The Climate Justice Task Force of the Eastern Synod has prepared a variety of materials that are meant to assist individuals and congregations to take part in climate justice advocacy. Here you will find: a sample letter to use as inspiration to write to your MPs, a guide on how to have climate conversations in your own congregations, and a customizable poster inviting congregations to a weekend of climate action. You can find those materials below:
News
2024 Season of Creation
Eastern Synod Climate Justice Task Force
Offers Resources for Celebrating the 2024 Season of Creation.
The Climate Justice Task Force has met three times since its formation at the Synod Assembly this past June. Today we offer some resources for marking the Season of Creation (1 September – 4 October) during worship. For the next Synod e-news the Task Force will offer some suggestions for climate advocacy activities for your congregation.
What is the Season of Creation?
The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During the Season of Creation, we join our siblings in the ecumenical family in prayer and action for our common home.
Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios proclaimed 1 September as a day of prayer for creation for the Orthodox in 1989. In fact, the Orthodox church year starts on that day with a commemoration of how God created the world.
The World Council of Churches was instrumental in making the special time a season, extending the celebration from 1 September until 4 October. Following the leadership of Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios, the WCC, Christians worldwide have embraced the season as part of their annual calendar. Pope Francis made the Roman Catholic Church’s warm welcoming of the season official in 2015.
In recent years, statements from religious leaders around the world have also encouraged the faithful to take time to recommit to care for creation not just during the month-long celebration but everyday especially as we face head on the climate crisis.
The season starts 1 September, the Day of Prayer for Creation, and ends 4 October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.
Throughout the month-long celebration, the world’s 2.2 billion Christians come together to care for our common home.
RESOURCES
The Season of Creation Steering and Advisory Committees annually establish a theme and offer some resources. This year’s theme is “To Hope and Act with Creation” with the symbol “First Fruits of Hope,” based on Romans 8:19-25. You can read more about the theme on page 13 of the document, “Celebration Guide for the Season of Creation.”
Liturgical Resources
Below are some resources that we hope will be helpful in your congregation’s observance of the season. We along with these resources we suggest incorporating experiences within worship that help us remember our connection with creation: worshiping outside, bringing elements of creation inside, inviting people to recall times of interaction with creation, and many more ideas. Last year at St Mark’s each week we gave a different item, based upon a weekly theme, for the people to hold: sea shell, stone, leaf, pine cone, etcetera while providing a time of remembrance of encounters with a specific element of creation as part of the confession.
Creation Liturgy – A Creation Inclusive Liturgy for Holy Communion in an ecumenical setting.
Weekly Supplemental Liturgical Material
These resources offer prayers, liturgical exchanges, scriptural commentary, sermon ideas based upon the Revised Common Lectionary, RCL, for each Sunday during the Season of Creation.
Eco Congregation, Church of Scottland –
This link from the JPIT, Joint Public Issues Team is the most user friendly way to these resources form Eco Congregation, Church of Scottland.
Anglican Season of Creation Manual
Other resources
From the Laudato Si’ Movement
“Via Creationis” – a service based on the Creation Story in Genesis chapter 1. It is mostly a praise of the glories of creation.
LSM Prayer Book – A great collection of prayers and devotions around creation and its care.
A Joint Statement from Bishop Michael Pryse and Bishop-Elect Carla Blakley
Grace and peace to you!
We are writing to provide you with a quick update with regard to the transition between the tenure of Bishop Michael and Bishop-Elect Carla as Eastern Synod bishop and to address a matter of deep concern to both of us.
Bishop-Elect Carla is currently concluding her ministry in Saskatchewan and will begin work in the Eastern Synod on Sept 25th. She will formally begin her tenure as bishop following her ordination on Saturday Sept 28th at 2:00 at a yet to be determined location. Until this date, we would ask that you please direct all inquiries and concerns to Bishop Michael. After the ordination Bishop (retired) Michael and Bishop Carla will work together for several weeks to ensure a smooth transition. Bishop-Elect Carla is eager to begin working with the current staff team and they are most eager to welcome her!
With heavy hearts, we also feel obliged to offer an additional word about some deeply concerning homophobic references that were made concerning a candidate in our electoral processes at the Eastern Synod Assembly. This has been reported by multiple sources. These reported comments have caused significant harm to several individuals and have reflected poorly on our church’s stated commitment to upholding the principles articulated in the ELCIC Social Statement on Human Sexuality. The Synod Council will review this matter during their next regularly scheduled meeting and make a determination regarding next steps.
The need for us to be ever vigilant in living those principles was made sadly apparent, just days after our Assembly, when a violent assault was directed against the home of one of our rostered leaders while he was gathered with family and friends. How can we claim to combat behaviour of this kind in the wider community when we refuse to condemn similarly hurtful, if less violent, behaviour in our own faith community?
We, as leaders, strongly condemn any language or action that discredits any of God’s beloved, regardless of race, orientation or gender identity. We strive to foster a culture in our churches, our synod and our communities where all people are free to be who they are as God’s beloved. We can and must do better.
In conclusion, we look forward to communicating further transition updates to you as required in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, we thank you for your prayers for each of us and for the entire Eastern Synod leadership team as this transition takes place. May God grant you a blessed, restful and restorative summer season.
