We spent Christmas with our son & family in the Lower Mainland. We were greeted with snow! We recently returned from a holiday in warmer climes and just escaped Toronto as the first flakes of a major storm were falling. I hope that your celebrations of the birth of Christ were filled with blessing and the presence of the Christ Child!
Christmas is about life, life eternal but also life on this earth. It reminds me that life is a gift of God. As a result, CALC has always taken a strong stance on the sanctity of life.
Abortion is one aspect of this. Abortion was formally banned in Canada in 1869. In 1969, 100 years after it was banned, therapeutic abortions were legalized. This was followed in 1988 by the Supreme Court of Canada ruling in R v Morgenthaler that the 1969 act was unconstitutional. Since then, Canada has been one of the countries in the world with no abortion law.
In 1972, I was a high school student in Michigan. The state of Michigan held a referendum on legalizing abortion. This referendum failed. However, the very next year as a result of a ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States abortion was legalized.
At the time, it was said that abortion was a slippery slope to euthanasia. People scoffed at the idea. But in 2016, Parliament passed the legalization of “Medical Assistance in Death” or MAID. The somewhat wordy title is to avoid the use of “euthanasia” or “medically assisted death” (which when abbreviated would be MAD). The idea that this is personal choice will gradually disappear as provinces recognize the cost savings.
But isn’t this merciful? At another time I will show theologically that there is difference between “putting Fifi to sleep” and “putting Grandma to sleep.” What about people who “don’t want to be a burden?” Have a discussion with your family about this!
Now, what is interesting to me is that the Evangelical Church did not become involved in this issue until the 1980s or 90s. The early leaders among Christian Churches were the Roman Catholic Church and conservative Lutheran synods. I believe this is due to our theology of baptism.
The point is again that life is a gift—at every stage. And the giver if God Himself.
Be strong in the Lord!
Pastor Jim,
President
Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations
2023 Annual Pastor's Retreat
This year’s pastors' retreat will be held at Hastings Lake Bible Camp near Sherwood Park, AB. Hastings Lake hosted last years retreat. The retreat begins Wednesday April 19 and concludes with evening worship on Thursday April 20.
Registration Fee: $120.00 Registration fee includes accommodations for Wednesday and Thursday nights and all meals provided at the camp and listed in the schedule below.
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.
Retreat themes:
Growing the rural church.
Revitalizing the church.
Growing in diversity.
Presenters: Rev. Terry Forke, President, Montana District, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, “Growing the Rural Church” (Pictured top right) Rev. Forke of Billings, Montana, was elected to his sixth term as president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Montana District during the district’s 35th convention, held June 13–16 of last year in Billings. The Montana District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) and comprises the state of Montana. It also includes one congregation in both Idaho and North Dakota. The Montana District includes approximately 67 congregations and missions, subdivided into 6 circuits, as well as 18 preschools and 7 elementary schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 15,000. He has authored numerous papers and articles. His presentation at our pastors’ retreat and convention will focus on “Growing the Rural Church.”
Rev. John Albiston, Effectiveness Coach, Alberta-Northwest Territories District, Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, “Revitalizing the Church.” (Pictured top left) Rev. John Albiston serves as the Effectiveness Coach, Alberta-Northwest Territories District, Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. He is a strategic thinker who has pastored urban and rural churches, traditional and on the cutting edge. He is a passionate evangelist who is committed to rapid church growth by creating churches that unchurched people love to attend. With his church planting, multi-service, multi-site, and church merger experience, he regularly trains leaders, coaches church planters, and helps other pastors lead their churches into new growth. One of the founders of the national Church Vitalization Summit, John helps plateaued churches grow and growing churches grow even faster. Academically, he serves as adjunct faculty at Vanguard College in Edmonton, and Victory Asia Bible College in Sriracha, Thailand. His presentation at our pastors’ retreat and convention will focus on “Revitalizing the Church.”
Rev. Lucretia Van Ommeren Tabbert, Pastor, Emmaus Lutheran Edmonton, “Growing in Diversity.” (Pictured bottom left) Rev. Lucretia van Ommeren -Tabbert serves Emmaus Lutheran Church of Edmonton, AB. The congregation is described as an ethnically diverse, loving and caring community. Pastor Lucretia also comes from an ethnically and culturally diverse and multi- lingual background. Her first language was Dutch. She was born in Suriname, a former Dutch colony located in South America. She was ordained in 1987 the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Surinam. Emmaus is her third parish in Canada. Pastor Lucretia specialized in Pastoral Care and Counselling, which is an important part of her ministry. Her presentation at our pastors’ retreat and convention will focus on “Growing in Diversity.”
