St. Peter`s Evangelical Lutheran Church

St. Peter’s Evangelical
Lutheran Church
65 Walnut St. Winnipeg, MB R3G 1N9
Phone: 204 775-6477
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: stpeterslutheran.ca
March 2015
July 2016
Wunder
der Schönhei
A Word or Two About Stewardship
Stewardship is for many people a touchy topic.
“Money” is the first thing that comes to their
minds when they hear the word stewardship. The
concept of stewardship entails more than just the
financial side. Still, in order to enable a church to
do its ministry, the talk about its finances cannot
be ignored. That's why I wish to address a few
basic questions about stewardship.
What is stewardship? Stewardship is based on
the biblical principle that everything belongs to
God. According to a definition, the theological
concept of stewardship embraces “the belief that
humans are responsible for the world and should
take care of it.” Or, to put it differently: we own
nothing but manage everything. Stewardship is
not a different word for fund-raising; rather, it is
a spiritual way of life, it is an act of worship.
Where do the funds come from, with which a
church covers its expenses? Churches in North
America are self-supporting. This means, the
funds come from you, the members of the
congregation. Quite often, I hear the following
two common misconceptions: 'All the church
wants is my money.' And, 'The church is rich;
therefore it does not need my money.' While the
church certainly needs the financial support, it is
not the only aspect of its ministry. And, while
there are certainly “rich” churches, most
Pastor: Rev. Bjoern Meinhardt ~ 204-792-3346
Associate Pastor: Rev. Peter Lurvey
Lay Minister: Teresa Peters ~ 204-338-2440
churches struggle financially. The contributions
do matter: The kind of support a church gets
does not only determine whether or not a church
can keep its doors open, but is also crucial for
the kind of ministry it can provide.
How much should one give? The church is one
of the few (if not the only organization) that does
not send out invoices to its members for their
contributions. In the end, it is within the
discretion of each individual how much he/she
wishes (or: is able) to give. But we should not
forget that stewardship is a communal effort. In
the case of St. Peter's what would the average be
if every person had the same income and were
equally committed to help reach the goal of
$250,000 (for general budget, mission, and
building support)? It might come to $600 per
person per year (that is, $50 per months or a little
more than $10 per week). With regards to
tithing, one might ask the question, “Would I like
to be the sort of person who is spiritually and
financially able to give 10 percent to the
church?”
How frequently should one give? Since a
church's expenses are ongoing, it would be best
to consider giving on a regular basis, for
instance: once a month.
How and where is the money spent? You
receive stewardship updates in the newsletter on
a regular basis. Of course, funds are needed for
the salaried staff persons; we have to make
“mundane” payments, such as for utilities; we
also have to make our own provisions for upkeep
and maintenance. But it is more exciting to be a
part of a missional church, that has a sense for
supporting domestic and international causes:
We have made a commitment to assist Teresa
Peters in her theological training (soon, she will
be starting her courses to become an ordained
pastor). There is the orphanage and girls' school
that we are supporting in Malawi, one of the
poorest countries in the world. And most
recently, St. Peter's has decided to help a refugee
family from Eritrea settle in Canada (more on
this, see inside this issue).
Kirche und das Geld
Im Englischen spricht man von „Stewardship“,
wenn man die finanziellen und andere Formen
der Unterstützung für die Kirche – etwa
freiwillige Dienste – meint. Auch wenn dieser
schwer zu übersetzende Ausdruck umfassender
ist (er könnte gut mit „Verantwortlichkeit [für
Gottes Schöpfung“] wiedergegeben werden),
fällt den meisten doch nur 'Geld' ein, wenn sie
ihn hören. „Kirche und Geld“ ist ein heikles
Thema – dennoch muß es angesprochen werden;
auch in Anbetracht der Tatsache, dass ich immer
wieder Leuten begegne, die nicht wissen, wie
sich die Kirchengemeinden tragen. Daher
möchte ich einige grundlegenden Fragen zum
Thema stellen (und kurz beantworten).
