Welcome to E-Communique – An electronic resource of instant information for Church Leaders from the National Office of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
E-Communique is:
- An electronic toolbox of timely information and resources recommended by the ELCIC and sent to congregations, national committees, clergy and lay leaders throughout our church.
- An easy to use collection of new ideas, resources and live links to helpful websites.
- Easy to cut and paste from so that you can add information from this resource to your worship bulletins!
Subscribe to E-Communique by emailing communique@elcic.ca and indicate "subscribe" in the subject line.
Read past issues online.
————————————————————————————
Inside This Issue of E-Communique:
1. DIACONAL MINISTRY January 27 Recognition
2. STEWARDSHIP Resources and Tips
3. GHDA Resources for your Lenten Journey
4. CANADA LUTHERAN Highlights from the Jan/Feb Issue
5. MISSION IN THE WORLD Training and Events
6. WORSHIP 2008 National Worship Conference
7. ELW Be Not Afraid
8. CLYG 2008 Travel Light
9. ACROSS THE SYNODS News for ELCIC Congregations All Across Canada
10. NUGGETS FROM THE ‘NET Online Resources
__________________________________________________________
1. LIFTING UP DIACONAL MINISTRY ON JANUARY 27
January 27 is the Commemoration day for Phoebe, Lydia and Dorcas on the Lutheran worship calendar. Phoebe was a deaconess (see Romans 16:1), and the other two were active in caring for the needs of people. Diaconal Ministry is a rostered, public ministry of the ELCIC. Diaconal Ministers offer a Ministry of Word and Service, with particular focus on equipping the baptized to bear witness through compassionate action. There are currently 25 Diaconal Ministers on the roster of the ELCIC. A Diaconal Ministry brochure is available on the ELCIC website: https://www.elcic.ca (click on resources, then documents, and scroll down to “Diaconal Ministry Brochure, 2006”)
On Sunday January 27, the ELCIC invites you remember Diaconal Ministry; pray for the diaconal members of the roster and pray that the whole church will recognize its call to be In Mission for Others by offering a witness of service and care to our neighbours.
2. STEWARDSHIP RESOURCES FROM THE NATIONAL OFFICE
Would you like to learn more about how our faith shapes our lives and the decisions we make about how we manage and care for our time, our talent, our money and creation? The Steward is a bimonthly newsletter which provides information about our church’s stewardship ministry and tips about deepening this work. To sign up to receive The Steward e-mail randersen@elcic.ca and indicate "Subscribe to The Steward" in the memo portion of your email.
3. PREPARING FOR YOUR LENTEN JOURNEY
The ELCIC’s Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA) has collaborated with partner Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) to produce resources which may be used to guide your Lenten discipline of prayer and reflection. May they be signs of the renewal we look to in the Easter Resurrection. The following resources are available for downloading:
2008 Family Lenten Calendar (https://elcic.ca/GHDA/Resources/documents/Lent-Calendar-2008.pdf) – aims to involve Sunday school aged children in the Lenten journey through daily learning, prayer and action.
2008 Bulletin Inserts (https://elcic.ca/GHDA/Resources/documents/Lent-Inserts-GHDA-2008.pdf)
4. CANADA LUTHERAN
Do you subscribe to Canada Lutheran (CL), the magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada? Here’s what CL subscribers will be reading about in the January/February 2008 issue :
Feeding the Soul: Could you feed your family on $11 a day? Learn how one Edmonton couple instituted a meager monthly food budget to teach their family to value their daily bread–and the many other blessings they share.
Finding Forgiveness: Martin Luther tell us that “Forgiveness is God’s Command,” but how do we begin this healing journey? Whether you’re stinging from a recent disappointment or languishing in life-long pain, these remarkable examples of forgiveness will inspire you to take the first step.
Bible Study 101: Too shy to join a study group? Too nervous to start one of your own? These expert tips will introduce you to the joys–and pitfalls–of small-group discussion.
Order and Chaos: This summer’s National Worship Conference will help liturgical leaders explore ways to combine orderly, time-honoured liturgies with creativity and innovation.
If you aren’t currently a subscriber to Canada Lutheran, find out how to become one at: https://www.elcic.ca/clweb/index.html.
Interested in just this particular issue? You can order individual copies of Canada Lutheran for $3.95 plus taxes and postage. Contact the National Office at orders@elcic.ca to order.
5. ELCIC’S MISSION IN THE WORLD
Mission Trip Leaders Training – Two to four-week mission exposure and work trips are currently very popular in the ELCIC. Some of these trips are associated with the Companion Synod Program while most are done by individual congregations. ELCIC Mission in the World (MW) is encouraging best practices so that mission trips can be beneficial to both participants and hosts. By working ecumenically with the Canadian Churches Forum for Global Ministries, ELCIC MW is now able to offer the Mission Trip Leaders’ Training program and accompanying resource Sojourning, A Leader’s Guide for Short Term Mission Travel. The next training seminar is in Winnipeg, March 8-9, 2008 (register by February 10). For further details and to register go to the Forum’s web site http://www.ccforum.ca.
