Lent 2022

e-Connector
Keeping the members of CALC connected

February 27, 2022

Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations (CALC)

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Dust
Thou Art

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

We live in a somewhat dusty place. Medicine Hat is semi-arid and very windy. In the winter when roads have been sanded after a snow and the chinook winds blow, the snow quickly disappears, and the sand turns to dust. Our condo suit faces south and receives wind from the southwest. When windows are open, furniture is quickly covered with dust.

It can be said that we as Christians live in a dusty place. Ash Wednesday reminds us of this fact.

“Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.”

So says the pastor at the imposition of ashes. Ashes are a reminder of our sin and repentance as those in Biblical days who sat in the sackcloth and ashes. And it is a reminder of our very humanity not to mention mortality.

“Dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return.”
“Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust.”

Our journey in this world can be “dusty” at times—dusty with remorse, regret, and repentance; dusty with loss and the realization of our own mortality.

But it is a journey with a destination, an eternal home. The time will come when we will “shake the dust off our feet” and enter our eternal home!

Be strong in the Lord!
Pastor Jim

“I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. And to make a right beginning of repentance.”
Book of Common Prayer
The Episcopal Church (USA)

Call to Prayer
International Virtual Ash Wednesday Prayer Service for Ukraine

“Peace must prevail,” say four global Christian communions who will host online prayer service on Ash Wednesday.

Five Christian World Communions are strongly condemning the advance of the Russian military into Ukraine and the assault that began on the night of 24 February 2022. They call for Russian troops to be brought back to Russia and an immediate end to the conflict. “Peace must prevail,” they insist.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Mennonite World Conference (MWC), and the World Methodist Council (WMC) are calling for prayers of peace for the people of Ukraine and the region.

They have issued an invitation to an online prayer service on Ash Wednesday, 2 March at 17.00 CET. (8:00 AM in BC; 9:00 AM in AB; 10:00 AM in MB & SK, and 11:00 AM in ON) The service will bring together Christians from Ukraine and other parts of the world, seeking peace and an end to the ongoing conflict.

“Jesus calls us to be messengers of hope who work for peace. As Christian churches we therefore call for an immediate de-escalation of this conflict, so that the lives, human rights, and dignity of people in Ukraine are protected,” said LWF General Secretary Rev. Anne Burghardt.

“This is a time for churches in Europe and globally to form a strong alliance of solidarity with people who fear the impact of war in Ukraine. This is a time to gather in prayer for people who possess the power to make decisions that will save lives and make peace possible,” said CEC General Secretary Dr Jørgen Skov Sørensen.

“As the Scriptures encourage us to turn away from evil and do good, to seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11), we consider such an unprovoked attack as evil, and strive to do all we can to stand against it—while also preparing to assist those impacted by it,” said the WCRC Collegial General Secretariat (composed of Hanns Lessing, Philip Peacock, and Phil Tanis).

“Despite what is happening in Ukraine I still believe that the international community can make a difference as we collectively work for peace in the region,” said WMC General Secretary Bishop Ivan Abrahams.

In the call to prayer for the people of Ukraine and the region, the four Christian communions note the military assault threatens the lives of Ukrainians, as well as peace throughout Europe and beyond. “The crisis is urgent and requires the attention and solidarity of the global Christian community.”

The LWF brings together 148 Lutheran churches representing over 77 million Christians across the globe. The WCRC is comprised of more than 230 Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed, United, Uniting, and Waldensian member churches representing 100 million Christians. CEC is a fellowship of 114 churches from Orthodox, Protestant and Anglican traditions from across Europe. The WMC encompasses 80 member churches on six continents. The MWC compromises Mennonite and Brethren in Christ national churches from 58 countries.
From the Lutheran World Federation website.

Click here to see the invitation to the Ash Wednesday prayer service.
Click here to register for the service.

Fleeing Ukrainians being transported from the border to the Polish city of Przemysl. ..Maciek Nabrdalik (NY Times)

Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis - Pleas for Help!

As Russian troops advance, many Ukrainians are fleeing Ukraine to find refuge in Poland, Moldova, and Romania. This Ukrainian exodus is creating a humanitarian crisis in these border regions. There are organizations that are using contacts within Ukraine and surrounding nations to help with this growing humanitarian crisis.

Links to organizations who are providing support in response to the humanitarian crisis created by Russian attacks and aggression are found below. Click on the organization's name to be routed to the donation page.

Canadian Red Cross: (The Government of Canada is matching gifts to this fund up to 10 million dollars. Donation must be made by March 18, 2022, to receive matching governmental funds)

Samaritan's Purse: A Samaritan's Purse "Disaster Assistance Response Team" (DART) is headed to Poland to assess how can meet the needs of those fleeing for safety.

Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR): Your gift today will provide critical aid to families facing this crisis.