Was ist Stewardship? Stewardship basiert auf
dem biblischen Prinzip, dass alles Gott gehört
und von Gott kommt. Eine Definition beschreibt
Stewardship als die Auffassung, dass Menschen
für die Welt verantwortlich sind und für sie
Sorge tragen. Oder, anders ausgedrückt: Uns
gehört nichts, aber wir verwalten alles. Stewardship hat nichts mit Fundraising zu tun. Vielmehr
ist es eine geistliche Lebensart, eine Form von
Gottesdienst.
What other ways are there to support the
church? It makes sense to remember the church
in your will, to leave a legacy. These funds could
be put towards an endowment fund, which
enables the church to support additional
ministries that are not part of the regular budget.
Finally, let's ask the question, Why should one
give? Lutheran theologian Mark Allan Powell
gives the following answer in his book on
stewardship (Giving to God), “If we give with
hearts that have been touched with God's love, if
we give with hearts full of devotion for the God
who loves us, then the questions of where and
how and how much will work themselves out in
time.”
Woher kommen die Gelder, mit denen wir
unsere Ausgaben bestreiten? Die Kirchen in
Nordamerika tragen sich selbst. Das heisst, dass
die Gelder von euch, den Gemeindegliedern,
kommen. Ziemlich oft begegne ich zwei
üblichen Auffassungen. Zum einen ist da die
Annahme: 'Die Kirche möchte nur mein Geld.'
Zum anderen: 'Die Kirche ist so reich, sie
braucht darum mein Geld nicht.' Gewiss braucht
die Kirche die finanzielle Unterstützung, sie ist
aber, wie bereits gesagt, nicht die einzige Form.
Gewiss gibt es „reiche“ Kirchen, aber im großen
und ganzen kämpfen die meisten Kirchengemeinden ums finanzielle Überleben. Die
Spende ist wichtig, denn der Beitrag bestimmt
nicht nur darüber, ob die Kirche ihre Türen auch
In thankfulness of your support,
Bjoern Erik Meinhardt, Pastor
2
weiterhin offen halten kann; sie ist es auch mit
Blick auf die Inhalte der Dienste, die sie anbieten
kann.
in Kanada behilflich zu sein (mehr dazu im
Inneren dieser Ausgabe).
Wie kann man die Kirche noch unterstützen?
Man kann die Kirche beispielsweise im
Testament berücksichtigen. Mit dieser
Hinterlassenschaft ließe sich eine Stiftung
einrichten, mit der wir besondere Projekte
unterstützen können, für die der
„normale“ Haushalt nicht vorgesehen ist.
Wie viel sollte man geben (spenden)? Die
Kirche ist eine der wenigen – wenn nicht die
einzige – Einrichtung, die keine
Zahlungsformulare für den Mitgliedsbeitrag
verschickt. Es bleibt jeder Person überlassen,
wie viel sie geben kann oder möchte. Aber wir
sollten nicht vergessen, dass es sich um ein
gemeinschaftliches Unterfangen handelt.
Angenommen, jede Person hätte dasselbe
Einkommen zur Verfügung und wäre gleichsam
bedacht, unser Soll für den Jahreshaushalt von
$250.000 (für Haushalt, Mission und Gebäude)
zu erreichen, was wäre da der
Durchschnittswert? Im Jahr wären das um die
$600 pro Person (oder gut $50 im Monat bzw.
etwas mehr als $10 in der Woche). Was die
„Zehntzahlung“ angeht, kann die folgende Frage
eine hilfreiche Orientierung sein: „Möchte ich
die Person sein, die spirituell und finanziell in
der Lage ist, 10% an die Kirche zu geben?“
Schließlich noch die Frage: Warum soll man
spenden? Hier lasse ich den lutherischen
Theologen Mark Allan Powell zu Wort kommen
(aus seinem Buch: Giving to God): “Wenn wir
mit Herzen geben, die von Gottes Liebe
angerührt wurden, und wenn wir mit Herzen
voller Hingebung für den Gott geben, der uns
liebt, dann beantworten sich die Fragen wo, wie,
und wie viel von selbst.“
In Dankbarkeit für eure Unterstützung,
Bjoern Erik Meinhardt, Pastor
Wie oft sollte man spenden? Die die Kirche
regelmäßige Ausgaben hat, wäre es am besten,
auch eine regelmäßige Spende in Betracht zu
ziehen, zum Beispiel jeden Monat.
