August 2016 - Saskatchewan Synod

www.sasksynod.ca
We are in this journey of faith together!
The Sask Synod News is sent out periodically to inform the synod
community of future opportunities to gather as people of faith
and to inform the synod community of news happening around
the synod.
Please 1. Print and post on your church bulletin board 2. Copy
and paste relevant material to your bulletins and newsletters 3.
Forward by email to church council members, other congregational leaders and anyone who might be interested in the Sask
Synod News.
Summer 2016
Sask Synod Summer Office Hours:
Fall Regional Synod Gatherings
The Sask Synod office will be adjusting its hours for July and
August.
Please note that these events will take the place of
the individual conference meetings as they will now
be held at the regional gatherings.
We will be open:
Tuesday to Friday
9:00 am to 3:30 pm
North:
Saturday October 1, 2016
Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon
10am to 5pm
Fall Leadership Conference
South: NEW DATE**
September 20 - 22, 2016
Guest Speaker: David Goa
Registration: $150 for active clergy
$80 for retired OLC/TWC
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Regina
10 am to 5 pm
David Goa was born in Camrose,
Alberta, to Solveig and Finn Goa
who had immigrated from Norway
to Canada. He studied history,
philosophy and the history of
religions in Chicago. He counts the
eminent philosophical theologian
Paul Tillich, the scholar of religion
Mircea Eliade, the historian Zenos
Hawkinson, the political
philosopher Hannah Arendt, and
Jaroslav Pelikan, Sterling Professor
of History, Yale University, among
the scholars who have most
influenced his work. David has been involved in various research
and documentation and communications projects both in Canada
and abroad. He built the program for the study of culture through
his field research work over thirty years at the Royal Alberta
Museum. He lectures widely and is the author of numerous books
and scholarly articles and is a regular contributor to the media. His
work focuses on religious tradition and modern culture, culture and
the civil life, and on public institutions in service to cultural
communities and modern civil society.
Please visit: http://sasksynod.ca/events/leadershipconference/ for more information and to register.
All congregational leaders are encouraged to
attend.
Cost: $15.00/person
Day will include worship, lunch, bible study,
Bishop’s Dialogue, conference meetings and a
presentation by Rev. Dr. Gordon Jensen.
For more information please visit our website
at sasksynod.ca/events
Find us on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/
sasksynod/
Please add [email protected] to your newsletter
email lists; we would love to hear what your congregations are doing!
Have a story you would like to share?
Please email Anno Bell at :
[email protected]
Next issue: Sept. 2016
PAGE 2
Tending to a spiritual center-Generosity
He was a little man. I wonder. Is that was where it all began?
The bullies at school no doubt found him an easy target. Did
anyone stand up for him? Did anyone notice him?
It seems that he made his way into accounting. He was good at
math. So when the occupying Roman government came calling
for his skills, Zacchaeus took the job as a tax administrator. Why
not? The community had always told him he wasn’t worth
anything. Now at least he would have ‘net worth’. Being a tax
administrator was a lucrative position. The Roman government
did pay a decent wage but it was the ‘perks’ that were the most
tantalizing. The Roman government expected to receive the
allotted tax from each wage earner in this little country. What the
tax administrators collected beyond that allotted tax was not
examined with great rigour. Tax administrators, supported by a ready supply of Roman force, were known to be
lining their pockets by over-collecting taxes. They were seen as traitors by their own people. They had sold their
souls.
Zacchaeus, however, did his job with great energy. His bank account was healthy. He had a staff that obeyed
him. When he came calling, people in the community feared him.
It happened that Zacchaeus heard about a wandering rabbi named Jesus. He was from the north-country, a
carpenter’s son from Nazareth. This Jesus was teaching radical things. That Samaritans were human beings!
(What was that about?) That God was like a father waiting longingly at the kitchen window for the return of a
rebellious son. This Jesus was making his way to Zacchaeus’ city, just blocks away. ‘Well, it was worth a look,
wasn’t it?’
