran materials available for laity in French throughout the world are produced by LLL Canada in partnership with LHM.

Some of the Project Connect booklets going into a “care package” for Haitians living in Brooklyn.

Who is Jesus?, Why Did Jesus Die?, What is Faith in Jesus?, My Digital Voice, and How to Talk About Your Faith: An Introduction to the Spiritual Conversation Curve, have been translated this year in an attempt to increase

the resources available for French-speaking Lutherans.

The small group of French speakers who worship at Ascension have a heart for missions.

That fact makes it easy to

YouTube channel reaches millenials online About topics important to you.

Pastor Chris says the project started because the Rev. Chris Paavola on YouTube.

Church has incredibly n his YouTube channel under-utilized YouTube.

“What Jesus Says YouTube is the 2nd About…”, Pastor Chris largest search engine in Paavola finishes the the world, owned by the statement “What Jesus largest search engine in says about…” for a variety the world. of topics.

Reaching the The channel is a quick millennial non-Christian and easy place for you on YouTube means to find What Jesus Says putting up content that

I

Media in Mission 2019

is searchable which led to the question; “What search terms would people use to find information about Jesus?”

That’s when the fine folks at THRED and Lutheran Hour Ministries realized that a channel called “What Jesus Says About” would be worthwhile.

A link to the YouTube channel “What Jesus says about…” can be found on our Messages of Hope page Go to https://www.lll. ca/radio-tv-and-podcasts/ to find it and other great resources. New videos are uploaded every Thursday.

respond and look for ways to support their outreach efforts.

Recently Dr. Somers informed us that there is a Haitian outreach based in St. Matthew, Brooklyn, New York, that is growing steadily and making impacts among French-speaking Haitians in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn. We plan to share the resources we have with this community and will be sending a Christmas “care package” with samples of all the materials we have available. This includes the Advent devotional booklet translated to French each year.

Messages of hope Also on the lll.ca webpage you can find links to messages of hope and inspiration, including: sermons from LCC churches across Canada, podcasts, mobile apps, Canadian radio schedule for The Lutheran Hour, French and Spanish resources.

Providing Christcentred answers to life’s everyday issues is the purpose of the resources found on this section of the website.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2019

3 35

Lutheran Hour Ministries in Nicaragua Mission staff well respected and appreciated in community

I

n January we had opportunity to visit with the LHM Ministry Center in Nicaragua— the only LHM Ministry Center in the world that is supported by both the U.S. and Canada.

Cristo para todas las naciones (Christ for all nations) follows the ministry model of employing people native to the country in which they serve and are well respected in the community. The staff and volunteers are invited into schools and medical clinics to speak on topics such as ethical living, and responsible parenting.

They are also respected for their computer training courses and are invited by

Managing Director Lisa Jackson and Rev. Robert Krestick with staff and volunteers of the Lutheran Hour Ministries team on site in León, Nicaragua.

private businesses to teach, using laptops that were donated for use in the ministry center.

Led by their director,

Ricardo Arguello, they provide support through materials and encouragement to the pastors and deaconesses

of the Nicaragua Synod (ILSN) and use every opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus their Saviour.

LHM Sunday resource distinctly Canadian

I

n Canada we enjoy the benefits of being independent from—yet supported by a global organization. Lutheran Hour Ministries proclaims the Gospel to more than 125 million people worldwide each week, and reaches into more than 50 countries. Following the ministry model of working with people in their own country, an opportunity came up in the spring to create a uniquely Canadian tool for congregations to showcase LHM materials.

Staff at Lutheran Hour Ministries in St. Louis provided their time and talent to create a whiteboard-style video showcasing the many great resources available from Lutheran Hour Ministries. If you have not seen this fun video, it can be found at www. lll.ca/home. Scroll down to the link under the heading LHM Sunday and watch it for yourself.

364 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN

If you would like a hard copy for your church or group, give us a call at 1-800-555-6236 or email us info@lll.ca.

November/December 2019

Media in Mission 2019

In Memorium Rev. Joseph Khembo Alfazema, the father of confessional Lutheran missions in Mozambique, passed on to glory on May 11 , 2 01 9 i n Edmonton, Alberta. Rev. Alfazema was native to Mozambique but fled to Canada with his wife Perpetua in the 1980s to escape civil war.

