The Canadian Lutheran July/August 2021

CANADIAN

The

LUTHERAN

W W W. C A N A D I A N L U T H E R A N . C A

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V O L U M E 3 6 N U M B E R 4 - J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

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BACK TO BASICS

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CONTENTS FEATURES www.canadianlutheran.ca Volume 36 Number 4 I II III IV V

July/August 2021

VI VII VIII IX X

The Essential Service of the Church Hungering for God’s Word Back to the Supper

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DEPARTMENTS TABLE TALK

Back to Basics

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REGIONAL PASTORS West: Return to the Lord your God Central: It’s Been a Wash East: A Change in Focus

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PRESIDENT’S PONDERINGS Fr o n t C o v e r A r t by A l e x S t e i n ke B a ck C o v e r A r t by A n n a K r a e m e r 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 Design: Alex Steinke Advertising: Angela Honey Subscriptions: $30/yr Or Buy-One-Gift-One: $50/yr Email: a.honey@lutheranchurch.ca All material and advertising should be in the office of The Canadian Lutheran five weeks prior to publication date. Advertising rate card available upon request.

Hidden Value

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NEWS SECTIONS

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

A Protest and Call for Free Religious Speech in Finland • European Lutheran Conference

NATIONAL NEWS

WEST REGION

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Riverbend marks DPS’s 15 anniversary • Rev. Douglas Stapleton marks 25th ordination anniversary th

CENTRAL REGION

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Rev. Sean Smallwood marks 25 ordination anniversary • Confirmation service at New Beginnings Lutheran Church th

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.

MISSION NEWS

©2021 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.

Kay Tiffney passes on to glory • CLS calls new professor

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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LWMLC holds virtual convention • Lutherans respond to the legacy of the residential school system

EAST REGION

The Canadian Lutheran 3074 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3K 0Y2 Telephone: 204-895-3433 FAX: 204-897-4319 Email: editor@lutheranchurch.ca

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Historic St. Paul’s window repairs • Rev. Wilhelm Torgerson marks 50 years of ministry

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Oromo Community Outreach • French Theological Training

EDUCATION NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENTS IN REVIEW: DISNEY’S CRUELLA SUPPLEMENT

@thecanadianlutheran @lutheranchurchcanada THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: POST-PANDEMIC PRIORITIES “He (Christ) gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). As recent provincial and federal guidelines allow communities and congregations to return to some sense of normal, pastors and people will be asking themselves: “What should come first?”

Most would agree that worship services, both Word and Sacrament, should be restored first. But what should come next? As a retired pastor without any obligations other than my own family, I have had opportunity to visit by phone, email, and face-time—with the occasional parking lot, masked, six-foot away, conversation—with fellow Christians and members of our church family.

Most of them decry the lack of fellowship. They miss seeing long-time friends face-to-face with all the smiles, wrinkles, and even grimaces that show our real feelings. Christian fellowship is important to most folks, and it is more than can be described even in the old stand-by, “Blest Be the Tie that Binds” (LSB 649).

I suggest, however, that our secondary priority needs to be evangelism. We need to do everything we can to reach out to family, friends, and neighbours who are eager to hear some really good news with lasting benefits. Most of our congregations are organized around five functions: worship, nurture (Christian education), outreach (evangelism), stewardship, and fellowship. Some pastors are familiar with the Reaching People for Christ: Evangelism Resource Book prepared

by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod back in 1970. While Christian education comes before evangelism even in that manual, we need to focus our resources—especially time and people—on the most-important task of reaching those who have struggled under the shadow of death for too long.

I can think of a number of activities that would be timely and beneficial, but I’m sure every pastor, teacher, deacon, elder, or church member can think of those things that will be most helpful in their own unique circumstances.

So the questions remain: “What should we do first? Or second?” It isn’t about me or you. It’s about building up the Body of Christ.

Rev. Chuck Cooley, pastor emeritus, Penticton, B.C.

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

Gift of RRSP/RRIF “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10 As we have been good stewards in life, we can be good stewards in death. A portion of the gifts that God has blessed us with over our lives can be left as a legacy to His church.

If you are an individual who has diligently saved RRSP’s throughout their life, and you are the secondto-die, are you aware of the significant taxes to be paid on any remaining RRSP/RIF funds?

Good news, make a charity (within the “Synodical Family”) a beneficiary of your retirement account(s), that way you eliminate the tax on the donated portion, retain ownership and use of the funds if needed, receive a favourable tax receipt for the portion of the funds you donate, and avoid probate fees by removing these assets from your estate. You can choose to donate all or a portion of your retirement funds by naming multiple beneficiaries.

Ask how this can work for you by contacting your Regional Gift Coordinator today, helping His church with this wonderful act of Stewardship.

www.lutheranfoundation.ca

BACK TO BASICS

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TABLE TALK

by Mathew Block

y wife and I have recently been planning out the next school year for our kids, and reflecting on how we will integrate Luther’s Small Catechism into our children’s education. As I look through the catechism again—with eyes towards instructing someone else in it rather than just learning myself—I’m struck anew by how simple and yet profound the book is.

When was the last time you read your catechism? I don’t say this to shame you.

My own catechism too often sits on the shelf unopened. In our churches, there is a danger that we treat the Small Catechism as something we read once and then graduate from—something we study for confirmation and then leave behind.

That’s a real shame because the catechism is a theological and devotional treasure. We might even consider it a sort of Coles Notes to the Bible, as it helps us synthesize key teachings of the Scriptures in a way easy for children (and adults!) to understand and use in daily life.

We b e g i n w i t h t h e Te n Commandments, the Law which shows us the lives God calls us to lead—the lives which we have failed to lead. Aware of our sin, we turn to the Good News of the Gospel recorded in the Apostles Creed. We learn of the Father who created us, the Son who has redeemed us from sin through His death and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit who has called us to faith.

We live out that faith daily through the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, asking God to protect us in every need of body and soul. And then we turn then to the Sacraments, the places where God’s grace

touches our lives in real—even tangible— ways. We remember our entrance into the Church through Holy Baptism, the forgiveness of sins we receive through regular Confession and Absolution, and the enlivening of our faith received through the Body and Blood of Christ.

These teachings are so elementary— so basic—to the faith, that even children can understand them. But therein lies the danger: because a child can understand them we may treat them as if they were childish. These things are so basic that we can begin to overlook them in favour of “deeper” truths.

But while our understanding of Christian faith may mature over time, these doctrines are not things we grow out of. Do we outgrow our need for air to breath? Do we outgrow our need for food or drink? By no means! These things remain fundamental to life; without them, we die.

The same is true spiritually. Without the fellowship of believers, without God’s Word, without the Sacraments, faith first grows stunted and then declines. Like the seed with little root, we wither away. Like the house without a solid foundation, we are swept off and lost in the storms of life.

There are many dangers in this world: bodily dangers like COVID-19, yes, but also spiritual dangers posed by the devil, the world, and our own sinful inclinations. “I walk in danger all the way,” the hymnwriter Hans Adolf Brorson writes (LSB 716). And indeed we do. “I pass through trials all the way.”

“Death pursues me all the way.”

But God has not left us to face these dangers alone. He gives us the Church

to walk with us. He gives us His Word to lead and comfort us. He gives us the Holy Sacraments to strengthen us. When we see how great the peril is in which we live, when we see how great our need and how great the gifts our Saviour offers us, then we will run to the house of God freely and willingly.

For this reason, Luther writes in the preface to the Small Catechism, there is no need to compel Christians to come to church. If we explain the danger clearly and articulate plainly the salvation offered week in and week out in the life of the congregation, then believers will come of their own accord. Of the Lord’s Supper specifically, Luther writes that a Christian will come “running in a hurry to the Lord’s Table”—compelled not by outward forces but by his own sense of need, “constrained within himself and pressing [the pastor] to give him the Sacrament.”

In this issue, we’re going back to basics. We’re reaffirming foundational aspects of Christian faith and life, asking God to rekindle our love and desire for the great gifts He freely gives. Rev. Dr. John Hellwege asks us what the essential service of the Church is and why we as Christians need it (page six). Rev. Ling Pui Yeong reflects on the nourishment we get from the Word of God (page nine). And Rev. Warren Hamp calls us “back to the Supper”—to the gifts God wishes to give us in the Holy Sacraments (page twelve).

They are topics you’ve studied before.

But like the Catechism—like the Gospel itself—it’s something we need to return to again and again. May God bless us as we do.

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The Essential

Service of

the Church

by John Hellwege

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nder the shadow of COVID-19, we have found ourselves questioning and rethinking many areas of life. We have rethought work—questioning if our work requires a building full of people or if it can be done remotely. We have rethought education— moving classes online. We have rethought where to live—with large urban centres, such as Toronto and Montreal, seeing record population losses as people have moved out.

As Christians, we have also had to rethink church—with churches required to meet online and having limitations when attendance has been allowed. There have been debates as to if and how to celebrate Holy Communion safely in a pandemic. Not only this, but new struggles have arisen between the civil and spiritual realms as some of our political leaders have placed great restrictions on church services; there have even been some churches here in Canada that have rebelled and held illegal services.

Any time we are forced to rethink things, we need to start by getting to the core of things and working out from there. So, to start, what is the Church? This question can be more complicated than it sounds because English is such a confusing language, even for native speakers. The word “church” can mean many things: a congregation, a church body (such as our own Lutheran Church–Canada), a building, the Divine Service… But, at its core, what is the Church?

Martin Luther answers this in the Smalcald Articles: “A seven-year-old child knows what the church is: holy believers and ‘the little sheep who hear the voice of their shepherd’” (SA III.12.2). Now, I guess children were brighter in Luther’s day, because I would have been a bit older than seven before I could have given such a good answer.

But the definition is excellent: the Church is “the little sheep who hear the voice of their shepherd.” This should be a comfort to us considering the last year and a half. At no time did any premier or other civil leader cancel the Church; they could not! So long as there are Christians who listen to Christ, the Church remains. As Jesus reminded us, the very gates of Hell cannot overcome the Church (Matthew 16:18).

Does this mean that since there are Christians running around, and therefore the Church continues to exist that there is no need to “go to church?” Put another way, do we really need our local congregations or to attend the Divine Service? Absolutely, we need to attend the Divine Service! Our local congregations are absolutely essential!

After all, there are two reasons that we call our local congregation a “church.” First, it is a local gathering of the “one holy Christian Church.” It is where Christians meet to “do the Christian thing” of receiving God’s gifts and worshipping Him. The second, and most important, reason is that our local church meeting for the Divine Service is where God creates and sustains Christians and therefore creates and

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sustains the Church. Jesus commanded His disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

It is in the church that these very things—baptizing and teaching (preaching) the Word of Christ—take place.

Yes, they can and do happen elsewhere, but the church service is where they are regularly found. In the same way, Jesus gave us the Lord’s Supper and commanded us: “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24).

This too takes place in the Divine Service.

During this pandemic, we should thank God for the gifts of the technology that allow us to hear church services from afar and be fed with His Word. Unfortunately, this has meant for a time forgoing the Sacraments which are, by definition, physical gifts that require a physical presence to receive the spiritual blessings. Nevertheless, we thank God for supporting us during this time. Thanks be to God for the use of the various streaming platforms and computer video technology that have allowed us to continue to hear His Word and “gather” with His people, albeit remotely.

For some, however, this more limited and remote participation in the church services has become normal. This attitude brings with it the danger of slowly falling away from the Church. It is all too easy for a Christian to grow more distant from their pastor and congregation, and this can lead to falling completely away slowly over time.

