 Prayer
From 2022 Season of Creation Celebration Guide Resource: Earth Examen
An examen is a way of beholding an object or being in prayerful wonder. Through questions, you are invited to reflect on God’s presence and the goodness of that which you behold. During this Season of Creation, consider contemplating a part of your local ecology. Familiarise yourself with the theme. Prepare by taking time to consider how you can best open your senses to listen to the voices that praise God, and draw our hearts to God’s presence in that place of contemplation. This is an exercise that you can choose to do alone, or with a group.
Pick a natural or agricultural place to contemplate. A forest. A river. A city street with a natural area. An urban park. A farmer’s field. A hilltop. Find a comfortable place to rest in or near this place. Enter into prayer in whatever way is natural to you. Reflect on these questions.
How is God present in this place? How does all the life you see exist in God’s spirit? How do you feel knowing that the Holy Spirit has filled this place for geological ages, with every plant, animal, organism and mineral that has called this place home in the deep past, makes its home here with you now, and will live here with creatures in this place in the future? How do you feel knowing that you, earthling, belong to this place, are made of the same carbon, breathe the same air, are nurtured by the same cycles and life processes, and are enlivened by the same Spirit of the Creator?
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Together We Pray...
Guided by the Anglican-Lutheran Prayer Cycle, we particularly lift up the following in our prayers for September 4, 2022:
ACC: The theological colleges and training programs within the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land: Arthur Turner Training School, the Centre for Christian Studies, the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, Henry Budd College for Ministry, Saint John's College, Dr. William Winter School for Ministry, James Settee College for Ministry.
ACC/ELCIC: The World Council of Churches Assembly. The Season of Creation and a renewed commitment to a healthy relationship with the Earth.
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 Sponsor a Team at the Urban Bike-a-Thon
The synod staff will be participating in the Bike-a-Thon for the Urban on Saturday, Sept. 10. Click here to donate to the MNO Synod Staff team, or click here to see what other teams from throughout the synod are participating and support one of them.
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 Season of Creation Celebration Guide
The 2022 Season of Creation Celebration Guide has been published providing a wealth of resources for use by churches and schools, individuals and communities across all the different Christian denominations.
Focused on the theme ‘Listen to the Voice of Creation’, the guide contains prayers and sermon notes, an Earth Examen or guided contemplation, advocacy suggestions, sustainability projects and a host of practical ideas for marking the Season of Creation, which runs from 1 September to 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi.
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For Congregational Leaders
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 The MNO Synod Vision for Empowered Discipleship includes "identifying and developing leaders within our community" and "tools and resources to support faith formation." These training resources and opportunities are ways we live into this vision.
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Worship Planning Resources
The Program Committee for Worship is a committee of the National Church that seeks to resource congregations across the ELCIC for worship prep and planning. The committee prepares worship resources seasonally that are specifically developed with small congregations or congregations without a pastor in mind. Materials and resources can be found at worship.ca. The resources for the Season of Creation are now available at: http://www.worship.ca/worship-planning-calendar/.
The Program Committee for Worship and Communications of the ELCIC has worked together to produce a resource for worshipping communities of the ELCIC to understand responsibilities and best practices related to use of copyrighted worship materials for in-person and online worship. The new resource is available on the ELCIC website and on worship.ca.
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 Lay Academy Offers Courses for Congregational Leaders
If you’re interested in growing your faith, expanding your knowledge in leadership and service, and learning more about the Bible and being Lutheran or Anglican, consider participating in a course from our Leading In Faith Today (LIFT) curriculum.
Through LIFT, anyone involved or interested in lay or local leadership, including the general public, can study church history, theology, the story of the Old and New Testaments, worship and liturgy, and other topics related to Christianity.
We currently offer 21 courses in total, available online (60 day limit) and printed manuals. Find out more HERE.
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Free Faith Formation Training Resources
Lifelong Faith Training provides free video-based training to equip leaders with the knowledge, practices, and skills for designing, leading, and organizing lifelong faith formation in their churches. The 14 video programs are one hour in length, presented in multiple parts for easy viewing, and include articles and design tools.
Topics include:
- Adult Faith Formation
- Children's Faith Formation
- Family Faith Formation
- Intergenerational Faith Formation
- Hybrid Faith Formation
- Building Community & Relationships
Go to the Lifelong Faith Training Website
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 The Urban is Looking for Board Members
The Urban's AGM is coming up in October 2022. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about the ministry, have had some experience with the Urban, and who have gifts for administration they'd like to share.
Please contact me at this email -- ann00mac@gmail.com -- if you are inclined to let your name be considered. If you know someone we might contact with the request, include their name and contact info.
Blessings of the summer season.
-Annemarie MacIntosh, chair
The Urban Board of Directors
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 KAIROS’ Climate Action Month
KAIROS’ Climate Action Month amplifies the World Council of Churches’ Season of Creation, which runs from September 1 (World Day of Prayer for Creation) to October 4 (St. Francis of Assisi Day). The theme of this year’s Season of Creation is Listen to the Voice of Creation, in recognition of the voices that are muted or silenced in their attempts to communicate the climate crisis. Learn more here.
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Sign up for newsletters directly from our ministry partners. These include:
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 Guest Preacher at Messiah
Messiah will welcome Guest Preacher Rev. Fomgbami Jeanne as our guest preacher on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 11:00. Pastor Jeanne is an ordained pastor in our companion synod, the ELCC and here visiting family. Many in the MNO may remember Pastor Jeanne and her family from when they served here in Winnipeg in the early 2000s. The worship service will also be digitally accessible from Messiah's Facebook page.
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 Going the Distance for the Urban - 2022 Walk/Ride Fundraiser for the Urban!
Saturday, September 10, 2022 (rain date: Oct. 1), 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. kick-off location at Abundant Life Lutheran Church, Birds Hill.
Fun for all ages - and there will be walk and ride distances to suit everyone from 3 years old to the 90s! BBQ lunch outside Abundant Life, provided by the Urban afterward.
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 Small Group Leader Training
The synod will be hosting another session of small group leader training in the fall. An information session will be held in September to provide more information. Small Groups are a meaningful way to strengthen leadership, build community, empower discipleship and expand connection and impact in a congregation. The next Small Group Leader Information Session will be on TUESDAY, Sept. 13 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. RSVP HERE.
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Save the Date: Faith in Context Workshop -- Sept. 24, 9:00-12:00
The next Faith in Context Workshop will be on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 9:00-12:00, via Zoom. More Information coming soon.
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Please share this and encourage all members to sign up for the MNO Synod Newsletter.
We will be using the newsletter as our primary way of communicating with members and want everyone to be informed in a timely manner.
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