Rev. Alfazema pursued pastoral ministry through Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (St. Catharines, Ontario), and was called to serve Lutheran Church–Canada as a missionary to Mozambique upon his graduation.

While his wife Perpetua focused on social ministry needs through the Kuwangisana Project, Rev. Alfazema focused on Gospel proclamation and evangelization.

Rev. Alfazema returned to Canada for health reasons following his retirement, but the work they began continued. In 2018, the church which grew out of his mission work was officially recognized by the Mozambican government as the Concordia Christian Church in Mozambique (ICCM).

Today, the ICCM has grown to 80 congregations. A funeral for Rev. Alfazema was held on May 18, 2019 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Edmonton, Alberta.

R e v. K e n n e t h ( K e n ) R o y Eichenlaub passed away suddenly on November 18, 2019. He was born in L e t h b r i d g e, Alberta on February 25, 1943 to parents Mabel Eichenlaub (née Hammerand) and Rev. Valentine Eichenlaub. The family moved to Nanaimo, B.C. in 1955.

Rev. E i c h e n l a u b s t u d i e d a t Concordia University in Portland, Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he graduated in 1969. Rev. Eichenlaub became pastor of St. Paul’s in Nanaimo where he served from 1971-1984, following in the footsteps of his father.

He also attended Simon Fraser University where he received his teaching certificate. He taught in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District; the Queen Margaret’s School in Duncan, B.C.; Mount Elizabeth Secondary School in Kitimat, B.C.; Chemainus Native College; and as an ESL teacher in South Korea.

Rev. Eichenlaub returned to pastoral ministry in 2000, taking a call to Langenburg, Saskatchewan as well as serving Landestreu and MacNutt until 2008, followed by congregations in Inglis and Grandview, Manitoba.

He retired in 2016 and spent time in Toronto before moving to Duncan, B.C. in 2017.

Rev. Eichenlaub was predeceased by his parents, his brother Art Evans, and the mother of his children, Joan Kareen Eichenlaub (Maczulat) He is survived by his brother Walter (Lorna) and families; daughters Naomi (Sandro) and Natasha (Chris) and son Nathan; and grandchildren Fynn, Nick, Milo, Calum, and Alistair. A funeral service was held November 3 0 a t S t . Pa u l ’ s L u t h e ra n i n Nanaimo, B.C. Rev. Richard Winslow French passed away peacefully at Toronto Grace Health Centre on June 3, 2019 at the age of 76.

Rev. Richard French Jr. was the son of the late Richard French and Anne Sundvall of Massachusetts. He was the dear brother of Elizabeth and her husband

Les Loomis; cherished uncle of Kate and her husband Chris Bechard, Mark Loomis, and Jeff Loomis; and dear friend of Bobbi Lou Gibb.

Rev. French served congregations in Sudbury and Toronto, Ontario.

He served Redeemer Lutheran (Sudbury, Ontario), following his graduation from Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, Indiana) in 1989, and served there until his retirement in 2006 when he retired to Toronto. He was a graduate of the University of Chicago and also attended Brandeis University. He was a self-published a u t h o r w h o e n j oye d w r i t i n g historical fiction novels.

A service was held at Our Saviour Lutheran in Toronto on June 8, 2019.

Internment took place at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Peabody, Massachusetts.

Rev. Larry David Lentz is now cancer-free and walking in heaven. He passed away peacefully on January 25, 2019. He was born in 1944.

Rev. Lentz is remembered by his wife of 51 years, Roberta (Robbie); his three sons Bryan (Heather), Michael (Brandee), and Jeffrey (Aislynn); and his grandchildren, including a new baby boy.

A funeral service was held February 2, 2019 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Didsbury, Alberta. Friends were invited to make memorial tributes to Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Rev. Dale D. Mohr passed away after a lengthy illness in Winnipeg on April 26, 2 01 9 a t t h e age of 79. He is remembered by his wife, Marlene; his children:

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

37

In Memorium (cont.)

Gail in Winnipeg; Paula (Jake) Haltermann in Seminole, Florida; Mary in Tampa, Florida; Jeremy (Joanna) in Regina; and Jonathon (Jennifer) in Shilo, Manitoba; his grandchildren: Jett Haltermann; Hailey (Austin) Spicer; Jack Timmerman; Joshua and Jordyn Mohr. He was predeceased by his parents, Jakob and Mary Mohr; infant sister, Gail in 1947; brothers Claire in 1959, Ralph in 2003, Jack in 2012, and Larry in 2013.