But what about the Sacraments? Can God sustain His church only through the Word, without the Lord’s Supper? Yes, He can. In fact, He has in the past. In the days of the Soviet Union, many Christians lived their entire lives without the care of a pastor, and therefore without Holy Communion—and yet God sustained the Church. But we should not confuse the minimum required with what is best. You can run your car for years without changing the oil, just topping it off from time to time. It will still work—but no mechanic in his or her right mind would recommend it. It might work, but not nearly as well. In the same way, we should not shun the Sacraments but gladly receive all of God’s gifts that He provides to us.

In the same way, we should seek to gather together as God’s Church for the mutual encouragement of each other. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). We need to be reminded that we are all part of Christ’s body, the Church. When we gather together and recite the Creeds, we are reminded that we are not alone in believing these things. When we join together in song, we are built up and supported by the faith of THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

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those around us. When we confess our sins together and receive the absolution, we are reassured that no Christian is perfect but that we are all made righteous in Christ alone.

So, are the local church and its celebrations of the Divine Service necessary? Most definitely. All Christians should consider this essential. It is like asking if food is essential for the body; in the same way God’s spiritual gifts are essential for the soul. One may fast for a time, but only for a time and then return for nourishment.

And yet there has also been a lot of consternation over the past year and a half because some of our secular leaders have deemed church services as nonessential.

While this seems shocking to many Christians, it really shouldn’t be. Why should we expect those who do not recognize our Lord nor value His gifts to suddenly consider them essential? On the other hand, our secular leaders are charged by God (whether they acknowledge it or not) to help care for our bodily needs, so we shouldn’t be upset when they focus on bodily things rather than spiritual things.

In light of all this, how can Christians convince our secular leaders that the Church is indeed essential and that in times of pandemic, churches should not be unduly burdened? Unfortunately, this is not a quick or easy task. And the time of hard decisions is not the best time for us to make this case. Jesus shows us the right path in the Sermon on the Mount: “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

- Matthew 5:13-16 When we live our lives reflecting God’s love in good works, when we are freely and clearly sharing the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sinners, then the world around us will value the Church. Even those who don’t accept the Gospel will see that there is something worthwhile going on.

Rev. Dr. John Hellwege is Associate Professor of Theology at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton.

T h e p h o t o s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s a r t i c l e a r e by A n n a K r a e m e r , L C C C o m m u n i c at i o n s I n t e r n 2 0 2 1 . [ @ y e l l o. i t s . d e s i g n ]

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Hungering For

God’s Word

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by Ling Pui Yeong

Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. – Deuteronomy 8:3 (cf. Matthew 4:4)

”W

hen God spoke these words through Moses to the wandering Israelites, when Jesus later quoted them directly to rebuke the devil, did He actually mean what He said? Does man actually need God’s Word to live?

We all know what hunger feels like. It’s an unpleasant sensation that tells us we need to eat, so that we are sustained and go on living. But there is another kind of motivation to eat, and that is simply good food. When we enjoy and even love certain kinds of foods (think icecream), we don’t need an empty stomach to remind us to eat. We just go, grab it, and eat because it is so delicious and THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

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T h e p h o t o s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s a r t i c l e a r e by A n n a K r a e m e r , L C C C o m m u n i c at i o n s I n t e r n 2 0 2 1 . [ @ y e l l o. i t s . d e s i g n ]

enjoyable. In the same way, the Word of God is not merely “canned food” that barely keeps us alive—something that we receive only when absolutely necessary. No, the Word of God is the joy of the Christian, so sweet and wonderful that we should long for it all the time.

Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6). But what is that righteousness? How does Jesus satisfy us? Righteousness is right standing before God, something only found and given in Christ’s own righteousness. As Lutherans, we understand that God always speaks to us through His written Word—that by it the Holy Spirit creates and strengthens our faith (cf. LSB 578:3). It is through this Word then that Jesus gives us what we need most: His righteousness and all that comes with it: repentance, faith, justification, life, sanctification, and more (see John 15:3 and Ephesians 5:26). All that Jesus promises, those who desire find in the Word.

What should we look for?

When we enjoy a good meal, we take time to carefully prepare it in order to create the perfect taste. In the same way we must take the utmost care in reading and understanding the Word of God. The purpose is not only to learn biblical truths—the acquisition of knowledge and facts—but through these stories and lessons to hear Law and Gospel. Contrary to popular understanding, the Bible is not simply about “you” and what “you” need to do for

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God. Instead, it’s about Jesus and what He has done and continues to do for you. The Law shows us our sins and kills the Old Adam in order to destroys our self-righteousness.

The Gospel, on the other hand, proclaims the forgiveness of our sins and brings us to life with Jesus that we may walk in newness of life.

This is the baptismal life that we called to—dying daily to sin and rising again with Christ. When Martin Luther talks about the need to “drown” daily and rise anew with Christ in his explanation of Baptism in the Small Catechism, he is not talking about some abstract, mental exercise. Instead, he is pointing us back to the work of Law and Gospel in the Word of God. Whenever the Word confronts us, when we remember certain Bible passages and meditate on them, when we actively read the Bible, when we study it, when on Sundays we hear it in the liturgy, the hymns, and the sermon, God blesses us with repentance and faith.

That’s why we are encouraged to be engaged in the Word regularly, because God desires to bless us through His Word. This we can do daily at home through personal meditation and family devotions (the Lutheran Study Bible is a helpful tool with Law and Gospel application notes).

We should note though that “meditating” on the Word of God does not mean “silencing” or “emptying of the mind” to allow the voice of God to enter in. That is an Eastern understanding of spirituality. Christian spirituality instead always involves the Holy Spirit as He speaks through the Word. Properly understood, then, Christian meditation is nothing other than being in the Word of God. God speaks and we listen.

“

The Word of God is the joy of all Christians for in it we have Christ. Let us be drawn to it and be nourished daily.

”

Studying the Word with the Church Because of the global pandemic, many of us were forced to isolate. But this has not stopped the Church from proclaiming God’s Word nor has it stopped Christians from hearing the voice of their Shepherd. In fact, many people have delved deeper into the Word over the past year than ever before—probably because there’s been more free time. Many have found new ways to study the Word and enrich their understand of the Bible. There is no shortage of online resources these days. But while studying the Bible individually is to be encouraged, it lacks at least two crucial aspects of the Christian life: the community of believers and the shepherd whom God has provided.

The Christian never lives apart from the body of Christ, the Church. He is part of a larger community in which he serves and is served. Typically in a group Bible study setting, participants not learn biblical truths but also have the opportunity to share insights and questions with one another, enhancing their meditation on the Word—not to mention the blessings that come from fellowship and companionship with other believers.

Furthermore, the Church extends beyond the local congregation and her members, since the Church of Christ is not bound by time and space. We would do well to not only learn from one another but also from those who have gone before us. This guards us against the dangers of “private interpretation” which can potentially lead us to wrong

or even harmful understandings of Scripture. Studying together, therefore, helps protect and build each other up.

In addition to the body of believers, God has also given you a shepherd in your local congregation. The called minister of your congregation is your primary spiritual care provider. In fact, God has established the Preaching Office so that people are fed with God’s Word. As Jesus says in Luke 10:16, preachers speaks on behalf of Christ, so that those who hear them hear Christ. Not that pastors in and of themselves are somehow necessary for us to come to faith or understand the Bible. But God has called pastors to properly distinguish and faithfully proclaim Law and Gospel, through sermons as well as in Bible studies.

Speaking as a pastor myself, it is always a joy to study God’s Word with His people. Nothing is more encouraging to the pastor than when a person hungers for God and His Word. Go and ask your pastor questions, and let him joyfully teach the Word of God. The Word of God is the joy of all Christians for in it we have Christ. Let us be drawn to it and be nourished daily.

Rev. Ling Pui Yeong

is pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Toronto, Ontario.

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Back to the Supper

by Warren Hamp

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e are coming, by the mercies of God, to the gradual ending of the COVID-19 pandemic. Much discussion is pouring out from all quarters about how our world, our country, and our church will look ‘post-pandemic.’

Many speak of a great ‘reset’ that will now happen, and sometimes the ways of the Church are included in that ‘reset’. In parts of the Canadian church, there has been some discussion of the Church becoming a ‘virtual community’ with an ‘incarnated presence.’ While I am not sure exactly what that means, it is partly the idea that online ‘church’ may be something many want to keep, and perhaps even prefer over the in-person gathering of Christ’s people.

It has indeed been a blessing that our own churches have adapted quickly to the challenges presented by public health lockdowns through the various online services that have brought the Word of the Gospel and the song of the church to the homes of our members and many other people. We give thanks to God for His mercies to us in these virtual ways.

There have been limitations, however. Specifically, pastors cannot baptize people virtually. Water is a physical element, and the Word of Christ in Holy Baptism is spoken into one particular pair of ears. Holy Absolution is meant to be spoken to real repentant sinners who confess their need for the forgiveness of Christ. We don’t drive down the streets of Edmonton, for example, yelling out our car window “I forgive you all your sins” at whomever happens to be walking by. And the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar happens at the altar—even if that altar is simple or just a dining room table; Christ’s body and blood are really present for real people. Christ grants these gifts in real space and time; His Word attached to real elements for real people.

In most places during the last year and a half, there have been at least some times when this physical Gospel was precluded due to pandemic gathering restrictions. Some have called this a ‘sacramental fast.’ We are not sure if that is the best way to put it. Fasting from food or from Facebook, for example, is meant to cause us to desire something— Someone—else, greater than both. We don’t fast from hamburgers so that we will want to eat them all the more when the fast is over.

This is different than what we have been through in regard to the Sacraments. We did not decide to fast from them. It was a condition that came upon us. And in many places, as soon as it was possible to have even a household together to receive Christ’s gifts of Baptism and the Eucharist, that happened in due course, even while following restrictions on public gatherings. The Sacrament is not a gift from which we wish to fast. We desire it with the deep hunger worked by the Holy Spirit.

While the Church of Jesus Christ is not a building, it is people, real people, who gather around the real gifts of Jesus Christ in His Word and His Sacraments. This fellowship, we confess in the Apology to the Augsburg Confession, “has outward marks so that it can be recognized. These marks are the pure doctrine of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments in accordance with the Gospel of Christ” (AC VII 5).

This is how it has been from the start. At Pentecost, St. Luke tells us that those who believed—through the apostolic preaching of Christ crucified and risen from the dead to forgive their sins—“devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, and the fellowship, the breaking of the bread [Holy Communion] and the prayers [Holy Liturgy]” (Acts 2:42).

We confess in the Formula of Concord that “by this means, and in no other way (i.e. through His holy Word, when people hear it preached or read it, and through the holy Sacraments when they are used according to His Word), God desires to call people to eternal salvation” (FC SD II 50).

The communion of the saints is a communion of persons.

It will be that forever, when all the saints are raised in the body and can touch one another, talk with one another, sing praise with one another in holy joy forever. It is that way now too, in this age where we walk by faith. That’s why the author of Hebrews exhorts us: “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

How will we encourage one another, post-pandemic, to partake in the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Supper, and Holy Absolution? This is not a new concern. Martin Luther spoke

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to this concern long ago in his writing on the Sacrament of the Altar in his Large Catechism. First, he notes the problem: “They act as though they were such strong Christians that they have no need of it. And again: Some pretend that it is a matter of liberty and not necessary. They pretend that is enough to believe without it” (LC V 41).

Luther continues: “But there is no reason why we walk about so securely and carelessly, except that we neither think nor believe that we are in the flesh and in this wicked world or in the devil’s kingdom.”

We daily battle all three—our sinful flesh, the wicked world, and the devil himself—so we need the benefits of the Sacrament: the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation in the most intimate way that Jesus brings Himself to us. If the pandemic time has been used to teach us at all, then we have learned that we need the Sacrament even more. It is a great joy therefore for Christ’s people to be able to return not only to the fellowship of being present in the flesh with other believers in Christ, but even more to the closest fellowship we have with Jesus Himself, when He gives His forgiving Body and cleansing Blood right into our mouths.

