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ABC Connect
Keeping the ABC District Connected. |
Volume 6, Issue #6
February 14, 2011
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany |
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand the things they ought to do and also may have grace and strength to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
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Greetings!
This newsletter is intended to communicate the happenings and news around our district to our workers and members. We invite and encourage you to share this information within your congregation in your newsletters, bulletins, and announcements. We also encourage you to share the newsletter itself with others. You can do this by using the feature, either using that link, or the one at the bottom of the email.
Questions, comments, feedback? Send them to news@lccabc.ca.
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Prayers
Prayer of healing and comfort for Mikhaila (Hope Lutheran School, Port Coquitlam, BC). Mikhaila is in grade 9, and has been suffering from seizures since the fall. Over Christmas she lost her memory. This week, it was discovered that she had a grape sized tumor in her brain. It is operable, but at this point it is unclear what they will find. We also pray for strength and hope for her friends, school mates and family as they go through this with her.
For congregations and schools as they consider applications for Church workers.
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Calls
Rev. Randy Heide has received the call to Trinity, Quesnel, BC.
For the most up to date information regarding calls, please visit www.lccabc.ca/calls
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Deadlines
- DUE NOW - 2011 Officer Roster - form available here, under the Congregation Resources, Financial section.
- DUE NOW - 2011 Mission Commitment - form available here, under the Congregation Resources, Financial section.
- DUE NOW - School Statistics for 2010-2011 - form available here, under the Parish and School Services tab.
- DUE NOW - CEF Loan Financial Statements and Reports
- March 1 - Deadline for contributions to your ABC District Investment Ltd. RRSP account.
- March 15 - Applications due for the placement of Vicars, DPS interns, Pastoral candidates, and DPS candidates.
- March 31 - 2011 Synodical Convention Assessment payment
- March 31 - Synodical Statistical Report - for more information, click here.
- March 31 - Deadline for YMI Director position applications. For more information, click here.
- April 1 - Applications due for the placement of teacher candidates.
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Announcement
As we prepare for our Synod Convention, please keep in mind that our ABC District Convention will take place on May 18-21, 2012 in Edmonton, Alberta. The theme is based on Daniel 12:3, "In Your light... We shine like stars."
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Upcoming Events
- Saturday, February 19 - at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Calgary, AB - Regional Outreach Workshop - for more information, click here
- Friday, February 25 - Sunday, February 27 - Missions Fest Alberta 2011. For more information, click here.
- Saturday, February 26 - Lutheran Foundation seminars - at Grace, Port Alberni, BC (9:30am - 11:30am) and at Trinity, Duncan, BC (2:00pm - 4:00pm)
- Monday, February 28 - Tuesday, March 1 - Lutheran Teacher's Association Administrator's Conference at Prince of Peace, Calgary, AB.
- Monday, February 28 - Thursday, March 3 - Sabbath Church Workers Conference. For more information, click here.
- Saturday, March 19 at Christ, Markerville, AB - Christianity and the Competition with Dr. Paul Maier - for more information, click here.
- Sunday May 1 - 80th Anniversary of Christ Lutheran Church, Craig, AB
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Employment Opportunity
- Youth Ministry Institute is looking for a new director! For more information and details about the job, please visit here. Deadline for applications is March 31, 2011.
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Missions Fest Alberta 2011
February 25-27, 2011 at the Shaw Conference Centre.  There are a number of key not speakers and many workshops focused on evangelism and missions to choose. Some sample workshops include: 'Understanding and Responding to the Populist Atheism'; 'Responding to Religious Inclusiveness'; 'Inspiring Kids to be Involved in the Great Commission'. For more information visit the Mission Fest 2011 website. |
Parish Education
The Parish and School Services Department is pleased to announce that Rev. Roger Theimer (King of Kings, Omaha) will be touring our district to talk about helping parents teach the faith to their children. For a full schedule of all the places that Rev. Theimer will be, as well as more information about him, please click here. |
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Planned Giving
While attending the meetings of the various Board of Directors from each District and Synod, a common phrase is often heard, "Where are we going to find the money to do that?" or, "Unless we find more money we'll have to cut that program back." Concern for the future financial health of the synod, districts, congregations, and most organizations of LCC is rising. Lutheran Foundation Canada is attempting to implement one solution to this problem; encouraging our aging membership to include a significant "planned gift" within their estate to support the mission and ministry of the church.
In the same way that individuals have saved throughout their lifetime to live off the income of their investments in retirement, Lutheran Foundation Canada proposes that if enough individuals leave gifts to the church within their estate, these funds can be invested and the earnings will assist future funding of programs for many years.  For many estates, due to the tax credits generated, leaving even a significant gift to the church makes little impact to the portion of the estate left to the surviving children. If you're concerned about the future of the church, and are considering an estate gift, or would like to hear more about other aspects of creating a comprehensive estate plan, consider inviting the Foundation to present a seminar on Christian Estate and Will Planning at your congregation, or attend one of the following:
- Sat, Feb 26 - 9:30 to 11:30am - Grace Lutheran, Port Alberni, BC
- Sat, Feb 26 - 2:00 to 4:00pm - Trinity Lutheran, Duncan, BC
If you feel that the members of your congregation could benefit from such a seminar or would like more information about Lutheran Foundation Canada, you can contact Allen Schellenberg via email or phone (877.711.4438)
For the most up to date Seminar information, please visit the
Lutheran Foundation website.