With deep gratitude for you all,
Bishop Michael Pryse and Bishop-Elect Carla Blakely
2024/2025 Eastern Synod Scholarships
Applications are now being accepted for the 2024/2025 Eastern Synod Scholarships. To apply, please complete the following application and submit it to the Eastern Synod Office.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana-Eastern Synod Joint Ministry Initiative
Jan. 25 – Feb. 3, 2024
Lutheran Lay Academy
New Amsterdam, Guyana
The Eastern Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Guyana (ELCG) have had a companion synod relationship
since 2002. Unfortunately, in 2020, COVID disrupted this
relationship and brought all joint activities to a halt for three
years. It was in this context that Mr. Michael Davy Ram, the
Treasurer of ELCG, and Pastor Peter Kuhnert of the Eastern
Synod met over lunch during the LWF 13th Assembly in
Krakow, Poland, last September 2023. Their initial
conversation led to discussions between the ELCG and the
Eastern Synod that resulted in this joint ministry initiative.
The focal points of the initiative were two leadership
retreats, one for ELCG pastors, January 25-27, 2024, and
another for ELCG deacons, Feb. 1-3, 2024. Both retreats were
mutually led by Pastor Peter Kuhnert and Pastor Philip
Mathai.
The ELCG is the second oldest Lutheran church in the western
hemisphere, founded in 1743. It has 15,000 members in 41
congregations divided among 13 parishes. A current
challenge is that there are only six pastors and eight deacons
to give pastoral leadership and care to all those
congregations. Some of the leaders conduct two to four
services every Sunday. The deacons are authorized to preside
over the sacraments, both baptism and communion. The
ELCG also have a host of lay leaders who help with preaching
and worship leadership. Most of the ELCG pastoral leaders
have not had the benefit of extensive seminary training like
ministers within the ELCIC.
Rev. Leroy Nicholson, Rev. James P. Jones, Rev. Philip Mathai and Rev.
Amanda Singh.
The retreats were held at the Lay Academy, in New
Amsterdam, approximately 70 miles from the capital city,
Georgetown. Advance readings were sent out to all retreat
participants which formed the basis for conversations and
discussions. The retreats focussed on a variety of aspects of
ministry and call, including how a pastor/deacon can be a
living, if broken, symbol of grace. Discussions centred on
pastoral duties and responsibilities, parish organization and
administration, communication, priority setting, and
visioning. Further discussions were held on healthy
boundaries and better self-care of the leaders – about the
physical and mental wellbeing of leaders and their
importance in being able to serve at one’s very best.
Sessions began and ended each day with worship which also
provided opportunities of mutual learning, whether it was a
new song or a new liturgy, or new worship rituals such as the
washing of feet.
The two retreats were exceptional times of mutual learning
and encouragement. The commitment and passion of the
clergy and deacons are to be commended. Their openness
and willingness to learn were very evident as they welcomed
the opportunity to come together and discuss freely with
each other and the facilitators about their challenges and
frustrations but also their joys and hopes. It was edifying to
hear of their joys and frustrations and how they faced
challenges in their own contexts.
Leroy Nicholson, Rev. James P. Jones, Rev. Sandra Kurtzious and Rev Peter
Kuhnert in foreground.
Pastor Peter and Pastor Philip both experienced something
of the life of the ELCG clergy as they went separately to
preach at two different Parishes on each of the joint ministry
initiative Sundays. These congregations are in the
communities of Canje, Fyrish, and Williamsburg. The
opportunity to visit these congregations within St. John and
Transfiguration Parishes was a blessing to both pastors. The
first Sunday Pastor Peter and Pastor Philip learned the slight changes in the order of the liturgy used in Guyana. The congregations participated with vigour and enthusiasm, and
it was a joy both to worship together and to meet folks in their church contexts.
Both the retreat participants and the ELCG Executive Council
were very appreciative and positive about the ministry
initiative. They expressed the desire that there might be
similar opportunities where there is mutual encouragement
and support for one other. Many participants expressed their
hope that future retreats might even be longer! Preliminary
discussions between Eastern Synod and ELCG leaders
indicated that a follow-up session within 6-9 months may
prove beneficial with another retreat proposed in 12-18
months.
Deacon Keith Hazel, Deacon Leeta Chutkhan, Deacon Beverly Johnson, Rev.
Peter Kuhnert and Deacon Elaine Grannum
When Pastor Peter and Pastor Philip first travelled to
Georgetown, and then on to New Amsterdam following an
arduous journey including challenging flight connections and
delayed baggage, they did not know what to expect. But
when they departed Guyana, they did so with a deep sense
of gratitude and appreciation for being part of this joint
ministry initiative between the ELCG and the Eastern Synod
and for being allowed to be part of the experiences and lives
of colleagues working in much more challenging contexts
than their own.
This is the essence and epitome of partnership. As we are
called into partnership, koinonia with Christ by God, our
partnership with God is meant to lead us into meaningful
partnerships as brothers and sisters in God’s family (1 John
1:3). The participatory nature of our partnership leads both
parties into relational affinity as well as to fruitful
advancement of the Gospel. We continue to thank God as we
learn and grow together in Christ.
Joint Partners:
Eastern Synod-Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Canada and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana
Life at the Eastern Synod
Last week, four lay preachers of three Toronto congregations participated in a workshop on preaching at the German language evangelical Lutheran church in Bogota, Columbia – San Mateo.
Friedrich Brunzema (First Evangelical Lutheran Church) https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=first%20evangelical%20lutheran%20church%20toronto
Tanya Zielke (Marting Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church (MLEC) https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=martin%20luther%20church%20toronto
Valerie Ebert-Schewe. (Institut for Worship, Bavarian Evangelical-Lutheran Synod)
Karin Schemeit (St George’s Evangelical Evangelical Lutheran Church) https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=st%20george%27s%20lutheran%20church
Pastor Annika Klappert (MLEC)
Katja Brittain (MLEC)
Christhild Grave (St Mateo Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bogota, Columbia) https://www.icsm-bogota-co.de/