Wofür wird das gespendete Geld ausgegeben?
Darüber gibt unser Gemeindebrief jeden Monat
Auskunft. Natürlich müssen wir
„alltägliche“ Zahlungen vornehmen (Gehälter,
Nebenkosten, Instandhaltung des Gebäudes
usw.), aber am meisten bin ich davon begeistert,
dass unsere Kirche in der Lage ist, wichtige
Missionsprojekte und -aufgaben zu unterstützen:
so etwa die theologische Ausbildung von Teresa
Peters (bald wird sie anfangen, sich auf die
Ordination vorzubereiten); wir helfen einem
Waisenheim und einer Mädchenschule in
Malawi (einem der ärmsten Länder in der Welt);
und vor Kurzem haben wir beschlossen, einer
Flüchtlingsfamilie aus Eritrea bei ihrem Neustart
Thank You for your generosity! Our Food Bank is
looking better but we still need to fill bags on the 2nd
and 4th Sunday of the month.
Please bring your items and place them at the Cross
at the front of the sanctuary.
The items most in need are: canned vegetables,
canned fruit, meal in a can, pasta, pasta sauce
and canned meat.
"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he
shares his food with the poor."
Proverbs 22:9
3
St. Peter’s Youth
July 4th, 11:30am Gathering Lunch, Bible Study and Youth Meeting
July 5th-12th Youth Gathering in Ontario!!!
Please pray for: Teresa Peters, Andrea Budnick {leaders}, David Budnick, Theoren Terra,
Katherine Terra, Cleo Terra, Kody Goddard, Erik Goddard, Cole Peters {St. Peter’s Youth},
Max Schreckenbach & Kele Schreckenbach {Joy’s Youth}.
***All dates, time and events are subject to change, please make sure Teresa has correct e-mail addresses
and phone numbers to keep you updated!!!
Summer!!
Youth!!! As it is summer time and many of us go on holidays, I would like to invite you to call
or e-mail or even facebook me when you are in town and we can go for lunch or ice cream and just
catch up!!
Teresa Peters
Lay Minister
204-338-2440 (Home)
204-292-6229 (Cell)
[email protected] (e-mail)
E-mail!!!
We need your e-mail address! The cost of postage continues to go up! The cost of printing and paper
is ever rising! If you can get your newsletter via e-mail rather than in print,
please contact the office at:
[email protected]
4
Giving and Forgiving
From the Bishop: Bishop John Bradosky
(Taken from NALC Newsletter June 2016)
Matthew 6:14: ‘For if ye forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive
you.’”
Dear Disciples of Christ Jesus,
In preparing a script for a stewardship
video, I became fascinated with the juxtaposition of
the fourth and fifth petitions of the Lord’s Prayer,
“Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us
our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us.”
Luther tells us that that while we are
forgiven by Christ apart from any conditions, He
gives a means for a sign, confirmation and
assurance of this promise that we are transformed
into those who graciously forgive others.
Giving and forgiving seem to flow from one
to the other. We are blessed to be a blessing, and
we are forgiven to offer forgiveness. As we receive
grace from above, we are being taught to be
gracious people. As we have been blessed by the
loving generosity of our Father, so we are being
trained to become generous people.
What then would be the sign and
confirmation of the fourth petition of the Lord’s
Prayer? Because of Christ’s abundant blessings in
our life perhaps it is that we are transformed into
those whose lives overflow with generosity
(1 Corinthians 8:2).
No one can attempt to follow Jesus and
avoid dealing with faithful stewardship. They are
inseparable. Jesus taught about it and provided the
example. The Apostles passed on His teaching and
followed His example. The Church through the
ages has always depended on it. Stewardship
seems just as essential to the Body of Christ as
forgiveness.