We come out of this time with new kinds of doubts and fears. Yet our crucified and risen Jesus is sacramentally present for us amid our doubts and fears. He provides our weak and hungry souls with His forgiveness through the gift of which we sing: “Thy body, given for me, O Saviour, Thy blood which

Thou for me didst shed” (LSB 619:1). Jesus welcomes us to His table, where we hear the loving promise of His Word: “This is My body ... this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). We want assurance that our sins are forgiven, and here it is, placed in our hands and mouths and hearts. It is forgiveness so real we can touch and taste it. This blessed meal is for our souls “the highest good.”

The rebirth and renewal of the Church post-pandemic will be nothing less than a miraculous working of the Holy Spirit.

That’s not new, however. The Church has always been the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit, who calls and gathers sinners into the communion of saints by the forgiveness of sins in Christ. He alone creates, sustains, and restores faith in Jesus Christ the Saviour where and when He wills.

And the Holy Spirit has promised to work through the means He has chosen: His Holy Word of the Gospel of Jesus, His holy Absolution, His Holy Baptism, and His Holy Supper. Thanks be to God.

Rev. Warren Hamp

is pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Kitchener, Ontario.

W e da i ly b at t l e a l l t h r e e — o u r s i n f u l f l e s h , t h e w i c k e d world, and the devil himself—so we need the benefits of the sacrament: the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation in the most intimate way that Jesus brings Himself to us.

T h e p h o t o s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s a r t i c l e a r e by A n n a K r a e m e r , L C C C o m m u n i c at i o n s I n t e r n 2 0 2 1 . [ @ y e l l o. i t s . d e s i g n ]

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

A Protest and Call for Free Religious Speech in Finland

A Global Lutheran Response to the Unjust Prosecution of Bishop Elect Juhana Pohjola and Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen FINLAND - The bishops and presidents of dozens of Lutheran church bodies worldwide are joining the International Lutheran Council (ILC) in issuing “A Protest and Call for Free Religious Speech in Finland.”

The letter—signed by 48 ecclesiastical leaders representing 45 Lutheran church bodies and associations across the globe (including Lutheran Church–Canada)—condemns the ongoing criminal prosecution of Bishop Elect Juhana Pohjola of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland and Finnish M.P. Päivi Räsänen for expressing biblical views on human sexuality.

Bi s h o p El e c t Po h j o l a a n d Dr. Räsänen have been charged

by Finland’s Prosecutor General with incitement against a group of people as a result of the 2004 publication of a booklet which articulates historic Christian teaching on human sexuality. “The actions of the Finnish State in prosecuting

Christians for holding to the clear teaching of the very words of Jesus regarding marriage and sex (Matthew 19:4-6) are egregious,” the Lutheran leaders write in their letter. “And this particularly so since the accused clearly affirm the divinely given dignity, value, and human rights of all, including all who identify with the LGBTQ community.”

“We Lutherans make this strong confession along with Drs. Pohjola and Räsänen,” the letter continues.

“The vast majority of Christians in all nations, including Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, share these convictions. Would the Finnish Prosecutor General condemn us all?

Moreover, shall the Finnish State risk governmental sanctions from other states based on the abuse of foundational human rights?”

The signatories write that they “condemn the unjustifiable criminal prosecution of the Rev. Dr. Juhana Pohjola and Dr. Päivi Räsänen M.P.

for their public expressions of faith” and “call on the Finnish authorities to immediately discontinue their efforts to punish Rev. Dr. Pohjola and Dr. Räsänen, to cease the prosecution of persons for the public expression of their faith, and to recommit to protecting the freedom of religion and freedom of speech in Finland.”

The International Lutheran Council is a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies.

Signatories of the letter (which is available in English, Spanish, and Finnish) include not only leaders of the ILC and its member churches, but also several Lutheran church bodies unaffiliated with the ILC, including church bodies associated with the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference.

Copies of the letter have been sent to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Finland, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Religion or Belief, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Opinion and Expression, and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

ILC News

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

European Lutheran Conference meets online: Sharing Hope in Times of Fear EUROPE - The 26 th European Lutheran Conference (ELC) was held online from June 2-4, 2021, following a year’s delay due to the pandemic. Participants gathered under the theme “Sharing Hope in Times of Fear.”

The conference featured three keynote presentations: Rev. Sebastian Gruenbaum of Finland presented on “Living in My Generation: Hopes and Threats of Our Time in the Light of Christ’s Word;” Rev. Dr. Christian Neddens of Germany spoke on “Living with Hope in Daily Life: How the Christian Faith Shapes Our Actions and Witnessing to Our Generation;” and Rev. Dr. Asger Christian Hoejlund of Denmark lectured on “Hope as Drawn from Martin Luther’s Writings of 1520.”

“The presentations stimulated lots of discussion,” noted Chairman George Samiec of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England (ELCE), who participated in the event. In addition to the pandemic, he said, topics of discussion included

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personalities, the Last Judgement, looking to the future with fear or love, and the question of whether society is becoming increasingly intolerant. “It occurred to me that our conference theme is applicable all the time and not just in a pandemic,” Chairman Samiec continued, “because our world is full of mishap and mayhem, sudden death and chronic conditions where injustice and the grave seem to have the last word. Jesus has a message for all time because His love can cast out fear (1 John 4:18).”

The conference also featured morning and evening devotions, reports from member churches, group discussions of presentations, and the writing of a paper on the conference theme.

The next conference is set to take place in 2023 in Aarhus, Denmark. The Executive Committee members for that event are the same as for 2021’s: Rev. Klaus Pahlen of Germany’s Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (Selbständige Evangelisch—Lutherische Kirche –

SELK) will serve as ELC President; President Leif Jensen of the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Denmark (Den evangelisk-lutherske Frikirke i Danmark – ELFD) will serve as ELC Vice President; and Rev. Claudio Flor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England will serve as ELC Secretary.

The ELC is an association of Confessional Lutheran church bodies in Europe. Delegates at this year’s conference included representatives of member churches in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, all of whom are also members of the International Lutheran Council. The event also saw guests from churches in the Czech Republic, Finland, Spain, and Switzerland.

Additional information on the European Lutheran Conference is available on their website at: euluthconf.org.

ILC News

NATIONAL NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

Canadian Lutherans respond to the legacy of the residential school system CANADA - T h e d i s ove r y o f unmarked graves near former residential schools in Canada has brought fresh grief to the country, as people grapple with the legacy of the residential school system.

“The discovery of more unmarked graves near another residential school in Canada is heartbreaking,” said Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) President Teuscher. “Let us draw near to our Indigenous brothers and sisters in this time, and lift them up in prayer to our heavenly Father. Lord, have mercy.”

LCC earlier released a statement on the legacy of the residential school system after the tragic discovery of several hundred unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, lamenting the tragic death of children and recognizing the devastation the residential school system has caused to indigenous families and communities across the country and encouraging care and prayer for our indigenous brothers and sisters. That letter can be read online at canadianlutheran.

ca as well as in the May/June issue of The Canadian Lutheran.

A poem by LCC hymnwriter Rev. Kurt E. Reinhardt reflecting on the tragedy entitled “Their Stolen Children Have Been Found” was also recently published online.

In June, the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots (LAMP) also issued an open letter on the legacy of the Residential School System. “We at LAMP are grieved by the news of the death of these children and the damage that this situation and the entire residential school system has caused the Indigenous communities across Canada,” writes Rev. Dennis Ouellette, Interim Executive Director of LAMP. “What makes this worse is that these heinous acts were done in the name of the Church and in the name of Jesus Christ. This is totally against the teachings of Jesus and the grace and mercy He demonstrated to so many people during His earthly walk.”

LAMP is a listed service organization of Lutheran Church–Canada.

Interim Executive Director Ouellette goes on to note that during LAMP’s 52 years serving Indigenous communities, “LAMP’s staff, volunteer missionaries, and field missionaries have heard countless stories regarding Indigenous people’s experiences in the residential school system.”

“It is times like these that enforce the need for all of us to become acutely sensitive to the indigenous culture and the conditions that have affected their lives, including the aftermath of the residential schools,” the letter continues. “In hearing the stories of the people, both as those who experienced the residential system first-hand, and as people for whom Jesus died and gave His life, each of us must respond with the love and compassion that only our Savior Jesus can provide.”

LAMP’s full letter can be read online here: lampministry.org/residentialschool-statement

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

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NATIONAL NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

Thinking about hiring a student?

The strings attached may have been cut

by Jeffrey A.L. Kriwetz

F

or students and young people, finding a job can be a challenge.

They need work experience, but often many small employers do not have the budget or desire to hire and train students and young people with little or no experience.

Several years ago the federal government of Canada sought to address this problem by implementing the summer jobs program. In basic terms, the program is designed to provide wage subsidies to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations if they agree to hire students and young people, and meet the stated eligibility requirements.

For many years the program operated successfully and with little controversy. Then in 2018, the Liberal government seemed to decide that the program was not meeting its social and political objectives. Consequently, the government imposed a new eligibility requirement that neither the core mandate of an organisation, nor the job itself, opposed human rights, including sexual orientation, abortion, and gender identity. Therefore, organisations were required to adopt the government’s point of view on such issues as a

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condition to receiving funding. Of course, many Christian organisations, including several which had successfully participated in the program for many previous years, found the adoption of the government’s social position completely unacceptable and they refused to sign the required attestation. Because of this, those Christian organisations did not receive any funding from the program.

In 2019, in response to the backlash caused by the 2018 program requirements, the same Liberal government amended the criteria by dropping the references to sexual orientation, abortion, and gender identity and replaced it with a more generic statement which said that: “Any funding under the Canada Summer Jobs program will not be used to undermine or restrict the exercise of rights legally protected in Canada.” It seemed that the government recognized that it had overstepped and that the change in language might have reflected a change in attitude. That, however, was not the case.

This brings us to the cases of Redeemer University College (“Redeemer”) and BCM International Canada Inc. (“BCM”).

Redeemer is a Christian university located in Hamilton, Ontario that adheres to historic Christian views relating to sexual morality and marriage.

From 2006-2017, Redeemer had successfully participated in the program without incident. In 2018, however, it refused to sign the required attestation and was denied funding.

In 2019, Redeemer applied once again. One of the questions on the application form asked how Redeemer would ensure that it had implemented measures to ensure its hiring practices and work environment was free from harassment and discrimination, such as raising awareness and prevention activities. The government agency reviewed Redeemer’s application and sought further clarification on this point and Redeemer replied to the

request. The government, however, deemed the response unsatisfactory and denied the application on the basis that Redeemer did not satisfy the harassment and discrimination criteria. There was evidence that the officer assessing the application relied on information posted on Redeemer’s website years before and on information in an article about faith-based organisations.

BCM is a Christian institution which operates summer camps in Ontario. It also received funding from the summer jobs program from 20112017 without incident, but refused to sign the government’s attestation in 2018 and was denied funding that year.

In 2019, BCM applied once again.

During the application review process, the government sought some “missing information” from BCM regarding its health and safety practices and the duration and compensation provided for mandatory training for the jobs it was providing. BCM responded to those requests. Nevertheless, the government denied the application on the basis that BCM’s project “restrict(s) access to programs, services, or employment, or otherwise discriminate(s), contrary to applicable laws, on the basis of prohibited grounds, including sex, genetic characteristics, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, colour, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.”

In separate lawsuits, both Redeemer and BCM sought to overturn the denial of their respective applications on two grounds: first, that they were denied procedural fairness and, second, that their Charter rights of freedom of conscience and religion and freedom of association had been violated.