Rev. Mohr was born on July 20, 1939 in Neudorf, Saskatchewan.

He studied at Concordia College (Edmonton) and Concordia Senior College (Fort Wayne, Indiana), and graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri in 1964. He was vicar at Mount Calvary in Calgary, Alberta.

Over the years Rev. Mohr served various congregations: Prince of Peace (Peace River, Alberta); Immanuel (Tomahawk, Alberta); Emmaus (Drayton Valley, Alberta); First (Lloydminister, Alberta); as a Missionary at Large working with indigenous people (Winnipeg, Manitoba); Redeemer (Portage la Prairie, Manitoba); Christ (Langenburg, Saskatchewan); St. Peter’s (Estevan, Saskatchewan); and Director of Missions and Congregational Services for the Central District of Lutheran Church– Canada. He was a participant in several choirs. His sports love was basketball.

Rev. Mohr was diagnosed with COPD in 2008 and courageously accepted the limitations of his disease as it progressed. The family thanks the supportive staff of Seven Oaks Hospital in Winnipeg for their care and compassion during the last months of his life.

A memorial service was held on May 1, 2019 at Peace Lutheran ( W i n n i p e g ) w i t h Re v. B r a d Schollenberg and Rev. Glenn Worcester officiating. Memorial donations were invited to be made to Peace Lutheran Church Memorial Fund or to Lutheran Church– Canada’s Mission Department.

38

Rev. Darwin Eugene Pollard passed away on February 9 , 2 01 9 a t the age of 88 years. He was born May 3, 1930 in Boone, Iowa to parents Orville and Eva (née Rose). He was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviour Lutheran in Des Moines, Iowa on December 29, 1950, the same community where he spent his formative years. Following high school, he entered the Marine Corps and served from 1951-1954, becoming a veteran of the Korean War. He worked for Anderson Erickson Dairy for thirteen years before entering the Lutheran Lay Training Institute (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) in 1966. His first placement in 1968 was as a lay worker to Redeemer Lutheran (Waukegan, Illinois).

In 1974, he accepted a call to the three-point parish of Peace (Spring Valley), Christ (Ormiston), and St. John—now Faith—(Coronach, Saskatchewan). In 1979, he enrolled in the ministerial program at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Upon graduation, he returned to that parish until accepting the call to Good Shepherd Lutheran (Regina) in the fall of 1980. He served as pastor of this congregation until his retirement in 1995. His service to the Central District (formerly the Manitoba and Saskatchewan District) of Lutheran Church–Canada as Fourth Vice President, Circuit Counselor, LWML Pastoral Counselor, LLL Pastoral Counselor, and on the Board of Adjudication.

Rev. Pollard married Lila Lee (née Baumann) in Des Moines on July 6, 1952. God blessed them with 66 years of marriage, as well as with three children Douglas (Colleen) of Moose Jaw, Saskatcheawn; Darla (William Gibson) of Earlham, Iowa; grandchildren Rebecca (Brandon Sachwitz) and William (Kasandra); and great grandchildren Liam and

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

Mayve and Dana (Stephen Braaten) in Regina, Saskatchewan. He spent November and December of 2018 at Pasqua Hospital for medical treatment before moving to longterm care at Parkside Extendicare.

A funeral service was held at Good Shepherd in Regina on February 15, 2019. Interment was scheduled for the spring of 2019 at Highland Memory Gardens in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Canadian Lutheran 2019 Index Table Talk by Mathew Block

Serving Those Who Serve Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April Higher Education and You Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June Train Up a Child Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August The Conquered Foe Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October Christmas Presence Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December

Cover Stories & Features

Honourable Duty, Honourable Wound

by Jennifer Ackerman Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February Burning Out: A Pastor’s Story

by David Haberstock Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February Reclaiming My Voice: A Pastor’s Wife’s Story

by Lise Haberstock Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February Human Rights, the Church, and Canada’s Summer Jobs Program

by Colin Liske Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February I Believe in God the Father Almighty: What Does it Mean that God is our Father?

by Warren Hamp Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April

2019 Index (cont.)

And in Jesus Christ His Only Son

by Stephen Chambers Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April And in the Holy Spirit: What does the Holy Spirit do?

by Kurt Reinhardt Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April A Beautiful Body

by Kurt and Linda Lantz Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April Theology for Everyday Life

by Susan Knowles Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June Deacons in the Church: Vibrant Servants of God

by Jennifer Frim Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June Paul at the Areopagus: A Model for Everyday Apologetics

by Adam Chandler Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June NYG 2019: LCC Youth Find Their Worth in Christ

by Michelle Heumann Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August Worthless?

by Glenn Worcester Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August Maker of All Things... Invisible

by John Stephenson Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October The Devil: Liar, Murderer, and...