While thinking about this, I was reading the
last version of a book by friend I came to love and
respect while serving in California, Dallas Willard.
In his book, Renovation of the Heart, chapter four
contains a section called “The Centrality of Giving.”
He writes, “Giving and forgiving are, of course,
central to the divinely restructured life, as we take
on the character truly suited to the human soul.”
He comments on the widespread
misunderstanding, even among Christians that
giving is giving up something, being deprived,
sacrificing, being impoverished. In this way selfdenial takes on a highly negative value.
We often make a mistake emphasizing that
we give because of the need of the local
congregation to fix the roof, pay the bills, keep the
doors open. In the same way, we sometimes make
decisions about giving based on our like or dislike
of the cause or purpose. But Christian stewardship
is not first and foremost because there is a need.
In the Large Catechism Martin Luther
writes, “For just as we daily sin much against God,
and yet He forgives everything through grace, so
we, too, must ever forgive our neighbor who does
us injury, violence, and wrong, shows malice
toward us, etc. If, therefore, you do not forgive,
then do not think that God forgives you; but if you
forgive, you have this consolation and assurance,
that you are forgiven in heaven, not on account of
your forgiving, for God forgives freely and without
condition, out of pure grace, because He has so
promised, as the Gospel teaches, but in order that
He may set this up for our confirmation and
assurance for a sign alongside of the promise
which accords with this prayer, Luke 6:37: ‘Forgive,
and ye shall be forgiven.’ Therefore Christ also
repeats it soon after the Lord's Prayer, and says,
We give first because Christ gave Himself
for us. Our giving is a response to what we have
already received. We give because the grace of
God overflows from our life because of Christ’s
presence in our life. Our giving is an act of faith in
the all sufficiency of Christ.
Paul also reminds the Corinthians in his
second letter that “God is able to make all grace
abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency
in everything, you may have an abundance for
every good deed” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Jesus trains His disciples to have a different
view of the world. We don’t talk about money and
possessions like the rest of the world. In the
Kingdom of Heaven Jesus proclaimed — that
5
Kingdom that broke into their lives and our world in
the life, death and resurrection of Jesus — there is
a confidence, assurance and trust that Jesus has
already given us all we have and are.
character being formed in us? If so, what is the
evidence of that generosity?
I am convinced that Jesus is concerned that
we become generous with our spouse, generous
with our children, generous with our neighbors, our
coworkers and, yes, generous with our brothers
and sisters in the Body of Christ. In the Kingdom
Jesus came to proclaim, I am certain He wants
every follower, every family, every congregation in
every Mission District and in the entire NALC to be
known for their generosity, for their conformity to
the character and person of Jesus.
God is the owner and the loaner of all that
we possess. We are called to be good stewards
over what God has given to us. The assurance of
this Kingdom of Heaven worldview is the back drop
for Jesus teaching, “Give and it will be given to you;
good measure; pressed down, shaken together,
running over, they will pour into your lap” (Luke
6:38).
From a human perspective, it may seem
that our lap is empty and we are living with scarcity
and fear. When all we see is the cross and tomb,
our resurrected Lord comes to us with this teaching
and assurance of God’s care and limitless
provision. He says, “Do not be afraid little flock, it is
your Father’s good pleasure to give you the
Kingdom” (Luke 12:32). It is the power of the love
of Christ and the experience of His care that frees
us from the burden of “looking out for ourselves.”
I am equally certain that Jesus is as
concerned about our forgiving as He is about our
giving. This forgiveness is just as important in our
relationships with our spouse, children, neighbors,
coworkers and our brothers and sisters in the Body
of Christ.
Discipleship is also about taking on
responsibility for holding one another accountable
in Christ, encouraging and supporting one another
for faithful stewardship. When it comes to
stewardship, too often we have been content to say
I won’t talk about your stewardship if you don’t
comment on mine. Such avoidance never leads to
greater responsiveness but only to neglect.
Discipleship is about Christ being formed in
us. Rather than impoverishment and sacrifice,
Jesus’ teaching and example are discipleship
training for becoming generous people.
