Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Member church of the Lutheran World Federation

Adam Snook

Centre for Spirituality and Media

Posted: | Filed Under: News

Martin Luther University College (Luther) and the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) are pleased to announce the launch of the Centre for Spirituality and Media. 

The joint project is being led by founding director Sherry Coman, associate professional faculty at Luther and the Eastern Synod’s deacon for spirituality and internet outreach. 

Rev. Dr. Kristine Lund, Luther’s principal-dean, said the pandemic has driven many more of our activities online, including individual and communal spiritual practices. 

“The centre’s work will help us discern how we might explore personal spirituality and group worship as we move through and beyond this pandemic,” she said. 

Rev. Michael Pryse, bishop of the Eastern Synod of the ELCIC, said the past year has challenged us immensely and we have all learned so much. 

“But in many ways, I think we are facing an even bigger challenge when we try to imagine how worship will be engaged moving forward when we are gathering both online and in person,” he added. “I look forward to addressing that challenge, and welcome a forum such as so we might do so together with colleagues and partners!” 

Coman teaches courses at Luther exploring the relationship between spirituality and faith and media. She has been the creator and curator of the online devotional project Lutherans Connect for more than a decade. 

“I am very excited to be starting on this adventure,” Coman said. “A primary goal of the Centre for Spirituality and Media is to create programming that will enrich personal spirituality while also broadening our vision for doing mission online.” 

Coman added that the centre’s activities will bring together the community of Luther with the wider church and its partners in the ecumenical and justice communities. 

The centre’s first public event — Back to the Future: Prophetically Imagining the Online Church — takes place online on Tuesday, May 25, from 2-3 p.m. All are welcome.  

The centre is also co-hosting OK…What’s Next? for the Eastern Synod’s rostered and lay leaders on June 1. 

For further details, please visit the centre’s new web page. 

Media inquiries 

Mirko Petricevic, mpetricevic@luther.wlu.ca  

Director of Communications and Public Affairs 

Martin Luther University College 

Rev. Adam Snook, asnook@elcic.ca  

Assistant to the Bishop (Communications) 

Eastern Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada 

OK…What’s Next?

Posted: | Filed Under: Spotlight

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OK…What’s Next?

Many of us are asking this question right now, whether we are Lay or Rostered Leaders engaged in worship in the Eastern Synod. In anticipating a move to hybrid worship-presenting, both online and in-person church gatherings, the Eastern Synod and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College invite you to join us on June 1 at 6:30 – 8:30 PM EDT for conversation about the way forward. 

We anticipate this event to be the first of a possible series of ongoing gatherings to continue developing hybrid worship and community gathering skills. We will invite Lay Leaders into some reflective conversation about their experiences during the past year. Rostered Leaders will have the opportunity to discuss possible ways of collaborating with each other and with other parishes. From one worship leader, we will hear some tips on hybrid worship that worked in their context, and we will look toward building collaborative skills for the future.

Event Schedule
6:30pm – Welcome & Land Acknowledgment
6:35pm – Introduction to “OK…What’s Next?”
6:50pm – Breakout Discussion (Lay or Rostered)
7:10pm – Large Group Discussion (Lay & Rostered)
7:30pm – Break
7:40pm – Presentation & Discussion – Collaborative Worship Models
8:00pm – Network/Support Building
8:15pm – Summary & Identifying Area for Further Discussion
8:30pm – Conclusion

“Ok…What’s Next?” will be hosted virtually using the ZOOM platform.

Pre-Registration is required. A ZOOM link will be forwarded to all participants after completing the registration process. If you have any questions, or have difficulty registering, please contact the Eastern Synod Office. 

Please note that this event is intended to be the first in a series of opportunities for Rostered and Lay Leaders to share learnings, build skills and discern a way forward. To stay informed about follow-up opportunities, please indicate your willingness to be contacted during the registration process. 