Instrument of God?

by Harold Ristau Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October 4 0 0 Ye a r s o f L u t h e ra n i s m in North America: Rasmus Jensen’s Story

by Mathew Block Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October 1519: The Gospel Breakthrough and the Leipzig Debate

by Mathew Block Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church: Going Out of Business?

by Harold Ristau Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December ‘Tis the Season: A Time for Giving, a Time for Children

by Thomas Kruesel Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December If the Lord Wills: A Report on Synodical Planning

by Arnold Drung Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December

International News

Training the Next Generation of Confessional Lutheran Leaders: Lutheran Leadership Development Program Ready to Launch Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February Korean Lutherans celebrate 60 Years Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February A n n u a l Wo r l d Wa t c h L i s t Documents Christian Persecution around the Globe Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February Classes Begin for Lutheran Leadership Development Program Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April ILC Welcomes Tanzanian Diocese into Membership Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April Wittenberg Installation a “Global Event” Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April ILC Commends Dr. Collver for Faithful Service, Names Interim General Secretary Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April ILC Partners with Nigerian Lutherans to Plant Churches Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June G e r m a n L u t h e ra n s d e c l a re Fellowship with Six New Church Bodies Vol. 34. No. 4 July/August L C M S Re e l e c t s P r e s i d e n t Matthew Harrison Vol. 34. No. 4 July/August Swedish Lutherans Consecrate New Bishop Vol. 34. No. 4 July/August LCMS Recognizes Fellowship with Four New Church Bodies Vol. 34. No. 4 July/August LCMS Convention Commends LCC Report on Cremation Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August Latvian and English Lutherans Seek Closer Ties Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August I L C A f r i c a Re g i o n H o l d s Conference in South Africa Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October Ethiopian Lutherans Terminate Partnership with PC(USA) Over Same-Sex Marriage Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October

LCC Meeting with PCPCU in Rome Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October CPH Celebrates 150 Years Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October Ghana’s Lutherans Celebrate 60 Years Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October Former ILC Chairman Called to Glory Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October New General Secretary for the International Lutheran Council Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December Lutherans in Ukraine hold Convention, Reelect Bishop Yurchenko Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December Ingrian Lutherans in Russia Elect New Bishop Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December Confessional Lutherans and Anglicans Take Talks Global Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December An Outsider Visits a Lutheran Church Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December

National News

LCC Worker Benefits Services Hosts Strategic Planning Session Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February LCC National Youth Gathering Registration is Open Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February Reading the Word of God in 2019 Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February Lutheran’s Mark Sanctity of Life Sunday Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February New InfoDigest Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February Board of Directors Meet and Greet Members in Alberta Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April Email Server Problems Resolved Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April CREW Ministries to Wind Down Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June LCC Welcomes New Editor for Regional News Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June Canadian Lutherans Join the March for Life Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June Changes for LCC Communications Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

39

2019 Index (Cont.)

Canadian Lutherans Take Home CCP Awards Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June Edmonton Chosen for 2021 LCC Convention Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June Canadian Churches Targeted in New Scam Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August Lutheran Hour feature Canadian Pastor Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August Commission for Theology and Church Relations at Work Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August LCC Seeking New Communications Director Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August Lutheran Military Chaplains Gather in Ontario Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August Supporting CREW Ministries Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August Guinness World Records Features LCC Pastor Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October ABC District & Officers Settle with ASC Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October LCMS Radio Features Canadian Seminaries, NYG Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October LCC Domain Name Update Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October LCC Financial Update Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December LCC Names New Communications Director Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December 2021 NYG Committee Meets in Winnipeg Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December LLL-Canada Elects New Board Members Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December LFLC Holds Joint Event with EDLYA, Consider Christian Response to End of Life Issues Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December