2008 Global Events – The events produced by ELCA Global Mission are endorsed by the ELCIC. The next Global Mission Event (GME) will be in La Crosse, Wisconsin, July 17-20, 2008. In addition to the main GME, the new ELCA Global Formation Events will be offered at three locations in 2008. Register as a congregational team for a Global Formation Event, build skills together and return energized to help your congregation be effective in God’s mission locally and in the global Lutheran community. For further details go to the GME web site http://www.elca.org/gme .
6. 2008 NATIONAL WORSHIP CONFERENCE
Fast becoming a tradition in partnership, the 2008 National Worship Conference – ‘Order and Chaos’ – is sponsored by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada. According to the conference website, "’Order’ and ‘Chaos’ may well describe the way many of us involved in the planning and executing of liturgies in the church feel about the whole endeavour. We are always working within an ‘order’ but it sure seems chaotic at times!" Order and Chaos will take place June 25 to 28, 2008 in Montreal, Quebec. Keynote presenters include Gordon Lathrop and Karen Ward. Further information and registration is available online at http://www.worshipconference2008.org/
7. EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN WOMEN’S 2008 CONVENTION
Is the 2008 Evangelical Lutheran Women (ELW) convention being promoted in your congregation? Has someone made an announcement to all women? Do you know where the poster is hanging in your church to promote this national event? (Posters were sent in August 2007 to all congregational ELW groups.) Have copies of the registration form been photocopies and distributed? Is fundraising taking place so that your congregation can send a group? For further information on our national women’s convention, visit the ELW website at: http://www.elw.ca
Speaking of the ELW website… it’s been completely redesigned!! Check it out at http://www.elw.ca
8. CANADIAN LUTHERAN YOUTH GATHERING
Travel Light, the theme for the 2008 Canadian Lutheran Youth Gathering was announced at the 2007 National Convention. Mark your calendars, this is trip is one you won’t want to miss! The 2008 Canadian Lutheran Youth Gathering (CLYG) will be taking place August 14 – 17, 2008 in Whitehorse. Further information is available online at http://youth.elcic.ca/travelLight/index.htm and posters have been sent out to all ELCIC congregations.
9. ACROSS THE SYNODS
KAIROS Sunday 2008—make your plans! The ELCIC encourages all churches to make some space for justice in your worship and study life by planning a KAIROS service of worship. A new liturgy, bulletin insert, children’s resources and more are available at http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/network/sunday/index.asp If you want additional worship ideas, see our complete list at http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/resources/worship/index.asp KAIROS is a partner of the ELCIC’s Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA).
Calling of Mark Harris as Assistant to the Bishop in the Eastern Synod – Rev. Dr. Mark W. Harris, pastor of Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Waterloo will fill one of two vacant positions in the Eastern Synod office.The work of the Eastern Synod and the ELCIC is not new to Harris. Since his ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in June 1980, Harris has served the Synod, National Church and International and Ecumenical communities either by election or appointment to various committees and task forces. Harris is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of Canadian Lutheran World Relief and is the ELCIC appointee to the Consultation on Common Texts. Read the full release at: http://www.easternsynod.org/docs/2007/07-11-20%20Harris%20Newsrelease.pdf
ELCIC Fleeces – we have been looking into the possibility of making fleeces with the ELCIC’s updated In Mission for Others logo available. These full-zippered fleeces are available in burgundy or black and have the full ELCIC logo embroidered in white thread on the left-hand front of the jacket. We would first like to gauge whether there is enough interest in this before we go ahead. If you may be interest in individual or group purchases, please email Trina Gallop, communications manager, at tgallop@elcic.ca and indicate the approximate quantity you would be interested in. Fleeces would be available for $39.50 each – this includes shipping.
10. NUGGETS FROM THE ‘NET
New website monitors Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The United Nations launched a new website powered by Google and network equipment maker Cisco that will show how and where the world is succeeding or failing in meeting the MDGs on ending poverty. The creators of the website said that better monitoring of progress should spur success. Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said that the site would, for the first time, present all the information on the goals in one place, allowing closer monitoring and helping identify places in need of greater attention. The site gathers statistics from around the world to give a snapshot of how each country is doing in meeting the eight goals, from cutting infant mortality to reducing hunger. http://www.mdgmonitor.org (With files from AP and Lutheran Office for World Community).
_______________________________________________________________________
Some of the resources mentioned in E-Communique are available from the ELCIC National Office. If you prefer to order those materials in print, phone 1.888.786.6707 ext 177 or 204.984.9177; email orders@elcic.ca; or fax your order to 204.984.9185 "Attn Orders Desk". Be sure to fully describe the item and tell us the quantity you need. You will be invoiced when the order is filled.
ELCIC Privacy Policy https://www.elcic.ca/privacy.html
