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Vol. II - Issue #20
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Jan. 30 2012
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Blessed Epiphany ,
Reminders:
- Past Due:
- All Nomination and Delegate forms are now past due.
- Feb 1, 2012
- 2012 School Grant Application Forms due
Please feel free to use any of this information in bulletins, newsletters, calendars, or announcements.
Share the connect by email!
Simply click the button below and type an address (you can also use the link at the bottom)
As always, we welcome your questions, comments, and feedback! news@lccabc.ca. |
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Prepare For Worship
The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Collect:
O Lord, whose gracious presence never fails to guide and govern those whom you have nurtured in Your steadfast love and worship, make us ever revere and adore Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (LW)
Readings:
- Isaiah 40:21-31
- 1 Corinthians 9:16-27
- Mark 1:29-39
Meditation:
The Son of God, Christ Jesus, Makes Us a New Creation
The Lord alone "is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth" (Is. 40:28). He "sits above the circle of the earth" and "stretches out the heavens like a curtain" (Is. 40:22). Yet, His almighty power is demonstrated chiefly by His mercy and compassion. "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength" (Is. 40:29). The only-begotten Son of the Father, the very Word by whom all things were made, becomes flesh and takes all the poverty and weakness of our sin and death upon Himself, bearing it in His Body to the Cross. As He dies for us there, He also raises us up, a new creation, in His Resurrection from the dead. Thus, by the preaching of this Word, He heals "many who were sick with various diseases," and He casts out "many demons" (Mark 1:34, 39). And His preaching continues through those whom He has sent, who are "entrusted with a stewardship" to "preach the Gospel" (1 Cor. 9:16-17). Thus we are set free by the Word of Christ, and we exercise our freedom in loving service to others.
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Prayers
For God's blessing on all congregational leaders who have been newly elected at congregational annual meetings.
Thanksgiving on behalf of Rev. Mark Smith (Fort McMurray, AB), who after undergoing tests, received the news that his heart is healthy.
Mission Prayers - January 2012
(http://lutheranchurch.ca/missions.php) January 29 Almighty God, we call on Your name with praise and thanksgiving. You are never far from us, continually showing us Your grace, compassion and mercy. Daily we are placed among those who speak falsely in your name, eager to sow doubt in our minds and question the basis of our faith. Idols in all forms tempt us, so shiny and appealing, challenging us at every turn. But You are all-knowing, and where You see there is a need, You continually raise up people willing and eager to go out in Your name, speaking Your words and doing good works, all to Your glory. Give our missionaries both near and far the opportunity to see that what they do is not in vain. Just as they know You, may those they are among come to know You as well. To You be all glory and honour. Amen. |
Calls
Rev. Neil Otke (Thunder Bay, ON) has declined the call to Trinity Lutheran Church, Golden, BC
Rev. John Haycock, colloquy candidate, has been certified for ministry in LCC by the Colloquy Committee and placed by the Council of Presidents at First/Zion Lutheran Churches, Lloydminster/McLaughlin, AB
No placement was made at St. John's Lutheran Church, Vernon, BC
Please note that the deadline for calling graduating seminary students is March 15. There are no Director of Parish Services (DPS) graduates this year. The deadline for applying for a vicar or a DPS intern is also March 15 and the deadline for calling Lutheran teacher graduates is April 15.
For the most up to date information regarding calls, please visit www.lccabc.ca/calls
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 2012 Alberta British Columbia District Convention
*** Registration starting Feb 1, 2012 
Please see abcconvention.lccabc.ca for all things convention! (Deadlines, Notes, Bulletin PDF's etc.) *** Reminders: All Nomination and Delegate Forms - Past Due. - Thank you to all those who have already sent them in. If you have not sent them in, and have yet to inform the District Office when to expect them, please do so ASAP by either email or phone: 1-888-474-0063.
- Note: If you have chosen to not nominate anyone please still return the blank form with signature
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All deadlines can be found on the Convention's website.