Mission News

Theological Training for Haiti’s Lutherans Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February Greek Classes Continue for Nicaraguan Pastors Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February

40

Special Transfiguration Fund Paints Nicaraguan Churches Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April LCC International Mission Executive on Hand for Formation of Honduras Synod Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April Missionary to Mozambique Called to Glory; The Church He Founded Continues to Grow Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June Interim Domestic Mission Executive Appointed Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June Diaconal Coordinator for Central America Appointed Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August Anyuak Pastor Installed in Winnipeg Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August Central American Deaconesses Meet in Costa Rica Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August Ukrainian Lutherans Hold “Days of Faith” Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August Pastoral Training in Haiti Through HLMS Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August The Value of the Kingdom of Heaven Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October Transition for LAMP Missionary “a Time for Both Joy and Sadness” Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December Continuing Education Classes for Nicaraguan Pastors Resumes Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December

Education News

CLTS bids Farewell to Dr. Torgerson Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February Rev. K i m Ac c e p t s C a l l t o Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April New Issue of Lutheran Theological Review Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April Creative Missions at Grail Quest Books Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April CCSCF to Host Conference on Technology and Theology Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

First Calls for Graduating Pastors Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June Seminaries Present Honourary Aw a r d s D u r i n g A n n u a l Convocation Services Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June Vicarage Assignments/MTS Graduates from CLTS Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June Grow in Your Faith through Online Video Studies from LCC Seminaries Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June Correction Regarding Lutheran Theological Review Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June When You Fast: New Book from CLTS Professor Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August Learn Hebrew Online Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August CLS and CLTS Call for Award Nominations Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October Seminaries Sunday 2019 Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October LCC Seminaries Launch New School Year Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October CLS Professor to Return to Parish Ministry Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October ILC World Seminaries Conference Meets in Philippines Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December

Presidential Perspective by President Timothy Teuscher

Present in the Holy Word Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February Thinking of Sin but Lightly Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April The Pastoral Office in the Catechism Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June Our Partnership in the Gospel Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August As Angels Do Above Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October God in a Box Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December

Supplements

Lutheran Foundation Canada Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February Concordia Mission Society Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June

2019 Index (Cont.)

Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada Vol. 34 No. 4 July/August Lutheran Association of Missionaries & Pilots Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December

In Review

Aquaman Vol. 34 No. 1 January/February How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Vol. 34 No. 2 March/April Avengers: Endgame Vol. 34 No. 3 May/June IT: Chapter 2 Vol. 34 No. 5 September/October

Transitions

LCC’s Mission Work Support LCC’s missions through online giving at www.lutheranchurch.ca or by mail at: LUTHERAN CHURCH–CANADA 3074 PORTAGE AVENUE WINNIPEG, MB R3K 0Y2

Rev. Randy Heide from St. John’s (Warman, Saskatchewan)/St. Paul’s (Bergheim, Saskatchewan) to L.A.M.P. missionary pastor: Nov. 3, 2019.

Rev. David Maffett from ChatenayMalabry (France) to Candidate Status: Oct. 1, 2019.

R e v. G r e g o r y P a l m e r f r o m Tonawanda (New York) to Candidate Status: Oct. 2019.

Rev. Lester Stahlke, Emeritus (Edmonton, Alberta, resigned from roster: Oct. 3, 2019.

Trinity Lutheran (Lacombe, Alberta) building decomissioned: Oct. 1, 2019.

In Memorium

Vol. 34 No. 6 November/December

ADVERTISE HERE The Canadian Lutheran sells adver tising space to offset t h e co s t o f printing and shipping the magazine to subscribers.

To purchase classified space, or to inquire about other adver tising opportunities with The Canadian Lutheran, please email admin@ lutheranchurch.ca or call 1-800-588-4226.

parasource.com BIBLES CURRICULUM BOOKS & SO MUCH MORE! Serving Canada’s Christian Community

HAVE YOUR SAY The Canadian Lutheran welcomes letters to the editor on articles published in the magazine.

Send submissions to editor@ lutheranchurch.ca with “Letter to the editor”in the subject line.

Letters may also be sent to the

following address: The Canadian Lutheran c/o Lutheran Church–Canada 3074 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3K 0Y2 Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Letters in response to other letters will generally not be published.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

41

Presidential Perspective

God in a Box

by President Timothy Teuscher

“P

ost-modernism” is a word used to describe our society and culture here in the 21st century. In a book I recently read on this subject as it pertains to the mission of the church, the author describes postmodernism in these words: “It is one of fantasy, irreverence, skepticism, materialism, relativism—and any other ‘ism’ one can think of, as well as indulgent, superficial, empty, uncertain, searching, and yet altogether unconcerned.” A rather sad, yet true, indictment of the times in which we are living, isn’t it?