In decisions released on June 29, 2021, the Federal Court dealt a rather strong rebuke to the government and ruled in favour of Redeemer (2021 FC 686) and BCM (2021 FC 687). In reaching its decisions, the court found that the government failed to provide the organisations with procedural fairness by failing to articulate what its specific concerns were and by failing to give the organisations the opportunity to respond to those concerns.

NATIONAL NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

However, since the 2019 program had expired, the court was unable to order that the applications be reconsidered. Instead, the court made declarations that the government breached procedural fairness and, in a highly unusual move, the court ordered the government to pay Redeemer’s legal costs on a full indemnity basis and to pay BCM’s costs on a substantial indemnity basis.

Because both cases were decided on the procedural fairness point, the court did not rule on the Charter argument. Nevertheless, the court made some very interesting comments about the government’s conduct in the Redeemer case. Specifically, the court noted the government had not “made any overt attempt to consider Redeemer’s rights to freedom of religion, freedom of expression or freedom of association in considering its application.” Also, in what can only be considered as a warning to the government, the court held open the possibility that the Charter issue could be considered in a future case where a faith-based organisation is refused funding and stated that: “Such institutions must be treated not just with procedural fairness, but with respect for their Charterprotected rights.”

Whether the government appeals the decision or not remains to be seen, but in the meantime, this case should embolden Christian organisations to continue to assert their rights when necessary and it should also give them some hope that their rights will not simply be disregarded.

Jeffrey A.L. Kriwetz (jkriwetz@ garfinkle.com) is a partner in Garfinkle Biderman LLP Barristers and Solicitors and a member of Lutheran Church–Canada’s Commission on Adjudication. Please note that the views expressed in this article are those of the writer and have been provided for information purposes only. Nothing in this article should be relied on as specific legal advice in any particular case. For such advice, please contact the writer directly.

LCC & LLL-C Communications interns announced for summer 2021 CANADA - Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) Communications and Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada (LLL-C) announced in May that they will be joining forces to offer a paid, part-time summer internship beginning in July through to August of 2021.

We were overwhelmed by the excellent applications we received with such a diverse range of talents and skill sets. For this reason, we have decided to offer this internship to two candidates and divide their time within the two organizations according to their gifts and experience.

Alex Steinke, LCC Communications Director, and Lisa Jackson, LLL-C’s Managing Director, are thrilled to announce the new communications interns for the summer of 2021: Julia Flor and Anna Kraemer!

A n n a K r a e m e r is a graphic designer and photographer from LCC’s West Region. She is going into her fourth year in the Bachelor of Design program at MacEwan University. She recently worked with the Antarctic Institute of Canada, collaborating with writers in designing and formatting books.

Anna has a broad range of interests in the communications field, including publication design, photography, and videography. Anna is a lifelong LCC member and is excited for the opportunity to work with the church at large in Canada.

Julia Flor is fluent in English, French, and Portugese, as well as proficient in Italian. Recently she served as Communications Assistant for Military Family Services Europe, creating and publishing engaging social media content for military families in both official languages. Julia has completed her first year at University of Ottawa studying Health Sciences with honours.

Baptized and catechized in LCC’s East Region, Julia looks forward to using her skills to serve the Church.

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NATIONAL NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

LWMLC holds virtual convention ONLINE - From July 8-10, 2021, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League-Canada (LWMLC) held their eleventh National Convention. The theme, “Christ Lives in Me,” was based on Galatians 2:20—“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

LWMLC President Linda Long reported that attendance increased 49 percent from the 2018 convention, with 252 people registered.

The convention, hosted by the ABC District of LWMLC, began on Thursday evening with a worship service live-streamed from Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines (the video is available on the seminary’s YouTube channel).

The service was led by Rev. James Keller, and West Regional Pastor Robert Mohns served as lector. Lutheran Church–Canada’s President, Rev. Timothy Teuscher, preached on the convention theme, and Rev. Jeff Dul led the prayers and the closing blessing.

During the convention, there were opportunities to share prayer requests via email, and short devotions were available on the YouTube channel. As well, a virtual space was available for exhibitors on YouTube, where participants could watch short videos submitted by different organizations in place of strolling through an

exhibitors’ hall. The convention also hosted the longest mission walk in LWMLC history, covering a combined total of 6,525 kilometers and raising $11,000 for the Wagner Hills Farm Society.

On Friday, a Bible study on the theme verse was led

by Rev. Dul, and Rev. Jan Pastucha presented on grief and mourning.

On Saturday, Rev. Dr. James Keller presented a Bible study on the theme “In Me.” There was also a presentation from Rev. Dr. Steven Harold (Trinity Abbotsford) and Samantha Neeb, the new joint Youth and Outreach Worker at Trinity Lutheran and Killarney Lutheran churches in the Vancouver area. Dcn. Dr. Jennifer Frim also presented on deacons and their role in the church, as well as on the new diaconate program at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton. Sandra Schaeffer was the keynote speaker, and presented on “Christ Lives in Me.” The business of the convention included approving mission projects for 2021 to 2024, and elections of officers.

The final convention newsletter reported that “each and every step of the way God was with us so that we could carry out and do the business of LWMLC as well as grow in faith in studying and hearing His Word. We were inspired by our many speakers and it was heartwarming to hear how our [mission] mites have been at work!”

New LWMLC General Council Elected 2021-2024 • President – Linda Long • Vice President, Christian Growth – Patricia Kreutzweiser • Vice President, Christian Mission – Iris Barta • Vice President, Communication – Becky Wandio • Vice President, Member Development – Annette Borchardt • Recording Secretary – Jamie Fulton • Financial Secretary – Penny Bobier • Treasurer – Karen Nerbas Mission Grants Chosen for 2021-2024 • Street Reach, Regina, SK – Rev. DJ Kim – $12,000 • Vancouver Youth Worker / Samantha Neeb – $18,900 • Contribution towards land purchase for building first Lutheran Church in Costa Rica – $10,000 • National Youth Gathering 2022 – $5,000 • Concordia Lutheran Seminary Electronic Library Upgrade -$15,000 • Translation and Formatting of French Sunday School Materials – $14,000 • Development of New Mission Site in Lviv, Ukraine – $12,000 • Jackfish Lutheran Camp, Roblin, MB – $8,500 • Diaconal Support in Nicaragua, Central America – $8,600 • Mission Opportunity Fund – $26,000

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WEST REGION NEWS

Alberta and British Columbia - Michelle Heumann, editor

Riverbend marks DPS’s 15th anniversary

EDMONTON - On July 11, 2021, the congregation had the honour of celebrating Dcn. Kathy Cornish’s fifteenth anniversary as Director of Parish Services at Riverbend Lutheran Church. During the morning worship service, Rev. Sye Van Maanen gave a special blessing in honour of the occasion. Afterwards, the church celebrated her faithful service and dedication to the Lord with snacks and fellowship, followed by a very

fun-filled karaoke party. It was a joyous day to celebrate and connect, especially in light of the recent easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

- John 10:27-28 (Kathy’s baptism verse)

Rev. Douglas Stapleton marks 25th ordination anniversary

CRESTON, B.C. - Rev. Douglas Stapleton was ordained in Chicago on June 23, 1996, by the Evangelical

Covenant Church, but from his earliest student years he had encountered the life and writings of Martin Luther, who became a role model. As a young pastor, Rev. Stapleton soon learned that writing a sermon each week was not as easy as it sounded, and found a book of Lutheran sermon helps that taught him the practical way to preach Law and Gospel from the texts each week, an approach that has never left him. Through this, the Sacraments took on more importance to him, which was crucial to what would come next.

When his ministry ended at his former church, Rev. Stapleton and his wife were left with no place to go to church, and a friend invited them

to attend Redeemer Lutheran Church in Creston. It was a church without a pastor and he was a pastor without a church, and he felt like he had found a place to belong.

Rev. Stapleton gave his resume to the then-District President, who recommended that he enroll in the Colloquy Programme at Concordia Seminary in Edmonton. After a year of study, both in person and online, he met the requirements for ordained ministry in Lutheran Church–Canada.

Rev. Stapleton retired in November 2019, but is still grateful for opportunities to preach, encourage, and be the church’s “guy with a truck.”

Rev. Douglas Stapleton

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WEST REGION NEWS

Alberta and British Columbia - Michelle Heumann, editor

FROM THE REGIONAL PASTOR, REV. ROBERT MOHNS

Return to the Lord your God

S

everal years ago, I spent about three months walking across the northern part of Spain.

I left behind my family and friends, work, a familiar way of life, and all my possessions (save for a change of clothes and a few necessities), to walk in the countryside of the northern Iberian Peninsula. For three months, I was disconnected from the world as I had known it. I was a foreigner, an alien in a strange, far-away land.

It was not until about a hundred kilometers away from my terminus and a few days left of walking that I began to realize just how firmly this disconnected way of life had taken hold of me. At first, it was just a small walnut sized knot of tension in the pit of my stomach. As the impending return to my former way and place of life loomed ever larger, so did the level of anxiety.

I was the same person I had always been and yet I had changed. My former way of life was the same as it had always been. The same family and friends and work awaited my return, and yet they were different too. I found it difficult to plug in again.

Perhaps you know what I mean.

You have been living fifteen or eighteen months or so in an isolation bubble under the restrictions of COVID-19. It has been a time in which many have been disconnected from a familiar way of life, from family and friends, from work, and from church.

But now restrictions are lifting.

Family and friends are awaiting you and so is your church. You are still you, and yet you have changed and so have the once familiar patterns of your life. Your family and friends are still the family and friends they always have been, but they are not the same either. Your church is still the same church located at the

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same address, but perhaps you sense a difference there, too. Perhaps you are feeling a little anxious and worried about how to plug in again.

I have found great comfort in reading through parts of Scripture about the return of the people of Israel from exile.

My most cherished book is Zechariah, whom Luther called one of the most comforting prophets.

Plugging back in was not easy for the people of Israel when they returned from exile. I am sure that a great load of worry accompanied those walkers returning home. What would await them? What would they do when they got there?

The prophet Haggai, a contemporary of Zechariah, lays out a brutally honest picture of God’s people fumbling and failing as they tried to plug in without God. It did not go well. He calls them to consider their ways. Zechariah’s message, which follows, is replete with God’s patient calling to Israel to return to Him. Zechariah bears witness to God’s gracious actions to protect His people against enemies who would attack their vulnerabilities. It tells of His correcting and disciplining words and actions, lest in their sinful flesh they would fall away.

What they discovered was not “what” would await them, but “who” would await them. Yes, it was God their faithful God who awaited their return.

“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come, and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord.

And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst.” - Zechariah 2:10-11 Like the prodigal son in Jesus’ parable, the people returned home to the waiting arms of their heavenly Father.

He would dwell with them. It was He who would plug them in and reconnect them to Himself and to one another.

He would start from the inside out. He would purify them. According to His mercy, He would forgive sin and remove

their guilt and shame. He would send them His beloved Saviour, who would be both their king and shepherd. And not only theirs, but the Saviour of all peoples—from every tribe and nation and language.

Israel did not need to worry about what lay ahead of them. God prepared in advance work for them to do. The people would work from the outside in.

They would rebuild the walls of the city and reconstruct the temple.

When you struggle to plug in, you will find your comfort and hope in the Words of God once delivered to your ancient brothers and sisters. I encourage you to read and listen to and meditate on God’s Word.

In all our rush to get going again and in all our panic to get back to doing what we need to do, it is easy for us to repeat the tragic choices of our ancient brothers and sisters and forget God. With the prophet Haggai, I ask you to consider again.

Friend, it’s not “what” awaits you. It is “who.” It is your heavenly Father who awaits you. He has you. You do not need to fret about plugging in. God is at work to plug you in. He is working from the inside out, purifying you and preparing you for the great day of His return, when the promise given to St. John will be fulfilled (Revelation 21:2-3). You do not need to fret about how to plug in, either.