On the day of Jesus’ arrival, Zacchaeus left the office building and joined the crowd on the street. But the little
man could not see anything. And no one was very interested in making a place for him—they never had. So
Zacchaeus did something he hadn’t done since he was a child: he climbed a tree—tearing his suit pants as he
scuffled up the tree. He peered down the street for a glimpse. Then he saw Jesus, surrounded by his group of
followers. As Jesus drew near, he looked up at the little man in the tree. “Zacchaeus.” he said, “Could I come to
over to your house?”
What was Zacchaeus to do? This rabbi wanted to visit with him. This rabbi knew his name! ‘Well, it was worth a
look, wasn’t it?’ Zacchaeus clambered down from the tree, quite unsuccessfully straightened up his suit, and
invited Jesus into his house that afternoon.
What happened in the house? Did Jesus listen to Zacchaeus’ story? Did Jesus talk with Zacchaeus about the
love of God, the loving Parent? What exactly happened in the house is known only to the two who sat together
at that kitchen table. What happened when they came out of the house we are told: Zacchaeus stood there and
said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of
anything, I will pay back four times as much” (Luke 19:8).
The Zacchaeus story is a powerful picture of generosity. Generosity is one aspect of Dr. Martin
Brokenleg’s Circle of Courage model that I mentioned in my last post. Dr. Brokenleg, as you may recall, spoke
of a medicine wheel model of tending to a spiritual center in people with a focus on four universal needs:
belonging, generosity, mastery, and independence. Generosity is a key theme in our life as faith communities.
At times, the church has all but lost this broad meaning of generosity in the midst of falling into all too familiar
‘consumer thinking’, mired in too-shallow conversations about meeting financial needs. But in our worship, each
week in our faith communities, we ‘pass the plate’. Yes, through the offering we are do ‘pay the bills’. But the
offering means more than that: it recognizes our spiritual need to be generous. Like Zacchaeus, having been
embraced by the gospel, we come to a realization that we have a goodness from which to share goodness, a
loved-ness out of which to share love—when the plates are being passed on Sunday, and when we come out of
the house and meet our neighbours in need on Monday morning.
I would invite you to take some time as people of faith, and as faith communities to consider how we have in
the past and how we might in the future address this spiritual need of generosity.
Peace,
Bishop Sid
PAGE 3
You are invited to the
Opening Worship Service
of
Lutheran Theological Seminary
114 Seminary Crescent
University of Saskatchewan
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
at 7 p.m.
Reception to Follow
Please continue to keep Pastor Lynn Robertson and her family in your prayers as she continues to undergo treatment for
breast cancer. Her chemotherapy treatments are finished and she has begun radiation treatments. Specialized blood work
has revealed she is also at a higher risk for ovarian cancer so she will undergo further preventative surgery.
Central Lutheran’s
Radio Service from Moose
SAVE THE DATE
NOT FOR SALE: HUMAN
TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY
WHEN: November 5, 2016
HOSTED BY: Christ Lutheran Church, Rhein,
SK in conjunction with NASHI
REGISTRATION: $20
Lunch and coffee breaks provided. Watch for
more information to follow in September.
Jaw was first broadcast in 1956.
The Broadcast has the distinction
of being the longest running radio
broadcast organized by a single
congregation. The faithful support
of Members, Listeners, and
Pastors now sees this ministry in
its 58th year.
The Central Broadcast is heard
each Sunday morning at 7:45am.
on CHAB Radio Station 800 and
our Website:
www.centrallutheran.com
Central Lutheran Radio Service
27 Hochelaga Street West
Moose Jaw, SK S6H 2E9
[email protected]
Phone: 306-694-5575
SYNOD ANNOUNCEMENT:
This month the Synod office
says goodbye and extends
well wishes to Deacon
Gretchen Peterson, Youth
Ministry Coordinator as she
moves on to work for the
National ELCIC office
continuing to work with youth
ministry.
Thank you Gretchen for all of
your hard work and
dedication.
God Bless!
PAGE 4
Request for
Photos
We want to feature
your church on our
website!
