Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Member church of the Lutheran World Federation

Local

COVID-19 Update: November 14, 2022

Posted: | Filed Under: COVID, Local, Spotlight

Dear friends, colleagues and siblings in Christ,

Since the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic we, as the body of Christ, have committed ourselves to doing whatever was necessary to protect the most vulnerable among us. This has been, and continues to be, a ministry of love and service to our neighbour for which I am so very grateful and proud.

In recent weeks Ministers of Health and individual Public Health Units across the territory of our Synod have begun to caution about the need for increased hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.

For that reason, I am once again strongly recommending that all participants return to wearing a well fitting mask during in-person worship as well as during all indoor social events. It is also my strong counsel that Worship Leaders should be masked when they are not speaking and while presiding at the table/distributing communion.

As people of faith, we play a big part in the necessary collective action needed to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. With the ongoing circulation of COVID-19, the rise in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as well as influenza we need to ensure that our worshipping practices are as safe and possible. In these ways, we extend our ministry of hospitality!

In addition, I would encourage Rostered and Lay Leaders to screen for symptoms regularly, and to stay home when showing signs of illness. As always, I encourage each of us to ensure that our COVID-19 vaccines are up to date, and to get the flu shot as soon as possible.

I know that it may feel discouraging to once again be asked to return to these practices. And yet, we are better equipped to address these needs than ever before. Our collective actions today will help to ensure the health and safety of all God’s children.

Thank you for your continued partnership in this ministry. I am truly grateful for each and every one of you.

May God bless you and keep you in God’s care!

Bishop Michael Pryse

Music Ministry: Pandemic Style

Posted: | Filed Under: Local, News, Spotlight

“Let my spirit always sing, though my heart be wintering…”

2020 we were all thrown for a loop; one Sunday in church singing hymns and the next Sunday…nothing. Church buildings were closed and worship was adapted for an at home congregation. Resurrection, Halifax, went to Facebook live streaming and email church that included recorded hymns and sermons uploaded to the church YouTube channel. The worship team (my household) provided worship for the community. It filled a need, yet, felt empty without congregational responses and singing. I am a musician who experiences God through music. I felt empty and decided that I needed something more.

I started a daily lectionary reading and hymn of the day series (posted in FB group). Monday to Saturday I post the daily lectionary readings and a hymn that I’ve recorded and uploaded to the church YouTube channel. I began this for myself and for my church community. It didn’t take long to realize that other churches, pastors, and worship leaders were using the hymns. Resurrection received thank you emails and messages from worship leaders in Lutheran congregations across the US, Canada, and a few from overseas. I was surprised, humbled, and overjoyed that this small ministry project grew into a well-used resource.

The project fostered new relationships. My two favourite:

A person named Rusty Edwards asked to join Resurrection’s Facebook group. Rusty Edwards is a Baptist minister in Halifax.  Rusty made comments on Facebook appreciating hymn interpretations. I realized that this was not the Baptist minister, but, rather, the prolific hymn composer. Rusty sent me some of his hymns to produce video in my musical style. I use a Yamaha CVP 905 with hundreds of different musical accompaniments. My style varies including: rock, pop, classical, jazz, soul, R&B, Blues, country, and dance music. Based on comments, 99% enjoy church hymns in a unique style, while 1% ask, “Why I’ve ruined such a lovely hymn?”

Resurrection was introduced to the All Creation Sings hymnal, using the hymns as preludes, pew editions to be purchased later. A month into this project we received an e-mail from a retired Lutheran minister in Pennsylvania asking, “how many books for your pews?” Fifty books arrived as a thankyou for being included in the online worshiping community. A wonderful surprise!

It’s been 2 1/2 years of pandemic living.

Regular in-person worship services continue to include live stream. YouTube videos are recorded and support email worship. Churches are offering hybrid worship. There continues to be a need for online church hymns and (by request of users) embedded words for watchers to sing along. The music ministry project has once again grown. I have created a new YouTube channel (Tim McNabb- Lutheran Church musician) that makes it easier to find hymns for the next four Sundays. The channel has playlists of the hymn suggestions from Augsburg Fortress’, Sundays and Seasons.

I am thankful that pandemic living has encouraged me to hone and share the gifts God has given me.  I am thrilled that hope and God’s love has spread and continues to be spread through music!

“…God to whom my days belong, let there always be a song.” – Hymn 1020, All Creation Sings

A Visit to St. John’s, Arnprior

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Jacob and Sawyer lead Prayers of the People while perched on their booster box- formerly a large candle stand.
 
To close worship, we gathered outside for a blessing of our newly planted community garden, ecologically friendly with compost and earthworms part of the mix. Radishes, carrots and beets grown here will be given to the Food Bank.
Less ecologically friendly (but since we have no goats) Pastor Norine rides our “new to us “ lawn tractor which was kindly donated by one of our members.