This is a helpful way to consider our
offerings. We are conforming our life to His and
being trained in a discipline that is designed to
assist us in practicing generosity. It is impossible to
consider the life of Jesus without being aware of
His gracious and generous character.
In a similar way instead of holding one
another accountable for both seeking and offering
forgiveness, we have often been content to say, “I
won’t talk about your sin if you don’t comment on
mine.” Avoiding confession and absolution as well
as the offering of forgiveness are damaging to our
life in Christ and roadblocks to our transformation.
Giving in the Kingdom of Heaven is not a
matter of deprivation but strength and fulfillment. In
giving we experience the power of Christ flowing
through us. Giving is one of the highest
expressions of the new creations that we become
in Christ. Giving is more joyous than receiving, not
because it is a deprivation, but because the act of
giving is the expression of being truly alive.
It is my prayer for all of us in the North
American Lutheran Church that we no longer
understand stewardship as an “add-on,” as a
necessary evil, or as a once-a-year fall program we
endure, to make ends meet in the coming year. It
encompasses the entire life of a believer.
Beginning at our Baptism, our life in Christ is a
response to the grace we received and continue to
receive daily.
If you took the word giving in the previous
paragraph and substituted the word forgiving it is
just as appropriate and true. Forgiving others is not
a passive activity but an active, dynamic and
essential part of demonstrating Christ’s character in
our lives through our words and deeds.
Stewardship is just as essential to our
baptismal understanding as forgiveness. Paul’s
words to the Corinthian church is my prayer for
every person and congregation in the NALC, that
we will seek to excel in forgiveness and
stewardship, as in faith, speech and love, that we
may continue to experience, joy overflowing in a
wealth of generosity!
Teaching the faith moves into living the
faith. Changing our understanding involves
changing our behaviors. Are we becoming more
generous as a people? Is Christ’s generous
6
We’re getting ready for a Vacation Bible School that your children, grandchildren,
nieces, nephews, and friends will never forget!
We are looking forward to sharing this exciting event with the children of St. Peter’s their friends and
the neighborhood. So invite everyone you know to register, VBS begins August 22nd – and continues
through August 26th/16 from 9:00am-3:30pm. A donation of $30 per child, is requested. (If you are
unable to afford this, scholarships are available) We provide, snacks, crafts supplies and prizes.
This year we are asking all children to bring a bagged lunch. We can not keep everyone’s lunch
refrigerated, so please pack like you do for school. Remember no NUTS please!
This is our 11th year running and last year’s VBS was a great success, we were able to share the word of
God over 70 children. Let’s make 2016 even more successful. Remember to register early as space is
limited.




If you are willing to donate any of these items please leave them in Teresa’s office, with your name on a
piece of paper.
Laundry Baskets
New tarps around $2 from the Dollar Store
Inflatable Beach toys
Colorful Beach towels with beach or ocean scenes
Volunteers are always needed!!
Prep Dates
July 14th – Thursday 10:00am – 2:00pm
July 18th – Monday 10:00am – 2:00pm
July 21st - Thursday 10:00am – 2:00pm
July 28th – Thursday 10:00am – 2:00pm
August 2nd – Tuesday 10:00am – 2:00pm
August 4th – Thursday 10:00am – 2:00pm
August 16th – Tuesday 10:00am – 2:00pm
August 18th – Thursday 10:00am – 2:00pm
st
August 21 – Sunday Pizza Lunch and Set up following 11:00am service!
7
Support of a Refugee Family
We are excited to report that with regards to our refugee support, we have completed the so-called undertaking
documents with the help of CLWR: It is a family of four, who are originally from Eritrea but have lived for the
last nine years in South Sudan. Husband, wife, and their two daughters (20 and 9 years old) have been approved
by the Canadian government and are ready to leave. Until they arrive in Winnipeg, a couple more months may
go by so that we can expect them to be here by the end of August (the soonest) or, more likely, in September.
We will get about a two-weeks notice prior to their arrival.