Please send photos of
your church building to
Lindsay at the Sask
Synod office.
Please email at
[email protected]
Upcoming Meetings
Kairos Lutheran
Faith Community
Future with Hope Task Force - September 12
Kairos Lutheran Faith
CTEL - September 23-25
Community meets for
Mission in Ministry - September 30
Tuesday evening House
Synod Council - October 27-28
Church, a time to pray,
discuss, reflect and eat! We
WE’VE GOT A NEW NAME!
begin @ 6 p.m. with a
At the SK Synod Convention in June, the
assembly passed a motion to approve the
request of the Canadian Mission Committee to
change the name of the committee to the
Mission in Ministry Committee. This new name
better reflects the work of the committee;
encouraging, supporting, learning together
with congregations, communities and
individuals about where God’s mission is
leading and calling us.
Potluck Supper and rotate
The committee will be meeting on September
30. If you have been thinking about a mission
project, if you see a ministry need, if you have
a passion for mission, put together a proposal
and submit an application to the Mission in
Ministry Committee through the SK Synod
Office at:
who is hosting… for more
info contact Pastor Fran
Schmidt at:
kairoslutheranfaithcommunit
[email protected]
Kairos resumes regular
Worship in Osler, serving the
Martensville, Warman and
Evangelical
Lutheran
Broadcast
www.lutheranbroadcast.ca
Tune in each Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
to:
CKBI 900 AM  MAX TV 824
Mailing Address:
Box 1717, Prince Albert, SK S6V 5T3
All donations, large and small, are most
gratefully and prayerfully received and
acknowledged with receipt at Year End.
“Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a
light to may path.” Psalm 119:105 NSRV
Upcoming Broadcasts:
Osler area. We worship on
[email protected]
Sunday, Aug. 21, Sept. 11th
or by mail at: 114 Seminary Cres
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X3
Application forms are available on the SK
Synod website under the Resources tab—
Resources for Congregational Leaders.
and Sept. 25th at 10:30 AM,
Together In Mission for Others
Rev. Linda Hall
Mission in Ministry Chairperson
welcome!
at the Osler Senior's Centre,
corner of 2nd Ave and 2nd
St. in Osler. All are
August 21 - Tom Brook, CLWR
August 28 - Pastor Rick Johnson
September 4 & 11 - Pastor Joan Jesperson
September 18 & 25 - Pastor Mark Vinge
October 2 - Dr. Bill Nelson
PAGE 5
Events at Kinasao!
Kinasao's Season Finale Banquet
Saturday, August 27th
Kinasao welcomes nationally acclaimed, award winning jazz pianist, composer, and arranger Chad Linsley to entertain at this year's Season Finale Banquet. This is an evening you will not want to miss with a beautiful four
course meal, silent auction, and world class music.
Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online at
www.kinasaobanquet.myevent.com or by calling the
camp office at 306-982-3327.
Saturday, September 10th
We welcome all volunteers to join our wood cutting
bee- come and help us rebuild our supplies after all of
our summer campfires! We will be cutting wood from
9:00-4:00 and will be provide lunch and supper for all
who participate. Also, the new campground expansion (20 new sites) will be ready for viewing from
4:00-5:00 that day – come, look around and scout out
your future seasonal campground site!
Youth Retreat
Friday, October 28 at 7:30pm – Sunday October 30
at noon
Cost: $85
Ages: 11-14
Join some of your favourite Kinasao Staff back at
camp for a fun-filled fall weekend! It will be a great
opportunity to re-connect with camp friends and introduce other friends to Kinasao! We will have chapel
times, wide games, free-time activities, and the usual
awesome camp food. Register online at
www.kinasao.ca.
Canada Lutheran Correction:
Well wishes to Pastor Dennis Serfas
on his retirement March 1, 2016 as
Director of Spiritual Care, Prince
Albert Parkland Health Region. We
wish you all the best! God Bless!
