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ABC Connect
Keeping the ABC District Connected. |
Volume 10, Issue #10
March 14, 2011
First Sunday in Lent |
O almighty and eternal God, we implore You to direct, sanctify, and govern our hearts and bodies in the ways of Your laws and the works of Your commandments that through Your mighty protection, both now and ever, we may be preserved in body and in soul; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, on 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
For our brothers and sisters in Christ in Japan and surrounding areas who have been afflicted by the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis.
For Rev. Vern Vansteenburg (Christ, Fort Saskatchewan, AB) as he undergoes testing and possible surgery for cancer.
For Heidi Lobitz, daughter of Rev. Mark Lobitz (Shepherd of the Valley, Canmore, AB), as she undergoes treatment for cancer.
For congregations considering calling a candidate. |
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Calls
Rev. David Gallas has received the call to Trinity, Quesnel, BC.
Trinity, Golden, BC is calling a Candidate.
St. John's, Vernon, BC is calling a Candidate.
Emmaus, Drayton Valley, AB is calling a Candidate.
Trinity, Richmond, BC is calling a Candidate.
Zion, Cloverdale, BC is calling a Candidate.
Zion, Prince George, 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
- 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 - Candidate Status Extension forms
- March 31 - Worker Benefit Plan claims for 2010
- 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 1 - Deadline for registration for the LCC Synodical Convention
- April 4 - Deadline for Applications for The Olive Branch, Community Missionary position, for more information, see below.
- April 15 - Applications due for the placement of Teachers.
- June 15 - Deadline for Nominations for the Excellence in Lutheran Education Award
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Upcoming Events
- Saturday, March 19 at Christ, Markerville, AB - Christianity and the Competition with Dr. Paul Maier - Registration is now closed.
- Sunday, March 20 at Zion, Cloverdale, BC - Dr. Roger Theimer - Creating a Church Culture to Encourage Spiritual Parenting
- Monday, March 21 at Hope, Port Coquitlam, BC - Dr. Roger Theimer - Creating a Church Culture to Encourage Spiritual Parenting
- Tuesday, March 22 at Concordia, Penticton, BC - Dr. Roger Theimer - Creating a Church Culture to Encourage Spiritual Parenting
- Wednesday and Thursday, March 23 and 24 at Bethel, Sherwood Park, AB - Dr. Roger Theimer - Creating a Church Culture to Encourage Spiritual Parenting
- Friday, March 25 at Prince of Peace, Calgary, AB - Dr. Roger Theimer - Creating a Church Culture to Encourage Spiritual Parenting
- Saturday, March 26 at Foothills, Calgary, AB - Dr. Roger Theimer - Creating a Church Culture to Encourage Spiritual Parenting
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Looking Ahead
- Concordia University College of Alberta (CUCA) Sacred Convocation - May 7
- CUCA Diaconal Placement Service - May 8 at 10:00am at Christ, Fort Saskatchewan and led by Rev. Vansteenburg. The church is located at 9909 90 Street, Fort Saskatchewan, AB.
- Concordia Lutheran Seminary Sacred Convocation - May 27 at 7:00pm at the Tegler Centre, Concordia University College of Alberta
- Lutheran Church - Canada Synodical Convention - June 3-6, 2011 in Hamilton, ON. Click here for more information. All pre-convention bulletins are published here.
- A Pastor's Devotional Life - June 7-9. Click here to download a brochure for more details.
- Sabbatical Week - June 27-30 - For more information, click here.
- Lutheran Teachers' Association - August 15-18 - Prince of Peace, Calgary, AB. For more information, click here.
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Upcoming Anniversaries
- 80th Anniversary of Christ Lutheran Church, Craig, AB - May 1 - Services at 10:00am and 3:00pm. Meals and program to follow both services. For more information, please contact the church at 403-728-3829. For more details, click here.
- 100th Anniversary of St. John's, Beach Corner, AB - May 15 - Services will be at 9:00am and 11:00am. There will be a dinner and program after at the Beach Corner Community Hall beginning at 2:00pm. Please RVSP by phoning 780-963-7773 before May 1. For more information, click here.
- 100th Anniversary of Christ Lutheran Church, Mellowdale, AB - July 9-10.
- 50th Anniversary of St. Luke, Surrey, BC - September 18
- 25th Anniversary of Concordia, Edmonton, AB - September 25
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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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Candidate Status Extension Forms
Candidate Status Extension forms have been both mailed and emailed this week to those that require it. If you have received a form, please complete it and send it back to the office by March 31. Should you have any questions about this form, do not hesitate to be in touch with Pres. Schiemann.
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Host a T4M Talk
A number of congregations have invited Dr. Glenn Schaeffer to speak with them about being an outreach focused congregation that connects with people who are not yet believers in Jesus Christ. Pastors, DPS workers, and congregational leaders are beginning to grasp the reality that God desires to transform members into missionaries who share the Gospel "incarnationally" with their community beginning in the neighbourhood around the church building. T4M consultation weekends and the subsequent prescriptions are designed to help pastors, church workers, and laity to make this transformation. To learn more about a T4M consultation, please contact Dr. Glenn Schaeffer and/or download the information sheet, "Consultation weekends explained" here.