Bill C-15

Posted: | Filed Under: Circle for Reconciliation and Justice

Dear Friends,
 
On May 4, 2021, the Canadian Council of Churches hosted a panel discussion with Truth and Reconciliation Commissioners, Dr. Marie Wilson, the Honourable Murray Sinclair and Chief Wilton Littlechild. The Commissioners were addressing Bill C-15 which received second reading in the Senate on April 11, 2021. Bill C-15 is an Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and states that “the Government of Canada must take all measures necessary to ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and must prepare and implement an action plan to achieve the objectives of the declaration.”(i) Bill C-15 is now in the pre-study stage with the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples.(ii)
 
Dr. Marie Wilson, Hon. Murray Sinclair and Chief Wilton Littlechild are asking communities of faith and / or individuals to write to the Senators studying this bill, and to voice support for its passing into law and its implementation. Doing so would help to ensure that Canadian law aligns with the UNDRIP.(iii)
 
The link to a letter template can be found here: 
https://www.faithinthedeclaration.ca/take-action-1, along with instructions for writing and submitting your letter. We encourage individuals, Faith Leaders and congregations to take action as soon as possible. 
 
To watch the panel discussion from May 4th, 2021, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=941420149733230&ref=watch_permalink
 
For more information, please visit the website for Faith in the Declaration (a sub-group of the Canadian Council of Churches):
https://www.faithinthedeclaration.ca/take-action-1
 
For Bill C-15 in its entirety, please visit:
https://parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/bill/C-15/second-reading
 
And for an opinion piece on Bill C-15, please visit:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/opinion-andre-bear-bill-c-15-1.6009060
 
Together, let’s make our voices heard so we can continue to live into the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action; that we may also learn what it means to uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and so that as allies we may be part of the movement to put an end to the assimilation and colonization of our Indigenous neighbours. 
 
Peace to you,
 
Bishop Michael Pryse
The Eastern Synod Circle for Reconciliation and Justice

(i) https://parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/bill/C-15/second-reading
(ii) https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&billId=11007812
(iii) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/opinion-andre-bear-bill-c-15-1.6009060

India Emergency Appeal (CLWR)

Posted: | Filed Under: News, Uncategorised

India’s total number of COVID-19 cases has dramatically risen to over 18 million as of April 29, with more than 300,000 cases reported for seven straight days and with no immediate signs of slowing down — and medical experts believe that the numbers are even higher with many cases not reported from rural areas. The reported national fatality rate is at 1.11%, with an acute shortage of medical supplies including oxygen. Hospitals and crematoriums alike are overwhelmed, and hotels and railway coaches are being converted into critical care facilities to make up for the shortage of hospital beds.

You can make a difference — your donation will help provide emergency medical support to those forced to be sick at home, and help support critical advocacy and public awareness efforts to keep as many people safe as possible.

DONATE NOW

George Floyd Anniversary and Verdict

Posted: | Filed Under: RJAC Communications, Spotlight

It’s been a year.
It has been a year, and what has changed?
A year since a man begged for his life from an officer of the law. A year since a woman was shot in her bed. A year since national sports leagues boycotted games. A year since we saw #saytheirnames trending on social media.
It has been a year since George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Regis Korchinski-Paquet.

What has changed?

Read more →

“Oh Poop” – An Evening With Stella Bowles

Posted: | Filed Under: Uncategorised

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Stella Bowles, M.S.M., O.N.S.

When she was just eleven years old, Stella Bowles wanted to go swimming in the LaHave River, but her mother explained that the water was contaminated.  Many homes still have illegal straight pipes that allow sewage from the toilet to flush directly into the river.  Stella was appalled and wondered if she could change this somehow. 

With guidance from her mentor, Dr. David Maxwell, Stella’s testing verified that bacteria levels in the river exceeded permitted guidelines. After posting her results on social media, Stella drew national attention and support for the removal of illegal straight pipes from the LaHave River.  Stella’s project helped influence the development of a $15.7 million project, funded by Federal, Provincial, and Municipal governments, to have straight pipes replaced with compliant septic systems by 2023. Author Anne Laurel-Carter’s book “My River” tells the story of Stella’s journey.  Stella’s story is now part of Nova Scotia’s grade seven social studies curriculum on empowerment.

Stella is also a published researcher in the Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science Journal.  Along with mentor Professor Brent Wilson, she studied and had published Intertidal foraminifera in the Spartina patens floral zone of the LaHave Estuary, Canada: A baseline for assessing organic pollution remediation.  

Stella presents at conferences and in schools working with youth around the world addressing environmental issues in their own communities. She also works for Nova Action as a youth leader.  This program has ten youth from across Nova Scotia tackling their own environmental issues in their own communities.   She has won many awards including the Meritorious Service Medal 2018 and the Order of Nova Scotia in 2020.  Stella hopes to demonstrate that science combined with social media, can influence positive environmental transformation.  At just seventeen years old, Stella has become one of Nova Scotia’s leading environmental advocates.