November 18, 2015 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ – May grace and peace be yours in abundance (I Peter 1:2a). Synod Communications Beginning in 2016, in order to provide regular communication and to reduce financial costs, the Synod office will no longer be preparing and distributing regular quarterly mailings to all congregations and rostered leaders. Instead, we will be preparing weekly e-letters and sharing these via the Synod e-list, called “Wednesday’s Word.” These may be reproduced in your Sunday bulletins and newsletters. The material will also be available on the Synod website. Those currently on the Synod’s e-list will receive a request in December to subscribe to the weekly e-letter, in compliance of Canada’s anti-spam laws. All are welcome to subscribe and to forward the link to Council members and other interested individuals. Celebrations and Canada Lutheran insert Editor I give thanks to Colleen McGinnis who has faithfully served as the editor of our Synod’s Celebrations and Canada Lutheran insert for several years. Colleen is taking a break to continue developing and expanding Caelin Artworks in Wetaskiwin and Bay Gallery 12, Village at Pigeon Lake. I am pleased to announce that Wendy Christensen-Grosfield has been named interim editor. Wendy may be reached at: [email protected] The following are brief comments related to our Synod Mission Priorities: Spirit-led Leadership Synod Convention 2016 Mark your calendar for the Synod of Alberta and the Territories Convention to be held in Camrose – U of A Augustana Campus – June 16-18, 2016. “Liberated by God’s Grace.” We have contracted with Wendy Christensen-Grosfield, Sherwood Park, to serve as Convention Manager. Synod Council September Meeting Highlights from the September 18 meeting of Synod Council can be found on the synod website: http://albertasynod.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Synod-Council-Highlights.September2015.pdf Forming Missional Shaped Ministries The Assistant to the Bishop for Mission, The Rev. Dr. Julianne Barlow, continues to focus time and energy on the second iteration of the missional formation in the Southern Conference of our Synod. The first iteration continues with clergy cohorts and congregational guiding teams continuing to gather in Edmonton and in Calgary. Synod Campus Ministry Thank you for your support of Campus Ministry throughout our Synod though the Drive for Five efforts. As of October 31 $9,283.53 has been collected from congregations and to be distributed equally among the five ministries. 4th Annual Synod Retired Rostered Leaders and Spouses Gathering A 4th Annual bbq for retired rostered leaders and spouses will be held at Camp Kuriakos, Sylvan Lake, April 19, 2016. I look forward to a wonderful day of conversation, food, and worship. Hope-filled Discipleship Lay Leadership Training Conversation has begun across the four Western Synods to explore shared lay ministry training offered collaboratively and in partnership with Lutheran Theological Seminary Saskatoon. Training will likely include on- line learning enabling the training to occur via one’s own computer. Watch for further information and learning opportunities. 2015 Conference Conventions We gathered this fall in three conference conventions under the theme: Living Well with the Land: touch the earth lightly (ELW 739). Presenters at the northern conference were: Revs. Kathy Calkins (Peace, Innisfail) and Anne Salmon (Grace, Lutheran and St. Catherine’s Anglican, Edson). Rev. Dr. Cam Harder (Lutheran Theological Seminary Saskatoon) presented at the West and East Central and Southern and South West Conferences. Thank you to host congregations: Northern at Our Saviour’s, Edmonton, West and East Central at St. Peter’s, Millet and South West and Southern at Lutheran Church of the Cross, Calgary. Innovative Tradition Creative Initiatives Each Synod has received funds ($200K for use through June 2018) through the National Church Extension and Capital Fund (CECF) to support or create learning opportunities as people join in the work God is already doing in our neighbourhoods and communities. Information is available on the Synod website under the Missional Formation tab or you may contact The Rev. Dr. Julianne Barlow for further information and an application form. Participating in Hope - Church Council Conversations A significant part of Synod Council’s agenda time on September 18 was focussed on reviewing the material heard and gathered at the April/May 2015 Participating in Hope gatherings across the Synod (Synod Council and Executive members and Deans facilitated geographically close church councils gatherings for the purpose of: listening to their stories of mission - of God at work, fostering the faith and ministry of the congregational leaders, thanking them for their past partnership in ministry, and inviting them to participate in God’s hope- filled future, in partnership with the Synod and each other). Listening and discerning together led to the identifying of common themes heard and a desire to meet again. These common themes and an