ELCIC News - Weekly Updates (Week Beginning October 18)

1. Lutheran, Anglican leaders call for immediate intervention on Mi'kmaw fishing crisis

Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada have written to the Prime Minister to express, "urgent and deep concern for the violent situation unfolding in regard to Mi'kmaw fishing in Nova Scotia."

In their letter, the leaders call for immediate intervention, "to provide safety for all and to counteract the violence and terror being experienced by the Mi'kmaw people yet again as they live out their sovereign rights on their lands and waters."

Download a pdf of the letter here.

2. The Lutheran World Federation offers resources and plans for Reformation Day 2020

Photo Credit: The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) website

On October 31, Lutherans around the globe commemorate the anniversary of the Reformation. The Communion Office at The Lutheran World Federation has prepared worship materials and other online resources to help churches pray and reflect together on the meaning of Reformation in our contemporary context. A letter from the LWF General Secretary has also been provided, sharing with you some resources and plans for the upcoming Reformation Day. To access these resources, please go to our ELCIC website at https://www.elcic.ca/news.cfm?article=581.

3. Christian leaders worldwide call for debt cancellations from The World Bank and International Monetary Fund

Leaders representing close to 150 Christian communities from different parts of the world, wrote a letter addressed to the heads of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a spirit of solidarity and hope, as everyone witnesses the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the most vulnerable members of our communities through illness, death, hunger and loss of livelihoods.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan C. Johnson has endorsed this letter from Christian leaders worldwide to the International Monetary Fund (IMP) and the World Bank calling for the cancellation of debt owed by developing countries. ELCIC is one of the signatories. To read the full letter, please click here.

4. 2020-21 Congregational Stewardship Resources

This year's stewardship materials focus on the theme Faithful, Loving, Hopeful, based on 1 Corinthians 13:13. This verse is often more commonly associated with weddings but generosity is indeed a matter of the heart and attitude. A good steward has a faithful, hopeful and loving heart.

The ELCIC National Office provides stewardship resources to congregations at no cost! Find out more about what's available and order your resources today by checking out the following link: https://elcic.ca/Stewardship/default.cfm

5. Living our Faith - Read: Bible Book Club

You are invited to a year of reading the Bible!
ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson invites you to form a Bible Book Club with members of your church, your friends, family or others from your community as a way to study scripture and discuss the Bible together.

September 2020 marked the second year of the Living our Faith initiative, to which our emphasis has shifted from prayer to reading. Each month we will focus together on a different book of the Bible. Our first month, September, had us reading the book of Genesis. For the month of October we have moved to reading the book of Deuteronomy.

Did you participate in a Bible Book Club this month? We want to hear from you!

Participating in the Living our Faith - Bible Book Club is easy. Form your book club, use the introduction we provide from the Lutheran Study Bible, read the appointed book, download the prepared questions and join in the discussion!

We look forward to hearing about your year of reading the Bible!

Looking for additional Bible study resources?
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia is offering weekly Bible studies prepared by the Latin America and Caribbean Women's Network to encourage churches who are going through this time of crisis. View the resources here.

6. Supporting students at schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

As schools around the world are beginning a new academic year in very challenging circumstances, so too are the students at schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). Earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic, the schools dealt with closures and lock down periods by embracing digital technology and distance learning. Sadly, the continued lock downs have impacted families served by the schools in many different ways. COVID-19 restrictions have meant further barricade closures and a significant loss of tourism for the region resulting in job loss and substantial reduction in income to household. Many families are now facing signifiant difficulties with paying tuition for the 2020-21 school year, which is on average $1,600/year per student.

To help support our Global Mission partner, the ELCIC has launched an ELCJHL Scholarship Appeal for the 2020-21 school year. You are invited to consider how you can financially support scholarships for students of the ELCJHL. Donate toda y and also consider how you can get your congregation and community involved.

Click the photo above to watch a video prepared by Bishop Ibrahim Azar of the ELCJHL.

7. One Body Working Together

Employment Opportunity: Program Executive for Youth at The Lutheran World Federation
The Department for Theology, Mission and Justice (DTMJ) of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is seeking for applicants to fill the position of Program Executive for Youth. If you are interested in joining an organization with a meaningful purpose and would want to work with the possibility to raise the participation of the youth within the network of LWF member churches, please apply for this position. Applicants are to include an updated curriculum vitae (CV), a church endorsement from your member church, and a personal letter explaining why and how you would like to develop and strengthen the youth work of the LWF. Do you know a good candidate? Please share this and encourage them to apply. To read the full job description and vacancy announcement, please click here. Applications are to to be submitted online on the LWF website. Closing date for applications at the LWF is on November 16.

Join Gathering God's Harvest: An Ecumenical Stewardship Webinar Series
You are invited to join the ecumenical stewardship webinar series, Gathering God's Harvest on Thursdays from October 22 to November 19 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (Saskatchewan Time) via Zoom. Each webinar comes with a presentation, breakout sessions and Q&A. The 7:00 p.m. timeslot is a repeat of the 3:00 p.m. session with the recorded presentation on that Thursday, new breakout sessions and Q&A This series is organized in the spirit of the LAURC Covenant by the Anglican Diocese of Qu'Appelle, the Saskatchewan Synod of the ELCIC, and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina. If you are interested in participating in this webinar series, please register by sending an email to Nick Jesson at njesson@archregina.sk.ca

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

ACC: Archbishop Melissa Skelton, the clergy and people of the Diocese of New Westminster
ELCIC/ACC: An end to gender-based violence and human trafficking.

8. Reconciled Relationships

Advocating for Indigenous Rights
The ELCIC is working with ecumenical partners to encourage the Government of Canada to prioritize UN Declaration Legislation for the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is providing an online tool to assist you in sending a message to the Minister of Justice. Please visit: https://mcccanada.ca/get-involved/advocacy/campaigns/prioritize-un-declaration-legislation

9. Courageous Innovation

Protect environment, create employment: the LWF in Cameroon
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has transformed a region around the Minawao refugee camp in the far North of Cameroon from a dusty desert to a young forest. At the same time, the LWF project improved the relationship between refugees and host community; provided new livelihood and ensured better protection for women and girls. To read the story, please click here.

10. Child of God you are growing up - copies available

We have received a limited number of new, never used copies of the book Child of God you are growing up written by the Rev. Don Johnson and illustrated by Friedrich Peter here in the National Office. We would like to make these available to individuals and/or congregations who might be interested. The suggested retail value of the book is $10.95 plus tax. We are willing to mail these out at no charge and ask you to consider a donation to the ELCIC Praise Appeal. Please send your requests to tgallop@elcic.ca. Limited copies only.

Child of God you are growing up is intended to be given to children and their parents at baptism, or on the occasion of the anniversary of their baptism. It is also written so that congregations might invite children, parents and godparents to a special day in the church to renew their baptism and give a copy of this book. The book is to be read by children and their parents together. It is hoped that both will grow together in their understanding of the gifts that are theirs.

11. Live Stream and Worship Resources

The following are a number of ELCIC online worship services and resources that may be helpful to you during this time of intentional physical distancing. Have something you think we should add to the list? Please email tgallop@elcic.ca with your suggestions!

12. Mark Your Calendars