The older I get the faster time seems to go. When I was a child, it seemed like Christmas would never come. As I get older, it seems that it’s always Christmas. Now at the end of this month, the calendar turns another page and we enter 2024
Time actually plays an important role in the Christmas account. Paul writes, “4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Luke stresses the historicity of the birth of Christ by placing it firmly at a specific time in history. At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) Notice how it says, “at that time,” “the fullness of time.”
The point is that the God who himself created time and is outside of time entered human history and time in the person of Jesus Christ. That event has in fact become the very way most of human society number years.
All of us have been allotted a certain number of years for our lifespan. The Psalmist says, “70 years or if reason of strength 80.” Let’s use our time effectively for the glory of God and the spread of the Kingdom of God.
Be strong in the Lord!
Pastor Jim
Anglicans and Lutherans
Co-host a Bible Study in
Kitchener, Ontario
CALC and the Anglican Network in Canada (ANIC) are co-hosting a weekly Bible Study in Cambridge, Ontario. The study is led by Pastor Zena of ANIC. The group meets weekly on Wednesdays. The group is studying the Book of Colossians. If you can't be there - tell a friend you may know in the Kitchener area.
Wednesdays at 1:30 -3:30 PM
Sessions in December 6, 13, & 20
Location Hope Lutheran Church 30 Shaftsbury Drive Kitchener, ON, N2A 1N6
All are welcome! Any questions? You can contact Glenn Kahle (519) 616-3536 or Kahle123@rogers.com with any questions
GOAL: BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD
INSTITUTE of LUTHERAN THEOLOGY
NEWS & EVENTS
TABLE TALK'S NEW YEAR
TABLE TALK II
After twelve remarkable years exploring the three-year lectionary, we're excited to celebrate this milestone and dive into a new historical chapter. Starting this Advent, Table Talk II embraces the rich narratives of the one-year lectionary, a time-honored tradition that has graced the church for centuries. As it has come down to us, it customarily receives some modifications provided by the church body publishing it. This particular version of the historic one-year lectionary is drawn from the Lutheran Service Book commonly used in Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) congregations.
In our ever-changing world, innovation is the norm, and the three-year lectionary was a groundbreaking testament. Yet, the one-year lectionary offers a unique perspective. Beyond continuous biblical narration, it annually repeats crucial scripture texts, weaving them into the fabric of the church year's themes and fostering a tradition that deepens over time. It aligns with the timeless concern for preserving past traditions, echoing Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15:3. This repetition becomes a shared language, fostering conversations, supporting beliefs, and providing solace in troubled times. As the saying goes, "Repetition is the mother of learning.”
Another compelling reason for taking up the historic one-year lectionary: It offers Martin Luther as a guide, with traditional readings preached by Luther himself, found in Luther’s Church Postils and House Postils.
We can visualize the one-year lectionary as a Venn diagram, with intersecting circles marking the Time of Christmas, Time of Easter, and Time of the Church. This unique structure, with Good Friday/Easter at its core, guides us through the church year's flow. With a heightened focus on penitence and repentance, it aligns with Luther's call for a life of repentance. Get ready for a distinctive journey from Advent to an Easter resolution in Christ, including the special Sundays leading up to Easter, Septuagesima (70 days), Sexagesima (60 days), and Quinquagesima (50 days).
One Year Lectionary - The Venn Diagram .
National Council News
CALC's National Council (NC) met on Thursday November 23rd and Friday Friday November 24th, at the Holiday Inn, Edmonton International Airport. The council reviewed and updated the terms of reference for the President, Administrative Coordinator and Assistant to the President. NC will be seeking approval of these changes at the upcoming annual general convention. In addition to the typical council business, a significant time was spent on discussing the current state of our association, and the challenges and the opportunities that God has placed before us.
Manitoba’s crowning jewel of the province is the City of Morden, located in the pristine Pembina Valley, 125 kms southwest of Winnipeg and 19 kms north of the North Dakota border. Morden is surrounded by fields that are lush with canola, potatoes, sugar beets, sunflowers, peas and flowing with golden wheat. It is a place of bounty; hard work where more than 9000 residents proudly call Morden their home. The harvest is plenty … and not just with fields of gold, but with people in desperate need for Jesus. This is the work of the church … and this is the passion and goal of the Christ Lutheran Church in Morden … to reach out to the people of Morden by sharing the love of Jesus in hope that relationships with Him will begin and will grow.
Christ Lutheran consists of approximately 50-60 attenders and was declared by Pastor Jim Bredeson to be his favorite CALC Church. The church has gone through a lot of change over the past 3 years, but what has remained constant in Christ Lutheran is the warmth of the people who make up the congregation. And this has been paramount, as it has been a reason for nearly a dozen new attenders choosing Christ Lutheran as their church home and family.
Christ Lutheran does not have programs for all age groups. However, they have worked hard and continue to work hard to meet the needs of all who attend, young and old. We have done well in fostering hope among people through being brothers and sisters in the Lord to one another. There is strength in this. The faith that we share together has fostered hope and we have grown from this. Hope binds us all together as followers of Christ.
There is much going on in the world, as well as right on the doorsteps of our own communities which is filled with challenge and requires great discernment along with honesty and integrity. So, we pray. And God has answered our prayers. There have been times when our future looked uncertain (and there will be more times of challenge to come), but God hears our prayers and our cries. He answers them long before we even utter them. This instils even more hope … because in a broken world, it’s hard to cling to hope at the best of times. But the beautiful thing about the hope of Jesus is that it’s not contingent on what happens in this world or by the challenges which appear daunting. Jesus prevails! Always has and always will. We believe there is a harvest before us, and it will be hard work, but we are excited for it. We believe there are great days lying ahead for Christ Lutheran - Morden … and we believe the same is true for the Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations. And may this spur all of us on and fill us with wonder over what we will discover and share together both now and tomorrow.
