ELCIC News - Weekly Updates (Week Beginning July 12)

1. ELCIC and CLWR write joint letter opposing proposed annexation of Palestinian land

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) write a joint letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs expressing opposition to the proposed annexation of additional Palestinian land by the government of Israel.

ELCIC and CLWR have long supported the goal of achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East through the realization of a viable and sustainable two-state solution. To read the joint letter, please click on the following link:
https://elcic.ca/From-the-Bishop/documents/20200615ELCIC-CLWRJOINTLETTER-WestBank.pdf

2. Anglican-Lutheran Cycle of Prayer

The following are the prayer petitions for Sunday, July 19.

ACC: Archbishop Greg Kerr-Wilson, Indigenous Bishop Sid Black, the clergy and people of the Diocese of Calgary
ELCIC: The assistant to the bishop and the staff of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories

3. Reconciled Relationships

The Canadian Council of Churches offers Undoing Racism resources
A handful of racial justice resources published by The Canadian Council of Churches can be found when you click on the following link: https://www.councilofchurches.ca/social-justice/undoing-racism/

KAIROS joins #StatusforAll and Landed Status Now campaign
KAIROS joins the Migrant Rights Network in calling on the federal government to provide Status for All and Landed Status Now. COVID-19 has exposed deep inequities including those faced by foreign migrant workers who are needed in Canada to care for children, the elderly and those with special needs, and to plant, harvest and process our food. Please join KAIROS in supporting this important campaign. Learn more and take action when you click on the following link: https://www.kairoscanada.org/what-we-do/migrant-justice/take-action

4. Canadian Council of Churches annual report

The Canadian Council of Churches has released its first ever Annual Report on the occasion of its 75th Anniversary year. Communicating the work of its bodies across a range of important topics from January 2019 through January 2020, the report is fully bilingual and available in both digital and print formats. Please read online or download the report when you click here: https://www.councilofchurches.ca/news/the-canadian-council-of-churches-releases-its-2019-annual-report/

5. Sign-up for Hymns and Prayers from our National Bishop

Back in March 2020 when the first impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were unfolding here in Canada, ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson began a daily practice of sharing a hymn and inviting all to join her singing and then followed in prayer. This practice is now being continued three times a week over the summer months. You are invited to join in song and prayer as these are posted to social media on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. You can now also receive these hymns and prayers directly in your inbox by signing up here.

6. ELCIC Summer Sermon Series

ELCIC Bishops and Assistants to the Bishops are preparing sermons for congregational use throughout the summer: June 14 to September 13. The sermons are available in both text (PDF and Word) and video format.

The following is the sermon schedule for the next two weeks:

Sunday, July 19: Rev. Kathy Martin, Assistant to the Bishop, BC Synod
Sunday, July 26: Rev. Michael Pryse, Eastern Synod Bishop

For information on how to access these sermons for your congregation, please email Trina.

7. Live stream and worship resources

The following are a number of ELCIC online worship services and resources that may be helpful to you during this time of intentional physical distancing. Have something you think we should add to the list? Please email tgallop@elcic.ca with your suggestions!

8. Mark your calendars