FUNDING AVAILABLE FROM SASKATCHEWAN SYNOD
SYNOD ANTIPOVERTY GRANT
Synod antipoverty grants are for domestic poverty alleviation.
SASKATCHEWAN SYNOD ABORIGINAL FUND APPLICATION
(Southern Sask only) Funds will be used to support programs for
Aboriginal Ministry initiatives.
For more information on these funding opportunities please visit our
website at http://sasksynod.ca/resources/for-congregationalleadership/
PAGE 6
ATTN: Women’s Groups/Bible Study Groups
Opportunity for Women's Gatherings
Full-time Chaplain
LutherCare Communities is seeking a full-time
Chaplain with strong pastoral care skills to serve in
If your congregational women’s group is interested in
participating in a women’s area/synodical gathering please
contact Lorraine Harilstad at
Ph: 306-652-2497
a ministry to seniors at two independent living
facilities, two intermediate care homes, and a day
Email: [email protected]
program for adults with irreversible dementia in
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The mission of
Nominations to National Convention
LutherCare Communities is to provide excellence
in care, shelter, and support in a nurturing
Nominations to be a delegate to the 2017 National Convention are
still being accepted until September 30, 2016. Please fill out the form
at our website (link below in resources) and mail to:
Sask Synod 114 Seminary Cres Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X3
Christian environment for all entrusted to our care.
For more information on this position, visit:
http://luthercare.com
Please submit resume by September 19, 2016 to:
Renita Falkenstern, Director of Mission,
LutherCare Communities, 1212 Osler Street,
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0T9.
Email: [email protected]
iPods Wanted!
Do you have a lightly used iPod and a sturdy set
of over-the-ear headphones? We can put them to
good use at LutherCare Communities. Music has
the power to touch the soul of a person with
Alzheimer’s Disease, or other cognitive
impairments, in a way that nothing else can. Music
can help a person who is bored become happier,
someone who is withdrawn become more
engaged, and someone who is less verbal
become more verbal. If you wish to make a taxdeductible donation, please make your cheque
payable to “LutherCare Foundation” and mail to:
LutherCare Foundation, 1212 Osler St.
Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0T9. Indicate that your gift is
for the “iPod Project.” All donations over $20 will
be receipted. For more information, please call
Renita Falkenstern at 306.664.0315 or email
[email protected]. Thank you for your
kind support!
To contribute to Sask Synod News please email
Lindsay at [email protected]
Attention students: Are you attending the University of
Saskatchewan or Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatoon in the fall?
Are you interested in living close to the university and being
connected to a welcoming and comfortable Christian community?
The Lutheran Campus Centre is now accepting housing applications
for the 2016-17 academic year, and we’d be glad to have you be a
part of our life together here. If you’re interested in applying or
simply finding some more information, contact Paul Sartison,
Chaplain at the Centre, at 306-653-2509 or at [email protected].
GERMANY 2017
A tour of Reformation sites us being planned through Rostad tours for midMay 2017. Reverends Mark & Heather Hedlin will host a tour that travels
for 12 days to Berlin, Wittenberg, Eisenach, Erfurt, Eisleben, Buchenwald,
Weimar, Halle, Leipzig, Dresden and Prague. Prices being determined but
will be approximately $5000 per person. This will include flights, hotels,
coach tour, tour guides, tips for all included services, breakfast & suppers,
luggage handling at hotels, entrance fees at all planned exhibits or tours,
airline taxes, fuel surcharges and airport fees. If you are interested or
would like more information, please contact Mark Hedlin at 306-652-3053
or cell #306-715-0452 or email [email protected] Come and join the adventure in the Land of Luther!
What
Where to find it
National Convention Form
http://sasksynod.ca/wpcontent/uploads/National-ConventionDelegate-Process-Form.pdf
Fall Leadership Conference
http://sasksynod.ca/events/leadershipconference/
NOTE: RESOURCES ON
WWW.SASKSYNOD.CA
Sask Synod office: 114 Seminary Cres, Saskatoon, SK, S7H 2V2 Phone: 306-244-2474 Email: sksynod@elcic.