ELW Legacy Lives on in Bawlf, Alberta
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Celebrations http://www.software995.com/ A publication of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories http://www.software995.com/ Spring 2012 In this issue: Bishop’s Report Love, Honour, and Forgive page 2 Around the Synod page 3 Summer Magic page 4 Ecumenical Action Internationally Renowned Ecumenist Visits Edmonton page 5 Recapturing the Vision Canmore Study Conference page 7 Lutherans Without Borders Bishop Jessica Crist, Montana page 9 Leap to a Sustainable Future page 10 Out of Dust Into Light – CLWR Global Encounter 2012 page 11 Colombian Guests to Arrive for Synod Convention May 24 page 14 page 14 A special thanks to ELW Legacy Lives On in Bawlf the Canada Lutheran editorial staff for any of Church Celebrations page 15 - 18 their edits used in articles that also appeared in the New Year’s Baby in Barrhead; ABT synod section of Installation at Ascension Lutheran, Edmonton; Canada Lutheran. Ordination and Installation at Church of the Header photo of stained- Good Shepherd, Red Deer; glass courtesy of Faith th 50 Anniversary for Our Saviour, Calgary Lutheran, Calgary. Window design by Geoff Jamieson. All photos in Celebrations Caring for All Creation by Colleen McGinnis, unless otherwise stated. A Chester Ronning Centre course page 18 1 “Celebrations” – Spring 2012 Love, Honour, and Forgive In his daily devotional book Bread for the Journey (HarperCollins, 1997), the late Fr. Henri Nouwen wrote nearly a half-month of devotions on the church. His inimitable style, coupled with his ease with words and lifelong experience, equip him to say some hard things and some beautiful things about the church. Clearly Nouwen was well beyond seeing the church through rose-colored glasses. He names the church’s sinfulness and saintliness with equal precision. Yet underneath it all, Nouwen demonstrates a willingness – indeed, a need – to love, honor and forgive the church. That attitude resonates with me. I have often said that the greatest joys in my life have happened in and through the church. Then I hasten to add that the greatest sorrows of my life have also happened in and through the church. But leaving is not an option. I am here for the long haul. To love, honor and forgive. If the words have a familiar ring to them it is because many couples use those same words when they make their marriage vows to each other. They express willingness on their part to live through the glories and agonies of the relationship, come what may. There is an explicit and implicit commitment to the permanence of the relationship. Come hell or high water we are in this together. The Nouwen nuggets abound in these fifteen or so daily devotions. “The church is holy and sinful, spotless and tainted … a holy body made Christ-like through Word and Sacrament; a broken body composed of all the wounded people who are its members.” “Often it seems harder to believe in the church than to believe in God. But whenever we separate our belief in God from our belief in the church, we become unbelievers.” “It seems unlikely that God chose to continue his work of salvation in a community of people constantly torn apart by arguments, prejudices, authority conflicts, and power games.” “Can we believe that this is the same church that carries in its center the Word of God and the sacraments of God’s healing love? Can we trust that in all of its human brokenness the church presents the broken body of Christ to the world as food for eternal life? To believe is to answer yes to these questions.” “Often we hear the remark that we have to live in the world without being of the world. But it may be more difficult to be in the church without being of the church. Being of the church means being so preoccupied by and involved in the many ecclesial affairs that we are no longer focused on Jesus. The church then blinds us to what we came to see and deafens us to what we came to hear.” “When we reject the church it becomes very hard for us to keep in touch with the living Christ. When we say, I love Jesus but I hate the church, we end up losing not only the church but Jesus too.” (Bread for the Journey, excerpted from entries for October 15 through October 27). I have come to understand that I have to celebrate the church as well as bear with it. The glories and the foibles are inter-mixed. I can be rankled by it, but within it I also continue to catch glimpses of glory. Perhaps the church’s biggest “problem” is that it is too much like me, you, all of us. Be