HEADLINES
Lutherans are Advent People
"Advent is not a time to rush to Christmas, but a time to prepare for the twelve-day celebration of Christmas," writes Central Regional Pastor David Haberstock. "We prepare not only by baking our traditional cookies and slowly decorating our houses and sanctuaries, but by hearing the Word, repenting of our sins, and worshipping our God in human flesh, who gives us His own body to feast on, granting peace to our hearts." READ MORE
Continuing Education classes for Nicaraguan pastors resume
Continuing Education classes for pastors in the Lutheran Church Synod of Nicaragua resumed in November, with LCC pastor Brian Dunlop teaching on New Testament Greek. READ MORE
Transition for LAMP missionary "a time for both joy and sadness"
Rev. Randy Heide has been called to serve with the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots in Northwest Ontario. READ MORE
ILC News: Finnish Lutherans under investigation for upholding biblical teachings on sexuality
Please keep the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, partner church of Lutheran Church–Canada, in prayer. They are under investigation by Finland’s Prosecutor General for the publication of a booklet upholding historic Christian teachings on human sexuality. READ MORE
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CHRISTMAS SERVICE TIMES
LCC congregations were contacted by email this week and invited to submit Christmas service times for LCC to post online. If your congregation did not receive this email, please contact LCC's office for the link. A reminder that submissions of this information are requested by December 18.
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- Rev. Dan Abraham - Currently serving St. Peter's (Simcoe, Ontario)
Declined a call to Zion Lutheran Church and School (Prince George, B.C.) and Vanderhoof (Vanderhoof, B.C.)
- Rev. Vincent Moore - Currently serving Christ Lutheran (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta)
Considering a call to St. John's Lutheran (Warman, Saskatchewan)
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You don’t have to wait for the InfoDigest e-mail. News is posted regularly at www.canadianlutheran.ca.
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REMINDER: SEMINARY AWARDS
A reminder that award nominations for Concordia Lutheran Seminary (Edmonton) and Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (St. Catharines, Ontario) are due January 1 and January 10, 2020 respectively. For more information, see the following two links:
- CLS Award Nominations
- CLTS Award Nominations
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- NATIONAL - Ongoing
Lutheran Foundation Canada, Christian Estate Planning - Call 877-711-4438 to book a free seminar at your congregation. Visit: lutheranfoundation.ca/seminars-and-webinars/
- WEST - January 1, 2020
CLS Honourary Award Nominations - Nominations for Concordia Lutheran Seminary's honourary awards are due by January 1, 2020. For more information, visit: https://www.canadianlutheran.ca/cls-calls-for-honourary-award-nominations/
- EAST - January 6, 2020
ESL Community Outreach - ESL Community Outreach in Kitchener will reconvene in January 2020 at new locations. The English Conversation Circle (which meets Mondays) will now meet at Holy Cross Lutheran (322 East Avenue), while the Monday evening "English Cafe" will now meet at Grace Lutheran (136 Margaret Avenue). For more information, visit www.eslco.ca.
- EAST - January 10, 2020
CLTS Honourary Award Nominations - Nominations for Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary's honourary awards are due by January 10, 2020. For more information, visit: https://www.canadianlutheran.ca/clts-calls-for-award-nominations-3/
- WEST - July 2-5, 2020
IMPACT Youth Gathering - The IMPACT Youth Gathering registration package is now available for download. All LCC youth and leaders are invited for a weekend of community, growth, and equipping centered on Christ from July 2-5, 2020, at Pines Bible Camp in Grand Forks, B.C. www.impactyg.ca
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PRAYERS
Please pray for Judy Zabel, wife of East District President Emeritus Paul Zabel, as she recovers from surgery. Zabel underwent kidney surgery on Tuesday, November 26, and is now recovering at home.
London Outreach: A mission campaign led by Faith Lutheran Church (London, Ontario) has officially begun. A digital billboard located at Wonderland and Southdale roads in London went live on Monday November 25 and will run for four weeks. The billboard is based on Matthew 11:28 and has the website address www.you-are-invited.ca. The Website tells people they are invited to: belong, have peace and joy, have purpose, have hope, be free of past hurts, and have community. The website also features videos of personal stories, a resource section for books, songs, videos, and download files plus a contact us page. During church on November 24, members were invited to take business cards to distribute within the community. The cards have a picture of the billboard ad on one side and on the other side feature the Lutheran Hour Ministries logo and a QR code for the digital resources link. A visitor center is also being worked within the church. Please keep this outreach effort in prayer.
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LECTIONARY SUMMARY FROM THE LCMS
3-year and 1-year Series available HERE.
SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT
By the Preaching of Repentance, We Are Prepared for the Coming of the Lord
“John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ‘Repent’” (Matt. 3:1–2). His preaching of repentance for the forgiveness of sins prepared people for the coming of Christ into the world. St. John’s work was historically complete with the incarnate advent of Jesus, but his vital ministry continues in preaching Law and Gospel. The Son of God has come in the flesh, “a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots” (Is. 11:1), and continues to bear the fruits of righteousness. His good tree of the cross is “a signal for the peoples” (Is. 11:10), by which He calls the nations to repentance. “With the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips” (Is. 11:4), He slays the wicked and brings the dead to life, making sons of Abraham out of lifeless stones. So also the “root of Jesse” comes to us, “even he who arises to rule the Gentiles” (Rom. 15:12), that “we might have hope” and be filled “with all joy and peace in believing” (Rom. 15:4, 13).
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Who Made Who?
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." - Genesis 1:1
Christian generosity begins with the realization that we are the sheep of God’s pasture. It is He who has made us, not we ourselves. The way we as Christians look at our lives then takes on a different perspective than the secular world. We should use all that God has given us toward His purposes. What are His purposes? Consider your callings in the Lord: in your family, in your church, in your community, and in society at large. How can you use the financial gifts the Lord has given you in each of these areas?
Most of us, if we have a family, recognize how we use our gifts to care for them. But what about your church family? Have you considered how you can be a blessing to them? One way is to use a portion of what God has given you to establish a charitable gift in your will for your congregation or other ministry. Doing so enables those ministries to continue sharing the Gospel long into the future. To learn more about how you can establish a charitable end-of-life gift, please contact your regional Gift Coordinator or visit Lutheran Foundation Canada’s website at www.lutheranfoundation.ca.
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