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1. Ads for Advent.
As your congregation prepares in awe and wonder for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, consider extending an invitation to the community to attend your upcoming worship services. The ELCIC's National Office has developed a variety of ads that can be placed in local newspapers and are easily customizable as posters, bulletin inserts, door-hangers, fliers and even direct mail pieces. To view the ads, visit: www.elcic.ca/documents/adventads.cfm.
2. Gifts that make a difference.
The ELCIC's Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA) and Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) are excited to introduce for the second year in a row a joint Gifts from the Heart catalogue with many new and interesting gift ideas you can choose from that will directly support important local and global development work in the coming year. All ELCIC members will be receiving a brochure in their congregational mailboxes in the coming weeks. To request a brochure, email info@elcic.ca.
3. Interested in attending 32nd German Protestant Kirchentag?
The 32nd German Protestant Kirchentag is set to take place May 20-24, 2009 in Bremen, Germany. The ELCIC is invited to appoint two people as guests of honour for the next Kirchentag in Bremen. There is no funding available from the ELCIC, but, if you pay your own airfare, the Kirchentag will accommodate you free of charge in selected private homes. As well, guests of honour do not pay the usual fee and entrance to all events is free. The theme for the next Kirchentag is Mortal, where are you? It seems a good question on the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of WWII in Europe, the 60th anniversary of the German Federal Republic and the Kirchentag, and the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Wall. If you are interested please contact the Rev. Paul N. Johnson (phone: 888.786.6707 x175 or email pnjohnson@elcic.ca). Deadline for applications is November 3.
4. The growing realities of climate change.
A new publication from the Lutheran World Federation titled, Climate Change - Facing Our Vulnerability, notes the, "increasing evidence of human responsibility for climate change [which] confronts us with our failure as stewards of this life-giving planet and its fragile environment." Calling on us to inspire change, Climate Change features testimonies from all regions of the world, including Canada. ELCIC congregations will receive a hard copy of this publication in a GHDA mailing in October. An electronic copy is available at www.lutheranworld.org/essentials/LWF-publications.html
5. Looking ahead - strengthening our relationship with CLWR
Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR), the primary partner of the ELCIC's Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA), is continually looking for ways to improve upon the already excellent cooperative work with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and Lutheran Church??Canada (LCC). The relationship between CLWR and the two Lutheran church bodies is a vital one that connects the passions and callings of Lutherans directly to the service work of CLWR. The relationship is also critical in terms of tangible support for all of CLWR??s overseas development work and the work here in Canada with refugees, volunteers and others.
CLWR is in specific discussions with the ELCIC to look at how this working relationship can be strengthened in the near future. The ELCIC and CLWR collaborate on mutual activity and support through the lens of a ??Memorandum of Understanding.?? The current document is being reviewed with the intention of capturing a new vision for the future which could result in new ways of working together.
??CLWR remains open to new and innovative modalities which will enhance the ability of ELCIC members to engage in service abroad. We are encouraged by ongoing conversations with the leadership of the ELCIC towards mutually beneficial administrative arrangements which will make us more effective in our mission,?? says CLWR??s executive director, Robert Granke. (From CLWR News Service)
6. Photo banner in this issue of E-Communique.
The above photo banner in this issue of E-Communique is from a recent Blessing of Pets and Animals at St. John's in Alymer, Ontario. In the photo are: Rexx (Jack Russell terrier), Pooka (the beagle seen peaking around the pastor's cassock), Rev. John Goldsworthy, Billy (the goat), Kendra and Nancy (congregational members). In total, 42 people attended the service from the congregation and the community, along with nine dogs, four cats, two domesticated rats, one hamster, one rabbit and one goat.
7. Send in your photos.
Do you have photos from your congregation that you'd like to see in a future issue of E-Communique? When sending in your photo please indicate a description of the item or event being featured, along with whether individuals in the photo have given consent for their pictures to appear in E-Communique. Send your jpeg photos to: communique@elcic.ca
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