As a reminder, here is some background information: At the AGM in February, St. Peter's decided to
support/sponsor a Christian refugee family and assist them in their efforts to start a new life in Canada. We
opted to go with the BVOR (Blended Visa Office-Referred) Program. This means the Canadian government
will cover the expenses for the first six months, and we (St. Peter's) will provide the financial support for the
second six months; at the AGM we approved the amount of $15,000.
We will also assist the family to get adjusted to life in Canada. For this purpose we have formed a support
group of knowledgeable individuals. Pastor Tom Lurvey is the chairperson of the support group. He is assisted
by his wife Linda, Christel Parkhill, Ralf Oppitz, Helga Roehr, Barbara Schott, Klaus Albrecht, Carla Betker,
Daryle and Lori Duke, Pastor Bjoern Meinhardt, and Verena Fisch (a practicant from Germany).
Neues vom Missionskomitee zur Unterstützung einer Flüchtlingsfamilie
Mit Begeisterung und Spannung können wir berichten, dass Bewegung in unsere angestrebte Unterstützung von
Flüchtlingen kommt. Mit Hilfe der lutherischen Hilfsorganisation CLWR haben wir die sogenannten
"undertaking" Formulare ausgefüllt, mit denen wir uns verpflichten, eine Familie von vier bei ihrem Neuanfang
in Kanada zu begleiten; sie wurden bereits von der kanadischen Regierung überprüft und als unbedenklich
eingestuft. Diese Familie hat zwei Töchter (20 und 9 Jahre alt), stammt ursprünglich aus Eritrea und lebt nun
schon seit gut neun Jahren in einem Flüchtlingslager im Süd-Sudan. Sobald alle Einzelheiten geklärt sind,
können sie sofort nach Kanada kommen. Bis sie in Winnipeg ankommen, wird aber noch etwas Zeit vergehen:
frühestens im August, wahrscheinlicher aber erst im September. Zwei Wochen vor ihrer Ankunft bekommen
wir Bescheid.
Zur Erinnerung: Im Februar bei der Gemeindeversammlung haben wir beschlossen, eine christliche
Flüchtlingsfamilie zu unterstützen. Wir haben uns für das BVOR (Blended Visa Office-Referred) Programm
entschieden, das besagt, dass die kanadische Regierung die anfallenden Kosten für die ersten sechs Monate
übernimmt und für die zweiten sechs Monate wir, von der St. Petri Gemeinde. Bei der Versammlung haben wir
für dieses Unterfangen einen Betrag von $15.000 bereit gestellt.
Um der Familie bei der Integration in Kanada zu helfen, steht ihr eine Kerngruppe von sachverständigen
Gemeindegliedern zur Seite. Der Leiter der Kerngruppe ist Pastor Tom Lurvey. Er wird unterstützt von seiner
Frau Linda, Christel Parkhill, Ralf Oppitz, Helga Roehr, Barbara Schott, Klaus Albrecht, Carla Betker,
Daryle und Lori Duke, Pastor Bjoern Meinhardt und Verena Fisch (eine Praktikantin aus Deutschland).
8
YOU ARE INVITED
Sunday September 18th/16
to Celebrate
St. Peter’s 86th Anniversary
During both services we will recognize our
church and introduce our 1st and 2nd year
confirmands.
Plus following our 11:00am worship we
will have our annual Neighbourhood
BBQ!!
Everyone Welcome!
Bring your Friends!!
Word at Work Workshop - World Religion and Cults
Presenter: Rev. Jamie M. Strickler
Overview of living world religions and active cults in North America.
This will include religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism.
Cults such as Mormonism, Jehovah's Witness, and Scientology.
When: Saturday, October 1st, 9:00am – 4:30pm
Where: St. Peter’s Ev. Lutheran Church
Cost: $10 per person {children and youth: free}
9
Sunday Evening Worship
St. Peter’s offers a monthly evening
Contemporary Worship Service
The last Sunday of each month!!
Future Service Dates:
July 24th at 6:00pm
August 28th at 6:00pm
September 25th at 6:00pm
October 30th at 6:00pm
Invite your friends and family!
Everyone welcome!
10