God has already prepared work in advance for you to plug into (Ephesians 2:10-22).

We take our lead from St. Paul, who urged Christians to be built up in their most holy faith (Colossians 2:7; Jude 1:20) and to help to build up others (Romans 14:19.

15:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:11).

God grant us ears to hear His invitation to return to Him, and, by the working of His Spirit, to live our lives according to the grace and mercy He bears for His people in Christ Jesus.

If you notice that you are having unusual levels of anxiety about returning to church, please talk to your pastor.

WEST REGION NEWS

Alberta and British Columbia - Michelle Heumann, editor

Virtual Sabbath Conference

ONLINE - “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

This verse can provide great comfort for us all, but for thirteen non-pastoral church workers and volunteers in Lutheran ChurchCanada in particular, this passage also served as focal verse for this year’s Sabbath Conference, which had the theme “Mental health in the time of COVID-19.” In keeping with COVID restrictions, this conference was held virtually May 17-18 and was graciously hosted

using the technology of Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton.

Audrey Werner, a Director of Christian Education from Austin, Texas, served as main speaker and guided the group through an exploration of how crucial faith is, especially during a time of crisis. Rev. Robert Mohns, West Regional Pastor, graciously joined as Bible study leader with sessions focusing on the relationship between God’s Word and the mind, body, and spirit, and how the mind matters.

There were also presentations from Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada, the BC Mission Boat Society, and Concordia Lutheran Seminary (all of whom were participants of the conference). Those gathered were able to break into smaller groups to have a

time to share blessings and concerns, and to pray with each other. There was also time for fellowship and games, and even though many miles separated the participants, the gift of fun was still exceedingly present!

The Sabbath Conference is an annual conference that serves an important role in connecting non-pastoral church workers and volunteers across Canada in a way that is tailored specifically to their unique calling. The planning committee is greatly appreciative of those who supported the conference, those who sponsored the conference, those who prayed for the conference, and for those who attended the conference.

Dcn. Amanda Hastings for the Sabbath planning committee

SHARE YOUR STORIES Contact Michelle Heumann, Regional News Editor | regionaleditor@lutheranchurch.ca |

WEST REGION Contact Rev. Robert Mohns, Regional Pastor | rmohns@lutheranchurch.ca | 1. 855. 826. 9950 |

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

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CENTRAL REGION NEWS

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and NW Ontario - Michelle Heumann, editor

Rev. Sean Smallwood marks 25th ordination anniversary

SHILO, Man. - Rev. Sean Smallwood was ordained on June 6, 1996, and is currently serving as chaplain for the Second Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, a unit garrisoned at CFB Shilo outside of Brandon, Manitoba. In early June 2021, he was with the battalion in Wainwright, Alberta, participating in a two-month training exercise.

Rev. Smallwood shares the following reflections: “I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glosry that will be revealed in us” - Romans 8:18 Those words mean something against the background of real life. I’m

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lucky. I’m still here, having the time of my life. If there are any stories worth sharing, it’s that the sick, the poor, the powerless, the dying—and the ‘filthy’ infantry (how I love these guys)—have become my friends.

Tell the men following in our wake that it’s a hard life. Nothing for the fainthearted. Sooner than later, they’ll see the ugly underbelly of the church. Setbacks, pushback, gossip, betrayals from your own team. Wherever there’s something good and orthodox, someone will be there to stomp it out. But the Spirit moves on, renovating the church and the world one sacred act at a time. A pastor is completed in weakness and there are no guarantees. I try not to forget the good ones lost along the way.

Here in the field they gather in small groups at odd hours while choppers roar overhead—or with pellet-like snow whipping sideways so thickly you can barely see a soldier a few feet away. Anyone with a clean uniform or an un-blackened face stands out as a visitor from the Air Force or brigade headquarters.

On a good day, our chapel is an ablutions tent with a garbage can as a centerpiece. But still they come. The Spirit works in austerity sometimes better than in abundance.

Thank you for remembering me at the 25-year mark. I think I’ll carry on a bit longer. My cup is full.

Rev. Sean Smallwood

CENTRAL REGION NEWS

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and NW Ontario - Michelle Heumann, editor

FROM THE REGIONAL PASTOR, REV. DAVID HABERSTOCK

It’s Been a Wash

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his last year has been a wash.

It’s been a wash of worry and anxiety. Worry over the virus, over finances, over kids falling behind socially and mentally as a result of online schooling and other disruptions. Worry about churches: whether people will come back to church, whether they will fall out of the godly habit of going to church every week, whether they will fall away from faith, whether congregations will shut down, and so on.

This last year has been a wash, because we’ve all just been trying to get through this odd scenario with its ever-changing circumstances and expectations. The old concerns about growing churches, about evangelizing the community, have been subsumed under the concern of, “Can I even go to church this week?” and “How long has it been since I’ve seen my brothers and sisters in Christ and communed at the altar with them?”

And this “loss” of a year means there are a lot of concerns. A lot of anxieties.

It means we must be charitable with each other. We need to step back and recognize that most of us have tried to make the best decisions we could with the information we had and the courage and wisdom God provided.

Each of us has gotten it wrong at points. We’ve caved to fear on one side or the other. Our sinful nature and the inertia of new patterns have often rooted us in place when action of one sort or another was needed.

When all this is done, when society is back up and running again, when the bonds of family, friendship, and community re-establish themselves in the normal life-giving patterns, when we’ve begun to sort out the trauma and recover, there will be plenty of time for a post-mortem on the decisions made

by governments, synodical leaders, congregational leaders, and each of us personally. And there will need to be some time where we each take stock and assess what has happened and what decisions might have been made differently so that we might grow in wisdom and the fear of the Lord.

But right now is not the time for that yet. We are still in the midst of it. And many of us are angry. But constantly living in anger, constantly going over the traumas and wrongs, being stuck in the moment of torment, is not good for any of us. We need to lament the suffering we have each undergone, the hurts, and the disappointments with our leaders.

Lament it to the Lord. Pour out your complaint to Him (Psalm 142:2; 62:8).

Ultimately, we need to admit and confess to our Lord our disappointment with Him, with His Church, with the leaders He provided, with this world that is in His control. For there is no defending or explaining the suffering He allows to come into our lives. We simply go to God and pour out our complaint to Him. We lament to Him the fact of our suffering. And we take comfort that He hears and suffers with us.

And having lamented, just as in the Psalms of lamentation (e.g., 6, 12, 13, 22, 44, 86), the Lord heals us with faith that affirms His goodness in Christ toward us—faith in His mercy and forgiveness, won for us at Calvary. Being healed we extend grace, putting the best construction on things, recognizing that for the most part, our leaders made the best decisions they could with what information they had. This is not to say that the world has been on the side of the Church in this, for we know it is not (John 16:33), but do not attribute to malice what is just as likely due to weakness, fear, or lack of information.

We need to be charitable to one another right now. There has been room to disagree on an awful lot these last eighteen months, on a wide number of issues. We need to acknowledge that we have not behaved our best, for we are sinners. This was an extremely trying year and a half.

We need to individually and corporately confess our anger and hurt, and pour it out to the Lord. We need to strengthen the weak hands and feeble knees (Isaiah 35:3-4). Right now is a time to rebuild. A time to start again in grace and charity with one another. There are hurts. There has been fear, trauma, and mental anguish.

There has been suffering, death, physical loss, financial deprivation, and devastation for some.

We must be charitable with one another, as dying people reaching out to help dying people, for none of us has done right, or at times even done well.

We leaders must be humble, and must admit that we have done poorly.

I admit I have failed at many parts of my job. I have not been there for some. Not understood or been aware of the suffering of others. Given the wrong answer or wrong advice at times. Failed to be there for so many pastors and parishes. Been angry and resentful at government, at my fellow pastors, at my brothers and sisters in Christ at times. I have sinned and I plead for grace, for the forgiveness of my God, and for the forgiveness of you, my brothers and sisters.

This last year has been a wash. So I thank the Lord that He has washed me with water and His Word. That baptismal waters still cover me. That I am His beloved child washed clean of the stain of my sins of commission and omission. Thanks be to God.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

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CENTRAL REGION NEWS

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and NW Ontario - Michelle Heumann, editor

Confirmation service at New Beginnings Lutheran Church REGINA - Confirming the faith aloud is always emotional, a responsibility, and a great privilege.

Being able to speak with our own mouth what our godparents said in our place at our Baptism is a double blessing.

This is what happened to Annika Warren and Gabriella Beauvais on June 13, 2021, during the 11:11 a.m. service at New Beginnings Lutheran Church (NBLC) where all attending rejoiced with the personal confession of faith of two more communicant young people in NBLC and Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC).

It took two years of meetings to study the Bible and the Catechism, permeated with prayers, songs, biblical stories, didactic games, activities, and good conversations about life and Christian faith. They even wrote a song titled “Forgiven and Grateful.”

This pandemic time brought a great challenge to try to continue having classes, so pastor, parents, and students decided to migrate to online platforms.

As is often the case in confirmation services, the students were nervous, the parents thrilled, and the congregation happy to help keep these young women steadfast in the path of the Saviour Jesus.

The text chosen for Annika was: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:1-3).

And for Gabriella, it was: “My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart” (Psalm 7:10).

The congregation asks the Lord to bless the confirmation students, as well as all believers in Christ in LCC and the world! May the Lord continue to give us all His Holy Spirit, “the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge, and the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:2).

Rev. Paulo Brum

SHARE YOUR STORIES Contact Michelle Heumann, Regional News Editor | regionaleditor@lutheranchurch.ca |

CENTRAL REGION Contact Rev. David Haberstock, Regional Pastor | dhaberstock@lutheranchurch.ca | 1. 800. 663. 5673 |

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

EAST REGION NEWS

Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada - Michelle Heumann, editor

Historic St. Paul’s window repairs K I TC H E N E R , On t . - “ How m u c h ? ! ? ! ” T h a t ’s w h a t t h e congregation of Historic St. Paul’s asked during a Properties Report last September. The reason for the question came as the result of a quote for the repair of the windows, which had gone without any maintenance for the better part of fifty years according to the educated guess of old-timers who tried to remember the last time the outside frames of twenty windows had received any maintenance. The frames were rotting away, interior stained glass windows were sliding into the rotten windowsills, rust was forming on metal storm window supports, and the list goes on.

To r e c t i f y t h e i s s u e s t h e congregation contacted Rooftop Tile Management and Sunrise Glass to enlist their expertise.

The company has worked on the Parliament buildings and Supreme Court building in Ottawa, as well as numerous other churches across Canada. In order to get the job done well, it turns out it costs more than one pretty penny. Actually, the quote was in excess of $300,000.

Yes, that is the correct number of zeros, and the project will take place over the span of two years.

Please learn from St. Paul’s mistake. Keep a close watch on the outside as well as the inside of your buildings, including roofs, eavestroughs, window frames, brick pointing, railings, and so forth. A little spent now can mean big future savings. We take good care of the houses we have received as a blessing from God, and we need to take the same care with His house.

Rev. Allan Scharlach, Church Properties Chair

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

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EAST REGION NEWS

Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada - Michelle Heumann, editor

FROM THE REGIONAL PASTOR, REV. MARVIN BUBLITZ

A Change in Focus O Go d , t he p rotec tor of al l wh o t r ust in Yo u , have merc y o n us t hat wit h You as ou r r ule r an d guide we ma y so pa s s t h ro ugh t h ings temporal th at we lo se n ot the things e t e r n al; t hro ugh Jesu s Christ, Yo ur S o n , o ur Lord, who l ives a n d re ig n s wit h You and the Holy Sp irit , o ne God, now an d f o re ve r. Amen.

