ELCIC News: September 21, 2022

1. Reflect, Learn, Participate on Orange Shirt Day

Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) are invited to observe September 30 as Orange Shirt Day, which marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

"I encourage members of the ELCIC to observe Friday, September 30 as Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation," says ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson. "I invite you to make this a day of quiet reflection, learning and/or participation in a community event. The purpose of the day is to promote reconciliation and help ensure that the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools is never forgotten."

There are many ways to consider observing this day. You can find more information and access resources from our partners by clicking on any of the links below:
Churches Beyond Borders 2021 Statement on Teaching the Truth
Anglican Church of Canada Reconciliation and Healing Resources
The United Church of Canada Orange Shirt Day
KAIROS Canada Orange Shirt Day
Eastern Synod Circle for Reconciliation and Justice

Other helpful resources
The Story of Orange Shirt Day
September 2021 Letter from National Bishop Susan C. Johnson with a Prayer of Reconciliation by Cari Klaassen

2. Pakistan Flooding Appeal

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada joins Canadian Lutheran World Relief in asking its members to consider donating to those suffering from catastrophic flooding in Pakistan.

Over 33 million people have recently been affected with food waters destroying homes, crops, health centres, roadways and bridges. Rain is expected to continue through September and there is an elevated risk of the spread of malaria, dengue fever and other diseases.

The Government of Canada has announced that it will match donations to the Humanitarian Coalition and its member charities up to $3 million. Your gift today will provide life-saving clean water, food, shelter and healthcare to those affected. Donations will be accepted securely by clicking here.

3. Lutheran World Federation Assembly Stewards Applications Are Open!

Young Lutherans (18-30 years) from LWF member churches are invited to apply to be stewards at the Thirteenth Assembly. This is a leadership development and volunteer program for youth to accompany and learn about the LWF Assembly. The LWF Assembly will take place in Krakow, Poland from September 13-19, 2023. Applications will remain open through September 30, 2022.

4. Call for Submissions for Luther League Legacy Fund

The Luther League Legacy Fund (LLLF) develops leaders for the church and for the world by providing grants and bursaries to enable young people to participate in leadership training and development activities. Funds may be disbursed for:

Bursaries to individuals to enable them to attend leadership development or training events which are related to their life in the church;
Grants to projects of training and development activities and events.

Applications are reviewed by, and disbursement decisions made by the ELCIC Program Committee for Youth Ministry. Funds are not necessarily dispensed each year. The upcoming application deadline is on October 1 (and the next one on March 1). For more information and to complete your application form, please click here.

5. Celebrate Season of Creation: September 1 Through October 4

The ELCIC invites members and congregations to join with Christians of various traditions in celebrating and honouring a Season of Creation, held annually from September 1 to October 4. This year's theme is 'Listen to the voice of creation'. This is an opportunity to affirm the Lutheran World Federation's commitment to address climate change through liturgy, prayer and action.

For more information on the Season of Creation and to download the 2022 Celebration Guide and other wonderful resources, please click here.

Related News/Resources:

KAIROS Climate Action Month
Decolonizing climate action will underscore KAIROS' fourth annual Climate Action Month, which began September 1. Throughout September, KAIROS will explore weekly themes through online content and actions that will include a Canada focus (fossil fuels and environmental racism), global grassroots women's organizations and Indigenous rights.

KAIROS' Climate Action Month amplifies the World Council of Churches' Season of Creation. The theme of this year's Season of Creation is Listen to the Voice of Creation, in recognition of the voices that are muted or silenced in their attempts to communicate the climate crisis. To learn more, please click here.

Season of Creation: Worship Outlines and Suggestions
The latest Where Two or Three Gathered resources for The Season of Creation and Thanksgiving is now available. This particular resource has been prepared by Rebekah Ludolph, a member of Trillium Lutheran Church in Waterloo. Rebekah has included helpful background material to the Season of Creation, information on preparing your own Land Acknowledgement, ideas to use with children, and how to really embrace the creation with which we have been gifted. The worship outlines include options for Holy Communion and Service of the Word, and use Evangelical Lutheran Worship and All Creation Sings as their primary resource. To download this resource, please click here.

Care of Creation Ministry Resource
The Synod of Alberta and the Territories (ABT) Care of Creation Ministry Team has prepared a resource which can be shared with congregations during the Season of Creation. In collaboration with confirmands across the synod, a set of three short videos based on this year's Season of Creation theme, 'Listen to the voice of creation', may be shared with your congregation's weekly/monthly newsletters, social media pages, or as a prelude/postlude to worship services between September 1 and October 4. Videos are now available and can be downloaded when you click on the following:
Video 1 - Lament
Video 2 - Joy
Video 3 - Hope

6. Effective Partnerships

Anglican-Lutheran Cycle of Prayer
The following are the prayer petitions for Sunday, September 25.

ACC: The Bishop, clergy and people of the Territory of the People

ACC/ELCIC: Every child matters. Remember the Indigenous children who did not return home from residential schools. For survivors and their families. For truth, healing and reconciliation.

7. Association of Lutheran Church Musicians - Resource for Leaders, Volunteers in the Music Ministry

The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM) offers practical education programs and diverse resources through conferences, publications and fellowship to serve musicians of all types - from paid professionals to volunteers. ALCM helps to connect servant leaders to one another, and assists in cultivating their musical gifts. ALCM supports worshipping communities in the proclamation of the Gospel. For information on ALCM conferences, publications, employment resources, online resources, and more, please view the brochure when you click here or visit the ALCM website.

8. Living our Faith: Love

Over the last four years, we have been sharing National Bishop Susan Johnson's vision for a four-year emphasis on Living our Faith - as together we pray, read, worship, and love (www.elcic.ca/LivingOurFaith).

As we begin the final year, we shift our focus from worship to love. As a whole church, we will learn about love, grow in our experience of loving one another and deepen our daily interactions with one another and God through Jesus’ many teachings.

Monthly encouragements will be posted on the Living our Faith: Love website, as well as on our social media pages and through ELCIC News. This month's reflection is from Katarina Kuhnert. A preview of her submission can be found below:

Watch ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson's introduction to a year of love here.