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Choir Gowns Available
There are 25 choir gowns available to a good home! For more information, contact Belinda by email or phone (780-474-0063 ext 117). |
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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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Recognizing Excellence in Lutheran Education
Do you know a Lutheran educator who always goes the extra mile? Now is your
chance to celebrate his/her service to Lutheran schools. The Lutheran
Teacher's Association executive is calling for nominations for the Excellence
in Lutheran Education Award. This award will highlight the service of a
Lutheran educator based on the following criteria:
- Strong commitment to serving the Lord
- Active in local community as well as Lutheran community
- Commitment to excellence and meeting the social, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive needs of children and families
- Equipped and willing to profess and teach Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective; desirable: Synodically trained, colloquized, or active participant in colloquy program
- Four (4) or more years experience in a Lutheran school
- Demonstrates effective educational skills
- Administrator or teacher in a Canadian Lutheran school or preschool
- Member of the LTA, and member of other professional associations
Letters describing how the nominee meets the criteria for the Excellence in
Lutheran Education Award should be sent to LTA President, Lorilee Schelp either
by email or by regular mail: c/o Zion Lutheran School, 5950 179th Street, Surrey, BC V3S 4J9.
Nominations must be received by June 15, 2011
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Community Missionary Needed
The Olive Branch, a new church plant associated with Christ the King Lutheran Church, committed to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in NE Edmonton, is seeking the part-time services of a community missionary.
Working in partnership with the pastoral and lay people of the Olive Branch, the missionaries' primary task is to "seek and save the lost." The missionary accomplishes this task by evangelizing, through Word and deed, those who are not yet believers in Jesus Christ and by networking and developing relationships with neighbouring community leaders and organizations (e.g. local schools) for the purpose of being able to share God's Gospel and mobilizing God's people for acts of loving service in NE Edmonton.
Desired Position Qualifications:
- A communicant member of Lutheran Church - Canada.
- A person of prayer grounded in God's Word who is comfortable evangelizing those who are not yet believers in Christ.
- A skilled project coordinator and organizer who can lead a team of highly-motivated volunteers.
- A community-minded person who is able to network with community organizations and civic leaders.
- A self-motivated and disciplined person.
Compensation: This is a salaried, part-time position based on 20 hours per week. For more information or if interested in applying for this position, please email a cover letter and resume by April 4, 2011. To read a full job description or to learn more about the Olive Branch, click here.
Please pray, the Lord will provide the community missionary needed for this work!
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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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DVD Available - Christianity and the Competition
In this 8 session DVD, Dr. Paul Maier compares the claims of Christianity with other religious rivals. Looking at sacred sources (e.g. ancient texts) and secular sources (e.g. geography, archeology, etc.), Maier argues that Christianity trumps all the other religions of the world when it comes to the revelation of the Truth. You can watch a trailer of Christianity and the Competition here. The DVD can be purchased from Tobias Communications.
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Videos Available
Video Presentations of the talks presented at the 2011 Love Life Conference at CUCA are available online here.
Presentations include:
- Rev. Dr. Steve Chambers, "Priceless Sex - A Bible study on 1 Corinthians 6"
- Rev. Dr. Bill Andersen, "A Positive Theology of Sex from Genesis 1-2 and Song of Songs"
- Rev. Dr. Roger Sonnenberg, "Porn: The New Crack Cocaine" & "The New Family Dynamic"
- Mrs. Julie Parr, "Living in a Sex Crazed Culture"
- Panel Discussion addressing audience questions about Human Sexuality
MP3 versions of these presentations are also being posted at the ABC District website. Currently, Dr. Chamber's presentation is the only one accessible in MP3 form.
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Resource of the Week
Gospel Handles is an exciting new reference tool for preachers... and a devotional resource for everyone!  Pastors are always looking for fresh, imaginative ways to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With Gospel Handles, you'll learn new techniques to achieve that goal.
Homiletics professor "Rev" Rossow says: "A Gospel handle involves the selection from a biblical sermon text of an excerpt that contains absolutely no Gospel whatsoever; the preacher then uses this excerpt as an approach, bridge, or handle to an account of the Gospel somewhere else in the Bible. For example, Psalm 121:1 says, 'I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.' That verse contains no explicit Gospel text, but one way to lift up our eyes to the hills for God's help is to gaze in faith at the person and work of the Lord Jesus on the hill of Calvary. That's the Gospel-handle technique at work."
Using the beloved King James version of the Bible, Rossow masterfully provides the reader with Gospel messages in surprising, unexpected places. He does this by analyzing each lesson from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for all Sundays and major festivals in the church year. So this book can be used effectively by any pastor in any denomination.
What's more, Gospel Handles is written in a lucid, readable style. It can easily be used for personal or family devotions by everyone who wants to know more about what God has done and continues to do for them through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. |
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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
A bicycle cannot stand alone. It is two tired.
A will is a dead giveaway.
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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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