E

very year when this collect is used in our worship services, it makes me re-examine myself. Am I focusing only on the things temporal? It is easy to do so. Many things in this world can get our attention and make us lose focus. When this happens, we need the Lord to refocus us.

One such incident is recorded in Luke 10:38-42: “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching.

But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”

Martha was distracted with the things of this world, and Jesus reminded her of what was truly necessary.

Another example is when Jesus and the disciples were leaving the

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

temple and the disciples called Jesus’ attention to the massive stones (Mark 13). At the temple, the people of God worshipped and offered sacrifices, and it was the one place you would expect that their minds would be fully on the things of God, yet their focus was blurred. Jesus refocused them. He told them that not one stone would remain upon another. He foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and also the end of the world when He would return to judge the quick and the dead. In doing so, Jesus corrected His disciples’ wrong focus.

Jesus did not leave the disciples staring at massive stones, nor did He leave them staring at tumbled stones of destruction, rather he raised their eyes from the things temporal to the things eternal. He told them in Mark 13:13—“You will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

All the trials and tribulations of this world will end. Do not focus on them, for our Saviour has told us: “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). All massive stones and human accomplishments will end.

Do not focus on them.

Guide us, O Lord, so we may pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal.

Satan works to blur our focus. He sometimes uses the massive stones of human achievements to get our Old Adam to doubt whether we need God. Sometimes he uses the trials and tribulations we suffer to make us

wonder if God really cares. Yet, through all this, Jesus is at work to correct our focus on the one thing necessary.

When I was a young pastor, I cared for a friend and neighbour pastor who was dying with cancer.

As time went on, I noticed a sharp change in his focus. His thoughts and speech were no longer centered upon the things of this world. His eyes were raised to things above, things eternal. It was a powerful lesson for a young pastor to see.

I have never forgotten and have often witnessed the same thing as I ministered to a dying member.

The things of this world fade in importance as things eternal are brought into sharper focus. Such is the work of the Lord in us.

There are instances in life that give us the opportunity to re-check our focus. Properly speaking, the Lord uses them to keep our eyes focused on the things above. Lately, we have been experiencing another such opportunity, as the pandemic has forced each of us and our congregations to re-examine what one thing is truly necessary. What is truly necessary is the Lord coming to us in Word and Sacrament. All else can be peeled away. The Lord has used this pandemic to re-focus His Church.

Many things we are used to, such as potlucks, coffee time, and meetings have not been able to be enjoyed. So we are refocused on what is needful, gathering around Word and Sacraments as we are able, that the Lord may feed and shepherd us.

So we see the mercy of our Lord to guide us through the things temporal that we not lose the things eternal.

All praise to Him eternally!

EAST REGION NEWS

Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada - Michelle Heumann, editor

Rev. Wilhelm Torgerson marks 50 years of ministry

WINDSOR, Ont. – 2021 marks 50 years of ministry since Rev. Wilhelm Torgerson’s ordination.

Rev. Torgerson was born in Germany in 1944, and after the war his mother married a Canadian soldier who adopted

him. He grew up in Edmonton and was confirmed at St. Peter’s— the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s mother church in Western Canada—in 1959. He attended high school and junior college at Concordia Edmonton, and then

returned to Germany in 1964 to attend Oberursel Seminary. He then attended Concordia College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois.

O n Ju n e 2 0 , 1 9 7 1 , R e v.

To r g e r s o n w a s o r d a i n e d i n Edmonton and began serving his first parish, St. Paul Lutheran Church, in Medicine Hat, Alberta, where he stayed until 1975, when he was called to serve in Germany’s Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church. While there, the parishes he served included the Lutherische Gemeinde Berlin-Mitte church, which had been founded in 1835 and had been the only Lutheran church east of the Berlin Wall. He also served as the founding director of the International Lutheran Centre in Lutherstadt Wittenberg.

In 2008, Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne awarded Rev. Torgerson an honourary Doctorate of Divinity.

Rev. Torgerson returned to Canada in 2011, becoming Adjunct Professor at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines. He also served as Rector of Concordia Seminary in Odessa, Ukraine.

In 2018, he accepted a call to be Assistant Pastor at First Lutheran Church and Christian Academy in Windsor, Ontario, where he continues to serve.

SHARE YOUR STORIES Contact Michelle Heumann, Regional News Editor | regionaleditor@lutheranchurch.ca |

EAST REGION Contact Rev. Marvin Bublitz, Regional Pastor | mbublitz@lutheranchurch.ca | 1. 855. 893. 1466 |

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

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MISSION NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

Oromo Community Outreach in Canada

from Canada

by Rev. Assefa Aredo

CANADA - Since I arrived in Canada in 2001, it’s been my heart’s desire to plant a Lutheran church. While it took longer than I expected, God’s timing was better than I could have ever imagined.

At the very end of 2019, I led a prayer service at the synod office chapel for several faithful Oromo Lutherans living in Winnipeg. It was determined at that time to leave our former fellowship and form a confessional Lutheran mission congregation. When considering a name for the newly founded group John 14:27 came to mind: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Since Christ Jesus has called His Church to deliver the peace of His Gospel to the world, we decided to adopt the name Shalom, the Hebrew word for peace.

Thanks to God, our desire to have a confessional Lutheran Church for Afaan Oromo speaking people living in Winnipeg has become a reality. Since forming our mission congregation, we’ve been blessed with numerical growth, performing several baptisms in the past few months (our most recent baptism being a convert from Islam), welcoming newly arrived immigrants and providing several adult and youth instruction courses. Our Lord has richly blessed us, and with the guidance of His Spirit we have not only been reaching out to the Oromo diaspora here in Winnipeg, but we have also started a young adult ministry in English (which has become the prayer language of our youth). With the assistance of LCC’s Mission Director, Rev. Mark Smith, we offer bi-weekly Bible studies in English for our youth and young adults. We hope that one day soon our congregation will be able to offer a second Divine Service in English.

We are so grateful for the support we have received from our brothers and sisters in Lutheran Church–Canada who have been instrumental in assisting us. Beautiful Saviour Lutheran Church is allowing us to hold services in their building and the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer is allowing us to use their building for our young adult instruction. We regularly give thanks to God for their generous hospitality and support.

And our prayer is that Shalom Oromo Lutheran Church will soon be able to join them as a sister congregation of Lutheran Church–Canada.

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

MISSION NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

French Ministries French Theological Training online

ONLINE - For the first time ever, LCC francophones have access to a theological training programme in French, thanks to an online programme being offered by the Evangelical Lutheran Church–Synod of France (Église Évangélique Luthérienne–Synode de France - ÉÉLSF). That church body has graciously invited LCC members to participate. Four individuals from Quebec have submitted their applications for this lay training that extends over two years, starting in September 2021. The goal is to prepare church members in an orderly, systematic fashion in order to better serve the church in a variety of ways in light of ever-changing mission opportunities.

In a serendipitous turn of events, a recent email from Australia to LCC led to the inclusion of three students from Burundi in the programme. Three ÉÉL-SF pastors, including Rev. Garry Heintz originally of Canada, will be teaching the courses.

Rev. J. T. Haessig is coordinator of the programme.

This opportunity is yet another example of the closer relations between LCC French ministries and the ÉÉL-SF because of recent electronic developments in the churches.

Rev. Dr. David Somers, LCC’s Missionary At Large in Quebec.

Rev. Assefa Aredo is LCC’s Missionary at Large to

the Lutheran Oromo community in Winnipeg.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

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EDUCATION NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

Kay Tiffney passes on to glory

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - Katherine (Kay) Tiffney (née Schneikart), secretary for Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) in St. Catharines, Ontario from 19761995, passed away on July 19, 2021, at 90 years of age.

Kay will be fondly remembered by former seminary students and their families across Lutheran Church– Canada as the mothering heart of the institution during those years. She was the first recipient of the Doulos Theou (“Servant of God”) award, established by the Concordia Seminary Student Association to recognize those who were especially encouraging during the seminarians’ years of study. Kay also served with the Seminary Guild as editor of the newsletter from 19882015, and as Secretary of the Guild from 1991 to 2008.

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

Kay and her late husband John, along with their young family, were charter members of Resurrection Lutheran Church in St. Catharines, where she sang in the choir, was active in the Mary-Martha Society, and served as office secretary, historian, Sunday School Treasurer, and keeper of the Cradle Roll.

A service to celebrate Kay’s life was held at Christ Lutheran Church in St. Catharines on Saturday July 24, at 10:00 a.m. If desired, donations in memory of Kay may be made to Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary.

Rev. Thomas Prachar, President Emeritus of Lutheran Church– Canada’s former Central District, was a student at CLTS while Katherine served there, and shares the following reflections: In September of 1976 when I arrived at Resurrection Lutheran Church, home of the new Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario, I was greeted with the smiling face of Kay Tiffney. I would quickly realize that she was the one who worked behind the scenes typing our class schedules, ordering our books, cataloguing new and donated books for the library, completing administrative work for Dean Roger Humann, copying and distributing

materials for our classes, arranging travel and accommodation for visiting professors from Fort Wayne, and generally, making sure that this new seminary ran smoothly.

Kay became like a mother to us, reminding us of important dates or events, or surprising us with little things, like a cake on our birthdays.

She became affectionately known as “Mother Superior.” While she did not look after nuns, she made seminary life a lot more pleasant for a handful of young men studying for the Holy Ministry. Like any Christian mother, her love for us was evidence of the strong faith she had in Jesus her Saviour.

I had the pleasure of visiting with Kay about six months before the pandemic descended upon us. At that time, she shared with me one of her favourite Bible verses: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

Kay admitted that she took great comfort and strength in God’s Word as it was proclaimed during our daily chapel services, and as it was lived in the lives of her “second” family, her seminary family: students, faculty, and staff.

Rev. Thomas Prachar

EDUCATION NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca

CLS calls new professor

E D M O N TO N - C o n c o r d i a Lutheran Seminary (CLS) has announced that Rev. Dr. Alexandre Vieira has accepted the call to serve as Assistant Professor of Exegetical Theology.

Dr. Vieira is currently the pastor of Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canoas, Brazil. The congregation is a member church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (Igreja Evangelica Luterana do Brasil - IELB), a partner church of Lutheran Church–Canada.

Dr. Vieira received his Ph.D. from Concordia Seminar y in St. Louis, Missouri in 2018, writing his doctoral thesis on the subject of paraklesis in the books of Luke and Acts. He previously had received a M.A. from the seminary. Dr. Viera received his M.Div. from the IELB’s Seminário Concórdia in São Leopoldo, Brazil.

Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton looks forward to welcoming Dr. Vieira, his wife Ciliane, and their daughter Sophia

as soon as the immigration process allows. “We are thrilled for the opportunities this provides for us to offer exegetical courses from a highly respected young faculty member,” CLS said in an announcement. “We pray that God will open doors and allow for safe travel and a healthy adjustment to life in Canada.”

The seminary also awaits the arrival of another professor, Rev. Dr. Sam Thompson of India, as soon as pandemic restrictions ease to allow his arrival.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

33

LUTHER’S SMALL CATECHISM

AT A GLANCE I II III IV V

VI VII VIII IX X

nati

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

THE LORD’S PRAYER

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM

CONFESSION

THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR

34 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN

LUT HER S ’ C AT M A L L S E CHI with SM Expl a

July/August 2021

on

Go o d N ew s f o r E v e r y La ngua ge L U T H E R A N B I B L E T R A N S L AT O R S O F C A N A D A

Summer 2021

Pentecost and Bible Translation

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through them with great power he Pentecost season is a and ignites in them a passion for great time to connect with spreading the gospel by making Lutheran Bible Translators of it available in more languages.

Canada.

That Word is proclaimed in Acts 2 describes the first those mother tongues in worship Christian Pentecost. These events services and Bible study groups beautifully describe the mission to strengthen and encourage and vision of Lutheran Bible the Christians in those language Translators of Canada. communities.

