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ABC Connect
Keeping the ABC District Connected. |
Volume 8, Issue #8
February 28, 2011
Eighth Sunday after Epiphany |
O Lord, mercifully hear our prayers, and having set us free from the bonds of our sins, defend us from all evil; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
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Greetings!
We invite and encourage you to share this newsletter with everyone! Our hope is that we can better communicate the happenings around our district to both our Church Workers as well as the members of our congregations. Please use any and all of the information contained in the ABC Connect to add to your bulletins, newsletters, calendars, and announcements.
You can share the ABC Connect with anyone with an email! Simply click here and insert their address (or use the link at the bottom of the page)!
As always, we welcome your questions, comments, and feedback! Send them to news@lccabc.ca.
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Prayers
Prayers for our brothers and sisters in Christ in the New Zealand district of Lutheran Church Australia as they deal with the aftermath of the earthquake in Christchurch.
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Calls
Emmaus, Drayton Valley, AB is calling a Vicar or Candidate.
Zion, Cloverdale, BC is calling a Candidate.
Trinity, Richmond, BC is calling a Candidate.
For the most up to date information regarding calls, please visit www.lccabc.ca/calls
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Deadlines
- DUE NOW - CEF Loan Financial Statements and Reports
- 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. You can fill out and submit the statistical forms electronically!
- March 31 - Deadline for YMI Director position applications. For more information, click here.
- April 15 - Applications due for the placement of Teachers.
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Upcoming Events
- Saturday, March 5 at Grace, Edmonton, AB - Lutheran Foundation Seminar 10am to noon
- Saturday, March 5 - Concordia University College of Alberta's Open House - 10am to 2pm
- Saturday, March 19 at Christ, Markerville, AB - Christianity and the Competition with Dr. Paul Maier - for more information, click here.
- Saturday, March 26 in Victoria, BC - Regional Outreach Workshop - for more information, click here.
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Looking Ahead
- 80th Anniversary of Christ Lutheran Church, Craig, AB - May 1
- Concordia University College of Alberta Sacred Convocation - May 7
- Concordia Lutheran Seminary Sacred Convocation - May 27 at 7:00pm at the Tegler Centre, Concordia University College of Alberta
- A Pastor's Devotional Life - June 7-9. See below for more details.
- Sabbatical Week - June 27-30 - For more information, click here.
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Resource for Church Workers
The Canadian Council of Christian Charities (CCCC) has an informative article about things Church Workers need to know about running a charity. Read the entire article here. If you have any questions about the regulations surrounding charitable status, please do not hesitate to be in touch! |
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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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Family Ministry Workshop
"How to create a church culture that effectively equips for spiritual parenting in the home." Presented by Dr. Roger Theimer
Statistics tell us that less than 10% of our churched families are talking about their faith in the home. And yet church leaders agree that parents are the most important person of influencer in one's faith formation. So how do we help our parents spiritually parent in the home? How do we create a church culture that lives that out? Dr. Roger Theimer suggests that churches need to answer three strategic questions after they determine that faith formation in the home is a top priority!
· One, what discipleship skills shall we teach parents to pass along to their children?
· Two, how do we motivate parents be intentional about passing the faith to their children?
· Three, how do we provide an easy delivery system so that we do not exhaust our church staff in efforts to equip our parents?
Dr. Roger Theimer is the children's pastor at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska. He has authored "Faith Legacy Series," a DVD curriculum to help families grow spiritually at home. This system has helped churches re-shape their culture so that 40% of parents are sharing faith in the home. Pastor Theimer has taught about children and family ministry across North America, in Europe, Africa and Asia.
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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Important Treasurer Information
Worker Benefit Plan has had many calls from treasurers throughout Lutheran Church-Canada with questions regarding payroll deductions. Please click here for more information, and a detailed explanation of how to correctly prepare paycheques with the changes to our benefit plan. Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to be in touch with Worker Benefits at 1-800-588-4226 extension 2226 or 2223.
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District Stewardship Leaders Conference
LCMS recently held their annual District Stewardship Leaders Conference (DSLC) in Tempe, AZ. Two of our own - Janice Ruf (CEF Manager) & Jon Teschke (Communications & Stewardship) - were among the attendees. They have come back with many new stewardship resources and ideas from the conference. Look for the full story in the next Canadian Lutheran including, a resource summary and new information regarding the restructuring and stewardship movement and trends in the LCMS.
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A Pastor's Devotional Life
Through cooperation with Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS), Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations (CALC) has arranged a time for study, which provides an opportunity to examine the devotional life expected of a Lutheran pastor. Click here for a brochure, which includes a description of the course, an introduction to the presenter, Prof. John Pless, and a course registration form to be submitted to CALC.
While the course is intended primarily for pastors and students wishing to become pastors, interested laypersons are very welcome to attend since an active devotional life is not only important for pastors but for all Christians. For those who feel God may be tugging at them to pray and reflect upon a calling into ministry, this may be a perfect opportunity to examine this stirring from the Holy Spirit.
The 3-day course, June 7-9, 2011, will be held at River's Edge Camp and Retreat Center which is located a short distance away from Cochrane, Alberta. Lodging will be at the Retreat Center's "Country Inn" (where the course will be held) with meals being provided at nearby Frontier Hall.
For further information and queries, contact CALC at info@calc.ca or Ron Voss at 403-932-1892.
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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 ConciliationServices 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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Still Waiting!
We are still looking for people to join in learning communities with fellow Church Workers in Australia! If you are at all interested, or have any questions, please be in touch with Dr. Glenn Schaeffer at 1-888-474-0063 or email.
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Watch For It!
The countdown is on!! 'Go!' is almost ready for launching! 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? 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. It is completely up to you how to connect with your pal from down under. The possibilities of developing the Pen Pal relationship are endless ... depending on how creative and committed you want to be.
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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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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Resource of the Week
Defense Never Rests is a powerful critique of American Christianity that chronicles the spiritual pilgrimage of one man and provides a defense of the pure  Gospel. This unique book is divided into two parts. First, a spiritual autobiography of the author, describing his journey from unbelief to American Evangelicalism and Campus Crusade staff work, to his true home in the Lutheran church. Secondly, a hard-hitting critique of shallow, pop-style worship and theology, The Defense Never Rests sets forth a Lutheran approach to apologetics (the defense of the faith to unbelievers). |
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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
There once was a guy who sent ten different puns to friends, in the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. Unfortunately, no pun in ten did.
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Canadian Lutheran Stories Wanted
Keep the stories coming! 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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