Meet the Keynote Speakers for CALC's 2022 Pastors' Retreat and Convention

The Keynote speakers for CALC's 2022 Pastors' Study Retreat and Convention are Rev. Don Schmelzer of Capstone Ministries, Kenya, Africa and Rev. Rob Parker of the National House of Prayer, Ottawa, ON. Both men will speak at the pastors' retreat (April 27-28). Rev. Schmelzer will speak Friday morning at the Educational Event (April 29). Rev. Parker will speak on Saturday afternoon (April 30).

Rev. Schmelzer and his wife Patty (pictured to the right above) are founders and directors of Capstone Ministries, a ministry to the street children of Western Kenya. The Ministry's particular focus is on restoration of the child with the family and the empowerment of the family.

Capstone was founded in 2005 with the objective of restoring street children with their family. The ministry is founded upon the Scripture from Psalm 118:22 “The stone the builder’s rejected has become the capstone.” Capstone Ministries is a Recognized Service Organization of LC-MS.

Rev. Rob & Fran Parker (pictured to the left above) are the founding directors of the National House of Prayer (NHOP). They heard the call to create an “Embassy of Prayer” in the nation’s capital on Canada Day – July 1st, 2000 after Rob had made a 73 day Prayer Walk from Calgary to Ottawa. After several years of sharing the vision with other leaders across the nation, they moved to the capital in 2004 to begin establishing a ministry that would mobilize prayer for government.

We look forward with great anticipation to their presentations.

CALC's 2022 Annual General Convention will be held on Friday April 29th and Saturday April 30th. It will be held at a hotel near the Edmonton International Airport. The Events Committee is in the process of making final arrangements for the convention venue. A block of guest rooms will be available for delagtes and visitors.

Friday is reserved for worship and learning. Rev. Don Schmelzer (see above) will deliver his keynote address on the vital ministry undertaken by Capstone Ministries on Friday morning. During the afternoon Rev. Ed Skutshek, will make a presentation on Bill C-4, an amendment to Canada's criminal code which criminalizes conversion therapy. The opening worship service for the convention will take place Friday evening. The Institute of Lutheran Theology Canada Society (ILTCS) will host a reception after the service. Representatives of the Institute of Lutheran Theology of Brookings, SD, USA (ILT) and ILTCS will share important and exciting news about ILT and its future plans.

Saturday morning will be devoted to the convention's business meeting. In addition to hearing reports from CALC's executive and boards, and approving CALC budget for 2023, the delegates will vote to fill a position on the Board of Elders, currently held by Rev. Alvin Sorenson, which expires at the meeting.

Saturday afternoon Rev. Ron Parker will deliver his keynote address on the vital ministry of the National House of Prayer. His address will be followed by closing worship, which includes the celebration of Holy Communion. A celebratory banquet follows.

The convention will be a hybrid event, with delegates and visitors participating in-person and online through ZOOM. Registration material and a link to an online registration form will be available shortly (pending the finalization of all the details).

CALC’s 2022 Pastors’ Study Retreat

This year's retreat will be held on Wednesday April 27 and Thursday April 28 at the Hastings Lake Bible Camp. The camp is located on the shores of Hastings Lake near Sherwood Park, Alberta. The camp is located approximately 62 kilometers east and north of the Edmonton International Airport and 33 kilometers east of Edmonton. It will be a hybrid retreat with some attending in-person and others online.

The retreat will begin with lunch (noon) on Wednesday April 27th and end Thursday evening, April 28. Participants will be staying at a lodge or cabins at the camp.

Registration material and a link to an online registration form will be available shortly (pending the finalization of all the details).

Bill C-4 added the crime of “conversion therapy” to the Canadian Criminal Code. The new law criminalizes any practice, treatment or service, designed to change, repress or reduce, another person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression. It also made it a crime to advertise or receive compensation directly or indirectly from conversion therapy.

The legislation defines conversion therapy very broadly and generally. As a consequence, it will substantially interfere with the freedom or expression, freedom of religion and the right to peacefully assemble. It is essential that Christians study Bill C-4 and its implications on the faith and life of the Church.

Rev. Edward Skutshek, past President of CALC, will speak on Bill C-4 as a part of the Friday Learning Event (April 29th after lunch).

The position on the Board of Elders currently held by Pastor Alvin Sorenson, Golden Valley Lutheran Church, Viking, AB, will become vacant at the 2022 Annual General Convention on April 30th, 2022.

CALC has called for nominations to fill this position.

For information on the position and the process for nominations click here.

To access the online Nominations form click here.

A prayer for Ash Wednesday

Almighty and ever-living God, you hate nothing you have made and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and honest hearts, so that, truly repenting of our sins, we may obtain from you, the God of all mercy, full pardon and forgiveness; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.