1. The Holy Spirit came and filled the That Word is shared through Bibles believers gathered in Jerusalem. published in those mother tongues (Acts 2:2-3) This is the “power and electronic devices embedded from on high” that Jesus told them with audio versions of those translated to wait for. (Luke 24:49) Scriptures. The printed and audio 2. The Holy Spirit came with His fire, versions are distributed throughout igniting a passion for spreading the those language communities so gospel to all nations. (Acts 2:3-4) that people can receive that life3. T h e Wo r d o f G o d w a s giving Word. The Holy Spirit translated into the mother ou ld ore p eop le w m at th Y A works through that translated tong u e l ang u age of e a ch R P s through His su Je in h it fa to Word and is bringing more and person who gathered where come d! proclaimed Wor more people to know Jesus as the disciples were. (Acts 2:6) published and their Saviour and Lord.

4. The Holy Spirit worked through LBTC missionaries and their partner organizations that translated Word creating develop Bible study groups, listening groups, and literacy faith in Jesus in 3,000 people that day. (Acts 2:37-41) classes among non-Christians in these communities so These same things are true for believers in Jesus today. that those who are being brought to faith in Jesus are And they are especially apparent in those serving with encouraged through the fellowship of other Christians.

Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada. The Spirit works

Translation teams back in Cameroon

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oth LBTC missionary families, Kuhns and Webers, returned to Cameroon toward the end of 2020.

They returned with many changes happening in their missionary callings.

The Webers returned to wrap up their nearly forty years of LBTC service in Cameroon. They sorted through their many belongings, giving away many treasures to their friends and colleagues. They also sorted through forty years of papers, a treasury of Bible translation work, giving much ofTit to LBT US and LBTC missionaries and HE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021 35 1

Back in Cameroon, continued partners in the Bible translation work in Cameroon.

The Kuhns returned to Cameroon as well after their COVID-extended furlough. In the weeks that Kuhns and Webers were together in Ngaoundere two major events took place.

First was the Passation de Service a “c h a n g i n g o f the guard” sort of event where t h e C a m e ro on Lutheran Church (EELC) leadership served as witnesses to Pastor Kuhn taking over the position of LBTC/ US representative for Cameroon from Martin Weber.

Pastor David Federwitz (LBT US West Africa Regional Director) and Pastor Mohr both attended that event via digital means and spoke at length about both Martin’s service and Pastor Kuhn’s abilities and gifts to fulfill what that position requires.

Pastor Kuhn has his office in the Bible House next door to Pastor Touka’s office. This is an excellent arrangement. They are in regular contact with each other and are developing a great working relationship.

Whenever someone from one of the language groups comes to visit one of them, they make sure the other is introduced and takes part in the meeting when appropriate.

PRAY for the Kuh ns as they adjust to their new fam ily roles and as they welcome th eir ne w nanny, Michaela.

Pastor Kuhn has been familiarizing himself with the various language communities and translation teams so that he is more aware of what is happening with them all and what needs each team has. He has committed to travelling to each of the language groups at least once before the end of the summer. The second event was a retirement celebration for Martin and Joan. What a joyful time that was, too. Many of the EELC leaders, as well as Kuhns and Derricks, were all able to be present.

Pastor Touka gave a moving speech about Webers’ loyal and faithful service. Pastor Federwitz and Pastor Mohr again sent audio/video recordings of appreciation for Webers’ service to LBTC/US, giving thanks to the Lord for His countless blessings to the people of Cameroon through them. LBTC/US also had a plaque placed above the front doors of the Bible House in honour of the Webers.

Translation:

Vision for the Bible House May this house serve as a perpetual reminder to all who see it that the Word of God is the heart that gives life to the EELC. May it serve as a space for people to connect with their God through His Word in the language of their hearts in both printed and audio formats.

May it serve as a space where Bible translators of all countries find expert training and consulting that will considerably improve the quality of their work.

The Webers are planning to do a cross-Canada Thank You tour, connecting with their many supporters and prayer partners are soon as COVID restrictions are lifted and people are able to gather again. uld tin and Joan wo PRAY that Mar d an t eir retiremen have joy in th rs te visit their suppor soon be able to across Canada.

Special Projects for 2021

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astor Kuhn and Pastor Mohr, in co-operation with LBTC’s ministry partner in the Cameroon Lutheran Church Department for Translation and Literacy, headed up by Pastor Touka, came up with a list of special projects for 2021 which will greatly enhance the ministry.

#1 The Dowayo Literature Centre is desperately in need of renovations. When the renovations are completed the building will be the centre for the Dowayo translation team as well as the literacy and Scripture engagement workers. It will also house a radio station where Dowayo language programs, including Dowayo Scripture readings, will be broadcast. $500 is needed to completely fund this project. #2 The EELC supports a prison chaplaincy program.

There is a need to train more chaplains and to supply those chaplains with more Bibles to distribute.

Whenever available, Bibles in the prisoners’ mother tongues will be provided in audio or print versions.

Thank you for fully funding this project.

#4 Several language communities under the EELC have literature centres, but the work has stalled because they are no longer subsidized. The funds for this project will enable the EELC’s Department for Translation and Literacy to include leaders from these language communities (representing hundreds of thousands of people!) in a spiritual retreat and ministry planning exercises this fall so that they can move forward with literacy and scripture engagement work using local funding sources. $2,300 is needed to completely fund this project.

#5 Dictionaries are a vital resource for translators to find the best word to describe in their heart language the actions and artifacts described in Biblical Hebrew and Greek. Where would we be without the Oxford English Dictionary and others like it?

The funds from this project will provide the means for workser from several translation projects to attend workshops that will train them in developing dictionaries in their mother tongues to assist them in their translation work. $1,670 is needed to completely fund this project. ding successful fun PRAY for the jects n of these pro o ti le p m co d an t to may be brough that the gospel more people.

#3 Scripture engagement workers in the various language communities must travel great distances to reach outlying villages where they establish Bible study and Bible listening groups using Bible resources translated into their mother tongues.

Bicycles will enable these faithful people to get to these villages more often and get to villages that are farther away from the central community.

Thank you for fully funding this project.

I

n Kuhn nanny news, God has provided a new nanny who will join them in August, Michaela Federwitz, Rev. David Federwitz’s oldest child. She has reached her fundraising goals through generous donors from both LBT US and LBT Canada.

Looking back and looking forward

W

hile COVID has had devastating effects on many Canadians in many ways, financially, LBTC has experienced minimal effect. Thanks be to God for generous donors who have the mission work of Bible translation at heart. But as God grows LBTC’s ministry, the financial needs will also grow. Please consider making a monthly, yearly, or one-time donation to support this Bible translation/gospel proclamation ministry.

Domestically, Pastor Mohr has b e en ver y limited in what he could do to make presentations to congregations or individual donors. But there have been opportunities to make virtual presentations—to the St. Catharines Seminary and to a congregation or two. LBTC has a virtual presentation at this summer’s LWMLC convention. Pastor Mohr was also invited to speak at the Canadian Institute for Linguistics’ (CanIL) chapel service in July and do a recruitment/informational event with them in the same week—again, all virtual.

CanIL (associated with Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C.) is the preferred program for LBTC missionaries’ linguistics training.

In the mission field, our Lord is opening doors for new areas to engage LBTC missionaries. Pastor Mohr is in preliminary discussions to do translation work in at least three new areas of the world and there are several new language groups in Cameroon that are hungering for God’s Word in their own mother tongues.

The fields are ripe for the harvest and so more

labourers are needed. Training is available for Bible translation skills and linguistics, Scripture engagement and literacy work, and vernacular media specialist skills.

There is also a need for educators and childcare workers.

Check out lbtc.ca/get-involved for more information.

If YOU have a mission heart and would like to participate in the great task of bringing God’s life-giving Word to people hungering for what only Jesus can provide, CALL Pastor Mohr at 519-742-3361 or 866518-7071. God is growing the ministry of LBTC. You can be part of that growth.

As things begin to reopen across Canada, LBTC welcomes invitations to circuit and congregational events, regional church workers conferences, and any kind of church gatherings where Pastor Mohr and/or members of LBTC’s board of directors can share the good news of what the Lord is doing in the lives of people through the translation and proclamation of His Word. g iv e u r L o rd to P R AY fo r o lling ut who He is ca dicernment abo ew TC and where n B L h it w e rv se to in. work should beg

# Here is my gift of $ ________________ o I prefer to receive one annual receipt each year (only for individuals).

Name:

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Address: ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Email:

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Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada 275 Lawrence Avenue, Kitchener, ON N2M 1Y3 519-742-3361 or 1-866-518-7071 38 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021 info@lbtc.ca www.lbtc.ca

Spending of funds is confined to programs/ projects approved by LBTC. Contributions designated for such will be used as designated with the understanding that when the program/project has been funded or cannot be completed for a reason determined

by LBTC, the remainder will be used where needed most.

Gifts are acknowledged and receipted with an official receipt for income tax.

How To Respond With Your Gift of Support

• By cheque You can also send LBTC post-dated cheques to continue support for several months.

• Online - Visit www.lbtc.ca, select “Supporting LBTC” and click on a blue CanadaHelps button. CanadaHelps will issue a receipt by email. It is possible to set up montly donations through CanadaHelps.

• By credit card Expiry Date _______________ Name on card _____________________________________ Card # ______________________________

IN REVIEW

SAINT & SINNER

IN DISNEY’S CRUELLA

I

BY TED GIESE

BY TED GIESE

n Disney’s new movie Cruella, Estella/Cruella is an orphan girl with a split personality—one half kind, the other half cruel. While on the run she falls in with a pair of pickpocketing Dickensian grifters, Jasper and Horace, and eventually pursues her lifelong passion for fashion which leads her into a competition with the Baroness Von Hellman, an established fashion mogul. Her entanglement with the Baroness leads to dramatic personal revelations.

Perhaps the people working in Disney’s live-action film department should be described as “re-imagineers.” With its focus on Cruella de Vil, director Craig Gillespie’s film works to embellish and justify the chain-smoking, devilish fashionista character of the classic 1961 Disney cartoon One Hundred and One Dalmatians.

In Cruella, the audience sees a three ingredient recipe of one-part sympathy for the Devil origin story, one-part derivative Joker (2019) meets The Devil Wears Prada (2006) Canal Street knock-off, and onepart character assassination/revision.

Gillespie and his writers Dana Fox and Tony McNamara have taken one of Disney’s least likeable villains and made her 95 percent likeable.

Cruella is a clever well-made film which accomplishes what it sets out to do. But is what it sets out to do a good thing?

In 1996 Stephen Herek made a live-action version of the 1961 Disney cartoon 101 Dalmatians starring Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil. She even reprised her role in 2000’s 102 Dalmatians. In these films Cruella was still a villain through and through, bent on making fur coats out of Dalmatians.

Contrary to the earlier consistent portrayals of the character, in Gillespie’s film Estella/Cruella is an animal lover at heart and would never hurt a dog. She even has her own little dog, Buddy the Terrier, as do her partners in crime. Yes, there are Dalmatians, but they aren’t the lovable Dalmatians of yesteryear. Here they are owned by the Baroness and, as a trio of snarling guard dogs, played a part in Estella becoming an orphan. But don’t worry, the Dalmatians of Cruella get their happy ending too. These details all play into the conceit of the film: Estella/Cruella is misunderstood. If in the original Dodie Smith 1956 children’s novel, Disney cartoons, and subsequent live-action Disney films Cruella was twisted, evil, and only loved dogs for the coats she could make out of them, in this film she must

instead love dogs and have ‘justifiable’ reasons for everything she seeks to accomplish.

