Holy Week 2022 - Special Edition

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Keeping the members of CALC connected

April 10, 2022

Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations (CALC)

Holy Week begins with the commemoration of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, climaxing with the commemoration of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday and the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday.

Holy Week concludes with Christ's rest in death and descent into Hades on Holy Saturday.

Easter Sunday the day of his resurrection from death, marks the beginning of the Season of Easter (Easter Sunday and the six Sundays that follow).

CALC's Gathering Fund

It's there for our members to use!

About a decade ago, CALC established the “Gathering Fund.” This fund was established so that no congregation in CALC would be deprived of sending their pastor and one delegate to a CALC convention or sending their pastor to CALC’s Pastors’ Study Retreat. There are funds available in our gathering fund. The funds are a grant to the congregation, not a loan, and do not have to be repaid.

Costs that are covered by a Gathering Fund grant are:

The pastor/delegate is responsible for any meals purchased while traveling or meals at the convention or retreat that are not covered by the registration.

Please apply for the Gathering Grant by email to Sarah Dunphy, CALC's Administrative Coordinator, at: sarahdunphy@calc.ca:

In your email provide an estimate of, or actual, costs for travel. The grant is for your congregation; therefore, CALC will reimburse your congregation for your travel costs, who will, in turn, reimburse the delegate or pastor who purchased the bus/airline tickets.

The Keynote speakers for CALC's 2022 Pastors' Study Retreat and Convention are Rev. Dan 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.

Venue
CALC's 2022 Annual General Convention will be held on Friday April 29th and Saturday April 30th. It will be held at Holiday Inn & Suites Edmonton Airport - Conference Center, 1100-4 Street, Nisku, Alberta, T9E 8E2, Canada. Our venue is minutes away from the Edmonton International Airport.

CALC's 2022 Annual General Convention is a hybrid event. Delegates and visitors can participate in person and online.

Accommodations
Holiday Inn is offering a block of rooms for our convention at a group rate. The rooms are a mix of rooms with two queen-sized beds or one king-size bed. These rooms will be offered at the rate of $85.00 per night plus applicable taxes (9%). The convention rate will be available for April 28, 29 and 30. Rooms must be booked by April 22^nd to receive this rate. You must register by phone at 1-780-979-0839 and use promo code “CAL” when registering.

Airport Transfer: The Holiday Inn runs a shuttle to and from the Edmonton International Airport 24 hours a day.

Registration Fees:
Online Participants $75.00
In-person Participants $240.00
The in-person registration fee covers all meals on Friday and breakfast, lunch & refreshments on Saturday.
Saturday Banquet: Tickets for the Saturday banquet are offered at $65.00 per person. The ticket to the celebratory banquet is in addition to the in-person registration fee of $240.00.

Payment of Fees:

E-transfer to treasurer@calc.ca., or
Mail cheque to Helen Zacharias, Treasurer: 890 Gilmour Street, Morden, MB, R6M1R9.

Registration Form: Click here to access the convention registration form.

Convention Schedule
The Schedule of the convention weekend is as follows:
Friday April 29th

8:30-9:30 AM	Registration
9:30-10:30 AM	Rev. Dan Schmelzer
10:30-11:00 AM	Refreshment Break
11:00 AM-12:30 PM	Rev. Dan Schmelzer
12:30 -1:30 PM	Lunch
1:30-2:30 PM	Bill C-4 - Rev. Ed Skutshek
2:30 -3:00 PM	Refreshment Break
3:00 -4:30 PM	Bill C-4 - Rev. Ed Skutshek
4:30-5:00 PM	Free Time
5:00-6:00 PM	Supper
6:00-7:00 PM	Opening Worship
7:00- 8:30 PM	ILT-ILTCS Reception

Saturday April 30th

8:00-9:00 AM	Breakfast -Registration
9:00-10:30 AM	Business Meeting Session #1
10:30-11:00 AM	Refreshment Break
11:00 AM-Noon	Business Meeting Session #2
12:00 -1:00 PM	Lunch
1:00-1:30 PM	Introduction of Guests
1:30 -2:30 PM	Rev. Ron Parker
2:30 -3:00 PM	Refreshment Break
3:00-4:30 PM	Rev. Ron Parker
4:45-6:00 PM	Worship & God’s Speed
6:00-6:30 PM	Free Time
6:30- 8:00 PM	Celebratory Banquet

To access a convention registration brochure click here.

CALC’s 2022 Pastors’ Study Retreat

Venue
This year's retreat will be held on Wednesday April 27 and Thursday April 28 at the Hastings Lake Bible Camp - 51268 Range Rd 204 #135, Sherwood Park, AB T8G 1E9. The camp is on the shores of Hastings Lake near Sherwood Park, Alberta. It is located approximately 62 kilometres east and north of the Edmonton International Airport and 33 kilometres east of Edmonton. It will be a hybrid retreat with some attending in-person and others online.

Accommodations
Participants will stay in Solomon’s lodge and in cabins located on the camp’s grounds. Meals will be served in the camp’s dining hall. Keynote presentations will be held in a lounge in Solomon’s Hall. Rooms will be assigned by the Events Committee. Participants are required to bring their own bedding and towels. Bedding and towels will be arranged for participants who are flying into Edmonton International Airport for the Pastors’ Study Retreat.

Airport Transfer: Transportation from the Edmonton International Airport to the camp and from the camp to the convention venue will be provided for those flying in for the Pastors’ Study Retreat.

Registration Fees: $120.00 per person.
The registration fee covers accommodations and meals. Seminarians are exempt from this fee.

Payment of Fees:

E-transfer to treasurer@calc.ca., or
Mail cheque to Helen Zacharias, Treasurer: 890 Gilmour Street, Morden, MB, R6M1R9.

Registration Form: Click here to access the convention registration form.

Wednesday April 27th

10:00 AM-12:00 PM	Participants arrive and settle in
12:00 PM -1:00 PM	Lunch
1:00 -2:00 PM	Welcome & Opening worship.
2:00-2:30 PM	Free time
2:30-4:00 PM	Keynote Session #1
4:00-5:00 PM	Free time
5:00-6:00 PM	Supper
6:00-7:30 PM	Keynote Session #2
7:30 PM	Free time

Thursday April 28th

8:00-9:00 AM	Breakfast
9:00-10:00 AM	Keynote Session #3
10:00-10:30 AM	Free Time
10:30 AM-12:00 PM	Keynote Session #4
12:00 -1:00 PM	Lunch
1:00-2:00 PM	Keynote Session #5
2:30 -5:00 PM	Free Time
5:00 -6:00 PM	Supper
6:00-7:30 PM	Worship
7:30 PM	Free time

Friday April 29th

7:00-8:00 AM	Breakfast
8:00-9:00 AM	Drive to convention in Leduc/Nisku

To access a pastors' retreat registration brochure click here.

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.

Almighty Father, who sent your only Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sin, show me how I can honor you and bring glory to your name, by walking in the way of Jesus.

Give me grace and mercy as I try and fail, guidance when I’m not sure which way to go, and wisdom to trust you in all things.

For your love brings light and life to all who seek it. May I seek you evermore as I walk with you through this Holy Week and beyond. Amen.

Holy Week 2022 - Special Edition

CALC's 2022 Annual General Convention

Prayer for Holy Week