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Parish and School Services
2012 School Grants
If you applied for a School Grant this year you should have received confirmation. If not please contact Karen Lyons (1-888-474-0063) at the District Office.
If you would still like to apply you can download the forms here. In order to be considered the forms must be returned to the District Office by Feb. 1, 2012.
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Parish and School Services
SIMEON Committee - Ministry To, With and By Seniors
Take a look at the most recent Great Expectations newsletter, published by the LCMS Office of National Mission.
For information and support as you engage the seniors in your congregation, contact the SIMEON (Seniors in Ministry for Encouragement, Outreach and Nurture) committee at miriam@foothillslutheran.ca
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Natural Church Development (NCD) Canada Presents:
Christian A. Schwarz's In Canada in May 2012
 | | click image for tour information |
Stay a couple extra days following the 2012 ABC District Convention! - May 22 - 23rd - Southgate Alliance Church, Edmonton, AB
Read more here.... Those interested, contact Daryl for extended room rates. Visit their website - http://www.ncdcanada.com/
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ABC District Website Gets a QR Code
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QR Code for ABC
District website
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What is a "QR Code"? These small black and white squares seem to be everywhere among us. QR (for Quick Response) is a more powerful bar code than the traditional barcode. It can be read by mobile phones (smartphones) equipped with scanner applications of QR codes. It is used mainly to display website addresses (URLs) in ads and promotional material. The QR code below will take you to the ABC District website. If your congregation has a website, consider including a QR code in your bulletins, newsletters, newspaper ads, etc. To make a QR code is simple. There are many tools for this online. An example of one would be http://qrcode.kaywa.com/. Type in your site, and you're all set. It will generate a jpg you can save and then use in your printed material to direct people to your website. |
Pastors' Wives - We Are Looking For You!
A Task Force has been struck to develop a system of support for pastors' wives in the ABC District. We want to facilitate a meaningful connection, so we're looking for input on the type of support that wives would value. Please take one minute to complete our online survey. You can also find it on the ABC District website: http://www.lccabc.ca/. Look for the ad in the middle of the page. Pastors, if your wife does not receive ABC Connect, please forward this information to her. Thank you! |
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Upcoming News & Events: ( Shortcut - External Link )
- Immanuel, Lethbridge, AB
- Prince of Peace Lutheran Preschool, Calgary, AB
Lutheran Foundation Seminars:
- February 4, 2012 - Mount Calvary Lutheran - Red Deer, AB
(9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
- February 4, 2012 - Immanuel Lutheran - Rocky Mountain House, AB
(2:00p.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
- February 11, 2012 - First Lutheran - Lloydminster, AB
(9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
- February 25, 2012 - Trinity Lutheran - Richmond, BC
(9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
- March 3, 2012 - St. Paul's Lutheran - Chilliwack, BC
(12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
Looking Ahead... |
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Upcoming Anniversaries
- 50th - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Calgary, AB - June. 10, 2012
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Recent Blog Updates (http://goandmake.ca/)
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 Meet our Australian Brothers and Sisters
This week we invite you to meet St. Peter'sLutheran Church, Orange, NSW, Australia (map it ) and their Parish Sole Pastor Rev. David Freckelton
 St. Peter's is " A small but friendly group of many different backgrounds who have blended together to form a strong worshipping community." Please remember the congregation of St. Peter's Lutheran and Rev. Freckelton in your prayers this week. |
Resource of the Week Life and Youth Catechism Combo (Set of 2)Concordia Publishing House  Examine abortion, bioethics, end-of-life, and sexuality issues through the Biblical eyeglasses of Luther's Small Catechism. Each chapter is followed by thoughtful discussion questions and Bible references - just right for confirmation class discussions. This combo pack contains the hardback edition with historic woodcut illustrations and slightly longer discussions, and the smaller paperback edition, written specifically for use in youth Bible studies and confirmation classes. This reference set is perfect for the pastor or confirmation teacher.
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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! |
Canadian Lutheran Stories Wanted 
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God's Blessings to you in 2012!
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Questions or comments about our newsletter? Drop us a line: news@lccabc.ca
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