 

Clergy Coaching Canada- Let’s talk to Rev Ilze Kuplens- Ewart

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Who are you?
Like you, I’m a rostered Eastern Synod pastor, but I’m recently retired,. Over the years I’ve been in parish ministry I’ve served small, large, and multiple site congregations. I have a family, and now grandchildren. I love the church, but at times it, and ministry, has driven me crazy.

My relationship with God and living out my call has been key to my ministry. It’s sent me in some amazing directions.

What is coaching? 

Faith-based coaching is what I offer. I’m here to listen carefully, to help you work through the issue that’s bothering you, so you can find a way forward. 

At times I’ll be challenging you, but all in the context of supporting you as you listen to the Spirit’s prompting.

I hold my clients in my prayers.

Why would a rostered leader engage a coach?

Being a pastor is a pretty lonely calling. We all get stuck at times, and need someone we can open up to freely to share our ideas and feelings with. What will help you is not someone to tell you what to do, or advise, or take your side, but someone who can help you see how your gifts and abilities, and the other resources you have available to you, can  help you move forward.
And now, post Covid? The church is going to be different. How are you going to shape a path through this and lead your congregation in doing so?

How does coaching benefit the pastor/congregation?

I truly believe faith-based coaching makes for stronger and more aware leaders. Coaching opens you up to a different way of seeing your ministry.

What is the time commitment? 

That’s up to you. Each session is around 45 minutes. You set the pace, the frequency of sessions, and that depends on your needs at any given time.

What has your experience been with coaching?

I was coached when I was stepping into the role of Area Dean. 

What I learned about myself and
the confidence I gained from having someone help me understand my gifts and what and how I needed to develop was amazing.  Being coached showed me what a gift coaching can be for ministry.

What training have you had?

I’ve had the privilege of training with the ELCA where clergy coaching, and coaching in general has been in place for over twenty years. Their training programme is affiliated with the International Coaching Federation. I have completed training at Basic 1 and 2 levels, Team coaching, and most recently at the Associate Certified Coach level. I’m now working to accrue the needed hours for certification as an ACC coach.  I am a member of the International Coaching Federation.

I am also a member of Spiritual Directors International.

Is coaching considered an eligible group benefit or continuing education expense?
The answer is yes on both counts! ELCIC Group Services has confirmed that expenses incurred to secure certified coaching are eligible for reimbursement from both the ELCIC Continuing Education Plan and the Group Benefits Lifestyle Spending Account.

The current fee is $75 per session with a reduced rate if 4 sessions are paid for in advance.

Please take a look at this Youtube video for an insight from one pastor. The person doing the interviewing is Jill Beverlin, National Coordinator for coaching for the ELCA who has supported me greatly in this venture.

Lenten package available at Trinity

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Again, material was collected for a Lenten package for children and adults which is available at church in March.   The display board contains many of the activities:  3 pancake recipes for Shrove Tuesday, information about Lent and Ash Wednesday, a pictorial record of our Lenten journey,  information about St. Patrick and how he used the shamrock to teach about the Trinity and a few craft ideas.  Another package is being planned for Easter and Earth Day and possibly Mother’s and Father’s Day.  Our Sunday School will not be in operation for a few months so, as a result, these activities will help retain interest until, at such time, we can resume classes.  Our church must be a church of action! 

Love messages from Trinity, Ayton

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Messages of love (valentines) in all shapes and sizes were created by children and adults alike from our church and local community. Covid restrictions demanded thinking outside the box to involve children and adults in a way to create the messages and more importantly to send or deliver these messages to our older adults, sick and shut-ins who found themselves isolated because of the pandemic restrictions. We also delivered to the local fire department, places of business and a residential home to say thank you.
   A call was made on a local Facebook site called What’s Up Ayton for help informing our community of this project.  Brown paper bags were filled with coloured paper, sparkly heart-shaped items, pipe cleaners and the like with instructions to create valentines for their families and give back one valentine for the church to send on to others. When these valentines were given back, the paper bags were decorated and included a stapled greeting from Trinity Ayton sending a message of love.  Interested people contacted the number and made their request for the number of bags needed. Over thirty were submitted for distribution.
   The Sunday School is also sponsoring a food drive for our local food bank and, on this site, have invited the community to participate along with our congregation. Pastor Heather has a large plastic tub on her front porch where people can deposit their contributions during this annual Lenten project.
   During this lockdown, social media was very useful to connect with people and allowed us to send these messages of love. This method of communication has been successful in keeping our church community and local community, before and during Covid, able to support each other when needed.