that as it may, I will love, honor and forgive the church. It’s not a case of my church, right or wrong. It’s just a case of “my church”. By Bishop Ronald B. Mayan 2 “Celebrations” – Spring 2012 Around the Synod The 2012 Synod Convention, May 24-27 at the University of Coming Events Alberta, Augustana Campus in Camrose, Alta., is soon upon us. It’s going to be inspiring, energizing, educational and fun too! You won’t want to miss it. Celebrating the Ministry of the Rev. Brian Rude, Missionary to El Salvador After serving as a missionary for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada for 17 years, Pastor Brian Rude will independently continue his ministry among the poor and disenfranchised in El Salvador. He will resign from the roster of the ELCIC at the end of December 2012. Recognition and celebration of his work in El Salvador will take place at the Synod Convention banquet, May 26, 2012 at the Camrose Regional Exhibition (CRE). You may purchase your tickets for the banquet by calling the synod office at 780-439-2636. You may also forward letters, cards or gifts of appreciation for Brian to the Synod Office (10014 – 81 Avenue, Edmonton, T6E 1W8) by May 20. They will be included in a special album, which will be presented to him at the banquet. Praise Appeal at Convention May 20, 2012 has been designated as “Praise Appeal Sunday”, so to act as Ambassadors in Christ, In Mission for Others, the convention offering will be given in support of ELCIC benevolence. Resources to assist you in creating your own ELCIC Praise Appeal Sunday are available at: http://elcic.ca/praiseappeal/. They’ve done it again … a successful LHMSA Walk and Run for Love! Ron Bennett, Calgary, says, “The Lutheran Hospital Ministries Southern Alberta Walk and Run for Love on Saturday April 28 was well attended by about 45 people and 1 dog, and raised an estimated (as of that morning) $14.000.00.” Calling all Youth to “Hyperlink” CLAY 2012, Aug. 16-19, in Saskatoon, SK The Canadian Lutheran Anglican Youth gathering is just a hop, skip and jump over the border and you’ll love it. Explore the “links” in your life and see how God is involved. Registration fee: $400.00. Deadline: July 15. See http://clay2012.ca/ for details. 3 “Celebrations” – Spring 2012 Summer Magic at Camp … Mulhurst, Kuriakos, Hastings Lake Photo compliments of Camp Kuriakos Check this list of programs to see what’s right for you. Make Contact! Mulhurst Lutheran Camp Mulhurst: July 2-6: Senior High Camp / SIT Training Phone: 780-389-2174 July 8-13: Children’s Camp www.mulhurstlutheran July 15-20: MADD – Music, Art, Dance & Drama camp.ca July 22-27: Youth Camp July 29-Aug 3: Family Camp Camp Kuriakos: August 7-10: Vacation Bible School Day Program Phone: 403-746-2702 August 6-8: Mini Camp www.kuriakos.ab.ca August 12-17: Children’s Camp August 19-24: Outpost Camp / Youth Camp Hastings Lake: Phone: 780-662-2557 www.hastingslake.com Camp Kuriakos July 2-4: Prime Time Hastings Lake Bible Camp July 4-6: Kid’s I July 4-6: Week in the Woods I June 25-28: Adult camp July 8-13: Junior Youth July 1-6: Kidz 1 July 15-20: Family Camp I July 8-13: Family 1 July 22-27: Kid’s II July 15-20: Jr. Youth July 29-Aug 3: Dance Camp July 22-27: Family 2 July 29-Aug 3: MAD Camp July 29-Aug 3: Kidz 2 July 29-Aug 3: Soccer Camp August 6-10: Single Parent Camp July 29-Aug 3: Week in the Woods II August 12-17: Family 3 August 6- 10: Kid’s III August 19-24: Senior Youth August 12-17: Family Camp II August 19-24: Senior Youth 4 “Celebrations” – Spring 2012 Ecumenical Action: Sr. Dr. Lorelei Fuchs: Internationally Renowned Ecumenist Visits Edmonton “I don’t know what kind of Christian I would be without my ecumenical community,” internationally renowned ecumenist, Sr. Dr. Lorelei Fuchs, SA, revealed during an Ecumenical Dialogue, March 27th at All Saints’ Cathedral, Edmonton, AB. Sr. Lorelei was in Edmonton to participate in a series of public talks and workshops during “Ecumenical Days in Edmonton”, held March 26-29. Photo by Margaret Marschall The event was co-sponsored by the University of Alberta’s Chester Ronning Centre, the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton and a number of ecumenical partners. “We are delighted to welcome Sr. Lorelei to All Saints’ Cathedral,” said Diocese of Edmonton Bishop Jane Alexander. “Ecumenical conversations are not nearly as forefront and rich as they should be. I, for one, believe there are no barbed wire fences in heaven. I hope this discussion will inspire members of the diocese to become further involved in ecumenical initiatives.