Merry Christmas & God bless you, Christ Lutheran-Morden
Christ Lutheran - "Where People Matter" Click here to access their website.
CALC's Annual General Convention &
Pastors' Study Retreat
2024
Mark your calendars!!!
CALC's Annual General Convention and Annual Pastors' Study Retreat for 2024 will held in the same venue: the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Edmonton Airport Conference Centre, 1100 4th Street, Nisku, AB, T9E8E2. Holiday Inn Edmonton Airport hosted our convention for the past two years. They will also be hosting our pastors' retreat for the first time.
The dates for the Pastors' Retreat are: April 17-18, 2024 (Wed. & Thur.)
The dates for the Convention are: April 19-20, 2024 (Fri. & Sat.)
Information concerning registration fees for the convention and retreat, speakers for these events, schedules, agendas, and room rates will be shared as these details become available. Updates will also be found on our website.
Financial Assistance. If your congregation requires financial assistance in order to send a delegate to convention 2024, please make a request for financial assistance to the National Council. Individuals are eligible for up to $750.00. Applications for more assistance will be given special consideration on a case-by-case basis. Please email requests for financial assistance to: sarahdunphy@calc.ca.
We are pleased to announce our speakers for the 2024 Annual General Convention and annual pastors' retreat. We look forward to presentations from Rev. Dr. Dan Lioy, pictured on the left above and Dr. Leon Miles, pictured on the right above. Information on our presenters is found below. Details on their presentations will be provided.
Professor Dan Lioy (PhD, North-West University), holds several faculty appointments. He is the Senior Research Manager at South African Theological Seminary (in South Africa). Also, he is a professor of biblical theology at the Institute of Lutheran Theology (in South Dakota). Moreover, he is a dissertation advisor in the Leadership and Global Perspectives DMIN program at Portland Seminary (part of George Fox University in Oregon). Finally, he is a professor in the School of Continuing Theological Studies at North-West University (in South Africa). Professor Lioy is active in local church ministry, being dual rostered with the Evangelical Church Alliance and the North American Lutheran Church. He is widely published, including a number of academic monographs, peer-reviewed journal articles, and church resource products.
Dr. Leon Miles (EdD, Dr. of Education, South Dakota State University), pictured on the right above, is the Executive Vice President and a member of the faculty of the Institute of Lutheran Theology. His responsibilities center around business management, including, finances, reports, analysis, forecasting, budgeting, and the yearly audit. In addition to teaching, he also works on institutional assessment, vendor relationships, human resources, and financial aid for students. Recently earned a Doctor of Education degree. Dr. Miles has often attended CALC conventions and pastors' retreats as a representative of the Institute of Lutheran Theology.
Navigating the Waves:
Your Chance to Make Waves of Change
Picture This: Standing on the edge of the Red Sea, facing challenges, and trusting in the divine hand that guides us toward the promised land for the Institute of Lutheran Theology. As we navigate these waters, your support becomes the wind in our sails, propelling us toward a brighter future.
Encouraging News: Our sails are filled with the winds of progress. Enrollment is surging, faculty is top-notch, and the vision of the Center for Congregational Renewal is becoming a reality. We're on the cusp of something extraordinary.
Our Clear Mission: We've asked the Lord for guidance on two critical missions—to cultivate a new generation of pastors rooted in Holy Scriptures and Lutheran theology and to provide immediate assistance to congregations in need. The answer is clear: renew and reinvigorate right thinking and preaching to stand against the tide and bring hope to churches across North America.
Financial Crossroads: Yet, we stand at a financial crossroads. The pressure is real, and we're on the verge of budget cuts that could hinder our progress toward God's calling. ILT needs your support now more than ever.
Join the Quest: I stand with you in this quest. Foreseeing our financial challenges, I've chosen to volunteer my time, foregoing any salary from ILT. My commitment to ILT and its promising future has never been stronger.
Your Chance to Make a Difference: Will you join me in the quest to bring right thinking and preaching back to congregations across North America? Your generosity can make a significant impact. Our goal is to raise $250,000 over the next two months, and every donation, big or small, contributes to our shared journey.
Pray and Act: Take a moment to pray and consider making a generous gift today. Your contribution will help us navigate these waters and steer toward a future where hope and renewal abound.
Let's make waves of change together!
Yours in Christ,
Dennis Bielfeldt, Ph.D.
To donate: Contact Institute of Lutheran Theology - Canada Society
For e-transfers use: iltcs2021@gmail.com
By mail: 1162 Hudson Road, West Kelowna, BC, V1Z 1J3
Telephone: (250) 801-3860 for information on donations.
Contact information for CALC
All general correspondenceaddressed to CALC should be mailed as follows:
Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations
Att: Sarah Dunphy
P.O. Box 6295
Manotick, ON K4M 1J4 Telephone: (613) 324-6554
Correspondence to CALC's Treasurer should be addressed as follows:
Helen Zacharias, Treasurer
890 Gilmour Street,
Morden, MB, R6M 1R9
We hope you were blessed by this month's edition of the e-Connector. Our hope and prayer is that this electronic newsletter will truly keep CALC informed and connected.
If your congregation is celebrating a milestone, such an anniversary, the installation of a new pastor, new construction, a mission activity, and/or the launch of a special new ministry, let us know. We would love to share your joy with the other members of CALC
Contact info for the editorial team: Pastor Ed Skutshek: Tel: (250) 801-3860 Email: skutsheke@gmail.com Sarah Dunphy: Tel: (613) 324-6554 Email: sarahdunphy@calc.ca