Retreat Schedule Wednesday April 19, 2023
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 Rev. T. Forke
4:00-5:00 PM
Free time
5:00-6:00 PM
Supper
6:00-7:30 PM
Keynote Session #2 Rev. T. Forke
7:30 PM
Free time
Thursday April 20, 2023
8:00-9:00 AM
Breakfast
9:00-10:00 AM
Keynote Session #3 Rev. J. Albiston
10:00-10:30 AM
Free Time
10:30 AM-12:00 PM
Keynote Session #4 Rev. J. Albiston
12:00 -1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00-2:00 PM
Keynote Session #5 Rev. L. Van Ommeren-Tabbert
2:00 -4:00 PM
Free Time
4:00-5:00 PM
Keynote Session #6 Rev. L. Van Ommeren-Tabbert
5:00 -6:00 PM
Supper
6:00-7:30 PM
Worship
7:30 PM
Free time
Friday April 21, 2023
7:00-8:00 AM
Breakfast
8:00-9:00 AM
Drive to convention in Edmonton
Check our website for more details on the pastors' retreat as they become available. Click on the "Events" tab in the navigation pane on our Home page, and scroll down.
We return to Holiday Inn & Suites Edmonton Airport Conference Center for Convention 2023. The convention begins at 9:30 AM on April 21st and concludes at 5:30 PM on April 22nd. Our convention is a hybrid event with some delegates participating in person and some by ZOOM.
Registration Fees: In-person Participants: $240.00 per person* Online Participants: $125.00 per person *In person registration fees include: refreshments, lunch and supper on Friday and breakfast, lunch and refreshments on Saturday.
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 $95.00 per night plus applicable taxes. The convention rate will be available for April 20-23. Rooms must be booked by April 16th to receive this rate. To register by phone at 1-780-979-0839 and use promo code “CALC” when registering. You can register online by following this link: Hotel.
Airport Transfer: The Holiday Inn runs a shuttle to and from the Edmonton International Airport 24 hours a day.
Convention themes:
Growing the rural church.
Revitalizing the church.
Growing in diversity.
Convention Speakers:
Rev. Terry Forke of Billings, Montana, USA.
Rev. John Albiston, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Rev. Lucretia van Ommeren -Tabbert, Edmonton, AB.
For a detailed description of the speakers and topics please see the article on the Pastors' Retreat above.
Convention Schedule: April 21 Learning Event
Time
Agenda Item
9:00 to 9:30
Registration
9:30 to 10:30 AM
Learning Event Speaker – Albiston,
10:30 to 11:00 AM
Refreshment break
11:00AM to 12:30 PM
Learning Event Speaker – Albiston,
12:30 to 1:30 PM
Lunch
1:30 to 2:30 PM
Learning Event Speaker– Van Ommeren-Tabbert
2:30 to 2:45 PM
Break
2:45 to 4:00 PM
Learning Event Speaker - Van Ommeren-Tabbert
4:00 to 5:00 PM
Free Time
5:00 to 6:00 PM
Supper
6:00 to 7:30 PM
Opening Worship - Holy Communion
7:30 to 8:30 PM
Hospitality ILTCS Reception
April 22 Business Meeting/Speaker
Time
Agenda Item
8:00 to 9:30 AM
Breakfast and Registration
9:30 to 10:30 AM
Convention Opening Business – Session 1
10:30 to 11:00 AM
Refreshment break
11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Convention Opening Business – Session 2
12:30 to 1:30 PM
Lunch
1:30 to 3:00 PM
Convention Speaker – Forke
3:00 to 3:15 PM
Refreshment break
3:15 to 4:30 PM
Convention Speaker – Forke
4:30 to 5:30 PM
Closing Worship Rev. James Bredeson
Check our website for more details on the convention as they become available. Click on the "Events" tab in the navigation pane on our Home page, and scroll down.
A prayer for the Sanctity of Life
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are Creator of all and the Giver of life. You have created humankind in your image to reflect your glory to the world, and we praise you for the work your hands have done. On this Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, we mourn that many of your precious sons and daughters have lost their lives too soon. We grieve their absence today and every day.
We are broken people, and we have all sinned against you in so many ways, and we pray that today would be a day of repentance and forgiveness. We humbly come before you knowing that all of us have fallen short of your glory, and we ask that you would forgive us of our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. Restore us to right relationship with you. Open our eyes, our hearts, our minds, and our hands as we seek to serve you and glorify you through our love for one another. Transform us into new creations. May we truly be your hands and feet in our world, serving others like Jesus came to serve, loving others like we are to love ourselves.
Jesus, you made a way for us where there seemed to be no way. We pray today that you would breathe new life into us. We pray you would increase our empathy, compassion, and love for our neighbors, no matter their age, race, ability, background, or need. We pray we would be people whose hearts echo your own heart for your people—be our strength, Holy Spirit.
Help us to be champions of life, Jesus. Strengthen us and equip us to do your work in our communities, our nations, our world. May we stand for what you have taught us, and may we give you glory in all that we do.
We love you and praise you on this day and every day, Lord. Thank you for the gift of life. Help us to protect and preserve it in every way we can. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