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Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times
You are invited to,"Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times: How to be Calm and Courageous No Matter What", the 4th annual Western Canada Summer Training Institute for Church Leaders sponsored by Conciliation Services Canada. This ecumenical event will be led by the Rev. Dr. Peter Steinke, internationally renowned congregational systems consultant, Lutheran pastor, educator, therapist, and Alban Institute author, at the Providence Renewal Centre in Edmonton, May 17 -  19, 2011. Both lay and clergy leaders are encouraged to attend.
It's hard not to be anxious when we live in a time of constant change. This is as true for our congregations as it is for us as individuals. Although we cannot slow the rate of change, church leaders can make conscious, faithful, choices about how we will respond to it - which, in turn, will have a profound impact on whether our congregations face into the future with fear or faith. This seminar is designed to equip church leaders with the theoretical perspectives, theological grounding, and practical ministry skills they need in order to deal with anxiety will, and to work through the complex challenges facing the church with courage, hope and confidence in God's presence and calling in the midst of change.
For more information or a brochure and registration form in pdf format, please click here, or email Nan Cressman, or call 519-742-2280.
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Regional Outreach Workshops
 Wanting to learn more about what you can do for Outreach and Missions? The Evangelism committee of the Outreach department is offering 1 day workshops around the district to equip and inform about reaching out to the lost! Come enjoy the fellowship and learn more about sharing your faith! First workshop will be taking place on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Calgary, AB. More information available on this workshop, and other ones around the district is here. |
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Participants Needed
The New South Wales District and the ABC District are recruiting church workers to participate in learning communities. Meeting on Skype, the learning communities would meet for about 1 hour every 4-6 weeks for prayer, Bible study, a book discussion on some aspect of the missio Dei, and for sharing. If interested, please contact: Dr. Glenn Schaeffer at 1-888-474-0063 or email.
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It's Coming!
The countdown is on!! 'Go!' is almost ready for launching! 'Go!' is a blog that will provide a forum:
- To advance missional theology and strategy;
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To equip God's people to be missionaries in a post-church culture;
- To direct people to missionary opportunities and training sessions;
- To inspire God's people (and congregations) to see themselves as missionaries to their communities;
- To promote and share the stories of God's people as they participate in God's mission to the lost.
Watch future ABC Connects for the launch day of "Go!"
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Pen Pal Congregations
Did you have an international pen pal when you were a child? Pen pals typically develop a relationship with one another by writing letters to one another. We are looking for ABC District congregations to participate in a "Pen Pal" relationship with congregations in the New South Wales District of Lutheran Church of Australia. The "Pen Pal" congregations would determine how often they meet with one another and how they would develop a Pen Pal relationship (e.g. Skype visits, newsletters, etc.). The Pen Pal relationship might begin with the pastors meeting with one another and then lay leadership would be invited into the relationship and then the congregation. The possibilities of developing the Pen Pal relationship are endless ... depending on how creative and committed you want to be with the Pen Pal relationship. The purpose of the Pen Pal relationship is to connect Christian brothers and sisters in Christ for the purpose of
helping people get a bigger mission perspective, to share mission and ministry ideas, to pray for one another, and to grow our mission at home in our respective communities.
If interested in being a pioneering congregation in this Pen Pal initiative, please contact: Dr. Glenn Schaeffer at 1-888-474-0063 or email.
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Resource of the Week
Check out Tobias Communication! Specializing in Dr. Maier's seminars on DVD, Tobias Communication has a wide selection of resources for any need.
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Church Extension Fund
Build a church without lifting a hammer or sawing a board. Your Registered Retirement Savings Account (RRSP) with ABC District Investments Ltd helps District congregations finance their building, expansion and renovation plans. Build a church today by opening a new account or adding to your existing RRSP account. The RRSP deadline for 2010 (tax year) contributions is March 1, 2011. To open an account or transfer from another institution, please visit our website, contact the ABC District Office 1-888-474-0063 (Edmonton local 780-474-0063), or email.
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Feedback Requested
Have you read any of the Resources of the Week? Any ideas for future ones? Please share them with us, and we will look into them! |
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Pastor Humour
These friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, a rival florist across town through the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. So, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to 'persuade' them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close up shop. Terrified, they did so, thereby proving that: Hugh and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars.
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Canadian Lutheran Stories Wanted
With January behind us, and moving into February, we are excited to think that perhaps spring is just around the corner. While we wait (sometimes patiently) for the sunshine and green grass to come back, I hope you are enjoying fellowship within and around your congregation! Please think of The Canadian Lutheran whenever you have an event! We love to hear and see about the happenings in our district!
Email any contributions to Belinda.
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God's Blessings on your day!
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Questions or comments about our newsletter? Drop us a line: news@lccabc.ca
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