I mention this because at no other time during the year does postmodernism become so pronounced and evident as it does at Christmas.

Think about it for a moment…

Fantasy: The popular tales of Santa Claus and flying reindeer and snowmen coming to life; the seemingly endless television movies about recapturing childhood memories of Christmas and finding true love during this magical time of year—always, of course, with a light dusting of snow on Christmas Eve. Skepticism: Jesus born of a virgin?

Angels singing to shepherds? A star leading some wise men to the infant Jesus? Just a quaint fable invented by the early followers of Jesus. (But if this were so, one might wonder why St. Luke goes to such great lengths to emphasize the historicity of it all? ) Materialism: Christmas shopping, the ‘make it-or-break it’ time for most retail businesses; the season when people throng the stores to buy stuff they don’t need with money they don’t have.

Re l a t i v i s m : T h e m e s s a g e of Christmas reduced to vague

42

platitudes about peace and love and good-will—and that’s about it.

When post-modernites today hear the words of those familiar Christmas carols that somehow still happen to fill the airwaves on the radio or in the shopping malls, they respond like the first-century post-modernite Pontius Pilate or the Greek philosophers who Paul met up with in Athens: “What is this babbling? God becoming flesh in the womb of the virgin Mary and being born in a manger? God sending His own Son into the world in order to die on a cross as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world? Why, that’s nonsense! That’s a rather narrowminded, exclusive claim! Aren’t you, after all, putting God in a box?”

At least they have that part right, for that is precisely what Christmas is about: God in a box. After all, when God the Father sent His only-begotten Son into this world, where did He put Him? Was it not in a box—in the womb of the virgin Mary? When Mary gives birth to her firstborn Son, what does she do? Why, she puts Him in a box—“wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.”

Martin Luther explains it this way: “The Son of God did not want to be seen and found in heaven. Therefore He descended from heaven into this lowliness, came to us in our flesh, laid Himself into the womb of His mother and into the manger and went to the cross. This ladder He placed on earth so that we might ascend to God on it. This is the way you must take. If, however, you forsake this way and try to speculate about the glory of the Divine Majesty without this ladder, you will invent marvelous matters, matters that are far above you; but you will do so to your very great harm.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN November/December 2019

People search for God everywhere; but because they do not search for Him in Christ, they do not find Him. And those who indulge their own thoughts and speculate about God and His will without Christ and apart from Him lose God altogether; for as Christ Himself says: ‘No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” It has been more than 2,000 years since God put Himself in that manger box on the first Christmas. Unlike the shepherds, we cannot go to some stable and find “the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” Which begs the question: where can we go today to find the Christ Child, the only Saviour of sinners, and so receive those heavenly gifts of forgiveness and peace and joy and salvation and life forever?

The Reformer answers: “Christ has achieved it at the manger and on the cross, it is true. But He does not distribute or give it to us there. No, He distributes and gives it only through the Word and the Sacrament. If I seek the forgiveness of sins and my eternal salvation from Him, I do not run to the manger nor do I journey to the cross; for I will not find it given there. No, I will find it only in the Word and the Sacrament where alone God distributes, presents, offers, and gives it to me.”

Yes, in a box—that is where the Lord of heaven and earth, the Creator, the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, is still to be found today and where He would give to you those heavenly, eternal blessings of His incarnation and birth, of His suffering and death; the box called the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures; the box called the holy Sacrament of His very body and blood.

Plan. Make a difference, for your loved ones and the ministries you value.

Of the $63 million in gifts designated by donors to specific LCC ministry organizations, one-third will go to congregations.

Plan today for the ministry of tomorrow.

Call a Gift Coordinator today

Is your congregation ready?

1-877-711-4438 toll free

See the suggested Congregational Gift

www.lutheranfoundation.ca

Acceptance and Use Policy on the Foundation’s Resource page.

Lutheran Foundation Canada A FINANCIAL MINISTRY OF LCC

REFLECTING GOD’S GRACE