Sabrina Maddeaux, in her National Post review “Disney killed Cruella de Vil with political correctness,” does an excellent job of detailing the extent to which Gillespie course-corrects this

character. The ploy is to give her a good, kind, nice, and likeable side in Estella and shuffle the mischievous, cunning, and disagreeable side into Cruella. In the end, though she embraces Cruella, allowing Estella to “die,” perhaps some part of Estella remains. The movie begins with a voice-over narration by Emma Stone in character which is revealed to be part of a eulogy over the faux funeral of Estella by her “good” friend Cruella. By the end of the film it is clear that the whole story is the story of Estella’s demise as told by Cruella.

There is no body in the casket yet it is clear that Cruella doesn’t expect Estella to make future appearances in her life.

There is a Latin theological term used for the tension between the good and the evil in a person: simul iustus et peccator. It means “simultaneously justified and sinner” or, in other words, to be at the same time saint and sinner. For Christians, the imputed righteousness of Christ (the “new Adam”) given by God to an individual makes them a saint in the eyes of God. At the same time, there is an inherent wickedness passed down to all people because of the Old Adam’s fall into sin—a narcissistic evil which is turned in on itself and away from God. This leads to tension in the Christian’s life, as St. Paul explains: “I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19).

Christian viewers aware of this theological concept will see themes of the simul iustus et peccator in spades in this movie. Estella/Cruella becomes a kind of personification of this struggle and as Gillespie’s Cruella unfolds, her dominant character traits shift from the more saintly qualities held dear by Estella to the more sinful qualities increasingly seen in Cruella. Viewers of all sorts (Christian or otherwise) will of course desire the good side of the protagonist to win in the end and Gillespie knows this. And yet, as Cruella is in part an origin story, anyone familiar with the earlier movies knows that the goodnatured Estella doesn’t win. Therefore the whole character has to be as likeable

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

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as possible so the audience will buy into her story and root for her until the end.

To accomplish this, Disney believes Estella/Cruella needs to be ‘woke’ in her views of culture and still be just unhinged enough to remain somewhat recognizable as the original character.

What Gillespie uses to justify her actions is her poverty and hardships: being orphaned at a young age and put upon for having bad ‘breeding.’ By the end, however, she has overcome these challenges, capitalized on all of the bad cards she was dealt in life, and climbed the ladder of success to its peak, with all the theft, vandalism, dog-napping, and deception ‘forgiven’ because of her initial class struggles and hard life experiences. But the punk rock aesthetic is fabric deep; the character of Estella and especially Cruella, for all of Gillespie’s posturing, isn’t anti-establishment so much as she is increasingly disagreeable and self-interested.

A number of Disney characters have received the anti-hero makeover.

Recently, Hayabusa the falcon from 1998’s animated Mulan became the shape-shifting sorceress falcon Xianniang in 2020’s live action adaptation. Here she was no longer a simple villainous sidekick of the invading Mongolian Hun Shan-Yu but instead a misunderstood woman held against her will and forced to do her master’s bidding. Most notable is the reinterpretation of the devilish horned witch Maleficent in 1959’s Sleeping Beauty as Angelina Jolie’s maligned and marginalised Maleficent in the 2014 film Maleficent and its 2019 sequel.

Why monkey around with these characters? The answer is likely less motivated by creative concerns and more by economics. The decision to reimagine these back-catalogue villains makes good business sense.

Refashioning these characters into Disney ‘princesses’ of a sort, who became victims of circumstance spiralling into villainy gives a new angle on the characters and opens up new merchandizing opportunities. Even the choice to have Cruella set aside her signature opera length cigarette holder is rooted in an economic

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

concern. Disney has explicitly made it a policy to avoid depictions of smoking, as there is increasing pressure (including from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control) to have movies with smoking given higher-age ratings. The Disney policy has limited exceptions, including scenes that “portray cigarette smoking in an unfavourable light or emphasize the negative consequences of smoking.” But in the case of Cruella, they are trying hard not to portray her in an unfavorable light. And so the cigarettes need to go away. The same could be said for Gillespie’s lack of fur coat fashions for Cruella in his film.

Disney’s savvy marketing machine can also be seen in the musical score for Cruella. Much like 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Cruella is punctuated with music familiar to Baby Boomer grandparents and Gen X parents of the children at whom the film is aimed.

The result is “fun for the whole family,” nostalgic, and comforting in that popculture reference sort of way. All of this is intended to hook older viewers and soften their opinion of the film’s story. Careful viewers will also notice two uses of music intended to bolster the film’s sympathy-for-the-devil angle: first, the 1968 Rolling Stones song “Sympathy for the Devil” is used in the film’s final moments along with the less obvious use of Jimmy Durante’s 1965 recording of the song “Smile”—a song which was recently used to great effect in 2019’s Joker. In both the R-rated Joker and the PG/PG-13-rated Cruella, the melancholic yet hopeful and encouraging “Smile” is juxtaposed against the central character’s descent into infamy.

Christian parents should watch Cruella before deciding whether to allow their kids to see it. The film has no nudity, sex, brutal violence, or crude language but it does have a rather dark aesthetic weaving in proto-Goth and Punk fashion, along with a Ziggy Stardust-esque vintage clothing shop owner and tailor written into the movie to appeal to LGBTQ+ viewer. Since the plot revolves around the fashion industry, these last points are hardly unexpected but do check certain boxes for Disney. The primary concern for

families though is the glamorization of evil and the continual justification of evil actions by a character the script works hard to make likeable. If you and your family choose to watch this film, it might be a good plan to review the Ten Commandments in the Small Catechism before and after viewing to provide an opportunity for a family discussion about the central character and the general plot.

Overall, the film downplays the dangers of evil actions—something which may be hard to see during casual viewing because Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, and Paul Walter Hauser are such excellent actors. So too the genuine humour and high quality production contribute to the likability of the film. But just as beauty doesn’t equal goodness, neither do fun and likability necessarily equal goodness.

The film’s attempt to rehabilitate the character of Cruella, rooted in critical theory, ideas of social justice, and ideological discussions of class, is not ultimately satisfying—at least not by Christian standards. For the Christian, evil needs to be sublimated and subdued, not embraced, excused, or presented as justifiable. Regardless of how cleverly-made, entertaining, and likable the film is, all viewers would do well to consider how Disney’s reimagining of Cruella interacts and contrasts with their own views on life and morality.

Rev. Ted Giese is lead pastor of

Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Regina; a contributor to The Canadian Lutheran, Reporter; and movie reviewer for the Issues, Etc. radio program. For more of his television and Movie Reviews, check out the Lutheran Movie Review Index.

TRANSITIONS Rev. Alexandre Vieira, accepted a call to CLS, Edmonton, AB.

Rev. James Luke, Candidate.

Rev. Stephen Chambers, accepted a call to Our Saviour, Parksville, BC.

Rev. Robert Clifford, Candidate (Three Hills, AB).

Rev. Jamie Bosma, Candidate, (Thunder Bay, ON).

Living Faith (Orangeville, ON) disbanded.

Bethel (Thunder Bay, ON) disbanded.

Up-to-date Calls/Transitions information can be accessed any time at:

DCE Siegrid Robak, Emeritus (Chestermere, AB).

St. Paul’s (Hines Creek, AB) disbanded.

www.canadianlutheran.ca/calls-transitions

Rev. Brian Burt, called to glory.

BETTER TOGETHER KIT The Better Together Kit is the third in a series of kits and materials produced

by Lutheran Hour Ministries as a result of studies done in partnership with Barna Group. The research sought out to understand Christians who love their neighbors and want to make a difference right where they live. It is challenging work, but the results can be life changing.

Each Better Together Kit includes: •

A Better Together monograph,

•

The Hopeful Neighborhood book,

•

The Hopeful Neighborhood Field Guide,

•

Selected Project Connect booklets,

•

And a pack of Neighborhood Bingo cards.

Get a kit for your congregation, small group, or family from us and get started today.

To order these and other Lutheran Hour Ministry resources – contact us at Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada. 1-800-555-6236 or info@lll.ca

Lutheran Foundation Canada presents two webinar topics each month. You may also schedule a webinar specific to your congregation.

Stewarding Your Estate

Learn how you can use your estate to develop a charitable gift for your church along with a wonderful legacy for your family.

Creating Or Updating Your Estate Plan

If you have never created an estate plan or you haven’t updated your plan in more than five years, this webinar will walk you through each of the components of a good plan.

Dates and registration details available at: www.lutheranfoundation.ca

!

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

41

HIDDEN VALUE

PRESIDENT’S PONDERINGS

by Vice President Thomas Kruesel

W

hen I graduated from seminary and moved to my first congregation, my family had two pressing needs. First, a second vehicle. Second, money. As you can imagine, the second need influenced the decision-making process in meeting the first need.

After much searching I was able to find a 1964 Plymouth Valiant available locally for $1,000. It turned out to be a very reliable car, and whatever maintenance it needed I was able to perform myself as everything was very simple.

It came with the slant six “perpetual motion machine,” pushbutton automatic, “Armstrong steering,” seatbelts (for the parents!), a heater, and brakes. No air, no cruise, no tilt, no power anything. But it did get me from point A to point B for almost eleven years before I accepted a call and sold the car. For those years it met my needs, even if it wasn’t the pinnacle of luxury.

This past year and a half have been incredibly trying. The COVID pandemic, and the restrictions that grew out of it, have placed incredible personal, financial, psychological, spiritual, and societal pressures on a large number of people in our society. These pressures brought many people closer to crisis than they have been, perhaps, ever in their life. For many, these pressures have also forced them to re-evaluate their priorities. People have realized that the things that they thought were important really are not that important at all. At the same time, they discovered that the things they took for granted were really things of great value and worth.

I remember someone saying that one of the effects of sin is that the value of things in our lives become mixed up.

It’s like going into a store and not noticing that the things with little value seem to have the highest price tags, while

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2021

the truly valuable things are priced very low. COVID has forced many people to re-examine how we value the things in our lives—to rediscover their true worth.

The area I have seen this most clearly in is in the lives of God’s people both in my congregation and in other congregations across Canada. For too long, we in Canada and the western world in general have taken the freedom we have to gather for worship for granted. We have valued other things in our lives with a value they do not deserve. As the words to a classic song go, “You don’t know what you’ve got, until it’s gone.” When God’s people, out of abundance of care for those around them (and in keeping with the government restrictions imposed), stopped gathering for in-person worship, many of us realized of all the things that were denied us during the pandemic, the ability to gather for worship was the greatest loss. We suddenly realized that something we had taken for granted was of primary importance in our lives.

The pastors of Lutheran Church–Canada worked hard to reach the members of their congregation with the Word of God using the tools of technology that God has given us as services, sermons, Bible Studies, and devotions moved online. Our pastors also found ways to bring Holy Communion to the members of the church in a way that cared both for their spiritual and physical well-being.

As the pandemic extended, the yearning to gather around God’s Word and Holy Communion in the fellowship of believers grew. It was with great excitement that our congregations have again begun gathering in God’s house for worship. Just as the time of the captivity of the people of Israel in Babylon created conditions that led God’s people to examine themselves and the priorities in their lives, the pandemic has led the pastors and people in our churches, I believe, to a realization of what is truly important in their life of faith. As I grew to understand of my old Valiant, sometimes the simpler things are, the better they are.

I believe this is a lesson the Church has taken away from our time in exile. My prayer is that we, like the early Christian Church, can cling to the heart of worship as described in Acts 2:42— “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer”—so that as things return to “normal” we will continue to value and treasure the gifts of Word, Sacrament, and fellowship that are ours as God’s people.

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Baptismal Waters Cover Me

“Baptismal waters cover me; Christ's wounded hand has set me free.

Held in my Father's strong embrace, With joy I praise Him for His grace” LSB 616, Kurt E. Reinhardt