invitation to gather for Participating in Hope 2.0 in February 2016 were sent via a letter to each rostered leader and congregational chair. All Program Committee Gathering – Ministry Teams For the second year all Synod Program Committees/Ministry Teams met at Good Shepherd, Red Deer, September 19. Together we worshipped, reflected on Scripture, prayed, listened, and collaborated with other ministry teams active in the Synod. We will gather together again Saturday, May 7, 2016. During our time together video footage was taken focussing on our Synod’s four mission priorities in preparation for sharing four video pieces at next year’s Synod Convention; which will be given as a a gift to each congregation via a DVD for use in your local ministry context. Collaborative Partnerships En Misión Con El Salvador: In Mission with El Salvador Arrangements are being finalized to welcome Christian Chavarría, a young Lutheran El Salvadoran artist, to our Synod. Anticipating that a VISA will be granted Christian will be journeying throughout our Synod for three weeks in January. He will be presented at the Campus Ministry’s Young Adult retreat, participating in the Annual Study Conference, presenting at our campus ministries and at several congregations. Further information and details will be shared via the synod e-list. Your prayers at this time that a VISA would be granted are much appreciated. You can find more information about Christian and his personal story of horror and violence in El Salvador, ‘Afflicted with Hope,’ here: http://www.embracingelsalvador.org/christian- armando-chavarria-ayala. Promoting and Renewing Right Relations I have endorsed the formation of a Ministry Team (A.I.R.R. – Abiding in Right Relations) made up of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples (rostered and non-rostered) and ecumenical partners, to encourage education, advocacy, and service so that all of the synod’s members and congregations can be involved in the process of building right relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples. A learning event is planned for Airdrie, Friday evening November 20-Saturday, November 21, which will include participants from The Montana Synod (ELCA), The Episcopal Diocese of Montana, The Anglican Diocese of Calgary and The Synod of Alberta and the Territories. A designated tab has been added to our Synod webpage which will include resources, events and links to materials (look under the Ministries tab for ‘A.I.R.R.’). CARE: Congregational Action and REsponse for Mental Health - Synod-wide Mental Health Initiative The Congregational Action and Response for Mental Health (CARe) Ministry Team is dedicated to raising awareness about the need for good mental health in congregations. Mental health issues affect many persons and the church has a role to play in responding to persons with mental illness and their supporters. One in five people in the Canadian population (including our congregations) will experience a mental health challenge in any one year. One in three will have experience with a mental health challenge over their lifetime. The Synod CARe Ministry Team wants congregations to be aware of the prevalence of challenges to good mental health. CARe also wants to equip them to respond to those developing mental illness, and those in crisis. The CARe Ministry Team will offer up to 3, $100 scholarships per Lutheran congregation in the ABT Synod so that each of our congregations can send an individual or team (lay or rostered) to train with Mental Health First Aid Canada. See the designated tab on our Synod webpage for further information (look under the Ministries tab for “C.A.R.e.”). Synod Finances Thank you for your continued partnership, generosity, support and prayers for our joint ministry and for the conversations which took place at congregational AGMs. Benevolence giving up to the end of October is slightly above last year’s giving. Congregations and Persons in Transition: Southern Conference Redeemer, Hanna: Colin Millang continues to serve in a Licensed pastoral capacity while interning and continuing his studies through Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon. South West Conference St. John’s, Calgary: Rev. Dr. Kayko Driedger Hesslein, interim. First, Calgary: Rev. Kevin Powell continues a two year intentional interim ministry. All Saints, Calgary: The Call Process continues. Advent, Calgary: The Call Process continues. West Central Conference Grace, Wetaskiwin: Rev. Rene Faille (Anglican), interim. Rev. Fred Schneider (St. Paul Lutheran, Yorkton, SK) has received and accepted the call. St. Paul’s, Rolly View: Rev. Kathleen Schmitke, interim. Intern Jailyn Corbin continues her two-year placement at Peace, Leduc. St. Peter’s, Millet: Rev. Rolf Nosterud, interim. East Central Conference Messiah, Camrose: Diaconal Minister, Bev Swanson, full-time interim. A Primary Candidate has been named. New Norway/Edberg Parish and Bashaw congregations: Rev. Julianna Wehrfritz-Hanson has received and accepted the call. Bawlf Parish: Rev. John Strecker-Baseler has received and accepted the call.